A Thoughtful Brother and a Conflicted Heart

I immediately turned around and headed back the way I came.

Was I hallucinating? Just now, I thought I saw Ling Chen.

“Shouldn’t he be receiving a warm welcome from his classmates?”

A “repatriated” transfer student like him was a rare creature, most likely surrounded by classmates and unable to escape. How could he possibly be in an empty library?

Could I have been missing him so much that I conjured an illusion? Better to slip away before any trouble arose.

“Sister, don’t leave.”

I stiffly turned my head to face Ling Chen, who was tugging at my sleeve, and offered a greeting.

“Yo, have you eaten?”

“What kind of greeting is that?”

Ling Chen, with a resigned sigh, pulled out a chocolate bar.

“You haven’t had breakfast, have you, Sister? Here, it won’t fill you up, but it might make you feel a little better.”

My stomach rumbled at the most opportune moment.

“Thanks.”

Ling Chen was truly thoughtful; he had even considered that I hadn’t eaten breakfast.

I asked curiously, “Where did you get this chocolate?”

“A classmate gave it to me.”

Hearing this, I paused my action of tearing open the chocolate wrapper, then, with a pang of heartache, pushed the chocolate back to Ling Chen.

“Forget it, you keep it.”

“Aren’t you hungry, Sister?”

“Your happiness is more important than my hunger!”

A wave of bitterness washed over me. Why could Ling Chen receive chocolate from others on his first day of school, while I found it harder than ascending to heaven just to scrounge some food from my best friend?

Damn it! This cursed winner in life!

“Sister, are you overthinking things again?”

I closed my eyes and waved my hand dismissively. “Don’t say anything, I understand, I understand completely. After all, with the halo of a handsome repatriated transfer student, those young girls must be utterly captivated by you. This chocolate is their heartfelt gesture, so you should enjoy it yourself.”

Ling Chen said helplessly, “A girl did indeed give me this chocolate, but Sister, you’re completely overthinking it.”

“Then who did you get it from?”

“Bai Yu, Sister An An’s younger sister. She’s in my class. She heard from me that you hadn’t had breakfast, so she kindly gave me the chocolate and told me to give it to you. That’s why I was waiting for you in the library, and sure enough, you came.”

Bai Yu?

My sister-in-law?

I asked suspiciously, “What a coincidence? How did you two meet?”

Ling Chen smiled. “Didn’t Sister An An take a picture of me before she left? She told Bai Yu about it when she got back, so Bai Yu recognized me when I introduced myself. The biggest coincidence is that I happen to be her new deskmate.”

I was genuinely envious.

An An had always refused to let me meet Bai Yu, claiming I would lead her astray.

I’m not some kidnapper; I wouldn’t abduct my sister-in-law, would I? I really want to meet my sister-in-law too!

“What’s Bai Yu like?”

“She’s very cute, has a great personality, and she knows you, Sister.”

“Knows me?”

Ling Chen nodded. “Sister, you should have met her before.”

“Why do I have no recollection?”

“Sister, let me ask you a question. Do you still remember the names of your junior high classmates?”

“That’s easy. An An was my junior high classmate. And…”

Just as I was about to recall, I suddenly froze.

Wait, who were my junior high classmates?

I couldn’t remember at all!

“See? Sister automatically deletes information about unimportant people. You probably didn’t know her identity back then, so you forgot her, but Bai Yu remembers you very clearly, you know.”

“I never thought someone like me could be remembered by the Goddess’s sister! I’m so touched!”

“There’s no need to be so dramatic.”

Ling Chen chuckled, then continued:

“Too many people in class wanted to meet me, and I found it troublesome, so I came to the library for refuge. I must say, it’s truly quiet here.”

“It is.”

We both fell silent, then each began to read our own books.

