Why are the magical girls in your area male?

Clearly, those words caused her considerable harm.

However, she's doing alright. After receiving love guidance and relationship counseling from Yuko-nee, her "health points," "defense," and "attack power" have all increased significantly.

She's not someone who can be scared away by a single threat.

"Yes, it tastes really good."

Yuan Xun slowly chewed the fish, swallowed it, and savored the taste, as if recalling a happy past:

“I used to pick out the fish when we went to the market. Don’t be fooled by my brother’s excellent cooking skills now. When he was in junior high school, he couldn’t even cut a piece of meat properly, let alone kill a fish.”

I remember when I was at my relative's house, he secretly fried an egg for me, but he accidentally burned it.

Later, I was discovered and even beaten up. Those were tough times. Thankfully, my older brother was there for me; otherwise, I don't know how I would have survived…

"...The hardest days are over, things will get better and better from now on, Xiao Xun, I promise," Yuan Qing comforted gently.

Yuan Xun nodded, the sorrow on her face fading, replaced by an even sweeter smile: "Yes, of course, I believe you. My brother always keeps his word."

Yuki Tsukishiro was almost blinded by the dazzling brilliance of their childhood friendship.

A nostalgia filter? When?

Xiao Xun and A Qing's bond was established more than ten years ago. After all this history, she suddenly felt like a "third party" who had ruined their relationship.

Is this the halo effect of childhood sweethearts...?

Lao Xun actually awakened the complete form of her childhood friend, and knew how to use this heavy memory to enhance her domain.

They're tough to deal with...

As Yuki Tsukishiro pondered, Kaoru Minamoto, who was standing beside her, seemed to suddenly remember something, glanced down at her slippers, and looked apologetic.

"Oh dear, these slippers seem to be Ji-jie's personal slippers, right? The pair that your brother bought especially for you?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't notice when I changed my shoes, I just put them on randomly."

"..."

Yuki Tsukishiro's lips twitched. She hadn't paid much attention to this kind of thing before, but now that Kaoru Minamoto was deliberately bringing it up, it was clearly an implication to her:

"Sorry, I stole the 'exclusive' item that my brother bought for you."

This is blatant provocation!

No, Xiaoxun, are you trying to "declare war" on me?

Her lips moved, as if she was about to say something, but the other person suddenly changed the subject, their voice noticeably colder:

"However, Yuki-neechan was also very rude, taking away someone else's most precious thing."

"..."

The moment those words were spoken, the dining table fell silent.

The room felt like it had jumped straight from June into winter, with even the air suddenly dropping to freezing point.

Yuki Tsukishiro felt as if a needle had pierced her heart.

Did they steal her most precious thing...?

She knew Yuan Xun's feelings for Yuan Qing, but she still became his girlfriend and even disguised herself as a man to deceive the siblings for more than three years.

Although from a moral standpoint, she was Yuan Qing's first and legitimate girlfriend.

The other party had not established a romantic relationship with any woman, so there was no question of "stealing" Yuan Qing in their relationship.

The problem is, she really does treat Yuan Xun like a younger sister...

The other person was heartbroken because of her, which was indeed the thing she felt she had wronged Yuan Xun the most.

Thinking of how the other person forced a smile that day, wishing her and Yuan Qing a long and happy life together, and how she had chosen to run away these past few days, hiding away alone...

Enduring the double betrayal from both his closest brother and most reliable senior, licking the wounds inflicted by those closest to him...

Put yourself in Yuan Xun's shoes. If Yuan Xun had confessed first and they had gotten together, you would probably be even more upset than Yuan Xun.

Just then, Yuan Xun suddenly smiled and changed the subject: "Oh, don't misunderstand, I was talking about the cup."

I bought that couple's mug with my brother, but he thought it was a sibling set and didn't like it, so I put it away. I never expected it would see the light of day again.

Does this mean that appearance is secondary, and the key factor is who you're using it with?

"..."

Yuan Xun's last casual remark once again brought the atmosphere at the dinner table to a freezing point.

Yuki Tsukishiro's fingers tightened slightly as she held the chopsticks, and the smile she was trying to maintain became increasingly forced.

As a senior colleague and Yuki-neechan (Yuki's older sister), she should have remained calm and composed.

But it's so difficult...

It's really hard...

"Knock knock knock!"

Suddenly, Yuan Qing tapped the table lightly with his left index finger, stopping the escalating "battle" between the two:

"You two, shut up! Focus on your meal, or the food will get cold."

"..."

“Xiao Xun, it’s usually just the two of us at home, so we don’t have any cups for guests. Yuki just happened to see those two unused mugs and took them out. She didn’t mean to ‘take’ your things.”

Yuan Qing said calmly, then turned to Yue Shiro Yuki, his eyes filled with a hint of reassurance: "Yuki, Kaoru hasn't been home for a long time."

She traveled a long way from school to the manor, and then took a car from the manor to home. She must be tired. Let's have a good meal first, and we can talk about anything else afterward, okay?

Both of them lowered their heads at the same time.

Yuki Tsukishiro said nothing and did not seem dissatisfied with Gensei's mediation.

As for Yuan Xun, she gave a soft "hmm".

The three of them ate the food on the table in silence. It could have been called a "Manchu Han Imperial Feast," but they found it tasteless and unpleasant.

"I'm sorry, brother, Yuki-nee."

As she ate, Yuan Xun suddenly lowered her head, her voice tinged with a slight sob:

"I... I just feel... this home seems a little unfamiliar. I used to be very familiar with everything here."

