<h4>Chapter 9: Viin Simtor, Ch 9</h4>


    "Don''t say that!" Chongyun suddenly pressed down on Lucas''s shoulder, locking eyes with him, and said earnestly, "Others may me you, but I never will, because... we''re best friends!"


    The thought of taking advantage of such a kind-hearted boy made Lucas feel a wave of guilt.


    At that moment, the door creaked open, and Shenhe gracefully walked in, cing a tray of refreshments on the table. She smiled and asked, "What are you two talking about?"


    "We''re just chatting casually," Chongyun, whose mood had visibly improved since Lucas''s arrival, smiled. "It''s been a tough time for both you and Aunt Shenhe. I''ve heard you''ve been tirelessly helping out with my matters."


    "Don''t say such things," Shenhe replied softly. "Ever since my sister entrusted you to me, I''ve treated you like my own son."


    "Please... stop saying things like that. Auntie, you''re barely older than me!" Chongyun''s pale cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. He bit his lip and stammered, "Besides, I''m an adult now. Shouldn''t you... start thinking about your own future?"


    Chongyun''s feelings toward Shenhe wereplicated. He was deeply grateful for her care but also felt a pang of guilt. If it weren''t for him, this remarkable woman might already have a happy family, perhaps even children.


    His words made Shenhe pause. She nced at Lucas, sighed, and said, "Forget it. Someone my age doesn''t have many options left. All I hope is that you study hard, Chongyun, and take care of me in my old age."


    "How can you say that?" Lucas suddenly interjected. "In my eyes, Aunt Shenhe is the most beautiful and captivating woman in the world."


    "Well, that''s a rarepliment..." Chongyun looked slightly surprised. "It''s the first time I''ve heard you praise a girl so highly, Lucas... what a shame though..."


    "A shame? What do you mean?" Shenhe and Lucas asked in unison.


    "It''s just..." Chongyun scratched his cheek awkwardly. "It''s a shame Aunt Shenhe is my elder, and Lucas is my friend. Otherwise, I think you two would make a great couple."


    "We wouldn''t match at all." Shenhe shook her head. "You two chat. I... I need to go practice."


    As Shenhe left the room, Chongyun furrowed his brows and muttered, "Lucas, have you noticed something strange about Aunt Shenhetely?"


    "Strange? What do you mean?" Sweat beaded on Lucas''s forehead, and he tried to stay calm. "I don''t think she''s any different from before."


    Crap!


    Lucas''s heart raced with anxiety.


    Could it be that Chongyun had noticed something?


    If he discovered the truth about the rtionship between him and Shenhe, it would surely break his heart!


    "It''spletely different!" Chongyun rapped his knuckles on the table. "You don''t understand Aunt Shenhe. She has a fiery temper. If she''d heard what I said earlier, she would''ve been furious! But instead, she barely reacted."


    Indeed, based on her old temper, it would have been a miracle if Shenhe hadn''t flipped the table after hearing thatment.


    Relieved by Chongyun''s words, Lucas chuckled. "Maybe she''s just exhausted from running around for your saketely and doesn''t have the energy to be angry."


    "Sigh, maybe you''re right..." Chongyun looked troubled. "Lucas, you''re my best friend. Can I ask you a favor?"


    "Of course!" Lucas quickly nodded. "What is it?"


    "I hope you can take care of Aunt Shenhe for me during this time..." Chongyun smiled wryly. "Though she''s older than us, her temper can be a bit fiery. If she gets too emotional and does something reckless..."


    "Don''t worry," Lucas patted his chest confidently. "I promise... I''ll take good care of her."


    Yes, in every sense of the word... take care of her.


    "Hahaha, enough of that," Chongyun grinned. "I''ve been cooped up for so long, I almost suffocated. Today, you have to keep mepany."


    "No problem," Lucasughed. "Forget your worries and have some fun for a day."


    ...


    This time, Lucas didn''t exit the immersive mode. He truly spent the entire day with Chongyun, from morning till night.


    Lucas wasn''t sure why he did it. Perhaps it was to ease the guilt he felt toward Chongyun.


    After all, if it were the "Lucas" from this simtion, Chongyun might have just been used as a tool to get closer to Shenhe. In that case, Chongyun would be pitiful.


    Before they knew it, night had fallen.


    Unable to refuse Chongyun''s hospitality, Lucas agreed to stay the night at his residence. Though the estate had many guest rooms, he ended up sharing a room with Chongyun. As old friends, chattingte into the night didn''t feel odd.


    Perhaps because of the exhausting day, Chongyun began snoring lightly not long after theyy down.


    Due to his pure yang constitution, even Chongyun''s bed was made of special ice to suppress his internal heat.


    Of course, this bed wasn''t as extraordinary as the ice jade bed in "The Return of the Condor Heroes." It merely cooled the room down a bit.


    Aside from Chongyun, no one could endure such a bed. So, Lucasid a mat on the floor, about a meter away from Chongyun''s bed.


    Seeing Chongyun fast asleep, Lucas was about to exit "immersive mode" when suddenly, the system''s voice rang out again.


    [You suddenly feel an impulse. What will you do?]


    [1. Handle it yourself.]


    [2. Use the sound transmission stone to call Shenhe over.]


    [3. Go to Shenhe''s room to find her.]


    Huh?


    A choice at this moment?


    As a gentleman...


    "Ahem... I choose option two."


    Why option two? Because Lucas wasn''t familiar with theyout. If he chose the third, he''d probably get lost. And as for option one...


    Choosing such an ordinary option in this viin simtor would surely lead to some bad oue.


    That must be it!


