Chapter 9.9 Xinran and the Beginning
“Younger Sister Xinran, although I know you used to hate me, this time we are on the same side.” Senior Lanhua offered me a friendly smile and extended her hand.
I thought for about three seconds before shaking her hand. Seeing her smile deepen, I admitted that my first instinct was to refuse cooperation with her. After all, Senior Lanhua was as cunning as a fox. From our previous conversation, it was clear that the current situation was within her expectations. She might have even set some traps to push things to this point. Therefore, her alliance with me now must have a hidden agenda… It was true that it was difficult for me to hold onto my brother alone, so I needed allies.
“Hehehe… Sister-in-law, are you going to oppose me to the end? You would rather ally with that ill-intentioned, foxy shrew?”
“Oh ho, isn’t that obvious? Since Little Bingbing, you’ve made such a possessive declaration, do you really expect anyone to stand by your side now? Hoo hoo hoo hoo.”
Senior Lanhua’s laughter was practiced and, to put it crudely, incredibly annoying. If one were to describe an annoying woman, she could be used as a standard example. Conversely, although I had just insulted her earlier, my stance was different now. As long as she intended to monopolize my brother, we could never reconcile.
“I am a benevolent ‘harem faction’ member, you know. Even if I win this game, I won’t forbid other women from approaching Jun. So, who Younger Sister Xinran would choose to support is quite obvious, isn’t it?”
“Cunning fox, you don’t really mean that, do you?”
“Oh my, how could that be? I always wish for everyone’s happiness, ho ho ho… Of course, some people can only be R, B, Q.”
“Aren’t you the one most suited to be R.B.Q.? Hehehehe, who is the one moaning so seductively in bed?”
“…As expected, I don’t get along with you.”
“Me neither. Why don’t you just die already?”
“Hoo hoo hoo…”
“Heh heh heh…”
“Both of you, just die already.”
Then, my brother will be mine. SH.
“Young Miss, verbal disputes are meaningless. I think you should set the game rules first.”
“You’re right. Talking to that foxy shrew makes my head heat up. So, let’s set the game rules.”
There were still sensible people present. That Head Maid always knew when to step in and ease the atmosphere. In fact, she was the most troublesome maid. Even if everyone else teamed up, they probably couldn’t win against her. If she were truly protecting her Young Miss, then…
It’s strange, isn’t it? This Head Maid has short white hair and always wears a maid outfit. She perfectly fits my brother’s preferences and could be considered the realization of his fantasies. Yet, she’s not part of the harem my brother has established. My brother also always calls her ‘Miss Shirley’ and seems very respectful of her, never having shown any inappropriate intentions… Well, my brother himself rarely appears to fancy a woman… Except for that white-haired loli who is the same age as him, and Senior Li Nai.
“Mmmph mmmph mmmph!”
“Mmmph mmmph mmmph mmmph mmmph mmmph mmmph!”
So annoying, brother, can’t you be quiet? “Fine… Since you look so pitiful, I’ll let you speak.” Seeing how much my brother wanted to speak, and feeling pity for him, I took him out. Finally freed from the nauseating feeling of wanting to vomit but being unable to, my brother coughed a few times, rolled his eyes, and complained, “Pfft, cough! What the heck, Miss Shirley! Are you really okay with them acting like this?”
“Heh, Young Miss asked me for a favor for the first time in a while, so naturally, I have to fulfill her wish. Right, Young Master Juncheng? If Young Miss were to beg you tearfully, you would agree too, wouldn’t you?”
“Well, if Lianbing were to beg me tearfully, I would indeed…”
Exposed by her own maid, Young Miss Ji’s face darkened, her pupils turned redder, and killing intent leaked out all around. The Head Maid, as if unaffected by the killing intent emanating from nearby, continued with a smile, “However, helping up to this point is enough. For the next ‘game,’ the maids and I will not participate. Please rest assured. Furthermore, the maids and I will act as judges for this game, and I will also decide the game rules. This will ensure fairness, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Like a host? Hoo hoo hoo, you can do that. That would be the most beneficial situation for us.” If these maids weren’t involved, the situation would be completely reversed. Why would this Head Maid suddenly propose such disadvantageous rules for her Young Miss? Did she not want her Young Miss to win? “Young Miss, you don’t have any objections, do you?”
