"Are you asking whether I played well, or whether I look good?"
Liu Tingting asked playfully.
"From the audience's perspective, you played well. From a junior's perspective, you look beautiful."
Jiang Linyuan smoothly picked up the conversation.
Liu Tingting smiled happily.
"You're still so good at making people happy, junior."
As she spoke, a blush appeared on her face. She glanced at Jiang Linyuan furtively, as if she were wrestling with something.
What was with that expression? And that posture?
Jiang Linyuan was a little bewildered. He had no idea what Liu Tingting was going to say.
"Um, junior, thank you. Whether I make it back onto the school team or not, I'm grateful to you."
Liu Tingting took a deep breath and looked at Jiang Linyuan earnestly.
"You're the reason I'm standing here today. Thank you, truly."
You scared me! If you're thanking me, just thank me. Why blush!?
I thought you were going to confess!
But if you won't confess, then I will.
Mastery of Acting, activate!
Jiang Linyuan's gaze grew intent. He smiled and spoke to Liu Tingting.
"You say I'm the reason you're standing here, but what about me?"
"Today, I'm standing here for you, senior."
Liu Tingting froze. Her heart pounded, and for a moment, her mind went blank.
"Junior, what... do you mean?"
"I like you, senior. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Jiang Linyuan spoke with deep feeling.
Though she'd had an inkling, Liu Tingting was still surprised to hear him say it.
Did she like Jiang Linyuan?
She couldn't say that she did. At most, she felt some affection for him.
But...
Liu Tingting touched the hair tie around her ponytail, her expression uncertain.
She might never forget this hair tie.
After a long silence, Liu Tingting finally spoke.
"Isn't this a little too soon? I'm sorry, but I can't say yes right now."
"Oh, I see."
Jiang Linyuan slowly let his smile fade and nodded.
"I understand, senior. Goodbye."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Watching his dejected figure recede, Liu Tingting reached out and moved her lips, wanting to say something. In the end, though, she fell silent and watched Jiang Linyuan leave.
I'll let junior have some time alone first. We can talk it through properly later.
Yes! Got it!
[The host's feelings were toyed with by a bad woman. Target: Liu Tingting; Bad Woman Rating: B; B-Rank Reward Pool Exchange Card issued.]
What a lovely sound. Another Reward Card in hand.
Come on, Brother System. Let's do a pull and see what we get.
Jiang Linyuan happily claimed his reward right away.
[B-Rank Reward drawing in progress...]
[Obtained special skill: Wall Street Pervert.]
[Wall Street Pervert: Randomly predicts the price movement of one small- or mid-cap stock over the next month.]
[Cooldown: One month.]
Why was this skill's name so weird?
What did "Wall Street Pervert" even mean!? Was staring at a stock's curves enough to make someone a pervert?
This system was messed up. Even Renewed from earlier had given him a strange feeling.
After griping about the system, Jiang Linyuan began to consider how this ability worked.
Honestly, this skill was far too unpredictable. What did it mean to randomly predict a stock?
What if the stock just kept falling all month? Wouldn't the skill be useless?
Never mind. He'd try it first.
Jiang Linyuan activated Wall Street Pervert, and a jagged line appeared in his mind.
It was wilder than the ECG of a patient being revived by a defibrillator!
Buy low, sell high!
Holy crap! This was awesome!
I'm going to be Wall Street Pervert!
I can already see the stocks' underwear!
"Why are you looking so lecherous? Can you even get turned on by thin air?"
A familiar voice sounded beside him. Jiang Linyuan glanced over.
Ah, it was his foolish little sister.
He had no idea where she'd come from.
"Heh. Put on yellow-tinted glasses, and everything looks yellow."
"Right. So can you explain whether all that stuff with Liu Tingting these past few days was because your mind's full of dirty thoughts?"
Jiang Zhiyao opened with a long-winded question and glared at Jiang Linyuan.
Jiang Linyuan sighed.
"Little sis, I'm glad you care about your big brother, but I'm not happy about that tone of yours."
"Besides, don't you think you're overstepping? Do you like me or something? You know that kind of thing between siblings is forbidden..."
"Drop dead!"
Jiang Zhiyao flew into a rage and stomped on his foot.
"Heh. Getting worked up, are you?"
Jiang Linyuan dodged her attack with ease and grinned.
What a jerk! Honestly!
Jiang Zhiyao glared at him, teeth clenched.
"Why can't I get involved? If you found a girlfriend who caused a scene every day, who knows what kind of mess she'd make of our family!"
"You know what kind of person your big brother is. Why worry about it?"
"That's exactly why I worry!"
Jiang Zhiyao shouted.
"The other girls before were just flirting with people. You could mess around with them, no big deal."
"But Shen Bihan and Liu Tingting are both bad women—the kind who swindle people out of their money and feelings!"
"So that's it. You're worried I'll get hurt. Thanks, little sis."
Jiang Linyuan spoke with complete sincerity.
Jiang Zhiyao wasn't used to seeing him suddenly act so serious. Her voice softened, though she still sounded gruff.
"I just think that once those bad women trick you, you'll come crying and making a scene to me, and I'll have to comfort you. What a pain."
"...Sis, tsundere is so last season."
"Drop dead, pathetic simp!"
Jiang Zhiyao lunged at him like a tiger pouncing on its prey, ramming her head into his chest.
"Don't worry. I'm not looking to date anyone right now. Everything I'm doing is just building experience and practicing ahead of time."
Jiang Linyuan held her head back with one hand and said it offhandedly.
He thought Jiang Zhiyao would let it go, but his words only made her angrier.
"So you're one of those guys who messes around with everyone, then finds some honest girl to settle down with once you're tired of playing!"
"Do honest girls deserve to suffer?!"
Holy crap, my little sister's right!
Flip the genders around, and I'm the bad woman?
Seeing that Jiang Linyuan had gone quiet, Jiang Zhiyao didn't press the matter. She just stuck out one hand, still huffy.
"What?"
Jiang Linyuan asked.
"Hand over your phone. I want to see if there are any bad women on your WeChat."
Jiang Zhiyao puffed out her nonexistent chest as she spoke.
"Then let me see your phone too. I'll check for any bad boys."
Jiang Linyuan asked.
"Here."
Jiang Zhiyao tossed her phone over without hesitation.
She really trusts me, huh, little sis.
Jiang Linyuan felt a little ashamed. He wasn't as forthright as his sister.
But then he reconsidered. As her older brother, he was like a father. Checking her phone was normal!
It was only natural!
And what right did a younger sister have to check her big brother's phone?!
Jiang Linyuan justified himself as he browsed through Jiang Zhiyao's WeChat. Everything looked perfectly wholesome and safe.
Though the name she'd saved him under was a little much. What did "Simp Big Bro" mean!?
You're craving love, Haji Yao.
"What about your WeChat? Hurry up and let me see."
Jiang Zhiyao impatiently urged him.
Jiang Linyuan said nothing and just kept backing away.
Jiang Zhiyao's expression turned frightening.
"Is there something on your WeChat you don't want me to see?!"
"It's not that you can't see it. We just need to make a plan, take it slow, and stay grounded... Holy crap, don't bite me!"
Just as Jiang Linyuan was about to run, Jiang Zhiyao was already fuming. In her haste, she lunged in and bit his hand!
"Jiang, I underestimated you. You're running two campaigns at once?"
Su Muzhi had just returned with water. She looked at Jiang Linyuan with a mischievous grin, along with Jiang Zhiyao, who was clinging to his chest and biting his hand.
Oh no! How did that annoying woman see this?!
Before you continue