“Is… is this really going to work…?”
After listening to Eliza’s plan, Luna’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.
She furrowed her brows, looking a little uneasy.
Elizabeth glanced at her, a trace of helplessness in her eyes, but her tone remained firm.
“What’s not going to work? You can trust my plan. Sometimes, a lie does need another lie to cover it, but as long as we’re flawless, no one will notice.”
Seeing Luna still hesitant, Eliza smiled reassuringly:
“Don’t worry, there’s absolutely no way this plan will go wrong. I’ll explain the situation to Number Two when the time comes—he’ll fully cooperate with you.”
Luna bit her lip.
Though she still felt uneasy, since Eliza had assured her the plan would succeed, she had no choice but to trust her.
So, she nodded reluctantly.
“Alright…”
“You decide the time. Just follow the plan tomorrow. Remember, stay calm and don’t reveal any flaws.”
After finishing, Eliza suddenly changed her tone, her eyes tinged with a hint of teasing.
“And also, you’d better comfort your little girlfriend properly, you know? After all, she left here crying just now.”
At those words, Luna’s cheeks instantly flushed red.
She protested, embarrassed.
“Wha…what little girlfriend… she’s just my sister…”
Eliza waved her hand with a laugh.
“Alright, alright, let’s say she’s your sister then. Hurry and comfort her—she might still be sad.”
Luna hesitated at those words.
She recalled Lusina’s devastated expression earlier, and a surge of guilt welled up in her heart.
“Got it, I’ll go now.”
After speaking, Luna hurried out of the bedroom toward Lusina’s room.
She stood before the door, took a deep breath, and knocked lightly.
“Sis…?”
She knocked softly, but there was no response from within.
Her heart grew uneasy.
She knocked again, calling out, “Sis?”
But still, only silence answered her.
Luna’s anxiety grew, and she knocked harder, her voice tinged with urgency.
“Sis!”
She feared her sister was ignoring her—or worse, that something had happened.
Fortunately, after several knocks, Lusina finally opened the bedroom door.
She looked at Luna with a face full of sorrow, her eyes still red and swollen from crying, appearing especially haggard.
Seeing her sister like this, Luna’s heart ached.
She lowered her head, speaking in shame.
“Can… can I come in?”
“……”
Xiao Xi didn’t reply directly, but the door opened a little wider, a silent invitation Luna understood.
Luna gently pushed open the door and entered her sister’s room.
Compared to Luna’s bedroom, Xiao Xi’s was relatively plain and tidy, with little decoration or clutter.
Everything in the room was arranged neatly, reflecting its owner’s reserved and steady personality.
Once inside, Xiao Xi remained silent, her emotions complex, unsure how to face Luna.
Luna felt her sister’s silence and hesitation, and her guilt deepened.
“Sis…”
Luna suddenly hugged Lusina, snapping her out of her sorrow.
She felt Luna’s warmth and remorse, and the icy wall in her heart began to melt.
“I’m sorry, Sis…”
Luna said, full of apology.
“I… I really do have secrets I haven’t told you, but please believe me—I’m not a bad kid.”
“It was my fault for talking back to you in the bedroom just now, Sis. I didn’t mean to say those things to you on purpose.”
Lusina was silent for a moment before finally speaking.
“Why… do you have secrets you’re hiding from me? Why did you skip class?”
Luna lowered her head, hands tightly clasped together.
She hesitated, then answered.
“Sis, I have some very important things to do. Things I can’t tell anyone, even you. I skipped class because of these… but I promise, everything I’m doing is for our good.”
Listening to Luna’s answer, Lusina’s eyes filled with confusion and worry.
“For our good? Luna, what exactly are you doing? You can’t keep hiding things from me like this—we’re sisters, we should be honest with each other.”
Luna raised her head, her eyes shining with determination.
“Sis, I know you’re worried about me, but there are things I really can’t tell you right now.”
“There will be a day when all the answers are revealed, Sis, and my secret is the same.”
At her words, Lusina frowned.
“You…”
Luna cut her off, continuing.
“I already called Father earlier—he agreed to let me explain everything to him tomorrow.”
“So tomorrow, please go to Father’s place. I’ll explain everything to you both.”
A trace of doubt flickered in Lusina’s eyes.
“Tomorrow… why can’t you tell me now?”
Luna shook her head slightly, her eyes full of resolve.
“I’m not ready yet, Sis. Once I’m ready tomorrow, you’ll know.”
Looking at her sister’s determined gaze, Lusina still had many doubts in her heart, but she could only sigh helplessly.
Since Luna said so, she must have her reasons.
So, she nodded, agreeing to Luna’s request.
“Alright… I’ll wait for your explanation tomorrow.”
Getting Xiao Xi’s answer, Luna released her embrace, a smile spreading across her face.
“So… don’t be mad at me anymore, okay? I’m really not a bad kid.”
Luna repeated herself, trying to make her sister believe her.
“…I believe you, little sister.”
At last, those words came from her sister’s lips—a sign of forgiveness in Luna’s ears.
“Mm…”
And so, Lusina waited, full of anticipation, for the next day to arrive…
***
The next day, around 1 p.m., Lusina arrived at their home in the Staff Dormitory.
It was a housing unit assigned to their father, Lu Ming, as a researcher.
The whole family was sitting in the living room, waiting for Luna to return.
Luna and Xiao Xi had gone out together, but Luna said she needed to prepare something and told her sister to go home first, so they split up.
Xiao Xi had wanted to follow Luna to see what she was preparing, but Luna insisted otherwise.
Left with no choice, she came home alone.
“Here, Xiao Xi, have some apple.”
Lu Zhen called kindly, handing over a sliced apple.
This brought Xiao Xi back to reality.
“Thank you… Mom.”
Xiao Xi accepted the apple, nibbling as she continued to wait for Luna.
Time ticked by, and seeing that Luna still hadn’t arrived, Lu Ming began to grow anxious.
“That child, why is she taking so long?”
“Wait a little longer, Dad. Luna said she’d come. She wouldn’t lie to us.”
No sooner had Lusina spoken than the sound of the door opening echoed from the entrance.
“I’m here.”
Luna’s voice followed.
Lu Ming looked at her sternly, while Lu Zhen appeared more composed.
Unlike Lu Ming, she was more inclined to believe her daughter must have had an important reason for skipping class.
But after entering, Luna didn’t close the door immediately.
Instead, she seemed to be waiting for someone.
This odd action puzzled the family.
At that moment, a long-haired boy appeared at their doorway.
Only when he entered did Luna finally close the door.
“This is…”
Lu Ming stared at the boy in confusion.
Lu Zhen, on the other hand, looked as if she was watching a good show.
But the most shocked of all was Lusina.
Her eyes widened, pupils flashing with disbelief as she stared in a daze at the white-haired boy who had suddenly appeared…