Why are you always thinking about dating me?

"uh-huh?"

"Although it may not seem like something to brag about... I did win the heart of Miss Luo Shuishui in the past. Haha, now it seems that this is indeed something worth being proud of."

Luo Shuishui took a step closer to him.

Today she was wearing a white sweatshirt and a light gray skirt, her calves were covered by black socks, and she was wearing black leather shoes. When she approached Lin An, the girl had a faint smile on her face, and then she lifted her toes and gently stepped on his foot.

Lin An could only smile helplessly. Luo Shuishui was too gentle; he couldn't bear to, or rather, dared not, use too much force.

"How dare you say that?!"

"This is just a joke, you always make jokes about me too, we can't be hypocritical, right?" Lin An could feel that her strength seemed to have increased slightly, but it wasn't to the point of making him wince.

"Do you know... that on my eighteenth birthday, when you kissed me, it was the first time I'd ever been kissed by a boy?"

"I guessed it." Lin An heard her gritted teeth and said, but his face was no longer frivolous. This was not something to brag about, but something he needed to apologize for.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"If you had even a sliver of pure heart to love me back then, I wouldn't have gritted my teeth in anger," Luo Shuishui said.

"I think so... when I'm kissing you. I really hate kissing people I don't like," Lin An replied softly.

"Is it true? Or is it just to comfort me? Or is it that illusion of budding love that you created for me, a dream that even you yourself were fooled by?"

"Who knows, but back then... I must have felt a little flutter in my heart."

"Then, Mr. Lin An, what score is it?"

Five points.

"Then you should just die." Luo Shuishui said this, but finally let go of his little leather shoes and returned to the railing. She still leaned against the railing, but gently closed her eyes, letting the raindrops hit her porcelain-white face.

"You... you're the first boy who ever made my heart flutter."

"This is... so annoying."

As she said this, Lin An couldn't discern how much reproach, dislike, or helplessness was in her words, so he chose to return to the classroom and stop talking.

Chapter Seventy-One: The Joy of Placement

"She bullied me so much, and you still went outside the classroom to flirt with her?!"

As soon as Lin An returned to his seat, Xiao Chacha, like a cat with its fur standing on end, bared her teeth and claws at him. Although she didn't make any moves, she was inexplicably more adorable. "There's no romance involved, we're just having a normal chat."

"You're still chatting after breaking up?"

"Breaking up doesn't mean we can't chat. Besides, we broke up amicably, and there's absolutely no chance of us getting back together. We can just chat casually."

"Then I bet she asked about your relationship with me." Xiao Chacha's eyes held a hint of dark and malicious speculation.

"That's true."

"See, this is what you call no sign of a resurgence? Otherwise, why would she even ask?"

"Because she's not very clear-headed." Lin An sighed helplessly, but he did indeed owe Luo Shuishui something, otherwise he wouldn't feel guilty.

Xiao Chacha puffed out her cheeks, but Lin An poked them with a finger and they wouldn't puff out anymore. Her eyes were deep and mysterious, and her dark hair swayed as she turned her head, bringing a pleasant fragrance.

Lin An took two books out of the drawer. "Read a book when you're bored. It'll help you understand yourself better and reduce a lot of worries."

Lin An pulled out two books with very different styles, one was Norwegian Wood and the other was Paradise Lost. However, the covers of the books were very old, and Miss Xiao Chacha obviously did not have the temperament and cultivation of a literary girl.

"A very old book."

"I found these at a street stall last time. There are actually quite a few good things at street stalls. These two are uncut versions, quite interesting. I doubt you could concentrate in class with them. It's better to use them to kill time than to sit and watch meaningless idol dramas all day."

"Which one should I read first?" Xiao Chacha had a problem with making choices.

"Let's look at Norwegian Wood first, then Paradise Lost."

"why?"

"Oh? Actually, either way is fine."