“Hehehehe, I see… So this is what fairness looks like? Alright, I will make them understand what overwhelming victory means.” I didn’t expect her to agree. Ji Lianbing isn’t such an arrogant woman, which means she has absolute confidence in her victory… “Then, I will set the game rules. The venue is limited to ‘this paradoxical world,’ with no time limit and no restrictions on methods. The prize for the winner will be ‘Young Master Juncheng’s ownership and unrestricted use’.”
“No… My…”
“Shut up.” x3 “Brother, you just need to be a prize obediently from now on. You have no room to interfere this time.” I folded my arms and asked with one eye open, “Then, what are the most important game rules?”
“Yes, next, I will talk about the game rules. I believe since Young Master Juncheng is the ultimate prize, the process of ‘contending for Young Master Juncheng’ should be the game itself.”
“Huh? Are you saying we have to snatch my brother?”
“Yes, I judge that this aligns with your thoughts, Misses. A more direct method will be more effective. However…’the current Young Master Juncheng’ is too active, which will hinder the game. Therefore, some changes need to be made.”
“I need to be changed? How else can I change?” The Head Maid disappeared from mid-air and reappeared beside us the next second. I didn’t even have time to react. By the time I noticed, she was already next to my brother, and the giant eyeballs behind her were closing. I couldn’t help but feel relieved inwardly. Fortunately, this person wouldn’t participate in the game.
“Then, excuse me, Young Master Jun… Paradoxical [grains and heaps].”
“Eh? Uwa!” Lines appeared on both of my brother’s shoulders, knees, waist, and neck. Then, those lines slowly opened up, turning into eyes… Immediately after… My brother, right before my eyes, was torn to pieces.
“Brother!” Seeing this horrifying scene, I couldn’t help but cry out. But in reality, there was no blood splashing. I also knew that this Head Maid would never kill my brother. Yet, I couldn’t help but rush forward and hug ‘my brother’s lower half.’ However, when I opened my eyes, I saw not the incomplete lower half I imagined, but… a child, about four or five years old, with big eyes, looking bewildered. In the corner of my memory, I also remembered that spirited brother… He, had turned into a child?!
“Ohoho~ This is…”
“Since the incompleteness of the body parts is not aesthetically pleasing, I have slightly altered the ‘concept’.”
“Uwaaaaaaah!”
“Oh dear, oh dear, don’t cry, don’t cry. Young Master Juncheng, are you hungry?” In the Head Maid’s arms was another “brother,” but younger than the one I was holding, like a newborn infant. Besides that, other “parts” were caught by the other maids beside her. Specifically, the left hand, right hand, left foot, and right foot. The lower half had become the four or five-year-old child in my arms, while the upper half was the infant brother in the Head Maid’s arms. Lastly, the head… Held by the maid named Yan Yang was my brother’s head. His head lay there quietly, eyes closed, like a beautiful, sleeping man. It gave one an urge to hold him tightly. In fact, the ponytail maid was doing just that, holding him so tightly that it was really annoying…
“Now, Young Master Juncheng has been divided into seven parts by me: the head, two hands, two feet, the child’s lower half, and the infant’s upper half.”
“I see, a scramble? Shirley, you’re really doing something that displeases me.”
“Heh, don’t you think putting Young Master Juncheng back together with your own hands and making him complete is also a kind of fun?”
“Heheheh… You understand me well, don’t you? Fine, it’s somewhat interesting.”
“Then, the child Juncheng will be the part held by Miss Xinran and Miss Lanhua, while the infant Juncheng will be held by Young Miss. The other body parts of Young Master Juncheng will be scattered by me throughout the city.” The Head Maid kept smiling and snapped her fingers. The limbs and head of my brother held by the maids, along with the maids themselves, disappeared.
“I believe you all have the general idea of the rules, but I will still explain them. When the game starts later, I will randomly scatter everyone throughout the city. The one who first collects all the parts and brings them here, to the Central Clock Tower where I am, and restores them into the complete Young Master Juncheng, will win.”
Oh, there’s a catch here. It’s not enough to just collect them; they have to be brought here. “Methods are unlimited, time is unlimited, and the venue is limited to this world. You don’t have to worry about damaging the body parts; I will provide protection. So, are there any other questions?”
“Same here.”
“Can we start now?”
“Then, a game begins = The game to contend for my brother has begun.”
