Staring at Xia Xi’s crimson eyes from such a close distance, Mu Yao’s heart was a tangled mess. He had no idea what Xia Xi was thinking. She wasn’t hitting him—instead, she wanted to kiss him. How strange…

Mu Yao didn’t even dare raise his hands now. Xia Xi’s ample chest pressed against him so firmly that he could barely breathe. If he were a boy, he could’ve pushed her away without hesitation.

With nowhere else to put his hands, he could only wrap them around Xia Xi’s slender waist. Unfortunately, that movement gave Xia Xi the wrong idea. Thinking Mu Yao was ready, she excitedly moved another centimeter closer.

Mu Yao closed his eyes. He knew he couldn’t even speak anymore. If he so much as pursed his lips, he’d kiss Xia Xi…

“It’s not like this. I really do want to kiss you, but with that expression, I can’t get into it at all. I want you to respond to me—or kiss me first—not be forced into it.”

Xia Xi released Mu Yao and took two steps back. She gazed seriously at his peach-blossom face, his shy expression seeming almost ready to melt.

“Big Sis Xia Xi…” Mu Yao murmured softly through pursed lips.

“All right. We’ll talk about everything later. Hurry and change. I’ll wait outside.”

Love shouldn’t be built on coercion. Xia Xi didn’t want her first kiss to happen in such an unequal atmosphere. Besides, there would be plenty of time later. She wasn’t worried about failing to win over a little Mu Yao.

The one regret in her heart had finally been filled. That pure smile had truly come from a boy, and Xia Xi felt much more at ease.

With her looks and advantages, there wasn’t a girl in the academy who could stand beside her. Unless Mu Yao chose the inferior over the superior—which was impossible.

After taking several deep breaths, Xia Xi understood that she couldn’t rush things with Mu Yao. She had to take it slow, applying gentle pressure over time.

Sooner or later, Mu Yao would suddenly realize, *“Ah~ In my eyes, no other girl is even one-tenth as good as Big Sis Xia Xi!”*

A few minutes later.

“Big Sis Xia Xi, is there anything wrong with my outfit?”

Mu Yao stepped out with a catlike gait. The flush on his cheeks still hadn’t faded. He skillfully spun once in front of Xia Xi, hoping to hear her opinion.

“It looks absolutely amazing! It fits you perfectly. A fashion model really is something else!”

Xia Xi praised him from the bottom of her heart. If she’d been standing before the statue of the Virgin Mary, she might’ve started singing praises on the spot.

This Elder Sister’s bearing was definitely no worse than that of any previous Elder Sister!

The pure-white dress symbolized the Elder Sister’s unique purity. Its hem fell below the knees, while the conservative collar still retained a touch of cuteness.

The dark-blue, drooping bow covered the inner part of his chest just right. The overall design was breathtaking.

The cuffs were turned outward, with a ring of light blue echoing the rest of the design. On closer inspection, golden gradient scrollwork adorned them.

Every gesture Mu Yao made represented the Yingshengya Academy’s timeless sense of style.

“Really, Big Sis Xia Xi? Then I’ll go out like this.”

Mu Yao smiled sweetly, and his tiny dimples appeared. Xia Xi was instantly dazzled, nearly suffering a nosebleed.

Was it the Elder Sister’s power to turn straight girls gay? Or was Xia Xi simply imagining things because she knew his true gender?

She couldn’t figure it out.

“Hey, Big Sis Xia Xi, why did you stop moving? We need to go, or we’ll be late.”

Mu Yao waved a hand in front of Xia Xi’s eyes, trying to wake her from her sudden daze.

“Oh. Right…”

The next second, Xia Xi was overwhelmed when Mu Yao took her hand.

In her eyes, Mu Yao was the greatest Elder Sister of all, even more outstanding than she’d imagined. Coming to Yingshengya Academy had been completely worth it.

“Um… Could you keep my secret, Big Sis Xia Xi? For certain reasons, I can’t let everyone know my gender yet. You have to promise me. Can you?”

