Chapter 7 - Sorry, I’m Dead

"… you really are my sister related by blood."

"How could I not be?" Chen Siwen raised her chin and said, "Why else would I have such a younger brother complex?"

"You're simply a fool for your brother…"

On the other hand, Chen Yu was sad and mopey.

He would have to smoke at least two Red Pagoda Mountain cigarettes to counteract the effects of just this one elixir alone…

"Sister, in the future, even if you have money, don't buy these things for me."

Chen Siwen narrowed her eyes at him and said, "Are you giving up on yourself altogether?"

Chen Yu said, "I want to get into university by my own strength."

Chen Siwen replied, "You still have strength?"

[Mental damage inflicted: Mental state +1]

Chen Yu: "… Go on."

Chen Siwen went on to say, "Other than broke universities, who would even think of giving you a second look?"

[Mental damage inflicted: Mental state +1]

Chen Yu said, "… Go on."

Chen Siwen replied, "Nothing more to say."

Chen Yu immediately mocked her: "Already at your wits' end? Is that your level of standard?"

Chen Siwen picked up her bowl and continued eating. As she chewed, she said, "Wait a few more days. Let me think of some tawdry words to upset you…"

"It's impossible for me to wait a few more days." Chen Yu drank a cup of water to rinse away the taste of medicine in his mouth. Then, pretending that he was feeling regretful, he said, "In the coming month, I won't be able to even return home."

Hearing this, Chen Siwen froze in place.

Mrs. Chen, who was sitting off to the side, hastily asked, "Why?"

"I know, you guys don't want me to leave. I don't want to leave you guys either. But my homeroom teacher has asked me to stay in his dormitory for the next month to cultivate."

"So… that means to say, I won't be able to see you for a month?" Chen Siwen put her chopsticks and bowl down in a daze.

"Yes." Chen Yu nodded repeatedly and said, "How about you give my homeroom teacher a call and turn down his offer?"

"One month of not being able to see you… this is great!" Chen Siwen's eyes shone brightly as she said, "Why should I turn it down? Mother! Give me another bowl of rice!"

Chen Yu: "…" (speechless)

[Mental damage inflicted: Mental state +5]

Mrs. Chen took the bowl from Chen Siwen and shot a fierce glare at her. Then, she looked at Chen Yu and said, "Yu, you haven't spent a night away from home since you were a child. This is a matter that Mother has to speak with your homeroom teacher about. Give me his number."

"Alright!" Chen Yu was overjoyed. He immediately took out his phone and dialed his homeroom teacher's number while saying, "Mom's still the one who values our relationship the most. That 'only' sister of mine is good for nothing."

After taking the phone from him, Mrs. Chen put it by her ear with a serious expression on her face and waited for the other end of the call to be connected.

"Ring…"

"Ring…"

"Hello, who is it?"

"I am Chen Yu's mother." Mrs. Chen slowly raised the volume of her voice.

"Oh, oh. Hello, hello." The homeroom teacher's voice rang out from the earpiece.

"I heard from my Chen Yu that he's to live in your dormitory for the next month?"

"Yes. This child, Chen Yu, is very motivated and has the desire to learn. I'm going to tutor him one-on-one."

Chen Yu was shaking his fists by the side as he egged his mother on in a soft voice, "Reject him! Reject him! Reject him…"

"Then…" Mrs. Chen straightened her upper back, and with both hands clutching the phone, she bowed slightly and said, "Then I will have to trouble you, teacher."

Chen Yu: "?"

Mrs. Chen said, "This child of mine is dull-witted. I'm sorry to have to put you through so much trouble. If he doesn't learn well and proper, just hit him with might!"

Chen Yu: "??"

Mrs. Chen said, "I'll get him to pack his bags tonight. Yes, don't worry. Tomorrow, everything in his room will be packed up so that he can study and learn at your place without worry."

Chen Yu: "???"

Mrs. Chen said, "You care so deeply for my Chen Yu. As a parent, how can I not cooperate with you? Really, thank you so much…"

Chen Yu: "…" (speechless)

Chen Siwen: "Hoho hoho, haha haha, cough cough, hahahaha hei hei hei…"

[Mental damage inflicted: Mental state +8]

...

With a long face, Chen Yu returned to his bedroom and took off his jacket. With his legs and arms stretched out, he lay on his bed without moving.

"This is too hard on me…"

"This family."

"No big deal even if I don't stay here!"

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +1]

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +1; Health +1]

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +1]

After some time (god knows how long)...

Chen Yu, who originally wanted to just drift off to sleep, suddenly sat up and puts his hands on his "rumbling" stomach.

"I haven't eaten for the entire day…"

"Can't take it anymore."

Chen Yu left his bedroom, walked into the kitchen, grabbed a piece of cold rib, and wolfed it down.

[Feeding time: Hunger level +6]

[Feeding time: Hunger level +9]

"Grrr."

Chen Yu gobbled another mouthful of cold rice and lamented sadly, "Oh heavens…"

At this time, Mrs. Chen heard the commotion from where she was in the master bedroom and came out in a daze. Yawning, she said, "Yu… what are you doing?"

"Eating."

"Who asked you not to eat your dinner just now? Now you're hungry, right?!"

"No, I'm too full…"

A few minutes later...

After polishing off a plate of ribs and two bowls of rice, Chen Yu finally felt hungry.

Putting away the cutlery and dishes, he covered his stomach, which was rumbling with hunger, and returned to his room. Then, he blankly lit a cigarette.

"Hiss."

[Subjected to an attack by malignant gases: Internal strength +14]

[Subjected to an attack by malignant gases: Lung health +1; Physique +1; Immunity +1]

"Puff…"

"…"

"…"

"Sigh…"

After finishing one cigarette, Chen Yu directly chewed the cigarette butt.

[Eating Poisonous Substances: Internal strength +52; Stomach health +4; Physical health +3; Kidney health +5…]

Chen Yu: "…" (speechless)

[Mental damage inflicted: Mental state +1]

[Mental damage healed: Mental state -1]

At this point, he didn't know whether he should be rejoicing or mourning…

In a sleepless state, Chen Yu quietly took out the "Switch" console from a drawer and began playing the Nintendo game "Animal Crossing."

Perhaps only in the world of games could he be normal…

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +1]

[Burning the midnight oil: Exhaustion-1; Physical health +1; Immunity +1; Lung function +1…]

Playing into the wee hours of the morning, he unscrewed another bottle of cola and swiped B on his Nintendo Switch.

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +2]

[Drinking unknown liquid in progress: Bone Toughness+1; Physical health+1]

Swiping repeatedly on the B station, he eventually found himself at the dance zone. Swiping again brought about many "two-dimensional" ladies… then very naturally, it led to him opening a UC browser…

"…"

....