C8 Acting

After spending a little time together, he realized that Seventh Elder Sister was actually quite nice.

"Seventh Elder Sister, I need to ask you something!"

"Go ahead, if there's anything I can help with, I definitely will. But from now on, you can't call me 'Seventh Elder Sister' as if I'm a character from a children's show. You should call me 'Elder Sister'! And remember to add 'sister' when addressing the others, got it?"

Seventh Elder Sister spilled everything in one breath, like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube.

"Did you borrow that mouth of yours? In such a rush to give it back?" Jiang Nan gave Seventh Elder Sister a playful eye roll.

"Just let me know if you can do it or not!" Seeing someone with puppy-dog eyes, how could Jiang Nan refuse? He quickly nodded in agreement.

"That's my good brother. Whatever you need, just ask. I'm sure I can take care of it for you!"

"Seventh Elder Sister, I was thinking..."

Jiang Nan stopped mid-sentence, and no, this wasn't a mere pause.

At that moment, they hit a red light, and Jiang Xiaoxiao turned around, her almond eyes glaring, her lips puckering up in a mix of cuteness and assertiveness.

"Elder Sister, Elder Sister!" Jiang Nan was all nods and bows.

Somehow, he always felt that Jiang Xiaoxiao was more like a friend to him, far cuter than his Second Elder Sister and the rest!

"That's better, you little rascal!" Jiang Xiaoxiao was quite the drama queen.

"Here's the thing, can you please not have people watch over me? Don't worry, Elder Sister, I'm all grown up and can take care of myself!"

"That's out of the question!" Jiang Xiaoxiao cut him off, mimicking their eldest sister's tone, "It's not that I'm worried about Nan getting into trouble, but we've only just gotten our brother back. How could we not keep a close eye on him? You! Yes, you, Jiang Xiaoxiao! Stop acting like a simpleton. Are you listening to me?"

Jiang Nan couldn't help but laugh heartily. Seventh Elder Sister was hilarious. He never expected her to have such a playful side, cool and aloof in public, yet a real character in private.

Amidst laughter and cheerful banter, they arrived at the villa of the eldest sister, Jiang Jixue.

Jiang Nan, suitcase in tow, was astonished. The villa was nestled in the city center, surrounded by towering buildings, yet it stood out, its elegance undiminished by its grandeur.

The property spanned an area equivalent to five or six football fields, with numerous workers meticulously tending to the lawn.

Further on, the extended corridor boasted a distinctive design.

Flanking it were ponds with crystal-clear water, where pairs of goldfish, each 30 to 40 centimeters long, swam gracefully. The subtle presence of lotus flowers was occasionally disrupted by darting dragonflies.

Inside, the decor was a blend of traditional and modern: Golden Silk Nanmu woodcarvings of phoenixes in flight complemented the simplicity of black and white curtains.

Golden light adorned the pillars, while dragons and phoenixes danced across the walls.

A massive TV wall was set against a backdrop of jade carvings, with 1.5-meter-tall blue and white porcelain vases standing sentinel on either side.

The table, shaped like a dragon, featured the natural veining of marble, and the brown European-style sofa incorporated traditional Chinese joinery techniques.

In a word, the place was the epitome of luxury!

Jiang Nan settled onto the sofa and exclaimed, "Sister, I'm starving!"

Truth be told, he had always longed for a sister's care. But his five sisters seemed rather unapproachable, except for Jiang Xiaoxiao, who was more amenable.

And yet, he wasn't actually hungry; he had dined at Zhongyuan Restaurant just two hours earlier.

"Then you'll have to eat me up!" Jiang Xiaoxiao teased, extending her slender arm.

Jiang Nan wrapped his arms around her, shaking it playfully. "Sister, you're the best!"

"Huh!" Jiang Xiaoxiao sneered, "You little rascal, you're so sheepish when you try to be cute!"

"What did you say?"

An austere voice cut through the air, commanding and incontestable, like that of a goddess from the ether.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was petrified!

She hastily stood up and clarified, "Big sister, I was just teasing Nan!"

Jiang Jixue, ever the formidable figure, approached with a commanding air. "It's endearing that your little brother shows you affection; it means he truly loves his sister. But remember, there's a fine line when it comes to joking!"

"Alright, alright, Big Sister, I get it!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao remained intimidated by her elder sister. When Big Sister laid down the law, Xiaoxiao knew she could lose her resources or even face a ban—she dared not cross her.

"Nan, what are you in the mood for? No takeout today. I'll cook for you. How about you try my culinary skills?"

"Big Sister, that's not fair!" Jiang Xiaoxiao pouted like a child feeling left out, "You've never cooked for me!"

Jiang Jixue's commanding presence was undeniable. A single glance from her was enough to quell Xiaoxiao's complaints.

Yet, when she turned back around, her demeanor softened dramatically, as if night had turned to day.

"Preferring sons to daughters," Jiang Xiaoxiao grumbled under her breath, her lips puckering in a pout.

At the dinner table, the siblings enjoyed each other's company in warm camaraderie.

Jiang Jixue had poured her heart into her career for years, but she longed for a home too. Bringing Jiang Nan back into the fold had sparked something in her. She was weary. The thought of coming home to family after work made it all worthwhile.

The meal was simple: Coca-Cola chicken wings, medium-rare Wagyu beef, a few cans of premium caviar, and rice from Northeast China's Wuchang region.

Truth be told, Jiang Nan tried to act worldly, but he couldn't hide his excitement—except for the caviar. He particularly relished the Wagyu beef, having heard of its fame. It was as delicious as rumored, tender and rich, but he knew it was best enjoyed in moderation; too much of the marbled fat could be overwhelming.

Dinner over, Jiang Nan retreated to his room.

The evening air was brisk, hinting at impending rain.

Lying in bed, Jiang Nan came to terms with his new reality.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound came from the door. "Nan, are you asleep?"

It was his eldest sister's voice.

"No, not yet. Come in, Big Sister!"

She entered, pushing the door open and holding a peculiar-looking phone in her hand.

"Nan, I noticed you're still using that old phone. That just won't do. Let me give you a new one. This model isn't even on the market yet—I got it straight from their CEO!" Eldest Sister said as she handed the phone to Jiang Nan. It felt heavy in his hands, even heavier than his old flip phone, and about the same thickness, though it was slightly larger.

The design was quite peculiar. The left side boasted a curved screen, while the right side did not, and the aspect ratio was oddly mismatched compared to a typical smartphone.

"Alright, get some sleep early. It looks like rain. Don't go out later, alright?" The sky was fading to dusk.

Jiang Nan nodded in agreement.

Once Jiang Jixue had left, Jiang Nan began examining the phone more closely. The back was glass, much like the front touchscreen.

On the right side, there was a latch. To his surprise, upon opening it, he discovered it was a foldable screen phone! The transformation was dazzling as it unfolded into a tablet, incredibly sleek and stylish.

Jiang Nan couldn't help but smile at the novelty.

"Boom!" Suddenly, a clap of thunder shook the air, deafening as if it were right overhead.

Jiang Nan, undeterred by the storm, was engrossed in exploring his new gadget.

Another knock came about ten minutes later.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

"Little bro, it's gotten dark. Are you asleep yet?"

"No, come on in!"

He recognized Jiang Xiaoxiao's voice immediately—it was the sweetest among his seven older sisters.

Jiang Xiaoxiao entered, clad in her pajamas, her figure shapely, the very image of the girl next door.

"Little brother, it's thundering! Are you scared? I can keep you company!"