Chapter 70: The Acting She’s Nearly Forgotten

A Misunderstanding Escalates

“Wait, wait, you’ve got it all wrong! Lan Chen, you idiot!!!”

Lan Yi, still pinned beneath Yu Li, shouted in panic. She never expected her foolish younger brother to barge into her room without knocking. If she had known, she would’ve locked the door!

Realizing the misunderstanding, Yu Li released Lan Yi’s hands. A flicker of helplessness passed through her eyes as she calmly got off Lan Yi, straightening her slightly disheveled clothes.

Lan Yi scrambled off the bed, looking at Yu Li awkwardly. “Sorry, Yu Li, wait here for a bit.”

She rushed out after her brother, clearly worried he’d keep spreading nonsense.

But it was already too late. By the time she reached the downstairs, she found Lan Chen talking animatedly and her parents staring in shock.

Before she could explain, the three turned to her with varied expressions. Lan Chen looked thrilled, as if enjoying the chaos, while her parents seemed exasperated.

Lan Chen’s words alone might not have convinced them, but Lan Yi’s flustered appearance made them believe it. After all, they knew their daughter well.

“Wait, hold on, it’s really not what you think! I just invited a junior who helped me before to visit. Don’t get the wrong idea!”

Lan Yi explained frantically, but the more she tried, the less they believed her. If there was no issue, why was she so nervous?

And the mango cake in the fridge, labeled “No one touch!!!” was gone. Lan Yi had spent the whole afternoon making it, clearly for a special guest.

Since they came home early and caught the two practically on top of each other, Lan Yi’s father’s lips twitched. Watching his red-faced daughter explain, he sighed softly.

“Sigh… huh?!”

He was about to speak when his wife stopped him, tugging his ear to whisper something.

Lan Yi couldn’t hear what they said, but their occasional glances made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. She hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she felt inexplicably guilty.

Her father’s expression shifted from resistance to resignation, finally nodding as if accepting something.

“Alright, I get it. I’m not some old-fashioned parent. As long as my daughter’s partner is a good person, I’m fine with it.”

“What… what do you mean you get it? I said it’s a misunderstanding!” Lan Yi’s face grew redder at her father’s words, and she finally shouted in frustration.

“Ahem, our daughter’s just shy. Let’s give her some face,” her mother said, coughing lightly as if suddenly understanding. She even winked at Lan Yi.

“…Fine.”

“No way, I don’t think Sis is shy at all! She wasn’t even blushing when she was with that girl earlier!”

“Oh? What did she do?”

The family discussed openly in front of Lan Yi, completely ignoring the fact that she was right there. There wasn’t the slightest hint of discomfort about Lan Yi’s supposed orientation.

“I saw Sis…”

“Lan! Chen!” Before Lan Chen could finish, Lan Yi angrily shouted his full name.

Lan Chen glanced at her and saw her dark expression, her smile terrifying. It was clear Lan Yi was furious.

“I think you’ve got too little homework. The advanced department just added new courses, and I’m signing you up for all of them!”

“Wait, hold on, that’s just revenge! Dad, look at her!”

He turned to his father for help, but Lan Father nodded thoughtfully, agreeing, “Sounds good.”

“What?! How did this turn into being about me? The issue is Sis and her…”

No matter how Lan Chen protested, the topic shifted from Lan Yi’s “girlfriend” to his studies, and he couldn’t change it.

Yu Li’s Solitude

Though Lan Yi’s house had two floors, the soundproofing wasn’t great. Yu Li, upstairs, could vaguely hear the argument below.

The conversation was about her, but her face remained impassive, showing no intent to clarify.

She sat expressionlessly at the desk, her fork gently piercing a mango slice from the cake and bringing it to her mouth.

As expected… she did like mango.

But at that moment, Fu Qingyue’s emotions were constantly affecting her. If Fu Qingyue’s emotions back then were grape-flavored, now they were like rotten grapes.

Either way, Yu Li hated them… deeply hated them.

The consequences of failing to advance were now glaringly apparent. She could no longer digest the excess emotions. Even if she expelled them as spiritual energy, as a beginner, it took her a long time.

Liuli, too, had fallen into a deep sleep the moment Fu Qingyue collapsed, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of “food” she needed to process.

Yu Li’s cold expression was partly due to this. She was starting to lose track of whose emotions were in her heart.

She ate the cake in small bites, forcing herself to stay calm.

Yu Li knew that if she stayed in this state for too long, she might… forget how to perform the “act” correctly.

Even if Lan Yi hadn’t come to her, she wouldn’t have returned to Ai Xinglan’s house today. If her “act” faltered… she didn’t know what would happen.

A Quiet Departure

The voices downstairs grew faint, suggesting their argument had reached a conclusion.

Yu Li finished the last bite of cake and stood slowly, as if preparing to leave.

“Oh, you finished, Yu Li? If you liked it, I can make another!” Lan Yi burst through the door, delighted to see the empty plate.

“Thanks for the hospitality,” Yu Li said flatly, intending to leave, but Lan Yi grabbed her hand.

Yu Li turned back, puzzled, looking at Lan Yi. “What?”

“You’re… leaving already?” Lan Yi’s voice carried a trace of reluctance.

“If I don’t leave, you’re the one who’ll have problems. Do you think your family would really welcome your ‘girlfriend’?”

Hearing Yu Li’s explanation, Lan Yi seemed relieved and let go of her hand with a smile. “So… if my family did welcome you, would you stay?”

Unable to read Lan Yi’s expression, Yu Li nodded faintly, answering casually, “Sure.”

But that was an impossible scenario. Yu Li pushed open the door, and Lan Yi didn’t stop her.

An Unexpected Welcome

To her surprise, as Yu Li started down the stairs, she was met with three pairs of eager eyes.

The trio stared at her like she was a rare treasure, so intensely that Yu Li couldn’t help but retreat back to Lan Yi’s room.

“Senior… what’s going on?”