"Tsk tsk tsk, the contrast with the ice-cold school beauty is surprisingly intoxicating."
Belle glanced at Sol, her tone a little mocking.
"Heh, jealous?" Sol tilted her chin with a smirk worthy of a CEO villain, saying, "Woman, don't worry—you're ahead of Ellen!"
"…"
Belle's sneakers were about to be shredded by her curling toes, her finger tapping lightly in the air before her.
Wise, who had gone out for stock, had unknowingly returned to the video store, now standing at the entrance with a dark expression.
Sol, still caught up in his roleplay, hadn't noticed. He grabbed Belle's outstretched hand and declared with deep passion, "Belle, you are one of my many wings—an irreplaceable presence."
"Even if there are countless wings, you are the unique one. In fact, each of you is truly one of a kind."
Clenched. Clenched. His fists clenched hard!
That was textbook scumbag rhetoric, enough to make any guardian of innocent maidens see black.
Wise's face was full of dark lines. He hadn't expected Sol to be so brazen in his debauchery.
Gone for just two hours, and this bastard was already making moves on his sister.
He was a fool, truly.
He had known Sol was no good, and yet hadn't put up the No Sol, No Dogs sign. He'd invited the wolf into the house!
Anby and Billy sat side by side, pure melon-eating spectators.
Anby mused aloud, "The Wings of Icarus… is that what Sol meant? Am I one of them too?"
That was the movie she and Sol had recently watched, about the ancients' yearning for freedom.
At the time, Sol had told her the same thing—that she was his wing in pursuit of freedom.
Billy's gaze never wavered, watching Wise's dark aura grow thicker. "Yes and no. But it looks like Boss Sol is about to be in trouble."
"Sol!" Wise set down the crate of videotapes, stepped forward, and pried Belle's hand out of his grasp. His voice was heavy. "Sorry, I just brought in new stock. Belle and I need to sort it out. Not convenient to host guests right now."
He wanted to throw Sol in an over-the-shoulder slam, follow with a right whip kick and a left front kick—to teach him some respect. But his weak body wouldn't allow it.
From today onward, he would train hard. Train until he could shield Belle from Sol.
That was his duty as an older brother!
"Haha, actually Belle and I were just joking. I'm not really that greasy."
Only then did Sol notice his future brother-in-law's return, and he explained sheepishly.
He'd simply been overcome by drama, possessed by mischief. Surrounded by teenage girls, he couldn't help but play along.
But Wise had come back at the worst possible time.
If earlier, he could've bantered with Anby.
If later, he'd already be done teasing Belle.
But now? Neither early nor late, just… awkward. Especially since this was his not-yet-official brother-in-law.
"Mm, I know you were joking."
"But Belle and I really do have work to do. Best not to stay as guests."
Wise didn't believe a word of it. Hand-holding already—next would've been a wall slam. If he'd come back any later, he'd be an uncle by now!
"Well then, goodbye." Sol resisted the urge to call him brother-in-law, and led Anby and Billy out of the video store.
As fun as it was, he didn't want to anger Wise into an early grave. That would be impolite.
Inside the video store—
Belle and Wise stood frozen, unsure what to say.
Belle kept her legs together, standing obediently yet awkwardly.
God, who could understand?
Getting caught roleplaying with a scummy boyfriend by her own brother—how was she supposed to fix that?
After much thought, Wise finally asked stiffly, "Belle, Sol didn't do anything to you, right?"
"No. Like he said, it was just a joke." Belle smiled awkwardly. "You know him—always humorous, loves to joke around."
"Oh. I just worry you'll fall for it. Be careful with him next time."
Wise's tone was heavy.
He realized now that no normal girl would fall for such blatant scumbag lines. It must have been playful banter.
But what if Sol was testing Belle's boundaries, luring her little by little into a trap?
"Mm, I'll be careful." Belle nodded firmly, then protested, "Brother, you underestimate me. I'm grown up now—I can tell good from bad."
Seeing her resolve, Wise eased up, nodding with relief. "That's good. But even if you're prepared, still be cautious."
"As the saying goes: As virtue rises one foot, vice rises ten. Don't let Sol outsmart you."
"Relax, Brother." Belle grinned. "If anything, I'm the devil! I can see right through Sol's little tricks—he's no match for me!"
"Mm. I brought in some tapes. Let's sort them together."
Wise nodded gently.
If Belle was that confident, he wouldn't press further.
"Okay, Brother." Belle crouched down to sort the tapes. "Brother, why are they all documentaries? Don't tell me you bought them for yourself again?"
"I did not. I did not." Wise's face stayed calm. "I researched the market. Customers these days love documentaries."
"Unless every customer has silver hair and is named Wise, no one loves documentaries."
Belle roasted him mercilessly.
Still chatting, the two tidied the tapes.
Ten minutes later, with everything sorted, sweat beaded Belle's forehead.
She stretched with a long sigh. "Phew, finally done. Time to rest."
But Wise suddenly dropped a question: "Belle, do you have feelings for Sol?"
His gaze bore into her eyes. When someone relaxes, that's when they're most likely to tell the truth.
"Of course not." Belle blurted without thinking—then realized it was a trick. "Seriously, Brother? You're using strategy on me!?"
"I was just testing you." Wise finally relaxed, smiling. "Belle, you must be tired from this morning. Go take a nap."
"Mm."
Belle headed upstairs, flopping onto the bed still carrying Ellen's lingering scent.
She immediately pulled out her phone and began messaging Sol—whom she was supposedly uninterested in.
[Belle: Let me tell you, my brother nags like crazy! He even tried tricking me just now…]
[Sol: Mm, I see. But that doesn't affect our friendship, right?]
[Belle: Of course not. Our friendship will last forever!]
[Sol: Still, I did embarrass you earlier. As an apology, how about lunch tomorrow—just the two of us?]
Without hesitation, Belle typed: [Of course! Hotpot at Lumina Square. We've never eaten there together.]
[Sol: OK, see you tomorrow.]
"See you tomorrow."
Belle drifted into her nap with a smile.
Her brother was so silly. No matter when you ask a girl about a boy she hasn't dated, there's only one possible answer.
Speaking her mind might be for men, but girls could lie just as quickly.
Though she hated to admit it, Belle found being around Sol comfortable, even fun. That probably counted as feelings, didn't it?