Gu Chen had a dream.
In the dream, he lay at the center of an endless sea of stars. Above him, a majestic dragon exuding an ancient aura lowered its head to gaze down at him.
Vast. Towering. As though it ruled over all existence.
Within those gilded pupils was a trace of gentleness, which kept Gu Chen from feeling too afraid.
Yet even so, in the face of such a being, he felt as insignificant as a grain of sand—like a mayfly glimpsing the heavens, overwhelmed with awe.
Under that gaze, Gu Chen felt confusion, shock… and understanding.
He knew that the powerful ancient dragon was his former self—and that former self was looking upon the newly born him with satisfaction.
A realization dawned on Gu Chen.
Fragments of memory surfaced in his mind, both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.
He didn't dwell on it, merely continuing to meet the ancient dragon's gaze in silence.
After a long while, a sensation of his soul separating from his body spread through him.
Gu Chen closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he found his surroundings dim.
Lying on a soft bed, he instinctively reached out and fumbled around.
"Mmm… stop messing around…"
A muffled voice came from beside him.
It was Furina.
Gu Chen glanced at her, yawned, and closed his eyes again. He shifted closer, pressing up against her before drifting back to sleep.
—
Who knew how much time passed before Gu Chen felt someone pushing and shaking him.
Half-awake, he opened his eyes to see Furina glaring at him. "You're already this old—can't you even sleep properly?"
Looking down, Gu Chen realized half his body was sprawled over her, one hand even gripping the strap of her nightwear.
"Oh," he muttered, letting go before rolling over to lie down again.
"It's morning! Get up already!"
Furina clearly had no intention of letting him off.
She yanked off the blanket, grabbed his arm, and forced him to stand on the bed. Hands on her hips, she lectured, "Look at you—standing on the bed, you're already as tall as your big sister! Kids your age in other families don't sleep with their parents anymore. From now on, you sleep on your own. Got it?"
Seeing his expression—clearly in one ear and out the other—Furina grabbed his ear and twisted it, shouting, "Did! You! Hear! Me?!"
"I heard, I heard…" Gu Chen winced in pain and nodded.
"Then what are you supposed to do?!" she pressed.
"Sleep next to big sis," Gu Chen answered matter-of-factly.
"You're ignoring me again, aren't you!" Furina pinched both his cheeks.
"I can't fall asleep if I'm not next to you," he muttered.
Then he hopped off the bed, put on his shoes, and declared, "I want to eat!"
"Eat, eat, eat—you only think about food," Furina huffed.
"Don't be mad, big sis. Getting angry makes you ugly. If you get ugly, I won't like you anymore."
Holding her hand, Gu Chen pushed the door open and walked toward the living room, coaxing her as he went.
"…That makes sense," Furina nodded. "A girl must maintain her beauty. I won't stoop to your level, you little ingrate!"
Neuvillette had already prepared breakfast and was waiting.
He pretended not to hear Furina at all.
As they sat down to eat, Gu Chen asked, "Where are we going to play today?"
"Where do you want to go?" Neuvillette replied.
"Anywhere?" Gu Chen asked.
Neuvillette nodded solemnly. "Young Master Chen may do as he pleases."
"You really spoil him," Furina rolled her eyes.
"You're the best," Gu Chen said earnestly to Neuvillette.
Neuvillette smiled and nodded.
Furina set down her utensils. "We're not going anywhere today. You're coming with me to Fontaine City to buy clothes!"
Gu Chen was about to protest, but seeing the look on her face—'Try refusing and don't even think about sleeping with me tonight'—he immediately nodded obediently. "I'll listen to big sis."
"That's more like it." Furina nodded in satisfaction.
Neuvillette offered no comment.
He was already immune to this tactic—Furina had used it far too often. He simply said, "Be careful. I'll have the Gardes follow you."
Just as he had said before—nothing could truly threaten the reincarnation of the True King. But that didn't mean Gu Chen should handle everything himself.
So when he wasn't around, Gu Chen needed capable people by his side.
—
After breakfast, the "head of the household," Furina, finalized the day's plan.
Neuvillette went to work, and Gu Chen obediently followed her shopping.
—
As the years passed, spring turned to autumn again and again.
Gu Chen grew, but very slowly—so slowly that compared to his peers, it seemed like he hadn't grown at all.
