Chapter 1861:


    “Do you really mean that?” Robin asked, searching her face for something genuine.


    “Of course.” She smiled and gave him an easy pat on the shoulder. “You’re like a little brother to me.”


    Robin’s expression curdled at once. The warmth evaporated.


    It was painfully clear that Christina saw him in exactly the way he least wanted to be seen.


    “Little brother? Give me a break,” he muttered, his voice tight with displeasure.


    “You were the one who insisted on befriending me when I was disguised,” Christina replied, dropping into the low, gravelled male voice she had used for that persona. “I’ve treated you like a brother all along. Don’t you feel the same?”


    Robin felt a chill run down his spine. It was deeply unsettling — watching a woman this striking produce that voice with such ease. It was unmistakably the voice of the friend he had known, and yet some part of him still struggled to ept that they were the same person.


    “Youplete liar!” Robin burst out, hisposure finally giving way. “Why were you going around pretending to be a man?”


    “I needed to protect my identity. But since you’ve worked it out, there’s no reason to keep pretending,” Christina replied coolly.


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    Robin gritted his teeth and levelled a finger at her, searching for the right words. Only one came out. “Liar!”


    Christinaughed and pressed his hand back down. “Rx. You should be ttered that I put so much effort into it. And being my friendes with genuine benefits.”


    Robin let out a short, dismissiveugh. “Who cares.”


    “If you’re not interested, that’s fine. I can always find other people,” Christina said lightly.


    “What?” Robin’sposure cracked. “Are you seriously going to rece me with just anyone?”


    “What do you want me to do? You said you don’t care — should I beg you to be my friend?” Christina asked.


    “You—” Robin started, then stopped, puffed out a breath, and looked away with all the wounded dignity of a sulking child. “I won’t forget that you kept secrets from me,” he muttered under his breath. “Such a liar.”


    Christina watched him and felt a quiet, helpless amusement. “What if I told you a different secret to make it up to you?”


    Robin nced sideways at her, still pouting. “What kind of secret? Don’t just make something up to mess with my head. I’m not stupid.”


    “I promise it’s something significant. The kind of thing that would genuinely surprise you,” Christina said, her voice dropping into something conspiratorial.


    “Fine. Whatever.” Robin made a show of relenting. “Tell me.”


    “Before I say anything — are you going to treat me like a sister or not?” she asked, a yful smile tugging at her lips.


    Robin’s face went scarlet. He opened his mouth and found nothing there.


    “What’s the matter? You’re hesitating?” Christina pressed.


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