Chapter 52 Hearts Drawing Closer

"Brother, I..."

It wasn't until she finished the porridge in the bowl that Seele spoke in a murmuring voice, wanting to say something.

Ling Feng took a tissue to wipe away the remaining bits of porridge from the corner of the young girl's mouth, interrupting what she wanted to say. With a gentle smile, he said to her, "Alright, Seele, don't think too much about it. The most important thing for you right now is to rest well. Everything else can wait until you've had a good rest, okay?"

Seelie looked at him in a daze, gazing at her brother, her eyes welling up with tears once more, almost crying again. But in the end, she held it back, smiled faintly, and nodded at her brother.

Seeing this, Ling Feng's lips curled upward, and he affectionately ruffled her hair, picked up the empty bowl, and walked out of the room.

In the hallway, Ling Feng stood for quite a long time holding the bowl, before finally letting out a scoff and shaking his head in self-mockery.

What on earth was he agonizing over? Even Seele had managed to muster the courage to take things to this point; was he really incapable of even giving her a response?

If that were the case, he would be far too cowardly, entirely unworthy of Seele's unreserved feelings.

Yes, all morning long, Ling Feng had been trapped in a state of hesitation. Things had happened so suddenly that they left him somewhat overwhelmed, not knowing how to face the shift in their relationship that was bound to happen.

He had left the bedroom to cook porridge for Seele partly because the young girl had just experienced such an event last night and definitely needed to eat something to recover, and partly because he wanted to be alone for a while to sort out the tangled thoughts in his mind.

Unfortunately, when someone like Ling Feng fell into such a stubborn mental trap, relying solely on one's own closed-loop thinking was the hardest way to find clarity, potentially plunging them even deeper instead.

Consequently, until the moment he returned to the bedroom with the bowl of porridge, he still hadn't managed to untangle his chaotic thoughts.

However, the instant he pushed open the bedroom door and saw Seele already awake in bed, it was as if a bolt of lightning had flashed across his mind, and all the problems that had been troubling him seemed to dissolve into thin air in a split second.

At that moment, upon seeing Seele's pale and pitiful face, and the undeniable panic and fear hidden within her tearful eyes, Ling Feng felt his heart violently jolt. A wave of intense remorse instantly surged into his heart, making him wish he could slap himself across the face right then and there.

What on earth had he been doing? At a time like this—when a girl's heart was at its most sensitive and vulnerable—instead of properly staying by Seele's side, he had actually been agonizing over his own petty troubles!

It was utterly despicable, the behavior of a completely irresponsible brute.

At that very moment, what hesitation? What annoyance? What feeling of helplessness?

None of it mattered anymore!

The only things left in his heart were self-reproach and a tender affection for Seele.

And in that same instant, many things that had been troubling him suddenly became crystal clear.

(Heh, what on earth am I playing at? What am I even hesitating for?)

(Ling Feng, oh Ling Feng, clearly you are the one who hit the absolute jackpot! And yet you're still sitting here fretting over this and that. Doesn't this just prove the saying: hypocrites are just being overly dramatic!)

(Ask yourself honestly, have you truly never harbored any feelings for Seele?)

(No, you have!)

(If she were ever to be married off to someone else in the future under the guise of just being a brother, could you accept it?)

(No, I couldn't! I completely and utterly cannot accept that!!!)

(If that's the case, then what the hell are you hesitating for? Isn't this exact outcome what you wanted all along?!!)

...

"Huuu—!" Ling Feng let out a long breath, expelling all the pent-up gloom he had carried the entire morning.

Following this internal self-examination and dialogue, he finally confirmed his true feelings: he didn't just want Seele to be his little sister; he wanted Seele to stay by his side forever!

Having figured it all out, his entire body felt lighter. Gone was the previous heaviness as his steps grew brisk, carrying him down the stairs.

(I'll find a suitable opportunity and formally confess to Seele. How could I ever let our little princess's lifelong happiness be treated with such grievance...)

............

Meanwhile, inside the bedroom.

Just as Ling Feng reached his resolute decision, Seele similarly made another choice of her own.

(Seele: The other me, are you there?)

('Seele': I'm here, I'm here, what is it this time?)

(Seele: I... I want to tell Brother about us.)

('Seele': ...)

('Seele': Are you sure?)

(Seele: Mm! I don't want to hide anything from Brother anymore!)

('Seele': ...)

Feeling the steadfast determination in Seele's heart at that moment, 'Seele' ultimately offered no further persuasion.

('Seele': Fine, fine. If you think it's the right time, tell him then. I don't care anyway, I rarely go out much.)

Though her words claimed indifference, Seele, who shared a telepathic link with her, could distinctly feel her slightly accelerated heartbeat.

(Seele, with a gentle smile: It seems the other me is quite looking forward to seeing how Brother will react once he learns of your existence!)

('Seele': Who—who's looking forward to it? I—I am not.)

(Seele: Hehe~)

Seele merely emitted a soft, gentle chuckle in her mind, causing the blushing cheeks of the contradictory 'Seele' to flush crimson as she averted her gaze and refused to look at her.

(Seele: The other me, there is one more thing I need to tell you.)

At this, Seele spoke again, her expression and tone turning serious.

('Seele': Wh—what is it?)

('Seele': About last night... from now on, no matter what, we must never do that again!)

When she said this, Seele was extremely solemn and earnest. Even when bringing up last night's events, she showed no trace of shyness, fixing her burning gaze directly upon her other self.

('Seele': ...)

She seemed somewhat hesitant, seemingly reluctant to agree.

('Seele': Are you sure? We don't have the advantage of age in this matter. If we don't find a way to do it a few more times to completely nail down the relationship, what if, by any chance...)

(Seele: No!)

The usually gentle Seele directly interrupted 'Seele' this time, her attitude exceptionally resolute.

(Seele: Unless Brother is willing, I will never, ever agree to let the other me do such a thing to Brother again. Even if... even if Brother ends up being snatched away by Sister Eden in the end, I will never do that again.)

The second half of her sentence clearly carried struggle and hesitation, but she forced the words out nonetheless. This foolish girl would rather lose the chance of being with her beloved brother forever than do anything that might disappoint him or violate his wishes.

('Seele': ...)

'Seele' fell silent once more. But sensing Seele's unshakeable resolve, she ultimately had no choice but to compromise.

('Seele': Sigh~, fine, whatever you say. I don't care anymore.)

With that, 'Seele' unilaterally severed the connection out of petulance. In truth, Seele's reaction when she first woke up had frightened her as well; she hadn't expected Seele's response to be so extreme.

Through their mental telepathy, she had clearly perceived the sheer terror and panic in Seele's heart at that moment, even sensing a trace of absolute despair within it.

That had left her with lingering fears, making her dare not force Seele on this matter any further. If something had actually happened to Seele because of this, she would never have been able to forgive herself!

(Never mind, things are already enough as they are...)