Chapter 226

Page Eighty-One Upper Triad

After hanging up the phone, I turned to look at the bench in the middle of the platform where people could rest.

Sister Zǐ had been quiet for a while and seemed to have calmed down a bit. After standing up again, she didn’t cling to me but instead asked me seriously, “Língmèng, are you really ready?”

She was referring to the matter of confessing to three people at once.

I shook my head and said with a bitter smile, “To be honest, I’m completely unprepared, but even if I’m not prepared, I should still go ahead. Just like what you said in the screening room, if we wait until everything is perfect before doing anything, then we would end up doing nothing.”

Sister Zǐ looked quite surprised by my words, her clear big eyes staring at me.

She asked, “Hmm? Did I say something like that?”

“Something similar, I can’t remember the exact words.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever said anything like that. Hearing you say so, it feels like something’s off… How did I fall asleep?”

“Was it because the movie was too boring? I also fell asleep drowsily.”

“That’s strange, I thought that movie was quite interesting.”

…Did she actually like this kind of movie?

Just as Sister Zǐ was holding her chin in thought, her phone rang.

“It’s Little Lí.”

It felt a bit coincidental that she called right then.

Sister Zǐ glanced at me, not avoiding eye contact, and directly answered the call.

“Little Lí, is there something wrong?”

“Yeah, I’m not at the Research Institute.”

“I spent the day with Língmèng, and now I plan to go to his house… for dinner.”

“Oh? Are you coming with that gorilla too? Wait, let me ask him…”

Sister Zǐ looked up, asking for my opinion.

Though I couldn’t hear what Little Lí was saying, it seemed she wanted to visit my home with Mr. Zhao to regain the feeling between lovers; they were indeed sticking together every day.

I replied, “No problem, my house is quite spacious, let her come if she wants. Little Lí is after all your sister, please consider her as a witness to my confession.”

“Witness… Little Lí doesn’t know what we’re planning.”

Sister Zǐ whispered a reminder and responded into the phone, “Língmèng says you can come, but on the way… Little Lí, could you bring some gifts for them?”

I hurriedly said, “Oh no, too formal! What gifts do we need!”

“Please, I can’t go empty-handed to meet your mother, do you know what your aunt likes?”

Why is it getting so formal… And she’s calling my mom ‘aunt’?!

I sighed deeply, “She doesn’t have any hobbies, but if you must buy something, get Nan Cheng Ji’s steamed cakes or pastries, dad really likes that brand… If you don’t know, just ask Old Zhao, he should know.”

Sister Zǐ made an OK sign with her thumb and index finger.

“Little Lí also said it’s fine, shall we set off then?”

“…Yeah, let’s go.”

Sister Zǐ and I left the subway station. The sun sets early in winter, and it wasn’t even five o’clock yet, but the night was already beginning to rise.

Even though I was going home, my mood was like the darkening sky, heavier with each step.

Expressing love to three girls at once, only Lǐn Huā might truly accept it. Xiao Lěi and Sister Zǐ would probably accept it out of necessity, but even I myself was doing it because I had no better option.

—”At least it’s better than constantly thinking about tearing myself into three pieces.”—

Cherry Sauce popped up, but not to console me.

—”I told Lǐn Huā and Xiao Lěi about your thoughts, they were almost moved to tears!”—

Hey! Why did you tell them beforehand!

—”What’s the harm? Do you still want to back out? They’ve waited long enough for your response.”—

…She’s pushing me into a corner.

Even if I wanted to back out now, I couldn’t withstand their expectations.

Cherry Sauce chimed in, —”How can I not be anxious? I’m waiting to see you with kids before I disappear! If I don’t do anything, you’ll waste the best years of these girls!”—

What’s this motherly attitude?

There’s no time to see kids!

Besides, Cherry Sauce might not disappear, we still have hope, right?

—”We will disappear! Even if we truly merge successfully, it will just be another new self, and my independent personality and yours won’t exist anymore!”—

Then the current me will disappear.

Even though she said it so frighteningly, I still hope to preserve Cherry Sauce’s consciousness through this method. Moreover, after merging, we would surely become a more excellent existence…

—”Are you still thinking about the future?”—

Entering the village, I didn’t say a word. Perhaps sensing my tension, Sister Zǐ took my hand. Although her hand was still cold, this encouragement gave me the courage to continue forward.

“Ah? You have so many cats at home?”

…As soon as I entered the yard, Sister Zǐ let go of my hand and ran over to the cat house to look at the cats.

I scratched my face and replied, “They’re all wild cats.”

She showed great interest in these wild cats.

Such a big villain actually liked fluffy small animals.

“Hey, Chairman’s back~?”

Next to the cat house, Little Hǎi Táng and Orange were pouring cat food into the feeding troughs.

“Meow meow meow… No… Brother!”

Orange seemed to have mixed up languages and meowed at me twice first.

