Why was she angry?

It took a considerable amount of effort, and though Xu Feng had tried her hardest to patch up the lie, Wei Jiu’s current absence made it difficult for Xu Xiao Yu to swallow her brother’s personal explanation.

“If she’s a neighbor’s child being fostered here, then go get her so I can ask her some questions.” Xu Xiao Yu glared into Xu Feng’s eyes, not yielding an inch.

“Give me a moment to talk to her,” Xu Feng replied. Having made the decision, she was committed to seeing the lie through to the end.

“How long?” Xu Xiao Yu pulled out her phone and glanced at the time.

“She’ll be back soon; you can ask her then.” Xu Feng looked toward the window. In the brief moment she turned her head, she shot Jiang Yun a look, signaling for him to make an exit.

Jiang Yun, being Xu Feng’s oldest friend, knew exactly what that look meant.

“Xiao Yu, I’ll be headin’ out first. It’s not right for me to be eavesdropping on family business.” Jiang Yun turned to leave, but Xu Xiao Yu whipped around, her gaze locking onto him like she was guarding a key witness.

“Brother Yun isn’t an outsider. Stay for lunch!” Xiao Yu’s tone was forceful. Despite being the youngest person in the room, she was clearly the one with the most intimidating presence.

“Ah… well… that might not be a good idea.” Jiang Yun glanced at the front door just inches away, feeling that if he stayed any longer, he’d definitely be dragged into something big.

“What’s not good about it? Just stay!” Xiao Yu grabbed Jiang Yun by the wrist. A man of his size expected to offer some resistance, but to his shock, he was yanked down into a chair instantly. There was no room for protest.

Xiao Yu let go, and Jiang Yun looked down at his reddened wrist, utterly bewildered. Has Xiao Yu been training in martial arts? That strength was insane—and she didn’t even look like she was trying!

Xu Feng had also witnessed her sister’s suppression of Jiang Yun and was equally amazed. Her sister’s personality shouldn’t be like this. In just one short year, it felt like a radical transformation had occurred; her aura was entirely different from before.

She IS my sister, right?

While Xu Feng was doubting, Xu Xiao Yu walked up to her again, reached out with her right hand, and gave Xu Feng’s left upper arm a sharp pinch.

“Big Brother, go tell her to come back! Don’t just stand there dazed.”

“Hiss! Okay, okay, okay!” Xu Feng swiped Xiao Yu’s hand away in pain. Even though this was an extra body woven from magic, the sensation of pain was still being transmitted!

“I’m giving you time to talk to her. Tell her to hurry back!” Xiao Yu commanded, and Xu Feng had no choice but to obey.

Thud.

Xu Feng closed the bedroom door with her phone in hand. Xu Xiao Yu looked at her right hand and flexed her fingers, feeling that something was off.

Why did Big Brother’s arm feel so soft? Didn’t he used to work out? Did his muscles just wither away from lack of exercise?

Xiao Yu crossed her arms tightly over her chest. She pushed those thoughts aside for now; the most important thing was this girl Big Brother claimed was being fostered here. What exactly had happened between her and her brother lately?

Inside the room, Xu Feng rubbed the back of her head and, through her magically woven body, managed to retrieve the hairpin that was actually Little Black.

“Wei Jiu, come out for a second. We need to get our stories straight.” Xu Feng rubbed the mark, and Wei Jiu quickly appeared. She had been listening in and knew the situation; all she needed was the specific “fostering” excuse.

“Big Brother Xu Feng—is that what I should call you in a bit?”

“Right. And remember the reason you’re staying here: your parents had to go far away for a long time because of work. They didn’t feel comfortable leaving you with anyone else, and since our families have always been close and helped each other out, you’re staying with me. Understand?”

“Mhm. But what if that sister asks too many questions?” Wei Jiu tugged at her sleeve, worried that Xu Feng’s sister wouldn’t let her off the hook so easily.

“I’ll do my best to help you out,” Xu Feng said, though she feared her sister wouldn’t even give her a chance to cut in.

“If it’s just a simple mental dialogue, I have a way,” Mang Qiu spoke up from within the Scales Mark.

“Whatever it is, do it fast,” Xu Feng urged.

“Don’t think about too many irrelevant things, okay? This is a true heart-to-heart connection.”

As Mang Qiu spoke, a golden thread emerged from the mark. It passed through Xu Feng’s heart and then connected to Wei Jiu’s heart before tying itself into a knot and vanishing into the air.

The moment the golden thread disappeared, Xu Feng and Wei Jiu both clutched their hearts at the same time. Their pupils dilated as a tide of each other’s voices rose and fell in their ears; it took several deep breaths for things to return to calm.

Xu Feng looked at Wei Jiu and nodded. Without needing to speak, her thoughts were transmitted.

Wei Jiu didn’t linger. She took Little Black from Xu Feng’s hand, and the hairpin transformed into wings attached to her back. Xu Feng then took the potion from Uncle Shui out of the cabinet and used a cotton swab to lightly coat Little Black’s body, masking his physical form.

Once everything was ready, Xu Feng opened the window. Wei Jiu took flight and landed in a nearby grove of trees, quietly avoiding surveillance cameras and people before walking back toward the apartment.

“Is Big Brother not done yet?” Xu Xiao Yu opened the door to check, only to see Xu Feng pretending to put down her phone. He nodded to her.

“She’s here. I’ll go open the door for her.”

“Which one?” Xiao Yu bypassed Xu Feng and went to the window. She craned her neck to look down and saw a white, shimmering figure running into the stairwell.

“The one who just came in.” Xu Feng turned to open the door, and Xiao Yu followed her out, though her brow was now furrowed.

Big Brother wasn’t lying. There really is a white-haired girl.

Xu Feng stood at the door, her expression much more calm and composed, as if nothing could rattle her. Looking at the way her brother stood waiting at the door, Xiao Yu suddenly felt a surge of uneasy trepidation.

Knock, knock.

There was a soft knock. Xu Feng opened the door, and Wei Jiu appeared, slightly out of breath. She called out to Xu Feng affectionately.

“Big Brother Xu Feng, why did you tell me to hurry back? I wasn’t done playing yet…”

“My sister is here. There are some misunderstandings that need you to explain,” Xu Feng said with a smile.

“Oh, okay! I’ll do whatever Big Brother says.” Wei Jiu nodded obediently, then turned to look at Xu Xiao Yu and Jiang Yun, specifically fixing her gaze on Xiao Yu.

Seeing the so-called white-haired girl and hearing that “Big Brother” come out of her mouth, Xiao Yu’s pupils shook. She realized where that trepidation had come from.

The title of “Big Brother” felt like it had been snatched away by this white-haired girl. To make matters worse, the girl was small, had an adorable face, and looked light and airy in her clothes—she looked clumsy, cute, and utterly likeable.

“No wonder Big Brother… agreed,” Xiao Yu murmured, the color in her eyes darkening.

Jiang Yun suddenly felt a chill run down his arm and rubbed it.

“Tsk, why’s it so cold all of a sudden?” Jiang Yun asked, looking around.

“It does feel a bit chilly,” Xu Feng agreed, feeling the nip in the air. Wei Jiu, sensing the tension, took a sharp step back and peeked out at Xiao Yu from behind Xu Feng.

Mental Communication:

【Big Brother, look at your sister over there.】

【Ah? My sister?】

Xu Feng looked at Xu Xiao Yu. She was staring at her coldly, like an iceberg blowing gusts of freezing air in her direction.

Why is she so unhappy?