I turned reality into a romantic comedy.

"Yes, but first we encountered a road closure on the way, and then the car broke down when we were almost there. All in all, it delayed us for quite a while. There was nothing we could do."

Chen Junqian picked up a piece of cabbage stewed with tofu and casually answered his father's question.

"If Nianqiu comes to Guoning, where does she plan to stay?"

“I’ve booked a hotel for her, the Linde Hotel right next to our neighborhood.”

How many days do you plan to stay?

"At least a week, she's in a bit of a situation at home, it's quite complicated, so she'll be spending the New Year with us."

Sitting on the sofa in the living room, watching her brother at the dining table on the other side, effortlessly helping Shen Nianqiu answer questions and liven up the atmosphere, occasionally picking up food for her and introducing which dishes were her mother's specialties, Chen Xi couldn't help but recall the scenes of the two of them eating together before, and the corners of her mouth started to turn up again, especially after hearing that the other party would be spending the New Year here.

In the past few years, she had actually shared New Year's Eve with Shen Nianqiu, but back then, Shen Nianqiu only existed in the sound of the phone. Now, however, he had suddenly become a real person, which made her immediately start to doubt whether she could continue to eat, drink, and have fun with her brother on the night of the 30th of the twelfth lunar month and then sleep together when she was tired.

However, compared to Chen Junqian's somewhat secretive attitude, Shen Nianqiu became more open and generous again after getting used to the Chen family's atmosphere. After all, she had already decided to tell Zhu Wenyun, the "great writer," about her own experiences and have him publish a book, so she might as well tell him. After all, she was dealing with Chen Junqian's parents anyway.

Frankly speaking, without the secondary processing and precise refinement of a literary young girl like Zhu Wenyun, Shen Nianqiu's narration is actually quite straightforward, and it can even be said that there is little emotional fluctuation. However, Chen Jun and Wang Hongling, as parents with more experience from the older generation, are sometimes more able to understand the harm that parents can cause to their children.

After all, the two-child policy has been a hot topic among middle-aged people of their age since its implementation. They have heard many related gossips. However, from the perspective of the children, it is indeed an option that can easily lead to family problems if not handled properly.

"There's really nothing we can do about it... All you can do now is study hard, get into a good university, find a good job, and become independent from this family. If you encounter any difficulties, you can tell us."

Chen Jun's suggestion was quite simple and reasonable, so Shen Nianqiu nodded in agreement. That was her original idea, but she had also prepared other options. However, the idea that she could only discuss it with Chen Junqian was indeed a bit 'shocking' to the parents, so she didn't say it at this time.

In any case, it at least explained why Shen Nianqiu came to Guoning on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, just before the Lunar New Year. Even Chen Xi, who was just watching the show, understood it and began to unconsciously compare Shen Nianqiu's family situation with Gu Linguo's, finally concluding that her parents seemed to be quite good.

Indeed, happiness is always relative.

However, this makes it easier for her to understand why Sister Shen Nianqiu feels so... understand? What a load of rubbish!

Chen Xi's thoughts drifted back to last summer when she discovered that Xu Youwei had left invisible writing on Lin Mu's glass bottle. She wanted to start complaining again about why her brother was always surrounded by girls with such strange personalities. Was there some kind of constitution that specifically attracted girls with unhappy families and therefore eccentric personalities?

Xu Youwei was one, and now Shen Nianqiu is another. Just thinking about how her brother might date a girl like that in the future, and how she might have to call such a girl "sister-in-law," made Chen Xi feel a little uncomfortable. After all, in her opinion, with her brother's conditions, he could easily find a girl with even more perfect conditions. Dating a girl with psychological problems like this would definitely be a terrible thing. For a moment, she almost empathized with a sickly little sister with white hair and pigtails who had witnessed her brother being brutally abused by the big-breasted older sister next door when they were children.

With these thoughts in mind, Chen Xi took out her phone and started texting her best friend:

"【Shichimiya Satomo】, the target 【Shichimiya Satomo】 has already finished eating with my brother."

After sending this text message, the girl, who was completely unrelated to anime and unaware that the second season of "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions" had officially premiered in January of this year, tilted her head in confusion again:

So who is Shichimiya Satone?

P.S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

PS2: There will be an extra chapter tonight.

Chapter 131: Do you want to come stay at my house?

After having dinner at home, Chen Junqian planned to take Shen Nianqiu out. The main reason was that Shen Nianqiu had come to Guoning all alone, and if they didn't go to the street to buy something, they wouldn't even be able to find a change of clothes for the day. Fortunately, the snow outside had stopped.

However, just as he told his parents, he heard his younger sister behind him saying she wanted to come along too. Shen Nianqiu, of course, had no idea that she had already received the next step of the tracking mission, and agreed without hesitation. Given Chen Xi's casual visit, he knew that family dramas weren't just about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law; there were also conflicts between sisters-in-law. Not to mention, "The Temptation of Going Home" even depicted a romance between siblings who weren't related by blood...

