I Want to Be the Big Brother

(First, my apologies to readers who have read my book before. Since I didn't like the male lead's name, I've changed it from "Austen" to "Richie.")

(Note: If you don't like it, please curse me out in the comments. I'll consider changing it back. If this is your first time reading this book, please ignore this note. Thank you for checking out my book.)

Anya blinked her big eyes at Twilight. "Anya wants a little brother."

Hugging Chimera, Anya lifted her adorable little face and blinked her big, omelet-like eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

"Anya wants to be with little brother."

Anya thought that since she couldn't hear this little brother's thoughts, being with such an interesting boy should be lots of fun. So cool, so cool.

Richie hadn't expected Anya to plead his case. As long as Anya wanted him there, his chances of joining the Forger family would improve dramatically.

As for being the younger brother or the older brother, it didn't matter.

As long as he could stir up trouble, nothing else mattered.

Twilight frowned in thought. Indeed, there were too many things he couldn't control in the future. As a spy, he couldn't dictate every outcome. All he could do was prepare for every possibility to ensure the mission went without a hitch.

Having both children participate in the mission would improve his chances of success.

Having finished thinking it over, Twilight asked the director, "Director, can I adopt two children at once?"

The director thought, This Richie mopes around all day and is a sickly little thing. Like Anya, he's been stuck in this orphanage forever. They're both such a pain. Hurry up and adopt them both.

Hearing the director's thoughts, Anya looked at Richie. So Richie was another child the director disliked.

Poor Richie. Just like Anya.

The director waved his hand. "Take them both! Hurry up and take them."

Richie hadn't expected Anya's intervention to succeed so quickly.

He had just begged Twilight every way he could, only to be refused. But once Anya stepped in, she won her dear father over in minutes. That was protagonist plot armor for you.

Richie had almost played his trump card and told Twilight that the organization had sent him to help complete Operation Strix.

But that might have made Twilight suspicious of him, leading to more complications down the line.

The best outcome was exactly what had happened: Twilight took him in as a backup plan.

He hadn't expected that such a brief interaction with Anya would make her so curious about him.

Zhang Si really was grateful for Richie, this powerful test subject.

Twilight left the orphanage with Anya and Richie. His mission to have a child within seven days was complete.

There was just one unexpected development: he'd had boy-girl twins.

Twilight drove the two children back to the new home he had just bought and gave them instructions at the entrance.

"Listen carefully, little boy and little girl."

Anya looked up. "Anya."

Richie copied Anya. "Richie."

Twilight's expression was solemn and serious. "Listen carefully, Anya and Richie."

"Starting today, you're my daughter and son. In front of other people, you must pretend to be my biological children. Understand?"

Richie chuckled inwardly. Hehehe, I've finally joined the Forger family. Now I can mess with Dad, pet my little sister, and bully the second son to my heart's content.

Anya called out sweetly, "Papa."

Then she turned to Richie and called, "Little brother."

Seeing the adorable Anya, Richie's heart melted. He didn't want to be Anya's little brother. He wanted to be her big brother and protect her.

Richie also called out, "Papa, I'm older than Anya. She should call me big brother."

Anya looked utterly exasperated. She didn't want to be the little sister. She'd heard that big brothers bullied their little sisters.

Then she looked up at Twilight and Richie, showing them her pitiful, heart-wrenching fried-egg eyes.

"Anya will be big sister. Anya will protect you."

A dazzling light shone from Anya's eyes, so bright that Richie couldn't keep his eyes open.

"Papa, Anya will be big sister."

Twilight frowned slightly. The two children looked about the same height, so their ages should also be... about the same.

Either one could be the older sibling, couldn't they?

Twilight said, "Richie, why don't you be the little brother? You're both about the same age anyway."

Richie flatly refused. He didn't want to be the little brother. He insisted on being Anya's big brother.

"Papa, Anya can't even say a complete sentence properly. She's obviously younger than me. She's not as composed, dignified, mature, or dependable as I am. I think being the big brother is my duty as a man. I should protect my little sister."

Richie spoke with righteous conviction, clenching his fists and knitting his little brows, looking very much like a miniature adult.

Convinced by Richie, Twilight nodded. "All right. From now on, you're the big brother. You must protect your little sister Anya and fulfill your duty as a man."

Richie stood up straight. "I certainly will, Papa."

Then Richie turned his head and flashed a grin full of bright white teeth. "Anya, little sister."

Anya stood to the side hugging Chimera, watching in a daze. They'd decided it just like that? Had anyone asked Anya's opinion?

"Papa, Papa, Anya, Anya..." Anya clearly wanted Twilight to change his decision.

Twilight crouched down to meet Anya's eyes. "Anya, your big brother will protect you from now on. Go on, call him big brother."

Anya looked even more disgruntled. "Big brother. Hehehe."

Twilight smiled in satisfaction. As long as the two children could get along peacefully during this period, that was enough. Once the mission was complete, he would send them back.

After giving the two children their instructions outside the house he had just bought, Twilight took them upstairs.

"Oh my! What a lovely pair of children. The boy is so handsome, just like you, sir, and the girl is adorable too."

They encountered an elderly neighbor on the way, and she couldn't hide her burning curiosity.

"And you are-"

Twilight removed his hat and answered politely, "My name is Loid Forger. I just moved here today."

Anya answered with a cheerful grin as well. "My name is Anya. I'm Papa's biological daughter."

Richie thought carefully about what he should say. His eyes lit up, and he followed right on Anya's heels. "My name is Richie. I'm the son Papa delivered naturally within seven days."

The elderly neighbor was stunned by what Richie and Anya had said.

Standing beside them, Twilight hurried to patch up this sudden blunder before anyone grew suspicious. "Don't talk nonsense."

Twilight took the two children inside. The moment Anya entered, the television caught her attention.

Once Twilight gave her permission to watch TV, Anya eagerly began watching Spy Wars.

Richie surveyed the entire room and recalled the plot. No major events should happen next.

Once the incident with Anya sending a telegram was over, he could truly secure his place with Twilight.

Having figured things out, Richie felt a little tired and flopped onto the sofa.

He slept soundly...