Xanthia turned and followed the voice, her gaze falling upon a young man with a simple crew cut, dressed in a pin blue and white sports uniform. Yet, his hairstyle and clothing did little to hide his strikingly handsome features.

  This was Dionysios El Papadopoulos, Xanthia’s younger brother by just three months. Xanthia was born on August 8th, making her a Leo, while Dionysios, born on November 11th, was a Scorpio.

  Astrologically, Scorpios are known for their ability to conceal their innermost selves, pcing great value on personal privacy and often seeming distant. They have a firm belief in the supremacy of reality, along with strong ambitions and desires for revenge. Of all the zodiac signs, Scorpios are the least likely to pursue romantic retionships, as they harbor a deep mistrust of human nature. Their capacity for love and hate is marked by intense possessiveness, and they can be terrifying when angered but incredibly endearing when gentle, showing two distinct sides to their personality.

  In public, Dionysios always seemed gentle, but he could be cold and decisive when rejecting others.

  Xanthia was momentarily surprised to see Dionysios and quickly searched her memories, trying to recall the original's attitude toward this unexpected younger brother.

  As expected, the original had never shown Dionysios any kindness. With her social anxiety and introverted nature, she had been determined not to change her behavior toward him, especially because Dionysios had chosen to lower himself to ftter her.

  More importantly, the original had a deep-seated hatred for their scoundrel father, Demetrios El Papadopoulos. Yet Dionysios, with his high emotional intelligence, knew how to win their father's favor, causing Demetrios to swell with pride over his accomplished son.

  Demetrios, who had never cared much for his deceased wife and daughter, had become even more indifferent toward Xanthia, focusing solely on Dionysios’s achievements. He believed that as long as he spent a little money to support his daughter and ensured she didn’t starve, he had fulfilled his duties as a father.

  Demetrios’s subsequent marriage to Eleanor La Liam, Dionysios’s mother, was devoid of any pretense of being a good stepmother. Eleanor had a poor reputation, having led a chaotic private life in her youth, and continued her indulgent lifestyle even after marrying Demetrios.

  Eleanor came from the esteemed Liam familia, the granddaughter of Apollo El Liam, the founder of the renowned "Crown" hotel chain. Her life story could rival that of the Hilton sisters; she had modeled, appeared on variety shows, acted, and indulged in various illicit activities.

  In many ways, Eleanor and Demetrios were a perfect match, both enjoying indulgent lifestyles and understanding the intricacies of high society. A stepmother like her showed little concern for Xanthia, let alone for her own son, Dionysios.

  Dionysios's birth was an accident. Eleanor herself had little recollection of how she had become pregnant, having believed she had taken precautions during her "friendly" encounters with Demetrios. Perhaps she had indulged too much one evening and overlooked the details...

  Nevertheless, by marrying into the Papadopoulos familia, she felt she had contributed to the Liam familia. With the support of her retives, she was indifferent to her reputation within the Papadopoulos dominion. After all, Demetrios was no paragon of virtue, and she didn’t mind that he was a wastrel, marginalized within the familia.

  Demetrios, however, maintained a facade of respectability. He held the position of director responsible for selecting members of the "Helena Real Estate Group." He was also the chairman of a certain English Premier League football club, although he had no real influence over its operations. Furthermore, he was a partner investor in the well-known domestic esports club, Armaggedon Team. Despite holding a minor stake and having little say, he always portrayed himself as the boss, striving to make his presence known.

  Clearly, Demetrios had no significant role in the core industries of the Papadopoulos familia. Neither his elder brother, Andreas El Papadopoulos, nor his elder sister, Maria La Papadopoulos, were ordinary individuals. Maria, in particur, had not married outside the familia. With her backing, her husband had risen from being a prosecutor to a member of the National Congress, granting her greater influence within the Papadopoulos familia. Her children bore the "Papadopoulos" surname, allowing them to compete for inheritance rights in the future.

  "Dionysios, whether I'm well or not, what does it concern you?" Xanthia responded, mimicking the original's dismissive attitude.

  At her words, Dionysios's expression dimmed slightly; however, he had grown accustomed to such treatment. If Xanthia were to suddenly change her behavior, he would undoubtedly find it strange.

  Xanthia remained cautious. In front of her cssmates, she could comfortably be herself, for they didn’t know her well; everyone was an unfamiliar face. Furthermore, with a new desk partner, she could easily alter her appearance.

  But Dionysios was different. He had only recently moved out to live independently, and even before that, they had been familia, regardless of the ordinariness of their retionship. It was Dionysios who wished to regard her as his sister, while she remained entirely closed off, indifferent to all members of the Papadopoulos familia.

  [ Ding, Pain Value +111 from Dionysios. ]

  Huh? What are you suffering from? I’m merely replicating the original’s attitude from memory...

  Xanthia couldn’t help but think sarcastically.

  Dionysios quickly regained his gentle smile upon hearing her words. He spoke patiently and sincerely, "In this world, there are certain things that cannot be altered from birth. However, I have always believed that effort can at least make things better. Xanthia, grant me a chance. I will take on the responsibilities that they have forsaken, so whatever challenges you face at school, I will be here to support you."

  Xanthia's mind flickered with memories of that extravagant husband-and-wife pair. She regarded him with a peculiar expression, saying, "They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You’re so responsible, nothing like our father. Have your genes mutated or something?"

  Encountering Xanthia, who seemed willing to engage in conversation, was a rarity. Dionysios did not take offense at her sarcasm; instead, he responded with enthusiasm, "Xanthia, regardless of everything, we are blood retives. Helping one another is only natural. What do you think?"

  Xanthia recognized Dionysios’s potential usefulness; after all, he was the "campus crush" and seemed quite influential at school.

  "I suppose it’s acceptable... But in terms of age, I should be a bit older. You don’t even want to call me big sister. Where’s your sincerity?" Xanthia crossed her arms, pushing further.

  Deliberately avoiding her younger brother, as the original had done, felt like a squandered opportunity. She sought to gauge his reaction, and when she noted his indifference, which could potentially cause him pain, she felt she could manipute the situation to her advantage.

  Dionysios froze. How could he call her big sister?

  Deep down, he regarded Xanthia as his little sister!

  He felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility and protectiveness toward her, fully aware that no one else in this world cared for her anymore...

  Only he cared—wholeheartedly!

  Even if she treated him with indifference, he would remain patient and gentle. It was his inherent duty!

  And please, do not accuse him of having a sister complex. After all, how could there be a sister complex without a sister in this world?

  "Well... let’s forget about the sister thing. I’m just not accustomed to it," Dionysios admitted, his expression troubled.

  Without another word, Xanthia turned and walked away, reverting to her previous cold and resolute demeanor. Upon hearing the notification from the system indicating an increase in her "pain points," she nearly chuckled. This insipid little brother was indeed a useful tool.

  Dionysios watched her retreating figure, frustration welling up inside him. It was a rare opportunity to engage with Xanthia, who seemed willing to communicate, yet he had failed to seize it.

  And those who idolized Dionysios as a campus crush would likely be astounded to witness him groveling before Xanthia, consumed by negative emotions...

  In the end, Xanthia triumphed!