Chapter 7: Book 1: Chapter 7: Another Younger Sister?

Book 1: Chapter 7: Another Younger Sister?

Chen Heng did not immediately carry Sirin to the room that he tidied up for her, afraid he would wake her up. Instead, he walked downstairs and sat on the sofa in the living room on the first floor. Then, he started reading the book titled Re:Life Chat Group. After he started, he did not put it down for a long time, not until a sound from his room startled him. Only then did he put the book down.

“Sirin must have woken up. I should go up and take a look. Oh no! I forgot to look at the intel that Umaru-chan sent to me. I have no idea what Sirin’s personality is like!” As Chen Heng headed upstairs, he sent 100 points to Umaru-chan via a red packet in a private message. It was not that Chen Heng did not want to give more, but giving too much would be inappropriate.

When Chen Heng entered the room, he saw a bewildering scene. Sirin was hugging a blanket while curled up in a corner—the corner farthest from the door. Chen Heng’s entry seemed to startle her, and she carefully eyed him like a frightened animal.

“Don’t worry. I’m not a good person. Ah! I mean, I’m not a bad person. Do you know 10086?”

“10086? What a strange name. I’ve never heard of it. Who are you? Also, who am I?”

“Huh? Did she lose her memory? This is too sudden!

I’d better ask the customer service if there is anything I don’t understand, so…

“Is Miss Customer Service around?”

Speak.

“Did Sirin lose her memories?”

System 10086 temporarily sealed her memories before leaving. The memories will be unsealed after she leaves.

“Why?”

Sirin is currently in a bad situation. If she remembers what happened in her original world, she will not be able to experience the coming month happily or in peace. This month is for her to make happy memories before she meets her end. This is the message that System 10086 wanted me to pass to you.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

You didn’t ask. Also, won’t I be humiliated if I just pass on the message that 10086 told me to?

“Then, why did you tell me now?”

You asked, so I told you.

The illegal transmigrator’s reward will be given to you after Sirin leaves. If Sirin does not cause any major commotion in this world during this time, you will get 2,000 points.

“So little?”

How much force do you think you need to chase away a helpless 14-year-old girl?

…”

Sirin already has a legal identity in this world. She is your younger sister. The cost of 100 points for obtaining a temporary legal identity in this world and fluent Mandarin knowledge will be deducted from your points.

[TL Note: Mandarin is the official dialect of China. Different regions speak different dialects, which makes it difficult for people from different regions to understand each other, as each dialect can sound unintelligible to another dialect speaker. Hence, an official dialect was chosen for education and administration. All schools teach using the official dialect, and everyone is expected to know the official dialect.]

“Why…alright. Just deduct it from my points. It’s worth it to get another younger sister. I have not met that Ryougi Shiki yet.”

Ryougi Shiki is still unconscious. She will wake up one month later. This is good timing. You can take care of her after you send off Sirin.

“Then, I should thank you for this.”

No thanks are needed. Goodbye. The adoption papers are already in your spatial storage.

“Goodbye!”

“Sirin, I’m your elder brother.”

“Elder brother? Our hair colors are too different. Furthermore, I remember that I’m not Asian.” That made sense. Sirin’s hair was purple, and it was so long that it reached her ankles. However, Chen Heng had short black hair.

“Right. You are adopted. Look, here are the adoption papers!” Chen Heng walked over and proffered the adoption papers that had been placed in his spatial storage at some point. Speaking of which, would the Dimension Administrators Association violate the privacy of others like this?

“This? Where did you get this from?” Sirin took a quick look. After she verified the authenticity, she returned the papers. Although she still felt skeptical, the person in front of her might really be her elder brother.

“Address me as Elder Brother.”

“Elder Brother.”

“Very good. This is my spatial storage equipment. Don’t look down on it for being physically small. It can contain a lot of things.” Chen Heng raised the necklace with his hand, jingling it at Sirin.

“Then, what happened to me? Did I lose my memories?”

