A New Companion and a Secret Pact

“Then I’m off to school. Remember to be good at home, okay?”

As usual, Chen Si Yi, with her schoolbag slung over her shoulder, ruffled my head before heading off to school.

This time, however, she specifically turned back to caution me, ‘Don’t bully Serena,’ before closing the door with a hint of worry and jogging into the elevator.

Watching her retreating figure, I couldn’t help but sigh. Behind me, Serena wore an expression of acute embarrassment.

‘Indeed, being verbally flayed by a little girl like me, to the point of wanting to dig a hole and hide, must be quite a humiliating experience.’

Shrugging helplessly, I turned and walked towards Chen Si Yi’s bedroom.

“Why are you still standing there?” As I passed Serena, I reached out and tugged at the corner of her shirt. “Come on, open the computer. I’m going to help you rank up right now.”

“Huh? N-now?” Serena paused, taking a moment to fully register my words, before a joyful smile bloomed on her face. “Okay, okay! I love you to death, Lin Yan-chan!”

With that, she spread her arms, scooped me up, and lifted me above her head, winking at me as if I were a small child.

“Stop, stop, stop! Put me down now!” My brow furrowed, and I immediately grew displeased. “I’ve told you before, you might love me, but I don’t love you. Put me down, or don’t even think about me helping you reach Platinum. You can just be a Bronze sister for life!”

Despite my words, seeing Serena so utterly delighted, the corners of my mouth inexplicably curved into a slight smile.

‘What was happening?’ I felt utterly surprised to realize this.

From childhood, my sister and I had lived together in the same house, dependent on each other through elementary, middle, and now high school. Due to our parents’ frequent business trips, it was always just the two of us at home, even during holidays and festivals.

Now, with the sudden addition of a ‘goofy’ Serena… how should I put it? It was actually quite nice. The house felt much livelier. Especially since she arrived, though I hadn’t consciously noticed it, the relationship between Chen Si Yi and me seemed to have gradually begun to thaw.

****

A week’s time vanished in a flash, and just like that, it was the weekend once more.

After nearly ten days, I had completely adapted to this petite body, save for the minor inconveniences of using the restroom and bathing.

From Monday to Saturday, a mere five days had passed, and naturally, nothing particularly noteworthy had occurred.

If I had to mention something, it would be that on Friday afternoon, I successfully helped Serena climb from Bronze to Gold rank.

It should have been a universally happy occasion. However, that evening at dinner, Serena was practically beaming, unable to close her mouth from smiling, and even politely served me some shredded pork with her chopsticks.

Fortunately, I reacted swiftly, quickly moving my bowl away and sharply exclaiming, “What? Serena, are you trying to poison me?” Only then did I dispel Chen Si Yi’s suspicions, preventing her keen eye from discovering our secret transaction.

Furthermore, there was another matter worth mentioning.

On Saturday night, yesterday evening to be precise, Chen Si Yi suddenly burst into my room. I was in the midst of changing into my pajamas, my fair skin fully exposed under the lamplight, clad only in a flimsy bra and a rather cartoonish pair of briefs.

Seeing Chen Si Yi staring blankly at me, I let out an immediate shriek, scrambling to hide and wrap myself in the covers. Only then, like a timid turtle, did I slowly poke my small head out from beneath the duvet.

“S-Si Yi, do you… do you need something?” I asked timidly, my face, needless to say, already a fiery red.

‘Uh… how should I put this? Since I had largely grown accustomed to it, seeing my own delicate skin and cute little face didn’t elicit any particular reaction from me. It had become as commonplace as eating my daily meals.’

‘However, to be suddenly caught by my own sister in the act of changing clothes myself – no matter how I thought about it, I felt incredibly ashamed and embarrassed!’

“Hey, hey, what kind of reaction is that?”

However, unlike me, who was as shy as a little girl unacquainted with the ways of the world, Chen Si Yi burst into laughter upon seeing me cowering in the corner of the bed.

“Haha~ Do you… do you really have to be like this?” Chen Si Yi waved her hand dismissively, chuckling. “We’re all girls, so what if you’re seen? There’s no need to be so shy! Come on, Lin Yan-chan, let your big sister help you change!”

As she spoke, Chen Si Yi bent down and climbed onto the bed, coiling around my body like a snake. She grabbed both sides of the duvet, intent on pulling it off me.

Given the meager strength of a young girl, I naturally couldn’t overpower her. After a few struggles, I quickly said, “Stop, stop messing around! I can change my own clothes. Just tell me what’s wrong, okay?”

“Hehe, I was just kidding. Who told you to be so adorable right now? I couldn’t resist teasing you.” Chen Si Yi stopped her actions, leaned down to playfully pinch my cheek, then stood up and sat on the edge of the bed.

“I need to tell you something, Lin Yan.” Her tone reverted to its usual seriousness.

“W-what is it?” I tilted my head, my voice trembling slightly. ‘Please don’t tell me it’s about buying more underwear,’ a sudden ominous premonition flared in my heart.

“What are you thinking about? It’s not actually that important.”

Chen Si Yi propped her chin on one hand, her eyes narrowed into slits as she gazed at me. “It’s just that a classmate of mine is coming over tomorrow. She knows our family situation pretty well, so if she asks where my brother Lin Yan is… you know how to answer, right?”

“I know, I know! You can count on me!” I nodded vigorously from my corner, though my mind couldn’t help but wander into a flurry of conjectures.

‘Chen Si Yi’s classmate is coming over?’

‘That’s quite rare.’

‘It seems my sister has never brought a friend home since we were little, has she?’

‘If that’s the case, then this must be a very close friend from school. Therefore, by all rights and reasons, I, as her brother, must definitely cooperate fully.’

‘I just wonder if it’s a female friend… or a male friend?’

‘I hope it’s a girl. Otherwise, I really want to bash their head in.’