The atmosphere at the dining table was somewhat delicate. In the end, it was Chu Ningbai who couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
He said, “How can the younger one be the older brother?”
Shen Yuqing replied, “Actually, my birthday was recorded incorrectly. I’m two years older than you.”
Chu Ningbai didn’t believe him. “Let’s just go by what’s on the ID card.”
Shen Yuqing pouted, clearly dissatisfied.
But after some thought, he realized there was no need to insist. Even if he became the “older brother” in name, given Chu Ningbai’s attentive nature, he would still be the one being taken care of.
He took out the small cake he had bought and lit a candle. “To celebrate us becoming brothers, let’s blow out the candle together.”
Chu Ningbai stared at the flickering flame, then raised his eyes to look at Shen Yuqing. “A-Yu, are you serious about this?”
After the initial excitement, Chu Ningbai calmed down a little. “I might bring you some misfortune.”
“It’s fine,” Shen Yuqing said with a bright smile. “I’ve got a tough fate you can’t jinx me. Come on, Ningbai-ge, let’s blow out the candle.”
Chu Ningbai’s expression shifted slightly.
Finally, a smile appeared on his face. Since childhood, he had heard countless curses calling him a jinx, a bringer of misfortune. He had endured it silently, telling himself it wasn’t true.
But not long ago, he had regained fragmented memories and realized he really was a cursed star.
The deaths of his parents and younger brother had happened simply because he was the protagonist of a story, destined for a tragic backstory.
He hated the heavens for their injustice, but he hated himself even more.
He didn’t want to be any protagonist. He just wanted to live an ordinary life with his family and friends.
Yet when he saw Shen Yuqing, he couldn’t control his emotions.
He couldn’t help but want to get closer to him.
Chu Ningbai’s eyes reddened slightly. “A-Yu, I swear I won’t let you get hurt.”
He couldn’t bear to lose another brother.
Shen Yuqing clasped his hands together. “Alright, I believe you. Before we blow out the candle, let’s each make a wish.”
He thought for a moment. “I wish for both of us to have our dreams come true and live safe and sound lives.”
Chu Ningbai said, “Then I wish for A-Yu’s wish to come true.”
Both of them leaned forward slightly, took a breath, and blew out the candle together.
[Blackening Value: 40 | Favorability: 100]
The moment the candle went out, Shen Yuqing froze.
He hadn’t expected that simply blowing out a candle would cause Chu Ningbai’s stats to change so drastically!
He looked at Chu Ningbai, who was now beaming, his eyes sparkling and his mouth stretched wide in a grin.
Chu Ningbai said, “I’m so happy, A-Yu. I have family again.”
Shen Yuqing felt a faint stirring in his heart as well.
Truthfully, this idea had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Even after completing his mission, he would continue living in this world alone.
Chu Ningbai was alone too.
Two lonely people becoming family wasn’t such a bad thing.
Besides, Chu Ningbai was the protagonist. All things considered; Shen Yuqing was the one getting the better deal.
He smiled as well. “I’m happy too.”
After a pause, he added, “But there’s something else I want to tell you.”
Chu Ningbai looked at him. “What is it?”
Shen Yuqing said, “Actually, my original name was Shen Yuqing. It’s just that when my interstellar household registration was processed, a character got left out.”
“Shen Yuqing…” Chu Ningbai repeated the name softly, then smiled. “It sounds beautiful.”
“But in front of others, just call me Shen Yuqing,” Shen Yuqing said. “Otherwise, people might ask questions, and it’d be troublesome to explain.”
Chu Ningbai nodded: “Alright, I’ll still call you A-Yu.”
Shen Yuqing continued slicing the cake as he replied: “Whatever you prefer.”
After receiving half the cake, Chu Ningbai asked: “Was this what you went out to buy earlier?”
“I almost forgot there’s more.” Shen Yuqing lifted a bag containing two neural interfaces in different colors.
He handed the white one to Chu Ningbai: “A gift for you.”
Chu Ningbai glanced at it and immediately pushed it back: “This is too expensive. I can’t accept it. Please return it.”
Shen Yuqing insisted: “A gift given can’t be taken back. Consider it my welcoming present for Ningbai-ge.”
He then waved his own dark green device: “I got one too!”
With quick movements, Shen Yuqing unboxed both devices: “Now that they’re opened, they can’t be returned.”
Chu Ningbai sighed in amused exasperation: “A-Yu!”
Shen Yuqing pushed the white device toward him: “Put it on.”
Chu Ningbai examined the neural interface in the box before nodding firmly: “I’ll work hard to buy you gifts too, gege.”
Shen Yuqing smiled: “Alright, I’ll look forward to it then.”
As Chu Ningbai put on the gift, he found the white interface perfectly fitted and beautiful he loved it.
Secretly, he resolved to study and work even harder to provide Shen Yuqing with a better life.
Filled with motivation, he announced: “Gege will cook your favorite braised fish now. A-Yu, you can relax!”
[Corruption Value: 35, Favorability: 100]
Noticing Chu Ningbai’s sudden enthusiasm, Shen Yuqing nodded: “Alright, thank you… ge.”
This made Chu Ningbai even happier.*
After their meal, the two spent time configuring the neural interfaces and watching TV together until Chu Ningbai finally agreed to rest.
Before leaving, he held Shen Yuqing’s hand and poured out endless gratitude for becoming family.
Alone in his room, Shen Yuqing pondered before activating his dormant system.
The system asked anxiously: [Host? What happened?]
Shen Yuqing explained: [Chu Ningbai and I became sworn brothers.]
The system responded: [Huh?]
After recounting the afternoon’s events, the system said: [Actually, that’s wonderful. Congratulations on gaining family, Host.]
Shen Yuqing replied: [Thanks, but I’ve noticed something else.]
[What?] the system questioned.
[We assumed the protagonist wanted to destroy the world after his corruption,] Shen Yuqing analyzed, [but Chu Ningbai doesn’t seem to. His values fluctuate dramatically his corruption was at 90 initially, but halved when I agreed to become family.]
Checking the data, the system confirmed this observation.
[So, you’re saying his awakening wasn’t about world destruction?] Unable to comprehend, the system sought clarification.
“Hmm, judging by how he’s treated me before and his actions today, I think his dark turn has self-destructive tendencies. But since he’s the protagonist, if he dies, this world would collapse too,” Shen Yuqing said. “Though this is just my personal opinion.”
“Regardless, Chu Ningbai’s corruption level has decreased,” the system replied. “That’s good news.”
Shen Yuqing continued, “I’ll keep observing him. By the way, I saw Song Wangzhuo today he might have really reunited with Nie Xiu.”
“Figured as much,” the system responded.
Shen Yuqing gazed at the ceiling. A few floors above was Song Wangzhuo’s room.
“So why has his corruption level increased even more?” Shen Yuqing was genuinely puzzled. Could it be because of company matters?
If Shen Yuqing couldn’t understand it, the system certainly wouldn’t know either.
Not that Shen Yuqing expected the system to provide answers. He was just thinking that he’d have his hands full from now on.
