“Phew…Phew…”

After a long run, I panted heavily, leaning against the cold wall, feeling a cold sweat wash over my forehead.

Logically speaking, one's body should feel hot after intense exercise, but I didn't. Instead, I felt a chill running up my spine, making my whole body shiver.

There was a feeling of constriction in my chest, as if a large stone was crushing it, but my heart was racing even faster, and my breathing became more rapid.

As a self-proclaimed strong man among homebodies, I can say without any hesitation that my physical fitness is at least an A-grade.

But this experience of being chased for several streets left me realizing that I still lacked enough exercise.

Right now, I'm facing a severe problem.

I'm being chased by a girl.

Don't laugh, it's not just any girl.

It's a perfect, lovable girl that you would want to hug the moment you see her!

Thump, thump, thump.

I heard footsteps. They were light and seemed very pleasant, and it was obvious that the owner of the footsteps was very happy.

But I'm not happy at all! Because I recognized that this is her style! Even her footsteps are different from others! How excessively adorable can you be!

I need to repeat myself—I am being chased by a beautiful young girl.

But why am I running? That's the most critical question right now!

“Hey, I know you're here,” she said. Even though there was a wall between us, I felt a strong sense of crisis.

That kind of intuition like a dog being stared at by a large cat, or the push-back feeling when you suddenly accelerate on a motorcycle, made me instinctively bend my waist and not even dare to breathe.

“Don't run, darling～”

Don't run my ass! It's because it's you that I want to run! Who else would run for miles just for fun or as cardio exercise?

Her appearance is known to be stunning just from her voice.

But do you know what she wants to do to me!? That would definitely be the most horrific and inhumane act for me in the 21st century!

“Hey hey, it's just going to the civil affairs bureau to sign a paper. It'll be over quickly.”

Sign my ass! I'd rather have my hands chopped off than sign on that evil marriage certificate! Take my dead body back instead. I don't want to live in your shadow!

The footsteps were getting closer, and I could feel my heart rate increase, like a Formula One car racing at a speed that no ordinary person could achieve.

I'm screwed. My life is over.

From now on, I'll be living under the shadow of a Rich-and-Beautiful Girl's control.

Every day, all I have to do is spend money and have sex.

So how did it come to this?

…

My name is Yang Xiaotian.

A high school junior, male, and forever single.

That day, like usual, I was enjoying my carefree summer vacation.

Until I went to the kitchen.

“Huh? Where's my instant noodles?”

Why did the cup noodles in the cabinet mysteriously disappear, and why was the kettle used?

Is this the collapse of human nature, or the decline of morality?

The culprit left a note on the table, and in this rental house with only two people, the suspect was very obvious.

【Xiaotian, I ate your instant noodles. I'm rushing to work and you'd better not complain.

By the way, go downstairs later and fetch two buckets of water. You're a grown man, don't stay at home all day.

Oh, and mom has something to tell you, remember to give her a call.

——Your beautiful sister】

That's right! The perpetrator is my older sister! She's already a white-collar worker! Yet she still took advantage of her little brother's food! What's worse, she even ordered me around!

But what concerns me more is the latter part: Mom has something to tell me? What's it about?

Since I was studying in another city, I lived with my sister, and we usually kept in touch with our parents by phone. It had been a long time since we last met.

“Hello, Mom? What's up？” I said, munching on a piece of bread and calling my mom.

From the sound of it, there were ocean waves on the other end of the phone. The couple might be on vacation? Life sure is easy without having to take care of a child."Hello? Xiao Tian?"

My mom's voice still sounded cheerful. She was over forty years old, but her mentality was still so youthful that I didn't doubt she'd say she was only in her twenties if asked about her age.

"How have you been lately? Are you dating anyone?"

"Pfft! If I were dating, my sister would've told you already. Just tell me what you want, I need to help my sister buy some water later."

My mom usually wasn't in such a good mood, did she encounter something good today? Speaking of which, where did they get the money to go on a trip? Did they win the lottery?

