CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 119: BRIBERY! I’M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON YOU THINK I AM

"Who is it?"

In the silent night, Belia’s voice sounded unusually clear.

"It’s me."

Chen Pingchuan’s voice was a little deep. The plan had seemed great in his head, but reality always introduced unexpected variables. For instance, Chen Pingchuan was at a complete loss right now. He suddenly remembered that Belia was a girl. Him, a boy, trying to enter a girl’s room in the dead of night... it probably wasn’t a good look.

Of course, Belia had no idea that Chen Pingchuan was already thinking of retreating. She fought to control her trembling body and tried to keep her tone as level as possible, speaking softly, "Is that you, brother? Is something wrong? Lili is already asleep. If it’s not urgent, can we talk tomorrow?"

At that moment, her heart was pounding, and a nervous tremor seemed to fill every cell in her body. Belia didn’t know if Chen Pingchuan, on the other side of the door, had noticed the strangeness in her tone. She could only pray that she could hide the truth from him for now.

However, after she spoke, the other side of the door fell completely silent.

Belia knew Chen Pingchuan hadn’t left; she hadn’t heard any footsteps walking away, which meant he was still standing right outside her door.

A war raged within her. She had no idea what to do. She wanted to lay her cards on the table and tell Chen Pingchuan that she had once again received the memories of their time together. But when she recalled her actions in those memories, she was flooded with shame. Did I really do all that? Run away with my brother to the ends of the earth? Fight to the death for him? But he really has so many lovers. I know of at least two, and who knows how many others there are. Of course, that just proves how charming he is.

Belia’s current state was like that of a young girl in the throes of first love—deeply in love but too shy to express it. She was nothing like a mature woman, who knows all the tricks of the trade.

Chen Pingchuan stood outside the door, not moving a muscle. He hadn’t left, not because he believed Belia’s flimsy excuse. On the contrary, by all logic, his sister with the perpetually sour face should have chewed him out for showing up in the middle of the night—and that would have been the best-case scenario. She might have even come out to beat him up.

But now, Belia had replied in such a soft, sweet, and shy voice. Chen Pingchuan didn’t even need to think about it to understand.

The simulator’s bug was still active. Just as he’d guessed, the women connected to him had all received memories of events from the simulation. Thinking back to Fatty’s reaction in the simulation, Chen Pingchuan added a new condition to his theory. It didn’t include men.

Simulator, you really are a lecherous old perv. It’s like you can’t see anything but women.

Sensing that Chen Pingchuan still hadn’t left, Belia hesitated for a moment. Finally, unable to resist the turmoil in her heart, she got out of bed, walked to the door, and opened it.

Since Chen Pingchuan was completely focused on theorizing about the simulator’s bug, the sudden sound of the door opening startled him.

And so, the two of them just stood there, staring at each other, dumbfounded.

Chen Pingchuan’s gaze fell on Belia, who stood before him in a pink bunny nightgown. In that instant, he couldn’t help but gulp. Under normal circumstances, he would never have had such a base reaction. However, ever since he learned they weren’t biological siblings but were merely role-playing, he found it impossible to see her as just a child.

After all, what child was that fierce? So determined to take one down with her even in death, going all in without a second thought. At that time, Chen Pingchuan had been truly moved by Belia’s spirit. He seemed to see a shadow of the Empress in her. Of course, he’d also seen that same shadow in Ji Hongxiu and Xia Qingxue. The whole situation was very confusing.

Why is brother staring at me like that? This is so embarrassing... And where is he looking? I’m not wearing any underwear. If I adjust my nightgown now, will he think I don’t want him to look? Will he think I hate him? Will he...

Though they both stood frozen, their minds were racing with their own separate thoughts.

Suddenly, the clear sound of another door opening pulled them from their daze.

"You... you two... I..."

As their pretend father, the Captain of the Guard felt his scalp tingle, and even his voice trembled slightly. He just wanted to use the bathroom! How did he run into a scene like this? And what in the world was the relationship between the City Lord and this boy? Staring at each other through an open doorway in the middle of the night... Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

While it was true that the City Lord was of an age where a girl might yearn for romance, and interacting with boys sounded reasonable... reasonable my ass! The Captain of the Guard wouldn’t have been surprised to see other girls acting this way, but for City Lord Belia, it was absolutely impossible. During the "Red Night," that bloody purge of the City of No Night’s upper class, there had been no shortage of nobles who kept male consorts. But without exception, every last one of them had been brutally executed.

So, this is a scene I really don’t want to be watching, is it?

"Ahem... Yawn..." The Captain of the Guard faked a yawn, pretending to be calm as he said, "I’m so sleepy. It’s too late. You two should get to bed early. Your brother has school tomorrow."

After saying this, the Captain of the Guard feigned muttering to himself, "What did I come out here for, anyway? I forgot. Better just go back to sleep."

BANG!

As the sound of his door closing echoed, Chen Pingchuan and Belia glanced at each other before both quickly looking away.

This was where the advantage of being thick-skinned came in. Chen Pingchuan came up with a flimsy excuse, saying softly, "I was just wondering if you were asleep. I accepted your friend request earlier. Don’t delete me again, okay? If you need anything, just come find your brother. Don’t worry, brother will always have your back."

Chen Pingchuan thought he was just spouting some comforting platitudes, but he never expected Belia to read a completely different meaning into his words.

Does brother mean he likes me too? Even though those other shameless vixens met him first, he’ll still stand with me?

The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed Belia became, and she covered her pale, delicate face with her small hands. "Brother, I like you too! Sleep well, good night!"

BANG!

Another door slammed shut.

Chen Pingchuan was reeling, his mind a chaotic mess. He couldn’t even remember how he got back to his bedroom. What little space was left in his brain was completely filled with Belia’s words.

"Brother, I like you... I like you... I like..." Did I say something to prompt that? I don’t think so... How did I end up getting confessed to? And another thing, are you not going to pretend to be my sister anymore? Well, if you look at it that way, a sister liking her brother is somewhat reasonable, I guess.

Chen Pingchuan finally found a somewhat fitting excuse to console himself.

His old headache flared up again, so he used his ultimate trick for falling asleep in a second...