“Ding!” The System chimed.
“Favorability restored.
Liang Jin’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 102″
“Ding!” The System chimed again.
“Favorability restored.
Liang Jin’s Favorability toward Su Ze: 52″
Liang Sheng felt as if she’d been struck by lightning right then and there—fried crispy on the outside, tender within, and utterly delicious. What the hell? This Favorability level… Liang Jin, don’t tell me… She pressed a fist to her lips and instinctively took a step back. I treat you like a little sister, but you’re trying to be my girlfriend?
Suddenly, Liang Jin sensed a shift in her own mindset. That’s right—from the very beginning, the person she’d liked was her cousin, Liang Sheng. But…
But then she’d met Su Ze. Liang Sheng had a sudden realization. She remembered the first day Liang Jin had come looking for her—that was when they’d run into Su Ze, and he’d done something strange to her. The Canon Law had taken effect. That was why Liang Jin’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng had dropped, while her Favorability toward Su Ze had shot up.
Liang Sheng thought it over and tried to reassure herself. It’s probably just that sisterly kind of affection. Don’t let your mind go there—you think every girl in the world is into you? The girl across from you is your cousin. How could she possibly like her blood-related sister like that!
But as Liang Sheng looked up, she found Liang Jin staring at her, cheeks flushed red. A chill ran down her spine. Things weren’t looking good—this was veering off the rails, and one wrong move could spell disaster. Liang Sheng wanted to remind everyone watching: Play with fire and you’ll burn bridges, leaving loved ones in tears.
“Uh, um, Little Sister,” Liang Sheng stammered, her tongue tripping over itself, “why are you suddenly asking about this?” Anyone would panic in a situation like this.
Liang Jin was a bit dazed herself. Everything over these past few months felt like a dream. She couldn’t figure out how she’d fallen for Su Ze out of nowhere. She’d been secretly crushing on her cousin for years—how had she taken one look at that guy and fallen head over heels? Sure, love at first sight was often just lust at first sight, but Su Ze wasn’t some devastatingly handsome stud. He was a little good-looking, maybe, but not enough to make her fall that hard. Hadn’t she seen plenty of hot guys? Hadn’t plenty of handsome guys pursued her?
“Sis, I don’t know what’s going on… What’s happening to me? Why did I fall for Su Ze? What do I even like about him?” Liang Jin was utterly baffled, her questions coming straight from the soul.
Liang Sheng couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Su Ze, oh Su Ze—you’ve finally flipped the script big time. Looks like your almighty System isn’t so invincible after all.
“Who knows why you got it into your head to like him? Pfft.” Liang Sheng fought back laughter, her shoulders shaking.
“Strange…” Liang Jin furrowed her brow, completely puzzled.
Though Liang Sheng was a little worried about her cousin harboring improper feelings for her, the thrill and pride of getting one over on Su Ze drowned out that faint concern. After all, her thick-skinned nature wasn’t a recent development.
“Come on!” Liang Sheng grabbed Liang Jin’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Sis is suddenly in a great mood. Let’s go grab something delicious!”
“Mm…!” Liang Jin’s face turned a light pink as she stared at Liang Sheng’s hand. She felt a bit shy and wanted to pull away, but she couldn’t bring herself to.
They hadn’t gone more than a few steps when Liang Jin suddenly slipped her hand free. Liang Sheng turned back, looking puzzled.
“Sister Liang Sheng…” Liang Jin said abruptly. “Have you really forgotten everything from a year ago?”
Liang Sheng froze at the question. A year ago? She hadn’t even been in this body back then—how was she supposed to know?
“Uh… actually, I don’t know why I suddenly remembered,” Liang Jin said, lowering her head in distress and twisting her fingers together tightly. “No, I mean… how could I have forgotten…?”
Though Liang Sheng had no idea what had actually happened a year ago, she pieced it together: Su Ze’s Canon Law must have messed with Liang Jin’s memories, creating the false impression that she’d fallen for him.
“Sister Liang Sheng, still nothing?” Liang Jin asked after fretting to herself for a moment, turning back to her cousin.
Like I’d know! Liang Sheng rolled her eyes inwardly, scrambling for some excuse to dodge the question.
Liang Jin sighed, her expression a mix of joy and sorrow. “That’s good, I guess. Forgetting might be for the best.” But was it because you don’t care about me, or are you pretending to avoid awkwardness?
At those words, a scene from a book flashed through Liang Sheng’s mind—their first meeting. Liang Sheng had been openly hostile toward Liang Jin, who had seemed lost and aggrieved. It all made sense now! Su Ze’s Canon Law had made Liang Jin forget that incident.
What exactly had happened…? Liang Sheng rubbed her chin, dying to know but not daring to ask outright.
The atmosphere suggested it wasn’t anything pleasant, so she decided not to pry. She’d learn the details in time. Liang Sheng flashed Liang Jin a smile. “You know how scatterbrained I am. Forgetting’s totally normal for me. Don’t worry—even if you did something that upset me, I’d never hold it against you. I’m your big sis, after all.”
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Liang Jin’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 105”
“But…” Liang Jin looked at Liang Sheng anxiously. “You weren’t like this before, Sister Liang Sheng. How did you suddenly…?”
Oh no, suspicion. Liang Sheng froze in panic. True, the original Liang Sheng had been a gentle, refined young lady. And she… well, she was a goofy girl with the spirit of a rowdy tomboy!
“People change!” Liang Sheng said lamely—and reasonably enough. People really did change, after all.
Liang Jin nodded, half-convinced, feeling a bit relieved deep down. If only Sister Liang Sheng could stay like this forever… She pressed a hand to her chest, a blush creeping over her face. No matter what, no matter how Sister Liang Sheng changed, she’d always like her. When you fall for someone, that’s it—you can’t change it.
“Come on~!” Liang Sheng took Liang Jin’s hand again, and Liang Jin obediently followed.
No matter how she’d inexplicably fallen for Su Ze before, Liang Jin was certain now: the only person she’d ever truly loved was her cousin, Liang Sheng.
—
Meanwhile, things were far from harmonious for Liang Sheng. They were downright disastrous for Su Ze.
With a crash, everything on the table was swept to the floor. Su Ze’s hand trembled faintly.
“Wakako!” he bellowed hoarsely.
Akino Wakako—the Heartthrob Value System—glanced at him impatiently, her tone icy. “You made this mess yourself. Why yell at me? And besides…”
She floated closer, reaching out to brush his cheek with cool fingers, her cold laugh laced with mockery. “Throwing such an unseemly tantrum—careful you don’t ruin that pretty face of yours.”
