Tianhe Platinum Apartments, Building C, has a total of 26 floors, each with balconies and corridors that the developer uses as shared areas to maximize profits.
Because the corridors offer scenic views and are fully exposed to sunlight, they are directly opposite the elevators, making them the necessary path for every resident to pass through when leaving or returning home.
At this moment, Bai Xing is sharing an elevator with Lu Qing, vaguely watching the red LED numbers ascend one by one in a state where time seems to stand still.
If what just happened wasn't an illusion, and if the person standing next to her isn't just a figment of her dreams from recent years...
Then it means that her senior, Lu Qing, has agreed to take on everything for her new V project.
He is going to collaborate with her to manage the new V, facing challenges together, making plans together, and starting from scratch to climb to the top of the V-tuber world.
"Is this really possible?"
Bai Xing isn't sure, but she knows that Lu Qing's goals are very ambitious, extremely ambitious.
— "Surpass Hoshizuki Rina."
Only she understands that Hoshizuki Rina's success was no accident. It was the result of the full effort of dozens of staff members from the top three X-soul guilds, with the guild leader spending a significant amount of money on their salaries every month.
Can Lu Qing, all by himself, handle so much work?
To elevate her from being a "personal V-tuber" to a thousand-ship V-tuber, and even surpass her former self—is that what he intends to do?
Bai Xing's thoughts are in disarray.
Clearly, today's events have left her with little rationality.
She even begins to blindly believe that if it's him, perhaps he can achieve anything, even surpassing Rina, even taking down major guilds—it must be possible.
"Senior..."
"Senior..."
"Senior..."
Even if it's a dream, it's not so bad.
After all, it's been a long time since she's had such a delightful dream.
"It's even more comfortable than those dreams I had in the spring. How strange."
She licks her dry lips, secretly pleased.
...
Time with him passes too quickly.
It's almost as if in the blink of an eye when the elevator doors slowly open at the 19th floor.
Just as she's about to follow him out, carefully and attentively savoring these final moments of bliss,
she unexpectedly bumps into something after taking a step.
Rubbing her little face, she looks puzzled.
"What... what happened?"
"..."
"Ah..."
It's his stiff back.
...
Bai Xing never imagined that her first meeting with "her" would happen in such a manner, suddenly and unexpectedly, without any preparation on her part.
Clearly, Lu Qing has stopped.
Because, not far ahead, at the entrance of Room 1901, a girl is standing deep in the corridor, waiting for something.
She's in the best spot for sunlight, leaning on the railing with both hands, her profile looking down at the courtyard, seemingly admiring the scenery of the complex.
— It's "her."
This is Bai Xing's first thought.
Such a stunning girl, there hasn't been another like her in the entire neighborhood over the past two years.
"..."
Her eyes instinctively narrow as she scrutinizes the girl with the most critical gaze.
"She" looks very cute and natural, wearing a high-end Maidolia black and white long dress, elegant and sophisticated;
"Her" face is like a masterpiece blessed by the heavens, even from ten meters away, one can still feel the overwhelming beauty;
Her figure is perfectly balanced, everything in the right place, the straight legs beneath the skirt are like those of a leading lady in a manga, extremely impactful even in the virtual world, capable of causing indiscriminate damage.
"Ah..."
Indeed.
Even Hoshizuki Rina might not be able to defeat "her."
How does she maintain such smooth and fair skin?
Is she using nourishing liquid like it's facial cleanser every day?
"She" is wearing makeup.
Though very light and hard to notice.
But compared to her own today's disheveled state, it's a level above, isn't it?
She's so exquisite.
"..."
Am I overshadowed?
Bai Xing's eyes darken.
She shrinks her body, instinctively hiding behind Lu Qing.
"Brother, you're back?"
At this moment, the girl in front turns her head, timing her expression and actions perfectly as she faces them.
"..."
"Yeah, I was slightly delayed on the way. Su Ling, why are you out here?"
Lu Qing stiffly steps out of the elevator.
