Wang Lan felt increasingly bewildered by the various unusual phenomena that had recently appeared on Wang Hao.
First, the taste of the dishes his brother cooked improved by leaps and bounds, as if he had received the true pass of a Chef Wang Hao; then, his height suddenly shot up without any warning.
These strange phenomena occurred one after another, leaving Wang Lan, as his younger sister, feeling very confused and perplexed.
Although she knew in her heart that her brother might have been hiding his own little secrets for so many years, she ultimately couldn't suppress her strong curiosity and asked, "Brother, why have you been like a different person lately? Not only has your Cooking improved so much, but you've also suddenly grown a lot taller! What on earth is going on? Tell me quickly!"
As she spoke, Wang Lan's face also revealed an expression of "If you don't tell me, I'll act spoiled."
Seeing his sister use such a tactic, Wang Hao secretly cried out in dismay and quickly took a step back.
He knew very well that whenever his sister used this trick when they were little, whether it was to ask for snacks and drinks or to ask him for help, he always granted her wishes.
And his sister, of course, was well-versed in this routine; her posture at this moment clearly indicated her intention—to interrogate him until she got to the bottom of it.
Facing such a situation, Wang Hao knew that what was coming would come sooner or later.
Since he couldn't avoid it, he might as well resolve the problem early to prevent further complications.
But how exactly should he resolve it? This question truly made Wang Hao feel very difficult.
If he told the truth, it would definitely not work; in that case, the only option left was to use a benevolent lie to get by.
Wang Hao secretly made up his mind and then began to carefully calculate in his mind, slightly organizing his words.
After all, telling a perfect lie without needing a draft beforehand was not something he was good at.
"Since you, my sister, have asked so sincerely, then I, your brother, will answer you with generosity and benevolence!"
After saying this slightly chuunibyou-like opening, Wang Hao continued, "Just a while ago, while you were focused on preparing for your final exams, my business wasn't doing so well, and I felt a bit down.
So I simply took a day off and went to a nearby park to clear my mind."
At this point, Wang Hao gestured to his sister to sit down first, and after they were closer, he lowered his voice and continued to tell his sister, "Later, I met an old man playing the Erh-hu for money in the park. I thought he played quite well, so I casually gave him some change.
Who knew that old man would tell me he wasn't playing for money and told me to take the money back.
I thought to myself, there's no reason to take back money that's been given out, so I ignored him and turned to leave."
"Later, when I finished strolling and was about to go back, I unexpectedly met this old man again.
The old man walked towards me with a smile and said that we were very fated, and without a word, he reached out and gently pressed on my body.
At that time, I felt a strange warm current surge into my heart, followed by a strong sense of dizziness, as if some invisible thing had invaded my body. A moment later, I felt my mind suddenly clear up a lot.
At the same time, I felt unusually warm and comfortable all over my body.
When I came back to my senses, the old man was gone.
I didn't pay attention at the time, but the next day I found that my Cooking was much better.
I didn't dare tell anyone about such a miraculous thing, fearing that I would be taken out for research. You are my own sister, and if you hadn't pressed me so hard, I wouldn't have planned to tell you. Now that you know, you must keep this secret for me!"
Wang Hao briefly described his feelings when his Cooking Skill upgraded, mixing in some truth and some falsehood.
Making up this lie made Wang Hao feel a bit guilty, wondering if his sister would see through his borrowing of the old man's trope from novels.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Wang Lan widened her eyes and looked at Wang Hao with a suspicious expression, pressing, "Is that all there is to it? Why does it feel somewhat familiar?"
To hide his guilt, Wang Hao nodded very hard and affirmed, "Indeed, it's absolutely true! What else could it be?"
Despite Wang Hao's resolute words, Wang Lan still harbored doubts and continued to press, "Then why did this old man do that? It can't be for no reason, can it?"
To this, Wang Hao no longer explained, pushing everything onto the mysterious old man. He simply spread his hands helplessly, shrugging his shoulders slightly, indicating that he was equally bewildered and at a loss: "How would I know the reason? Perhaps this old man is a hidden master. In any case, the facts are before us, and everything is a mystery."
Wang Lan looked at Wang Hao, thinking that her brother shouldn't lie to her.
Could such a miraculous thing really exist? Did her brother grow taller because of that 'qi,' and did it also suddenly enlighten his mind, improving his Cooking Skills?
Wang Lan secretly pondered these things, and after coming up with what she considered a reasonable explanation for the matter, her lips slowly curved upwards unconsciously, followed by a 'hehe' laugh.
Her innocent heart had already been swayed by Wang Hao's words, and she believed everything he said without reservation.
Just then, as if she had suddenly thought of something, her eyes lit up, and she excitedly exclaimed, "Brother, aren't we going to get rich! This kind of mysterious power is something ordinary people can't even touch!
Where is that old man now? Is he still in the park?
No, I have to go check quickly, after all, I'm your own sister, maybe I'm also the fated one, hahaha! This way, we'll be able to walk sideways from now on!"
The more Wang Lan spoke, the more excited she became, as if she had already seen a flamboyant future beckoning to her.
Her mind was completely immersed in the yearning and longing for that unknown mysterious power, and she was completely intoxicated, unable to extricate herself.
Looking at the string of questions his sister asked, Wang Hao secretly groaned inwardly, but since things had come to this, he could only bite the bullet and continue to cover up his lie.
So, he put on a look of extreme regret and sighed, "Alas, it's in the People's Park next to your school! I went to look for him many times later, but each time I returned disappointed.
Perhaps that old man has already gone to travel elsewhere...
That's why I specifically bought an Erh-hu, after all, my acquaintance with the old man was also because of the Erh-hu.
I thought I'd try to learn to play the Erh-hu, and maybe I'll meet the old man again someday."
Wang Hao cleverly used the Erh-hu as the ending of the entire lie, increasing the credibility of the whole event.
And Wang Lan, after listening, showed genuine regret.
However, compared to those uncertain things, her brother getting this opportunity excited her even more.
As the saying goes, "When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven," let alone if that lucky person is her own brother!
Thinking of this, Wang Lan's initially regretful expression gradually gave way to a brilliant smile, and her mood became increasingly joyful.
Her eyes couldn't help but light up, as if she had already seen the dawn of a beautiful future.
At this moment, Wang Lan's emotional changes were completely undisguised, truly unable to hide even a bit.
After making up his story, Wang Hao looked at the brilliant smile on Wang Lan's face and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
So, Wang Hao calmly said to his sister, "It's getting late, get some rest early!" After speaking, he impatiently turned and returned to his room, as if something terrifying was chasing him from behind.
In fact, he was just afraid that his sister would continue to press him; he knew the principle that one lie requires countless lies to fill the holes.
Wang Hao secretly mused, "It seems it's better to be more cautious in the future! After all, someone as simple as my sister is easy to deal with, but if it were someone with ill intentions, things might not be so simple.
At that time, I really don't know how I would end up..." Thinking of this, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly, sighing, it's really difficult!