My ex-girlfriend is a magical girl junior?

The afternoon sun shone through the windows, illuminating the entire classroom, but Lin Che's heart was shrouded in a lingering gloom.

On the surface, he had regained his composure, staring calmly at the blackboard as if he were listening attentively. However, what kept echoing in his mind were the vicious rumors spoken by Lu Mingyuan.

—Accompanying a rich older man, the cost of sterilization, and a bad reputation…

Each word was like a knife, stabbing deeply into his heart. He tried to piece the fragments together, attempting to understand the truth behind them.

Luo Bingli's act of feeding stray cats and sending them to be spayed/neutered had obviously been going on for some time, and these rumors certainly didn't arise overnight. He couldn't be sure whether Luo Bingli's current wary and aloof demeanor was related to these rumors.

If she became like this because of rumors, the situation might not get worse in the short term. But if she was like this before, and the rumors will cause her secondary harm on top of that... how heavy would that harm be?

This question was like a thorn, deeply embedded in Lin Che's heart. He knew he needed to find an opportunity to tentatively ask her, but he was also worried about touching her deepest wound.

He was powerless to stop the rumors that had spread like wildfire. The school was so big, with so many people, that once a rumor took hold, it was like spilled water that could never be taken back.

Those who are willing to believe will find reasons to believe no matter what, while those who are unwilling to believe may just be like Lu Mingyuan, remaining neutral because of some "well-informed" one-sided information. How many people are truly willing to understand Luo Bingli herself and believe in her kind nature?

Thinking about this, Lin Che felt powerless. He suddenly realized that after learning about this vicious rumor, what he could do now was not much different from what he had done before.

He could only start by being Luo Bingli's friend, slowly getting closer to her, getting to know her, and melting the ice wall in her heart.

My gaze inadvertently fell on the familiar figure in the third row ahead. Su Yuqing was diligently taking notes, her ponytail swaying gently with her writing, gleaming softly in the sunlight.

She was unaware of these malicious rumors; all she saw was Luo Bingli's loneliness and awkwardness, and she felt sorry for her and wanted to help her.

He couldn't imagine how sad and angry Su Yuqing would be when she learned that her friend was being slandered so viciously. Therefore, he decided not to tell Su Yuqing about this for the time being, and to keep it a secret for as long as possible.

He didn't want these filthy things to ruin Su Yuqing's newly recovered mood, nor did he want these rumors to become a new burden and shadow for her.

Let him handle these things alone.

The afternoon classes passed slowly as Lin Che drifted off into his own thoughts, only snapping back to reality when the bell rang.

—School's out.

He casually stuffed his textbook into his schoolbag, and just as he zipped it up and was about to leave the classroom, a figure blocked his way.

"Lin Che, please wait a moment."

It was the class monitor, a calm and refined-looking boy with black-rimmed glasses named Chen Yu. Su Yuqing was following behind him, looking at him with a serious expression, as if she were carrying out some important official business.

"Class monitor, is there something you need?" Lin Che asked, puzzled.

Chen Yu adjusted his glasses, holding a form in his hand: "Before school ends today, all students need to submit their club application forms. Lin Che, I haven't received yours yet."

"Huh?" Lin Che was taken aback. He had completely forgotten about this. There were no clubs in his high school in his previous life. Even after being reborn, he didn't pay much attention to these extracurricular activities.

"Can I... not participate?" he tried to decline.

Chen Yu shook his head: "No, joining clubs is a school requirement and it also counts towards GPA."

There was no escaping it now. Lin Che sighed. He didn't want to affect his GPA for all three years of high school by not participating in clubs, as that would worry his family.

He took the form and his eyes fell on the list of clubs. The various club names made him a little dizzy.

Lin Che remembered his promise to join the same club as Su Yuqing. He turned his gaze to Su Yuqing, who was staring at him intently with an expectant look in her eyes.

"Su, do you have any club recommendations?" Lin Che asked her, his words carrying a tacit understanding that only they could comprehend.

Su Yuqing immediately smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and replied in a lighthearted tone, "Hmm... How's the pastry section? I heard it's really interesting~"

The confectionery club? This has absolutely nothing to do with the light music club, literature club, or badminton club that the other party mentioned wanting to join.

