"Wow! You can see the ocean from here—so pretty!"
The moment they stepped into the villa, You Anlina couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.
The sea outside wasn’t the typical crystal blue people imagined; instead, it had a deep, almost inky blackness, vast and boundless.
But through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, this grand and mysterious view was fully displayed—enough to make any first-time visitor pause in admiration.
Aixi Li also glanced at the beach and waves before turning to Sakura Ryou.
"Uh… Is it okay to take pictures here?"
"Of course. Our humble home isn’t that strict—just don’t take pictures of me."
No one except Sakura Palace caught the underlying jab at certain other households that were excessively strict.
Still, the contrast between the luxurious mansion and Ryou’s use of the term 'humble home' gave off major Versailles energy.
You Anlina wiped her forehead dramatically.
"Ugh… Can we please talk like normal people? At this rate, my brain’s gonna overload."
Sakura Ryou smiled sweetly.
"In that case, I’ll be more casual. Is that alright?"
"Yes, yes, please!"
She covered her mouth with a laugh—an action exactly like Sakura Palace’s.
The signature grace of the Sakura family’s upbringing, no doubt.
But unlike her older cousin, Ryou’s smile was far more radiant—lacking the seasoned maturity of Sakura Palace’s composed demeanor.
No wonder she could fool the poor, gullible otaku.
At that moment, Yaqiao Mu was staring at Sakura Ryou with pure devotion, gripping Yan Huan’s sleeve in excitement.
"This—this is a real JC loli! A pure, flawless, sweet, and kind loli! And she’s a noble one, too! President!!"
"…Stop right there. Real-life lolicons get the firing squad. Ten minutes, no exceptions."
Yan Huan sighed as he shut down Yaqiao Mu’s "flavor explosion" of enthusiasm.
Then, he lifted his gaze, observing the little princess before him.
Sakura Ryou noticed his gaze.
Her lips, hidden behind her hand, pressed together slightly, and her eyes flickered with hesitation.
Subtly, she leaned forward just a little—enough to carefully examine Yan Huan’s appearance today.
He was dressed casually, but with his naturally sharp features, as long as he was well-groomed, he never looked bad.
On top of that, thanks to his "enhanced training," his physique had improved dramatically in recent months.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Compared to her own petite frame…
If he hugged me tightly, it’d probably feel really nice, right?
That thought alone made her face turn red.
She quickly waved her hand, brushing off her stray thoughts with a bright smile.
"Um, President… If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. Make yourself at home."
Yan Huan looked at her and suddenly smirked.
"You never returned the power bank, did you?"
"Eh?! I—"
Hearing this, Ryou finally remembered.
Back then, when her phone had run out of battery, Yan Huan had rented a power bank for her.
But before she had a chance to return it, she had been picked up by her family—leaving the power bank sitting in her room way past the return deadline.
Her mouth opened slightly, then she panicked.
"I-I still have it in my room! I-I’ll return it to you later!"
Yan Huan chuckled.
"Why bother? It’s useless to me now."
He remembered it all too well—coming home the next day, only to see a 99-yuan penalty fee deducted from his account.
So this is the price of being a good Samaritan, huh?
Still, it had been a while, and he was already over it. He waved it off with a smile.
"It’s fine. It’s just a power bank."
"S-Still… I’m really sorry, President…"
Ryou pursed her lips and flailed her hands slightly, flustered, wanting to explain or compensate him.
What a disaster! How could she have forgotten?!
"It’s nothing. You’re the birthday girl today—don’t worry about it. Happy birthday."
Yan Huan shook his head before heading toward the living room.
Sakura Ryou turned to watch his retreating figure, her lips pressing together as she lightly clenched her fingers.
"…You actually invited the President?"
"Ahh!!"
That calm yet terrifying voice suddenly sounded behind her, nearly making her jump out of her skin.
Sakura Palace had arrived.
She was staring at Ryou with an unreadable expression.
"Sakura Ryou, what’s with all this… grandeur? And what were you and the President just talking about?"
