Chapter 89.5: An Xinran’s Windfall
An Xinran’s Windfall:
It was past midnight, and I was tossing and turning, still unable to sleep.
I couldn’t sleep because I was too hot, so I sat up.
Although the room didn’t have air conditioning, the temperature shouldn’t have been hot enough to prevent sleep.
The blanket wasn’t very thick either, but I just felt hot, as if a torrent of heat was surging through my body, and I couldn’t cool down. If he could come to me at this moment, I don’t think I would be this uncomfortable.
Once you’ve tasted the forbidden fruit, you become insatiable, always wanting more.
That’s the taste of ‘dégustation’ – it makes you dependent on it. And this is just a ‘counterfeit’ version. How much more dependent would one become on the ‘real thing’? It’s impossible for me now.
Even though I hadn’t locked the door, he still didn’t come to find me at night.
Well, in the end, his personality won’t change. He probably just took it as a joke. And even if he truly needed me, I wouldn’t be the first person he’d look for; there are others… How many people are ahead of me in line? Oh well, if he’s not coming, he’s not coming. I was just momentarily hopeful. Hmph, he’s just a weakling. I’ll definitely look down on him tomorrow.
Tsk, I feel like a concubine waiting for the emperor’s favor, secretly jealous and heartbroken.
But amidst the displeasure, there’s a hint of anticipation and happiness, and realizing this makes me even more displeased.
A feeling I hate.
After getting out of bed, I sat on a chair and looked back at the bunk bed. It had been used for a long time, and it made an awkward noise when I got off.
And it made noise when I turned over in bed… It’s very annoying to listen to.
But I always insisted on sleeping on the upper bunk, because he also slept on the upper bunk when he lived in this room.
Thinking back, I’ve never truly left him, have I? Dependence and being depended upon, I just wanted to get closer to him.
…It’s getting hotter. Right, I’ll just use my powers to make a breeze and cool down the room.
Although he specifically emphasized that I shouldn’t misuse my Destiny Power, saying that overusing it would shorten my lifespan, I didn’t feel like I had lost much of myself when I used it before.
It seems that the amount of Destiny Power stored in my body is quite abundant.
It’s just creating a gentle breeze, surely it won’t consume much Destiny Power.
—No using it! You’re not allowed to use Destiny Power again without my permission, understand?
…Fine, I won’t use it. Why are you barking at me?
But it’s so hot, you damned brother. If you’re not letting me use the wind, you should be smart and come find me.
Right, Keling’s room has air conditioning. I should go there and cool off.
Although it’s very late, I think Keling probably hasn’t slept yet. She definitely hasn’t slept. She won’t be sleeping tonight.
I should have gone to see her earlier. I’ll go find her now.
Keling’s room is next door. She probably heard the noise from my room, so she also knows I’m not asleep.
I opened the door and went into Keling’s room. Her door was also unlocked, clearly indicating she was expecting something, just like me.
…Perhaps she was just waiting for me to arrive.
I can smell brother’s scent. This means he’s already been here.
He didn’t come to my room, but went to Keling’s room… Hmph. Although I can probably guess why, it still feels…
I opened the door and walked in. The room was dark, and the figure on the bed seemed to be lying down.
I closed the door behind me and locked it, mimicking his action.
Then, without turning on the light, I fumbled my way to the bedside, climbed onto the bed, and lay down next to Keling.
…It’s hot. Why did you come in without permission?
“Weren’t you inviting me in?”
“I just forgot to lock the door.”
“But if it’s hot, you can just open the window.”
“If I open the window, mosquitoes will come in.”
“What month is it? How can there be mosquitoes? Forget it, I’ll just turn on the air conditioning then.”
“You’re just here to use the air conditioning anyway… If you turn it on, I’ll get cold.”
“If I hug you, you won’t be cold.”
Keling didn’t object, so I hugged her from behind. It felt like zero-distance intimacy, something I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Hugging her tighter, I transferred all my excess body heat to her. Keling’s skin was cool, which was much more comfortable than any bolster pillow or cool pillow. Once I hugged her, I didn’t want to let go.
Yes, in this world, it’s really been a long time.
…Disgusting. Acting as if we are a pair of loving sisters.
“That’s the reality of it. We’ve never fought, and we’ve never argued over anything since we were kids. It’s rare for sisters to be this harmonious.”
“I hate you.”
“Yes, I know. I hate you too.”
But that’s all in the past.
In the past, even while appearing inseparable on the surface, I had thought… —Why did you take everything from me? —Why did you have to give it to her? —I wish Keling would disappear.
Such malicious thoughts.
And now, Keling and my past self probably have the same thoughts.
“You’re quite bold. You took everything.”
“That’s true ‘now,’ but it wasn’t like that ‘originally.’”
“What are you suddenly talking about? Are you saying that in another world, I actually had the advantage, and you were letting me win?”
Without needing to explain in detail, Keling grasped the truth with just one meaningful sentence.
She’s still as sharp as ever.
“So smart. My Keling is still so excellent.”
