Chapter 17 - Wang Xiaoxiao

The game was still in full swing when Wang Yanfei suddenly looked up, realizing how eerily quiet the hall remained. Glancing at his wristband, he was startled to see that the time had unknowingly slipped past 4 PM. He panicked and quickly exited the game interface, muttering to himself, "Damn, I forgot to tell my parents I arrived…"

Hastily, he pulled up his communicator and sent a message to his mother:

"Mom, I'm at the research institute now. When are you guys coming to pick me up?"

A few minutes later, his wristband vibrated with an incoming reply:

"Yanfei, today's project is running late, so we might be held up for a while. Go pick up your sister first—she'll be out of school in an hour."

She had also attached the location of Wang Xiaoxiao's school.

"…Great. I came all this way for a New Year's reunion, and now they're already putting me to work." Wang Yanfei sighed, rolling his eyes. But he still resigned himself to the task and gathered his things. Turning to the robot beside him, he asked, "Hey, can you plan a route to this location for me?"

"Certainly," the robot responded, sliding over to scan the address before opening the door of a nearby hovercar. "Destination: First Affiliated School of the Star Research District. Estimated travel time: 20 minutes."

Just as Wang Yanfei was about to leave, the robot retrieved a small, shiny sticker from a compartment on its chest and firmly attached it to his suitcase. The sticker was a simple, bright yellow smiley face—something that looked like a reward sticker given to children.

"…What is this for?" Wang Yanfei blinked, staring at the sticker in mild confusion.

"This is to commend your excellent performance in the game challenge," the robot stated in its usual calm tone, yet its movements were oddly solemn. "Additionally, it serves as encouragement for your upcoming mission to pick up your sister."

"…You really think I'm a kid, huh?" Wang Yanfei chuckled wryly, shaking his head. In the end, though, he didn't remove the sticker.

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The school bell had just rung, and waves of students in uniforms streamed out of the school gates, their chatter filling the air. Standing slightly away from the crowd, Wang Yanfei scanned the faces, searching for his sister among them.

Soon, his eyes landed on a familiar yet somewhat changed figure—a girl with a neatly tied ponytail, dressed in a crisp uniform, chatting and laughing with her friends as she walked out. She looked slightly more mature than in his memory, with a hint of youthful grace replacing her former childishness.

For a moment, Wang Yanfei found himself staring, lost in thought. Then, her gaze swept through the crowd and met his.

She paused, momentarily stunned. A trace of hesitation flickered in her eyes before she quickly said something to her friends and jogged toward him.

"Brother?" She stopped in front of him, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and uncertainty, as if she couldn't quite believe it was him.

"Xiaoxiao?" Wang Yanfei was momentarily taken aback as well. He examined his sister, noticing how much she had grown. Not only had she gotten taller, but the contours of her face had softened, revealing a delicate and refined appearance. Feeling a sudden wave of nostalgia, he teased, "Mmn, you've gotten so tall—I almost didn't recognize you."

"Hm, and whose fault is that?" Wang Xiaoxiao pouted slightly, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance. "You didn't even tell me you were coming to District One. I almost thought I mistook you for someone else."

An awkward silence settled between them for a brief moment. Both siblings seemed unsure how to bridge the gap that time had created. Scratching his head, Wang Yanfei tried to find something to say. "Hey, your school uniform looks pretty nice. Way better than what we had back in my day."

Her eyes lit up slightly, though she stubbornly tilted her chin. "Obviously."

Watching her act so aloof despite her excitement, Wang Yanfei couldn't help but laugh. He lowered his voice and said, "Come on, Xiaoxiao, drop the act. I came here just to see you guys. It's been way too long since we last met—let's not start with the cold shoulder, alright?"

She hesitated for a moment before letting out a quiet "hmph," her tone softening. "Well, fine. But Mom told me to bring you home, so I'm technically the one picking you up."

"Oh, so now I'm the package?" Wang Yanfei sighed dramatically. "I travel all the way from District Seven to District One, and the first thing that happens is I get put to work." He reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Hey!" Wang Xiaoxiao swatted his hand away, shooting him a glare. "Don't mess up my hair!"

Gradually, the tension between them began to ease, and the atmosphere became more natural. After a bit of casual banter, Wang Xiaoxiao turned toward the light rail station and called out, "Let's go! Try not to get lost, country bumpkin."

Wang Yanfei rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile as he dragged his suitcase and followed. "Brat. Still as mouthy as ever."

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The moment Wang Yanfei stepped into the house, a warm, golden light welcomed him.

The home was a spacious, modern duplex with two floors. The high ceilings gave the living area an open and airy feel. Abstract paintings adorned the walls, and the furniture seamlessly blended futuristic design with high-tech functionality. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the dazzling city skyline, reflecting the ever-evolving metropolis outside.

This was no ordinary residence—it was an honorary home awarded to his parents in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research.

"Finally home!" Wang Xiaoxiao kicked off her shoes at the entrance, tossed her jacket onto the couch, and flung her backpack aside, scattering books across the floor. She then bolted upstairs like a gust of wind, calling out, "I need to grab something—just make yourself comfortable!"

Wang Yanfei paused, staring at the mess she had just created. He sighed, shaking his head before bending down to pick up her books.

Just as he reached for them, a smooth electronic voice chimed, "Please wait. Cleaning in progress."

He looked up to see a household service robot, sleek and compact, gliding over. With swift precision, it picked up the scattered books, tidied the shoes into the cabinet, and hung the jacket on the coat rack. The entire process was seamless, as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times.

The robot turned its digital face toward him, displaying a polite smile. "Cleanup complete. Thank you for your patience."

"…Impressive," Wang Yanfei muttered, amused. He cast a glance upstairs. "Though I guess having you around has only made my sister lazier."

The robot hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying in its usual calm tone, "Household habits can be optimized through appropriate guidance. My responsibility is to ensure a clean and organized environment."

Chuckling, Wang Yanfei waved it off. "Alright, carry on. I'm gonna check on her."

The robot silently resumed its tasks, gliding toward the kitchen.

Wang Yanfei made his way upstairs, stepping onto a high-quality polymer floor that had a subtle, springy feel. He noticed how the embedded wall lights automatically adjusted their brightness as he moved, creating a comfortable ambiance.

Stopping in front of Xiaoxiao's room, he knocked lightly. "Hey, Xiaoxiao, what are you doing in there? Don't tell me you're messing with some new gadget again."

There was no response, only the sound of rummaging and muffled muttering.

Frowning slightly, he knocked again. "Xiaoxiao? I'm coming in."

Pushing the door open, he was met with utter chaos.

Her once pristine room now looked like a tornado had passed through. Pillows were strewn across the floor, small objects littered her desk, and her closet doors were wide open with clothes hanging haphazardly. The most eye-catching sight, however, was Xiaoxiao herself—half of her body buried under the bed, frantically searching for something.

"…Are you looking for buried treasure?" Wang Yanfei quipped, raising an eyebrow.

Hearing his voice, she abruptly pulled her head out, her face flushed with irritation. "BRO! Who said you could just walk in?!"

"I knocked. You didn't answer." Wang Yanfei shrugged, taking in the disaster zone that was her room. "And here I thought this was a tidy little princess's room. Looks more like a battlefield."

"OUT!" Xiaoxiao's face turned even redder as she shoved him toward the door.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving—" he chuckled, stepping back.

As he walked downstairs, he glanced at the dinner table, already set under the warm glow of the house lights. Looking out the window, he watched as the sky turned a soft shade of dusk, the horizon painted with the colors of home.