Both Neuvillette and Furina had expected this.
Today, they brought Gu Chen to the Primordial Sea.
Another growth was imminent.
Arriving at the location of the Primordial Sea—
"If I eat it all, I'll grow up!"
Gu Chen leapt into the air, instantly transforming into a dragon dozens of meters long and diving into the Primordial Sea.
The water level visibly dropped.
The dragon's body grew at a visible rate.
In just half an hour, the Primordial Sea had completely vanished.
Gu Chen's true form had expanded to nearly two hundred meters. Black scales shimmered with flowing light, and the pressure emanating from him was terrifying.
"Even without the descent of the True King's will, the reincarnation's power has already surpassed the gods—standing on equal footing with the Usurper," Neuvillette said softly.
Furina was stunned.
Her little dragon… now rivaled the Heavenly Principles?
It felt absurd—yet somehow entirely reasonable.
After thinking it over, she could only smile bitterly. Her understanding had simply been too limited.
The black dragon vanished.
Gu Chen reappeared nearby—now in the form of a young man, dressed in black robes.
His long black hair flowed like a waterfall down his back. White jade-like dragon horns adorned his forehead, and his features carried an air of authority and nobility.
Furina stared at him in astonishment.
There was an untouchable quality about him now, something distant—unfamiliar.
But before that feeling could settle, Gu Chen walked up to her.
Standing a head taller, he lowered his gaze to meet hers, wearing a cocky expression.
"Big sis, look—am I insanely handsome now?"
Neuvillette: "..."
"Pfft—" Furina burst into laughter and lightly punched him. "You couldn't even stay cool for three seconds!"
"Really?" Gu Chen scratched his head, then grinned foolishly.
"Let's go, we're heading home!" Furina said, hands behind her back, her steps light.
"Hey, wait for me, big sis!" Gu Chen called as he hurried after her.
Neuvillette sighed and followed.
—
By the time they got home, it was already evening.
Neuvillette naturally went to cook.
After frequent practice, his skills were now masterful.
After dinner, Furina went for a walk by the sea.
The ocean reflected the moonlight, casting a soft glow over the land. Under that silvery light, Furina seemed to shimmer faintly.
Barefoot on the sand, she turned back to look at her silly younger brother squatting on the ground, prying open shells. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Changed or not, at least for now… things were the same as always.
"Big sis, look—this one's really pretty!"
Gu Chen held up a freshly washed shell. Under the moonlight, it looked clean and beautiful.
"Mhm," Furina nodded lightly.
Grinning, Gu Chen infused it with a bit of light, drying it, then carefully tucked it into her hair. After inspecting it seriously, he nodded.
"Even prettier now!"
"Is it me that's prettier, or the shell?" Furina asked with a smile.
"The shell looks good—but on big sis, it looks even better. It's borrowing your beauty!"
"Smooth talker." Furina beamed.
"Whether my lips are sweet or not… big sis has to try to know," Gu Chen said with a mischievous grin, raising his brows.
Furina froze. Then her expression sharpened, and she grabbed his ear.
"Oh? You dare flirt with your big sister now?!"
"Ow, ow, no, no—!"
"Do you know you were wrong?!"
"I do!"
"Will you dare again next time?!"
"Next time… I'll still dare!"
"You brat! Don't run if you've got guts!"
Seeing him take the chance to bolt, Furina lifted her skirt and chased after him.
—
At the doorway, Neuvillette stroked his chin thoughtfully. After a moment, he said, "I'm off—patrol."
Without waiting for a response, he clasped his hands behind his back and left.
—
After their playful scuffle, the two returned home.
Once they finished washing up, Furina entered her room—only to see Gu Chen following right behind her.
She clicked her tongue. "You've grown up and still want to sleep with your big sister?"
"Yep." Gu Chen nodded as if it were only natural.
"Hmph~ No way~" Furina lifted her chin and blocked the doorway.
Without hesitation, Gu Chen scooped her up.
"Ah!"
By the time she reacted, she was already lying on the bed.
"Sleeping next to big sis feels good. I can't sleep otherwise."
Held in his arms, Furina waited for a moment… but nothing happened.
This guy actually fell asleep just like that?!
Furina pouted resentfully.
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