Ryou froze slightly, glancing at her cousin’s blank yet utterly deadly expression.
But she quickly coughed lightly and smiled.
"W-What do you mean? I was just being considerate! What’s wrong with putting effort into welcoming my guests?"
"Then why didn’t you do this when I visited alone?"
"T-That’s… Every visit can’t be this extravagant, right? Ahh, cousin, have you forgotten the virtue of frugality after living in luxury for so long? Grandpa would be so disappointed~"
"…Say that again?"
"Haha! I need to go entertain my guests! You should hurry up and join us, cousin!"
Ryou knew Sakura Palace was seconds away from snapping, so she quickly averted her gaze and skipped away.
"Everyone! If you don’t like tea, I also prepared other drinks! Just let me know what you’d like!"
"Nice~"
Sakura Palace’s face darkened further.
She clenched her fists but somehow restrained herself—choosing to see just what her scheming little cousin was planning.
———
"You need me to introduce you to the view? It’s your cousin’s house!"
"You’re dumb. She doesn’t need you to introduce it to her—she’s talking to us!"
On the balcony, You Anlina and Aixi Li were taking pictures. Meanwhile, Yaqiao Mu still had his eyes glued to Sakura Ryou, seemingly shaken to his otaku core by a real-life noble loli.
Meanwhile, Yan Huan poured tea for Sakura Palace.
"Sakura."
"Ah, thank you, President."
She smiled slightly as she accepted the cup.
"You’ve gotten quite skilled at pouring tea."
"Not bad, right? I learned by watching you. Guess I’m close to mastering it."
"Hardly."
She chuckled, cradling the warm cup in her hands.
"By the way, so that little girl is your cousin?"
"Huh?"
Sakura Palace blinked.
"You’ve met Ryou before, President?"
"Yeah, during the school open day. She got lost, so I helped her find the exit. But… she feels different from how she was back then…"
Yan Huan took a sip of tea. His eyes brightened slightly.
"Good tea."
He wasn’t an expert like Sakura Palace, but after drinking enough, he could tell the difference.
Poor-quality tea, no matter how well-prepared, would still leave a slightly rough aftertaste.
Good tea, on the other hand, was smooth and refreshing, with a distinct flavor profile.
This white tea had a gentle, floral fragrance.
He liked it.
"…I see."
Sakura Palace remained outwardly calm, but inside, alarm bells were ringing.
All of this… is Ryou’s way of targeting the President, isn’t it?!
She narrowed her eyes slightly, tightening her grip on her cup.
———
"Guys, you can look at the ocean later! First, try the sakura mochi I made—let me know how it tastes!"
"Ah! Okay, Saku—uh…"
You Anlina stopped mid-sentence.
There was a problem.
Sakura Palace was Sakura, but so was her sister.
"Wait, you’re also Sakura? Then… what should I call you?!"
"Pfft…"
Sakura Ryou giggled.
"Just call me Little Sister. I’ll call you all Big Brother and Big Sister in return~"
"YES!"
You Anlina immediately hugged the small, soft Ryou, causing her to squirm.
"Uu… Big Sister You Anlina…"
"Where do you get most important from?!"
Aixi Li rolled her eyes.
"I’m Aixi Li, Disciplinary Committee Chair."
"Aixi Li Big Sister~"
"Yaqiao Mu, Treasurer."
"Big Brother Yaqiao~"
"Ugh!! No… I can’t… President…"
Yaqiao Mu clutched his chest like he was having a heart attack.
Meanwhile, Ryou knowingly turned to Yan Huan.
"President Yan Huan… Big Brother Yan Huan~, right?"
"Yeah, that’s me."
Yan Huan smiled slightly but didn’t return the address.
He just let the topic drop.
Ryou blinked, momentarily thrown off.
"Right! The most important part—Ryou, happy birthday! Here’s a little present from me!"
You Anlina quickly pulled out a wrapped gift and handed it to her.
"Ah, thank you, Big Sister!"
One by one, everyone handed their carefully prepared birthday gifts to Sakura Ryou.
