Ultimate Choice System: I Became The Richest! - Chapter 271

Chapter 271: Just a brother.
Before Noah could enter the living room, his dad appeared in the hallway.

“There’s my boy.” David Thompson enveloped his son in a firm hug.

“How’s the university treating you?” David asked as they moved to the living room.

“Can’t complain. Top marks.”

He didn’t bother hiding it. He knew what response his parents were looking for and he decided to make them happy.

They settled into the comfortable couch.

Caroline entered with a tray holding three tea cups.

“So tell us about classes,” Caroline said, passing Noah his mug—the blue one with wobbly stars that Emily had made recently.

Noah gave them the sanitized version—interesting lectures, assignments, new friends. Nothing about knocking out Russian agents or securing tech billionaires.

“And you’re taking care of yourself?” his mother pressed. “Eating properly?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Getting enough sleep?”

“Of course.”

Their peaceful family conversation continued for about fifteen minutes until a small figure appeared in the doorway, bouncing from foot to foot.

“Brother! Are you not gonna play with me!” Emily stood there pouting, her pigtails slightly askew, clutching a game controller like a lifeline.

“Of course I will!”

Caroline shook her head gently. “Emily, why don’t you let your brother rest for a few minutes? He probably had a long day today. He will play with you soon.”

Emily’s shoulders slumped dramatically, but she nodded, eyes cast downward in the universal look of childhood disappointment.

She joined them in the large sofa, trying to appear patient. But every few seconds, her eyes would dart to Noah, then back to her swinging feet. Her fingers tapped restlessly on the controller.

Noah watched with amusement as she fought her own battle against boredom. When David started discussing the new project, Emily’s head tilted back, staring at the ceiling as if seeking rescue.

“I think someone’s about to spontaneously combust,” Noah remarked, nodding toward his sister.

Emily perked up immediately. “I’m not! I’m just… waiting.”

“The most patient waiting I’ve ever seen,” Noah teased, rising from the couch. “Come on, Em. Show me these new games before you explode.”

Emily shot off the chair like a rocket, grabbing his hand. “Finally!”

Caroline smiled, mouthing a “thank you” as Emily dragged Noah toward her room.

“Don’t destroy him too badly, sweetheart,” David called after them.

Emily’s room was a riot of color—pink walls covered with drawings, shelves crammed with books and stuffed animals, and now, in the center of it all, the shiny new IplayTrain 5 console.

The room looked incredibly cute and it fit Emily’s personality in his opinion.

“Tennis first!” Emily declared, handing Noah the second controller. She plopped down on her rainbow rug, patting the spot beside her.

Noah sat cross-legged next to his sister, watching her tiny face scrunch with concentration as she scrolled through the game menus.

“I’m gonna be Sparkle Princess,” she announced. “You can be… hmm… Rockstar Ron.”

“Solid choice.”

The virtual tennis match began, Emily’s princess character darting across the court with surprising skill. Noah let his rockstar move a bit sluggishly.

“Ha! Fifteen-love!” Emily crowed when she scored the first point.

Noah raised an eyebrow. “Oh, it’s on now.”

He won the next point easily.

“You got lucky,” Emily insisted, her competitive streak shining through.

They rallied back and forth, Noah carefully calibrating his play. Win enough to keep it interesting, lose enough to keep her confidence high.

The perfect balance.

When Emily won the first set, she jumped up doing a victory dance that involved a lot of arm-flailing and hip-wiggling. Noah clutched his heart, falling backward.

“Defeated by my little sister. My reputation is ruined.”

Emily giggled, poking him in the side. “Your reputation was already ruined when you decided to play against me.”

“Wow! I’m not playing with you again.”

“HEY! I was joking don’t get upset.” She looked at him blinking innocently so he could forgive her and play more

Noah grabbed her, tickling her sides until she shrieked with laughter.

“Fine. I forgive you.”

“Yay! Racing game next!” she gasped between giggles.

They switched games, this time choosing colorful karts with ridiculous power-ups. Emily selected a rainbow track that twisted and looped impossibly.

“I’m the best at this one,” she warned him solemnly.

“We’ll see about that,”

Noah let her take an early lead, then caught up just enough to make her nervous. When she started biting her lower lip—her tell that she was getting frustrated—he “accidentally” drove off the edge of the track.

“Oops.”

Emily’s face lit up as she zoomed ahead. “You’re terrible at this!”

“Must be getting old. My reflexes aren’t what they used to be.”

“You’re not old! You’re just not as good as me!”

As they raced and battled through five more tracks, Noah studied his sister’s face. The pure joy, the complete absorption in the moment.

“One more race?” Emily pleaded when the clock showed they’d been playing for over an hour.

“One more,” Noah agreed. “But this time, I’m not holding back.”

Emily’s eyes widened. “You were holding back?”

Noah winked. “Maybe a little.”

“No fair! Play for real!” Her competitive spirit blazed.

“You asked for it.”

They selected the most difficult track.

The race came down to the final stretch, both of them leaning forward, controllers clutched tight.

“Go, go, go!” Emily chanted as her kart inched ahead.

Noah’s thumbs moved with ease, guiding his character toward the finish line… and then, at the last second, he “slipped” on a banana peel that Emily had thrown at him.

Emily’s kart crossed the finish line first. She leapt up, jumping on her bed in celebration.

“I won! I won! Even when you weren’t holding back!”

Noah shook his head, smiling. “You’re just too good for me,”

“I need to practice more.”

“I know!” She flopped down next to him, breathless with excitement. “Can we play again tomorrow?”

“I’ll try.”

“Promise?” Her eyes, so much like their mother’s, fixed on him.

Noah hesitated. Promises were currency in his world. He never made them unless he could deliver.

“I promise to try,” he said carefully.

Emily seemed to accept this, leaning against his shoulder. “Thanks for the games.”

“I enjoyed it too.” He smiled, ruffling her hair softly.

Here, with Emily, he wasn’t Major Thompson or the business prodigy or the university genius.

He was just a brother.