My older sister is a villainous rich girl

"With newspapers, information spreads much faster. Everyone can know what's happening in faraway places just by sitting at home."

Wayne chimed in, "Perhaps a long, long time from now, information carriers will emerge that use sound and images, rather than paper, as a medium."

"Uh-huh?"

Chris was startled, her expression suddenly turning somewhat flustered. "Wayne, why do you say that?"

Seeing her looking as frightened and uneasy as a startled little rabbit, Wayne smiled.

"Why such a big reaction? I was just saying it casually. It's possible that Professor Conley will invent a magic-powered remote communication device next week, so that even if we are separated in the future, we won't have to rely on cumbersome letter exchanges."

Chris visibly relaxed upon hearing that his statement still aligned with contemporary perceptions.

"Oh, I see... But Professor Conley couldn't have invented a remote communication device, could he? It's just too unscientific." The last part sounded more like her own rambling.

“Magic can do anything, you know,” Wayne joked.

Chris pouted, "So what if you can do magic?"

"—No, what did you mean when you said we'd be separated from each other from now on?" Chris pointedly challenged her, her tone becoming dangerous.

"There are always times when it's necessary to travel far away. Even Father occasionally has to go on business trips to inspect the fiefdoms."

The Wincher family's fiefdom is located near the kingdom's border. It is quite vast and relatively rich in resources, but it is far from the capital. In addition to relying on trusted retainers to remotely oversee it, the head of the family also needs to personally inspect it from time to time.

With such compelling reasons, Chris couldn't refute them, so she could only sullenly slump back onto the table, staring at Wayne with resentful eyes.

Wayne tactfully added, "Of course, if possible, I would certainly ask Miss Chris to travel with me. Although the long journey may not suit Miss Chris's appearance, the longing of separation is far more detrimental."

Hearing his deliberately sentimental tone, Chris was both angry and annoyed. "Who would become haggard from missing someone just because of a separation?"

"Of course it's me," Wayne admitted without batting an eye.

Chapter 620 Isn't that just a matter of course?

Seeing his seemingly proud attitude instead of being ashamed, Chris simply looked back at him calmly.

"What's wrong?" Wayne was a little unaccustomed to his teasing, which used to always work, suddenly not having any effect.

Chris didn't answer, but let out a soft, wistful sigh.

"Why are you sighing?" Wayne chuckled.

"I always feel like you're someone who only appears in my dreams. If you're too perfect, it feels unreal..."

As she was talking, she seemed to drift off into thought.

Wayne was taken aback.

He put down his pen, walked around the long table to Chris's side, and then forced himself to squeeze into the same chair with her.

"What are you doing!" Chris was jolted by his sudden movement and instinctively tried to push him back.

Wayne grabbed her hand that was pushing him and pressed her palm against his face.

"Can you touch it now?" he asked.

"what?"

"Can you now confirm that the person standing before you is truly real?"

He lowered his head and held her hand, carefully tracing the outline of his own face.

Eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips...

When Chris finally realized what was happening, she felt a sudden jolt as if she had been burned, and abruptly withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back.

"I... I was just expressing myself poetically." Even Chris, who considered herself much more mature than the other person, felt her heart pounding like a deer at that moment.

'Damn it, this guy's getting better and better.'

Despite her composure as a transmigrator with everything under control, she gradually realized that some things were becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

Seeing her huddled awkwardly in a corner of the chair, Wayne simply picked her up and sat her on his lap.

Suddenly losing her balance, Chris had to bring her hands, which she had been holding behind her back for fear of being grabbed, back to her front and try to support herself on his shoulders.

"Hey! You... don't go too far." Chris's voice trembled with panic.

Wayne held her tightly.

What could be more heartwarming than an embrace where you feel each other's warmth?

"I'm right here."

He buried his face in the crook of her neck and murmured, "Right here beside you."

Chris's body, which had been tense from the start, slowly relaxed under his reassuring touch.

After a while, she slid her hands, which were supporting Wayne's shoulders, back and gently hugged his head.

"I... need you." It seemed like she had to put a lot of effort into saying those words.

Wayne found it difficult to describe the fleeting emotion that crossed his mind when he heard those words.

Disappointment? Or perhaps relief?

“But the thought of needing someone scares me.” The two embraced tightly, making it impossible for Wayne to see her expression; he could only hear her strained voice.

"Because a need is merely a one-sided expectation, a demand made by the self to others because of its desire to have its needs met."

She took a deep breath.

"And that is immoral."

For a moment, Wayne couldn't understand what was going on in her little head. Did this girl study philosophy... no, literature in her past life?

"Immoral?" Wayne asked uncertainly.

“Hmm.” Chris nodded. The atmosphere between them wasn’t as romantic as she had imagined; it was more like they were answering some metaphysical question. “I once read a sentence in a book.”

"Demanding that others love you is the greatest arrogance."

【arrogant】.

Wayne carefully pondered the word several times.

So... when you told me "I need you," did you actually mean "Please love me"?

Just moments ago, Wayne was slightly annoyed that he couldn't see her face, but now he felt only relief.

Otherwise, Chris would have noticed the subtle change in the corner of her mouth right now.

