Chapter 4: From Big Brother to Big Sister?

A Moral Dilemma

The editor sent Xiaoxi several book titles to study, all centered on magical girls.

However, staring at her drafted reply—“Got it, thanks, Editor”—Xiaoxi hesitated to hit send.

Writing spicy fanfiction about magical girls’ defeats was bad enough.

Using her former teammates as inspiration?

Her conscience was practically sizzling—cooked to a crisp on both sides.

Her pride as a magical girl…

Forget it.

She wasn’t a magical girl anymore, was she?

Earning money mattered more.

Still, using her teammates as models felt wrong.

Using herself?

Absolutely not.

That was her initial stance.

But when she skimmed the books the editor recommended, she noticed something.

Most “defeated magical girl” stories were clearly based on real, famous magical girls—her old teammates.

Xiaoxi sighed.

She realized principles were made to be broken.

Nostalgic Inspirations

Surprisingly, the novels, which focused less on “defeat” and more on other themes, stirred her thoughts.

As she read, memories of her time with her teammates flooded back.

Come to think of it, they had faced situations like these during monster battles.

If she hadn’t saved Xingge back then, she might’ve ended up in a plot like one of these novels.

And this one—the monster was clearly an alternate take on a creature they’d defeated together.

While reading, her mind replayed various memories.

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration hit.

She grabbed one particular memory.

This… this could work for the “defeat” theme the editor wanted, with a few tweaks.

Caught up in the idea, Xiaoxi opened a document and started writing.

She was so absorbed that a cool voice startled her from behind.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Xiaoxi’s hand jolted, and she slammed the document shut, spinning to face Ye Xinglan, who’d appeared out of nowhere.

“Nothing, just… uh, what’s up?”

“I’m hungry,” Ye Xinglan said bluntly, pointing at the wall clock.

Xiaoxi realized it was already dinnertime.

“Sorry, lost track of time. I’ll make dinner now.”

A Surprising Meal

An hour later, Xiaoxi watched Ye Xinglan devour the meal, her nerves finally easing.

She’d worried the rich girl wouldn’t like her simple cooking.

Clearly, she’d overthought it.

“Mmm, didn’t expect… (munch) your food to be… (munch) this good, Xiaoxi.”

“As long as you like it. It’s just basic home cooking…”

“Basic?”

Ye Xinglan looked up, tilting her head, her stuffed cheeks resembling a hamster.

Xiaoxi fought the urge to poke them.

Who knew the aloof rich girl had such a cute side?

“I’ve never really had food like this before.”

Ye Xinglan’s mind drifted to her days confined in the Bone Vault.

Meals there were bland and monotonous.

Sometimes, for the Association’s experiments, she had to fast entirely.

By comparison, Xiaoxi’s cooking was a delight.

Xiaoxi nodded, understanding.

Never had it?

Of course—a rich girl like her probably grew up on gourmet dishes.

Trying ordinary home-cooked food must feel novel and tasty.

Family News

Just then, Xiaoxi’s WeChat pinged.

Seeing it was her mom, her heart sank.

Was she setting up another blind date?

“Your sister’s university starts early. She’s arriving in Xiahai City tomorrow and said she’ll visit you in a couple of days. Your address is still the same, right?”

Xiaoxi blinked.

She’d been thrilled when her sister, Xiaoke, got into a university in Xiahai City.

But early enrollment was news to her.

“Yeah, still the same rented place.”

She glanced at Ye Xinglan, grateful she hadn’t been evicted.

If Xiaoke arrived and found her “big brother” homeless, her dignity would be shredded.

She hadn’t seen Xiaoke in ages and missed her.

But the fact that Xiaoke didn’t message her directly, relying on their mom to relay the news…

It seemed Xiaoke still wasn’t fond of her, just like before.

Still, it was fine.

Xiaoxi needed to prepare—like buying some chest binders.

A Sibling Reunion

Two days later, the doorbell rang, and Xiaoxi shot out of her room.

Her palms were sweaty.

She hadn’t seen Xiaoke in so long, and her sister rarely messaged her.

“Big Bro, long time no—”

The cheerful greeting cut off as the door opened.

Xiaoke, ready to hug her brother, froze, eyeing Xiaoxi suspiciously from head to toe.

Her gaze lingered on Xiaoxi’s chest.

“Ke, what’s wrong?” Xiaoxi’s voice wavered, nervous.

“Hmm… huh…”

Xiaoke stared at Xiaoxi’s chest for a long moment.

Suddenly, she lunged, grabbing at Xiaoxi’s lower half.

What the—!

Xiaoxi jumped, startled.

After all this time, this brat was still so shameless!

She couldn’t dodge Xiaoke’s quick hands.

After feeling around, Xiaoke’s face lit up with shock.

“Big Bro… no, Big Sis, it’s completely gone?”

An Awkward Explanation

Moments later, on the living room sofa, Xiaoke sat cross-legged, staring at Xiaoxi like she was interrogating a criminal.

“Spill it. When did this happen? You hid it from me and Mom?”

“Not long. I didn’t want Mom to worry…”

“How’d I know? I’m not blind!”

Xiaoke laughed, exasperated.

She and their mom had expected this day might come.

Xiaoxi had always looked delicate, not very masculine.

But still…

This skin, so fair and smooth!

This face, so cute!

And that chest—binders or not, it was obvious something was off.

“Ugh, how’s your chest bigger than mine?”

Xiaoke fumed, kicking at Xiaoxi’s side, though Xiaoxi dodged nimbly.

“Whatever, this suits you. You never had much ‘guy energy’ anyway, right?”

Xiaoke huffed.

Xiaoxi knew what she meant but only gave a bitter smile, staying silent.

When they were kids, Xiaoke didn’t dislike her this much.

Her attitude shifted… probably after Xiaoxi became Eternal Star.

Back then, monsters and villains were rampant, and society was far less safe.

To young Xiaoke, Xiaoxi, the only “boy” in the family, always seemed to abandon her and their mom during monster attacks, running off alone.

It must’ve looked like cowardice.

But Xiaoxi couldn’t explain she had to find a secluded spot to transform into Eternal Star to fight and protect them.

An Unexpected Interruption

“Xiaoxi, what’s for lunch today—”

A cool voice came from the bedroom.

Xiaoke’s eyes widened as Ye Xinglan walked out.

Big Bro… no, Big Sis, had game?

She was secretly keeping a woman at home?