Zhao Tian let out a small sigh, though it was tinged with amusement "Sister Nue, if you squeeze me any tighter, I might start thinking you don't want to let me go ever again."

Qi Nue finally pulled back slightly, though her hands still rested firmly on his shoulders.

Her eyes were faintly misty, but her lips curved upward in a smile "And what if I don't?" she replied softly, half-joking, half-serious.

Zhao Tian reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. "Then I'd have no choice but to stay here forever, wouldn't I? After all, how could I ever refuse my your wish?"

Her lips trembled faintly, and Qi Xue stepped forward at last, placing a hand lightly on Qi Nue's arm "Enough, Nue'er. If you keep him here clinging to you, when will I have my turn?"

Qi Nue blinked, then laughed softly, a bit embarrassed.

She loosened her hold on Zhao Tian and stepped aside, wiping at her eyes quickly as if to hide the trace of tears.

Qi Xue moved closer and she extended both hands toward Zhao Tian.

He took them without hesitation, and she squeezed them lightly before speaking.

"We missed you..." She gave him a small smile, then pulled him forward into her own embrace.

It was gentler than Qi Nue's desperate hug, but no less heartfelt.

Her chin rested lightly against his shoulder as she closed her eyes.

When Qi Xue finally stepped back, her cheeks were faintly red.

She quickly hid it by turning to Qi Nue "We should prepare some tea. If he rushed here the moment he arrived, he probably hasn't rested or eaten."

Qi Nue hurriedly nodded "You're right."

She turned back to Zhao Tian, pointing at him with a faintly accusatory look "Sit down. Don't you dare wander off again until you've properly spent time with us."

Zhao Tian chuckled, "Alright, alright."

He sat down on the couch again, his gaze following them with warmth as they moved about the small dorm room.

And as he leaned back, watching Qi Nue bustling clumsily to prepare the kettle while Qi Xue quietly arranged cups on the table.

...

The lanterns outside their dormitory flickered dimly, casting a soft orange glow through the window lattice.

Qi Nue lay on her back, staring at the ceiling above with her arms folded beneath her head, and her long hair spilled across the pillow.

Beside her, Qi Xue was sprawled comfortably on her stomach with her chin resting in her palms, kicking her legs lazily in the air.

She kept glancing at her younger sister's silly smile, "You're doing it again,"

"Doing what?" Qi Nue asked absentmindedly.

"That face. The 'Little Brother is back, and now my heart is about to melt' face."

Qi Nue immediately flushed red and turned onto her side, hugging the pillow tight to her chest "S–Shut up, I'm not making any face!"

"You are," Qi Xue grinned. "You've been glowing ever since he came back. I swear, if someone looked at you right now, they would think you just had your first night together."

"Sister!!" Qi Nue buried her face into the pillow in embarrassment.

Qi Xue chuckled, rolling onto her side to poke her sister's back "Don't tell me you've forgotten the last time you tried to seduce him. Hm? Perfume, towel, naked-"

"Don't say it!!" Qi Nue's whole face was crimson as she wagged her finger at her elder sister. "If you bring that up again, I'll smother you in your sleep!"

Qi Xue laughed so hard she rolled onto her back, clutching her stomach. "Ahaha- ah, I can still see his face that day. Poor Little Brother..."

Qi Nue covered her face with her hands, groaning "I want to die just remembering it… it was all because of your stupid ideas"

But after a long pause, her fingers parted just enough to reveal her eyes as she spoke softly "…But… this time felt different. When he hugged me, Sister…"

Qi Xue blinked at her and she leaned closer "Then don't let go of that feeling, Nue'er. This time, don't just wait for him to act. Take him."

Qi Nue's heart skipped "But… what if I mess up again?"

Qi Xue grinned "Then mess up boldly. At least you'll be in his arms when you do."

Qi Nue's eyes still lingered on the ceiling and Qi Xue suddenly rolled over to her "…So. What's your next move?"

Qi Nue blinked in surprise "M–my what?"

"Next move," Qi Xue repeated smoothly. "Don't play dumb, little sister. Are you really going to just sigh about this on the bed and do nothing again?"

Qi Nue pouted, curling deeper into her blanket "It's not like I can just… jump into his arms whenever I want. He has so many women around him already. What if I just become another face in the crowd?"

"Ah, but you're not just another face," Qi Xue teased, poking her forehead.

"You're his precious Senior Sister, the one who's been by his side since he came to this sect. You've got an advantage none of the others do."

Qi Nue's heart thumped at the words.

She opened her mouth to retort, but Qi Xue was already leaning closer, whispering conspiratorially like a fox.

"Alright, hear me out. Option one... now that he's back, you play the 'gentle caretaker' card. Cook for him, bring him meals, make him rely on you. Nothing seduces a man faster than the taste of comfort."

Qi Nue hesitated "…That doesn't sound too bad…"

Qi Xue's grin widened "Option two: accidental skinship. You 'trip' into his arms, spill tea on yourself and need his help, lean too close when you hand him a towel… Let him feel that soft warmth and watch him sweat."

Qi Nue buried her face into her hands "Sister, you make it sound so dirty…"

"Dirty? No, no, it's strategy." Qi Xue wagged her finger. "And if all else fails, Option three: the bold strike. Late at night, when everyone's asleep… sneak into his room again."

Qi Nue turned her head toward her sister in horro "Absolutely not! After last time? I AM NOT DOING IT AGAIN!"

Qi Xue's smile turned sly, "Oh, come now. Atleast he saw you naked... Don't you want to be with him on the bed and cuddle in his arms like a cute cat-"

"SISTER!!!" Qi Nue screeched, tackling her with a pillow and smacking her repeatedly.

Pomf! Pomf! Pomf!

Qi Xue laughed even as she shielded her head "See?! You're already imagining it!"

"I'll kill you!!"

The bed rocked with their playful struggle until Qi Nue finally collapsed beside her again.

Qi Xue peeked at her little sister's embarrassed face and smiled "Hehe… don't worry, Nue'er. I'll help you come up with the perfect plan. This time, Little Brother won't escape your grasp."

Qi Nue groaned into her pillow… but in the secret corners of her heart, a tiny flame of anticipation had already been lit.

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