I asked, “Are you here specifically to take care of the wild cats?”

“The cat food and cans ordered by Orange have arrived, so we brought them over.”

Little Hǎi Táng had two large bags of cat food and boxes of canned cat food by her feet, looking like high-end imported products, probably more expensive than what Orange used to eat… I thought for a moment and reminded, “Orange, don’t steal the food, okay?”

“I’m human now, I won’t eat cat food!”

Orange retorted angrily and saw Sister Zǐ behind me.

She frowned and asked, “Brother, why is this bad woman here?”

“…Bad woman?”

Sister Zǐ sensed hostility but was somewhat puzzled.

Orange continued, “Don’t pretend, you’re the one who caused trouble in the commercial area! Even if you became a girl, I’d recognize you!”

“…I’m no longer a gangster.”

Orange didn’t know much about Sister Zǐ, so she was still bringing up old grievances. Little Hǎi Táng quickly stepped in to mediate.

“Alright, alright, those were past events.”

“Can past events be easily forgotten?”

Because she had only recently become human, Orange’s emotions were clear-cut and polarized.

“I apologize for what I did in the past.”

Sister Zǐ responded with kindness and understanding, as if hitting a soft spot. Orange was somewhat at a loss.

“Apologies won’t work! You put Brother in danger and kidnapped him with others! I will never forgive you!”

Orange crossed her arms and turned her head, clearly holding a grudge.

Sister Zǐ walked forward, took hold of Orange’s wrist, and said lightly, “Orange, I also love your brother. I liked him the moment I first saw him. Therefore, not only will I not hurt him, but I even want to protect him… From your perspective, can you forgive me for what I did before?”

Orange struggled, but Sister Zǐ’s hand slid down her spine, grabbing her tail. Her orange hair and tail fur stood up instantly.

“Don’t touch me!”

Stimulated, Orange pushed Sister Zǐ away. She did a somersault mid-air and jumped onto the roof of the cat house, then leaped into my balcony.

…The cat house was over two meters high. What top-notch light kung fu is that? Should I say it’s no wonder she’s a cat-turned-girl?

The entrance door opened, and Cherry Sauce asked helplessly, “What are you guys making such a fuss outside? Aren’t you cold?”

Helping Little Hǎi Táng carry the cat food and cans inside, Orange finally came down the stairs with her shoes in hand and black socks on her feet.

“Scare—!”

She even growled threateningly at Sister Zǐ.

“Okay, Orange, the bad things back then were done by Lu Huang Ze, not Sister Zǐ. You shouldn’t dislike her too much.”

“That’s the same!”

Mom was still busy in the kitchen, the dining table filled with ingredients, which she had bought after receiving my call. Lǐn Huā and Xiao Lěi were sitting upright on the living room sofa, looking quite nervous.

After all, Cherry Sauce had already told them what I was planning, so it was natural for them to be tense…

“Oh! I never expected Língmèng to be so bold!”

Little Qínglán ran out of the kitchen, hands on her hips, saying something incomprehensible.

“Three-way harem! This is something I wouldn’t dare imagine, you’re much more promising than I am!”

It seemed Cherry Sauce and Lǐn Huā mentioned this matter when she was around. However, as soon as she spoke, it triggered strong reactions from Little Hǎi Táng and Orange.

“Three-way harem?”

Little Hǎi Táng stared wide-eyed, exclaiming, “Chairman, you’ve finally reached this point?”

Orange protested loudly, “Brother likes this bad woman? No, I oppose!”

Seeing Orange’s resistance, Sister Zǐ felt troubled.

“Don’t say that, Little Orange! Zǐ Jìang will be part of the family!”

Standing behind her supporting her was… Lǐn Huā!

Noticing the conflict, she tried to liven up the atmosphere.

She said, “I can accept Zǐ Jìang! I wonder if Zǐ Jìang can accept me?”

“I can’t… but I’ll try.”

Sister Zǐ kept conceding, even accepting Lǐn Huā’s broad-minded idea.

“WOW! That makes me so happy!”

This concession made Lǐn Huā smile happily. She circled around to stand behind me.

“It’s fine if you don’t like it. Kǎi-Chan can get Cupid’s golden arrow. As long as we get that, everyone will like each other in a fair harem, right?”

She was actually thinking of such a plan.

“Those feelings are distorted and not genuine.”

“Kǎi-Chan means… Zǐ Jìang’s feelings for you are also distorted?!”

I couldn’t argue with this little devil, even being countered by her.

“Yes, these are feelings imposed by a curse.”

But Sister Zǐ herself continued, “However, I accepted this curse and treated it as genuine feelings. I also love Língmèng, and I don’t think my love is any less than yours.”

“I can’t ignore that!”

Xiao Lěi stood up from the sofa.

“When it comes to Chairman, I won’t lose to either of you latecomers!”

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