Chapter 26: A Bad Feeling

“Nope.”

“You totally want to see it, don’t you?”

Yan Xi flashed a sly grin.

“Not really…”

“I don’t believe you. If all goes well, the catgirl outfit I ordered should arrive tomorrow~”

Ling Yuan’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at her cheeky smile.

“I can’t even imagine an heiress like you in a catgirl outfit.”

“Hmph, I’m no heiress around my master. Just a catgirl for you to play with~ I even got a tail~”

“Tail?”

He eyed her suspiciously.

“If I remember right, those tails are…”

“Don’t say it!”

She lunged to cover his mouth.

“You can only look, okay? Only you get that privilege—no one else.”

“Uh… but that’s not right… we’re siblings…”

Her patience snapped. She grabbed his collar, ranting.

“Siblings, so what!? We’re not blood-related, are we? That means we can get married!”

“I know, but…”

“But what? Scared Mom won’t approve? Or Dad? You’re clueless—Mom even suggested we get engaged!”

“Uh… did she…?”

[It’s been ages since I saw Yan Xi this mad. Like an angry kitten—more cute than scary.]

But… did Mom really say that?

“Of course! You just weren’t there, so it didn’t happen!”

“…Scared me there…”

“I don’t care! No one loves you more than me! More than anyone!”

She grabbed her chest, lifting it defiantly.

“You don’t know cup sizes, but you can tell big from small, right? Yixin Xue’s so flat—I’m way better, aren’t I? Don’t guys like bigger?”

“…”

Seeing his silence, she leaned closer.

“What? You like small ones?”

“No… wait, why are we talking about Yixin Xue? We’re nothing!”

He tried to explain.

Her eyes widened.

“If you’re nothing, and I’m better than her, why can’t we be like Sora no Something and—”

“You don’t get it. They had special reasons.”

“Don’t get it? What don’t I get? Where am I losing!?”

“No, Yan Xi, we’re really nothing…”

***

“No surprise, Ocean Fortress was as bad as the reviews said.”

Ling Yuan yawned.

Ten minutes into the nearly two-hour movie, he’d fallen asleep.

Not bad—its sleep-inducing power rivaled English class.

“Yeah, epically bad.”

Yan Xi stretched lazily. She hadn’t slept, enduring the whole thing.

“Didn’t expect you to have the patience to watch it all.”

He wiped tears from yawning, still not fully rested.

“It’s only 10:30. Wanna hit the mall?”

She tilted her head.

“There’s a new figurine shop downstairs with tons of stuff. You’d love it!”

“Now that gets my interest.”

He nodded approvingly.

He couldn’t afford them, but Yan Xi would buy, and she’d keep them at his place, not her villa.

Her room’s cabinets were packed with figurines—a nerd’s paradise.

“Want milk tea, Big Brother?”

She walked ahead, hands behind her back, wearing a slightly long hoodie and shorts, her pale legs making him wonder, [Isn’t she cold?]

“Up to you. It’s your money.”

“What’s mine is yours. Even my body’s for you~”

She winked seductively.

“Hey, people are watching! Have some shame!”

He wanted to disappear from embarrassment.

“What’s wrong? With a gorgeous sister like me, shouldn’t you be proud?”

She pouted, convinced she’d done nothing wrong.

His lips twitched.

Proud?

No.

He felt a bad premonition.

She bought one milk tea, holding it to his lips.

“Here~ You take the first sip~”

“Uh… fine, you win…”

“Yay, now I get to drink milk tea with Brother’s flavor~”

She stuck out her tongue.

Seeing her so happy, he didn’t say much. She’d been upset last night, and it took ages to calm her.

“Sigh…”

Exhausted, he rubbed his head. He should’ve been gaming at home, not dragged out for a bad movie and endless shopping.

He checked his phone.

– Lan: Yo, Far Bro! I confessed, and it worked!

– Ling: ?

– Lan: Guess who?

– Ling: ??

– Lan: Our class’s vice president!

He closed his phone, frowning.

Vice president, huh?

If he recalled, Lan Feng had been chasing her forever. Always giving love advice but acting like a total simp.

Could a simped-for love be happy?

“Tch.”

He clicked his tongue, skeptical of Lan Feng’s “love.”

“Need more milk tea, Brother?”

Her tone shifted suddenly, no longer clingy but refined, like an heiress.

“Sure, but why the sudden change?”

He understood why when he caught a white figure in his peripheral vision.

“You two seem close~”

He froze, eyes shifting.

“Didn’t expect to run into you, Yixin Xue.”

Yan Xi waved elegantly, showing her poise.

“Came to get the kitten checked. Why are you two together?”

Yixin Xue’s sharp gaze made him shiver. So this was the bad feeling…

“Shopping with my brother.”

She hooked her arm through his.

[Holy crap, Yan Xi, what are you doing!?]

His heart screamed. He could feel Yixin Xue’s anger crackling around her.

Despite the cold day, sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Brother?”

She tilted her head, smirking coldly.

“You don’t look much alike.”