“Luoling, look,” Ling Huan, seeing that she hadn’t reacted, assumed she was stunned by this ‘grand scene.’
His voice softened further as he pointed at a stall not far away, adorned with hanging lanterns and delicate trinkets.
“Which one do you like? Big brother will buy it for you! Take your pick—anything you want!”
Yin Luoling followed his finger and glanced over.
The stall sparkled with lights, indeed displaying many items that little girls would find enchanting.
Among them was a glass butterfly lantern, its wings as thin as cicada wings, reflecting a dreamy, rainbow halo under the candlelight.
She remembered, in her previous life, when she was very young, she’d gone to a festival with her parents and had lingered for a long time before such a lamp.
But back then, their family was ordinary.
Though her parents doted on her, they couldn’t bear to spend too much on mere playthings.
Afterwards… there was no ‘afterwards.’
A faint, almost undetectable longing—one she herself hadn’t noticed—flickered briefly across her heart.
Ling Huan seemed to see through the little girl’s hesitation.
Without wasting any more words, he walked straight to the stall, asked which items were the most popular and expensive, and took them directly.
The residents of Qingmu City, more or less, had all received help or charity from Ling Huan’s parents.
In Qingmu City, perhaps you didn’t know the City Lord, but you’d definitely recognize the two heads of the Ling Family.
Moreover, the Ling Residence had a fine reputation; almost no one scoffed at Ling Huan’s words.
In fact, they’d be only too eager to gift things to this young master—considering it a way to repay the kindness of the two family heads.
“Here, take it!” Ling Huan, not giving her any chance to refuse, stuffed it into Yin Luoling’s hands.
A glass butterfly lantern—there would be more in the future, better ones too, and she could buy as many as she wished.
But she would never again have the same feeling as before.
That longing, that desire.
Now, facing this glass butterfly lantern, her feelings were more of confusion.
She couldn’t understand what Ling Huan was really up to…
Had Ling Huan really changed?
She wouldn’t believe it even if it killed her.
Ling Huan was simply good at pretending.
She sneered inwardly.
If she could believe Ling Huan had truly turned over a new leaf so easily, then her thousand years of cultivation would have been wasted on a dog.
She chuckled coldly inside, but there was no rush.
She was curious to see what else Ling Huan had up his sleeve.
Since Ling Huan was so adept at pretending, why not provoke him on purpose, let him tear off his own mask?
Ling Huan was proud by nature and thought highly of himself.
Instead of quietly watching, why not push his buttons?
She suddenly looked away, lowered her head, her long eyelashes hiding the turbulent emotions in her eyes, leaving only a trembling, timid look like a startled fawn.
She replied in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, deliberately filled with fear, “Tha… thank you, brother… Ling’er… Ling’er doesn’t need it… Brother’s taste is awful… these things are so tacky…”
Ling Huan’s smile stiffened.
Tacky…?
[Ding! Warning! Provocation detected! As the Destined Villain, no one is allowed to challenge the host’s authority! Please respond fiercely at once! Otherwise, severe punishment will be given!]
The cold system prompt rang out in Ling Huan’s mind like a warning bell.
[Host, please immediately act in accordance with your villainous identity! Otherwise, severe punishment will be triggered: all current cultivation will be stripped, and you will die. Countdown: Ten, nine…]
Ling Huan’s heart tightened, a chill shooting up his spine.
Losing his cultivation was no big deal; he could just cultivate again.
But dying…
This system was really petty—how could it feel insulted just because someone said his taste was bad?
What a sensitive little thing.
Acting like one of those ‘insta-rage’ wimps.
So annoying.
But even so, Ling Huan was anxious!
If he scolded her now, wouldn’t he just be pushing this adorable little loli sister to hate him?
Such a perfectly crafted, almost two-dimensional, flawless little loli sister hating him—was there anything more heartbreaking?
If his adopted sister could be raised right, she’d become a brocon—always clinging to him for hugs and kisses, sometimes even curling up in his lap to act spoiled…
How wonderful!
