Great, we're doomed now!

Mengye's voice came from behind, muffled with a hint of grievance, yet also carrying a seriousness beyond her years.

"Hey... Brother Ye Shou, why can't I do it?"

"Mengye?"

"Why do you only dote on my older sister and never give me a proper look?"

Her voice lowered, as if asking him but also as if asking herself: "...Do you hate me?"

Ye Shou's shoulders tensed slightly for a moment, and his expression became serious.

Why would you think that?

"If so, I will try my best to be a good girl." Mengye paused, "and won't cause you any more trouble."

The courtyard was quiet for a few moments. The moonlight fell on the two of them, casting long shadows that overlapped and were difficult to distinguish.

Ye Shou sighed softly... but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

He turned around slowly, as if afraid of disturbing something. Mengye did not back down, and her forehead rested against his chest, her twin ponytails brushing against his chin.

Ye Shou raised his hand and hesitated for a moment, but still gently placed it on her head, his movements as tender as if he were comforting a wronged kitten.

"How could I hate Moeha? On the contrary, I like you very much and value you a lot... but this liking—"

"Stop talking!"

Mengye's body trembled slightly, and when she looked up, her eyes were red.

"Like a little sister—that's something you can use to fool a child! That's not what I want to hear!"

“There are many people I want to protect,” Ye Shou paused, as if choosing his words carefully, “but you are the only one who is like a younger sister to me, and only in front of you will I act like an older brother.”

Actually, there's another character, Shirogane Kei, whom he also sees as a younger sister...

"As the older brother, I must protect my younger sister!"

I'm just saying this from my perspective, to prevent you from getting too close to 'Kuze Yoru'.

"Ugh?"

This question confused Mengye: "What do you mean?"

"I don't want you to get involved in anything too complicated."

"If Sister Qianhua can do it, and Sister Liuli can do it too, so why can't I? Aren't they closer to you? Aren't they also involved?"

Ye Shou was silent for a moment, then his gaze wandered...

"They are beyond redemption."

Ye Shou's tone was calm but tinged with helplessness, though a smile played on his lips.

"But Mengye, you are different. You don't need to get involved at all... My fate is too heavy for others, and the fewer people whose lives have been distorted by me, the better, right?"

It's precisely because I value Mengye that I don't want you to... and besides, it's too early for you.

The thoughts of a young girl in her prime are always hazy and beautiful, but if you look back a few years later, you'll find yourself impulsive and irrational.

After he finished speaking, the wind in the courtyard stopped, and everything became as quiet as if it had been paused. Ye Shou thought his words were quite convincing.

"Impulsive? No, I reserved you for myself a long time ago, that's right... from the very first time we met."

When Mengye looked into his eyes, her shyness vanished, replaced by an aggressiveness. The seamless transition between the two startled Ye Shou.

"what?"

"Before that, my sister had been talking about you, how you played soccer today, how your test scores were higher than mine, and how you bravely stood up when bad kids were bullying you... I was very curious about Brother Ye Shou back then."

Mengye stopped and pursed her lips.

What she didn't say was her dark thoughts. She probably thought that it was because of Chika's attitude of showing off but pretending to be disgusted that Moeha had the idea: what kind of expression would her sister make if she took him away from her?

Of course, after actually meeting Ye Shou, she no longer thought that way.

"..."

Ye Shou looked down and met Meng Ye's gaze, momentarily at a loss for words.

There was no pretense, no evasion in those eyes, only a deep, earnest, and burning emotion… So it really wasn't just a young girl's fleeting infatuation.

That's troublesome!

Chika will definitely kill me... Oh no, let's not think about that now.

Oh no, I can't brush this off with words now... I have to be careful and cautious, and I absolutely cannot hurt her self-esteem.

But how can one politely refuse?

—That's right, I refused.

Ye Shou can't see Meng Ye as a romantic rival yet, probably because of the preconceived notion he has formed over a long period of time.

He's not the same as Gui!

Shirogane Kei is a "little sister type" character, but Moeha... He wasn't just saying it; he genuinely treated Moeha like a girl next door with no blood relation. After he and Chika established their relationship, they were ethically completely siblings.

Although Ye Shou is considered a "womanizer" in the public eye, he is undoubtedly a man of common sense and doesn't want to provoke Qianhua's thick-skinned nerves...

"Brother Ye Shou, you're such an idiot!"

