Chapter 101: It's All Fake

She waddled over to the bar like a clumsy penguin, almost leaning on it, tilted her head to look at the other person, and couldn't help clicking her tongue in amazement: "She's wearing colored contacts again, and changed into a whole new outfit… tsk tsk, she really does look… smarter than before, huh?"

Xing struggled to find the right adjective, feeling that the outfit and aura were somewhat familiar, as if they had flashed in some blurry memory fragment from Beloberg, but her chaotic thoughts at the moment couldn't delve deeper.

Chang Ye Yue listened to Xing's off‑hand comment, a flicker of helpless amusement crossing her crimson eyes.

She let out a soft "hum" with a teasing tone: "How did you just assume I'm San Yue Qi?"

Huh?

Xing tilted her head, this simple motion almost making her lose balance.

She steadied herself against the bar's edge, took another careful look at the other person, and said more matter‑of‑factly: "This… this you're telling me you're not San Yue Qi?"

She pointed at the other's face, then wailed as she slumped over: "Cut it out, San Yue, hurry up and find me something to eat—I'm starving… the Black Tower basically wants to turn me into a Star Core with that simulated universe…"

Chang Ye Yue waved her hand leisurely, her tone light but leaving no room for negotiation: "There's nothing to eat, though."

"How can you be like this—"

Xing drew out her voice like a wronged big dog: "San Yue—!"

Chang Ye Yue leaned forward slightly, her crimson eyes locking onto Xing at close range, her voice carrying a strange magnetism: "You need to see clearly—I am not San Yue Qi."

"... Ah?"

Xing wore a blank, bewildered expression, her brain completely short‑circuiting: "Then… then who are you?"

"Well…" Chang Ye Yue straightened up, the corner of her lips curling into a mysterious arc: "I'm San Yue Qi's older sister."

"Older sister?"

Xing repeated that word, which made her heart jump; her fatigue was mostly swept away, replaced by an almost reflexive wariness.

She tentatively asked: "You… are San Yue Qi's older sister?"

"Yes."

Chang Ye Yue answered crisply and cleanly, her gaze open.

"Are you sure?"

Xing's voice rose an octave, and in an instant her mind flashed to the Black Tower's face darkened by the word "older sister," as well as the "lovely" memory of being punched into the air and stuck to the glass as a mural.

The shadow of that thought instantly overwhelmed her hunger.

"How… how is there another older sister?!"

She couldn't help muttering under her breath, feeling that the world seemed to have a strange obsession with the word "older sister."

She even began to suspect that her extreme fatigue was causing hallucinations, or that the aftereffects of the simulated universe had finally kicked in.

Xing rubbed her face hard, trying to shake off the fog, then struck a pose of "I'm not that easy to fool," though her pallid complexion and swaying body made the claim unconvincing: "Evidence! Do you have any proof? Empty talk won't do!"

She felt she had learned her lesson this time and would not be led in circles again by the Black Tower's "older sister" with its hundred‑hole‑riddled words.

However, Chang Ye Yue seemed to have been prepared all along.

Her face showed no trace of panic at being questioned; instead she wore a calm smile that said, "I knew you'd ask that."

She unhurriedly reached into a hidden pocket in her skirt, pulled out a smooth joint photograph, and gently pushed it onto the bar in front of Xing.

"Here, take a look yourself."

Xing took the photo half‑believing, half‑doubting; a single glance left her stunned.

In the photo, there was San Yue Qi and this "older sister" standing right before her, leaning closely together!

Both were smiling brightly; San Yue Qi's carefree joy was as usual, while the "older sister" beside her wore a gentle, mysterious smile.

The photo's pixels were clear, the lighting natural, the expressions vivid, with no obvious signs of splicing or alteration!

(How… how is this possible?!)

(When did San Yue Qi get an older sister? And they took such an intimate photo? How could I not know?!)

Xing jerked her head up, looked at the photo, then at the smiling, silent Chang Ye Yue before her, then back at the photo, repeating this several times.