“That’s right. You suffered severe trauma to the head. Try touching your head. Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Oh! It does hurt!” How could it not hurt after her head smashed into the railing of that kiddie train?

“It’s already six o’clock, time to eat. Let’s go. Come downstairs. Elder Brother will show off my skills today and make you some good food.”

“Alright.” Sirin obediently climbed off the bed and put on the cotton slippers Chen Heng had prepared.

[TL Note: In some countries, there is a habit of wearing indoor slippers indoors. This is so for China. Some countries go barefoot at home or just wear their shoes in the house.]

In reality, Chen Heng was not good at cooking. Although he had lived alone for several years, his skill level remained at edible. Every three to five days, the next-door maid would help cook. This was how he maintained a balanced diet.

Everyone staying in Fantasy Sea Villas was extraordinarily wealthy; every home had a housekeeper, and some had maids. This made things difficult for Chen Heng, as this estate did not permit food delivery personnel in. He had to go to the estate’s entrance to pick up any food delivery.

[TL Note: I am unsure of the difference between a housekeeper and a maid, but it might simply mean that maids live in, while housekeepers come to the house daily or periodically to clean.]

Since I said I would make something good, I cannot go back on my promise. So, all-powerful Dimension Administrators Association, it’s up to you now.

As Chen Heng went downstairs, he found what he wanted in the Dimension Administrators Association’s store.

Cooking Skill (Mid-tier): 500 Points. (Able to perfectly cook most ordinary food at the standard of the peak of ordinary chefs.)

Chen Heng wanted to buy the high-tier version but did not have the points for it. The high-tier cooking skill required 5,000 points and claimed it could cook most foods in the world, even fantasy foods. The ultimate-tier cooking skill was even more ridiculous—that required 100,000 points. The introduction sounded domineering: it could cook everything, using the world as the pot and the sky as the lid.

In the end, cooking skills were for cooking. Chen Heng did not dare touch the fantasy food, either, so the mid-tier cooking skill was sufficient.

No special feeling came from purchasing knowledge-type goods. There was no sudden realization or impact, either. Chen Heng opened the fridge and looked at the ingredients leftover from when Elder Sister Raven, the neighbor’s maid, cooked two days ago. He immediately came up with what dishes he could make with them.

[Author Note: Please don’t think of Honkai Impact 3rd’s Raven. Alright, I was thinking of Honkai Impact 3rd’s Raven. She has a great figure, alright?!]

[TL Note: Here is the profile of Honkai Impact 3rd’s Raven: /wiki/Raven.]

“Fortunately, there are still ingredients in the fridge. Otherwise, I would have no way to cook. Erm…with these ingredients, I can cook cola chicken, braised ribs, three earthly treasures, and oil-braised prawns. Just thinking about them makes me hungry!”

[TL Note: Three earthly treasures is the name of a Chinese dish from the Dongbei region (northeast China). It is stir-fried eggplant, potatoes, and green bell peppers tossed in a sauce. Here is the recipe if anyone is interested: /di-san-xian-stir-fry/.]

“Oh! That’s right. Sirin, do you have anything you want to eat?” Chen Heng poked his head out of the kitchen and saw Sirin coming down the stairs.

“Anything will do.”

“I shall begin, then. I’ll let you try authentic Chinese dishes.”

Half an hour later, Sirin gulped when she looked at the dishes before her.

“Stop staring. These are all for you. Go ahead and eat.”

“Thank you, Elder Brother,” Sirin said softly.

“Why are you thanking me? We are a family. Just tell me what you want in the future. Even if it is the stars in the sky, I will pick them for you.”

“Alright.” Sirin nodded discreetly. Tears started welling up in her eyes.

“Huh? What’s wrong with you? Does your head still hurt?” Chen Heng panicked slightly. He had not seen a girl cry before. What about Mo Qingtong? She was the one who made others cry. Who would dare make her cry?

“It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s just that…when I heard the word family, the tears just came out,” Sirin explained as she used her small hands to wipe her tears.