Returning home, the exhaustion from that earlier disturbance finally washed over her completely.
Yan Yu declined Ruo Xiaozhen’s worried follow-up questions, saying only that she was a little tired, then wheeled her chair back to her own room and gently closed the door.
The narrow, familiar space offered a small measure of security.
She leaned against the headboard and closed her eyes, but Su Qinghan’s expressionless face as she handed over the card still flashed before her.
Her phone vibrated.
Yan Yu looked—it was Bai Yan’er.
She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately answered.
“Hello?”
“Sister, you… are you home? Are you feeling okay?”
“Mhm, I’m home. I’m fine.” Yan Yu’s voice was a bit hoarse.
“That’s good,” Bai Yan’er seemed to let out a sigh of relief, her tone becoming a little brighter. “Sister, recently… do you have enough money? If you need anything, you must tell me, don’t be polite with me.”
“No need, it’s enough for now.”
Yan Yu paused, then added, “Thank you, Yan’er.”
“What’s there to thank me for between us? Sister, you live alone outside, you have to take good care of yourself. Oh, and if you have time, come visit me, okay? I’ll make you something delicious.”
“…Mhm, okay.”
Yan Yu agreed, a thread of warmth passing through her heart.
In this cold world, Bai Yan’er’s pure concern was as precious as a spark in a freezing night.
“Oh, right, sister, I feel like… you’re a lot gentler now than you were before.”
Yan Yu was slightly taken aback.
“Am I?”
“Yes!” Bai Yan’er said firmly.
“Before, sister was always cold to me, didn’t say much… Now you answer my calls, you say ‘thank you’ to me, you agree to come visit… Even though you’re still a bit polite, it just feels different.”
Yan Yu held the phone, silent.
She no longer held those complicated feelings of resentment and distance toward Bai Yan’er.
Perhaps it was precisely this calm acceptance that, in Bai Yan’er’s eyes, had become a rare “gentleness.”
“Speaking of which, sister,” Bai Yan’er’s voice lowered again, “if you don’t mind… in the future, why not just move in with me? My place is big, I’m all alone, it’s very empty. I can take care of you, and you wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of sharing a place with others…”
This suggestion surprised Yan Yu.
“No need, thank you. I’ve already found a roommate outside, we get along quite well.”
“I see,” Bai Yan’er’s voice held undisguised disappointment. “Alright then… that’s a bit of a shame. But if you’re living with someone else, you must be careful, sister! If anything happens, you must tell me right away!”
“Mhm, I know,” Yan Yu glanced at the darkening sky outside the window. “Yan’er, I still have some homework to do, shall we talk next time?”
“Okay, okay! Sister, you go get busy! Remember to rest early, don’t overwork yourself!”
“Mhm, you too. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, sister!”
After hanging up, Yan Yu placed the phone aside and looked out at the heavy twilight.
On the other end of the line.
Bai Yan’er held the phone that had already ended the call, standing in place, motionless for a long time.
On her fair cheeks, two faint blushes had spread without her noticing.
She gently pressed the phone against her chest, able to feel her own heart beating irregularly.
A strange, sweet emotion, like spring vines growing wildly, quietly twined around her heart.
She was happy about her sister’s gentle responses just now.
But this happiness seemed… different from the feeling of wanting to make up for things and get closer to family before.
In the past, she felt her sister was an important family member, so she wanted to get close, to be good to her, to earn her sister’s recognition and acceptance.
But now…
Just one phone call, a few plain “mhms,” “okays,” and “thank yous” had made her heart race and her cheeks burn.
When she heard her sister reject the suggestion of living together, that intense disappointment far exceeded the level of mere “regret.”
She even began to imagine, against her will, what it would be like if her sister really did move in with her…
They could have breakfast together in the morning, say goodnight to each other in the evening, she could watch her sister’s quiet profile, she could…
“Ah…”
Bai Yan’er let out a low gasp, abruptly pressing the back of her slightly cool hand against her burning cheeks.
This isn’t right.
This feeling… it’s too wrong.
How could she develop this kind of flustered, bewildering attachment toward her sister…?
This wasn’t just familial affection anymore.
Was she… sick?
Or…
Bai Yan’er shook her head, trying to shake off those chaotic thoughts, but the corners of her mouth lifted uncontrollably.
Whatever.
Anyway… her sister was gentler to her now than before.
That was good enough.
……
In Yan Yu’s room.
After hanging up, she was just about to go work on her homework.
Suddenly.
[Detecting intense emotional fluctuations in key supporting character ‘Bai Yan’er’. Interaction with the Host aligns with development of ‘Substitute’ Plot Derivative Branch.]
[Comprehensive assessment of recent role-playing behavior (including deviations, corrections, plot advancement)…]
[Current Role-playing Total Progress: 10%]
[Stage reward issued: Appearance Level upgrade.]
[B-level Appearance → S-level Appearance (exquisite bone structure, peerless beauty) loaded.]
[Detected that S-level Appearance is compatible with multiple temperament styles. Please select a dominant Temperament Inclination. This choice will affect others’ first impressions of the Host and some interaction judgments.]
[Generating options…]
[A. Aloof and Distant (like a winter plum under the moon, lofty and unattainable)]
[B. Seductive and Charming (eyes sparkling, captivating glance)]
[C. Quiet and Obedient (gentle and soft, easily inspires protective instincts)]
[D. Lively and Sprightly (full of vitality, innocent and bright)]
A barrage of information assaulted Yan Yu’s consciousness.
Appearance upgrade? S-level?
She instinctively looked toward the half-length mirror in the corner of the room.
The girl in the mirror was still pale and thin, her features seemed the same, but upon closer inspection, something seemed different.
The contours of her facial features seemed to have been redrawn, every angle and curve perfectly balanced—a touch more would be excessive, a touch less would be lacking.
Her skin also seemed to emit a faint, lustrous glow, no longer that sickly pallor.
Especially those eyes—the natural upward curve at the outer corners remained, but the color of her irises seemed deeper.
When she gazed quietly, it was like looking into a cold, deep pool, easily drawing in one’s gaze.
This was S-level?
Yan Yu raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching her own cheek, her gaze returning to the four options floating in her mind.
Aloof and Distant?
Her nature leaned toward coldness, but what she needed now was to lower her presence, not attract attention or seem unapproachable.
Seductive and Charming?
The complete opposite of Jiang Muyun’s “White Moonlight” purity.
It might create a contrast, but being too conspicuous could also easily invite unnecessary trouble and scrutiny.
Lively and Sprightly?
Severely incompatible with her current sickly, disabled persona.
It would break character instantly.
Then, the only one left was…
Quiet and Obedient.
Docile, gentle, non-threatening, easy to let others lower their guard, even… inspire sympathy and protective instincts.
This suited her current identity as the “sickly, abandoned former substitute” very well.
It would help her blend into her environment better, reduce hostility from others, and also make it easier for her to observe secretly and advance her “role-playing.”
Without much hesitation, Yan Yu recited silently in her heart, ‘Choose C, Quiet and Obedient.’
[Choice confirmed. Temperament Inclination ‘Quiet and Obedient’ loading…]
That faint, warm sensation swept through her body again.
Yan Yu looked quietly at her reflection in the mirror.
Good.
A mask more suited for playing the role of “Yan Yu” had been born.
She let out a soft sigh and wheeled her chair.
The act still had to go on.
And with this new “face” and “temperament,” perhaps she could perform it a little more smoothly.
As for that subtle sense of alertness in her heart regarding Bai Yan’er’s abnormal reaction, it was temporarily pushed down.
Right now, surviving and obtaining rewards were the most important things.