My older sister is a villainous rich girl

He followed Chris, taking in the furnishings of the room.

To be frank, he didn't think the owner of this place had even the slightest bit of artistic talent.

To think you can make a living through art, relying solely on this level of aesthetic sense, isn't that a bit too much confidence?

The old servant led the group to a table in the empty living room.

Because the indoor lighting was not very good, he even lit several candles and placed them on the table.

"Please wait a moment, esteemed guest... I will go to the backyard to inform my master."

After leaving those words, he slowly retreated into the dark corner.

"...This place might be very promising for making a horror-themed amusement park." Chris touched her arm and couldn't help but make a comment.

It was probably too deserted; the temperature inside was much lower than outside.

Chapter 194 I won't sell it for money, I'll give it away for free!

“It’s alright, we can demolish all the dilapidated houses nearby and rebuild them.” Stephanie didn’t think it was a big problem.

The gold-rimmed glasses on her nose gleamed eerily in the candlelight.

“This place is in terrible condition, and we’ll have to pay extra for renovations, so the transfer fee we were expecting has to be lowered.” Her voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

In a moment of distraction, Wayne seemed to see streams of complex data flashing across her glasses, which reflected the candlelight.

...Well done, Miss Stephanie.

He turned his head and reached out to touch Chris's arm.

Before she could show a reproachful look and try to pull away, Wayne asked with concern, "Are you cold? You look a little chilly."

His palms were still warm; touching Chris felt like touching a cool, watery bag—very comfortable.

Chris pursed her lips, pulled his hand over, and pressed his arm against her own.

Wayne laughed when he saw Chris's seemingly disgusted expression and her very honest actions.

Seeing him looking at her with "doting" eyes out of the corner of her eye, Chris turned her head away in embarrassment, not wanting to see him.

The two of them were joking around the table, while Karen walked to the other side of the living room and touched the few ornaments that were there.

Karen frowned as she glanced at the thick layer of dust left on her fingertips.

"This place hasn't been properly cleaned in a long time."

“Not surprising, after all, it seems the family is having financial difficulties.” Stephanie seemed to have finally settled on a satisfactory price, her tone as if she had won the battle.

Well... Chris has already delegated all bargaining authority to Stephanie.

Time passed slowly, and after a long wait, the old servant finally returned.

Although the people present were not furious, they were somewhat dissatisfied with this lazy way of treating guests.

Wayne's gaze lingered on the face of the person who strolled in behind the old servant.

He was a man with a small mustache, two heads taller than the hunched old servant, not short but rather thin.

Judging from the unnaturally upturned shape of his mustache, it must have been carefully groomed. His hair was also all tied back in a low ponytail.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting."

He kept saying sorry, but there was absolutely no remorse on his face.

Based on the basic information provided by the city guards, this person should be the viscount who came to the capital from another province.

Modric.

He walked calmly to the wooden table in the empty living room, sat down, yawned, and stretched very long, as if he had just woken up.

The four people sitting in a row opposite him all stared at the man in silence.

For a moment, the scene froze.

"Gentlemen," Modric said in surprise, "weren't you here to discuss business?"

Wayne suddenly felt an urge to punch him hard in the face.

As the representative for this mission, Stephanie took over the topic without batting an eye.

"Yes, we have heard that you want to sell this piece of land. We are very sincere and have made a special trip today to visit you."

After a brief, polite opening, Stephanie abruptly changed the subject.

"However! It seems that you have no intention of reaching a deal, and the property here is not roughly the same as the description in the city guard's records."

She said sharply, "Can I interpret this as you intentionally deceiving and trying to offend the dignity of the Wincher family?"

They immediately used their family's power to intimidate people, adopting an extremely tough attitude.

However, Modric merely scratched his ear casually, as if he hadn't heard a word of what was being said.

"Sell! Of course we'll sell!"

A meaningful smile appeared on his face. "However... it will only sell at a reasonable price."

Stephanie looked displeased. "So, what's a suitable price range for you?"

Although this person is detestable, once we buy this land, he can pack his bags and go wherever he wants.

However, he gave an unexpected answer—

"I'm not selling it for money."

Modric braced himself on the edge of the table, leaned forward slightly, and said seriously, "I'll give it to you for free!"

