My Gloomy Stepsister Has Her Eyes on Me - Chapter 12

Zhen Zhu went upstairs and happened to see Sang Xiaohua coming out. When Sang Xiaohua called out “Eldest Miss,” Zhen Zhu ignored her, sidestepping her to continue upstairs and return to her room.

“Something’s wrong.”

“Why am I so annoyed?”

Only after closing the door did Zhen Zhu realize her emotions were off.

“I should be happy,” she muttered, gritting her teeth.

Entering the music room through a side door, Zhen Zhu forced herself to calm down and began practicing the piano.

The melodious rhythm gradually shifted, transforming into a torrential downpour, then a volcanic eruption…

She couldn’t play anymore.

“System,” Zhen Zhu said, her pale fingers flipping to the last page of the sheet music, “is there something wrong with the favorability value?”

The floating number on her pink memory smartwatch remained at 45%.

“No, Host,” the System’s childlike voice replied, puzzled. “Can’t you see the number on the watch? And if it changed, I’d tell you!”

“Oh,” Zhen Zhu replied, switching to a new sheet music book. Her fingers danced lightly across the keys, transforming the cheerful melody into a tempestuous storm.

“But today is the day the Main Lead meets the Male Lead. Why hasn’t the Happiness Value changed in so long? Is something wrong?”

Zhen Zhu finished playing another original composition.

“I don’t know! Maybe it’ll suddenly bibiu skyrocket in a bit!” The System’s voice was brimming with excitement and anticipation.

“It might not skyrocket,” Zhen Zhu said, closing the sheet music book. “The Male Lead might not say anything that makes the Main Lead particularly happy.”

“But don’t some books have those angsty, deeply romantic arcs? The Happiness Value can’t possibly increase when the Main Lead is being tormented, right?”

“But even during those arcs, the Main Lead is generally happy just being with the Male Lead, so the value should still increase. And when they finally get their happy ending, the Happiness Value will skyrocket, right?” The System argued earnestly, then suddenly grew suspicious. “Hey, Host, you’ve never talked to me about these things before. Why today?”

“Just curious,” Zhen Zhu quickly interrupted, cutting off any further questions. “Never mind. I’m going to get something to eat.”

Descending the stairs, Zhen Zhu didn’t see Zhen Min’er. She turned to Sang Xiaohua, who was eating at the dining table. “Where’s Min’er? Where did she go?”

Sang Xiaohua’s bowl clinked softly against the table as she looked up, her voice trembling slightly, her expression ingratiating. “Min’er went out with Young Master J…”

Out? Oh, so he took Zhen Min’er out to play, did he?

Hmph, I shouldn’t have bothered asking.

Setting down her chopsticks, Zhen Zhu saw Aunt Wang emerge from the kitchen and told her to clear the table before heading straight upstairs.

“Zhu’er, I’ll make sure Min’er behaves. Eldest Miss, please don’t be too angry…”

Zhen Zhu heard her stepmother’s call from below as she reached for her bedroom door. She snorted coldly, pressed the handle, and closed the door without bothering to reply. What business is it of mine? If Zhen Min’er wants to go out, let her.

What does it have to do with me?

After lunch, Zhen Zhu composed a new qin score, practiced playing it, reviewed her memories, and noted down key details.

She went downstairs for dinner.

The three at the table were her father, her stepmother, and herself.

Zhen Min’er was still absent.

Zhen Zhu pursed her lips, finished her meal, and returned to her room.

“The Happiness Value hasn’t changed at all? It’s been a whole day!” Zhen Zhu lay in bed after her bath, the pink wristwatch still showing the same unchanged value.

“Perhaps there’s a data delay?” the System speculated.

“Oh.”

Zhen Zhu sat up in bed. The cherry blossom lamp slowly rotated, its movement making her feel restless. With a snap, she turned it off.

In the darkness, the gentle night breeze outside whispered with an eerie, ethereal sound, like the muffled sobs of a trapped girl in a dark alleyway.

“No, aren’t you just data?” Zhen Zhu demanded. “Why can’t you find out what’s happening?”

“And a girl staying out this late? The Main Lead is certainly bold!”

“What would outsiders think if a Zhen Family daughter isn’t home by now?!”

Completely unable to sleep, Zhen Zhu mentally grilled the System: “You’re utterly useless!”

“Why hasn’t Zhen Min’er returned yet? Is this the kind of behavior expected of a Main Lead?!”

“…Host, why are you attacking the entire System?” the System whined, sounding aggrieved. “Why are you so concerned? If the Main Lead and Male Lead truly get together, the Happiness Value will increase, and you’ll be freed sooner! You should be happy, right?”

“I don’t care!” Zhen Zhu snapped, her voice bristling with irritation. “I’m just annoyed that the Happiness Value hasn’t budged. What’s the deal with that?”

“And Zhen Min’er hasn’t been back for ages. Don’t Main Leads usually encounter all sorts of bizarre and dangerous situations when they go out? What if something happened to her?”

“Aren’t you worried at all?”

“…In the novel’s plot, the Main Lead’s early hardships are all caused by the Host. As long as you don’t interfere, nothing bad will happen to her,” the System whined in its childlike voice, sounding genuinely aggrieved. “The Main Lead always manages to escape danger! Host, you don’t need to worry!”

“Who’s worried?!” Zhen Zhu roared, her mind a chaotic mess. “I just can’t accept that my sister, Zhen Zhu’s sister, is out so late with a man! What if she’s in danger?!”