In truth, I wasn’t too worried about Ling Chen adapting to his new environment. Beneath his boyish facade lay perhaps the most profound mind in the world. Instead, I felt a degree of sympathy for his classmates. Being classmates with such a monstrous existence would undoubtedly make their future days incredibly difficult.

I glanced at the book Ling Chen was reading. It appeared to be an original English text on controllable nuclear fusion technology. If I hadn’t happened to encounter related vocabulary in a game before, I wouldn’t have had any idea what he was reading.

He was devouring the English text with relish, occasionally furrowing his brow, as if he had discovered errors within the book.

A question suddenly occurred to me: since Ling Chen claimed to be omniscient and omnipotent, didn’t that mean he could produce countless black technologies to benefit humanity?

If Ling Chen could achieve controllable nuclear fusion, perhaps energy wars would vanish. If technology advanced by leaps and bounds all at once, let alone sprinting into a utopian society, we might as well just embrace accelerationism.

I tentatively asked, “Ling Chen, are you interested in science and technology?”

“Of course, I am interested.”

Ling Chen saw through my subtle intentions and shook his head.

“However, for certain reasons, I cannot use my knowledge to advance human progress. Sister, have you seen *Full Metal Panic*? A world filled with such black technology isn’t necessarily a good one.”

I sighed, “That’s truly a pity.”

Ling Chen looked out the window, his gaze extending across the vast, azure sky.

“Humanity must constantly move forward by its own strength; it must never stop.”

Ling Chen’s words seemed to carry a helpless, compassionate sorrow. Perhaps he already knew something, but he suffered precisely because he couldn’t reveal his secrets to anyone.

I understood completely—it was that feeling after finishing a drama, when you’re itching to spoil it for anyone behind you in progress, yet you’re afraid of getting beaten up.

I patted his head and said half-jokingly, “Although humans are pathetic creatures whose souls are bound by gravity, I still believe that one day humanity will explore the stars and journey to even more distant places.”

“The stars?”

Ling Chen seemed to hold little hope for this. He stood up, apparently preparing to leave.

“I hope humanity can achieve it.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes, Sister An An is coming to find you, and I need to avoid her.”

“Eh.”

Before Ling Chen left, he cast a glance at me. His expression was frighteningly calm, his lips pressed together, and his eyes revealed a dangerous glint.

“Sister, do you need my help?”

“Are you referring to…?”

“Sister knows what I’m talking about.”

“You mean those rumors.”

Indeed, if Ling Chen were to intervene, I wouldn’t have to worry at all. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Ling Chen earnestly lectured me on how to destroy a corpse without leaving any evidence.

Omniscience and omnipotence are infinitely close to godhood. Would a god care about human morality and laws? When humans step on ants, do they care about the ants’ feelings?

How wonderful it would be if Ling Chen simply remained a harmless junior high student. He was my brother, not a supernatural entity; only then could we coexist peacefully.

My gaze was firm as I looked at Ling Chen. “I’m sorry, you just need to enjoy your youth. Leave these small matters for me to handle myself.”

“It seems Sister occasionally surprises me.” Ling Chen’s gentle expression returned. “Isn’t that quite cool?”

I touched my nose. “I only act this way for An An.”

“That shows you two have true love! Then go for it, Sister! Conquer Sister An An soon.”

My face flushed, and I protested, “An An and I are best friends, not developing *that* kind of relationship!”

“Hmm, then best friends it is. As long as you know what you truly feel in your heart, Sister.”

No sooner had Ling Chen left than I saw An An’s figure at the library entrance.

Ling Chen’s words made me ponder: Am I really a yuri? No, no, no, I just simply like An An. It’s not like I’m lusting after her body…

Bai An An glanced around the library entrance for a moment, then precisely locked her gaze onto me. She walked gracefully, waved gently, and smiled sweetly:

“Ling Jiu, you’re here.”

The breeze ruffled her silver hair, and her purple eyes shimmered in the sunlight, filled with a gentle smile.

My heart skipped a beat.

Ah, she’s so cute!