    Since it was in immersion mode, the system didn''t automatically carry out Lucas''s choice. He took out the sound transmission stone and whispered, "I miss you. Come find me."


    Wait, did that just sound a bit creepy?


    However, this time, Shenhe didn''t respond immediately. After a brief silence, she hesitated and asked, "...Wouldn''t that be inappropriate?"


    "It''s fine. Chongyun''s asleep," Lucas replied, his tone carrying a subtle hint of threat. "You know how deep he sleeps. Even if we butchered a pig next to him, he probably wouldn''t wake up."


    "...Did you just call me a pig?" Shenhe paused, realizing something odd in Lucas''s words. "I understand. Wait for me."


    She''s reallying?


    Actually, Lucas wasn''t sure if Shenhe woulde. After all, this time was different... they were in Chongyun''s room.


    Not long after, just as Lucas was drifting off to sleep, the door quietly creaked open. Shenhe, like a ethereal beauty, appeared before him.


    "Do you like it?" Shenhe asked softly. "I dressed like this... just for you."


    "I like it... very much," Lucas murmured.


    "Shh, don''t speak," Shenhe whispered. "You don''t want Chongyun to hear, do you? Just this once, let me take the lead."


    Lucas might not be a good teacher.


    But Shenhe is undoubtedly an excellent student.


    At the very least, in less than a month of learning, Shenhe has already mastered some effective methods.


    Lucas knew in his heart that Shenhe''s diligence wasn''t due to any affection for him. It was simply to earn his approval.


    No matter how close Shenhe appeared to be with him, Lucas could still see theplexity hidden in her eyes.


    Resentment, disgust, and... disdain.


    It was a strange rtionship. Both Shenhe and Lucas knew how they viewed each other, yet on the surface, they managed to coexist "harmoniously."


    ["Mischievous Shiba Inu" effect activated: You''ve earned 3 C-level loot boxes.]


    Sure enough, this time''s actions were more exaggerated than before, so the rewards from "Mischievous Shiba Inu" were significantly higher.


    In the past three months, Lucas had been looking for every opportunity to activate the "Mischievous Shiba Inu" effect.


    He had to admit, "Mischievous Shiba Inu" was indeed a powerful purple-tier talent. In just these three months, it had already yielded more than a dozen C-level loot boxes. Rationally speaking... it was worth it.


    ...


    [Day 89, Age 16: Everything is going smoothly. You sessfully obtained a letter of forgiveness from thest victimized student, who was also the one most severely injured. He temporarily lost his sight after Chongyun''s attack caused pressure on his optic nerves. When you and Shenhe visited him, his face was still wrapped in bandages.]


    ["Mischievous Shiba Inu" effect activated: You''ve earned 1 C-level loot box.]


    [Day 90, Age 16: The three-month period has finally ended. Thanks to yourbined efforts with Ningguang, Chongyun has received forgiveness. He will return to school without facing any punishment. On that day, you saw Shenhe smile again—a rare smile, one that seemed like a release.]


    [That night, you sat alone in the student council office. You and Shenhe had created many "wonderful" memories here... at least, in your mind.]


    [What Shenhe didn''t know was that you had hidden some secrets in this office. In many corners, you had installed high-quality cameras imported from Fontaine. Everything that happened between you two was recorded.]


    [So, your choice is...]


    [1. Invite Shenhe to the student council office.]


    [2. Destroy the cameras and cut all ties with Shenhe.]


    Looking at the options, Lucas hesitated for a moment.


    "I... my choice is..."


    "I choose the second option."


    In the end, Lucas made his decision.


    [Hmph, I thought that would be your choice. Seems you''re not yet ready to be a true viin.]


    "This is my life simtor," Lucas replied coldly. "I''ll make my own choices."


    [Of course, my dear host.]


    [You use the Sound Stone to invite Shenhe to the student council office.]


    "Activate immersive mode."


    [Immersive mode activated.]


    When Lucas opened his eyes again, the Shenhe in front of him was more beautiful and captivating than ever.


    "What''s the matter?" Lucas smiled awkwardly, perhaps because of the tension. "Is it because this is ourst meeting, and you want to leave with a better memory?"


    "If I could, I''d erase all the memories of these past three months," Shenhe replied expressionlessly. "But this is thest time."


    "I know, it''s thest time," Lucas nodded. "I''ve said it many times—I''m a bad person, but I''m also a man of my word."


    "Do you know something?" Shenhe''s lips curled slightly. "I don''t care whether you''re a bad person or not. You don''t need to keep emphasizing it."


    ["Mischievous Shiba Inu" effect activated: You''ve earned 3 C-level loot boxes.]


    ...


    Two hourster.


    Shenhe knew this would be thest time. From this point on, she wouldpletely cut ties with Lucas.


    Ironically, three months ago, she had nned to bring Lucas down with her once Chongyun was exonerated. But now that it was all over, she had lost the desire to kill him.


    "So..." Lucas said somewhat dejectedly, "this really is ourst meeting?"


    "Yes," Shenhe replied without turning back. "If I walk away today, it''s over between us."


    "Then stay," Lucas blurted out.


    Shenhe''s body trembled slightly at his words. She turned her head, her eyes showing a hint of surprise. "What... did you say?"


    "Our deal is over, but that doesn''t mean we''re done," Lucas said seriously. "Shenhe, I like you. Everything I''ve done was because I like you. But I know, for various reasons, we can''t be together. That''s why I took the route I did. This time, I won''t use anything to pressure you. So, will you... stay?"


    Upon hearing this, Shenhe''s emotions became extremelyplicated.


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