The massive information shock and the photo's "ironclad evidence," combined with fatigue and hunger weakening her judgment, caused her already‑simple logical chain to snap instantly.

(The photo is real… the background is right here… she and San Yue Qi look so alike… and she even knows my name…)

(Could it be… she really is San Yue's older sister? Did San Yue find family?)

A sense of "now I understand" welled up, mixed with a hint of relief at seeing a companion find family, plus the complicated feelings toward the word "older sister" left over from being deceived by the "Black Tower's older sister" before—all of it coalescing into……

Belief.

The walls of doubt crumbled.

The wariness and bewilderment on Xing's face quickly faded, replaced by an apologetic smile.

She hurriedly handed the photo back to Chang Ye Yue, a little embarrassed as she scratched her head:

"Uh… haha, turns out… turns out you really are San Yue's older sister! Greetings, older sister! I'm Xing! Nice to meet you!"

She reached out her hand, intending to shake Chang Ye Yue's hand in a very formal manner.

Chang Ye Yue watched Xing's rapidly shifting attitude, a flicker of satisfied light crossing her eyes as her plan succeeded.

She gracefully extended her gloved hand—black lace glove—and gently grasped Xing's hand.

"Hello, Xing. I am Chang Ye Yue."

Her voice still carried that unique languid mystery: "I… often hear my little sister mention you."

And now, having successfully "recognized kin," Xing's foremost concern remained her survival.

She clutched her stomach, which had started growling again, and gazed pleadingly at Chang Ye Yue:

"Um… older sister, do you… know where the food is kept around here? I… I'm about to faint from hunger…"

Faced with Xing's hopeful gaze, Chang Ye Yue shook her head.

She didn't answer directly; instead she lifted her black‑lace‑gloved hand, her slender fingers sweeping past Xing's shoulder to point at a spot behind her.

"I haven't prepared any food, you know. But… she… might have some?"

Xing turned her head in the direction Chang Ye Yue indicated, feeling dazed.

The gaze fell upon the quiet sofa on the other side of the carriage.

Only a figure sat there, silently watching the river of stars flow past the observation window, gray shoulder-length hair, a familiar back……

That person seemed to sense Xing's gaze, and slowly turned their head.

When Xing saw that face clearly, her whole body felt as if doused with ice water, and she instantly went dumb.

That was another face exactly like hers!

It was A Xing!

But those golden eyes lacked luster, calm as a deep pool, forming an absurd contrast with the stormy turmoil in Xing's heart at the moment.

……

Xing's mouth twitched uncontrollably; she jerked her head back to look at the enigmatically smiling Chang Ye Yue beside her, then turned again to gaze at the silent 'herself' on the sofa.

A surge of surreal absurdity swept over her.

Exhaustion, hunger, and the psychological trauma from being mercilessly teased by Black Tower's Sister not long ago were utterly detonated by this 'second self' before her eyes.

Heh…hehe……

Xing suddenly let out a low laugh, her voice hoarse; she swayed to her feet, her trembling finger pointing back and forth between Chang Ye Yue and A Xing.

I… I understand!

Her voice low, filled with sudden realization: 'Simulated universe, right?! It must be this! Black Tower's simulated universe… hasn't ended! Hehe… I never left at all!'

She clung to the last straw, slamming her forehead hard, trying to use pain to confirm whether this was an illusion.

You're all fake! All fake! What sister, what other me… are just ghost incidents generated by the simulated universe, right?! I said it, how could there be so many sisters… hehe… all fake, all a scam!

She babbled incoherently while staggering backward, her eyes unfocused.

Finally, she all but crawled out of the Party Carriage, leaving only the intermittent 'hehe' laughter echoing in the air.

Chang Ye Yue watched Xing's fleeing back; the ever‑smiling corner of her mouth twitched, a rare sight.

She had imagined all of Xing's possible reactions, but never expected that this Pioneer's brain circuitry would be so bizarre, directly labeling this 'reality' as virtual.

(Well… seems I've messed up?)

A hint of helplessness flashed in her crimson eyes.