Chapter 10: An Ominous Sign Upon You

After dinner, Lin Muxue began directing the maids to tidy up the basement for Li Sicheng. At first, watching this scene, Lin Siyu was quite happy, secretly thinking to herself, “It looks like my sister hasn’t completely fallen for the trick after all. Letting this swindler stay in the basement, he’ll be fed up and leave soon enough, I bet!”

But she quickly realized she was mistaken.

It turned out that staying in the basement was Li Sicheng’s own idea. She saw with her own eyes that her sister kept persuading Li Sicheng to move into the guest room upstairs, but Li Sicheng stubbornly insisted on staying in the basement. He even kept praising the dark, damp space as a fine place to live.

Who could possibly know what was so good about that basement?

At least, Lin Siyu couldn’t stand being in there for more than a few minutes before feeling uncomfortable all over. Yet Li Sicheng seemed to relish the environment, pacing about excitedly, nodding his approval again and again.

Unable to talk Li Sicheng out of it, Lin Muxue had no choice but to call the maids to clean up the basement and bring in some furniture.

“Wait!” Li Sicheng’s head throbbed as he looked at the expensive, high-end furniture being carried in. In his current situation, how could he dare use such things? He would be courting misfortune every day!

“There’s no need to move out the odds and ends from the basement. Just clean it up and clear a space for me. As for these pieces of furniture, I can’t use any of them. Is there a wire bed? If not, a straw mattress will do—just something I can lay bedding on to sleep.”

Such peculiar requests left the maids uncertain about whether to obey. Lin Muxue had only wanted Li Sicheng to be comfortable, which was why she’d had the valuable furniture brought from the guest rooms. Now, seeing him refuse, she suddenly recalled his earlier remark about “not being able to enjoy such blessings,” and smacked her forehead. “Oh no, I forgot about your situation and almost made a mistake with my good intentions. Everyone, do as Sicheng says. Take the furniture back and fetch a wire bed instead.”

Lin Siyu couldn’t help but curl her lip and mutter her judgment: “Making a fuss over nothing.”

The maids soon found a wire bed and placed it where Li Sicheng had designated. They also brought in a battered old table and chairs, arranging them as he requested. Come to think of it, these maids were quite capable; it was late at night, yet they managed to find just the right things in such a short time.

Once the bed and furniture were in place, the damp, chilly discomfort that had pervaded the basement began to dissipate, replaced by a gentle, nourishing warmth.

Lin Siyu, however, took no notice of these changes.

She was busy puzzling over why this “swindler” Li Sicheng would forgo the comfortable guest room upstairs and insist on staying in the basement.

“Oh, I get it! It’s a classic feint—he’s pretending to be humble so my sister will trust him even more. By giving up the guest room and moving into the basement, he’s trying to win her sympathy and make her feel guilty towards him…” Her imagination ran wild as she considered one possibility after another.

Although she still hadn’t figured out why Li Sicheng wanted to trick her sister, that didn’t stop her from elevating him in her mind to the rank of a seasoned con artist.

“This guy must be an experienced old fox! Otherwise, how would he know to use such underhanded tactics? My sister may be kind and naive, but she has me, and I’m smart! With all the detective skills and knowledge I’ve gained from years of watching ‘Detective Conan,’ I swear I’ll expose this swindler! By the name of the eternal elementary schooler, Conan Edogawa!”

Lin Siyu clenched her fists, her big, bright eyes flashing with the spirit of battle.

But exposing a swindler’s flaws takes time.

At least that night, Lin Siyu found no clues or evidence.

The next morning, when Lin Siyu woke and went to the dining room, she found Li Sicheng—the person she loathed to the point of gnashing her teeth—already there, sitting at the table, calmly eating breakfast.

“He must have had a terrible night’s sleep in that damp, airless basement. Serves him right!” In Lin Siyu’s mind, there was no way he could have slept well. She deliberately walked over to him, intending to spot his dark circles and mock him.

But when she got a good look at his face, she was taken aback.

There were no dark circles under Li Sicheng’s eyes. In fact, even his previously pale face seemed a little rosier and more vibrant today.

He didn’t look sleep-deprived at all. On the contrary, he seemed well-rested and comfortable!

“How… how can this be? Could sleeping in the basement actually be good for your skin and complexion?” Lin Siyu’s mouth hung open; she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

At that moment, Lin Muxue emerged from the kitchen, wearing a white apron and carrying two plates of breakfast. “Siyu, why are you only just getting up? Sicheng has already been out jogging around the neighborhood. What are you standing there for? Sit down and eat!”

“Sis, did you make breakfast yourself today?” Still reeling from her previous shock, Lin Siyu was hit with a new wave of astonishment.

“Of course,” Lin Muxue nodded. “Didn’t I say yesterday? From now on, as long as I’m at home, I’ll cook for you both.”

“For us? Hmph, you mean you’re making it especially for that Li boy, don’t you? I can’t imagine what spell he’s cast on you to make you so besotted…” Lin Siyu pouted, grumbling in discontent.

Clearly, this big sister devotee was jealous once more.

Lin Muxue didn’t hear her sister’s muttering—partly because Lin Siyu’s voice was too low, and partly because all her attention was focused on Li Sicheng.

“Well, Sicheng, does the breakfast suit your taste?” Lin Muxue asked, her expression nervous, like a young wife awaiting her husband’s verdict.

“It’s fine.” Li Sicheng nodded, brief and to the point.

“What do you mean, ‘it’s fine’? My sister’s cooking is better than any hotel chef’s! Hmph, stop pretending to be indifferent!” Lin Siyu added another “offense” to Li Sicheng’s growing list in her mental ledger.

“As long as you like it.” Unlike Lin Siyu’s discontent, Lin Muxue beamed with joy, as if she’d just received a great reward.

Seeing this, Lin Siyu couldn’t help but smack her forehead. “It’s over. My sister is beyond saving…”

Her gesture immediately drew Lin Muxue’s attention, who urged, “Siyu, what are you doing? Hurry and eat. When you’re done, I’ll drive you both to school.”

At first, Lin Siyu was delighted. “You’ll drive me to school? That’s great…” But she soon realized her sister probably only intended to drive Li Sicheng, and she herself was just an afterthought.

Li Sicheng, however, voiced a different opinion. “No need. Just give me the address—I can ride my electric scooter there myself.”

Lin Muxue was equally resolute. “No way. Today’s your first day at Nanshan High, so I have to take you.”

But plans rarely keep up with changes. Just as they were about to leave, Lin Muxue received a call from her secretary—an urgent matter required her immediate attention at the company. Helpless, Lin Muxue had to give up her plan to drive Li Sicheng to Nanshan High herself.

She was deeply disappointed and apologetic, repeatedly saying sorry to Li Sicheng. She also didn’t forget to remind Lin Siyu, “Later, you go to school with Sicheng. Remember, you must take good care of him!”

Unfortunately, as soon as she left, Lin Siyu tossed her instructions right out the window.

At the villa’s entrance, Lin Siyu climbed into the Mercedes and said coldly to Li Sicheng, “Go to school by yourself. I have neither the mood nor the time to keep you company.”

“Wait,” Li Sicheng suddenly spoke up. “There’s a sign of misfortune on you!”

“W-what? A bra? What does my wearing a bra have to do with you? What are you trying to do?” Lin Siyu had clearly misunderstood, instinctively covering her modest chest.

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