A Lingering Nightmare and an Unexpected Proposal

Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, Chen Si Yi returned from school. She tossed her schoolbag aside, tied on an apron, and without even a moment’s rest, immediately began preparing dinner.

She was busy in the kitchen, while I sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the dark television screen.

My state of mind had been far from optimal all day. The nightmare from last night remained vivid, my sister’s blood-stained face haunting my thoughts, refusing to fade.

This was the first nightmare I’d experienced since becoming a loli, and also the first time I’d encountered such a vivid, indistinguishable dream. Even now, my thoughts felt somewhat disoriented, accompanied by a sense of poignant loss, as if I had misplaced something profoundly important.

The dishes were quickly served and, before long, entirely devoured. As I quietly ate the food in my bowl, a small measure of relief settled within me. Yes, the burnt stir-fried greens were indeed my sister’s distinctive touch.

“What’s wrong, Lin Yan? Are you feeling unwell?”

Noticing my unusual behavior, Chen Si Yi asked with concern from across the table.

“It’s nothing,” I replied, shaking my head. “I just didn’t sleep well.”

“Oh, I see.” Chen Si Yi didn’t doubt my explanation. She walked over and gently touched my forehead, then added, “Come to my room later; I have something to discuss with you.”

‘Eh?’ My body stiffened. ‘Something to discuss? What could it be? Is it about eating at Su Xiao Yu’s house this weekend?’

Harboring these doubts, I followed Chen Si Yi into her bedroom after she finished washing the dishes, leaving Serena alone in the living room watching television.

The moment we stepped inside, Chen Si Yi turned and locked the door. She then motioned for me to sit with her on the edge of the bed.

I had no idea what my sister was planning, but I complied, sitting down beside her. As I pondered this, Chen Si Yi suddenly turned to me and offered a faint smile.

“Lin Yan, how about we reconcile? What do you think?”

“Reconcile?” I was somewhat confused. ‘Reconcile about what?’

Chen Si Yi pursed her lips, her shoulders fidgeting slightly before she spoke. “Although our relationship has improved recently, don’t you think our interactions are still a bit awkward?”

‘Uh… awkward?’ If I had to be honest, there was indeed a slight awkwardness. For instance, every time I changed clothes or used the restroom, I was terrified someone might burst in or be secretly watching from the shadows. Perhaps it was a case of ‘once bitten, twice shy.’

However, aside from that, you could say that recently, despite my activity being confined to the house, everything else… *cough* *cough*… had actually been quite good.

I could lazily stay home without going to school, and all three meals had become Chen Si Yi’s responsibility. Most importantly, I could finally have proper conversations with my sister. This was undoubtedly the biggest surprise since I had transformed into a little girl.

“Not very awkward, I think…”

I replied hesitantly, and Chen Si Yi immediately cast a chilling gaze upon me.

“What do you mean? You don’t find it awkward at all? We were still in a cold war not long ago…”

The cold war likely referred to the period when Chen Si Yi and I weren’t speaking to each other. However, because we had been chatting and laughing every night recently, I had completely forgotten about it. I hadn’t expected Si Yi to still be dwelling on it.

As this thought occurred to me, beads of sweat began to form on my forehead. ‘Could it be… that Chen Si Yi called me into the room alone because she wants to settle old scores tonight?’