"Knock, knock, knock~"
The sudden knocking at the door made Xun'er freeze; her actions halted, and her whole body stiffened.
Kurumi returned to reality and quickly pushed the girl off her, hastily straightening her dress.
"Miss? Are the two misses inside?"
"What is it?"
Kurumi tried to calm her emotions and asked the maid outside the door.
"The patriarch wants the two misses to go to the reception hall. It's said that a distinguished guest is coming."
'A distinguished guest?'
Kurumi and Xun'er exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of how to respond.
"We'll be there shortly. You can go about your business."
"Yes, miss. I'll take my leave now."
After waiting momentarily and hearing no more sounds outside the wooden door, Kurumi turned to look at Xun'er.
The girl's face was flushed, her eyes darting around, not knowing how to face Kurumi.
'Oh no! What did I just do?!'
Xun'er's heart was in turmoil. If she had just kissed her sister, it would have been one thing, but...
"Xun'er~"
The girl trembled slightly, sneaking a glance at Kurumi's expression. Her heart was in chaos, and she was unsure of what to do.
Kurumi stared at the girl for a while, a slight bitterness rising in her heart. She indeed regarded Xun'er as her sister.
She got off the bed and stood up. "Let's go. What are you still doing there?"
"Ah!"
Xun'er let out a surprised sound, hurriedly standing up and trying to walk past Kurumi.
"Wait!"
Xun'er's body stiffened, her steps halting abruptly.
Kurumi walked up to Xun'er, looking at the flustered girl, a hint of unnaturalness flashing in her eyes.
She reached out to Xun'er, who tightly closed her eyes, thinking her sister was about to scold her.
'It's all my fault! Our relationship...'
While Xun'er waited in distress for her sister's punishment, she felt a pair of hands tidying her clothes instead.
Kurumi gently smoothed out the creases in Xun'er's dress, pulled back her messy hair, and meticulously adjusted the girl's collar.
"Xun'er has grown up. You're no longer just following behind your sister. Having your own opinions makes your sister very happy."
Xun'er lowered her head, not daring to meet Kurumi's eyes. Kurumi, feeling helpless, mimicked their childhood and gently rested her forehead against Xun'er's, their long hair entangled, indistinguishable from one another.
After a while, sensing Xun'er had stopped trembling, Kurumi softly asked, "Feeling better?"
"Yes."
The voice was as faint as a mosquito, making Kurumi smile.
"Don't think about what just happened. I believe it was just a moment of impulse."
"It's not!"
The girl suddenly raised her head, her big eyes looking at Kurumi.
Seeing her sister's beautiful face, Xun'er quickly lowered her head again, falling silent.
'It's because I'm selfish! I really like my sister! I want her to always protect me!'
Her inner voice screamed, but she dared not speak it out loud.
Since childhood, her sister had always given in to her.
ShariShe is sharing precious malt candy, divine flames, top-tier bloodline, and the clan's precious cultivation resources, even repairing her foundation at the cost of being unconscious for two days and nights!
Did she think Xun'er didn't know? Did she think she could hide it well?
Even now, she was training hard every day, preparing for the future.
Xun'er felt useless... only causing trouble for her sister... but she liked her.
Kurumi's heart ached. She knew Xun'er had issues with her feelings. Raising a little girl was one thing, but escalating to a romantic "love" was something she couldn't accept.
Trying to regain her composure, Kurumi smiled, bent her knees slightly, and kissed away the tears on the girl's face.
Xun'er looked up, filled with disbelief and a glimmer of hope.
Kurumi's smile never wavered. "Don't cry anymore, or you won't be pretty."
Xun'er's lips twitched into a stiff, heart-wrenching smile.
"So what? I'm not as pretty as you, sister."
"Feeling better?"
"Yes."
"That's good. Otherwise, in the reception hall, they might think I bullied you."
Kurumi's eyes sparkled with a smile. "With your influence in the Xiao family, would they surround me and threaten me?"
"No way!" The girl waved her tiny fists. "I'd take care of them before they could hurt you!"
"So, I can rely on you to protect me from now on."
"Hmph!"
Xun'er suppressed her emotions, picked up an old black book from the desk, and walked to the door.
Turning back, she said, "Sister, let's go. It would be very rude to be late."
"Don't worry, someone will definitely be later than us!"
Only Kurumi and Xun'er knew their innermost thoughts. Walking side by side to the reception hall, many clan members saw the famed 'Xiao family's twin flowers' for the first time.
Upon reaching the hall, almost everyone was present. The room was packed, with only Xiao Zhan and a few elders, the rest being young members.
Xiao Zhan nodded at them, and Kurumi led Xun'er to an inconspicuous corner.
But all eyes followed them. These young men, in their hormonal prime, were shocked. They had always admired Xun'er, but now there was another beauty, Mo'er!
The twin flowers standing together had a significant impact on these hormone-driven boys.
Even Xiao Mei, who sat among the girls with a hint of a leader's aura, glanced over, her gaze lingering on Kurumi.
Since childhood, the elders had always praised three people: her cousin Xiao Yan, who had fallen from grace, and these twin sisters, each more beautiful than her!
When Xiao Mo'er looked up, their eyes met briefly. Xiao Mei shivered at the cold, emotionless gaze, feeling a deep-seated danger.
'A scheming girl, no doubt!'
As Xiao Mei labeled her "rival," a boy suddenly entered the hall.
His clothes were dusty as if he'd been playing around.
Xiao Mei felt extreme disdain when he saw his awkward smile and big white teeth.
Once a prodigy who had shocked the entire Wutan City, he is now reduced to a nobody. In Xiao Mei's eyes, only the unambitious will remain by his side.
"Xiao Yan! You actually remembered to come!"