"Jing-jie, with your looks, there must be tons of guys chasing you! But I’m your little brother!" Nangong Ruihui exclaimed, noticing Nangong Jing’s gaze growing increasingly… off.

"The law only says siblings can’t marry—it doesn’t say we can’t **! So it’s totally fine!"

Knowing Nangong Ruihui was actually a girl, Nangong Jing teased her without restraint. It was kinda fun watching her cheeks flush red.

"You…!" Nangong Ruihui was left speechless.

"And those guys chasing me? Sorry, I don’t find any of them appealing. How could they compare to a little brother? Only a little brother has pure thoughts for his older sister, right~?" Nangong Jing whispered, leaning closer.

*Nonsense! It’s not like I’m your brother—I’m your sister!*

She kept the thought to herself. Letting Jing indulge in fantasy was harmless anyway—they wouldn’t be together long.

"Alright, Xiao Jing, time to go. Ruihui, we’ll be home these days. Remember to visit on the weekend—it gets lonely with just us two," Nangong Ling waved.

"Don’t forget—if you skip out, I’ll spray octopus ink all over your bed!" Nangong Jing added with a playful pinch on Ruihui’s cheek before following Ling out.

Ruihui fully believed Jing would do it. Guess she *had* to go home. Not a big deal—her sisters rarely visited. They deserved company.

Just then, Xia Xi returned to the music room and nearly bumped into Nangong Ling and Jing.

"Hehe~ No wonder you’re such an ‘immature non-girl’ with that chest! Here to romance our Ruihui? Too bad—she’s taken. You’re late," Jing said, making lewd grabbing gestures. Ling swatted her hands away. *Embarrassing us outside?*

Ling knew Jing best. She didn’t actually mean it—just thought it a waste not to flirt with girls using her looks. Truth was, she far preferred having a brother complex.

"Shameless! You fickle slut—no wonder Ruihui resists you," the Nangong Clan’s eldest daughter scolded.

"I was wrong," Jing mumbled, dejectedly looping an arm around Ling’s waist.

…

"Nangong Ruihui… were those your sisters?" Xia Xi asked after they left.

"Yeah. That’s just them. Don’t take it personally."

A childhood memory flashed in Ruihui’s mind—

"Waaah~ Jiejie, Jiejie, where are you? I’m scared…"

Facing a wolfhound bigger than herself, kindergarten-aged Ruihui wailed, hiding like an ostrich burying its head.

Woof woof—grr~ woof!!

"Bad dog, go away!" Nangong Ling stood firm, arms spread wide to shield Ruihui.

"Ruihui, don’t cry. We’re here~" Gentle Jing cradled the sobbing girl, softly stroking her back.

The wolfhound, intimidated, tucked its tail and fled. Victory!

"Ruihui, no need to fear anymore~" Ling crouched with a warm smile.

"Ruihui, when you grow up… will you split your love between us sisters?~" Jing asked sweetly.

"Mm-hmm!"

Naive little Ruihui nodded hard. To her, Ling and Jing were worth unconditional devotion—even sharing love felt right.

…And thus began Ruihui’s unerasable black mark. Her sisters never missed a chance to bring it up. No rebuttal possible. Their "trickery" was legendary.

…

Back in the dorm, Zhou Yuan was out. Mu Yao collapsed onto her bed, utterly drained.

Beep beep beep—

A verification request popped up. Mu Yao squinted: requester name—"Xia Xi".

Accepted. Instant reply: (#^.^#) Mu Yao~

Mu Yao: Xia Xi-jie~

Xia Xi: Can I call you Yaoyao too? Just on QQ.

Mu Yao: Sure…

Xia Xi: Yaoyao… how do you feel about me?

Mu Yao set the phone down, sat up. *Why ask that? Did she figure out he’s a boy? No way—he disguised perfectly. Gotta ask.*

Mu Yao: Xia Xi-jie’s nice… but why ask suddenly?

Xia Xi: N-nothing…

(Xia Xi deleted her drafted "Do you like me?" Too bold for a first chat. Weird for a girl to message another girl like that. Just wanted to know Mu Yao’s thoughts—no hidden meaning. Sending it might cause misunderstandings. Hard to clarify later.)

"Mu Yao… you actually charmed her?!" Zhou Yuan, having watched silently for two minutes, snatched the phone and scrolled up.

Mu Yao didn’t resist. The chat was perfectly normal—just added. Zhou wouldn’t find what she sought.

If Mu Yao *was* pursuing Xia Xi, Zhou wouldn’t mind—just shocked. Xia Xi never initiated adding others. Wait… was *she* pursuing Mu Yao?!

"No. She’s my senior. I don’t like her," Mu Yao said.

"That’s good…"

"What’s good?"

"N-nothing… I just worry her… violent side might hurt you."

Zhou Yuan took a breath, sat on her bed. *What does Xia Xi see in Mu Yao? If she hasn’t noticed he’s a boy… must be that pure smile. Only that!*

Just then, Mu Yao smiled. Zhou Yuan froze, captivated. Mu Yao gently patted her shoulder. "Stop spacing out. Review fast—your grades barely cleared Yingshengya Academy’s bar. Need tutoring?"

"No thanks."

Zhou had been studying hard. Getting in relied on connections. This monthly exam was her chance.

"Friendly reminder: first monthly exams are brutal—standard across schools, near-final difficulty. Sure you don’t want help?" Mu Yao asked again.

"If I bomb it, I’ll ask next time. Don’t want my grades dragging you down."

An unnameable urge stirred in Zhou Yuan. She just didn’t want Mu Yao thinking she wasn’t capable.