Chapter 3 — Transforming into a Little Villain's Stepsister

7. On the way home, there was a car repair shop, in front of the door was a chained dog. Even though the wind and rain are fierce, it is still there. When it rains heavily, we huddle under the awning. There is usually only weak rice water in the bowl. Unbearably hungry, its green eyes kept staring at the food in the hands of passersby. One time, it scared a girl so her boyfriend went to find the store owner to reason with him. Because of that, the dog was beaten. From then on, it cowered even further into the dark corner, occasionally raising its head to look with painful eyes, then bowing down again in dismay. Every time I pass by, I bring him a sweet potato sausage. The dog is very alert, as long as someone comes close to the pile of car repair tools next to it, it will immediately show its teeth and growl. The shop owner praised:

“Very good!”

Hearing its owner's happy tone, it bared its teeth even more fiercely. I know it's afraid of people, so I always stand far away, throw the sausage over, then turn around and leave. Suddenly— My wrist felt empty. It's broken. Just now, when I threw the sausage, I accidentally knocked the bracelet out. That bracelet is extremely important to me. Even though it was broken, I couldn't bear to throw it away. Ironically, it fell right next to the dog. The dog was still eating the sausage, his throat emitting a threatening growl. The car repair shop has been closed for a long time, the owner is not here. Tran Tinh Ly tried using a stick to pull the bracelet back, but the dog fiercely bit it and refused to let go.

“How about waiting for the boss to come tomorrow morning and asking him to get it for me?”

While hesitating, a piece of paper was blown by the wind and made a flapping sound. Come and look— 【Due to the shop owner having to return to his hometown, the shop will be closed for a month from today.】 The night wind brought cold air, creeping through each street. The dog happily chewed the sausage, not knowing that the owner, in a hurry to get home, had forgotten about it. After eating, he found a comfortable position and lay down. He thought, if he just slept for a while, when he opened his eyes in the morning, the owner would smile again and pat his head.

“… Why would I encounter this kind of master?”

I gritted my teeth and said. But what bothers me more— what should I do with my bracelet? A month is too long, even for just a day, I don't want to be away from it. Tran Tinh Ly hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth:

“That bracelet… was given by someone very important?”

Very important person? Right. In the previous world, I was an invisible person in the family, like a small ghost that no one noticed. There was only one person—Chu Thu Y, the brother next door who was one year older than me, often came to see me. There were times when my mother took my younger brother to visit relatives and forgot me at home. He immediately took me back to his house, stuffing my hands with snacks and toys. At the dinner table, my bowl is always filled with food. His house is always warm and fragrant, like emerging from the depths of the sea, touching the sunlight, filled with a sense of security. At those times, I was no longer a little ghost, my soul was bright and full of joy. This bracelet is the first birthday gift that Chu Thu Y gave me, and also the last. Half a year later, his family moved away. Before leaving, he jumped out of the car and ran in front of me, his eyes bright like ice in a glass of orange soda. He put the gift box in my hand:

“Don't forget me. There's my new home phone number in here, remember to call me.”

What then? Afterward, The paper with the phone number was torn up by his younger brother and thrown out the window. It scattered and laughed loudly. With each laugh, my heart tightened and I gasped like a dying fish. The first time, I hit it. The mother returned, hugged her younger brother and cried, demanding to go to the hospital.

"Why are you comparing yourself with her? You're the older sister, you have to give in to the younger sister!"

“He doesn't understand, don't you understand too?”

“If something happens to your younger brother, don't expect to live in peace!”

That night, my face was marked with twice as many slaps as my younger brother. Memories cracked a crack, sadness and pain rose like a tide from the gap, billowing out. Therefore, I agreed with the system, accumulating blackening value to have a chance to return and find Chu Thu Y. I chose words from memory and slowly told Tran Tinh Ly. Then, I smiled at him:

“So, it's very important.”

Can't wait for an answer. Because the next second, he gently reached out and pulled me into his arms. I smell the same orange laundry detergent as me. Gently blinked. 9. Wherever the dog bites, the vaccine injects. I stared at the needle longer than my arm and retreated in panic. Behind me was Tran Tinh Ly, holding my arm tightly, without hesitation pushing towards the doctor:

“Inject it.”

When the needle pierced my skin, the whole hospital echoed with my pitiful screams. At that moment, a hand suddenly came towards my mouth.

“If it hurts, bite it.”

His low voice echoed in my ears, his hot breath passed over my sensitive skin, itching so much that it made me shrink my neck. Then, without hesitation, I opened my mouth and bit down hard. When the needle was pulled out, teeth marks were clearly visible on his tiger's mouth, and it was even bleeding. I felt a little guilty and raised my head to apologize. But before he could say anything, the back of his head was pressed down, and his whole body was pulled into his chest. His voice was very light, but carried a feeling of determination that was heartbreaking.

"Sorry. Couldn't protect you."

“There won't be a next time.”

On the screen, bullets went crazy. 【Don't worry! Have you heard? DON'T BE AFRAID!】 【This tooth mark he wishes would never fade in his whole life!】 【Wife biting is not a tooth mark, but a badge of honor!】 【Wait, tonight someone will definitely cover the blanket and lick the wound!】 【It's too perverted... I like it!】 10. The sound of summer cicadas is getting louder and louder, the college entrance exam is right around the corner. eye. While I was burying my head in solving the problem, the next table suddenly teased me:

“Your younger brother is looking for you again.”

