After speaking, Xiang Yujie turned and walked into the kitchen to start preparing dinner.
“Mengyi, Xiaoyi, have fun, ahaha~”
Hui Feng yawned as he spoke, then returned to his room and closed the door.
He still had some work left to finish.
Watching Hui Feng head into his room, Ye Jinyi sheepishly shut off her game.
Playing games right next to someone who’s working felt a bit shameless—even if Ye Jinyi had long since left shame behind.
Shame is like bricks on a city wall—when it’s time to tear them down and throw them away, you just do it.
But clearly, now wasn’t the time to throw them.
Ye Jinyi knew she was here to mooch dinner, and if she didn’t leave a good impression, that wouldn’t work.
Right now, she was fully committed to her persona as the cute loli next door!
How far next door? Doesn’t matter, don’t ask.
Once Ye Jinyi stopped playing, Huimengyi felt the fun had worn off too, so she also put her game aside.
She leaned close to Ye Jinyi’s ear and finally asked the question she didn’t have a chance to ask when they first met: “Ye Jinyi, how old are you now?”
Eh?!
Hearing Huimengyi whisper that in her ear, Ye Jinyi froze for a moment.
Oh right…
I don’t actually know how old I am either…
To be honest, Ye Jinyi had never known her real age.
She was an orphan—how would she know her birthday?
That so-called “23” was just counted from the day the orphanage took her in.
When it came down to it, even Ye Jinyi didn’t understand her own background.
Maybe, in some strange way, what that girl in her dream said was true—maybe she really was her?
No way.
That would mean accepting it.
Ye Jinyi didn’t want to accept it, didn’t dare to.
She felt like if she did, she might just disappear.
She never dreamed of being someone important, never cared about saving or destroying the world—those thoughts meant nothing to her.
She just wanted a little happiness in life.
Those grand narratives had nothing to do with her.
All she wanted was to be herself, even if she never really knew what that “self” was.
“Um… I… don’t know.”
That was her answer.
After all, she was a professional escape artist—if she could avoid something, she would.
“Huh?”
Huimengyi was a little surprised.
“You don’t know how old you are?”
“Nope.”
Ye Jinyi shook her head and answered firmly.
If it’s something she truly doesn’t know, there’s no need to make up a story—just answer directly.
“I see…”
In that instant, Huimengyi felt her whole worldview take a hit.
So there really are people who don’t know their own age?
In Huimengyi’s world, not knowing your own age was super weird!
Didn’t everyone’s parents tell them the day they were born?
Maybe it’s just like that saying—everyone has their own ivory tower, their own things they can’t understand.
“Ye Jinyi, your mom and dad never told you your birthday?”
“I don’t have a mom or dad!”
Ye Jinyi wished she could stop being asked this question already!
It was so annoying!
Can people stop asking “who are your parents” every time there’s a lull in the conversation?
“Ah…”
Huimengyi suddenly realized she might’ve asked something she shouldn’t have.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to know more about you.”
She felt guilty—she hadn’t known her shifu was an orphan.
“It’s fine, really,”
Ye Jinyi patted Huimengyi’s shoulder, trying to ease her guilt.
“I know you didn’t mean anything by it. It’s okay, I don’t care about that stuff.”
“Really?”
Huimengyi thought for a moment, then suddenly pulled Ye Jinyi into a hug and gently patted her head.
“Then how about you be my little sister~”
“Eh?!”
“Stop, stop, stop!”
“I’m not gonna be your little sister!”
Ye Jinyi quickly shut that idea down.
You disobedient disciple—listen to the words coming out of your mouth!
“But Ye Jinyi, you’re so short, there’s no way you could be the big sister~”
Why are you so obsessed with this problem?
And I used to be tall, okay?!
Ye Jinyi suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia, like an old radish drying in the sun.
Her mind was now overflowing with grievances.
“From now on, big sister will take care of you~”
Eh?!
In that instant, all of Ye Jinyi’s complaints vanished.
In her crimson eyes, a dazzling cross-shaped glint flashed.
She quickly turned and buried herself in Huimengyi’s arms.
“Big sister, what do you mean by ‘take care,’ exactly?”
“Guess~”
Huimengyi couldn’t resist teasing her.
After all, keeping someone in suspense was always the most fun.
Ye Jinyi’s excitement crashed and burned on the spot.
She turned away and ignored her.
Seeing that, Huimengyi panicked.
She placed her left hand on Ye Jinyi’s shoulder, hoping to coax her into turning back.
“I’m sorry, I was wrong! Ye Jinyi, can you forgive me?”
“People who speak in riddles are the worst…”
Ye Jinyi wasn’t in the mood to play along.
She didn’t want any of that “hold out your hand for a surprise” nonsense, only to find nothing but air.
Huimengyi leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “If there’s anything you want, or if you run into trouble, you can tell your big sister, okay? I’ve got your back~”
“Really?”
Ye Jinyi instantly revived at full HP, turned around, and stared at Huimengyi with eyes full of anticipation.
“Really.”
Huimengyi confirmed it with a nod.
The truth was, she felt pretty lonely too.
She’d always wanted someone to play with, but could never find the right person.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been bored enough to go online searching for random trash games.
She didn’t know exactly why she wanted to call Ye Jinyi her little sister.
Maybe because she pitied her?
Or maybe she just thought Ye Jinyi would stay and play with her?
Whatever the reason, after hearing about Ye Jinyi’s past, Huimengyi truly felt a sudden impulse to protect her.
“Then… I want something to eat…”
Ye Jinyi was still a little cautious—she didn’t want to fall for another HR-interview-level trick again.
“I’ll buy it for you.”
“Big sister, you’re the best!”
Without a second thought, Ye Jinyi launched herself into Huimengyi’s arms and clung tightly.
In an unnoticed corner of the world, a new pair of sisters had quietly formed.
To outsiders, it might look like a sweet, ordinary moment—but to Ye Jinyi, this was securing an endless food ticket!
For a brief moment, she truly felt the hope of a new life shimmering before her.
The days of nearly starving were finally over!
See?
To reach a brighter tomorrow, she couldn’t give up.
Who knows—maybe luck really would show up at the next corner.
Just as Ye Jinyi was rejoicing over finding a long-term meal sponsor, Xiang Yujie emerged from the kitchen carrying dishes.
“Dinner’s ready, Mengyi, Xiaoyi.”
I see no shame in this MC, should just accept the transfo by this point. At least it should give her some power. And she really have a magical girl asleep in her house but did not use any blood to use the speel