……

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

Another awkward silence.

Wayne glanced at the dimly lit, empty hall and the shabby ornaments in the corner covered in a thick layer of dust, then stood up.

"Let's go somewhere else. Actually, I thought the last place was pretty good. It was a bit small, but it was right next to the market and the transportation was very convenient."

The things that are free are often the most expensive.

Judging from this, it's clearly a huge pitfall, and he's not going to step into it.

Because she had been holding his hand, Chris stood up with him as well.

She was indifferent, since she wasn't particularly satisfied with this place anyway.

"and many more!"

Seeing that the cooked duck was about to fly away, Modric immediately nimbly stepped across and spread his arms to block Wayne and Chris's path.

His eyes were bright now, a far cry from his drowsy state just moments before.

One can't help but wonder if his performance just now was just an act.

"Are you really not going to consider it?"

Realizing that Wayne was currently in control, he focused his attention on the black-haired, black-eyed boy.

In an instant, the corresponding information appeared in my mind.

The Winchester family's magical genius will, barring any unforeseen circumstances, be the heir to the dukedom.

“I’m very cheap,” he said, staring at Wayne.

If such a big fish gets away, there may not be another chance to encounter it again!

Modric felt that at this moment—

He had seized fate by the throat.

Wayne felt a chill run down his spine under his overly intense gaze.

Could it be that I've run into some weirdo again?

So he solemnly declared, "I never take advantage of others!"

Enduring the pain of Chris gripping his arm, Wayne didn't even glance at Modric, and led Chris around the obstacle to leave.

"Why?!" Modric shouted from behind Wayne, seemingly in disbelief. "Why not? It's free!"

It wasn't until I stepped out of the lobby and back outside that I realized it had started to drizzle.

The sky was still bright, and the fine, continuous raindrops refracted a dazzling array of colors under the sunlight.

"I'll give it to you for free!"

Modric's mournful roar could still be heard from behind the door.

The drawn-out note echoed several times in the empty room, giving his lament a hazy resonance.

Beside her, Chris hummed twice, her meaning ambiguous.

It doesn't seem very pleasant.

...A girl's personality is just as unpredictable as the weather.

Looking at her face, Wayne smiled, leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Miss Chris, would you like to get soaked in the rain with me?"

Chapter 195 A Genius Painter Whose Pearls Are Covered in Dust?

Some people can feel the rain, while others just get wet.

Chris stretched out her hand, feeling the tingling sensation of the fine raindrops hitting her palm.

She likes rainy days.

I like the feeling of isolation that comes from not having to do anything and just staying in my room listening to the rain outside.

I enjoy the leisurely feeling of holding an umbrella on a rainy day, feeling the raindrops hitting the surface of the umbrella and then sliding off the edge.

I also love the damp city under the night sky, where neon lights reflect an illusory glow everywhere.

Because at times like these, even when you're alone, you can feel a lonely kind of happiness.

I don't want to have any contact with anyone.

In a way, even I think I'm a difficult person to deal with...

but.

That version of myself seems to have gradually faded away since some point in time.

Now, as long as you continue to be "Chris," you can enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by all kinds of love forever.

Unlike the loneliness I was used to, this was a completely unfamiliar experience.

But... it's not bad.

Looking at the person standing next to her, Chris had a very subtle feeling.

Even without a romantic pursuit like in the original anime, he still fell in love with himself.

Does that mean, to some extent, that part of what he likes is... the real "me"?

"Miss Chris, would you be willing to stand in the rain with me?" Wayne asked with a light laugh as he gazed at her face.

Chris was slightly taken aback.

His teasing expression suddenly reminded her of when Wayne asked her what exactly a gentle and kind person was.

At that time, I told him:

It means helping each other hold an umbrella when it rains, and getting wet together if there's no umbrella.

Chris glanced at him and said, "Are you an idiot? What lady would be foolish enough to run out into the rain?"

Wayne looked slightly embarrassed upon hearing Chris's answer.

He was just saying it offhand.

"There are umbrellas in the carriage, please wait a moment, Miss." Fortunately, Karen relieved Wayne's predicament.

The coachman, who had been waiting outside, turned the carriage around and stopped it at the bottom of the steps at the entrance when he saw the group come out.

However, they were unable to board the carriage successfully.