Chapter 4: A Heartfelt Resolution

“Sorry for taking up your time…”

Consumed by guilt, Chen Lin bowed to Senior Meiyue, then spun around and fled the scene at a breakneck pace.

“He’s a strange one,” Senior Meiyue remarked, watching Chen Lin’s retreating back.

“And he’s kind of handsome, even the way he runs away is stylish…” Shihan sat in the car, her gaze fixed on Chen Lin’s silhouette through the window.

“Sister… you… must be joking, right?”

“Don’t take my words seriously… I was just saying…” Shihan hastily explained.

Chen Lin at this moment wished he could trample his own despicable self underfoot.

Senior Meiyue’s clear eyes had purified Chen Lin’s vile thoughts. Using the [Love Hand] to touch her, exploiting a curse to capture her heart — that was outright evil.

He should face life with a more positive attitude.

Thank you, Senior Meiyue. She truly was his goddess, making him come to his senses in time. He still liked her, but next time he confessed, he would rely on no tricks. He would make her like him fair and square.

[Love Right Hand] — Sealed!

Chen Lin felt no need to use it ever again.

Breathless from running, Chen Lin stopped and looked at his right hand. Even now, he wasn’t sure if it even worked.

Maybe the demon had lied to him. Maybe none of it was real.

Anyway, his life would return to its peaceful routine.

“This is fine. A simple, quiet life suits me. I was never good at scheming anyway.” He placed his hands behind his head, speaking to himself, a sunny smile spreading across his face once more. Perhaps this was the joy of overcoming his own greed — a genuine happiness from within.

****

In the luxury car on the other side, Senior Meiyue and Shihan sat together in the back seat.

The vehicle cruised along the road, buildings receding on both sides.

Meiyue and Shihan were half-sisters, and they got along very well. Sometimes when school ended early, Shihan would pick Meiyue up to go home together.

In fact, Meiyue also had her own car and driver, but she didn’t like drawing attention, so she always walked to and from school. Even when she let Shihan pick her up, she tried to stay as far from the school as possible to avoid being seen by classmates.

Meiyue noticed Shihan acting oddly today. Sitting beside her, Shihan seemed restless, glancing at her repeatedly as if wanting to say something but holding back.

“Shihan, do you dislike your sister?” Meiyue suddenly asked.

“How could I ever dislike you?” Shihan replied immediately, shaking her head like a rattle.

“In that case, why keep secrets from me?” Senior Meiyue said to her.

After hesitating for a moment, Shihan finally spoke. Her cheeks were flushed, and she kept twirling her index fingers around each other.

“That… boy just now… he’s a student at your school, right? Wh-What’s his name…” Shihan’s voice was barely audible.

Meiyue was surprised. She hadn’t expected this to be what was bothering her sister. Such a trivial matter, was it worth all this fuss?

Before Meiyue could respond, Shihan quickly defended herself.

“D-Don’t misunderstand! It’s not because I think he’s handsome that I’m asking… I, I just worry he might bother you in the future, so I want to look into him.

That’s right, I’m only protecting my dear sister. That’s why I need at least his name. Please don’t get the wrong idea.”

Having found a reasonable excuse, Shihan’s demeanor relaxed considerably — at least her fingers stopped fidgeting.

Senior Meiyue didn’t seem suspicious. Squinting as she recalled, she quickly answered, “I only know he’s a fellow student at my school. As for his name, I don’t actually know it.”

“What about his class?” Shihan pressed immediately.

“I don’t know that either,” Senior Meiyue answered without a second thought.

Strangely, hearing that from her sister made Shihan feel relieved.

For a moment, Shihan had been worried: what if her sister had some interest in Chen Lin? Even though her sister was peerlessly beautiful and that ordinary guy was utterly unsuitable — that gloomy, pathetic high schooler could never match her stunning sister — but there was always the off chance. What then?

Now that she knew her sister didn’t even know his name or class, that chance was eliminated.

What a relief~

Shihan exhaled, feeling much lighter.

Meiyue looked at her strangely. “What’s up? You seem happy that I don’t know anything.”

Shihan flinched like a cat. “I’m not happy at all! I’m always like this.”

At the same time, she turned her gaze out the window, starting to think about something.

****

Because of his parents’ work, Chen Lin had been living alone since his grandfather passed away.

He had been taking care of himself since the second grade of elementary school. At first, it was hard, but over time he had gotten used to it.

Deciding that eating takeout all the time was unhealthy, he usually cooked for himself.

Perhaps because he had shopped at this supermarket’s fresh food section so often, the cashiers recognized him — a high school boy. Most high schoolers rarely bought groceries.

“We have freshly cut pork ribs. Want some?”

The butcher enthusiastically called out to Chen Lin.

“No thanks. I still have leftover minced meat at home. I’m just making simple meatball and winter melon soup tonight. I only need winter melon.” Chen Lin politely declined and left the counter.

Besides some fresh ingredients, he also bought other daily necessities, filling a medium-sized shopping bag.

Carrying the somewhat heavy bag, he headed home.

To save his already limited allowance, he didn’t even consider taking a taxi. Walking home would take about twenty minutes.

Since the route wasn’t busy, there were few pedestrians on the road at night. And perhaps it was just his imagination, but Chen Lin felt like someone was following him.

He suddenly turned around to look behind him.

The road behind was empty. Nothing suspicious at all.