Yan Huan also pulled out a small box, neatly wrapped in elegant paper, and handed it to her.
"Happy birthday."
Sakura Ryou blinked in surprise, but before she could say anything, Sakura Palace’s gaze intensified.
A gift personally chosen by the Student Council President.
What could it be?!
She needed to know.
"Thank you, Big Brother Yan Huan~"
Just then, Sakura Palace quietly walked over, still smiling as she gently took Ryou’s arm.
"I have a present for you outside. Come with me?"
"Eh? O-Okay."
As soon as they stepped out, Sakura Palace let go of her, coughed lightly, and set her sights on the gift Yan Huan had just given.
After a brief silence, she spoke.
"…Aside from me, all the Student Council members are from the outer academy. You probably don’t think much of their gifts.
"I prepared something else you’d like more. But don’t throw these away—after all, they’re heartfelt gifts. Just give them to me for safekeeping."
All of Yan Huan’s Student Council members were from the external entrance exams.
Compared to the extravagant gifts from the noble heirs back home, the things they gave probably didn’t measure up.
As she spoke, Sakura Palace gestured toward Nara, who opened the trunk of the car—revealing a completely packed storage space filled with gifts.
Rare limited-edition merchandise, stylish clothes, and luxurious accessories.
"These were tough to get. Everything’s limited edition."
Sakura Ryou’s eyes widened slightly, and she swallowed.
She spotted several items she had wanted but hadn’t been able to buy.
But just as excitement began to rise in her chest, something clicked in her mind.
Shaking her head quickly, she shoved those thoughts aside and turned to Sakura Palace.
Something felt off.
"Wait… If you knew I might not care about those other gifts, you could’ve just given me these instead.
"Why go through the trouble of taking their presents from me?"
"…Because I don’t want you throwing them away. They were given by my friends—"
Sakura Palace started, but before she could finish, Ryou had already stepped closer, scrutinizing her face.
A second passed.
Then, Ryou’s smile grew wider.
Taking a small step back, she mockingly added,
"Don’t joke. You never used to care about your classmates’ feelings. We’re both from the Sakura family—don’t try to play games with me."
She tapped her lips thoughtfully, pretending to think deeply before snapping her fingers.
"Ahh~ I get it. One of these gifts has something you actually want, doesn’t it?"
"......"
"It’s Yan Huan’s gif—"
Just as she lifted the present in her hands,
"Smack!"
Sakura Palace immediately grabbed her wrist, her face darkened.
Ryou’s pupils contracted slightly as she looked up, trembling a little.
The mask was gone.
Sakura Palace’s expression was now twisted into a dangerous smile.
"Too bad. Wrong answer."
"Eh?"
"Seems like being away from the Sakura family has made you forget your place. Speaking to your elder sister like that… how bold."
She had intended to pull Ryou in close and whisper those words—after all, the Student Council members were still inside. It wouldn’t do to let outsiders hear family matters.
But when she pulled, Ryou didn’t budge.
So, she let go.
"…Don’t forget, Aunt entrusted me with looking after you. If you’re going to be this disobedient, maybe it’s time I inform her of how difficult my duty is.
"She might decide to take you back home and supervise you personally."
The moment "back home" was mentioned, Sakura Ryou’s face turned pale.
She lowered her head slightly, letting her pink-to-black gradient bangs fall over her eyes.
Her lips pressed tightly together.
After a few seconds of silence, her voice trembled as she spoke.
"I… I understand, Big Sister…"
Sakura Palace smirked and released her wrist.
"Good, then—"
But then—Ryou lifted her head.
Tears welled up in her large, innocent eyes.
"???"
She sniffled pitifully, her gaze soft and fragile.
Her nose was red, and she looked like she could burst into tears at any moment.
"…What are you doing?"
"S-Sending me back home… y-you wouldn’t… right, Big Sister? Waaaah…"
Sakura Palace froze.
She had nearly forgotten about their horrible home environment.
She sighed, her stance loosening.
"Alright, alright. I was just kidding. I won’t send you back."
