"Oh gosh, I concede! Okay? Please... please show me some mercy, sister!"
"It's just a joke. A joke, okay?! I'm a straight woman, I swear! I'm sorry, alright?! I'm so sorry, waah!"
Tang Ning howled, clutching her forehead where the pillows had landed while nervously shielding herself against the next bombardment.
Tang Ying's arm was still in mid-air, frozen in the act of flinging the pillows and hitting the other squarely in the face. But now filled with a cold sensation coming from that peculiar lamp given by the same wailing lass.
Had she known it would be used to threaten her, Tang Ning wouldn't have gifted such a sturdy lamp!
"S-Sister, you can't destroy my gift! If I turned into a ghost after getting hit, I will... I will haunt you for not keeping it safe!" She cried desperately.
Who knows if that will be effective, right?
The corner of Tang Ying's mouth twitched in unkempt annoyance, 'This brat is just good at talking nonsense. And what does she even mean by purposely saying she's a straight woman?'
Tang Ying was aghast but didn't try to delve into it further to make a point.
"Well, you and your dirty mouth. You deserve to be beaten black and blue," the girl spoke like a cool autumn breeze and returned the vase to the bedside table.
"And so, what do you even need my flu—er..." Tang Ying took a deep helpless breath after the pause, realizing what the other person meant.
She suddenly had the urge to pick up that accursed lamp once more to hit some sense on Tang Ning's dumb head.
The baffled young miss massaged the gap on her brows with a strained expression.
There's no way she would mention that embarrassing thing outright and threaten her own sanity. It was already hard to have a family member rubbing off her stupidity on her. More than that and she'll need professional care.
Huu~
"Do you think you can just magically create babies with a pair of eggs? You think science is dead and you're living in one of those dumb fiction of yours?" Tang Ying gushed in revilement and displeasure.
Only to be met by Tang Ning's woeful darting gaze. She brought down her arms and cried.
"Yes, science is so so dead that I'll have anyone's baby at this point!"
"Tang Ning, have you gone nuts? Wow, did you go crazy after locking yourself in your room for a week?"
Hearing this, Tang Ning was suddenly reminded of the lowest point of her existence—
Not being able to browse the internet and watch her husbands and godsons or have some sweets and savory delights delivered to her door, after this antagonizing person cruelly blocked her IP from connecting to the Wi-Fi!
Oh, those tough times...
Tang Ning had planned to stay like a NEET for an entire month as a dire protest, but how could she endure such pain if this girl barred her from all her necessities?
It was as though her oxygen mask was forcefully taken off that week!
'It was hellish period. Curse you, Tang Ying! Do you still dare mention my woes? Heartless brat!'
Tang Ning took a harsh deep breath and secretly gnashed her teeth.
'Calm down. Oh dear, you can't commit murder, or you'll never be able to see your wonderful husbands if you get locked up in prison.'
In the end, she could only swallow her indignance and pursed her lips.
No choice but to act up like a sulking child, she just rolled on the floor and nursed her bruised ego, letting out a dramatic wail that almost pierced Tang Ying's ear drums.
"That's right, I'm crazy. I'm going insane because of you! I'm just a lowly person and easily bullied!" she whimpered. "Life is just so unfair when you're not the real daughter of a wealthy family!"
Mouth gaped; Tang Ying watched her sister devolve into a cynical teen with a conflicted gaze.
"Just when did you get bullied?"
"Aren't I now?" Tang Ning bawled which only made Tang Ying perplexed as she mumbled.
"You know, others would even have blood on their hands for the opportunity that you're getting but what about you? You're here whining about having them given to you. Sister, I don't get you at all."
Be it in real-time or in history, even real siblings would kill to get the upper hand and marry a great man to pursue a life of luxury. She just gave her that chance, so why is this girl crying foul and injustice?
"Opportunity? More like a scam!" Tang Ning's tears flowed out like a broken faucet.
'I don't even want to be with that cold and stiff young master, yet you want me to marry him?! To hell with that, I'd rather be an old maiden and grow old admiring wildflowers on the roadside!'
Though she never said it out loud, Tang Ying could literally guess what's written all over her face.
Tang Ning pursed her lips, "Mighty Ying, my noble and refined Tang Ying..."
"Hmm... Ying'er...?" hummed Tang Ning with puppy eyes.
"Stop saying those cringe lines and just say your piece."
Tang Ning's round hazel eyes bubbled and brimmed, her lips arched down more pitifully than it was earlier.
Wuu~
She clasped her hands together like a woeful maiden.
"Sister, you must know my heart is taken. I have no more love to give..."
Sigh, she can't even add anymore fandom on her list despite the plentiful fishes in the sea.
Though she was shocked to learn she wasn't her parents' biological child, she was consoled and was the happiest person when she learned that she wasn't the real daughter who's tied down with the fixed marriage.
"And?" Tang Ying lazily supported her chin with her hand as if watching the exact same scene for the ninth time.
"You understand me, right?"
"... We do speak the same language."
Tang Ning's face dimmed. Inside she was screaming at her but chose to chant good words, 'Hold it in, Tang Ning. Hold it... Huu~'
She quickly masked her irk and continued before her tears dry in contempt. Tang Ning sobbed, "Sister, why can't you just be straight and not be a rotten stick? Just take the fall for your own marriage! Why drag me into your mess?"
There's no way she'll get marry and betray all her husbands for that annoying man who lacks humor and romantic cell!
Tang Ying shakily averted her eyes, unable to refute her words. But that didn't slip through Tang Ning's radar.
'Don't tell me...'
"You stone hearted...!" She was so lost for words! How can she not take pity of her?
In an instant, the sound of her cries became louder.
"You unfeeling Sister! Give me back my freedom, you are selfish, you...! Argh, you shitty tomboy!"
Tang Ning snapped.
As she flailed on the cold marble floor, despite her tears mingling with indignation, her criticism didn't miss a beat.
Tang Ying clutched her throbbing temples, stopping herself from pulling her hair while looking at her 'should be' lovely and warm adoptive sister with a mix of disbelief and exasperation.
'Lovely? I only see a woman who's about to crash and flood my floor.'
In the dead of the night, she was here ruining her peace, Tang Ying felt more tired than ever.
What warm? Are her blazing eyes reflecting a burning sea of flames while glaring at her also a part of it?
That would be scorchingly warm indeed.
Tang Ying suddenly had the urge to storm out and confront her biological parents for lying with a straight face when they introduced each other.
Instead of being lovely and warm, the girl was more like a whiny little cat with a wild temper and a daunting character.
"Sister, I don't even know if you're pleading or insulting me."