"Oh, it's a big deal! You have to go to the airport right now to pick someone up."

Huh? Pick someone up?

I was full of doubts. Since when did I have to do these things? Has my status in the family been raised so I can receive guests alone?

"Who is it? You didn't sell me off to make up for your travel expenses, did you?"

"No way! You know her, Aimme de Capetian!"

What, what, what, what, what, what?

I was surprised by how fluent foreign letters suddenly slipped from my mom's mouth. It was still a foreign friend after ruminating on it? But "Aimee" or whatever else, I had no idea who that was!

"Is it a man or a woman? Foreigners, could it be... a gay?"

"What a silly child! It's Xiao Xi!"

Eh?

I was somewhat familiar with these two Chinese nicknames, but I couldn't remember them right away. I just felt that these names were deeply ingrained in my memory but had been deliberately forgotten.

"Xi Qiao!"

Boom!

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down on my head, scorching me inside and out, and I instantly sobered up.

I can't remember the long name "Amm..." or anything, nor can I recall any nickname like "Xiao Xi."

But "those two characters"! I have a deep impression!

"Wait a minute... What happened? I thought she was in France..."

It's hard to imagine that a man as tough as I am could make such a trembling voice, but anyone who knows what I've been through would never mock me.

Xi Qiao, a name I'll never forget in my life.

The story begins with my grandfather. He once saved a French businessman during his time in the army, and that foreigner happened to love Chinese culture, so they became inseparable friends who could even wear the same underwear.

But that's not the point. Since I was little, I have been used to having a foreigner who could speak Chinese visit our house every year with some delicious snacks.

However, my nightmare box was truly opened when the little girl brought by the foreign friend named "Blanche" arrived at my kindergarten!

"Yeah, Xi Qiao specifically said she wanted to see you, so she came from France."

"No, no way! But I'm seriously ill and can't see her at all."

"What? You're sick? How come your sister didn't mention it?"

How could it be possible? I'm perfectly fine, of course, I'm not sick.

But it would be embarrassing to admit that I had a fear of women since I had a sister who always bullied me.

And the little girl that foreigner Blanche brought along exacerbated my condition!

"I am... cough, cough... completely... unable... to see people now...! Cough!"

I deliberately coughed a few times to make myself look unwell. In order to avoid meeting that person, I can do anything.

Though this might sound exaggerated, those who haven't experienced it can't possibly know how terrifying that person is!

"Well, in that case... I'll send her your address and let her take care of you."

"Wait a minute! I suddenly feel much better!"

I instantly perked up. She definitely can't find out my address!

Who knows what will await me after she steps through this door?

If I pretend to be sick, she'll definitely force me to drink a potion filled with mustard.

If I eat, she will magically add some "magic" to my favorite dishes and watch my desperate look.

The most crucial issue is going to the bathroom. If I dare step into the bathroom, she'll lock the door with various ingenious methods, leaving me to spend the night with the toilet, no matter how much I cry and shout.If she's around, I have to become an iron man who doesn't need to poop, eat or drink water. But that's impossible! I am a normal human being! I have physiological needs too!

"I'll go pick her up right away."

Thinking about it this way, there is no problem if I just meet her face to face.

Moreover, I am not the old me anymore. As long as I am familiar with the techniques, most pranks can be prevented in advance.

As long as I am prepared in advance, those are just some little girl's tricks after all. They won't work on me now.

Because now, I am… a grown man, after all!

"Oh, by the way, actually, Xiaoxi's main purpose for coming this time is…"

"Don't say it, Mom, I'm going to see her."

I hung up the phone and straightened up like a soldier going to the battlefield.

What could she do in China? Isn't it just to prank me again? I've already anticipated her prank techniques in advance. Could it be that she's here to get married?

Damn! Demon woman! This time, I will let you know the defense tactics of us Chinese men.

Whatever prank techniques you have, just bring it on!

Damn it!