Happy Evil Heartbreaker [Modern LitRPG]

Xanthia turned and followed the voice, her gaze falling upon a young man with an ordinary crew cut, dressed in a simple blue and white sports uniform. Yet, his hairstyle and clothing could not conceal his strikingly handsome features.

This was Dionysios El Papadopoulos, Xanthia's younger brother by a mere three months. Born on August 8th, Xanthia was a Leo, while Dionysios, with his birthday on November 11th, was a Scorpio.

Astrologically speaking, Scorpios are adept at concealing their innermost selves, placing immense value on personal privacy while often coming across as aloof. They possess a steadfast belief in the supremacy of reality, coupled with strong ambitions and desires for revenge. Among all the zodiac signs, they are the least likely to engage in romantic relationships, harboring a deep-seated distrust of human nature. Their capacity to love and hate is marked by intense possessiveness, and they can be terrifying when angered yet incredibly endearing when gentle, showcasing two entirely different facets of their personalities.

In public, Dionysios always exuded gentleness, but he could be cold and decisive when rejecting others.

Xanthia was momentarily taken aback to see Dionysios and quickly rifled through her original memories, seeking to reference the former's attitude toward this unexpected younger brother.

As anticipated, the original had never shown Dionysios any kindness. With her social anxiety and introverted nature, she was determined not to alter her demeanor toward him merely because Dionysios had lowered himself to flatter her.

Most importantly, the original harbored a deep-seated hatred for their scoundrel father, Demetrios El Papadopoulos. Yet Dionysios, possessing high emotional intelligence, knew how to win their father's favor, causing Demetrios to swell with pride over his accomplished son.

Demetrios, who had never cared much for his deceased wife and daughter, had become even more indifferent to Xanthia, as he revelled in the achievements of Dionysios. He believed that as long as he spent a little money to support his daughter and ensured she did not starve, he had fulfilled his duties as a father.

Demetrios's subsequent marriage to Eleanor La Liam, Dionysios's mother, was devoid of any pretense of being a good stepmother. With a poor reputation—having led a chaotic private life in her youth—Eleanor continued her indulgent lifestyle even as Demetrios's legitimate wife.

Eleanor boasted credentials befitting a playgirl. Coming from the esteemed Liam Familia, she was the granddaughter of Apollo El Liam, the founder of the famous "Crown" hotel chain. Her life story could easily rival that of the Hilton sisters; she dabbled in modelling, appeared on variety shows, acted, and indulged in various illicit activities.

In many ways, Eleanor and Demetrios were a perfect match, both reveling in their indulgent ways and understanding the intricacies of high society. A stepmother like her showed little concern for Xanthia, let alone for her own son, Dionysios.

Ultimately, Dionysios's birth was an accident. Eleanor herself had little recollection of how she had become pregnant, having believed she had taken precautions during her "friendly" encounters with Demetrios. Perhaps she had indulged a little too much one evening and overlooked the details...

Nevertheless, by marrying into the Papadopoulos Familia, she felt she had contributed to the Liam Familia. With her relatives as support, she was indifferent to her reputation in the Papadopoulos dominion. After all, Demetrios was no paragon of virtue; she did not mind that he was a wastrel, marginalized within the familia.

Yet, Demetrios maintained a facade of respectability.

He held the position of director responsible for selecting members of the "Helena Real Estate Group." Additionally, he was the chairman of a certain English Premier League football club, although he wielded no real influence over its operations. Moreover, he was a partner investor in the well-known domestic esports club, Armaggedon Team. Despite holding a minor stake and having little say, he always portrayed himself as the boss, striving to make his presence known.

Evidently, Demetrios had no role in the core industries of the Papadopoulos Familia. Neither his elder brother, Andreas El Papadopoulos, nor his elder sister, Maria La Papadopoulos, were ordinary individuals. Particularly, Maria had not married outside the familia. With her backing, her husband had risen from a prosecutor to a member of the National Congress, thereby granting her greater influence within the Papadopoulos Familia. Her children bore the "Papadopoulos" surname, allowing them to compete for inheritance rights in the future.

"Dionysios, whether I'm well or not, what does it concern you?" Xanthia responded, mimicking the original's dismissive attitude.

At her words, Dionysios's expression dimmed slightly; however, he had grown accustomed to such treatment. If Xanthia were to suddenly change her disposition, he would undoubtedly find it strange.

Xanthia remained cautious. In front of her classmates, she could comfortably be her true self, for they did not know her well; everyone was an unfamiliar face. Furthermore, with a new desk partner, she could easily alter her appearance.

But Dionysios was different. He had only recently moved out to live independently, and even before that, they had been familia, irrespective of the ordinariness of their relationship. It was Dionysios who wished to regard her as his sister, while she remained entirely closed off, indifferent to all members of the Papadopoulos Familia.

[ Ding, Pain Value +111 from Dionysios. ]

Huh? What are you suffering from? I’m merely replicating the original's attitude from memory...

Xanthia couldn't help but think sarcastically.

Dionysios quickly regained his gentle smile upon hearing her words. He spoke patiently and sincerely, "In this world, there are certain things that cannot be altered from birth. However, I have always believed that effort can at least make things better. Xanthia, grant me a chance. I will take on the responsibilities that they have forsaken, so whatever challenges you face at school, I will be here to support you."

Xanthia's mind flickered with memories of that extravagant husband-and-wife pair. She regarded him with a peculiar expression, saying, "They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You're so responsible, nothing like our father. Have your genes mutated or something?"

Encountering Xanthia, who appeared willing to engage in conversation, was a rarity. Dionysios did not take offence at her sarcasm; rather, he responded with enthusiasm, "Xanthia, regardless of everything, we are blood relatives. Helping one another is only natural. What do you think?"

Xanthia recognized Dionysios's potential usefulness; after all, he was the "campus crush" and seemed quite influential at school.

"I suppose it’s acceptable... But in terms of age, I should be a tad older. You don’t even want to call me big sister. Where's your sincerity?" Xanthia crossed her arms, pushing further.

Deliberately avoiding her younger brother, as the original had done, felt like a squandered opportunity. She sought to gauge his reaction, and when she noted his indifference, which could potentially cause him pain, she felt she could manipulate the situation to her advantage.

Dionysios froze. How could he call her big sister?

Deep down, he regarded Xanthia as his little sister!

He felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility and protectiveness toward her, fully aware that no one else in this world cared for her anymore...

Only he cared—wholeheartedly!

Even if she treated him with indifference, he would remain patient and gentle. It was his inherent duty!

And please, do not accuse him of having a sister complex. After all, how could there be a sister complex without a sister in this world?

"Well... let's forget about the sister thing. I’m just not accustomed to it," Dionysios admitted, his expression troubled.

Without another word, Xanthia turned and walked away, reverting to her previous cold and resolute demeanor. Upon hearing the notification from the system indicating an increase in her "pain points," she nearly chuckled. This insipid little brother was indeed a useful tool.

Dionysios watched her retreating figure, frustration welling up inside him. It was a rare opportunity to engage with Xanthia, who seemed willing to communicate, yet he had failed to seize it.

And those who idolized Dionysios as a campus crush would likely be astounded to witness him groveling before Xanthia, consumed by negative emotions...

In the end, Xanthia triumphed!