Thinking of this, Shen Nianqiu suddenly frowned again, vaguely feeling that she had missed some important information. However, Chen Junqian's voice interrupted her thoughts again, so she had no choice but to suppress this strange feeling in her heart for the time being. After agreeing, she followed the other person out of the house.

Because today is still the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, most shops have not yet closed for the holidays, while most students and workers have already started their holidays. Therefore, the flow of people on the streets is quite large, especially for Guoning, a small county town with a relatively small urban area. The commercial streets are bustling with people, creating a lively scene as far as the eye can see.

While it might seem contrived for people in the world of anime to exclaim, "Is Japan really that small?", for the locals of Guoning, Guoning truly evokes such a sentiment. Chen Junqian was even mentally prepared to bump into any girl on any street corner, and things indeed unfolded in that direction.

However, unlike the classmate Youyou that Chen Junqian had initially expected to appear here, when he idly followed the shopping-enthusiastic duo Shen Nianqiu and Chen Xi into a clothing store, he looked up and his eyes met those of his childhood sweetheart who happened to be passing by outside.

"Ah, Qianqian—but why are you in a women's clothing store?"

Lin Mu skipped and hopped into the shop from outside, and naturally sat down next to him, asking, "What's wrong?" Then, without waiting for Chen Junqian's answer, she nodded enthusiastically and guessed:

"She must be accompanying Sister Shen to buy clothes. Wasn't she coming today?"

"You got it right! Where's Mumu?"

"When we were shopping, my parents were trying on clothes in the store across the street. I was sitting there bored when I noticed someone in the store across the street who looked really familiar. When I came over to take a look, it turned out to be Qianqian."

It didn't seem like a deliberately orchestrated encounter, but rather a simple coincidence that made people marvel at how Guo Ning could have such a small coincidence. So Chen Junqian went along with the other person's line of conversation:

"Did Mumu buy any new clothes?"

"No, actually I've already bought several sets of clothes for this year's Chinese New Year. Today I'm mainly buying them for my mom."

As the two were chatting and laughing, Shen Nianqiu, who had been changing clothes in the fitting room, came out after trying on a new outfit. Before she could even make a proper appearance in front of Chen Junqian, she saw him sitting there chatting with another girl. However, her heart, which had tightened slightly, quickly relaxed again because she saw that the person who came was Lin Mu.

Although she couldn't say that Lin Mu was completely harmless and on par with Chen Xi in her mind, she could only say that Lin Mu was much less of a threat than Xu Youwei and Zhu Wenyun. After all, she really didn't think her younger brother would have any romantic interest in a girl who looked more than two years younger than her. Their relationship was just that of childhood friends, perfectly healthy and close.

Hmm, she felt that the term "childhood sweetheart" carried a saccharine, romantic connotation, and that a more neutral description like "childhood friend" would be more appropriate.

Thinking this, Shen Nianqiu greeted the two of them with a normal expression. After all, they were friends who had known each other for a long time and would chat in the seven-person group on weekdays. There was no need for self-introduction when they met again. After a simple greeting, she stood in front of the dressing mirror again, trying to get Chen Junqian to evaluate how her outfit looked.

It can only be said that Mu Mu is more suited to winter outfits in front of her sister, which is indeed a high-EQ way of saving face. Just like Chen Junqian now, she can easily handle various styles and act as a male version of a clothes hanger. Shen Nianqiu, who is now at the golden age of romantic comedy heroines, exudes a charm that is in no way inferior to any character in any light novel or anime that Chen Junqian has read. She exudes a kind of beauty that is called numerical, which makes Lin Mu next to her a little envious.

After all, whether it was her height, which she had longed for for so long, or her secondary sexual characteristics, which she had been obsessed with since reading the descriptions in her biology textbook, the girl in front of her was undoubtedly more prominent. It almost made her rekindle her dream, which she had given up on for a while, that maybe in two years she could become like that too.

"This outfit suits you very well, it looks great on you."

As he spoke, Chen Junqian glanced at his younger sister, who had hidden in the bathroom and hadn't come out yet.

Theoretically speaking, with An Muxi and her duo all here, the achievements of a certain chaotic scene usually wouldn't stand out. However, they haven't been quiet tonight, so it seems that besides the three people in front of them, there's someone else watching them. Considering the sister's strange behavior, it feels like it's possible to pinpoint Gu Lingguo as the culprit.

...So sometimes Chen Junqian also dislikes those stage items that, when placed in a galgame, would obviously increase favorability and unlock at least one beautiful CG. Since he helped Gu Lingguo temporarily alleviate a large part of the family pressure at the beginning of this year, the other party has been able to shift her attention to him again. She hasn't shown up tonight, probably because she's observing him through her sister.