“…Host, the Main Lead is your stepsister…”

“But to the world, she’s still my sister!”

“…Host… the man she’s with is the Male Lead…”

“Isn’t the Male Lead still a man?!”

“Aren’t there enough forced and possessive scenarios in novels already?!”

“Yes, it’s possible the Happiness Value might increase, but so far it hasn’t. If the Male Lead does something that lowers the Happiness Value, can you guarantee it will ever recover?”

The System fell silent.

“See! I’m right, aren’t I?”

“It seems so…”

“I’m going to find Zhen Min’er right now.” Zhen Zhu sat up, grabbed a white fishtail dress, and slipped it on before opening the door.

First, she texted the driver.

Then, she called Jining Lan.

No answer.

Zhen Zhu’s fingers rapidly tapped the redial button, her fox-like eyes cold and emotionless. The moonlight streaming through the glass door split her refined jawline and slender figure into two stark halves.

Crack! The sound of a porcelain bowl shattering on the floor.

Zhen Zhu frowned and glanced toward the noise. Aunt Wang was frantically cleaning up the living room, her hands trembling as she wiped the ornaments, as if afraid of disturbing Zhen Zhu.

“I’m so sorry, Eldest Miss…”

Zhen Zhu didn’t bother to respond. It was already 11 PM, and she had just checked Zhen Min’er’s room—empty and pitch-black.

And that damned Jining Lan’s phone was unreachable.

Where had he taken Zhen Min’er?

“Zhen Min’er, you should be locked up!” Zhen Zhu fumed, stamping her foot in frustration. “Still not back at this hour!”

Clatter—crash!

Another loud noise.

What was wrong with Aunt Wang today? Why was she dropping things again?

Already in a foul mood, Zhen Zhu whirled around to glare at Aunt Wang, who was clutching a porcelain vase before dropping it with a thud, shattering it into pieces this time. “Aunt Wang, what’s going on?”

“I’m so sorry, Eldest Miss! I’ll clean it up right away. Please don’t fire me!”

“Wait, Zhen…” Zhen Zhu frowned, her eyes icy. When had the Zhen Family ever threatened to fire her?

“I haven’t let Miss Min’er out. I only brought her a little food. Please don’t be angry…” Aunt Wang blurted out, confessing hastily. The madam’s words from earlier still rang in her ears, and the memory of Mama L, who had been fired a year ago and still hadn’t found work, filled her with dread.

“Please forgive me this time. I won’t… I won’t let Miss Min’er out again…”

“Hold it right there,” Zhen Zhu interrupted coldly. Her long skirt swished through the chilly air as she strode toward Aunt Wang, her lips devoid of warmth. “You said you locked Zhen Min’er where?”

Ah, locked up again.

Zhen Min’er curled into a ball, pressing herself against the wall. Her long, silky hair completely obscured her. Elder Sister has locked me up again.

Why? Was it because I spoke to Jining Lan?

Does Elder Sister still care about Jining Lan?

Zhen Min’er bit her lip hard, drawing bl00d from her pale, chilled lips. “Elder Sister…”

She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around her knees, and covered her ears, trying to block out the sound of running water nearby.

Zhen Min’er hated the dark bathroom at night.

But it’s okay. She bit her lip harder, thinking, This is Elder Sister punishing me…

This is Elder Sister showing she cares about me.

And Elder Sister is so kind-hearted. If I stay here quietly for a day, she’ll be even kinder to me tomorrow.

My kind-hearted Elder Sister, I love her so much.

Zhen Min’er hugged herself tighter, feeling a chill.

But Elder Sister spent half the day with me today!

Her stomach rumbled, and the faint aroma of food wafted from the bathroom door. But Zhen Min’er didn’t want to eat. Elder Sister’s closeness today is my spiritual nourishment.

I’m so full.

So full…

So cold…

Faintly, she heard a coarse, greedy voice in her ears, and she thought she could smell that lingering stench of alcohol.

Zhen Min’er trembled as she stood up, turned on the faucet, and lowered her head into the basin filled with water.

Her throat tightened, cutting off her air.

But I can’t smell the alcohol anymore, and I can’t hear that disgusting man’s voice anymore.

Amidst the splashing of water, Zhen Min’er faintly heard the crisp click of heels striking the floor.

It sounds like Elder Sister’s footsteps…

Elder Sister is so kind, even appearing in my hallucinations—

Click.

The locked door suddenly swung open. Zhen Min’er, disoriented, lifted her head from the basin, cold water dripping from her chin onto the floor.

Tap.

Click.

High heels came to a stop.

Bathed in moonlight, she stood there. Despite wearing an elegant, gentle white dress, her fox-like eyes narrowed into a sharp, piercing gaze. Her dark brown, wavy hair floated in the air, swirling with the urgency of her hurried steps.

She completely blocked the small bathroom doorway, leaving only a sliver of moonlight visible above her head. The faint silver glow illuminated her hair, creating an ethereal, dreamlike effect.

Like a jellyfish extending its tentacles, her hair enveloped the drenched girl completely.

Zhen Min’er’s heart clenched, trapped by these tendrils, with no escape.

“Zhen Min’er, why didn’t you ask me for help?! Aunt Wang said she was going to lock you up, and you just obediently let yourself be locked in here?!”

Zhen Zhu had never imagined that the “being locked up” mentioned in the comment would happen today!

Even more surprising, without her intervention, Zhen Min’er—the easily manipulated pushover—had meekly allowed herself to be locked in the bathroom, without a single cry or protest!

“Are you stupid?”

“Do you even have a brain?!”