"Alright, little sister, this guy just refuses to speak like a human being. Do you really think your brother has no temper at all? Am I supposed to keep being warm to someone who’s so cold to me?" Seeing my sister’s anxious and helpless expression, I stood up to comfort her.

"Brother, is that really how you have to put it?" Emily Grant's almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, as if she had just witnessed her usually refined, gentlemanly brother suddenly transform into a complete literary rascal.

Ugh, damn ancestors, it seems anger really does make people lose their reason. Even someone as cultured as me can end up blurting out such crude words. Of course, I absolutely can’t let my image be ruined in front of my sister.

I used to be a true gentleman—well, at least I have to keep up my perfect image in front of others from now on. After all, William Grant was a renowned minister of his time, and as a time traveler from the future, I should do even better than the original William Grant. Higher, faster, stronger—that’s the goal any outstanding elite of the 21st century should strive for.

Looking straight into my sister’s eyes with my bright and clear gaze, I used the gentlest voice to persuade—cough, I mean, explain: "Sis, you misheard. What I actually said was, being warm to someone with a cold face, that’s all." Uh, that still sounds pretty gross. Two guys rubbing faces together—such an act is no different from what close male friends do. No wonder those Westerners, who love this kind of disgusting greeting, are always fooling around with each other when they’re bored.

"…Really? You’re not lying to me? Hmm, then I must have misheard. Someone like you, brother, could never say something like that." My sister’s ‘Ah Q spirit’ is pretty strong, or maybe, in her heart, her tall and noble brother could never say anything so shocking and eye-blinding.

"Of course. But, sis, it looks like that Charles Foster is already thinking about breaking off the engagement." Wiping a cold sweat in secret, I quickly changed the subject.

"Brother, don’t scare me. No, I have to go tell mother." My sister’s almond eyes, not yet back to normal, widened again. I quickly reached out to stop her. "Good girl, don’t make mother worry, okay?"

"But brother, how can we keep something this big from mother? Don’t you know, for the past three years, mother has been worrying herself sick just to make sure the The Foster Family doesn’t find an excuse to break off the engagement." As she spoke, my sister’s eyes were already turning red.

"Be good, sis, listen to me. Let’s not tell mother for now, okay? Besides, since Charles Foster already has this idea, do you think I, or mother, or even uncle, could possibly change his mind?" I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

"But this was the engagement father arranged for you before he passed away. If anything goes wrong…" My sister twisted her hands, her face still full of worry.

"Good girl, look at me. Do you think someone as handsome and talented as your brother couldn’t find a suitable wife?" I gave my sister a bright, sunny smile. First, I have to comfort her. As for the Charles Foster family, what do I care? If the childhood engagement doesn’t work out, so be it. I have to think about my own family’s future—how could I let my sister and mother’s future be ruined over this? They’re my closest, blood-related family.

"I believe in you, brother, but…" Emily Grant nodded hard, but the gloom on her face still hadn’t completely lifted.

"Don’t worry, mother and uncle will understand." I smiled, looking confidently at the lush greenery outside the hall door. "As the heir of the The Grant Family, how could I let myself be humiliated? Honestly, if they want to break off the engagement, that’s exactly what I want. I have no interest in marrying into a family that looks down on others."

"Elder Foster wasn’t like this before…" A trace of sadness appeared on Emily Grant’s delicate face, making my heart ache. I gently flicked her smooth forehead and said softly, "Silly girl, this world is cruel by nature. In fact, it’s far crueler than you can imagine. You’ll understand in time."

"Cruel…" My sister looked up at me, as if seeing her brother in a new light.

Chapter 3: Traveling Through Time with a Heart to Smash the Four Olds!

"Come on, let’s take another walk in the back garden. It’s just too stuffy in here." I gave my sister a gentle smile. Maybe she doesn’t understand now, but I believe it won’t be long before she truly realizes just how cruel this world can be. For now, I just want her to be a little more mentally prepared. I believe that with these experiences, she’ll become even stronger in the future.

"Another walk? Didn’t you make me run around this house with you several times early this morning?" My sister pouted in protest, but still obediently lifted her skirt and walked with me toward the back garden.