“Hmph. Do you really think I’ll believe such lies meant to fool children?”
“You should know I never lie to you.”
I’ve tasted the bitterness of victory and the sting of defeat, but in the end, I realized neither was my rightful place.
“Xinran… Don’t leave me.”
“Mhm, good girl. I won’t. No one will leave you.”
Keling isn’t an unreasonable child, but she’s currently in a state where her desire for affection is amplified. Unlike me, who was no longer in that state after regaining my memories.
This state can still be ‘used.’
She’ll believe whatever I say now.
“Brother is also thinking for us. Rather, he’s never forgotten us. It’s just that his strong desire to protect us has led him to overlook our own feelings.”
“But as a brother, he did nothing wrong. Not a single thing.”
“It’s us who are not content with this and want more.”
“You still call him ‘brother’.”
“Yes. Now, when he hears me call him brother, his expression twists.”
“I can’t help but call him that…”
Keling said with a slightly resentful tone.
“What’s easy for you is something I can’t achieve no matter how long I try. I’ll never be able to do it in this lifetime…”
Mhm, this must be Juncheng’s influence. He’s been filling Keling’s head with useless ideas.
“What did he say to you?”
“No matter what he says, you don’t need to pay attention to him.”
…
Actually, I can guess what he told Keling.
Most likely, he confessed about his relationship with me, took the blame himself, told her not to blame Xinran, and said something like, “I only see you as a sister.”
Such a superficial man.
“Let me say this first: I was the one who initiated it. He just confessed to me and gave me a choice, but I didn’t choose ‘to be your sister again.’”
“If you talk like that, I’ll get jealous of you again.”
“Jealousy is a woman’s nature. You don’t need to hold back.”
Keling curled up in the blanket and shook her head.
“No, it’s enough that you can still be by my side… Brother, I’ll leave him to you.”
“That might be a bit difficult.”
“Wh-why?!”
I covered Keling’s mouth and whispered in her ear.
“Shh, you’re too loud. Brother should be asleep by now. Don’t wake him up.”
“But you, you already…”
“He’s changed. He doesn’t belong only to us anymore. You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you, Sister Lianbing? She’s Brother’s destined one.”
…
“We once thought that if Brother had remained the same as before, one of us would have taken that step with him. But Brother has also changed. The one who changed him was Sister Lianbing.”
“Perhaps his core hasn’t changed, only his perspective. But in any case, he’s no longer that reclusive brother who needs us.”
Actually, it might not just be Sister Lianbing.
That morning, when Brother rushed towards another woman with his terrible acting, several other people were as angry as us.
Their relationship with Brother must also be unusual. Perhaps even… Brother… Based on his performance, which didn’t look like a beginner’s at all, this is definitely not his first time. But the key question is, where did he get all this experience?
It’s possible it’s related to some of them, perhaps even multiple relationships.
I didn’t expect Brother to become so perverse. And he can still act like a gentleman on the surface. He’s truly a scumbag among scumbags!
And, not too long ago, he barely interacted with girls. Suddenly, he’s become an experienced playboy. What’s going on?
Is he entering the prime of his life for romance?
Even three periods combined wouldn’t reach this level. He’s practically a walking Casanova… Well, that might be too much, but it’s not impossible for him to become like that in the future.
I need to manage this…
“Brother, is he a playboy…”
“That’s right. I was deceived by his sweet talk, and I’m not the only one.”
“…I… I don’t think Brother is that terrible…”
“He himself isn’t terrible, but his actions are, in the end. Of course, it’s also because the surrounding environment forced him to change… Well, if he didn’t accept it and chose to resist, Brother might die.”
And he would die a horrific death.
Perhaps he’d be dismembered, or maybe forcibly resurrected.
One way or another, they wouldn’t let him rest, even in death.
Literally, ‘he wouldn’t be spared even as a ghost.’
Being loved is not just a blessing, but also a heavy burden.
He shouldered all the burdens alone.
“As a result, he belongs to no one, and in turn, everyone belongs to him.”
“That sounds very domineering.”
“So I’ve changed my mind. I’ll abandon those arrogant thoughts I can’t achieve. And that’s not freedom at all. I think being casual is better.”
This state is much more comfortable. After letting go of various attachments, I even have the mood to tease him.
Seeing him rendered speechless by my taunts, I felt a sense of pleasure, making me want to laugh out loud.
Then it suddenly occurred to me, has Sister Lianbing always been like this?
That’s why she can smile so freely and joyfully.
“And, Keling, you can too.”
“I can too?”
“Yes, you can become like me…”
I flipped Keling over to face me and hugged her.
“Don’t you want this?”
He should still have my scent on me. Keling will definitely smell it, and she’ll be intoxicated by this scent, and then she’ll taste what I deliberately put in my stomach… But…
I’ll embrace her in his stead, letting her sink into it.
Keling, this is the only compensation I can give you, Sister… You better accept it.
I can’t be the only one to fall. I want you, and him, to fall with me.
That way, aren’t we a loving family of siblings?
Heh…
I feel the joyous wind, making my heart feel blissful.
