33. Hesitation Means Giving Up
Such a question, posed to me at this moment by Nilu, who is currently acting this way, is clearly an unsolvable problem that would earn a strike no matter how I answer. If I say Nilu is better, I can’t reconcile it with my conscience regarding Kephir; if I say Kephir is better, it feels too cruel to Nilu at this moment.
“Both… are good.”
After thinking for quite a while, I could only squeeze out such a vague answer.
Of course, Nilu wouldn’t let me off the hook; she leaned forward, pushing me back.
“Both good… do you mean ‘scoring’ the same?”
Nilu… you surely know that’s not what I mean, right? I’ve never seen you so naive; every time we reach a moment where I could slip by, you deliberately act just like your old timid, innocent self.
“Then, what else do I need to do to ‘score’ more? If I do a few more ‘scoring’ things, can I surpass her? For example… like this?”
Her words fell along with the touch of Nilu’s lips, and all I did was foolishly maintain eye contact with her, watching as she slowly, bit by bit…
It’s not that I was stunned or that Nilu used some superpower to render me immobile; I couldn’t quite understand why I was behaving so uncooperatively. To put it in a way that might be slightly misleading: my body seemed to offer no resistance to whatever Nilu wanted to do.
As for the kiss that Nilu lightly placed on me, it was less about “taste” and more about merely “making contact.” My mind, filled with chaotic thoughts, suddenly recalled what Nilu had once told me about “connection.” However, before I could ponder “what strange connection do I have with Nilu,” she was the one who pulled away first.
Of course, the distance between us… was at most just a hair’s breadth; with a slight movement, I could still “accidentally” bump into her.
Nilu, who had succeeded, didn’t look as happy as she seemed, and I finally came to my senses: since this multiple-choice question had no correct answer, then… I would turn it into a reading comprehension question.
“Nilu, you don’t need to compare at all, because… it’s not something that can be measured by height.”
“Do you mean: I don’t even have the qualification?”
“Nilu…”
I already said not to play the naive card at a time like this.
“You clearly know what I mean. If possible, I don’t want to be the fuse that worsens your relationship with Kephir… although saying this now seems a bit too late…”
In any script, the true protagonist and the big BOSS must have a reason to fight to the death: in a passionate novel, it’s for love and the world; in a mystery novel, it’s for some truth and fact; in a pure love story, it’s often for a naive, kind-hearted Mary Sue girl…
And now, the deterioration of Nilu and Kephir’s relationship seems to…
Be because of me, right? Being forced into the role of a Mary Sue isn’t something I can be happy about.
“Mr. O’Keefe, my poor attitude towards her was not a sudden whim, but rather… by the time I came to my senses, I had already developed a deep-seated aversion, as if it had begun long ago. However, as you said, if things were to really spiral into chaos, I might find my dislike for her diminishing quite a bit—so, do you wish to embrace her from both sides?”
“Nilu, I’m really starting to get angry…”
“You hesitated.”
“…”
Pursuing a harem is every man’s aspiration, which is why I hesitated. But ultimately, maintaining restraint is a hallmark of a good man, and that’s why I remained silent.
Though, saying this, it seems Nilu wouldn’t believe it anyway.
“It seems my image in your eyes isn’t that bad after all.”
“You’re overthinking it. It’s… never been bad.”
Nilu’s eyes seemed to sparkle with light.
“Rather, I’m reflecting on why I would let you all…”
I wanted to say more, but she didn’t give me the chance. In the next moment, Nilu suddenly stood on her tiptoes and hugged me again!
She must have forgotten just how much strength she had now that she had become the big BOSS; her arms wrapped around my waist were almost crushing my old back. Compared to her earlier light touch, this time Nilu seemed to be demanding fervently. Caught off guard by her sudden “attack,” I resisted a bit, but still, she managed to succeed halfway.
Halfway, well… to put it bluntly: I didn’t dodge her kiss, but at least I didn’t let Nilu pull off some long, drawn-out French kiss that lasted over a minute…
Finally, after pushing Nilu away by her chest, she gave up quite readily: “Thank you, today I got the reward I wanted, along with an unexpected surprise, and I’m very happy.”
“As long as you’re happy, but Nilu… you haven’t forgotten, have you? We’re here for a purpose today.”
“Of course, it’s a date~”
“Not at all!? We’re here to ‘prepare,’ right?”
Nilu, feigning innocence with a delicate girl’s demeanor, linked her arm with mine, hiding her earlier joy deep in her heart.
“Sorry, I got so happy that I momentarily forgot. Now, let’s head back; we still have the ‘second half’ of our preparations to complete on the way, Mr. O’Keefe.”
By the time Nilu, who seemed to be in a very good mood, and I returned to our place, it was already evening. Most likely due to Nilu suddenly dragging me off mid-way, we really lost Kephir; she didn’t follow us afterward.
So, as soon as I got back, I saw Ke Fei’er giving me a look that was probably even more “cheerful” than Nilu’s current attitude.
Haha~ Ke Fei’er, you seem to be in a good mood. Did something good happen?
…Not a chance. I quickly let go of my hands and reminded Nilu not to keep smiling at Ke Fei’er like she was showing off.
“Ou Ji Li De, is your date over? Are you happy?”
Even a fool knows that if I answered “happy” right now, I’d end up sleeping on a pile of bricks tonight!
“Ke Fei’er, Nilu and I just sensed some ‘movement,’ so we…”
Ke Fei’er didn’t let me continue; instead, she pointed at her own lips and then at me.
That bizarre gesture made me panic immediately! Could it be that after Nilu had pulled me in and kissed me a few times today, she left some mark that Ke Fei’er had keenly noticed!? But I remember Nilu doesn’t have a habit of wearing lipstick!
I instinctively wiped my mouth, but as soon as my hand touched my face, I… regretted it.
Oh no, I’ve been caught in a trap by my wife!
I gasped, and when I looked up, sure enough, I was met with Ke Fei’er’s “smile.” Thank goodness I just touched my face; if I had touched my lips, that would have been a disaster!
In a moment of desperation, I quickly unleashed my trump card!
“Wife, wife, I love you! Just like a mouse loves rice!”
“Don’t try to brush me off with that kind of talk!”
Although Ke Fei’er immediately became displeased, …it worked!
After shaking her head and sighing, Ke Fei’er really didn’t press the issue as much. Of course, this was also because what we did today wasn’t just about me being dragged out by Nilu for a “secret date.”
“Forget it, I’ll ask you properly tonight. About today, I did discover ‘some things’ on my end. What about you?”
“Don’t worry, Nilu and I also put on a good ‘performance’ that was enough to make some people ‘misunderstand.'”
The “reward” Nilu asked for today, Ke Fei’er’s so-called “surveillance,” aside from the unexpected kisses Nilu gave me, the rest was all part of our pre-planned setup.
And the purpose of such actions would soon… be revealed.