A Leisurely Morning and an Unconventional Family Decision

“Alright, alright, he’s just that kind of person, no need to pay him any mind.” Yang Mingzhi finally put down his phone, stretching languidly before casually draping an arm over our shoulders. Bingying unceremoniously slapped his arm away. Luo Tianchen, however, didn’t move, letting him hang there. ‘If some girls saw this scene, they would surely scream in excitement.’

Bingying frowned. “It’s certainly early, but there’s no need to look so utterly exhausted, is there?”

“No, no, no,” Yang Mingzhi chuckled. “I haven’t slept a wink all night. I’m practically dying of exhaustion right now.”

“All night? Hey, did you go to *that* kind of place again?”

“Oh, well, they practically threw themselves at me. It would be rude to refuse, wouldn’t it?”

“Honestly, do you have no sense of propriety at all!”

“Oh, come on, come on. It’s the modern age, and you’re still so conservative. No wonder, Bingying, with all your good qualities, you still can’t find a boyfriend.”

“?! Th-this has absolutely nothing to do with me not finding a boyfriend!”

“Yes, yes, yes. Tsk, don’t mind that tomboy,” Yang Mingzhi said, releasing his arm from Luo Tianchen’s neck. He leaned onto the desk, looking at Luo Tianchen with a mischievous grin. “Hey, Tianchen, how about we go out and have some fun next time? I can introduce you to some really nice girls.”

“Who are you calling a tomboy!” Bingying bristled like a startled kitten. “You can ruin yourself, but don’t you dare corrupt Luo Tianchen!”

“No, I’m not really interested,” Luo Tianchen replied. “I’d rather not get entangled with too many women and their troubles.”

“Good! Just reject him like that!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Everyone there goes just to relax and have some fun. It’s mostly casual, so they won’t cling to you afterward.”

“That doesn’t really matter to me.”

“It’s even worse, isn’t it! Why does that not matter to you?”

“Hmm? Didn’t Yang Mingzhi say it wouldn’t cause any trouble? Besides, I read in a book that a man’s experience in that area should be quite extensive…”

“That’s completely unnecessary! Please stop reading those absurd books, thank you very much!” Bingying exclaimed, giving up. She slumped onto the desk, mimicking Yang Mingzhi. “Ugh, honestly! I’m done with this! President, Xiaowu, why aren’t you back yet!”

“Mhm, mhm. It seems a threesome is still a bit too much for you, after all…”

“Who the hell would have a threesome with *you*!”

“Oh? So, it’s different with Tianchen?”

“Ah? N-no?! Th-that kind of thing shouldn’t be done before marriage!”

“Huh? Xiao Ying, you’re such an old-fashioned granny.”

“You’re so annoying! So annoying! You big pervert, just shut up already!”

‘What a truly leisurely everyday scene.’

Luo Tianchen set down his pen and turned to gaze out the window. The rising sun gradually unveiled its silvery-white form to the world, slowly blushing into a reddish-brown as it cast its light upon the student council room’s window bars.

Birds soared through the sky, singing joyful melodies, ushering in the new day. A gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, revealing three or five early-rising students amidst the leaves.

Everything was as it always was: mundane, yet beautiful.

‘It has been three years since I arrived in this city.’

‘And six years have passed since I became “Luo Tianchen.”‘

****

“It’s decided!” Luo Tianchen’s Father declared three years ago, during breakfast with the family, slamming his hand on the table.

No one paid him any mind. Luo Tianchen, long accustomed to his father’s dramatic outbursts, continued his meal without pause. His sister, Luo Tianlian, kept her head down, one hand clutching her PSV, the other holding a piece of bread. Luo Tianchen’s Mother, a gentle smile on her face, began clearing away the finished dishes.

“…Naixin!” Luo Tianchen’s Father, his eyes misty with tears, dramatically threw himself into Luo Tianchen’s Mother’s embrace. She stroked his head, murmuring soft words of comfort.

