"Big Sis~" came a soft and sweet voice, as Chu Lian's left arm was suddenly hugged tightly by someone. The girl's ample chest bounced dramatically with the motion, prompting Chu Lian to press a hand to her forehead and silently complain, "She's my younger sister—so why is she so much bigger than me? Isn't the whole 'babyface with giant boobs' thing supposed to be impossible? Aaaah..."
"Chu Chu, you're not a kid anymore. Could you maybe stop clinging to me like this?" She didn't pull her arm away, just paused her light humming and addressed Chu Chu to her left.
"Hmph! If I don't cling to you, who knows what vixen might sneak in! I was only gone for half a month, and you transferred into our school, and now you're already surrounded by people. If I don't watch you closely, Big Sis won't be mine anymore!" Chu Chu showed no signs of guilt, instead lifting her chin defiantly and responding with a nasal huff.
"How many times do I have to say this... I don't belong to you..." Chu Lian once again corrected her. Normally, Chu Chu would start whining and shaking her arm when she heard that, but this time, she unexpectedly lowered her head slowly.
"I know Big Sis doesn't like it when I cling to you. I know you don't belong to me. You like that tall girl in the red dress, right? I can tell... But no matter what, I'll never give up on you. My love for Big Sis is real."
Chu Lian froze for a moment, then let out a sigh. "One day, you'll get married. You'll have your own partner, your own family, your own job and career, your own children. How long can you keep clinging to me? Three years? Five? Ten? Maybe not even that long before you get tired of it. Besides, Ayase and I are just friends—it's not what you think."
"Friends, huh? Maybe..." Chu Chu's voice was light, almost like an echo of Chu Lian's thoughts.
"As for getting tired of it? That's not going to happen." Chu Chu laughed cheerfully. "Ever since I became aware of your existence when I was three, I've always liked you. Back then, I didn't understand what that feeling was. I just wanted you to be mine, so I kept clinging to you."
"When I got older, I understood it—it's love. Deep, genuine love. So I'll never give up. Unless Big Sis gets married, I won't back down. And honestly, I don't think you're going to do that..."
Her gaze at that moment seemed to pierce right through everything, and Chu Lian found herself looking away, suddenly unsure. "Let's talk about the future when the future comes. It's a little early for this."
Avoiding Chu Chu's eyes, she shifted the topic. "Even if you like me, it's only the kind of affection sisters have for each other. After all, you're my little sister. It's normal for a younger sister to like her big sister. You just took that feeling and twisted it, magnified it, and called it love."
"I know what you're trying to tell me, Big Sis: 'We're blood-related, so there's no future. Better give up now.' But I don't need to hear that. I don't want to hear it. I won't listen to it." Her smile remained dazzling. "One day, you'll understand. And maybe then... you'll accept me."
With that, she let go of Chu Lian's arm and ran a short distance ahead. Then she turned around, winked at her, and said, "Big Sis, if you don't hurry up, we're going to be late~!"
Chu Lian shook her head with a wry smile. "Still the same as ever, this Chu Chu."
Why can't my family be a little more normal? Then again... maybe this is fine too.
As she mused, she didn't pay much attention to the time Chu Chu had mentioned. Not until Chu Chu ran back over, grabbed her hand, and pulled out her phone.
"It's 7:25! Ahh, and we've only covered a third of the way! This is all your fault, Chu Chu! Hurry up! Being late is bad!"
"Yes yes yes, Big Sis is right, it's all my fault! So let me pull you along, okay? Don't tire yourself out~" Of course, she wasn't going to tell Chu Lian that this was all on purpose. How else could she hold her hand and run all the way to school together?
She had already made up her mind—from now on, she would go to school with Chu Lian every morning. So she needed to transfer into Class One. She knew that class was full, but since she wanted to switch, she'd find a way. But for now, she wouldn't tell Big Sis. She wanted it to be a surprise.
In the early morning, willows by the roadside shed their floating petals, and two girls in white dresses ran down the street, one pulling the other along. The girl in front, who held the other's hand, was a super-cute loli with a cute face and a surprisingly curvy figure. Her long hair fluttered in the wind. The girl being pulled along wore a mask, her figure delicate and slender like a willow branch swaying in the breeze. Compared to the girl in front, her presence was less provocative but even more visually pleasing.
This scene happened to be captured by Ye Xiulong, who was sitting by the riverside. The moment he pressed the shutter, the two girls were caught mid-leap, as if they were soaring.
Well, in truth, it was just that Chu Chu had incredible stamina, so she was the one pulling Chu Lian most of the way. Chu Lian barely moved her legs, yet it felt like she'd covered a great distance. Since their strides were small and quick, each step gave the illusion that they were flying.
Just as Ye Xiulong was about to snap a few more shots, the girl in front suddenly turned and glared at him. That one look sent cold sweat pouring down his back.
What kind of gaze was that? Proud, disdainful of the world—like a goddess looking down from the heavens upon struggling mortals. He didn't know if real gods looked at people that way, but he knew one thing for sure: this girl was dangerous. Don't mess with her.
