That evening, Ethan Reed handed the company keys to Daniel and told him to lock up later before heading straight to Vivian Frost's office.
His sister was arriving around eight o'clock by train. There was still plenty of time, but there was one small problem.
He didn't have a car.
Which meant… he had to rely on his boss.
When Ethan stepped into the office, Vivian was focused on her computer, fingers moving quickly across the keyboard.
"Huh? Weren't you joking this afternoon?" she asked without looking up.
That question completely caught him off guard.
Vivian genuinely thought he had been kidding. It was December. Students should be buried in textbooks, not hopping on trains for casual visits.
"How about this," Vivian said lazily, eyes still on the screen. "I'll give you the car keys. You go pick her up."
"I don't have a driver's license," Ethan replied calmly.
Vivian finally turned around.
"But my game just started!"
"Boss, you can play another round later. And honestly? Your skill level is average at best. Since it's not a team match, going AFK might actually improve the experience for your opponent."
Vivian froze.
She was playing Street Fighter 3, using Chun-Li, currently dominating beginners in the lower brackets. After the Northstar Cup, the game's popularity had exploded. Streamers flooded platforms like SharkStream and BiliZone, hoping to ride the wave. Some switched from other games. Others were longtime fighting game players chasing traffic.
Street Fighter 3 hadn't become the biggest game in the world, but it was undeniably hot right now.
After winning the championship, one top player had gained one hundred thousand followers overnight on SharkStream.
And yet—
Vivian still struggled against newcomers.
She was the perfect example of "bad but addicted."
"…Fine," she sighed, reluctantly quitting the match.
She grabbed her bag and stood up. "After we pick up your sister, should we go eat somewhere? And where is she staying? You live in that tiny single room, right? Don't tell me you're putting her in a hotel."
"I'll take the bed. She can take the floor. Just one night. I'll find a new place tomorrow."
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
Ethan had never cared about space before. His small room was efficient. Two steps to the bathroom, one roll to reach the computer. Perfect for someone living alone.
But now his sister was coming.
Even though they were siblings, staying long-term in a single room wasn't right. Still, if he dared suggest a hotel, she would absolutely make a scene.
Ethan knew her personality too well.
In high school, she had once fought a cafeteria worker for shaking the food ladle too lightly. She literally grabbed the serving spoon and filled her own plate. Teachers called home constantly. Yet no one truly punished her.
Because she was brilliant.
Recommended early to a top university. Provincial-level outstanding student. A genuine academic prodigy.
You don't suspend someone like that over cafeteria politics.
So one cramped night it would be. Tomorrow he'd look for a three-bedroom apartment. Two bathrooms. Future-proof. If their parents visited, they'd need space.
Buying property wasn't a problem anymore. The only irony was that Lumen City, technically a third-tier city, had shockingly high housing prices.
Vivian started the car.
"But how can your sister travel now? Isn't she in university already? Did she take leave?"
"University? She's still technically a high school student."
Vivian nearly braked.
"What?"
"She got recommended. The night her results came out, the school sent her home."
"…They expelled their top student?"
"They didn't 'expel' her," Ethan corrected. "They just didn't want her watching movies in class and distracting seniors preparing for exams."
Vivian blinked.
"Which university accepted her?"
"Top-tier. Same place Daniel studied."
Vivian went silent.
Ethan continued casually, "She self-studied middle school courses in elementary school. Got into a provincial key high school in her second year. If our parents had agreed, she'd already be a sophomore at seventeen."
Vivian glanced at him.
And then she shook her head.
She didn't believe she was more impressive than Ethan.
To Vivian, Ethan was the real monster.
Music composition? Genius.
Game design? Visionary.
Art direction? Flawless.
If Northstar Games had global backing, Ethan would already be internationally famous.
Actually… maybe he already was.
—
By nine o'clock, they were standing inside Lumen City train station.
Ethan had just hung up the phone. His sister had gotten off the train and was walking up with her luggage.
Five minutes later—
He spotted her instantly.
Tall. Twin ponytails. A blue denim jacket over a black T-shirt. Slim jeans that made her legs look straight and long. Youthful face. No makeup. Confident posture.
And over her shoulder—
A massive urea sack.
In her other hand? A pink suitcase.
Vivian nudged Ethan.
"That's her, right?"
He nodded.
The girl looked around, then spotted him.
Her eyes lit up.
She rushed over.
"Brooo—!"
Ethan stepped forward, arms open—
And immediately got smacked in the chest by a flying urea sack.
"What the—"
He instinctively caught it.
His sister tossed the bag at him without hesitation.
Then she completely ignored him.
Instead—
She turned toward Vivian.
Opened her arms.
And hugged her.
Vivian froze.
Brain offline.
System crash.
"Hello, Sister-in-law!"
The girl grinned mischievously, hugging Vivian's head before stepping back and tilting her head playfully toward Ethan.
She even winked.
Ethan: "?"
Vivian: "???"
The first meeting exploded into chaos before Ethan could even explain a single word.
Vivian's face flushed red.
"S-Sister-in-law?"
Ethan finally reacted. "What nonsense are you saying?!"
His sister crossed her arms, pretending to be serious.
"Didn't Mom say when a beautiful woman personally drives you to pick someone up at night, it's either your boss or your girlfriend?"
"She is my boss!"
"Oh." She nodded thoughtfully. "Boss during the day. Sister-in-law at night?"
Vivian almost choked.
Ethan dropped the urea sack on the ground.
"What's in this thing anyway?!"
"Snacks. Local specialties. And some homemade pickles Mom insisted you take."
Vivian looked at the sack, then at Ethan, then back at the girl.
She suddenly understood something.
The energy.
The confidence.
The boldness.
Yes.
This was definitely Ethan's sister.
"Nice to meet you," Vivian finally said, regaining composure. "I'm Vivian Frost."
"Future sister-in-law," the girl corrected brightly.
Ethan covered his face.
The quiet night at Lumen City train station turned into a battlefield of embarrassment and laughter.
People nearby glanced over.
Vivian awkwardly cleared her throat.
"Well… let's go eat first."
The girl immediately hooked arms with Vivian, walking ahead like they'd known each other for years.
Ethan followed behind, carrying the pink suitcase in one hand and the heavy urea sack in the other.
He stared at the back of the two women walking together, chatting happily.
Something felt strange.
But also warm.
Maybe this chaotic energy…
Wasn't so bad.
As they walked out of the station into the cool night air of Lumen City, Ethan realized one thing very clearly—
Life was about to become much louder.
And far less peaceful.
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