Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator

Chapter 65: Going Home! The Truant Younger Sister
The end of the station was a somewhat shabby bus stop. After getting off the bus, a five-minute walk would lead to a slightly dated street, with single and double-story shops lined up neatly on both sides.

Chen Pingchuan’s home was located in a six-story, circular residential building not far from the street, which was named the Happy Life District.

This somewhat narrow street had become his daily route. Due to a lack of maintenance, the once-smooth concrete surface was now bumpy and riddled with cracks. Some of the concrete had even started to peel off, exposing the gravel base underneath.

Chen Pingchuan carried his schoolbag, his head down, walking briskly toward his home. However, a familiar voice once again reached his ears.

”Oh, Da Chuanzi, you’re back! Why so early today? Have you had lunch? If not, come to Aunt Li’s for some dumplings.”

The speaker was a buxom middle-aged woman who made no effort to conceal her ample chest, which jiggled as she smiled and greeted Chen Pingchuan.

”No need, Aunt Li, I’ve already eaten,” Chen Pingchuan replied, wanting only to get home quickly and not waste any more time here.

”He doesn’t like dumplings, yet you always call him over to eat. Sister Li, you’re not being sincere at all. Come on, Pingchuan, come to Uncle Wang’s! We have a new dish made from entirely inorganic, eco-friendly ingredients.”

”Come and try it! The taste is definitely a whole class above those synthetic foods.”

This time, the speaker was a man in his mid-thirties. He wore an apron covered with oil stains and invited Chen Pingchuan with a cheerful smile.

The man’s words reminded Chen Pingchuan of a painful experience from a few days ago.

”No need, Uncle Wang. I’m going back. Mom is waiting for me at home.”

Chen Pingchuan forced a tight smile, decisively refusing the offer. Who exactly eats your food, anyway? he thought sarcastically. Huh, I haven’t seen a single person go to Uncle Wang’s restaurant in days. How does he even make a living? Maybe someone comes to try it while I’m at school.

He immediately dismissed the thought.

As he walked, the shop owners on both sides of the street greeted him warmly. Some even tugged at his arm, trying to pull him into their shops. The one who left the deepest impression on him was a woman in her thirties who ran a massage parlor. She was the most uninhibited of them all, and every time she made him feel so comfortable that he didn’t want to go home.

But these neighbors are all way too enthusiastic, he thought. Something isn’t right.

Chen Pingchuan kept walking without stopping, his figure gradually shrinking down the street, soon to disappear at its end.

In an instant, the previously bustling shopkeepers all stopped what they were doing. One by one, they turned their heads, their emotionless eyes staring fixedly at Chen Pingchuan’s retreating back.

This scene, of course, went unnoticed by Chen Pingchuan, who was already far away. He had now arrived at the foot of his building: Happy Life District, Building 3, Room 401.

With a few bounds, Chen Pingchuan climbed from the first to the fourth floor. He took the key from his pocket and opened the door.

The scene before him was familiar. In the fairly spacious living room, a little girl in a Lolita dress was lounging on a sofa that was over three meters long, swinging her fair, delicate legs. She munched on snacks, making a crisp crunching sound as her legs swayed back and forth.

”Chen Lili, you skipped school again. Does Mom know?”

”Also, can you pay a little attention to your appearance?”

”It’s not just you who lives here.”

Chen Pingchuan looked at the little girl, frowning slightly. Honestly, for some reason, every time I see this nominal sister of mine, I feel uneasy, as if there’s some grudge between us. He had to force himself to talk to her, considering their relationship, even if she usually ignored him.

She’s the little terror of the family. Even Mom and Dad can’t do anything about her. In fact, whenever they see her acting up, they don’t dare to stop her. Instead, they just look afraid. Yes, afraid. My parents seem to be afraid of my sister. It makes sense, I guess. A disobedient, unruly daughter is probably a troublemaker at school, too.

”Mind your own business! You skipped school to come home too, and you’re lecturing me?”

Chen Lili didn’t move, her eyes never leaving the TV for a second as she casually retorted.

Chen Pingchuan felt a surge of anger rush to his head.

”Humph! Just wait until Mom gets back, see if I don’t—”

Before Chen Pingchuan could finish, Chen Lili suddenly leaped off the sofa. Her soft, fair feet bare on the floor, she ran to him and grabbed his arm with both hands, shaking it back and forth. Putting on a pouty little-girl act, she whined in a saccharine voice, ”Brother, my dearest brother, why are you being like this? I just...”

”Stop, stop, stop! Cut it out,” he interrupted. ”Let’s make a deal. If you start going to school properly, I won’t tell Mom and Dad you skipped. Otherwise, you just wait. I refuse to believe they’d still spoil you even if they knew you were skipping school.”

”Humph! You mean brother. I just had a stomachache. I’ll go to school this afternoon,” Chen Lili pouted. ”Besides, you know our situation. The school is just too far from here.”

His expression froze. That remark hit him right where it hurt. Their home was indeed far from the city center and a significant distance from school. On top of that, there were only three buses a day. It was ridiculously inconvenient.

Seeing his sister’s pitiful expression, with her bright eyes looking as if they might brim with tears at any moment, Chen Pingchuan found himself unable to refuse. He eventually compromised. First, he ruffled her short, golden waves and said helplessly, ”Just this once. You’d better go to school this afternoon.”

”Hee hee, you’re the best, Brother!” Chen Lili’s previously gloomy face instantly brightened. She lifted her chin, the corners of her mouth turning up to reveal a row of small white teeth. Her sweet smile made Chen Pingchuan’s heart melt.

”Alright, I’m going to my room. You should get ready too,” he said. ”Oh, by the way, do you have lunch money?”

He checked his right pocket but found nothing. After patting himself down, he finally discovered a few crumpled Federation Coins in his jacket pocket. Seeing their denomination, Chen Pingchuan gritted his teeth and stuffed all of them into his sister’s hand.

”Here, take it all. Get yourself a proper lunch and eat less junk food. Look how short you are—it must be because you don’t eat properly.”

Chen Lili was stunned by his gesture. I just realized something, she thought. They seem to have forgotten one thing... The fake parents forgot to give this fake brother of mine any living expenses. Aside from a small allowance when he first started school, they haven’t given him any money. How has he been surviving all this time? Now that he’s given all his money to me, then...

Before Chen Lili could sort out her thoughts, Chen Pingchuan plucked two one-Federation Coin bills from her hand.

”Oh, I have to keep two bucks for the bus,” he said. ”It’s fine. When Mom and Dad get back, I’ll ask them for more. You have to eat well and study hard, you know?”

Seeing Chen Lili’s dumbfounded look, Chen Pingchuan assumed it was just because a child like her had never seen so much money before. After all, these so-called parents of ours have never really given us much money. They never give it, and they don’t even talk about it.

The thought unsettled him. ”I’m going to my room,” he said. ”My head hurts, you know.”

”Mm.”

Chen Lili’s voice was so quiet that anyone else but Chen Pingchuan would not have been able to hear it.

As the door clicked shut, Chen Lili clenched the bills in her hand, her gaze burning as she stared at the closed door, her expression shifting constantly.