I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"Sky Temple...san?"

The language used was polite, and the voice sounded like it hadn't been heard in a long time; it was neither familiar nor unfamiliar.

Tenkuji Yu turned his head and saw a woman with braided pigtails, wearing large round-framed glasses, with a simple and quiet temperament, yet a slender and graceful figure, holding a drink and looking at him as if caught off guard.

“Water… no, Ichinose-san?” Tenkuji Yuya was somewhat surprised. “What a coincidence, to meet you here.”

"Huh? What's going on?"

Yui Yuigahama blinked blankly, looking back and forth between the high school boy and the mature woman in front of her. For some reason, she suddenly wanted to call Natsukawa Masuzu to come and put things in order.

—No, that girl was just a fake girlfriend. As a real friend, I'm definitely more important than her, right?!

"I came here to eat with my friends..."

Chizuru Ichinose glanced at the high school textbooks on their table, then looked at Yui Yuigahama's serious gaze as if she were scrutinizing something, and then smiled knowingly.

"Are you having a study session with your girlfriend? I'm so sorry to have disturbed you, I'll be leaving now."

Yuu Tenkuji waved her hand: "Don't worry about it, she's just a good friend. I was just telling her about what happened during the recording of the show, and before I could even get to the point, you, the person involved, just happened to show up."

From sunny to cloudy, Yui Yuigahama's expression changed dramatically, yet she didn't seem too disappointed, though her face looked a little sullen.

"...I see, that's quite a coincidence."

After a moment's hesitation, Ichinose Chizuru couldn't quite figure out the relationship between the two of them, but she knew what to say and do at this moment.

Reading between the lines is her forte; if she couldn't even do that, she wouldn't be a five-star rented girlfriend with a perfect record of zero negative reviews.

Now, without needing to offer excessive explanations, simply maintaining a respectful tone and attitude is enough to perfectly handle any unexpected situation.

So, Ichinose Chizuru started walking back towards her seat and said with a smile, "I still have to go see my friends. Let's chat again next time, Tenkuji-san... Good luck on your exams."

"Ah, thank you..." When she met her gaze, Yui Yuigahama was startled. She obediently placed her hands on her lap and nodded softly in response.

After Ichinose Chizuru left, she turned her gaze back, relaxed her tense shoulders as if in relief, and sighed, "I always felt she was a great beauty, but she deliberately made herself look dowdy with her clothes... and she has such a good temperament, without any of that gloomy style of a literary girl."

That's right.

Tenkuji Yu shrugged, not intending to explain that the other person had a glamorous other side.

"So, Xiaoyou, where did you get to know a beauty of this caliber?"

Changing the subject abruptly, Yui Yuigahama's gaze sharpened, her eyes fixed on him, her jealousy and dissatisfaction evident.

"Based on what you just said, did you meet while recording a TV show? Why did she use honorifics with you?"

Tenkuji Yu looked at her speechlessly: "...I was just about to ask, why do you think so fast when something like this happens? Wouldn't it be better to use more of your intelligence for studying?"

"Don't change the subject!" Yui Yuigahama slammed her hand on the table, like a puppy trying to fiercely intimidate a human. Her bright, watery eyes were wide open, reflecting his image perfectly.

"Don't get distracted from your studies!" Yuu Tenkuji didn't waver at all. He just mimicked her tone and slammed another test paper on the table. "I've changed my mind. You finish this test paper, and then I'll tell you about meeting Ms. Ichinose and recording the show with her."

"...Okay, let's do it!"

A spark ignited in her eyes, and Yui Yuigahama snatched the test paper, immediately beginning to write furiously.

Seeing her full of energy, Tenkuji Yu couldn't help but roll her eyes, then covered her forehead as if exhausted, not knowing what to say.

Teenage girls are truly a strange and inexplicable creature...

"This is also to find out more about Yuu—Yui Yuigahama, go all out!"

"..."

correct.

Yui Yuigahama is the most inexplicable one.

A smile unconsciously crept onto her lips. Tenkuji Yu shook her head, picked up her investment textbook again, and while studying, she listened attentively to the sounds of the girl's hard work.

The sunlight, as if two years had passed, streamed in again through the library window, enveloping the two of them brightly and warmly.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Ex-Girlfriend's Appearances Seem to Be Gradually Increasing (Part Two)

Time flies.

A golden ball of light gradually slanted from the center of the sky, drifting between the towering buildings.

As dusk approached, the sky, greeted by the hoarse cawing of crows, burst forth with a rich, orange-yellow glow.

"That's enough for today. The midterm exams should be fine."

After checking the answers on the test paper, Yuu Tenkuji nodded and began tidying up the books on the table.

Yui Yuigahama slumped onto the table again, her breasts pressed into two mounds of rice cake, and she sighed weakly:

"It's finally over... It's been so long since I've studied so attentively for several hours..."

Moreover, it was completely different from the warm, peaceful, and occasionally ambiguous learning atmosphere she had initially envisioned.

Despite being in a lively family restaurant, the person in front of me created a serious atmosphere like a study room; forget about being all lovey-dovey, my mind was basically filled with all sorts of problem-solving methods and study tips, leaving no room for any strange thoughts.

To be fair, his guidance was indeed much stricter than it was two years ago. I don't know if it's because he's become smarter or because their relationship is closer than before.

