Outside the school gate, Alia was still surrounded by several of her new friends.
Ever since her secret had been exposed, more and more students had wanted to get to know her.
Some genuinely wanted to be friends.
But others clearly just wanted a chance to get close to Ravian.
"Alia, want to have lunch together tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Do you usually go straight home after school?"
"Yeah."
"Then tomorrow..."
The sentence was cut short when several students suddenly fell silent.
Alia followed their line of sight.
Ravian stood several yards away.
As usual, his face looked calm and cold.
But his eyes immediately locked onto Alia.
More precisely, onto the bag still hanging from his younger sibling's shoulder.
Ravian walked over.
Alia smiled.
"Big Brother."
Ravian stopped in front of her.
"Come here."
Alia furrowed her brow.
"What?"
"Your bag."
Ravian held out his hand.
Alia let out a soft laugh.
"My bag?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I'll carry it."
"I can carry it myself."
Ravian didn't answer.
He immediately took the bag strap from Alia's shoulder and slung it over his own.
Alia could only stare at her older brother.
"You're such a..."
"Is it heavy?"
"No."
"Then let me carry it."
Alia smiled.
"All right."
Several students who witnessed the scene immediately exchanged glances.
One girl whispered,
"Oh my God..."
Her friend turned to her.
"What?"
"Look at Ravian."
Ravian stood beside Alia, casually carrying his younger sibling's bag.
Then he looked at Alia's friends, who were still standing around them.
"Are you done?"
One of the students quickly nodded.
"Yeah."
Ravian nodded.
"You can be friends with Alia."
He paused briefly.
"But don't bother her."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was enough to make them nod immediately.
"Yes."
Alia looked at her older brother.
"Big Brother, they weren't bothering me."
Ravian turned to her.
"I know."
"Then why did you say that?"
"Because I'm your older brother."
Alia sighed.
"You're so overprotective."
Ravian didn't answer.
Instead, he held out his hand to Alia.
"Come here."
Alia stared at his hand.
"What now?"
"Hold it."
"Big Brother..."
"Hold it."
Alia finally slipped her hand into Ravian's.
Ravian then took his younger sibling's hand and led her along.
The sight immediately silenced several students around the gate.
One girl covered her mouth with both hands.
"Oh my God!"
Her friend laughed.
"What now?"
"I'm jealous!"
"Why?"
"I want to be Alia."
"Because of Ravian?"
"Of course!"
The girl watched Ravian walk along carrying Alia's bag and holding her hand.
"Imagine having an older brother as handsome as Ravian."
Her friend watched him too.
"And it turns out he really loves his younger sibling."
"Exactly!"
"I thought he was cold to everyone."
"He is cold."
The girl pointed at Alia.
"Except to his younger sibling."
Her friend nodded.
"She gets loved, protected, has her bag carried, and even gets her hand held."
She let out a long sigh.
"Why don't I have an older brother like that?"
Another girl who overheard them chimed in.
"I want one too."
"Me too."
"If I could trade families, I'd want to be Ravian's younger sibling."
They all laughed.
Alia, who heard their whispers, could only try to hide her embarrassment.
"Big Brother."
"Hm?"
"Everyone's looking."
"Let them."
"They're talking about us."
"Let them."
Alia looked at their joined hands.
"Aren't you embarrassed?"
Ravian turned to her.
"Why should I be?"
"You're holding my hand like I'm a little kid."
"You're my younger sibling."
That simple answer left Alia speechless.
Ravian then tightened his grip on her hand slightly.
"And I don't care what other people think."
Alia smiled faintly.
"Then I don't care either."
They continued walking away from the school gate.
But after a few steps, Alia suddenly laughed.
"What?"
"You know what, Big Brother?"
"What?"
"If someone sees us like this, they'll definitely think I'm your favorite younger sibling."
Ravian glanced at her.
"You are my favorite younger sibling."
Alia stopped in her tracks.
Ravian stopped too.
Alia stared at her older brother.
"Seriously?"
Ravian furrowed his brow.
"Do I have any other younger siblings?"
Alia laughed.
"Good point."
She started walking beside her older brother again.
Her heart felt warm.
During her time in London, Alia had always missed moments like this.
Moments when she could walk with her family without having to think about the distance between them.
Without having to hide their relationship.
Now, even though her school life was beginning to fill with all kinds of trouble, at least she no longer had to hide who she was.
She was Alia.
Ravian's younger sibling.
Meanwhile, near the school gate, several students were still talking about them.
"I'm seriously jealous."
"Me too."
"Ravian turns out to be incredibly overprotective."
"If I were Alia, I'd feel so safe."
One girl then said,
"I wish I had an older brother like Ravian."
Her friend laughed.
"I want a younger sibling like Alia."
"Why?"
"Because if I were Ravian's younger sibling, he'd protect me every day."
They laughed together.
But not every student was talking only about the siblings' relationship.
Some were beginning to realize that Alia had become the school's new center of attention.
Not just because of her beauty.
Not just because she was Ravian's younger sibling.
But because more and more people were starting to take an interest in getting to know her.
And among all those people, there was one person who had never treated Alia differently after learning who her older brother was.
Daren.
He stood not far from the gate, watching Alia and Ravian.
His friend patted him on the shoulder.
"You're not going after them?"
Daren shook his head.
"What's the point?"
"Alia."
Daren smiled faintly.
"I don't need to chase after her."
"Why not?"
"If she really wants to be friends with me, she'll stay my friend."
His friend raised an eyebrow.
"Are you serious?"
Daren nodded.
"I'm not interested in being her friend just because she's Ravian's younger sibling."
From a distance, Alia happened to glance back.
Her eyes met Daren's.
Daren smiled.
Alia returned the smile.
Ravian saw it.
He said nothing.
But his gaze shifted to Daren for several seconds.
Then he continued walking.
Alia looked at her older brother.
"Big Brother."
"Hm?"
"Don't stare at Daren like that."
"I'm not doing anything."
"Your eyes."
"What's wrong with my eyes?"
"You look like you're interrogating him."
Ravian fell silent.
Alia laughed.
"Don't be so overprotective."
Ravian sighed.
"I'm just your older brother."
"That's exactly the problem."
Alia laughed again.
Ravian only shook his head.
They continued walking together.
Neither of them knew that from that day on, Alia's life at school would become even more eventful.
Not because she was a new student anymore.
Nor merely because she was Ravian's younger sibling.
But because, little by little, someone was beginning to fall for Alia—not because of her beauty, not because of her family, and not because of who her older brother was.
But because of who she was.