"R-Really?"
"…Really."
Ryou immediately wiped her tears and grinned.
"Hehe~ Then I’ll go tell them to prepare dinner. Big Sister, come inside soon!"
"…Wait—"
Too late.
That pathetic look had tricked her for a second.
She had let her guard down for one moment, and Ryou escaped.
"Like sister, like sister."
Nara, who had been casually leaning against the car, whistled before teasing,
"She’s young, but she’s already learned most of your family’s tactics. And you said you’d get Yan Huan’s gift back easily—doesn’t look so simple now~"
Sakura Palace’s expression soured.
She rubbed her wrist and scoffed.
"Her little tricks? Don’t make me laugh."
"But you two were trained the same way. Can’t crack your own technique, huh?"
"Hmph. I don’t need tricks to deal with her. I’ll get the President’s gift back."
Adjusting her expression, she walked back inside.
Nara yawned and glanced at the brightly lit villa but said nothing more.
———
"You seriously think this dress looks good? Look at these pictures—it literally makes you look like a leaf."
"Ha?! You—you’re not any better!"
"Wait, you’re not actually taking Yaqiao’s dumb opinion seriously, are you?"
After dinner, the villa’s living room had become lively again.
You Anlina and Aixi Li were still arguing about fashion while posing for pictures on the balcony.
Yan Huan, meanwhile, was watching a math tutorial on his Bluetooth earbuds.
Sakura Palace sat nearby, quietly pouring tea—but her gaze never left Sakura Ryou, who was currently ordering Yaqiao Mu around to grab things from the top of the bookshelf.
In just a few hours, Yaqiao Mu had become her personal Pokémon.
Classic lolicon brainwashing—point and command.
"Is this the one, Ryou?"
"Yes! Thank you, Big Brother Yaqiao~!"
The moment she said that, Yaqiao Mu collapsed to the floor, clutching his chest.
He had officially ascended to heaven.
"Loli supremacy~"
Seriously.
Three-dimensional lolicons should be lined up and shot.
"Everyone, let’s play a game!"
"A game?"
Yan Huan took off his earbuds and turned toward Ryou, along with Sakura Palace.
"Yes! The King’s Game!"
Ryou opened an octagonal box, revealing six identical wooden sticks.
She flipped them over—one had the character for "King," while the rest were numbered from one to five.
Then, she placed them back inside the box and shook it lightly.
"Everyone draws a stick. Whoever gets the King can command anyone with a number to do anything! Of course, it has to be within reason—nothing too extreme."
Yan Huan raised an eyebrow.
Instead of agreeing or refusing, he looked around at the others.
"You guys in?"
"I’m in! I’ll make Aixi Li admit my dress is gorgeous!"
"Ugh. Fine. If I win, I’ll make you say ten times that it’s ugly."
You Anlina and Aixi Li were still obsessed with their debate.
Yaqiao Mu…
…was already Ryou’s servant.
"YES! Let’s play!"
Completely oblivious to the undercurrents at play.
Only Sakura Palace exchanged a knowing glance with her sister.
A silent beat passed before she, too, spoke.
"Alright. Let’s play, then."
Ryou smiled sweetly and closed the box, shaking it gently.
Then, she held it out first—to Yan Huan.
"Big Brother Yan Huan, you go first."
He drew a stick.
The others followed.
Then, Ryou took the final one.
"Alright. The King is…"
Everyone checked their numbers, exchanged glances—
And turned to Yaqiao Mu, who raised his stick high.
"I AM THE KING!"
Yaqiao Mu grinned wickedly.
"Alright… I got it. Number two must dress as a maid and feed cake to number four!"
"......"
Aixi Li and You Anlina immediately took a step back.
Sakura Palace glanced at her stick.
And then—
Yan Huan sighed, gripping his number two stick.
"…Yaqiao, you little—"
And across from him—
Sakura Ryou lifted her stick, feigning surprise.
"Ah~! I’m number four!"
Then, she turned to Sakura Palace—
And winked.