"It's too stuffy inside, so I thought I'd come down to throw out the trash for you and get some fresh air."
The girl smiles lightly, asking with a cheerful tone, "Brother, who is this sister? How should I address her?"
"..."
This second, Lu Qing feels like he's on pins and needles.
The first half of her sentence is fine, but the problem lies in the latter half.
From his sister's tone, he can tell that her state isn't quite right.
Even though she seems emotionally stable, he has no idea what's really going on inside her.
Based on the strange incidents that occurred after he last went downstairs to throw out the trash, he is well aware that his sister seems unable to accept his interaction with any other young women.
And Bai Xing is clearly the highest-risk target in this category, without a doubt.
Sigh...
He just wanted to give her a hand, pushing the new project forward while also solving his income issues for the past few months.
Who knew Su Ling would choose this moment, at such a sensitive timing, to step out of the house, and even show some hostility towards the girl behind him?
This is really troublesome.
In this situation, it seems he can only be honest.
Lu Qing doesn't want to miss the best opportunity, nor does he want any misunderstanding to lead to his sister needing increased medication.
However, the girl behind him speaks first—
"Hello, I'm Bai Xing, Lu Qing's junior from school, and I live in Room 1902, so I'm your neighbor."
"..."
Bai Xing tries to stay calm as she walks around Lu Qing's side, heading towards Su Ling.
It seems as if their relationship is distant, as she plans to directly go home.
"Is that so?"
Su Ling stands at the door of 1901, her smile unchanged.
"So, it was you who walked with my brother last time? Sister, do you go to and from school with my brother every day?"
"..."
The question is quite sharp.
Bai Xing can't avoid answering.
"No, it's just a coincidence. Senior is very busy, he barely has time to pay attention to me. And, I'm not much older than you, you can just call me by my name."
For some reason, in front of "her," Bai Xing feels an inexplicable sense of inferiority, even when it comes to the most important person in her life, she seems to have no confidence to compete or hold on to him.
At least, not today.
Seeing this, Su Ling slightly turns her body, showing an apologetic expression:
"Then, Bai Xing, could you please take care of my brother in the future? Would you?"
"Ah?"
Bai Xing is slightly startled, her brows furrowing in confusion.
The girl remains composed, "My brother spends all his time on work and studies, always neglecting himself. I can't go to school with him, so I can't take care of him like I do at home. So, Bai Xing, could you please spend more time with him? If it makes my brother happy, I would be very grateful."
In an instant, Su Ling's words plunge Bai Xing into an awkward predicament. It's as if her words trigger a reflex, making her scalp tingle.
Yes, she doesn't know how to respond.
She doesn't even know how to continue the conversation.
Obviously, "her" control over him has reached an extremely distorted level, completely matching the "attachment" level she initially imagined.
"She" wants to possess him.
"She" is not satisfied.
Not at all.
If she agrees to her request, it would mean that she wants to get closer to Senior, and it would indirectly reveal that she's the one who's been trying to get close to him all along;
But if she refuses, it would seem like she's deliberately avoiding something, not being natural, and not giving "her" and Senior enough face, which would be problematic both logically and emotionally.
So, "her" words have completely boxed her in, leaving no room to maneuver.
At this moment, Bai Xing gathers all her focus, her face serious, her mind racing.
Never before in history has such a formidable opponent been encountered.
Is crushing beauty not enough? Must you go to such extremes?
I had already conceded, already admitted defeat...
Why must you bully me... Why...
Bai Xing bit her lip tightly, her hand resting on the door handle, frozen in the pose of entering her fingerprint, unsure whether to move or not.
Fortunately, at this moment, Lu Qing had already approached the door.
"Su Ling, I'm such a grown man, why would I need a junior to take care of me? Stop joking around, or it'll make things really awkward."
"Is that so?"
Su Ling showed a pensive expression.
Then, with a tone of sentimentality (a mix of admiration and contemplation), she shifted the topic to him:
"But brother, living next door to such a beautiful sister, why didn't you tell me earlier? Maybe we could have gone out together sometime."
