My older brother has three faces.
In public, he's a refined gentleman, disciplined and proper, with every fold of his clothes perfectly in place.
At court, he's a ruthless power broker who can turn the tide of events with a flick of his hand. Even the emperor has to give way to him.
But with me...
"Xiuxiu..." His long fingers loosen my sash, and his warm breath brushes my ear. "Call me big brother."
When Yun Xiu was sixteen, she had a dream.
In it, she glimpsed her fate:
Her brother would die a horrible death, and she would become a plaything of the powerful, dying of illness on the eve of her eighteenth birthday.
Yun Xiu: "???"
What kind of horror story is this?
Just as she falls into despair, a mechanical voice rings out:
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've been bound to the 'Never Miss a Chance to Gawk at a Big Moment' Check-In System!]
[As long as you witness a major scene involving someone with great fortune, you can piggyback on their luck and extend your life!]
And so...
√ Witness a male lead from a broken-engagement story get humiliated in the street (Lifespan +10 days, bonus: one serving of "Heartbroken Fried Rice")
√ Sneak a look at a reborn noblewoman publicly tearing into a scumbag (Lifespan +10 days, reward: "One Hundred Ways to Eat Tofu")
√ Stumble upon the martial world's most beautiful woman dancing with her sword beneath the moon (Lifespan +10 days, unlock the "Instant Knife Skills" buff)
Thanks to the System's rewards, Yun Xiu's life countdown keeps getting longer. She perfectly avoids the story's grim plot twists and lives the good life...
There is just one problem:
Her gentle, refined brother's gaze is getting more and more strange.
Until one late night, Lin Yan corners her in the study.
His long, elegant fingers caress her slender, fair neck, and his voice is so gentle it makes her tremble.
"Xiuxiu, you've seemed to make so many new friends lately... Have you grown distant from your brother?"
Only then does Yun Xiu realize that, at some point, the gaze of the brother who once watched over her day and night had become colored with complicated, restrained feelings.
"We're siblings," Yun Xiu says softly. "This... would go against propriety."
"Against propriety?" Lin Yan lets out a low laugh. "Then why don't you push me away?"
[Reader's Guide]
1. They're fake siblings. An extremely possessive male lead x a laid-back female lead trying to stay alive. They save each other.
2. The author knows little about history. The setting is entirely fictional, so historical accuracy enthusiasts, please stay away.
Theme: Love life, love food, love big brother.
First!! Happy writing! Come on