Chapter 228: How Do You See Your Sister

In that single instant, Ning Dongli’s pretty face flushed bright red.

She had only wanted to hear words of approval from An Yu’s mouth, but she had never expected An Yu to domineeringly keep her by her side like that!

How could anyone possibly endure it?

“An… An Yu…”

Almost instinctively, Ning Dongli spoke softly, calling the name of the girl before her.

“Mm, I’m here.”

An Yu answered as always—when someone called her name, she responded.

“O-okay, I get it. Let’s go together.”

Ning Dongli nodded with a burning face, looking utterly flustered.

An Yu could not understand it at all.

Still, she simply took Ning Dongli’s hand and headed to the queue with her.

An Yu completely failed to notice that the girl beside her had a heartbeat that was growing faster and faster.

Ning Dongli lowered her head.

No matter how deeply she breathed, she could not calm down.

In the blink of an eye she would remember An Yu’s words again…

Why had An Yu said something like that?

“Stay by my side.”

Was it really just because she wanted to queue together?

It was no wonder Ning Dongli’s thoughts were running wild.

Hearing words like that from the person you liked would make anyone overthink.

Besides, fantasizing was what Ning Dongli was best at.

Although ever since she had realized Ning Wanciu’s feelings, she had tried to bury her own emotions deep in her heart.

But An Yu kept tempting her, leaving her completely unable to abandon the thoughts inside.

Ning Dongli subconsciously stole a glance at the girl beside her, her mind spinning nonstop…

Could she really stay by An Yu’s side?

Even though she was so lowly, so… impure.

Could she still remain beside An Yu?

Ning Dongli’s eyes grew a little dazed.

Her heartbeat kept accelerating, yet no matter what, she never let go of An Yu’s hand.

Her actions had already made the decision for her.

Ning Dongli had never wanted to leave An Yu.

Only… deep in her heart she was still lost.

“Ning Dongli?”

Her confusion had not stayed hidden.

Because the moment Ning Dongli peeked over, her gaze met An Yu’s directly.

From earlier, Ning Dongli had felt that An Yu was staring at her with an unreadable expression.

She had sensed something strange ever since then…

Mm, not just since then.

It had felt strange ever since that night.

Why?

Ning Dongli’s expression remained unchanged, but her behavior had subtly shifted.

She seemed… to have become even more cautious?

That was the feeling An Yu got from her.

Ever since the late-night talk in the room that night, Ning Dongli had been acting this way.

“Is there something you want to say?”

Not knowing what had happened to Ning Dongli, An Yu asked directly.

This was An Yu’s usual approach.

It was better to be straightforward; she never dragged things out with others.

“Huh?”

Ning Dongli was caught off guard. She had no idea what An Yu suddenly meant by the question.

She did not have anything she wanted to say.

Really…

Only things she could never speak aloud.

Ning Dongli hesitated.

An Yu reached out, brushed aside Ning Dongli’s bangs, and looked straight into her eyes.

She had always said whatever was on her mind without hesitation.

“If you’re confused, you can tell me.”

An Yu blinked her purple-contact-covered eyes and stared fixedly at Ning Dongli.

It was as if she were looking past the cosplay disguise and straight at the golden-haired girl beneath.

“I’ll help you.”

No matter what, An Yu would help Ning Dongli.

Although she had no way of knowing what the other girl was thinking, she still wanted to help her.

Ning Dongli and Ning Wanciu were both important because…

Because Ning Dongli was a friend.

Looking at An Yu who was watching her so intently, Ning Dongli felt her heart flutter violently.

She parted her lips lightly, but no words came out.

She could not say it. She could not tell An Yu anything.

She could hardly say that both she and her sister had fallen for An Yu, so as the younger sister she had decided to step back and let them be together, right?

Not a single one of those words could be spoken aloud.

Ning Dongli grew sad again.

An Yu tugged gently at Ning Dongli’s hand. Her intuition had always been sharp.

Lately she kept feeling that Ning Dongli would suddenly become sad even at moments when she was especially happy.

It seemed like a particularly famous illness… the kind that could kill you.

She was worried.

An Yu leaned close to Ning Dongli’s ear and breathed softly.

“Can’t you tell me?”

“Ah!”

This time Ning Dongli could no longer stay silent.

An Yu always found her weak spots, even though she never did it on purpose.

“W-wait, An Yu!”

Ning Dongli whispered, her face scarlet, her voice softer and sweeter than usual.

They were outdoors! If she collapsed here she would lose all face!

“Tell me.”

Seeing Ning Dongli’s sudden intense reaction, An Yu did not quite understand.

Still, not understanding did not matter—she knew she only had to keep doing the same thing.

So while they waited in line she continued tormenting Ning Dongli’s ear.

A faint blush crept up behind Ning Dongli’s ears. She already knew that if An Yu kept pressing, she would be done for today.

She lifted her head, looked at the long dragon of people still waiting, and became even more certain.

Because some people had already started noticing them.

“An Yu… don’t talk so close… I-I’ll tell you!”

Ning Dongli was truly out of options. She racked her brains for an excuse.

An Yu nodded expressionlessly. “Mm. Speak.”

“A-anyway…”

Ning Dongli stammered.

“Mm.”

An Yu nodded again, waiting for the rest.

Ning Dongli’s gaze darted away. She did not know what to say.

“No stalling.”

“Eek!”

Ning Dongli trembled all over. Her little scheme had been exposed to An Yu once more.

Sometimes An Yu’s intuition was frighteningly accurate.

The queue still looked endless. If An Yu kept this up the whole time, could she even last until the end?

Ning Dongli’s face burned red. She could already imagine what would happen if she did not tell the truth.

“I… I understand.”

Ning Dongli gritted her teeth. She had decided—even if she dragged out her dark history to buy time, it would be worth it.

As long as she did not tell the truth…

“Mm.”

An Yu nodded expressionlessly. With Ning Dongli she had always been very patient.

That only made Ning Dongli feel even stranger inside. She kept thinking…

Should she really just be straightforward?

Ning Dongli parted her cherry lips.

She had meant to talk about her dark history, but the words twisted the moment they reached her tongue.

“An Yu, how do you see my sister?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Ning Dongli dropped her head sharply.

Her eyes began to tremble nonstop.

What… what question had she just asked?!

But once spoken, the words could not be taken back.

An Yu had already heard.

“Sister… you mean Ning Wanciu?”

An Yu blinked expressionlessly, a trace of confusion in her voice.