‘Though I was long used to such antics, I couldn’t help but inwardly scoff, ‘Are you really a child, you old man!”

“Alright, now be good and listen to Daddy, okay?” Luo Tianchen’s Mother said with a sweet smile. Both Luo Tianchen and Luo Tianlian immediately felt an overwhelming aura, as if a deity had possessed her, and quickly sat up straight. Only Luo Tianchen’s Father seemed oblivious, nodding contentedly, convinced his own authority had taken effect.

‘He’s just borrowing someone else’s prestige,’ Luo Tianchen thought, feeling a little speechless.

“So, from today onwards, Luo Tianchen will be living alone with his sister!”

“Huh?” Luo Tianchen stared blankly. “How did the conversation suddenly jump to this?”

Over the past six years, their parents’ work had taken the siblings all over the world, but never for more than a month at a time. From their tone, it sounded as if they intended to abandon Luo Tianchen and his sister, never to return.

“Well, aren’t you excited? Isn’t it thrilling to imagine living with your adorable sister?” Luo Tianchen’s Father chattered on, a joyful expression on his face. “Ah, of course, you absolutely mustn’t lay a hand on your sister, alright? Even if you can’t resist, make sure to take precautions…”

Luo Tianchen couldn’t help but recall what his sister had told him about their father: in a word, he was a “shut-in otaku.” Though he had become much more composed after marrying their mother, his essential otaku nature remained unchanged. It was likely his father’s influence that led Luo Tianlian to enjoy gaming so much. In this particular aspect, father and daughter were remarkably similar.

“Lay a hand on my sister?! Your image as a father has completely shattered! Mom, please rein him in!” Luo Tianchen exclaimed. He turned his pleading gaze towards Luo Tianchen’s Mother.

Luo Tianchen’s Mother replied with a ‘loving’ (fierce) expression: “Listen (hurry up and get lost) to your father (you brats), okay?”

‘No, no, no, I can absolutely see the hidden phonetic symbols in your words! You’re definitely not my biological mother, are you!’

Then again, it made sense. Luo Tianchen had long learned from his sister that their mother was a yandere with a severe case of ‘love brain.’ Ever since she fell in love at first sight with their father during their student days, she had relentlessly battled all obstacles, finally ‘winning’ her beloved. Her condition had only worsened, gradually reaching a point where she couldn’t tolerate even her own children. As Luo Tianlian put it, ‘One day, she might just *dispose* of us for reducing their alone time,’ and ‘So we have to act first before that happens.’ Setting aside that last remark, Luo Tianchen himself had once woken up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and seen his mother sharpening a knife in the kitchen while muttering to herself. Thus, being driven out by them now came as no surprise at all.

‘Come to think of it, it’s a wonder I managed to stay in that house for so long before…’

‘But was this truly alright? Without Luo Tianchen and Luo Tianlian there, who knew what that couple might get up to.’

“Brother, the doctor still says your body isn’t in good shape, right?” Luo Tianlian suddenly spoke up. ‘I can’t possibly take care of you all by myself, and bringing in outsiders is absolutely out of the question.’ It seemed she had reached the same conclusion as Luo Tianchen. Their eyes met, and they both nodded, determined not to let their parents be alone together.

“Oh, my, there’ll be XXXX yuan in pocket money each month, entrusted to Xiao Lian for safekeeping, you know?” Luo Tianchen’s Mother said with a beaming smile.

“Deal.”

Luo Tianlian gave a thumbs-up.

‘What the heck? What happened to our unwavering united front? Are familial and friendly bonds truly so worthless in the face of money?’ ‘If it were me, I would absolutely… probably… maybe… consider it just a tiny bit… right?’

And so, Luo Tianchen and Luo Tianlian left their home far away in America. The two of them traveled alone by plane to Xingjiang City and moved into their current residence. With the help of their uncle, who served as the Deputy Director of the Xingjiang City Public Security Bureau, they were successfully admitted to Xingjiang Middle School, a local aristocratic institution. There, they began living the lives of ordinary high school students… or so they thought.