Chapter 247-248 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 247-248 |
Perhaps because of their close bond, Chen Yin’s affection for Master was almost familial.
Master and Xiang’er were the first people in this world to make him feel the warmth of family.
But unlike Xiang’er, his doting Junior Sister who freely demanded his attention and affection,
Master had always been the one he relied on.
She had disciplined him, protected him, and comforted him during his nightmares.
He cherished that familial bond.
So when the teenagers questioned him so intently, he was taken aback.
Had his feelings for Master… changed?
“Chen Yin, do you like Big Sister?”
“I don’t know.”
The teenagers groaned in unison.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?!”
“Give us a straight answer! Do you like her or not?!”
“I really don’t know,” Chen Yin blinked innocently. “Maybe I’m too young to understand what it means to like someone.”
Luo Xiaoxiao put his arm around Chen Yin’s shoulder. “It’s not that complicated, brother. If you feel happy and excited around her, if you can’t help but want to be near her, then you definitely have a crush on her.”
Chen Yin hesitated. “Like you and Qingqing?”
Luo Xiaoxiao’s face turned crimson.
The others started teasing him, and he mumbled, his head lowered, “D-don’t say it out loud…”
Hu Li patted Chen Yin’s shoulder. “He’s right. That’s how Xiao Luo and I feel about Qingqing.”
Luo Xiaoxiao stared at him in surprise.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Hu Li said softly. “Qingqing is beautiful and kind. Who wouldn’t like her? So if you like Big Sister, don’t hide it. We’re all brothers here. We’ll help you.”
The others voiced their agreement, except for Feng Xiangling, who remained silent.
Chen Yin chuckled awkwardly. “Thank you, but I really haven’t thought about it. And I don’t think Big Sister would be interested in a kid like me.”
Luo Xiaoxiao and Hu Li exchanged glances and grinned.
“You’ll never know if you don’t try.”
“What if Big Sister has a thing for younger boys?”
Chen Yin didn’t know what to say as they continued their discussion, their excitement growing.
No one noticed Feng Xiangling quietly slipping out of the room.
“Qingqing, Sister Hua, what’s wrong with you two today?”
“Nothing, just checking on Little Ling’er,” Hua Yulian said with a smile, leaning against Yu Ling. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Chen Yin lately.”
“N-no, I haven’t!”
“Look, look, she’s blushing, heehee.”
“Sister Hua! I’m going to be angry!” Yu Ling glared at her playfully.
“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you.”
Hua Yulian said softly, “But seriously, if you didn’t have feelings for him, why would you be so lenient with him? You beat up all the other boys who annoy you, but with Chen Yin, you’re as gentle as a lamb.”
“I…”
Yu Ling thought for a moment, her cheeks flushing. “He’s the youngest, I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Oh, really~?”
Hua Yulian’s teasing smile made Yu Ling stammer, unable to find a suitable retort. She lowered her head, defeated.
“Big Sister,” Si Qing said softly, taking her hand, “there’s no one else here. Just tell us the truth. What do you think of Chen Yin?”
Yu Ling’s eyes were distant and unfocused for a long moment, then she said softly,
“I… don’t know.”
“He’s the youngest, but he also seems like the most mature and reliable one among us.”
“He’s always nagging and fussing over me, like a worried wife,”
“But…” she blushed slightly, “it feels like something’s missing when he’s not around.”
She had grown accustomed to his voice, his constant care and attention, his greetings and farewells.
Perhaps there weren’t any grand, romantic gestures,
Just the small, everyday moments.
The meals he cooked.
The clothes he chose for her.
The strange concoctions he called “cocktails.”
All these little things had brought them closer, until they were almost inseparable.
But she didn’t know what it meant.
Was this love?
Maybe ordinary friends felt this way too?
He was just being nice to her, being kind.
And she was just enjoying his attention.
What if it was nothing more than that?
Si Qing and Hua Yulian exchanged glances.
“This is definitely something!”
“But it’s so strange!”
Yu Ling said, her voice filled with a confused frustration, “I’m the Big Sister! He’s only ten! It would be so weird if people found out I had a crush on a little boy! And I was planning on staying single forever! As a modern cultivator, I’m not interested in those useless men who only care about my body! Relationships are distracting! Men are distracting! They only interfere with my cultivation!”
Hua Yulian’s lips twitched, and she chuckled awkwardly.
“Ah… so that’s what you think, Little Ling’er.”
“But I think that if you truly like someone, you shouldn’t care what others think. You’re Immortal Yu Ling! You should be free to do as you please. What matters most is your own happiness.”
Yu Ling’s head drooped.
“But how do I know if I truly like him? I’ve never been in love before…” her voice trailed off.
What if I don’t actually like him? What if I just see him as a little brother?
I have no idea.
