Chapter 282: One Worse Than the Other
When Luo Qingqian asked the question, the room fell into an awkward silence. Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, Liu Yue, and Ji Shuiyao exchanged hesitant glances. Not a single one volunteered a word.
Luo Qingqian’s sharp gaze swept across each of them, then landed on Bian Suwen. Her voice was calm, but carried the weight of authority.
“Third Sister, aside from me, you’re the eldest among us. You start.”
Bian Suwen hesitated. She clearly didn’t want to admit it. But in the end, to share some of the attention and shield Qiu Qianwei, she nodded lightly.
“…Yes, Second Sister. I do have a boyfriend.”
Off to the side, Lin Chen trembled. His lips quivered, and a sour feeling clogged his chest.
【Ding! The host has caused Protagonist Lin Chen’s mental state to suffer. Gained 1000 Villain Points. Lin Chen’s Protagonist Halo -50, Host’s Villain Halo +50!】
Bu Feiyan and Liu Yue were both taken aback by the confession—they hadn’t known this at all.
As for Ji Shuiyao, she had already overheard it earlier and wasn’t surprised.
Luo Qingqian’s brows furrowed. She’d originally been worried only about Qianwei. Now, that worry had doubled. “What’s his background?” she asked, voice serious. “Who is he?”
Bian Suwen only gave a faint smile and shook her head without answering.
Luo Qingqian narrowed her eyes, then turned to Bu Feiyan. “Fourth Sister, what about you? Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No, no—absolutely not,” Bu Feiyan replied quickly, waving her hands.
Luo Qingqian let out a quiet breath of relief. But just as her expression relaxed slightly…
“…Though,” Bu Feiyan added, eyes darting away, “I do have someone I like.”
That kind of thing normally would’ve been far too embarrassing to say out loud. But after finding out even Third Sister and Seventh Sister had fallen, Bu Feiyan couldn’t help herself—she jumped into the fire too. At least if there was shame, she wouldn’t bear it alone.
Luo Qingqian’s brows twitched again.
Her just-soothed nerves tensed all over again.
Across the room, Bian Suwen, Liu Yue, and Ji Shuiyao stared at Bu Feiyan, utterly dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen looked like he was about to explode from grief.
【Ding! The host has caused Lin Chen’s mental state to become unstable. Gained 600 Villain Points. Lin Chen’s Protagonist Halo -30, Host’s Villain Halo +30!】
Luo Qingqian turned to Liu Yue. “And you, Fifth Sister?”
“I’m dating too.” Liu Yue didn’t even flinch. With the others already admitting it, she figured there was no need to feel ashamed.
“…Who is he?” Luo Qingqian began to press further.
“I don’t know,” Liu Yue said before she could ask. “Haven’t even seen his face.”
“What?” Luo Qingqian blinked. “What does that mean?”
“Ever heard of online dating?” Liu Yue replied casually.
Luo Qingqian’s breath hitched.
She turned to Ji Shuiyao, her final hope.
“Sixth Sister… you’re the most rational of all of us. You wouldn’t fall for some man’s tricks. Tell me you don’t have a boyfriend.”
Ji Shuiyao lowered her gaze with a conflicted look. “Sorry, Second Sister… I’ve also met someone I like.”
Luo Qingqian’s eyes twitched again.
Ji Shuiyao continued seriously, “He already has other women. Two, in fact. But even so, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll only ever love him, for the rest of my life.”
The air froze.
Even Bu Feiyan, Bian Suwen, and Liu Yue were stunned into silence, their mouths open wide.
Of all of them, Ji Shuiyao had always been the most restrained, the most logical. No one imagined she’d harbor such extreme thoughts.
As for Lin Chen… his eyes were red.
【Ding! The host has caused Lin Chen’s mental state to become unstable. Gained 1000 Villain Points. Lin Chen’s Protagonist Halo -50, Host’s Villain Halo +50!】
Luo Qingqian glanced across the room, looking over each of them again. Her voice trembled with frustration.
“You’re all hopeless… one worse than the next!”
But none of them seemed too bothered by her scolding.
At that moment, the front door clicked open.
Qiu Qianwei stepped into the living room, radiant and glowing, practically skipping through the entrance.
“…Huh? Why’s everyone gathered here?”
Her eyes lit up as she spotted Luo Qingqian. “Second Sister! When did you get here?” She ran forward and threw herself into a cheerful hug.
Luo Qingqian smiled briefly… but it didn’t last.
Her warmth quickly faded into a disapproving scowl.
“Seventh Sister, you didn’t come home last night. You were out with your boyfriend, weren’t you?”
Qiu Qianwei’s smile froze. She instantly picked up on the odd atmosphere in the room.
“…Yeah,” she admitted. “So what?”
“A girl staying out all night. What kind of example is that?” Luo Qingqian said, voice rising. “Where did you go? What did you do?”
“We… went out for late-night snacks, and then we just… talked. That’s it. Talked until morning,” Qiu Qianwei stammered, face flushing red.
Even she didn’t believe the lie she was telling, and her awkwardness made it painfully obvious.
Lying… was not her strong suit.
“Seventh Sister,” Luo Qingqian said with a sigh. “Come to the room. We need to talk.”
Qiu Qianwei hesitated, but followed.
About five minutes later, the door opened again.
Luo Qingqian stepped out, expression dark. The last trace of denial in her heart had vanished.
Qiu Qianwei trailed behind her, head bowed, face burning red. She didn’t say a word—like a child caught sneaking out by their parents.
Luo Qingqian didn’t stop there. “Sixth Sister,” she called.
Ji Shuiyao followed her into the room next.
Then it was Liu Yue.
Then Bu Feiyan.
Then Bian Suwen.
One by one, they all went in for a private ‘interrogation.’
Lin Chen, naturally, was dying of curiosity. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get close enough to overhear anything.
Eventually, everyone reconvened in the living room.
Luo Qingqian crossed her arms and said coldly, “Seventh Sister, tell me who your boyfriend is.”
Qiu Qianwei instantly tensed. The fire in her Second Sister’s eyes made her panic.
She shook her head firmly and said nothing.
Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, and Ji Shuiyao—each fully aware of the situation—remained quiet too.
But then Lin Chen, as if begging for a beating, suddenly said, “Actually… Second Sister, I think I know who it is. I’ve got a pretty solid guess, and I’m sure I’m right.”
Luo Qingqian’s eyes lit up. “Who?”
“Don’t you dare.” Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, Ji Shuiyao, and Qiu Qianwei all turned to glare at him simultaneously, voices sharp in perfect harmony.
That synchronized threat startled Liu Yue. Judging from their reaction, it was obvious—they knew exactly who the man was. She was the only one left in the dark.
But Lin Chen didn’t back down.
He walked toward Luo Qingqian, whispering something in her ear.
When he was done, he added aloud, “Just in case they try to warn him, Second Sister, you’d better be ready when you confront him.”
Luo Qingqian nodded slowly. Without a word, she walked over and collected their phones one by one.
“You’re all staying here until I get back.”
With that, she turned and left the villa, slamming the door behind her.
Lin Chen saw his chance and dashed out the side door while she was locking the front.
Because the moment he looked back… he saw Bian Suwen, Bu Feiyan, Ji Shuiyao, and Qiu Qianwei—all staring at him with cold, murderous glares.
He could feel it.
They weren’t just mad.
They wanted to beat him half to death.
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