It seems I need to find something more productive for them to do, otherwise, if this continues, it feels like we'll end up repeating the situation from last summer when I took my innocent little sister out to cause trouble.

If only everyone could be as carefree as Mu Mu in front of me—

The thought had barely crossed Chen Junqian's mind when he immediately understood once again why the character of "natural" in anime and manga is always associated with the attribute of being cunning and scheming, because Lin Mu immediately spoke up:

"Sister Shen, are you going to stay in a hotel now? Actually, I have spare rooms at home that people can stay in, because Qianqian sometimes stays at my house before."

P.S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

Chapter 132: My Views on Love (Part 2)

However, Lin Mu's sudden remark wasn't entirely unfounded. Firstly, she genuinely has the kind of personality that's very considerate of her friends. Secondly, during the Spring Festival, her family of three was going back to their hometown, leaving their city apartment vacant, so it was only natural for her to bring it up.

"I'm going back to my hometown with my parents tomorrow, and there's no one there."

However, Shen Nianqiu herself was clearly not that thick-skinned, and immediately shook her head, politely declining Lin Mu's suggestion:

"No need to trouble yourself. It's more convenient for me to stay in the hotel by myself. Besides, I'll be staying in Guoning for at least a week this time, so I'll pass."

"OK then."

Seeing that Shen Nianqiu was indeed not going to agree, Lin Mu had no choice but to regretfully withdraw her suggestion. Her house was indeed quite large. Back when her friend Youyou was adding bricks and tiles to her new house and planning to design some exclusive rooms, she had already reserved a special guest room for her childhood sweetheart. And it wasn't just the house in the city that was like this; even the small villa in her hometown was the same. Chen Junqian had stayed there during the Spring Festival last year.

"That's right, that's right."

But soon, Lin Mu's slightly disappointed mood was overshadowed by another thing she suddenly remembered, and she immediately turned to Chen Junqian with a smile and said:

"I will come down from the mountain on the first day of the Lunar New Year this year, just like when Qianqian came to my house last year. This year it's my turn to go to Qianqian's house for the Lunar New Year."

What was clearly just a cycle that started last year and hadn't even finished yet, now seemed to have become some kind of traditional custom condensed by years and time in Lin Mu's mouth, as if the other party had really taken seriously the casual remark made at the dinner table that day, "I'll go to your house for a year, and you'll go to my house for a year." Chen Junqian could only nod in agreement, almost using the ADHD combo of a male protagonist in an online novel: a jolt of the heart, a twitch of the lips, a bitter smile, rubbing his nose, and shrugging his shoulders.

"Okay, just message me when you come, and I'll pick you up beforehand."

"Okay, I'll go now, otherwise my mom will call again and ask me where I've gone again."

Watching Mu Mu jog back home, Chen Junqian was reminded of Shen Nianqiu's matter by her last words, and casually asked her:

"Speaking of which, hasn't my sister received the call from home yet?"

"No... but it's a good thing, I don't want to ruin my mood."

Turning her gaze away from the girl who was walking away, Shen Nianqiu looked at herself in the dressing mirror with a normal expression. She had actually chosen very affordable brands, but just as some people can make the most unattractive school uniforms look like the white moonlight in other people's memories, she now possessed the same charm, which made the sales assistant next to her sincerely praise her.

Chen Junqian could participate in the discussion and comments on the outer coat, pants, and shoes, but it was really inconvenient for him to wear the inner underwear. So he grabbed his sister, who was playing the bathroom escape trick, and asked her to accompany Shen Nianqiu into the underwear store in his place. He planned to go to the milk tea shops that had started to spring up like mushrooms in the past two years to buy some drinks for the three of them.

As Chen Junqian stood in front of a milk tea shop that hadn't yet become flashy and whose names were still quite simple, reminiscing about the last time he drank milk tea with his sister, his phone in his pocket suddenly dinged. It was a message from Shen Nianqiu. Before Chen Junqian could even read it, another achievement popped up in his mind—he had unlocked one.

All I can say is that when it comes to efficiency, my sister has certainly maintained the momentum she had during the World Expo, where she achieved almost one achievement per day. The two of them had only just met today and she had already unlocked two.

Upon closer inspection, Chen Junqian's expression became slightly strange again:

Please look at me carefully.

When she first sends you a 'casual' snapshot of her life—it might be her tuft of hair sticking up in the morning, the curry for dinner, or a silhouette by the window—each one is filled with her unique clumsy cuteness and genuine sincerity that she only lets her guard down around you. Each one is an admission ticket to invite you into her little world.