He closed his eyes. "If wanting someone you like to love you is immoral, then wouldn't we be a perfect match even in our most immoral ways?"

“I’m not joking with you,” Chris emphasized seriously.

“I’m not joking either,” Wayne replied just as seriously.

“I’m glad, Chris.” His deep voice sounded like a sigh.

"Whether it's immoral or arrogant, however you define it, I fell in love with you first, and I also very much hope that you can love me back."

He pressed his ear directly to Chris's, feeling the vibrations in his chest trying to convey the voice hidden deep within his heart.

The one speaking doesn't seem to be "Wien," but rather a lonely soul from a very distant world.

The man's face was so unfamiliar that even Wayne could hardly remember what he looked like.

Does that failed life, which has been completely overshadowed by the "Wayne script" that perfectly matches his own imagination, really still exist? Did it ever really exist?

For an adult growing up in modern society, believing in love seems naive, while not believing in it seems realistic. Therefore, for those things that are often seen in literature but never encountered in real life, Wayne wants to believe, yet dares not.

It's strange, isn't it? Things that seem so far away from him in the real world can be so real and vivid in this world that is essentially just a fiction, making him believe it without a doubt.

But Chris showed no joy upon hearing his words.

"Don't you think I'm being unreasonable by saying that?" she asked.

“No. Even if you only love me because you need me, that’s okay.” Through the thin layer of clothing, Wayne gently stroked her back.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that the kind of intimate relationship he's always been accustomed to is the kind of love supported by such reasons.

If there truly were love without a reason in the world, it would leave Wayne unable to understand and at a loss.

We love because we need it.

This makes sense.

Chris shifted uncomfortably. "That's not right. How could I not be angry after hearing something like that?"

Why should I be angry?

Wayne was confused; wasn't this the answer she wanted to hear?

Wayne wasn't angry, but Chris strangely became angry. She angrily turned Wayne's face back to meet her gaze.

Then Wayne saw her pale face and her trembling eyes.

“To love you simply because I need you… isn’t that tantamount to denying your uniqueness?” She seemed to be trying to confirm something in Wayne’s eyes. “If I could fall in love with someone just because they can fulfill my needs—”

Doesn't that mean I could love someone else even if it wasn't you?

Wayne was stunned.

He had never doubted this question.

Isn't that something that should be taken for granted?

Chapter 621 Retribution for a Time Traveler?

A corner of the main hall of Cheonggye Academy.

The girl, dressed in a simple yet elegant white dress, sat in the audience, resting her chin on her hand, casually watching the backstage staff bustling about on stage.

At this point, Chris found herself with some free time.

Once you have free time, many things that you had previously ignored intentionally or unintentionally will resurface in your mind.

Did my negotiations with Wayne break down yesterday?

Actually, no. Just like every time a conflict arose before, Wayne was always the first to notice the unusual atmosphere between the two of them, and then skillfully coaxed himself back to peace.

But Chris knew very well that she wasn't happy after saying goodnight to him.

The torment of tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep, constantly reminded her that she could no longer accept this so comfortably.

She clearly didn't really want to tell him that he wasn't important to her or that he could be replaced by someone else... but even with such an outrageous statement, he didn't seem to see anything wrong with it at all, as if he would accept anything no matter how outrageous it was.

Is there really nothing wrong with this?

Could this be the retribution I deserve for unknowingly engaging in "raising play" with a boy whose mind was not yet fully developed, taking advantage of my time travel?

Just as Chris was caught in a deep self-doubt, she suddenly heard a slight commotion nearby.

Another girl, whose beauty was in no way inferior to hers, casually came to her side and sat down next to her as if no one else was there.

Chris frowned.

She didn't think this guy's sudden appearance could bring anything good.

Seemingly realizing that Chris was staring at him, Golly greeted her softly without turning his head: "Good day, Miss Chris."

Chris first subtly tugged at the corners of her mouth, then gave a perfunctory smile.

"Miss Ge Li, it seems you have a lot of free time today too."

To be honest, Chris wasn't really interested in dealing with her.

The Edgeworth and Winchester families have always been at odds, and Goly, as the daughter of the Edgeworth family, embodies her family's stance to the fullest extent. It seems that ever since their first meeting as children, she has been finding all sorts of excuses to compete with her.

Although Gore was no match for her if she took it seriously, Chris found such childish competition utterly uninteresting. Even if she could beat her, it would feel like bullying a little girl, an unfair victory.

Ge Li had no idea what impolite things Chris was thinking while she was looking him up and down; she simply raised her chin a little higher, showing off her long, fair neck.

She had clearly put a lot of thought into her attire today. Her shoulders were smooth, her collarbones were defined, and a shimmering silver necklace adorned with a sparkling ruby. Her dress was deep black, seemingly studded with stars. However, neither the jewel on her chest nor the expensive dress could overshadow her own radiant beauty.

Her pride remains undiminished even without any embellishment.

Most importantly, this pride that refuses to be second to anyone must be fully displayed in front of his nemesis, Chris.

'Excellent, a perfect entrance just as planned. It seems Chris was indeed intimidated by my aura.'

Next, we will make further contact.