Sworn sisters

****Author's note: for those who don't know the meaning of 'sworn sisters', here is a definition: The purpose of becoming sworn sisters is to allow the relationship to become 'more intimate' and 'longer lasting' than ordinary friendship. In other words, taking such an oath allows people to establish a non-kinship family bond. To be clear, the girls do not become real sisters, so a romantic relationship is still possible between them.****

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Song Yu Qi was in the dining room preparing breakfast when she heard Tan Yanyan and Xia Zilin leave their respective bedrooms.

She immediately noticed that Tan Yanyan had a big smile on her face, so she became curious and wondered if something good had happened.

"Sister Yanyan, you seem happier than usual this morning." She said.

"It's because today is my fifteenth birthday." Answered Tan Yanyan, still smiling.

"Oh, happy birthday!" Exclaimed Song Yu Qi.

"Happy birthday Sister Yanyan. We were almost born on the same day, my birthday is in two days!" Said Xia Zilin.

"Really? That's amazing!" Said Tan Yanyan, surprised.

"What about you, Sister Yu Qi? When is your birthday?" Asked Xia Zilin.

Hearing her question, Song Yu Qi, who was cutting some vegetables, stopped her movement and wondered what she should answer. She actually had no idea what the day of her birthday was in this world. However, she knew that it would be suspicious if she said she didn't know so she decided to choose a random date close to her two roommates' birthdays.

"Actually, my birthday is tomorrow." She said.

"Huh?! So it means that we were all born with only one day apart!" Exclaimed Xia Zilin.

"It must be fate that the three of us are here together." Said Tan Yanyan, nodding.

Song Yu Qi felt bad for lying to them so she tried to change the topic of the conversation.

"Let's prepare a birthday cake for Sister Yanyan!" She said.

"What is a birthday cake?" Asked Xia Zilin, tilting her head.

"You don't know?" Asked Song Yu Qi, surprised. Was it possible that the people of this world didn't eat cake for their birthday?

"I've never heard of it either." Said Tan Yanyan, shaking her head.

"A birthday cake is made to celebrate a person's birthday. I can't believe you never had one. Then, follow me, let's go to the Market Hall to buy some ingredients!" Exclaimed Song Yu Qi as she prepared to leave the house.

Tan Yanyan and Xia Zilin were dumbfounded but still followed her as they were very curious about this birthday cake.

There was no oven in their house but Song Yu Qi knew the recipes for several cakes that did not require an oven to be prepared. After thinking for a moment, she decided to make a Steamed Rice Cake.

Once they arrived at the Market Hall, Song Yu Qi made a list of the ingredients she needed and shared it with her two roommates.

The ingredients to make the cake were very expensive but it was because they were all exceptional.

The milk was called Heavenly Milk and apparently came from a divine spring located in the sect instead of an animal! The flour was made from Spiritual Rice and the eggs were from a Demonic Beast called the Three-headed Chicken. Unfortunately, there was no sugar but instead, there was a thing called Golden Honey obtained from a Demonic Beast called Golden Strip Bee.

After they bought all the ingredients, the three girls went back to their house and Song Yu Qi started to make the cake.

While the cake was cooking, Song Yu Qi taught Xia Zilin a birthday song so they could both sing it to Tan Yanyan as a surprise.

Finally, after almost an hour, the Steamed Rice Cake was ready. The cake was round, thick, and seemed very soft. It smelled amazing and was beautifully colored in gold thanks to the Golden Honey.

"Sister Yu Qi, you're so amazing! I didn't know that you even knew how to make cakes." Said Xia Zilin, excited when she saw and smelled the cake.

Song Yu Qi smiled and walked with her towards Tan Yanyan who was waiting for them sitting at the table.

Presenting the cake in front of Tan Yanyan, both Song Yu Qi and Xia Zilin began to sing in harmony.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you Sister Yanyan. Happy birthday to you!"

Tan Yanyan was so moved that she was speechless even though her mouth was wide open.The girl was blushing heavily and was looking at her roommates with gratitude. It was the first time in her life that someone had wished her a happy birthday like this. Usually it was only her and her brother who just congratulated her and bought her a piece of jewelry. Moreover, during the past five years, she didn't even celebrate her birthday because her brother was in the sect...