But looking at the words on the form, a scene suddenly flashed through his mind—Su Yuqing clumsily trying to make cookies in the cramped kitchen of her rented apartment. She burned them, but still carefully handed them to him, saying, "Don't be fooled by how they look, they taste pretty good."

Due to limited resources at the time, she didn't have the opportunity to learn how to make more refined pastries, and even the oven she bought was a small, imperfect one.

Now, at this resource-rich high school, she can openly join the dessert club and learn things she never had the chance to try before.

A wave of tenderness and bittersweetness washed over Lin Che. In her past life, in that small, precarious home, she had given up so many of her personal hobbies and dreams for him and for their life.

Now, she finally has the opportunity to pursue those beautiful things that were once put aside.

Lin Che looked at the form, a smile unconsciously appearing on his lips. The smile carried a sense of relief and satisfaction. He picked up his pen and solemnly wrote "Snack Club" in the club section of the application form.

"The Snack Club?" Class monitor Chen Yu glanced at the form he had filled out with some surprise, raising an eyebrow slightly. "This isn't a popular club, and they don't have many activities."

"And as far as I know, the members of the dessert club... are mostly girls." His gaze swept between Lin Che and Su Yuqing, with a hint of curiosity and speculation.

"Yes, I'm sure." Lin Che nodded firmly, offering no further explanation.

He knew what Chen Yu might be thinking, but he didn't care. He chose to join the pastry department simply because she wanted to go, and he was willing to accompany her.

Chen Yu didn't ask any more questions. He just nodded, put away the form, talked to Su Yuqing about the class meeting, and then turned and left.

Before he left, he unconsciously glanced at Lin Che and Su Yuqing again, a thoughtful expression on his face.

After a while, the two walked home together. The setting sun cast long shadows that intertwined on the ground, and the gentle evening breeze of late summer caressed their cheeks, carrying a hint of warmth.

"The dessert section?" Lin Che turned to look at Su Yuqing, a helpless smile on his face. "Weren't you originally planning to choose light music, literature, badminton, or something? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Su Yuqing tilted her head, a faint smile on her face: "Because of you, A-Che~ you said you didn't want to spend too much energy on clubs, so I'll help you choose a club that doesn't require much effort."

She paused, her eyes sparkling, "And it's a perfect opportunity to learn how to make desserts, so I can make them for everyone later!"

As she spoke, she magically pulled a paper bag from her backpack, inside which were several mysterious, somewhat charred, oddly shaped objects that emitted a subtle, burnt smell.

"These are cookies I made while visiting the pastry shop today!" She proudly raised her chin, handing them to Lin Che like a treasure. "Don't let their appearance fool you, they taste pretty good!"

"You made these during your visit? What steps did you learn?" Lin Che couldn't help but tease, looking at the suspicious-looking, charcoal-colored cookies in the bag.

"Prepare the ingredients, knead the dough, roll it out, cut it into shapes using molds, and put it in the oven..." Su Yuqing said earnestly, counting on her fingers.

"We don't have so many steps when we burn charcoal."

"Lin Che!!" Su Yuqing instantly bristled, screaming as she pounced on him, pounding him with her little fists. "You're the one with charcoal in your head! Your brain is full of charcoal!"

While enduring the girl's playful punches, Lin Che took out a piece of "charcoal" from the bag and put it in his mouth.

The biscuit has a complex, indescribable bitterness and burnt taste.

"Hmm...it really tastes awful." He frowned and gave a frank assessment.

"Don't you dare spit it out!" Su Yuqing angrily pressed her hand to his mouth. "This is all the hard work I put into it—"

"I know, I worked so hard to make this charcoal." Lin Che interrupted her, swallowing the cookie with a sigh. But a gentle smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

The gloom surrounding Luo Bingli and the rumors seemed to be somewhat diluted by this genuine and heartwarming interaction.

But Lin Che knew that they still existed, like venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, ready to attack at any moment.

He looked up at the laughing girl beside him. She was laughing so hard she was doubled over because of her reaction after eating the cookie, like an innocent and carefree child.

The determination in my heart to protect the people I care about has become even stronger at this moment.