As Lin An said this, Xiao Chacha opened the somewhat old book. She was able to read it, and there were some interesting annotations in some places, which were written by Lin An.

It was noon, and Lin An took Xiao Chacha to the cafeteria for lunch.

Generally speaking, the cafeteria is also the time when Lin An and Su Yuejin meet. Lin An is quite looking forward to seeing what Su Yuejin will wear today. Whatever she wears, he just hopes she won't catch a cold.

After all, it was drizzling lightly today.

When Lin An saw Su Yuejin, Su Yuejin was waving at him and then pointed to the two plates in front of her. Lin An walked over, and Su Yuejin said, "I got out of class early, so I bought them for you."

As she spoke, her voice was gentle and moving, and Lin An was almost moved again. If he hadn't thought that Su Yuejin would definitely know that Xiao Chacha was with him, and that Xiao Chacha would have to queue up by herself, he would have been even more moved.

Looking at the two of them, Xiao Chacha suddenly felt a strange, bittersweet feeling welling up inside her. She glanced at the long queue and whispered to Lin An, "I'm not eating."

The cafeteria was crowded, and Xiao Chacha, standing next to Lin An, felt inexplicably lonely and vulnerable.

"You and Su Yuejin eat first, I'll go buy another one."

He gently patted Xiao Chacha's shoulder in a very gentle voice. Su Yuejin was stunned for a moment. Xiao Chacha's lips curled up, as if her vulnerability just now was all Lin An's illusion. But Lin An didn't care whether he had been fooled or not. He turned around and went to queue up.

Xiao Chacha sat down next to Su Yuejin, and Su Yuejin turned her head to look at her.

"Why does he take such good care of you?" Su Yuejin asked coldly.

"Huh? Is that not allowed? He's my deskmate now." Xiao Chacha happily picked up her spoon and ate in small bites. Su Yuejin didn't really care, she just couldn't understand why Lin An was being so attentive to Xiao Chacha.

"You were doing so well at the girls' school... Now that you've transferred to a regular school, won't you find it hard to adjust?" Su Yuejin asked gently.

Both of them attended regular junior high schools. Su Yuejin knew Xiao Chacha; she hated mixed-gender social interactions, so she disliked such an environment and felt uncomfortable there. But back then, Xiao Chacha had Su Yuejin, who was just as lonely as her, by her side. The two girls always stayed together and took care of each other.

"Because Lin An took your place." Xiao Chacha tilted her head, looking innocent and cute.

"Xiao Chacha, are you really going to get angry with me?" Su Yuejin raised her eyebrows, and her grip on the chopsticks seemed to tighten. Xiao Chacha knew that this was a sign that Su Yuejin was about to get angry.

She wanted to continue, confident that she could ruin Su Yuejin's mood no matter how good it was today, but then she suddenly remembered... her promise to Lin An.

If Su Yuejin really got anxious, then Lin An would get anxious with her. So Xiao Chacha instantly suppressed her provocative expression and became a little more gentle.

“I begged him… I frankly told him about myself, and he agreed to help me out a little, since we were classmates and he is indeed a very gentle person.”

"Isn't a gentle person just someone useful to you?" Su Yuejin mocked mercilessly.

“But I didn’t take advantage of him… I’m sorry, Su Yuejin.”

This time, it was Su Yuejin who widened her eyes, looking at Xiao Chacha's submissive demeanor, "Why have you changed your mind again?"

"I was just afraid you'd misunderstand. After all, I... still want to be your best friend." Xiao Chacha's eyes didn't flicker, but what she said was a pure lie, without a trace of truth in it.

If things have escalated to the point of fighting over men, how can they possibly remain true best friends?!

"Heh." Su Yuejin sneered, but stopped arguing with her, as it was pointless. Not long after, Lin An returned with food and sat down opposite Su Yuejin.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" Su Yuejin asked him.

"Tomorrow... I don't have any plans."

"So you'll just play video games at home?" Su Yuejin asked him.