Mu Yao pleaded with her.

“If I wanted to expose you, I would’ve done it already. Of course I’ll keep it~”

After acknowledging Mu Yao as an Elder Sister, Xia Xi felt that she herself had been utterly defeated when it came to the grace an Elder Sister ought to possess.

That innate elegance was something no one could imitate—not even her.

Mu Yao trusted Xia Xi. Since she had him by the short hairs, there was nothing he could do.

He only hoped that, after today, any demands Xia Xi made would remain within what he could accept. He didn’t want her to make things too difficult for him.

“Wait. Where’s the gemstone?” Xia Xi noticed something wrong with Mu Yao and asked at once.

“What gemstone?”

“The ruby that was placed with the dress. Don’t tell me you didn’t see it—it was huge! A whole natural ruby. Go back and look for it. You’re supposed to wear it on your chest.”

“What?! Wait for me!”

Mu Yao panicked. If he lost it, how could he possibly afford to pay for it? He had to find it right away.

Xia Xi didn’t think it was a major issue. It simply affected the outfit’s appearance. Once she’d given it to Mu Yao, it belonged to him.

Even if he lost it, the academy wouldn’t revoke his qualification to become an Elder Sister.

…

“Is this the ruby?”

When Mu Yao appeared before Xia Xi again, the translucent ruby on his chest gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

Compared to before, it completed the entire outfit perfectly.

“That’s the one~”

Xia Xi reached out and stroked Mu Yao’s smooth, tender cheek before nodding.

Every Elder Sister’s dress came in a single standard size. The designer’s original concept had been loose-fitting and simple.

A dress that clung too tightly would actually look worse. On Mu Yao, the fit was just right.

The most eye-catching part was the oval ruby at the center of the drooping bow.

At that moment, Nangong Ruihui couldn’t help feeling irritated.

The Elder Sister was indeed a gift bestowed upon the academy by the Virgin Mary. But if Mu Yao became the Elder Sister, Nangong Ruihui would have to stand on her head and wash her hair for three days.

She had said it herself. Failing to follow through would betray her own conscience.

Fortunately, she’d only said it to herself. Doing it wouldn’t be too humiliating anyway.

No one would see her.

She waited and waited, but they still didn’t come. Nangong Ruihui glanced at the watch she’d hastily put on her wrist and nearly died of impatience.

She really couldn’t understand what Xia Xi was doing. Had she even urged Mu Yao to change?

“Sorry, everyone. I’m late~”

As Nangong Ruihui fretted, Mu Yao led Xia Xi—who had instantly become his attendant—into the venue.

The surrounding crowd instinctively parted, opening a path for them.

The Elder Sister arriving with the imposing senior Xia Xi was simply too dazzling.

*He finally made it.*

Nangong Ruihui breathed a sigh of relief. She’d thought something had gone wrong.

An invisible holy radiance from Mary seemed to scatter across the scene.

Bathed in sunlight, Mu Yao became a goddess-like presence in an instant. Even his most ordinary blink or smile carried a captivating charm.

Even Long Yue, watching everything from the third floor with her chin propped in her hand, sighed.

“Perhaps the Elder Sister really was chosen by the Virgin Mary…”

Even the language of flowers couldn’t compare to the beauty of Mu Yao’s voice.

Nangong Ruihui rubbed her eyes. Mu Yao had opened her eyes to a whole new world today.

Even Xia Xi behind him had been reduced to a mere foil. Calling it the descent of an angel would be no exaggeration.

Her nose suddenly stung. Countless complicated emotions intertwined, and a crystal-clear tear rolled down her cheek.

Nangong Ruihui was happy for Mu Yao. She’d never imagined this day would truly come.

“Why are you crying?”

Mu Yao reached out and caught Nangong Ruihui’s tear.

Every voice around them stopped at once because of that gesture.

Mu Yao still refused to let the matter go. He had to get an answer.