Ling Huan didn’t want his sister to look at him with cold eyes, speaking with utter disdain: “Brother, you’re disgusting, can you not come near me?”
That would be a real blow.
Though she was only his adoptive sister, and not by blood, they lived under the same roof.
It would be a disaster to make things too awkward.
Though this wouldn’t turn into something like ‘Yosuga no Sora,’ at the very least—
Eh!
Come to think of it… wasn’t there a certain trope like this?
Saying poisonous words, but doing the gentlest things.
Even if the tongue is sharp, the heart can still be warmed.
If that was the case…
Just as the system’s countdown reached ‘three,’ the mask of the ‘gentle brother’ shattered on Ling Huan’s face.
He swapped it for an impatient, obviously disdainful expression.
Yin Luoling’s heart trembled—here it comes!
This was his true nature!
Yin Luoling quickly suppressed her joy!
As expected, the moment she provoked him, he couldn’t hold it back!
“Don’t want it?”
Ling Huan deliberately raised his voice, full of scorn, his words harsh even amid the festival’s clamor, “Who do you think you are?!”
A familiar shout, a familiar look in his eyes.
At this moment, everything was back on track!
So strange…
Yin Luoling couldn’t help but feel… was there something wrong with her?
Why was she happy that Ling Huan was finally about to bully her?
Oh, but it wasn’t strange.
As long as he dared to bully her, she would have every reason to kill him, right?
She wished Ling Huan would just slap her already!
He roughly grabbed Yin Luoling and stormed over to the glass lantern stall, pointing at the most beautiful butterfly lantern and shouting at the owner, “That one! Take it down for me!”
The stall owner was startled by his fierce manner, fumbling nervously to hand over the lantern.
Ling Huan snatched it and shoved it into Yin Luoling’s arms, his movements so rough it was almost like hurling it at her.
The cold touch of the glass lantern and its sudden weight made Yin Luoling clutch it instinctively.
“Hold it!”
Ling Huan glared at her viciously, his voice sharp and scolding, “Whether you want it or not is your business, whether I give it to you or not is mine.”
You can dislike it, you can throw it away, you can break it! Whatever you like!
You can complain, but you can’t go without!
“Otherwise, people will think that I, Ling Huan, can’t even afford to buy something like this for my sister!” With that, Ling Huan finished in a frosty voice and slammed his hand down!
A spirit stone appeared on the table with a resounding smack.
Crystal clear, like a piece of blue amber encasing the Milky Way!
Under the lantern light, countless sparkling points of light refracted inside the spirit stone, making all present instinctively gasp in shock!
A single spirit stone!
Enough for any mortal to live comfortably for thirty or forty years!
“In the future, come find the Ling Residence’s steward,” he said to the stall owner, “Say you’re the one who makes glass lanterns especially for Luoling.
From now on, whatever kind or style my sister wants, you make it for her!
The Ling Residence will provide the materials!
Listen carefully!
In the Ling Residence, it’s fine if she doesn’t like something, but there must never be a case where ‘she doesn’t have’!
If I ever find out there’s something she wanted but didn’t get—
“Just wait for the punishment you got this morning!”
Finishing, Ling Huan turned to Yin Luoling, his eyes still icy, stabbing into her with cold intent.
Yet, this chill didn’t suffocate those around them.
Instead, a faint envy sprouted in their hearts.
So domineering!
So arrogant!
Yet, beneath this arrogance, there was a protective affection that made everyone present long for such shameless favoritism themselves!
If only I had such a wealthy brother.
“Don’t just stop here—even if it’s the whole Qingmu City, if you want something, just take it! If anyone won’t give it to you, tell me! I’ll bring the Ling Family guards to smash up their stall! Their shop!”
Overflowing with dominance!
But Yin Luoling… was utterly bewildered…
Was this supposed to be bullying?
This counts as bullying?
Yin Luoling was trembling all over!
She wanted to show Ling Huan herself what true bullying looked like!
What!
True humiliation!
I really want to give you a demonstration!