"T-Thank you." She whispered after a moment with small tears in her eyes.

Seeing Tan Yanyan on the verge of crying, Xia Zilin panicked and wondered what happened.

"Sister Yanyan, are you alright?" She asked.

"Yes. I-It's nothing, I'm just very grateful for what you two did. It's the first time someone has celebrated my birthday like that." Answered Tan Yanyan, smiling.

"You especially have to thank Sister Yu Qi, it was all her idea and it was she who made the cake." Said Xia Zilin, pointing at Song Yu Qi.

"Thank you for everything Sister Yu Qi." Thanked Tan Yanyan.

"You're welcome. So, what do you want as a birthday present?" Asked Song Yu Qi.

"Present? I don't need a present, you have already done enough for me!" Answered Tan Yanyan.

"Hmm, that won't do..." Said Song Yu Qi, shaking her head and thinking about what she could give to her roommate.

"I have an idea, let's become sworn sisters!" Suggested Xia Zilin, excitedly.

"Sworn sisters?" Asked Song Yu Qi with a questioning face.

She knew about 'sworn brothers' because she had read about it in many novels in her previous life so she supposed that 'sworn sisters' was the same concept.

"By becoming sworn sisters we can be like a family and always support each other." Explained Xia Zilin.

"That's a great idea! I also want to be closer to you two. What do you think, Sister Yu Qi?" Asked Tan Yanyan.

"Sure, let's become sworn sisters." She answered, nodding and smiling.

"Good! I have some incense sticks in my bedroom for the ceremony. I will be back quickly." Said Xia Zilin as she ran towards her room.

She came back a few seconds later with around ten incense sticks in her hands as well as a bowl filled with soil in which the sticks were to be planted.

Song Yu Qi had no idea what to do so she just followed and imitated her two roommates.

She as well as Xia Zilin and Tan Yanyan kneel on the floor in front of the bowl, each with three incense sticks in their hands.

"Sister Yanyan, do you want to start?" Asked Xia Zilin.

Tan Yanyan nodded, lit the sticks in her hands, and held them in front of her.

"To the heavenly sky above and the ground below. I, Tan Yanyan, Song Yu Qi, and Xia Zilin, have agreed to become sworn sisters. From now onwards, we will be together for better or for worse, help each other when in need, and share our joy together. No matter what our fate holds or what challenges may come, we will never give up on each other. If I break this oath, I shall be punished by the Gods." She said.

After that, Tan Yanyan planted her sticks in the bowl and kowtowed three times.

"Sister Yu Qi, it's your turn."

Song Yu Qi was shocked by the oath that Tan Yanyan made, it almost sounded like wedding vows! She was quite happy to share this kind of bond with Tan Yanyan and Xia Zilin.

She lit her sticks and then did and said exactly like Tan Yanyan.

"To the heavenly sky above and the ground below. I, Song Yu Qi, Tan Yanyan, and Xia Zilin, have agreed to become sworn sisters. From now onwards, we will be together for better or for worse, help each other when in need, and share our joy together. No matter what our fate holds or what challenges may come, we will never give up on each other. If I break this oath, I shall be punished by the Gods."

Next, Xia Zilin made her oath the same way as the two other girls did.

"To the heavenly sky above and the ground below. I, Xia Zilin, Tan Yanyan, and Song Yu Qi, have agreed to become sworn sisters. From now onwards, we will be together for better or for worse, help each other when in need, and share our joy together. No matter what our fate holds or what challenges may come, we will never give up on each other. If I break this oath, I shall be punished by the Gods."

Once the ceremony was over, the three girls stood up and Xia Zilin looked at her new sisters with a large smile on her face.

"Sister Yanyan, since you are the oldest among us, you will be the big sister. Sister Yu Qi will be the second sister, and I will be the third sister!" She said.

The three girls then hugged each other to celebrate their new bond.

Song Yu Qi felt a warm feeling in her chest. For the first time since she had come to this world, she was genuinely happy to be a girl. Because if she hadn't been a girl, she would have never met Tan Yanyan and Xia Zilin.