For those female protagonists who are more cunning, they are equally adept at using such subtle methods to gradually imprint their charm firmly in the mind of their beloved. Whether it's a neckline or bra strap slipping down unintentionally, the faint marks left by stockings against skin, or even more direct seduction, remember, those few seconds of withdrawal are the chance they give you to preserve your allure.

[Condition for achievement: Receive a private photo of your daily life from any heroine who is suited for romantic comedies.]

...It feels like all the achievements unlocked by the older sister are in this direction. Even the fan service achievement that was initially triggered by Zhu Wenyun is achieved the most by Shen Nianqiu. Does this mean that the older sister type really has a unique advantage in this regard?

However, the photos Shen Nianqiu sent did not retract after a few seconds as described in the system achievement description. Instead, they remained there. Chen Junqian glanced at them briefly and saw that they were all photos of pajamas and underwear.

Actually, judging from the shooting technique alone, none of the photos of Shen Nianqiu, who was in a cramped dressing room without any props like selfie sticks or mirrors, showed her in a full-body shot. Judging from the direction of the camera, she was probably posing with the camera slightly raised in front of her. Therefore, in most of the photos, the most eye-catching and prominent part was her upper body. Her delicate collarbone and the curve of her chest formed a perfect semi-circle, which successfully triggered Chen Junqian's fanservice once again.

Chen Junqian had received photos of his life from girls over the past few years. Mu Mu, for example, would send him photos of almost every place she went. But this was the first time he had received such a close-up, intimate photo. Standing on a crowded street, Chen Junqian glanced at it casually and, following the advice of countless predecessors, replied with a formulaic "Very suitable."

What else can I say? Can you please be understanding of him, who is not only playing the male lead in a romantic comedy for the first time, but also encountering this situation for the first time in both his past and present lives?

After buying three cups of milk tea at the milk tea shop, Shen Nianqiu seemed to have settled things as well. The main reason was that buying underwear and pajamas was different from buying clothes. Before, every time she changed her outfit, she could show off in front of Chen Junqian and get positive feedback, so she naturally wanted to continue this cycle. However, with the former, she had to overcome her shyness to post photos and could only get a somewhat dry text reply from him, so she naturally wanted to finish quickly.

However, the younger brother seemed a little shy, which was evident from his expression.

Thinking this, Shen Nianqiu accepted the milk tea Chen Junqian offered, and thoughtfully brought up the scene of the first time the two of them drank milk tea at the Shanghai World Expo. Just as she was about to lean in and whisper something in his ear, Chen Xi caught her red-handed, forcefully blocking them from each other, and reached out to take the milk tea that she and Chen Junqian were holding, which they had already taken two sips of:

"I don't like this flavor, bro, give me yours."

"...I specially bought you your favorite pudding milk tea, okay? Besides, I've already drunk this cup myself."

"Can't you suddenly like someone again? Girls' tastes change too. I don't mind you, but you're complaining about me."

Chen Xi quickly switched the milk tea in her hand with the one in Chen Junqian's hand, physically interrupting Shen Nianqiu's spellcasting rhythm. Then, she checked the time on her phone.

"Now that we've finished buying the clothes, it's getting late, so I think everyone can go home and rest early. Even on holiday, we can't stay up too late, otherwise it will take me a long time to wake you up tomorrow morning."

"And I just asked Zhu Wenjun, and she said that Sister Shen is going to her place tomorrow to talk to her about some writing matters, right? So Sister Shen should also go back to the hotel to rest early, um, that's it."

Clearly, throwing Zhu Wenyun out was also Gu Lingguo's idea for Chen Xi. As someone who had observed Chen Junqian's interpersonal relationships for a long time before officially contacting him, even if she didn't know anything about the relationship between Shen Nianqiu and Zhu Wenyun, Gu Lingguo could still clearly tell that the two had similar personalities. So, by talking to Zhu Wenyun about Shen Nianqiu's actions, she obtained the relevant information and could use it as an excuse at this time.

"Hmm...it is getting late. I'm quite tired today, so I'll head back to the hotel to rest."

With a plausible excuse and the speaker being her younger sister, just as Gu Lingguo, who was remotely controlling her, had predicted, Shen Nianqiu indeed went down this path. After all, she had bought the clothes and gone shopping, and it seemed that there were no other activities afterward.

"Okay, then Nianqiu, you should go back to the hotel and rest. I already gave you the room key. Tomorrow morning, you can just ask Yun." But speaking of which, does Nianqiu remember where her house is?

"I can't quite remember. My younger brother will come with me and drop me off there."

After making these arrangements for tomorrow, Chen Junqian hailed a taxi to send Shen Nianqiu away before leisurely preparing to go home with his sister.

Chen Xi was about to give Gu Linguo another report that "Shichimiya Satoshi has left, Shichimiya Satoshi has left," but as soon as she took out her phone and opened the chat window, Chen Junqian next to her flicked her forehead: