C7 Chapter 7

“Don’t tell me you’re going to push your luck and make me take you in as my little sister, too?” Boyan’s face stiffened, his expression turning sour. That soft spot in his heart hardened again in an instant.

What did he just say? He wants me to be his little sister? Oh my God—what is wrong with this guy’s brain?

The whole “big brother/little sister” thing is seriously lame, okay?

Besides, my goal is to take Boyan down. If I really start calling him “big brother” like he wants, then later, when I tell him I like him, he’ll just hit me with, “I only see you as a sister.” I’d die of embarrassment.

“Let’s not,” Duu Luo said. “Compared to being your ‘little sister,’ I’d rather you call me your buddy.” At least if you see me as a buddy, I still have a shot at telling you I like you—and you won’t have some airtight excuse to shut me down. But seriously, when is that thick skull of yours going to get it? When it comes to love, you’re like a newborn who doesn’t know anything—no, even worse. And here I am, throwing myself at this with no end in sight. How long is this supposed to go on?

“System notification: Player may use one Male Lead Impression Point to increase the Conquest Character’s impression of you. Use it now?” Jiuyou’s mechanical voice sounded in Duu Luo’s head.

Damn it—Duu Luo couldn’t help swearing. How did I forget something this important?

“Of course I’m using it.” The moment Jiuyou finished, Duu Luo fired back those five words. Quick and easy.

If it could boost the target’s impression of her, it would make things a whole lot smoother.

Thinking that, Duu Luo couldn’t help laughing.

But that laugh sent a chill down Boyan’s spine. Something about it felt… kind of sinister.

“Item use successful. Effect will be active for the next three days. Male Lead Impression increased by 10%. Male Lead Impression supply: 100%. Friendly reminder: do not use maliciously. Malicious use will revoke the Player’s eligibility for the Male Lead Gift Pack. Looking forward to our next conversation.” Jiuyou clearly knew what Duu Luo was thinking, and tacked on that last line—enough to make her want to stomp her feet in frustration.

Jiuyou, I’ve got something to say—though I’m not sure I should.

Yeah, it’s a pretty lousy thing to think, but the first thing that popped into Duu Luo’s head was a line she’d seen all over the internet.

Sure, wanting to take a shortcut wasn’t wrong. But did the system really have to confiscate every single item she had? That was just messed up.

Boyan followed Duu Luo back to the Duu family home.

Everyone in the Duu family—young and old—had gathered together, surrounding Duu Luo and Boyan in a tight circle.

Every one of them looked at Duu Luo with that disappointed, “I can’t believe you” stare.

For a moment, Duu Luo didn’t know what to do. She was completely thrown.

“Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma… and all of you—why are you looking at me like that?” Duu Luo’s mouth twitched as she swallowed hard. “Do I have something… weird on me or something?”

“Ah.” Her father let out a long sigh, then turned and sat down in a nearby chair, looking at Duu Luo with a faintly disappointed expression.

“Dad, what’s going on?” Duu Luo looked from one family member to the next, searching their faces.

“You’re seriously asking what’s going on?” Her brother, Duu Gu, shook his head and looked at his sister with clear disappointment. He stepped forward, reached out, and gripped Duu Luo’s hand. “It’s bad enough you never take anything seriously—but now you’ve started kidnapping decent people? When are you going to make this family worry a little less?”