"Actually, I was lying." Wise looked at his sister throwing a tantrum, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "I didn't send it to Qingfeng. I didn't record anything either."
"Really?!" Belle's big, sparkling eyes looked up at Wise.
"Really..."
Wise sighed helplessly and nodded. His original intention had been to tease Belle a little — to try and distract her.
After all, Belle had looked pretty out of it when she first woke up.
And it had worked perfectly. He just hadn't expected his sister to react so strongly. Truly, a daughter grows up and can't be reined in...
"That's a relief!" Belle patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief, her previously mournful face instantly transforming into one of pure, survivor's joy.
"Brother actually dared to scare his cute little sister like that!" Belle smiled brightly at Wise, her eyes curving into crescents, radiating warmth toward everything around her. "Don't you think you owe me some compensation?"
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Wise's forehead. Based on his understanding of Belle, behind that kind and amiable smile lurked a razor-sharp blade.
If he didn't play along right now, he was certain something bad would happen.
"Of — of course!" Wise swallowed hard. "I'll compensate you for anything!"
"Alright then, I forgive you, brother!"
The moment Belle finished speaking, the chill running down Wise's spine finally began to dissipate.
Belle suddenly sat up straight, dashed over to Wise, and motioned for him to lean down. She cupped her hand to his ear and whispered her scheme in full — a long string of plotting that left Wise's expression shifting through several colors at once.
Belle pulled back, took a deep breath, her face full of mischief. "And then I'll be able to..."
"But—"
"Hmm?!" Belle shot him an extremely fierce look.
Wise immediately snapped to attention in a military salute. "Guaranteed to carry out the commander's orders!"
"Good! Now we just need to wait for Qingfeng to get here!" Belle walked over to the computer desk and sat down. Thinking about what she was about to do, she couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Eheheheh! Hahaha!"
"Um, sis..." Wise looked at Belle suddenly cackling like a scheming villain, feeling helpless, but still spoke up. "Qingfeng and the others just left. And Nicole said she'll make up for the payment she owes next time."
"Wha — what?!" Belle shot up like a rocket, staring at Wise in disbelief. However, she relaxed when she heard the latter part. "That's fine! There's still a chance!"
Wise watched his ever-persistent sister, his inner helplessness deepening by the minute.
---
Meanwhile, Ye Qingfeng had firmly refused Nicole's offer of a ride home and was walking alone down the street when he suddenly shivered.
He rubbed his arms. "I've been getting this weird feeling like something bad is about to happen."
"Oh, right!"
Ye Qingfeng suddenly remembered something he'd forgotten — he still had two bags of ingredients back at the video store. Earlier, he had planned to invite the Phaethon siblings for dinner and also wanted to ask them to come along to the Cunning Hares' place.
He also wondered if Belle had woken up yet. Her condition had been quite worrying — her body convulsing nonstop, occasionally muttering incomprehensible things.
Ye Qingfeng immediately turned around and headed back the way he came. Luckily, he hadn't gone far before he was at the video store again. Without overthinking it, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
This time, he didn't have to wait long. The door was opened by Wise, who cautiously poked his head out.
"Yo, Wise. I came to get my—"
Before Ye Qingfeng could finish his sentence, a panicked Wise clamped a hand over his mouth. Wise cautiously glanced toward a certain tightly closed door, then slowly turned back and lowered his voice:
"Qingfeng, whatever you came for — leave. Quickly!"
"Mmfff! (Behind you!)"
*What Wise understood: Why?!*
"You have to trust me! If Belle sees you right now, something absolutely terrifying will happen." Wise took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Don't come to the video store alone for a while. If you really have to come, bring Nicole with you. Otherwise, I won't be able to help you!"
"Mmfff mmfff! (Look — behind — you!) Mmfff mmfff mmfff mmfff! (Belle is standing right there staring at you!)"
*What Wise understood: I understand! I'll leave right now!*
Huh? Something seems off.
Impossible! With the unspoken understanding between me and Qingfeng, how could I possibly misread him?
Wise frowned deeply, sinking into intense thought. Not only did he fail to release his grip, he pressed his hand even tighter over Ye Qingfeng's mouth — covering his nose in the process.
"Mmfff! Mmfff! (Can't. Breathe.)"
Ye Qingfeng was on the verge of tears. If you want to talk, why cover my mouth? And if you're going to cover my mouth, why block my nose too?
And why are you pressing down even harder?!
Wise wasn't consciously registering why Ye Qingfeng's face was turning red — he was too focused on trying to decode the message, determined to prove their bond of mutual understanding.
Wait — face turning red?
Wise suddenly recalled something. When he and his sister used to watch romance movies together, the male lead would cover the female lead's mouth exactly like this.
Could it be — did Qingfeng actually have feelings for him?!
But he only wanted to be good brothers with him — this kind of thing was way too bold!
He couldn't possibly let the man he saw as his future brother-in-law...
That wouldn't be fair to Belle!
But...
Wise felt the warmth against his palm and looked at Ye Qingfeng's flushed face.
His heartbeat suddenly began to race uncontrollably. Could this really be...
*[Beep beep beep! Wise's Affection Level increased by 10%, 5%, 5% consecutively!]*
*[Wise's current Affection Level: 50%]*
*[Reward: Two draw chances!]*
"Brother — ! Brother~!"
Suddenly, Belle's voice reached his ears like a demon's whisper. Before he could react, a heavy punch landed squarely on his side.
He instinctively released his hand from Ye Qingfeng's mouth and stumbled backward.
Ye Qingfeng, after an indeterminate stretch of oxygen deprivation, finally managed to breathe again, the flush on his face mercifully beginning to fade.
He gasped for air, his legs buckling as he stumbled backward, each step threatening to send him crashing to the floor.
Belle, as though she had prepared for exactly this, rushed to Ye Qingfeng's side, grabbed his arm as he pitched backward, and pulled him firmly toward her.
Ye Qingfeng tumbled into her embrace. Feeling his weight press down on her — a weight that by all reason should have been burdensome — instead filled her with an inexplicable sense of security. A wave of warmth enveloped her, flooding her senses like a tide.
The warmth of his unsteady breathing fanned softly against her neck.
Belle's heart pounded like a herd of startled deer crashing wildly about her chest, causing her own breathing to fall into disarray.
*Qingfeng is so warm! And he smells so nice!*
*Mmm~!!*
It felt as though his presence had wrapped around her completely, her sense of security multiplying all at once.
*Hehe... Qingfeng! Qingfeng~!*
Belle couldn't suppress the smile curling at the corners of her lips, her heart completely swept away by a surging tide of gleeful, scheming thoughts.
[Beep beep beep!! Belle's Affection Level increased by 10%, 5%, 5% consecutively!]
[Belle's current Affection Level: 65%]
[Reward: Five draw chances!]
-------
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