Chapter 121 : Chapter 121
Chapter 121: She Is Different
“Do you know what ‘liking’ is?”
The question fell abruptly, and at the same moment the car slammed to a sudden stop. If not for the protection of the seatbelt, Eve’s generous chest would have ended up giving the windshield a full facial wash.
Yet she did not get angry. Instead, maintaining her curiosity, she calmly met Annabella’s horrified gaze. The latter opened her mouth, struggling to produce a few broken sounds.
“Uh… uh…”
After quite a while, Annabella swallowed hard.
“What did you just say?”
“I asked—what is liking?”
“Do you mean liking a thing or a person?”
“…A person, I suppose?”
Upon hearing that, Annabella practically launched herself out of the driver’s seat. With a loud bang, her head struck the roof of the car before she dropped back down.
“Hiss… that hurts, that hurts… Why would you ask me something like that?”
“Well… because a girl named Marg claimed to be your lover. So I thought you should know what ‘liking’ is,” Eve said lazily, resting her chin on one hand. Then she paused and added, “If it makes you uncomfortable, you do not have to answer. I can ask someone else…”
“Don’t! Ask me—I know!”
Annabella hurriedly interrupted her. If Eve asked someone else, she might end up being fooled. As Eve’s best sister, Annabella felt a responsibility to explain something like this properly.
Besides… could it be that that red-haired little scholar had really managed to warm this block of stone?
One truly could not judge a person by appearances. Annabella had tried for two whole years without success, yet that girl managed to win Eve over in less than a month after arriving at the Hatherin Family. It was difficult not to suspect that she had used some underhanded trick.
Thinking of that, Annabella glanced again at Eve’s earnest, inquisitive expression.
Alright… probably not. Ordinary drugs would never work on this block of stone. That meant it must be…
Disdain the young-lover enthusiasts, understand the young-lover enthusiasts, become a young-lover enthusiast.
“Well? Are you going to explain it or not?” Eve asked.
“Ah… ahem… yes, yes.” Annabella cleared her throat, covering her mouth with a fist and speaking seriously. “This thing called liking… to put it simply—although perhaps I am not explaining it very well—it lies somewhere between fondness and love.”
Eve blinked but said nothing, listening with complete seriousness.
“Liking is not exactly an emotion. It is more like a catalyst formed by the combination of physiology, psychology, behavior, and feelings.”
“…And then?”
“Student, you are not allowed to kiss the teacher’s mouth,” Annabella suddenly said sternly. Somehow she had produced a teaching pointer from nowhere, and the car window had even turned into a blackboard filled with white writing.
“First, from the most basic physiological perspective, it is an instinctive reaction. Your body sends signals that are beyond rational control—for example, sensory pleasure, focused attention, and a desire for physical contact.”
“You begin to see the other person through a flattering filter, constantly magnifying their good points. Your emotions affect each other directly, and you feel an instinctive rejection toward them interacting with other people—whether of the opposite sex or the same sex.”
“So… do you understand?”
Eve nodded as if she understood and yet did not. It felt as though smoke was rising from the back of her head. Her single-threaded processor needed some time to work through it, so she raised her hand.
“Then what is the most obvious sign?”
“Idiot. The simplest one—safety and comfort,” Annabella replied. “You unconsciously rely on each other, and in certain matters, no one else can replace the other.”
Rely on each other.
No one else can replace the other.
The two phrases echoed repeatedly in Eve’s mind, gradually becoming clearer from their initial blur.
So…
Wanting only to drink her blood… and allowing only her to practice calligraphy?
That should count, right? It must count.
I like Vivian.
While Eve was still trying to convince herself of this conclusion, Annabella continued talking nonstop, as though she had become immersed in reminiscing about some unforgettable past experience.
“People often say that liking is God’s greatest blessing.”
“Fondness is superficial and fleeting, while love requires responsibility. But liking sits right in the middle—it can run toward either side at any time and still walk away unscathed!”
What a player’s declaration.
Eve ignored the peculiar insight entirely and suddenly asked, “Why are you so experienced?”
Annabella answered without thinking.
“Well of course that is because—”
But halfway through, she suddenly realized her mistake. People always said spilled water could not be gathered back up—but actually, it could. It would just be dirty afterward.
“Eve baby, lately you seem to enjoy digging pits for me to fall into,” Annabella said with a forced smile. Then she asked sincerely, “Have I done something to wrong you? Hmm?”
“What I mean is… with your personality, you are very easy to be taken advantage of. Do you understand?”
Wait. Sister, you have gone too far this time. Have you even been in a relationship? You are just making things up.
You should first talk about childhood trauma, then take advantage of the vulnerability. Have you never played a dating game? If you do not build affection points, how are you supposed to unlock special CG scenes?
“Take advantage of me? You… are certain?” Eve repeated uncertainly.
Annabella was momentarily speechless. She hesitated, then finally nodded.
“Fine. You win.”
“I am telling you—if you were not so strong, I would have tied you up long ago and—”
She began describing a series of extremely inappropriate acts before abruptly stopping.
After going on for a while, her face had turned flushed red, and she was breathing heavily. Only then did she finally stop.
Eve’s expression gradually darkened with disgust. She instinctively moved closer to the car door. The strange aura radiating from Annabella made her extremely uncomfortable.
She picked up her parasol, opened the door, and stepped out of the car.
Click.
Saved.
Holding the parasol, her tall figure stood alone beside the bridge. Beneath it, the river surged forward, white foam churning on the surface. If it could rain at this moment, the atmosphere would have been perfect.
Unfortunately, the peace did not last long.
Behind her came the sound of a car door opening and closing, followed by approaching footsteps.
Without turning around, Eve used the last of her patience to ask, “Where exactly are we going?”
“First… I need to apologize to you,” Annabella said.
Eve: ?
“Just now I actually—pfft—cough—ah, that hurts!”
Sometimes a fist was the most effective solution. Eve flexed her wrist. She had not used her fists in a while, so she felt a little rusty, but the strength was still there—more than enough to make this shameless woman realize her mistake.
Annabella bent over, clutching her stomach, nearly vomiting from the blow. She wanted to protest loudly, but by the time she looked up, Eve had already started walking away.
“Hey! Wait for me! What if you get lost?”
Eve ignored her, merely slowing her pace slightly so Annabella could catch up.
They walked side by side in silence for a while.
“So…” Annabella finally broke the silence, her voice far more serious than before. “You are truly thinking about what liking means, right?”
Eve gave a soft hum in response.
“It is not really that red-haired kid, is it?”
At those words, Eve stopped walking. Her eyes were clear and earnest.
“She is not a child.”