Mengye simply buried her face in his chest again, but didn't cry.

“I won’t cry… that would be like forcing you, and I’m not that pathetic.”

“Mengye…”

Ye Shou simply placed his hand on her head and said nothing more, unsure of what to do next.

After a while, Mengye finally stepped out of his arms, wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand. Although her eyes were red, the corners of her mouth had turned up.

"At least I've said what I really felt... It feels so much better." Her tone returned to its usual slightly coquettish tone, but there was something new in her eyes. "However, I didn't hear a clear reply—even if you opened your mouth now, I'd cover my ears."

"……Um."

Ye Shou looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"it is good!"

Ye smiled, but it wasn't the obedient, childlike smile she had before; it was a genuine, undisguised joy that emanated from her heart.

The girl's eyes curved into crescents, and tear tracks still clung to her cheeks: "Then I'll wait patiently... Please, please think it through before you reply~"

She turned to face the courtyard, took a deep breath of the night air, and then glanced back at Ye Shou.

"Then it's a deal." She held out her hand and hooked her little finger together.

Ye Shou breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat helpless but still smiling as he reached out and hooked his little finger with hers.

"It's settled—"

The girl suddenly stood on her tiptoes and jumped slightly, and a warm sensation was imprinted on Ye Shou's lips.

"..."

"Very good……"

The man's eyes widened in astonishment, while Mengye nodded in satisfaction, turned around, and looked up at the moon again.

The moonlight shone on her face, making the light pink even paler. The corners of her mouth remained curved, and she didn't seem as shy as a typical young girl about her first, awkward kiss.

"Brother Ye Shou...you didn't dodge."

If Ye Shou's body instinctively refuses, Ye Shou will dodge, and Meng Ye will be unable to launch a successful sneak attack no matter what.

—The girl keenly noticed this.

Ye Shou was speechless, but he had to admit that a ripple had stirred in his heart. The small figure that followed Qian Hua in his memory began to blur, but now the Meng Ye right in front of him became so clear.

Hehe~

Sister, let me make this clear first, Mengye didn't fail.

I never intended to win him over in one go... but after tonight, Ye Shou-ge will never be able to treat me like a simple little sister again, right?

Something that has always been so close, something we've taken for granted, suddenly reveals a side that's different from before... This is the perfect opportunity.

If childhood friends and younger sisters want to win, this is the way they have to do it!

I'm not content with just being a peripheral, younger sister-type character!

--corridor.

Having witnessed what had just happened, Baek Eung-kyu hid behind the door, covering her mouth with her hands, her fair face flushed red.

"Mengye...she's so bold!"

Volume 11: To the Day of Destiny: Chapter 489: What do you mean my alternate account is a sharp-tongued brat?

Carmilla arrived early the next morning.

Miss Dark Giant originally did not intend to participate in this event, and even when Chika took the initiative to invite her, she refused. In Carmilla's own words, it was "entertainment for mortals," and she had clearly already gotten rid of low-level interests.

However, she didn't last more than two days before quietly coming back, because she realized that apart from Ye Shou and Qian Hua, she didn't seem to know anyone else in this era, and she had very few ways to pass the time.

After all, monsters don't appear every day, and for the Queen who enjoys the thrill of battle, a peaceful daily life is far too boring.

After much thought, I realized that staying by Ye Shou's side was more interesting. If I was really bored, I could even play wrestling games in bed, which would be a good way to pass the time.

However, Carmilla did not get what she wanted, because when she arrived she ran into Chika and the others leaving. The overjoyed pink-haired young lady happily took her in.

Before Carmilla could even answer, she was already being ushered out by several people. Just before getting into the car, she turned back and glanced at Ye Shou through the glass door, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

To be honest, she didn't really want to go... but she was too embarrassed to say it out loud, so she came here specifically to "strengthen their friendship" with Ye Shou.

Of course, there is a way: get Ye Shou to ask her to stay!

Hurry up!

Carmilla looked at the man with a complex expression, a mixture of anxiety, anticipation, and unwavering confidence.

She believed Ye Shou would understand her meaning and then find some excuse to rescue her from the shopping crowd, allowing her to enjoy some alone time with Ye Shou.

"..."

However, in her fantasy, Ye Shou was so gentle and kind, but in reality, Ye Shou waved at her with a gloating smile on his face...

That despicable man!