I turned my head and saw a tall, thin teenager standing outside the door frame, the light coming from behind, lengthening his silhouette. In class, there were people pointing and gossiping, but he ignored them, his expression cold. Only when he realized I was looking did his eyes gradually soften, like melting ice and snow, instantly becoming gentle. Even with every step I took closer, I felt his eyes getting brighter and brighter.

“What's going on?”

I stopped walking in front of him. Tran Tinh Ly passed the bag in her hand:

"I heard your friend say you've been skipping dinner lately. If you find going to the cafeteria is a waste of time, I'll bring you dinner from now on."

“Um.”

I raised my hand to receive it. Suddenly, images of last night appeared in my mind. The system quickly reported:

"Tran Tinh Ly will be an adult in one month. If the blackening value does not reach 100% before then, the mission will If you fail, you cannot return."

Cannot return. That means I will never be able to see Chu Thu Y again, that teenager with a smile as bright as the sun. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the bracelet on his wrist, his heart felt like a squeezed lemon, bitterness welling up. No way. Definitely have to return. The hand that had just reached out immediately retracted. I tilted my head, not looking at him:

“No need, eat it yourself.”

Tran Tinh Ly didn't move, as if he didn't hear, just standing there stubbornly, as if if I didn't accept, he wouldn't leave. I gritted my teeth, grabbed the bag, and threw it straight into the trash can next to me:

“I told you there's no need, are you deaf?”

The teenager was stunned, his pupils narrowed, as if he couldn't believe it.

“Sister… what's wrong? Is the academic pressure so great that I'm in a bad mood?

I didn't answer, turned back to my seat. During recess, I still felt a pair of eyes glued to my back. Until the bell rang for class, my deskmate reminded:

“Your brother is gone.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned my head to look back. The teenager bowed his head and quietly walked back to class, his back looking a bit lonely.

11

From then on, I often ignored his gestures of concern, and even intentionally found excuses to cause trouble. I falsely accused him of breaking the cup and forced him to kneel on the laundry mat. Tran Tinh Ly didn't say a word, he quietly knelt down, bowed his head, looking extremely pitiful. My heart ached a little. I myself couldn't help but despise myself—how cruel to the extreme. The tenth night never said a kind word to each other. The bedroom door was pushed open, the teenager came to the bed, knelt down, grabbed my hand, placed it on his face, gently rubbed it, and said softly:

“Sister, did I do something wrong?”

The curled eyelashes gently brushed the palm of my hand, itching, as if spreading to my heart. After Tran Tinh Ly left, I clenched my hands, as if desperately trying to hold on to something, but I couldn't hold on to anything. There was only the faint moonlight outside the window, falling silently into the quiet night.

12

Saturday night. Using the excuse of buying clothes for Tran Tinh Ly, I took him to a shopping center thirty kilometers away from home. When he entered the dressing room, I immediately turned around and ran, finally taking a taxi straight home. After I left, Tran Tinh Ly wandered around the shopping center looking for me, calling countless times. I ignored everything and only texted back an hour later: 【Whoa, I was so sleepy just now that I went home to sleep, forgot about you, sorry. You can walk home by yourself.】 After texting, I turned off the phone. Tran Tinh Ly's WeChat account has no money. If he wants to go back, he can only walk. Thirty kilometers, even running would take several hours. I think, if he knew he was tricked by me, his blackening value would probably increase a bit. I closed my eyes, intending to sleep, but no matter how I turned around, I couldn't fall asleep. In his mind, there were only images of him walking alone through the night, walking hopelessly. As soon as I turned over, there was suddenly a loud clap of thunder outside the window, and raindrops as big as beans poured down. My heart sank. It's broken. Forgot there was a storm tonight. I sat up, slightly hesitant. With every step he took in the rain, his hatred for Oia would increase a little Blackening treatment will certainly increase as well. This is absolutely a good opportunity. Anyway, time is running out. A flash of lightning tore through the night, followed by a rumble of thunder. In my mind, the image of Tran Tinh Ly appeared again. When he held the cake, his eyes lit up, hoping I would praise him. That winter, he hugged my legs in his arms to warm them up. He was clearly cold and shivering but still tried to say it was okay. And on my birthday, he collected every penny of pocket money I gave him to buy a talking bear. At that time, I even scolded him for being deceived. How could such an ugly bear be so expensive? But Tran Tinh Ly still insisted on giving it to me, telling me to put it at the head of the bed, so that it could sleep with me. That's right!!! The talking bear. I've never touched it before, and I even forgot it could talk. Where is the bear? I turned my head and saw it still sitting neatly on the nightstand, its fur was soft, docile and adorable, its eyes were black and clear like Tran Tinh Ly's eyes. Heart pounding, I tremblingly picked it up and gently touched my stomach. What will it say? Probably "Happy Birthday". But the premonition was so strong. Please, just say “Happy Birthday.” I almost prayed, my trembling fingers pressing down. In the dark, quiet room, a clear voice rang out:

— I love you.

The sound of rain outside the window gradually disappeared from my hearing. The blood flow in his body seemed to flow backward, his heartbeat seemed to stop. The world suddenly became just me and this bear. What did it just say?

— I love you.

It's clear that the machine's voice has been fine-tuned, but still carries Tran Tinh Ly's timbre. I frantically pressed continuously.

— I love you.

— I love you.

Over and over again. Clumsy teenager, using the clumsiest way to express his feelings. As for me, for so long, I deliberately pretended not to see. He even wanted to take advantage of his gentleness and tolerance in exchange for the opportunity to return. This… isn't fair.