Gu Xi glanced at the small digital clock on his nightstand. 8:00 AM. The soft morning light filtered through his curtains, casting a gentle glow across his room. He shuffled over to the full-length mirror propped against the wall, giving himself a quick once-over. His reflection stared back at him—flawless, porcelain skin, a lithe body with delicate curves, and silky black hair that fell just past his ears. His wide, obsidian eyes sparkled with that boy-next-door charm, the kind that made female customers at the Moondew Cafe linger a little too long at their tables.
"Yeah, definitely cute enough," he murmured to himself, a small smirk tugging at his lips. He adjusted his outfit: baggy black unisex pants and a fitted white top that hugged his slender frame, accentuating the subtle curves of his waist. It wasn't intentional—he'd picked it because the autumn chill was biting outside, but he couldn't deny it looked good. Over his shoulder, he slung a white bag containing his finer outfit, the one he'd change into after work for his date with Chang An. The thought of her sharp smile and teasing voice sent a flutter through his chest, but he pushed it aside for now. He had other things to focus on.
"Status screen," he called softly, his voice barely above a whisper. A translucent panel materialized before him, glowing faintly in the air. His eyes scanned the familiar interface until they landed on the quest that had been haunting him for days.
[Seduce the Big Sister!]
Criteria 1: Hug her. [Done!]
Criteria 2: Put on a bashful face and ask her for a kiss.
Criteria 3: Pout and say: "Big Sister, don't be naughty!"
Reward: +10 to all stats.
Time Limit: 6 Days.
Failure Penalty: -20 to all stats.
Gu Xi's lips pursed as he stared at the second criterion. Ask her for a kiss? With a bashful face? His cheeks warmed at the thought. The third criterion was cringeworthy but manageable—he could pout and say the line, no problem. But asking Gu Lin for a kiss? His adoptive sister, with her towering height, sharp features, and that intense, almost possessive gaze? He groaned, running a hand through his hair. The time limit had ticked down from seven days to six, and he still had no idea how to pull this off. The +10 to all stats was tempting—too tempting to ignore—but the thought of failing and losing 20 points made his stomach churn.
He sighed, dismissing the status screen with a wave of his hand. As he stepped out of his room, he noticed the apartment was eerily quiet. No clatter of dishes, no hum of Gu Lin's morning routine. A note sat on the kitchen counter, written in her sharp, elegant handwriting:
Xi, I'm out for business. Won't be back until Monday. Behave.
"Monday?" Gu Xi muttered, his brow furrowing. That gave him a few days of reprieve, but it also meant he'd have less time to complete the quest. His mind drifted back to the previous night—Gu Lin's sudden outburst, the way she'd pinned him to the bed, her long hair curtaining around them, her eyes burning with something he couldn't name. His face flushed, and he shook his head vigorously. "She's my sister. Adoptive, sure, but still—ugh, stop it, Xi!"
Adopted or not, that was still his sister! Tall, beautiful, and ridiculously alluring—yes—but that didn't change the facts. He wasn't going to become one of those 'forbidden romance' protagonists, no matter how soft and vulnerable his male body had become.
Still, her presence lingered in his mind. That unreadable look on her face. That strange shift in her tone. That moment she'd walked out of the room without saying a word.
His head hurt.
Then there was Chang An.
The school's number one athlete. Ice-cold demeanor, socially awkward, and yet she'd calmly declared that she wanted to go on a date with him—as if she were ordering lunch. And Boss Ai… his cafe boss with curves that could start wars and a face made to melt men, who was already softening toward him like snow under the sun.
Three women.
One small, dainty fox named Gu Xi.
He sighed deeply and opened the door to leave, sunlight washing over his slim figure.
"Let's just survive today first," he muttered.
His first official part-time weekend shift at Moondew Café, and after that… a date with a tall, dummy cat. What could possibly go wrong?
+
The morning air was crisp, cool enough that it bit at the cheeks. Gu Xi adjusted the strap of his shoulder bag and entered through the narrow side entrance of Moondew Café, the scent of roasted beans and faint vanilla already lingering in the air like a welcome hug.
Inside, Song Ai stood by the counter sweeping, her tall figure bent slightly forward, long black hair cascading down her back like silk. Her form-fitting apron outlined the generous curve of her hips and the subtle sway of her chest with every movement.
She looked up as soon as she heard the door open—and froze for a heartbeat.
Gu Xi stepped in, dressed in a white, subtly clingy sweater that hugged him in all the wrong—or perhaps right—places. His black pants were baggy, but they only served to emphasize how small his waist had become and how long his legs were now.
"…What a body," Song Ai muttered before catching herself, clearing her throat with a flustered cough.
"I mean… good morning! You look really good in that sweater—ah! Sorry, I didn't mean that in a weird way. I mean, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable so early in the morning…"
Gu Xi blinked, then smiled politely as he placed his bag near the staff shelf.
"Good morning, Boss Ai," he said softly, voice smooth as fresh milk. "Don't worry. I take that as a compliment."
"Oh. That's good," Song Ai replied, her cheeks still tinged faintly pink. She pretended to sweep again, eyes flickering back to him when she thought he wasn't looking. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"I did. Thank you. And you?" Gu Xi asked, slipping on the black Moondew apron.
Song Ai hesitated.