Hua Yulian was thinking of a way to comfort her when Si Qing suddenly spoke.
“If you’re not sure, Big Sister, then I’ll make my move.”
“…Huh?”
Hua Yulian and Yu Ling stared at her, their eyes wide with surprise.
Si Qing stood up, her voice firm and resolute.
“I like A-Yin.”
“If you don’t like him, then I’ll pursue him, right? You won’t mind, right?”
Yu Ling was speechless, her mouth agape. Hua Yulian tugged at Si Qing’s sleeve.
“Qingqing, you…”
“What’s the big deal?”
Si Qing pouted. “Big Sister doesn’t like him, right? Then it’s fine if I’m with him, right?”
“I…” Yu Ling didn’t answer.
Si Qing looked at her intently, then turned and walked out of the room.
Hua Yulian wanted to stop her, but she just sighed.
“What a mess.”
Yu Ling looked down at her embroidered shoes and whispered,
“…Sister Hua,”
“Did I… make Qingqing angry?”
Hua Yulian thought for a moment. “Not really. It’s just… unrequited love is always painful. And those who are loved often take it for granted.”
“But maybe Qingqing is right.”
“If you’re not sure about your feelings, Little Ling’er, then let her pursue him. Perhaps that will help you understand your own heart.”
She smiled and gently stroked Yu Ling’s hair, then left.
Yu Ling stared out the window, lost in thought.
A light rain was falling outside, the sound of the rain and the scent of wet earth filling the room.
She suddenly felt overwhelmed.
She had never experienced such complicated emotions before.
Even the Tianxuan Gathering hadn’t been this stressful.
It was giving her a headache.
…I didn’t do anything wrong. Why is Qingqing mad at me? You were the ones who said I liked him! How could I possibly like a little boy? I’m Immortal Yu Ling! Men are distracting! They only interfere with my cultivation!
She told herself firmly.
And she believed it.
But a small voice in her heart whispered,
What if…
What if they’re right?
What if…
I’ve already fallen for that annoying little brat?
The following days were… strange.
“A-Yin~ Are you tired from cooking? I made you some chrysanthemum tea.”
Si Qing approached him with a cup of tea, her eyes sparkling.
“Be careful, it’s hot.” She blew on the tea gently.
Feeling everyone’s gaze on them, Chen Yin blushed and took a sip.
“How is it?” Si Qing asked, her eyes twinkling.
“It’s… good.”
He didn’t understand her sudden attentiveness but played along.
“Yay!”
She clapped her hands happily, then casually slipped her arm through his.
Chen Yin felt her body pressing against his, her soft breasts brushing against his arm.
Even he, a seasoned veteran, couldn’t help but blush.
“If you like it, A-Yin, I’ll bring you some of my family’s red tea next time, okay?” she asked shyly, her cheeks flushed.
Her rosy cheeks and innocent expression were so adorable that he wanted to pinch them.
Chen Yin chuckled awkwardly. “It’s too much trouble, Sister Qingqing…”
“It’s no trouble at all,”
She hugged his arm tighter, her voice soft and sweet. “As long as A-Yin likes it~”
Luo Xiaoxiao and Hu Li, who were sparring nearby, stared at them, their jaws dropping.
Hua Yulian’s gaze shifted from Chen Yin and Si Qing to Luo Xiaoxiao and Hu Li,
Then to Yu Ling, who was eating alone in the main hall, seemingly oblivious to everything, her eyes fixed on her bowl.
As everyone else watched Chen Yin and Si Qing with amusement, she didn’t even look up.
“A-Yin, there are new clothes at the shops in town today. Will you go shopping with me?”
“Uh… I have to prepare dinner…”
“It’s fine, it’ll only take a while,” Si Qing pleaded, her voice soft and whiny, “I’ll help you with dinner later. Just come with me~!”
Chen Yin hesitated.
It wasn’t the shopping trip itself, but her unusual behavior that made him uneasy.
But with everyone watching, he couldn’t refuse without embarrassing her.
“Fine. But you have to help me with dinner later.”
“Okay!” Si Qing beamed and leaned against his arm, her head resting on his shoulder.
Everyone was wondering what was going on between them when a quiet voice suddenly said,
“I’m done.”
Yu Ling placed her bowl and chopsticks on the table, put on a cloak, and walked towards the door.
“Are you going out?” Chen Yin asked quickly.
“None of your business.”
Yu Ling glared at him, making him wonder what he had done to offend her.
“Going to fight. I’ll be back later.”
With that, she left.
Si Qing watched her go, her eyes filled with an unreadable emotion.
“Sigh, they’re all so troublesome,” Hua Yulian said, clearing the table.
“But Little Ling’er didn’t seem to react to Qingqing’s pursuit of Chen Yin. Could it be… that we were wrong? Maybe she doesn’t actually like him?”