In that brief moment of hesitation, the two girls disappeared around the corner. He stood there dazed, then shook his head and sighed. "I actually got scared by a little girl... Missed the perfect shot, and who knows when I'll see that again."
Although it was a shame, he'd already captured the essential moment. The rest would only have added a bit more perfection. What he had now was already enough.
The weekend was the perfect time to post it all. He'd been sitting on a treasure trove of Chu Lian's photos for a while. Now was the time to share them with the world. He couldn't wait to let others see his work—to see the angel, the earthly fairy captured in his lens.
Thanks to Chu Chu, the human bicycle, Chu Lian barely felt tired and arrived at school just as the preparatory bell rang. Not a second late.
Chu Chu bent over, panting with her hands on her knees. After resting for a bit, she turned around and waved to Chu Lian. "Big Sis, I'm heading to Class Six now~ You go on too. See you after school!"
Looking at her sister's bright, smiling face, Chu Lian felt an unexpected warmth. Inori's arrival had brought her great joy, but the burdens hidden beneath had left her emotionally drained. This brief journey had cleansed her mind a little, easing some of the things she couldn't figure out.
In fact, this had been the longest, most in-depth conversation she'd had with her sister all year. Before this, her heart was tangled with unspoken knots. She rejected anyone who tried to get close to her—parents, siblings, anyone. Subconsciously, she kept everyone at arm's length.
As a result, her social interactions had always been extremely limited—only a few people were ever allowed close. If the group grew too large, she'd automatically shut everyone out. It was her way of protecting herself.
Now, she finally understood a little more about her sister's feelings. Most importantly, she realized that Chu Chu probably already knew she wasn't her biological sister. The reason she kept insisting that Chu Lian was her "real sister" was likely to keep that truth hidden—from Chu Lian herself.
After all, she and Chu Chu looked so alike. Years of checkups had confirmed her identity. If not for the system, if not for that inexplicable note that appeared on that person last time, and if not for the suspicions she already harbored about the truth behind it all, she would never have questioned her own identity, her own origins, her very existence.
Perhaps it was Mom and Dad who knew the truth best. But they had always treated her as their real daughter—even more lovingly than real parents might. That alone deeply moved her.
To be honest, that kind of unconditional love made it impossible for her to confront them about the truth. She couldn't bring herself to hurt them just to chase after answers. Whether or not she ever found out, they would always live in fear that one day she might leave them because of it. She didn't want them to bear that kind of anxiety...
Thoughts swirled endlessly in her mind as Chu Lian stared blankly at the blackboard.
It was an art class. The teacher was assigning their next project—an extremely difficult one. They were expected to complete a CG-style illustration in fifteen days, featuring both a character and a detailed environment. The task demanded at least a B-rank level of artistry.
Only then did Chu Lian gather her wandering thoughts. She looked at the assignment on the board, then around the room at her classmates, all deep in thought. A headache was already forming. She regretted paying attention now. If she hadn't, she could've avoided this torment.
She did have B-rank proficiency in drawing, technically. But that talent came from the body's previous owner—a skill acquired years ago. Since her return, the knowledge hadn't transferred with the memories.
As a result, although she once had the potential for A-rank ability, her skills had declined. What remained was a downgraded B-rank, one she had to retrain herself to wield. At best, she could reach B-rank output, but due to unfamiliarity, her practical execution was closer to C- or D-rank.
Which meant... this assignment was basically Abyss-level difficulty for her.
She thought about Chu Chu—the little girl who started drawing because she admired Chu Lian. With her current skill level, she could probably finish this assignment with ease.
Chu Chu had begun drawing out of admiration for her big sister. Even after Chu Lian gave up further art studies and focused elsewhere, Chu Chu never stopped. Her persistence led her to surpass Chu Lian, reaching S-rank proficiency at a young age.
Every time she saw one of Chu Chu's new works, the improvement was clear. Give her another three to five years, and entering the realm of grandmasters was just a matter of time.
If she hadn't deliberately kept a low profile just to stay with her, she might've gone to apprentice under a national-level master long ago. Why would she even need to attend Sudi High?
But the thought of asking Chu Chu to draw for her only lingered for a second before she pushed it aside.
As the older sister, she should be a role model for her younger sibling—even if she couldn't match her. She wouldn't burden her. Was it pride? Stubbornness? Something else? She wasn't sure. But she simply couldn't allow it. Wouldn't allow it.
"If that's how it is, then I'll just have to carve out some time to practice over the next few days... If once isn't enough, then twice. If twice isn't enough, then ten times. I'll make it work..."
A painting she once saw in her previous life came to mind. The subject was Inori. And now, she was living in her house. Maybe... this could be a welcome gift for her?
With that thought, she pulled out her pen and slowly began sketching on the blank sheet.
If her ability wasn't enough, then she would compensate with time and effort.
This was one skill she wanted to earn on her own—not something handed to her by the system.
Time slipped by as her pen moved across the page, until the sudden arrival of someone made her pause.
She looked up, and her eyes widened in surprise. "What are you doing here?..."