Though Ye Chang'an had glimpsed Shi Xia’s flawless body beneath her yukata, their reactions couldn’t have been more different.

Ye Chang'an let out a flustered squeak and immediately looked away.

Shi Xia, however, took a full two seconds to react—and her first instinct was to burst into laughter.

She radiated the vibe of the dominant partner in the relationship: less the teased, more the teaser.

She calmly retrieved the yukata and draped it back over her shoulders.

“You can turn around now~” Shi Xia whispered, her voice laced with playful warmth as she leaned close and breathed softly against Chang’an’s ear.

“…” Chang’an’s earlobes flushed a deep, unmistakable red.

There was no going back to how things used to be between them.

Chang’an could no longer ignore or escape the truth: Shi Xia had blossomed into a mature woman.

“I don’t recall my Shi Xia being such a coquettish girl…” he grumbled, mostly trying to salvage a shred of dignity.

“Now she is,” Shi Xia replied lazily, gently resting her cheek against Chang’an’s shoulder before he’d fully turned.

“…”

As a hardcore otaku, Ye Chang’an was utterly, hopelessly wrapped around her finger.

Thankfully, Ye Shixia knew her limits—adult teasing, delivered with grace and restraint.

When she reappeared before Chang’an, she wore a gauzy silk gown, her jet-black hair flowing freely like spilled ink.

“Dad, I must deliver some… *very* unfortunate news. Due to my poor preparation, there are no guest rooms ready. So… only my bedroom remains…”

“You’re literally smiling! What’s ‘unfortunate’ about that?!” Chang’an facepalmed, exasperated.

Shi Xia tilted her head with feigned innocence, eyes wide.

Good heavens—even a mature woman pulling off that head tilt, tinged with girlish mischief, was devastatingly cute.

Though Chang’an doubted her “no available rooms” claim, he showed nothing.

Cheeks tinged pink, he replied in classic tsundere fashion:

“Then I’ll just have to… endure sharing a room with you for one night.”

Sharp tongues ran in the family—Shi Xia had clearly inherited hers from him.

“Eh~ Dad, that’s such a sly way to put it,” Shi Xia said, taking his hand without hesitation.

A jolt shot through them at the touch—electric, heart-skipping.

Chang’an masked it perfectly, face unreadable.

He let her lead him down the hall to the spacious master bedroom at the end.

Inside, the decor was simple: bookshelf, double bed, wardrobe, coat rack, computer desk.

Oh, and a petite balcony-side table—perfect for afternoon tea and sweets.

Shi Xia released his hand, hurried to the gold-trimmed curtains embroidered with antique patterns, and swept them open.

Revealing the deep night… and a sky glittering with stars.

So beautiful.

The view beyond the curtains.

And the woman standing before them.

“What a long, starry night,” Shi Xia murmured, glancing back at Ye Chang’an with deliberate allure.

Normally, a hint like that would spur any guy into action.

Instead, after a thoughtful pause, he tilted his head too:

“Only my sword for company?”

Truly, the orphanage director and Yasuo were a perfect match.

“Silly Dad…” Shi Xia muttered under her breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing at all!”

“Th-then… can I use your computer?!” Chang’an’s eyes lit up—clearly more invested in the machine than the moment.

Such was the otaku heart: without a PC, life dimmed.

No cute anime girls. No ongoing series to binge.

Just thinking about five years of missed anime and new waifus made Ye Chang’an want to scream.

“Of course! Don’t worry—my computer’s nothing like yours. No suspicious folders, galgames, or shady bookmarks~”

“Mine doesn’t have those either!” Chang’an protested, face burning with flustered embarrassment. Adorably so.

“Just power it on. Password’s your birthday, Dad,” Shi Xia added softly.

Warmth bloomed in Chang’an’s chest. Even his keystrokes felt gentler.

Then the screen lit up—and struck his heart like lightning.

A family portrait. Taken at Chang’an Orphanage. Everyone together.

Ye Chang’an stood center, smiling brightly.

To his left: Shi Xia, the eldest sister, radiant as sunshine.

To his right: Qing Xiang, a shy smile gracing his handsome face.

Chang’an reached out instinctively, longing to touch each familiar smile.

His fingertips met only cold, hard glass.

Unseen by him, Shi Xia’s eyes welled with tears. She wiped them away swiftly, gaze hardening with quiet resolve.

Silently, in her heart, she vowed:

—Everyone… will come back. That day isn’t far off.