As she reached for Yu Ling’s bowl, she noticed something and her lips twitched.
…I take that back.
The bowl and chopsticks were shattered into tiny pieces, as if crushed by an invisible force. They crumbled into dust at her touch.
Hua Yulian sighed.
“Seriously… can’t these kids be more honest?”
“What a waste of good tableware.”
Once outside, Si Qing’s spirits soared as she skipped happily through the bustling streets.
“Wow! Look at this dress, A-Yin! Isn’t it pretty?”
She held the dress against herself, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Chen Yin just nodded absently, his mind preoccupied.
He was wondering who Master was fighting this time.
Si Qing’s smile faltered for a moment, then she brightened again.
“I’ll try on a few outfits, and you can choose the one you like, okay?”
“I think you should choose whatever you like, Sister Qingqing.”
Chen Yin lowered his head shyly. “I’m just a kid, I don’t know anything about fashion.”
“No!”
Si Qing pouted. “You have to choose!”
“Why?”
“Because girls always want to look their best for the person they like,” she said matter-of-factly.
Her bluntness caught Chen Yin off guard.
He knew about her feelings, but he had already rejected her once.
And he hadn’t expected her to be so persistent.
This was awkward.
“Uh… any dress is fine?”
Si Qing nodded seriously.
Then he wouldn’t hold back. Chen Yin pulled out a school swimsuit from the System Shop.
“A friend of mine is dying. His last wish is to see a beautiful girl in a school swimsuit call him ‘Onii-chan’.”
“Can you help him fulfill his wish?” He looked at her with pleading eyes.
Si Qing blushed at the sight of the revealing swimsuit, but she nodded and took the swimsuit, heading towards the changing room.
Chen Yin waited outside. He overheard a conversation between two passing cultivators.
“…That little lunatic Yu Ling is here again.”
“Again? How many times is this?”
“I’ve lost count. It’s always our Water Spirit Sect that suffers. Our Sect Master was beaten up so badly last time, and now he’s bruised and battered again. Poor guy.”
“Just now, I saw her heading towards Mount Hucheng. I guess the Solitary Eagle Sect’s Master is next.”
“That girl is a menace…”
Chen Yin listened silently, then a soft voice came from behind him:
“A-Yin… is this… okay?”
He turned around and saw Si Qing standing there in the school swimsuit.
She was sixteen, at the cusp of womanhood, her small breasts pushing against the tight fabric, her smooth, fair skin exposed, her slender legs crossed. She looked incredibly cute and alluring, her cheeks flushed with shyness.
“Do I look good?” she asked, her head lowered, her eyes peeking up at him shyly.
Chen Yin gave her a thumbs-up.
“My friend said he’s cured. He thanks you.”
“Heehee. As long as you like it.”
Si Qing smiled happily, as if his words were the greatest compliment she could receive.
“There’s a stall selling sugar figurines in the alley next door. They’re delicious! Let’s go!”
She took his hand and pulled him towards the exit.
But then she stopped, noticing that he wasn’t moving.
He looked at her intently, then said softly,
“I… have something to do. I’ll see you later.”
Si Qing’s smile froze, then slowly faded, replaced by a look of disappointment.
“Can’t you… stay with me a little longer?”
“Another time,” Chen Yin said, his gaze fixed on her face.
Si Qing lowered her head, staring at her shoes, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks.
After a long silence, she took a deep breath.
“I understand.”
“Go! Do what you need to do!” She smiled brightly, as if nothing had happened.
Before Chen Yin could react to her sudden change in mood, she pushed him towards the door.
“Go on! Don’t waste any more time! You have to be back in time to cook dinner! If you make everyone starve, I’ll have Xiao Luo and Hu Li beat you up!”
She waved her fist playfully.
Chen Yin paused, then nodded slowly. “Thank you.”
With that, he vanished into the crowd.
Si Qing watched him go, her smile still plastered on her face,
But her eyes, like dying embers, slowly lost their light.
She didn’t even bother changing back into her own clothes. She sat down by the changing room door, hugging her knees, lost in thought.
She knew where he was going.
But she didn’t try to stop him.
She knew it would be useless.
After a while, a gentle voice came from behind her:
“Little Brother has… unusual taste in clothes. Does he really like such revealing outfits?”
Si Qing looked up and whispered, “Sister Hua.”
Hua Yulian, seeing the tears in her eyes, sighed softly.
“There’s no one else here.”
“Why don’t you… have a good cry?”
Before she could finish her sentence, Si Qing had already thrown herself into her arms,
Her tears flowing freely, as if a dam had burst.
Hua Yulian held her close, gently stroking her hair, her heart aching with sympathy and affection.
“…Such a silly girl.”