When Luo Qingqian asked the question, the room fell into an awkward silence. Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, Liu Yue, and Ji Shuiyao exchanged hesitant glances. Not a single one volunteered a word.
Luo Qingqianâs sharp gaze swept across each of them, then landed on Bian Suwen. Her voice was calm, but carried the weight of authority.
âThird Sister, aside from me, youâre the eldest among us. You start.â
Bian Suwen hesitated. She clearly didnât want to admit it. But in the end, to share some of the attention and shield Qiu Qianwei, she nodded lightly.
ââŠYes, Second Sister. I do have a boyfriend.â
Off to the side, Lin Chen trembled. His lips quivered, and a sour feeling clogged his chest.
ăDing! The host has caused Protagonist Lin Chenâs mental state to suffer. Gained 1000 Villain Points. Lin Chenâs Protagonist Halo -50, Hostâs Villain Halo +50!ă
Bu Feiyan and Liu Yue were both taken aback by the confessionâthey hadnât known this at all.
As for Ji Shuiyao, she had already overheard it earlier and wasnât surprised.
Luo Qingqianâs brows furrowed. Sheâd originally been worried only about Qianwei. Now, that worry had doubled.
âWhatâs his background?â she asked, voice serious. âWho is he?â
Bian Suwen only gave a faint smile and shook her head without answering.
Luo Qingqian narrowed her eyes, then turned to Bu Feiyan. âFourth Sister, what about you? Do you have a boyfriend?â
âNo, noâabsolutely not,â Bu Feiyan replied quickly, waving her hands.
Luo Qingqian let out a quiet breath of relief. But just as her expression relaxed slightlyâŠ
ââŠThough,â Bu Feiyan added, eyes darting away, âI do have someone I like.â
That kind of thing normally wouldâve been far too embarrassing to say out loud. But after finding out even Third Sister and Seventh Sister had fallen, Bu Feiyan couldnât help herselfâshe jumped into the fire too. At least if there was shame, she wouldnât bear it alone.
Luo Qingqianâs brows twitched again.
Her just-soothed nerves tensed all over again.
Across the room, Bian Suwen, Liu Yue, and Ji Shuiyao stared at Bu Feiyan, utterly dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen looked like he was about to explode from grief.
ăDing! The host has caused Lin Chenâs mental state to become unstable. Gained 600 Villain Points. Lin Chenâs Protagonist Halo -30, Hostâs Villain Halo +30!ă
Luo Qingqian turned to Liu Yue. âAnd you, Fifth Sister?â
âIâm dating too.â Liu Yue didnât even flinch. With the others already admitting it, she figured there was no need to feel ashamed.
ââŠWho is he?â Luo Qingqian began to press further.
âI donât know,â Liu Yue said before she could ask. âHavenât even seen his face.â
âWhat?â Luo Qingqian blinked. âWhat does that mean?â
âEver heard of online dating?â Liu Yue replied casually.
Luo Qingqianâs breath hitched.
She turned to Ji Shuiyao, her final hope.
âSixth Sister⊠youâre the most rational of all of us. You wouldnât fall for some manâs tricks. Tell me you donât have a boyfriend.â
Ji Shuiyao lowered her gaze with a conflicted look. âSorry, Second Sister⊠Iâve also met someone I like.â
Luo Qingqianâs eyes twitched again.
Ji Shuiyao continued seriously, âHe already has other women. Two, in fact. But even so, Iâve made up my mind. Iâll only ever love him, for the rest of my life.â
The air froze.
Even Bu Feiyan, Bian Suwen, and Liu Yue were stunned into silence, their mouths open wide.
Of all of them, Ji Shuiyao had always been the most restrained, the most logical. No one imagined sheâd harbor such extreme thoughts.
As for Lin Chen⊠his eyes were red.
ăDing! The host has caused Lin Chenâs mental state to become unstable. Gained 1000 Villain Points. Lin Chenâs Protagonist Halo -50, Hostâs Villain Halo +50!ă
Luo Qingqian glanced across the room, looking over each of them again. Her voice trembled with frustration.
âYouâre all hopeless⊠one worse than the next!â
But none of them seemed too bothered by her scolding.
At that moment, the front door clicked open.
Qiu Qianwei stepped into the living room, radiant and glowing, practically skipping through the entrance.
ââŠHuh? Whyâs everyone gathered here?â
Her eyes lit up as she spotted Luo Qingqian. âSecond Sister! When did you get here?â She ran forward and threw herself into a cheerful hug.
Luo Qingqian smiled briefly⊠but it didnât last.
Her warmth quickly faded into a disapproving scowl.
âSeventh Sister, you didnât come home last night. You were out with your boyfriend, werenât you?â
Qiu Qianweiâs smile froze. She instantly picked up on the odd atmosphere in the room.
ââŠYeah,â she admitted. âSo what?â
âA girl staying out all night. What kind of example is that?â Luo Qingqian said, voice rising. âWhere did you go? What did you do?â
âWe⊠went out for late-night snacks, and then we just⊠talked. Thatâs it. Talked until morning,â Qiu Qianwei stammered, face flushing red.
Even she didnât believe the lie she was telling, and her awkwardness made it painfully obvious.
Lying⊠was not her strong suit.
âSeventh Sister,â Luo Qingqian said with a sigh. âCome to the room. We need to talk.â
Qiu Qianwei hesitated, but followed.
About five minutes later, the door opened again.
Luo Qingqian stepped out, expression dark. The last trace of denial in her heart had vanished.
Qiu Qianwei trailed behind her, head bowed, face burning red. She didnât say a wordâlike a child caught sneaking out by their parents.
Luo Qingqian didnât stop there. âSixth Sister,â she called.
Ji Shuiyao followed her into the room next.
Then it was Liu Yue.
Then Bu Feiyan.
Then Bian Suwen.
One by one, they all went in for a private âinterrogation.â
Lin Chen, naturally, was dying of curiosity. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldnât get close enough to overhear anything.
Eventually, everyone reconvened in the living room.
Luo Qingqian crossed her arms and said coldly, âSeventh Sister, tell me who your boyfriend is.â
Qiu Qianwei instantly tensed. The fire in her Second Sisterâs eyes made her panic.
She shook her head firmly and said nothing.
Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, and Ji Shuiyaoâeach fully aware of the situationâremained quiet too.
But then Lin Chen, as if begging for a beating, suddenly said, âActually⊠Second Sister, I think I know who it is. Iâve got a pretty solid guess, and Iâm sure Iâm right.â
Luo Qingqianâs eyes lit up. âWho?â
âDonât you dare.â Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, Ji Shuiyao, and Qiu Qianwei all turned to glare at him simultaneously, voices sharp in perfect harmony.
That synchronized threat startled Liu Yue. Judging from their reaction, it was obviousâthey knew exactly who the man was. She was the only one left in the dark.
But Lin Chen didnât back down.
He walked toward Luo Qingqian, whispering something in her ear.
When he was done, he added aloud, âJust in case they try to warn him, Second Sister, youâd better be ready when you confront him.â
Luo Qingqian nodded slowly. Without a word, she walked over and collected their phones one by one.
âYouâre all staying here until I get back.â
With that, she turned and left the villa, slamming the door behind her.
Lin Chen saw his chance and dashed out the side door while she was locking the front.
Because the moment he looked back⊠he saw Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, Ji Shuiyao, and Qiu Qianweiâall staring at him with cold, murderous glares.
He could feel it.
They werenât just mad.
They wanted to beat him half to death.
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