Now, so many places have changed, become unfamiliar to me, and feel like someone else's home..."

Yuki Tsukishiro immediately clenched her teeth and curled her fingers.

How could she not understand what Yuan Xun meant?

Her words implied that this "outsider" had intruded into her life and completely destroyed her warm home and safe haven.

Her once private little home has become a den for outsiders...

The sense of being "excluded" that Yuan Xun expressed, as well as the presence of herself as an "outsider," truly made her feel uneasy and alienated.

She was about to say something, but before she could speak, Yuan Qing's voice rang out first:

"Xiao Xun."

His tone remained calm, but it was noticeably more serious: "This is not 'someone else's home,' this will always be your home, your safe haven and your safe house, and that will never change."

But Yuki, she's already my girlfriend, and she'll be part of this family from now on. So, our family isn't becoming 'someone else's family,' but rather we've gained a new member.

Kaoru, you should know very well what kind of person Yuki is. She treats you like a younger sister and cares for you and looks after you just like I do.

So please don't hurt her like this anymore. You know she cares about you a lot, so please don't hurt someone who cares about you, okay?

Yuan Xun lowered her head, a forced smile on her lips, and said in a muffled voice, "Yes, I understand. I'm sorry, brother. I'm sorry, Yuki-nee. I didn't mean to..."

"it does not matter."

Yuki Tsukishiro, witnessing this scene, also felt a mix of emotions.

She understood Yuan Xun's disappointment, which had also been her nightmare.

Countless nights she had spent imagining whether she would have the courage to live if Yuan Qing rejected her confession.

Therefore, seeing Yuan Xun's forced and aggrieved appearance, she felt very sorry for her.

She subconsciously picked up a piece of food for Yuan Xun, trying to ease the atmosphere: "Xiao Xun, A Qing is right, don't think too much, try this, it won't taste good when it's cold."

"..."

Yuan Xun looked at the sweet and sour pork ribs in her bowl, remained silent for a few seconds, then quietly moved it aside without eating it.

This subtle movement, like a fine needle, gently pierced Yuki's heart, freezing the smile on her face completely.

"Ugh......"

Yuan Qing sighed softly, put down his chopsticks, and cast a comforting look at Yuecheng Yuki: "Yuki, Xiao Xun just got back, and her mind is still a bit chaotic and her emotions are not very stable. Please be more understanding, okay?"

After saying that, he mouthed, "I will make it up to you."

With comfort from her lover, Yuki Tsukishiro's heavy sorrow eased considerably.

She nodded slightly, revealing a relieved smile.

The sumptuous dinner ended in silence.

Everyone seemed preoccupied, so the dishes on the table were barely touched.

An awkward silence hung in the air, like an invisible veil enveloping the group.

Yuan Qing looked at the two people who were bowing their heads and remaining silent, and sighed inwardly.

He stood up and began clearing the table, the soft clatter of the dishes breaking the deathly silence.

"Let me do it."

Yuki Tsukishiro also stood up, reached out to Gensei, and took the plate from his hand.

Her fingers were slightly cool, and when they touched Yuan Qing's hand, they paused slightly.

Yuan Qing saw the weariness she was trying to hide in her eyes, let go of her hand, and gently comforted her, "You've worked hard, don't push yourself too hard."

"I'm fine, really."

Yuki Tsukishiro smiled gently, picked up the bowls and plates, turned and walked towards the kitchen, her back view appearing somewhat frail.

Yuan Qing turned his gaze to Yuan Xun, who was still sitting at the dining table with his head down.

Her fingers unconsciously drew random patterns on the table, and she huddled there like a small animal that had been soaked in the rain and was at a loss.

“Xiao Xun,” Yuan Qing walked to her side and spoke gently, “Don’t sit here in a daze. Go back to your room first. I’ve been cleaning your room, and the sheets and blankets are fresh.”

Here, let me help you take your suitcase inside. See if you're missing anything.

"..."

Yuan Xun nodded, not looking at him, silently stood up, and followed Yuan Qing into his room.

Turn on the lights, and a warm and inviting atmosphere greets you.

The room was tidy and spotless, with all the items still in their original places, just as they were before I left.

Yuan Qing placed the suitcase against the wall, opened the cabinet, and took out a brand new set of towels and bath towels.

"The bath towels you had before were a bit worn out. This is a high-end one that Yuki picked out for you. It cost her quite a bit of money."

As he tidied up, he gave the same instructions as always, "Summer is almost here, so you probably won't need a thick blanket this season. But if it gets cold at night, you can add a blanket. I've taken it out and put it on the chair."

Remember to close the windows when you go to sleep at night. If you feel stuffy, you can leave a small crack open for ventilation.

After finishing tidying up, Yuan Qing turned around, looked at Yuan Xun standing at the door with her head down, walked over, and reached out to ruffle her hair:

"Don't think too much about it. This will always be your home. You can't run away. Yuki doesn't mean any harm. She's just straightforward and sometimes speaks without thinking, as you know."

Besides, she genuinely cares about you. Just now at dinner, when she saw you hadn't eaten the food she'd put on your plate, her eyes lit up.

"I know, I know..."

Yuan Xun sniffed and said in a muffled voice, "I just... I didn't control my emotions for a moment... I'm sorry, brother, I've caused you trouble."

"Silly girl, we're family. What do you have to apologize for between us?"

Yuan Qing gently pinched her soft cheek and said, "If you feel uncomfortable and want to talk, just tell me."

But stop venting your frustrations by hurting those who care about you. You know best how Yuki has treated you.