These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy

March 25th.

It was Saturday. I was half-lying on the sofa, watching some dull TV show, yawning with boredom.

Plenty of friends had invited me to hang out, but I turned them all down.

Why? Because my brother is home, of course!

He never goes out on weekends, which means I get to spend the whole day with him~

I'd already prepared the games we’d play and the movies we’d watch. I could cling to him all day and soak up big-brother energy~

Unlike Serena, I can't sneak into his bed every night. So Saturdays and Sundays are my only chances to get closer to him.

Serena is so lucky... I’ve envied her in my heart countless times.

Especially now that her night raids have actually been approved by our brother. I hear she’s not allowed to go too far, but being allowed to sleep in his arms is enough to make me scream in jealousy.

When she told me a few days ago that he'd found out about her night raids, I was stunned!

But thankfully, it seems like he accepted her in the end... Not that it’s surprising. He’s so gentle—of course he’d accept her.

Sure, I’m a little jealous, but Serena gave up so much. She liked him even before I did. And she gave up the right to be his official partner—just to stay by his side. If she couldn't even have that, maybe she'd lose her mind.

She gave the "title" to me and chose to remain in the shadows...

Phew. I don’t want to think about this anymore.

The plan to divide our brother’s attention was made long ago. We’re executing it step-by-step.

Middle school: build a close bond → High school: steadily raise affection level → Senior year: offer warmth and care when his stress peaks → College: get into the same school and move in together → Post-graduation: marry him after having a child or two (ideally one boy and one girl—siblings, just like us) → Live together for decades and die peacefully of old age while holding his hand...

The perfect life plan.

I’ve already completed step one and am in the middle of step two. Recently, he's gotten completely used to hugging me.

Especially now that Serena’s raids have been exposed, things are even more favorable. He would never do anything to her, of course—not someone as proper as him. But he’s still a man, and surely he’s holding back his urges with her throwing herself at him like that.

Still, I’m sure of it: he won’t touch her. Not ever.

Because they’re related by blood. Our brother is just like our father—strict, principled, and morally unshakable. He’d never accept something he thought was wrong.

Which means all I have to do... is guide him just a little...

Hehehehehe...

Ah, my cheeks are getting hot.

I got too excited. My face must look awful right now.

He should be waking up soon. I need to cool down quickly.

I grabbed the strawberry ice cream he bought from the fridge, peeled off the wrapper, and started eating.

So refreshing.

Too bad he has to help that old hag tomorrow morning. He’s leaving early.

Ugh, that damn crone! Why does she always ask him for help? Are the new hires that useless? Sure, they’ll never be as good as him, but if they can’t handle the basics, they should just die! You’re already working in a crematorium—go dig a grave and bury yourselves! Oh wait, those broke losers probably can’t even afford a grave plot. Can’t even buy an urn, huh? Hilarious.

Tap tap tap tap...

Just then, I heard urgent footsteps. That was definitely him—light steps, a quick rhythm, no slippers... He’s in a rush?

I quickly glanced back, and when I saw how he looked, I immediately turned away and pretended I hadn't noticed.

Huh? He’s wearing the outfit I picked out for him.

He looks so handsome~

That crisp, clean style suits him so well!

But to dress up like this all of a sudden... Something important must be going on. If he were just heading to the store, he wouldn’t care how he looked. He’d throw on some sweatpants and leave.

He didn’t even notice me in the living room. I hid my frustration and asked casually:

“Going out, big bro?”

“Yeah, just for a bit. I might not be back for lunch. If I’m not, make some curry.”

So he is heading out. In that case, I’ll go too.

“Can I come? I’ve got some shopping I want to do.”

“Uh...”

I thought my sweet brother would say yes instantly, but he looked... troubled?

“Sorry, Cora. I’m meeting a friend today. It’s not really something I can bring you to.”

He made a polite apology with his hand, then put on his shoes and walked out.

I tilted my head, thinking.

A friend...? My brother... has a friend?

I’d been distracted lately with school drama, hadn’t even joined him for lunch... Did he use that time to make a friend?

Ugh. I hate this. If only we were in the same class. We’re all the same age, born on the same day—but since I started school a year later, I’m only a freshman.

If I were in his grade, I’d definitely be in his class.

I need to investigate this “friend” of his. If it’s some lowlife scumbag, I’ll have to take action.

A few minutes later, Serena came downstairs and asked me:

“Where’s our brother?”

“He just left. Said he’s meeting a friend.”

She looked surprised. Then asked:

“Oh? You ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) didn’t follow him?”

“Uh? Why would I follow him?”

“Huh. I didn’t think you wouldn’t know about this.”

“Know... what?”

Something about her tone gave me a bad feeling.

“He’s going to meet his girlfriend.”

“...Huh?”

He’s going to meet a nvyou friend? That’s a weird name.

“Cora, do you know Lillian Ji?”

Lillian Ji... That rich girl from the Ji Conglomerate, right?