Her tone was light, her words relaxed, as she pulled the conversation back to a more comfortable line.
She left Bai Xing with just a sliver of breathing room.
Bai Xing had no idea what Su Ling was thinking at this very moment.
She was at a loss, relying solely on Lu Qing to protect her.
If she could, she wanted to flee back to her room immediately, hide under the covers, and not emerge for the next 24 hours.
Lu Qing, too, was a bit bewildered, unsure if his sister's words were genuine or just polite conversation.
Today, his sister seemed unusually different, so much so that he dared not delve too deeply into her thoughts, nor take any action that might aggravate her condition.
Extremely troublesome.
If Bai Xing's inner world was akin to the intricate, ever-changing turmoil of a young girl's conflicted emotions,
Then Su Ling's mind was like a dark, silent ocean, capable of swallowing everything.
In Lu Qing's eyes, his sister was complex and dangerous.
Unstable, ready to erupt at any moment.
Bai Xing was delicate and fragile.
So tender, she might melt if not careful.
The collision of these two personalities felt like a clash of incompatible elements, water and fire.
Before he could think further, his sister continued, "Come on in, I've prepared a surprise for you tonight."
Her smile was radiant, different from yesterday.
He had no idea what kind of surprise she had in store.
He could only follow her lead, opening the door, unable to spare even a glance for the figure standing dumbly to his right, and was thus ushered into the room by his sister at close range.
"Heh..."
A sidelong glance at the figure still standing in front of 1902, Su Ling smiled sweetly.
It was almost as she had imagined.
The "stray cat's" conditions indeed surpassed the ordinary female college students in her impression.
Even in casual attire, even with her face covered tightly,
One could still faintly sense her extraordinary aura.
If she wasn't mistaken, with just her bare face, she could probably charm 99% of men, right?
Otherwise, how could a man like her brother, who was so unapproachable, take notice of just any female neighbor or junior?
A man she couldn't even manage, could he possibly have thoughts about any other woman?
How laughable.
Tch.
Bai Xing, is it?
Today, following behind my brother, you looked just like a lost fledgling in the dark of night.
Falling onto someone's balcony, only to be rescued by a kind soul, bandaged, and set free again.
But.
What are you lingering for?
My brother healed you, yet you still want to stay?
Don't you think that's a bit greedy?
Heh.
With such fair, delicate skin, and an idol-like appearance, your legs are straight, your body soft, even with pink hair, you look like a character from a manga.
No wonder you've developed such ambition, even aiming to monopolize someone as gentle and perfect as my brother.
You, you.
Do you not place anyone else in your eyes?
In your heart, is it all about yourself?
Like something, you take it.
Want something, you pursue it.
No matter who it once belonged to.
No matter who it should belong to.
People like you, I truly detest.
Just because you're cute and pitiable, you think you can shatter others' worlds with that.
A life without any obstacles must be very comfortable for you.
Whether at school or in society, you seem to navigate it all with ease.
But before that, you've probably tried all kinds of tricks, haven't you?
All failed, right?
My brother cannot be manipulated by "tricks."
I've completely understood him.
So, after all this time, you've probably changed your tactics.
Perhaps, you're trying to exploit his pity?
Maybe if I had come a few days later, you would have succeeded?
What a pity.
Tsk tsk tsk.
...
As the door gradually closed.
Silent and unmoving, Su Ling suddenly wrapped her arm around her brother's, using the last few seconds as the door's angle narrowed from 45 degrees to zero, she slowly turned her head frame by frame—
As if she had known all along that Bai Xing was still standing at the door, peeking into her room,
On her angelically pure face, with an eerily subtle movement,
She slowly pulled back her lips—
Looking down at the "cat" outside the door, whose eyes were filled with astonishment,
With an air of superiority,
She revealed a twisted, playful, devilish grin, full of madness and mischief.
The next moment.
Click.
Screech—
The crack closed, the chain locked.
The sound of the lock clicking shut was crisp and ear-splitting.
...
...