"Today, I'm taking my elder brother with me. Let’s see who dares to stop me!"

"Master, please stay safe. I’ll be back soon."

"Sir, let’s elope right now!"

"The situation is too chaotic. Please take shelter in my arms, Master."

"Brave Servia, charging forth!"

...

Xu Xi experienced an absurd and bizarre New Year's Eve.

The scene was utter chaos.

It could only be described as a battle of the supreme gods.

Fortunately, Xu Xi intervened in time, putting an end to the farce and forbidding the girls from fighting.

"No sparring either," Xu Xi added.

At the same time, he flicked Ying Xue’s forehead, stopping her attempt to drag him into eloping.

And so, $2he farcical New Year's Eve came to an end.

Everyone returned to their own rooms.

The next day, the sun shone brightly, and the sky was crystal clear. On the first day of the new year, the courtyard was serene and picturesque.

The flowers remained unchanged.

The pond remained unchanged.

Only Xu Xi’s life had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Some things, once spoken, could never return to the quiet of before.

The emotions contained within those words permeated every corner of daily life, making them impossible for Xu Xi to ignore.

Whether it was intimate dates, $2r shy moments alone together.

The feelings expressed were unmistakable—too obvious to overlook.

And Xu Xi was utterly defenseless against them.

"Brother, let’s go on a date."

"A date?"

"Yes, a date!"

No longer did his sister make excuses as she once had. Now, she stated her intentions outright.

Smiling, she took Xu Xi’s hand, $2nterlacing their fingers, pressing their palms together.

...

"Master, the last kiss was too quick. I didn’t really feel it. Can we try again?"

"..."

The sorceress was studious, earnestly seeking Xu Xi’s guidance.

Xu Xi was left speechless.

Once, he had hoped she would develop her own thoughts and act on them with courage.

But he never imagined it would manifest like this.

...

"Sir, are we really not going to elope?"

"Ying Xue, that’s not something we can do."

Xu Xi sat by the pond, fishing.

Ying Xue lay with her head in his lap, murmuring incessantly about her unfulfilled dream of eloping.

But as she murmured, $2he gradually drifted off to sleep.

Xu Xi draped a small blanket over her.

...

"Master, have you given any thought to the household registration matter?"

"Or perhaps you’d prefer to get the marriage certificate first?"

Bending gracefully, tray in hand, $2ilei stood poised under the sunlight, her delicate face feigning innocence.

"Is there a third option?" Xu Xi asked curiously.

"There is," Ailei pointed to her cheek, enunciating each word with utmost seriousness. "Please give me a kiss."

The mechanized maid couldn’t bear it.

She refused to fall behind the sorceress.

She could accept losing to others—but never to her.

...

"Great Sorcerer, am I troubling you too much?"

"Not at all, Servia."

The brave warrior had a wish—

not the heroic dream of saving the world, $2ut something simple, something any ordinary girl might yearn for.

"Click—"

With the sound of the shutter, $2u Xi and Servia took a photo together, standing close, each wearing a ring of similar color on their left ring finger.

"Thank you, Great Sorcerer."

Servia was overjoyed.

She held the photo up to the sunlight, gazing at it again and again.

Time flowed like a river, $2ilent and unceasing.

By the time winter had fully passed, $2nd the ice and snow had melted away in the spring breeze, $2u Xi finally snapped out of his daze, realizing that his relationships with the five girls had grown increasingly intimate, leading him toward a future he had never envisioned.

No matter how oblivious one might be, $2o matter how clueless about emotions, $2t was impossible not to feel the intensity of their affection.

"If I told my past self about today’s events, he’d never believe it, no matter what."

Gazing up at the sky, $2he golden outline of the sun reflected in Xu Xi’s eyes.

Lost in thought, he sighed.

His sister, the sorceress, the noble lady, the mechanized maid, the brave warrior—

five girls, five supreme beings.

Their love was laid bare before him, like answers spread across a desk, waiting for his perusal.

If he wished, he could respond with a perfect score in an instant.

Yet Xu Xi still hesitated.

He lowered his head, watching the flow of magic in his palm, the gathering of qi and elements swirling into a tiny vortex. "Will life remain this peaceful in the future?"

Xu Xi worried.

Over time, conflicts might arise among the five girls—after all, love was selfish. If given the choice, none would willingly share.

When that time came, someone would inevitably be hurt.

"Brother, you’re overthinking things again."

A voice came from behind.

A girl sat down beside Xu Xi, swinging her legs gently. "Brother always worries about unnecessary things. But the truth is, none of us want to leave you."