Chapter 177: All That Came Before Was Just an Illusion
Just like Lin Wan Ning said, when it comes to feelings, she’s not exactly a traditional or conservative kind of girl.
Everyone yearns for wonderful things, and honestly, everyone has the right to pursue happiness.
Lin Wan Ning simply couldn’t ignore her own heart—she genuinely liked Dragon Brother. So, for her, just maintaining their current state seemed pretty perfect.
As they gradually got closer and started understanding each other…
Just like Dragon Brother said, he respects everyone, and he’d respect anyone’s feelings. So, she figured, why not just respect him too?
Who says only guys should chase after girls?
Who says an icy-looking girl wouldn’t take the initiative to like a guy?
Seeing Lin Wan Ning so serious, Dragon Brother felt a bit like his brain was lagging behind the beat.
Is she really that simple? Or is she pretending to be simple?
It feels like she has some kind of misunderstanding about what he’s saying.
He said he didn’t want to date right now, and she just said, “Then let’s keep everything as is…”
After a long pause, Dragon Brother finally said slowly, “Actually, you don’t need to do that. It kind of makes me look irresponsible.”
“I don’t need you to be responsible for me. If just having feelings for someone requires the other person to be responsible, then no one in this world would dare to fall in love.”
“And maybe, over time, you might start to like me too. Or perhaps, as we spend more time together, I’ll meet someone who likes me, and I’ll like them back.”
When he said this, Lin Wan Ning turned to face him, her eyes shimmering faintly. “Or maybe, Big Brother, you actually like me a little bit, so you’re just waiting for the right moment to act – and once you do, you’ll want to be responsible for me?”
“You know, your appearance and your inner self are such a stark contrast. Do your friends even know about this?”
Lin Wan Ning snorted softly. “Still underestimate me.”
“I’m not as fragile as I look. I understand what you mean. You’re just too mature—appearing wise about everything, but because you see through so much, you actually come off a bit old-fashioned.”
“You probably won’t just decide to be responsible for me because I have a bit of a liking for you, right?”
Watching Lin Wan Ning’s lively demeanor, Dragon Brother’s curiosity only deepened. He couldn’t quite figure out what was going on inside her head.
Some of what she said didn’t quite make sense. Is it really shameful to have some good feelings for someone?
No, of course not.
But Dragon Brother sensed there was an indescribable emotion behind her words.
Maybe, just like Lin Wan Ning said, he was overthinking again.
“You and I are like your Uncle—you both frown when you think. Your expressions are almost identical.”
Dragon Brother sighed helplessly, then shook his head. “No, you’re really giving me a headache.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“What else can we do? My darn irresistible charm—”
“You’re so full of yourself. Next time, try to mind your own business a little,” Lin Wan Ning said, though she actually first met Dragon Brother because of his meddling. She was very grateful at the time.
But now, she really hopes he won’t interfere anymore.
Maybe she’s a little mean… but she’s more worried that his meddling might land him in trouble.
When she heard this, Dragon Brother’s mind instantly floated to Li Qing Xue, her face flushed and tear-streaked. She had also told him that once.
He even found her crying red-nosed, which now made him chuckle a bit—happy, even.
“I don’t always interfere,” he added.
Just as he was about to pick up the fruit tea beside him, Lin Wan Ning placed her drink right in front of her at nearly the same time.
He glanced at the tea, then looked at Lin Wan Ning, who was smiling back at him.
In that moment, their eyes met, and both couldn’t help but laugh.
“Is this what you call a kind of tacit understanding?”
“Yep.”
He took a sip of the fruit tea and looked at Lin Wan Ning. “I’ve never heard you sing before. How about a performance?”
“Sure, but you’re not allowed to laugh at me.”
Lin Wan Ning stood up. Her smile, which had been on her face just a second ago, suddenly turned cold after a deep breath.
If there were levels of “turning serious,” Dragon Brother would say she’s number one!
Her change in aura was just that rapid.
Her voice was completely unique; her singing infused with emotion, turning lyrics into a melody that sounded enchanting as it entered his ears.
The figure before him seemed enveloped in a fog, everything around her turning into an illusion.
The shifts in her tone wove together, reaching extremes—life and d*ath, light and dark, segmentation and unity.
Such a mesmerizing voice easily touched listeners’ hearts.
After a while, as her song ended, Lin Wan Ning slowly opened her eyes.
With her song finished, Dragon Brother leaned back on the bench, eyes half-lidded, gradually shutting them.
“Was it good?”
“Very good. Your acapella is already this amazing—I can’t even imagine how fantastic it would sound with accompaniment,” Dragon Brother said sincerely. His tone was genuine—the blend of unique voice, skill, and emotion made even a cappella a captivating experience.
Happy to have received his compliment, Lin Wan Ning secretly felt a bit smug.
She lightly tugged on Dragon Brother’s sleeve. “I sang for you, so you should tell me about yourself too.”
“I don’t have much to say. I’m pretty straightforward—without my little follower, I probably wouldn’t even get into university.”
Hearing this, Lin Wan Ning fell into silence for a moment, then continued, “Come on, say something. I sang for you, so be fair, Big Brother.”
Dragon Brother hesitated, not knowing where to start.
Because, honestly, his previous self was pretty unlikable, and it still feels surreal to be in this world—like a fantasy.
He thought for a moment and finally said, “Actually, it’s hard to believe, but the first friend I ever made was Hu Yu Ying. Haha, doesn’t that sound totally fake?”
“Yeah, kinda,” Lin Wan Ning replied. “So, before I met Hu Yu Ying, you didn’t have any friends in those ten-odd years?”
“But that’s the truth. The first friend I really got to know was Hu Yu Ying. Back then, she was basically a punching bag—anyone could push her around…”
“So, you helped her?” Lin Wan Ning’s mind floated to how Hu Yu Ying looked around Dragon Brother—dependant, trusting…
“Helping her isn’t quite right. She helped me too.”
“Because I was really lost back then, even scared. I can’t really describe that feeling—except that helping her made me realize why I existed.”
Lin Wan Ning listened quietly. She wasn’t involved herself, so she couldn’t empathize exactly, but she was a good listener.
She didn’t know why Dragon Brother never explicitly talked about his past self, but from his half-year in senior high, she sensed a torn, revolutionary change.
It was a strange feeling—like he became someone new, lived a different life, where all that past was just an illusion.
The truth was, he met Hu Yu Ying, helped her, and through that process, gradually found his own meaning—ultimately, a sense of belonging.