In addition, as a reward for her diligent study, Yui Yuigahama also learned from Yuu Tenkuji how he met Chizuru Ichinose.

This is nothing to be ashamed of. Before leaving with her companions, Ms. Ichinose also shared her thoughts on the day's experience—she hoped to have the opportunity to see his superb acting skills again, and if possible, she would like to become his apprentice.

Although it was just a joke, Yui Yuigahama understood something from the other person's attitude of treating Yuuto Tenkuji, who was clearly a university student, as an equal:

The person she likes is indeed very capable at everything!

It's just a matter of whether he's willing to do it or not. There shouldn't be anything in this world that can stump him... For some inexplicable reason, Yui Yuigahama felt very proud of this.

At the same time, he was also a little smug.

"You haven't told Natsukawa about this yet, have you?"

"I didn't say that."

"So, this is my little secret with you! That's right, the first person you shared this secret with wasn't Natsukawa-kun, but me, Yui!"

Mimicking the tone of that silver-haired girl from back then, Yui Yuigahama stood up straight, pointed her thumb at herself, and laughed heartily, and silly.

Tenkuji Yu didn't hesitate to pour cold water on her: "My sister was the first one, and you're next."

"I can't hear you, I can't hear you—my sister isn't a stranger, how can you include her in this?"

With her hands pressed against her ears, Yui Yuigahama shook her head playfully, as if venting the pent-up emotions of the past few days, or perhaps thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being ahead of others.

Yuu Tenkuji shook his head, too lazy to say anything more, and tidied up the stationery on the table before preparing to go home.

"Go back and get the review paper I made for you, review it a few more times, and then get some rest to recharge. If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to take off in this midterm exam."

Yui Yuigahama blinked, lowered her hands, and pursed her lips slightly: "I wish that were true... To be honest, I'm still a little unsure."

Seeing Tenkuji Yu frown, she quickly waved her hands and explained, "It has nothing to do with you! It's my own problem of lacking confidence. Yu has already helped me a lot, and if possible, I would like to give you my best results to repay you, but... who knows if I will be so nervous in the exam room that I will forget everything!"

"Then don't forget."

He said crisply and decisively, "No matter what happens, don't let yourself forget what you've learned today. Engrave it thoroughly into every crease of your mind, just like you wouldn't forget to wear clothes when you go out."

"It's so difficult!" Yui Yuigahama shrank back, looking somewhat fearful.

"I believe in you. It's okay if you don't believe in yourself, as long as you believe in me."

After making his boast, Tenkuji Yu downed the rest of his soda in one gulp, slammed the bottom of the glass on the table with a thud, and stared at her with a serious expression.

"And then, if your midterm exam results come out and you haven't made much progress, and you've just wasted my whole day..."

"If..."

He drew out his words, causing Yuihama to nervously swallow and shrink back in her seat, fidgeting.

His gaze, almost tangible, slowly slid from her face, lips, neck, and collarbone to her full breasts, and even the half of her body hidden under the table did not escape his scrutiny.

As if contemplating how to ravage everything in sight, the corners of his beautifully shaped lips curled up slightly, gradually forming a wicked smile that made one blush and their heart race.

—By the way, the handsome guy is called Evil Smile, and the not-so-handsome guy is called Silver Smile. Anyone trying to imitate him should know their place.

Readers of this book don't need to worry about this; everyone reading this is handsome, and they look good no matter how they smile.

A whole day had passed, and the atmosphere finally became ambiguous. Yui Yuigahama subconsciously put her legs together, placed her hands on her knees, blushed, blinked more frequently, and stared at him nervously yet with inexplicable anticipation.

"There shouldn't be any strange punishment, right?"

"Of course there are."

"Really?!"

"...Why do I get the feeling that you seem pretty happy?"

"No, no such thing happened! Why are you punishing me?!"

"I have given you the most precious thing in humankind—knowledge."

"I see... Alright then, as long as the punishment isn't too terrible, it's fine."

She looked away, muttering to herself, trying to appear nonchalant, her fingers twisting gently under the table.

"Don't worry." Tenkuji Yu smiled very kindly. "Anyway, I plan to leave it to Natsukawa Masuzu to think about, so you won't say I'm a devil... As for what kind of punishment she will give you, I don't know. I can only pray that she is a good person."

"..."

It would be a miracle if I could relax.

—Isn't this the kind of person who is always fearless because they are favored?

As Yui Yuigahama angrily pounded her books on Tenkuji Yu's head, she was also making a solemn vow in her heart—this time, she would definitely make Yu look at her in a new light during the midterm exams!

After all, it's obvious that with Xia Chuan's terrible personality, he would definitely deliberately flirt with Xiao You in front of her and show off their love like crazy!

This is no longer a matter of confidence or lack thereof.

In order to avoid having her heart stabbed again, and also to protect her unrequited love, Yui Yuigahama made the decision to break free from her "idiot" persona once more.

△

Before the sun had even dipped below the horizon, a young woman in a luxury apartment abruptly slammed shut the roughly drawn comic book she was holding.

"I sense it... it smells of infidelity!"

She lightly licked her lips, then got out of bed with a serious expression, put on a light coat, and made a swift and decisive decision to go out.

However, once the door was opened, Natsukawa Masaki frowned again, swiping her fingers across her phone screen but suppressing the urge to make a call.