“Okay, wake me up at nine.” Lin An nodded in agreement. Su Yuejin smiled happily. It was such a simple thing, and many people would love to play with her.

But her smile was radiant.

Xiao Chacha muttered "sycophant" to herself with disdain, but surprisingly, she didn't join in to say she wanted to play too, lest they start arguing again. Su Yuejin had already let it go, but if she interfered now, Su Yuejin might really get angry.

Xiao Chacha was somewhat unwilling to accept defeat. She was not willing to lose to Su Yuejin. Su Yuejin had only known Lin An in real life a few days earlier than her. If you really count, she had known Lin An even earlier.

After lunch, Lin An gave the umbrella to Su Yuejin and asked her to take Xiao Chacha back to the classroom.

The rain wasn't heavy to begin with, and Lin An walked back in the light rain. When he got to his seat, Xiao Chacha handed him two disposable tissues. Lin An dried his hair, but Xiao Chacha reached out and gently grabbed his shoulder.

"Turn around."

Lin An turned her head, and Xiao Chacha held a tissue in her hand, gently wiping the rain from the back of her head. Although Lin An didn't feel anything, after this small gesture, Xiao Chacha continued to read the book Paradise Lost.

The uncut version of Paradise Lost does indeed contain many scenes unsuitable for children.

By the third period in the afternoon, Xiao Chacha had finished reading, closed the book, and let out a soft sigh for no apparent reason.

"Finished reading? Let me tell you an interesting story."

"Ok?"

Junichi Watanabe's first love in his second year of high school, committed suicide by drowning himself in a lake in the winter of his third year of high school.

He also recalled:

"Kiyoko's eyes are beautiful. I still remember the look in her pupils when we kissed. I received a love letter on my birthday and have been hopelessly in love with her ever since."

Junko often invited me to the library, where we would smoke and drink in the evenings. She also took me to cafes and bars frequented by artists in Sapporo, and I felt like I had suddenly matured.

However, in the early spring of her senior year of high school, Junko committed suicide by drowning in Akan, Hokkaido. The night before last, she left a bunch of bright red carnations on my windowsill, as if saying goodbye to me.

At the time, I felt that her feelings for me were very special, but I later found out that she had five boyfriends while she was dating me, and all of them received carnations from her. I've been wondering ever since, who did she really love the most?

She pretended to be in love with various men, but the only person she truly loved was herself. Junko belonged to no one; she belonged only to herself from beginning to end. Junko, like a crystal, was so pure that she could only contain herself.

Xiao Chacha looked up the information on Baidu, then looked slightly dazed, "Why do you remember it so clearly?"

"Oh? Because this story is interesting. It can be used as a conversation starter, which can lead to more topics of discussion and even guide the conversation towards love."

“…I thought you were going to say something sentimental.” Xiao Chacha pouted.

"Eat your fill first, take care of yourself, and then think about those emotional things."

"Have you been in many relationships before?" Xiao Chacha suddenly thought of this and asked him.

After all, how could the information she collected be completely accurate? She only knew the general outline.

"No, I've only dated three people, and we broke up amicably with each of them."

"Then why do you study so much about love?"

"Because love is always a topic that people are most interested in, how interesting! Love and sex are both needs that humans lack. By understanding the underlying motivations behind these things, we can learn more."

Lin An was muttering to himself when Xiao Chacha closed her book, looking somewhat bewildered. Then she looked at Lin An and asked, "Can you include me in your games tomorrow morning?"

"Why don't you ask Su Yuejin? If she says it's okay, then it's okay."

"If you say yes... she'll listen to you, right?" Xiao Chacha seemed a little jealous.

"Huh? Because I spoil her more." Lin An's answer was so shameless that Xiao Chacha couldn't think of a single word to refute it.

Xiao Cha kicked him angrily under the tea table, but Lin An didn't care. He put the book away and left. There was only one class left before school ended, and then the long holiday would begin.