“Huh?” Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t answer.
If she denied it, wouldn’t that be like a self-detonating truck?
It would just prove she had been lying earlier.
But not denying it didn’t seem right either.
As long as she remained in the Tianxiang Sect for even a day, she would undoubtedly be under the constant watch of this senior. You could dodge the first day, but not the fifteenth. Sooner or later, the truth would come out.
The ancients despised people who broke their word and were full of lies. In that case, the outcome would probably be even worse.
She might not care about others, but Shen Qingqing was her Golden Finger. She could afford to anger anyone else, but she absolutely could not make her unhappy.
So, coming back to it, should I deny it or not?
Chen Xiaoyan found herself tangled in indecision.
“Xiao Yan, answer your sister. Do you or do you not have feelings for that girl?” After waiting a long time without a sound, Shen Qingqing urged her.
At that moment, Chen Xiaoyan was like an ant on a hot pan, scurrying around in agitation.
She didn’t know which answer was better. Her choice paralysis had suddenly flared up again, leaving her unable to decide.
“I… I don’t know.”
Hearing this reply, Shen Qingqing was clearly a bit displeased. “Are you using that answer to brush your sister off?”
“Sister Shen, I really don’t know!” Chen Xiaoyan was so anxious she was scratching her head and ears.
“It’s either yes or no. Just say it directly. What do you mean, ‘don’t know’?”
“I……”
“Xiao Yan, remember how your sister warned you before not to have feelings for your senior sister?” Shen Qingqing seemed to be reminding her of something.
“Chong Chong isn’t my senior sister,” Chen Xiaoyan muttered to herself.
“Oh?” Hearing this, the corner of Shen Qingqing’s mouth lifted. “Then from now on, that girl is your senior sister.”
“Huh?” Chen Xiaoyan looked up, stunned, and pointed at herself. “Sister Shen, what about me?”
“Chong Chong will henceforth be my, Shen Qingqing’s, personal disciple. You are merely an ordinary disciple, so naturally your seniority will be lower.”
Chen Xiaoyan was dumbfounded.
There was such an operation?
Was Shen Qingqing angry with her and saying this on purpose?
She didn’t dare to gamble. If she lost the bet, the consequences would be severe.
Well, there was no choice then. She’d just have to learn a thing or two from Chong Chong.
Chen Xiaoyan bit the tip of her tongue, trying to use the sharp pain to force out tears. The effect wasn’t great, but at least a little moisture gathered in the corners of her eyes.
With tears ready, she immediately threw herself onto Shen Qingqing’s lap and began to sob.
“Sister Shen, are you abandoning me?”
Shen Qingqing smiled warmly, stroking her head. “Good girl. When crying, the emotion needs to be a bit sadder. That would make it more believable. Your acting isn’t up to par.”
“……” Chen Xiaoyan’s heart skipped a beat, and she even forgot to cry.
Damn!
‘To die before one’s task is done.’ Truly worthy of a senior who has lived for centuries, seeing through it at a glance.
If faking it wouldn’t work, then she’d have to go for the real thing.
Chen Xiaoyan stood up, wiped the corners of her eyes, and sat down beside her.
“Don’t think you can fool your sister. I’ve lived this long, what haven’t I seen?”
“Oh,” Chen Xiaoyan pouted.
“Oh what, ‘oh’? You still haven’t answered the question. Don’t keep your sister waiting.”
Chen Xiaoyan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew she couldn’t avoid this tribulation today.
‘I’ll just admit my mistake.’
There was no other way.
She stood up and, without the slightest hesitation, knelt down, placing her hands together and pressing her forehead to the floor.
“Sister Shen, I was wrong.”
Sister Shen narrowed her beautiful eyes. Seeing the girl’s posture of admitting fault, she knew she was going to confess.
‘Sigh. No fun anymore, no fun at all. The Xiao Yan from a moment ago was much more interesting. All flustered and crying, so pitiful.’
“Wrong about what?”
“I… I developed a trace of feelings for my junior sister.”
“Merely a trace?” Shen Qingqing glared, scaring Chen Xiaoyan into hastily correcting herself.
“Uh, that is… many traces.”
“Hehehe.” Shen Qingqing was amused by this answer, laughing so heartily her whole body shook with charming grace.
Then she helped her up.
“Get up.”
“Sister Shen?”
Chen Xiaoyan looked up, confused, not understanding what this meant. Was she not going to punish her?
“Why are you looking at your sister like that? I say, girl, you’re just too naive. Everything your sister said just now was a joke, just to tease you a little. Don’t take it seriously.”
Huh? Teasing me?
Putting on such an intense, interrogative act was just to tease me?
Chen Xiaoyan’s face twitched. She rolled her eyes, almost fainting from disbelief.
“Sister Shen, making me so anxious like that is too much.”
“Too much?”
Shen Qingqing shot her a look, stood up, and pinched her chin. “Girl, you say your sister is too much? And what about you?” As she spoke, she leaned close to Chen Xiaoyan’s ear and continued, “Also, guess why your sister didn’t punish you.”
Chen Xiaoyan blinked her lovely eyes innocently, asking with utmost naivety, “Is it because I’m too cute?”
Shen Qingqing’s face darkened, and she immediately gave her a flick on the forehead. “Nonsense.”
“Ouch! Sister Shen, why did you hit me? How was I supposed to know? I’m not the tapeworm in your stomach!” Chen Xiaoyan said, looking indignant.
Shen Qingqing pointed at the door. “Go back and think about it. Come back when you’ve figured it out.”
“I don’t want to,” Chen Xiaoyan turned her head away, plopped down on the bed, and lay back, adopting a posture of stubbornly refusing to leave.
“You wretched girl, how come your sister never noticed you were this much of a rascal before?”
Chen Xiaoyan lay sprawled on the bed like a lounging lord, propping her head up with one hand, and replied with a grin, “Hehe, there are lots of things Sister Shen hasn’t noticed about me.”
“Oh? Is that so? You mean you’ve been hiding deeply?”
“I never said that,” Chen Xiaoyan turned over, kicked off her embroidered shoes, climbed properly onto the bed, and even rolled around on it once.
‘Mmm, Sister Shen’s scent.’
“Little girl.”
“Hmm?” Chen Xiaoyan turned her head at the sound. She saw Shen Qingqing sitting by the bedside, leaning over to look down at her.
A strand of black hair slipped from her fragrant shoulder and brushed against Chen Xiaoyan’s face. Chen Xiaoyan took a deep breath. The faint scent of her hair was refreshing and delightful.
Then, she brushed aside Shen Qingqing’s hair and looked at her, puzzled.
“Sister Shen, what is it?”
This time, it was Shen Qingqing’s turn to hesitate.
Shen Qingqing really wanted to know how Chen Xiaoyan felt about her. Whether, like with Chong Chong, she also harbored feelings.
But considering the status between them, she hesitated for a moment and ultimately didn’t voice it.
“It’s nothing. It’s about time for you to leave. That girl is still waiting for you outside.”
“Okay, I understand. See you tomorrow, Sister Shen.”
“Alright.” Shen Qingqing forced a faint smile onto her face, her mood inexplicably somewhat low.
But the moment she remembered the existence of her Inner Demon, she quickly restored her composure.
As the sound of the door closing echoed, she felt an empty hollowness in her heart.
Feeling this strange mood of hers, Shen Qingqing let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh and murmured to herself, “Senior Sister… I finally understand the helplessness you felt back then.”
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