I heard she keeps a harem of pretty boys. Total hypersexual slut.

She sits behind him, so I did some background digging. But far as I know, they’ve never interacted.

Makes sense. My brother and someone like her are from different worlds. There’s no way they’d get involved.

Girls like her wouldn’t even deign to talk to us lowborns. (Scoffs)

All the boys at school drool over her. I don’t get it—what’s so great about that two-faced tramp? Just a pretty face and some money. Where’s the substance?

Girls have many masks. I bet that soft, graceful act is just a façade. Deep down, she’s probably some corpse-loving psycho who gets off on murder (snickers).

“Oh yeah, I know her. It’d be weirder if I didn’t, she’s so famous. Every time those seaweed-brained boys start fantasizing about her, I want to puke.”

My brother would never fall for a fake-ass green tea b*tch like her. Even if she talked to him first, he’d reject her with righteous indifference.

“But I heard someone actually confessed to her recently. I always thought she’d only go for royalty or billionaires, but apparently she’s dating a normal guy.”

Ah, the classic rich-girl-falls-for-commoner soap opera. So cliche.

Serena’s expression changed noticeably. I couldn’t tell what she was feeling. It looked... conflicted?

“What’s up, Serena?”

“She’s dating our brother.”

“Oh, so the guy is... wait. What? Whose brother?”

Normally, Serena and I can communicate with just a look. But this time, I didn’t understand her at all.

“She’s dating our brother. Ethan An. Our Ethan.”

She said it twice. My brain refused to process it.

Then it clicked.

“MEOW?! MEOW MEOW MEOW?!”

“They started dating Friday. The confession was Thursday, I think.”

“MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW?!”

Serena returned to her usual icy tone.

“He’s probably going to meet her. Didn’t he dress up a little before he left?”

Come to think of it—he did...!

Lillian Ji...

Is my brother’s girlfriend?!

GIRLFRIEND?!?!?!

I slipped up.

I’ve gotten too complacent lately!

My brother is everything to me. But I let myself get distracted...

It’s my fault. I should never have looked away from him.

Those classmates can go to hell—I should never have wasted my time on them. I should’ve kept watching him every second!

But it’s too late.

Brother Ethan has been... taken.

That slut actually managed to worm her way in—AAAAAAAAHHHH!

“That ▼■◆●▲ BITCHHHHH!”

→ (the kind of insult that’d get you punched on the street)

“HOW DARE SHE—SHE’S JUST A ╄╅╆╇╈╋╄╅╇╆╈╊╋!”

→ (furious slander aimed directly at Lillian Ji)

“▂▃▄▅▆’s lifestyle is just ▃▄▅▆▅▄▃ and what kind of ▂▃▄▅▆ are you ▂▃▄▅▆▅▄▃ stuffing your whole family with ▂▃▄▅▆▅▄▃!”

→ (an extended insult including her entire bloodline)

“▲★◆▲▼▼●◆★■▼●◆■★▼▲▼●◆★★■▼▲▲▼●◆■▼★●◆■▼▲▼●◆■▼▲★▲▼●◆■▼●◆■▼▲▼★●◆■▼★▲▲▼●▲!!”

→ (outright criminal threats that would trigger multiple content warnings)

“Calm down, Cora. That’s way beyond vulgar now.”

Nnnnnnnngh!

No way! This is a lie! It has to be a lie!

It’s fake. All of it!

Why would he date a woman like her?

He’s mine! MY brother! He’s meant to be with me!

I’m supposed to be his wife!

“I’m going after him!”

“Wait, Cora—”

“What’s the point of waiting?!”

I leapt off the sofa, ran upstairs, grabbed my stalker-gear outfit, and jumped straight out the window.

His location was easy to track through my phone. I’ll find him. Now.

Fifteen minutes later, I found them at a café on Harmony Street.

They were having fun. I’d never seen him make those expressions before—frowning, puzzled, awkwardly smiling, nervous, surprised... None of those were ever for me.

With me, he only ever smiles... and suddenly, I realized something.

That’s the face you make when you’re with someone you love.

Real relationships have arguments. Disagreements. Fights. But afterward, you grow closer, deeper.

But with me, he’s never shown a single negative emotion. Not even once. I was so caught up in the sweetness, I didn’t notice how fake it was...

With her, he’s being real.

All the love I’ve built up for years... can’t even beat a three-day-old romance?

Unacceptable... UNACCEPTABLE!

She ruined everything—cut in halfway and stole him!

She lured him in with her tits, dragged him to movies, held hands, and even—EVEN KISSED HIM!

Even I haven’t kissed him on the lips yet!

That slut. That vixen. That thing.

UN! FOR! GIV! ABLE!

That woman... I’ll be the one to erase her.

I’m the one who loves my brother the most. I’m the one who will marry him!

He belongs to me!

I WON’T GIVE HIM TO ANYONE!

HE! IS! MINE!