I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

It seems that she will be busy for a while, so it would be better for her to go back first. Besides, a surprise should have suspense. If I knew it in advance today, it would not feel like a surprise.

In the end, the desire to stay was overwhelmed by the desire to go home, so I looked for an exit and turned my eyes away from Ling Jiayin.

See you tomorrow then.

...........

"Hello..." I had just taken a few steps when I received a call from my cousin Ye Jin.

"Hey! Bro, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Can you buy me some chocolates?"

"Honestly, I don't want to help you."

Recently, his attitude towards me has become more and more disrespectful, to the point where he doesn't even take me, his brother, seriously.

"Ah... don't be so stingy. You should be not far from the mall anyway. It's a deal. Please, please, bye~"

The long string of words made it impossible for me to react quickly and refuse... This skill is very typical of me, worthy of being my cousin who often plays with me.

"Okay, okay..."

I sighed and walked towards the chocolate area not far away...By the way, how did Ye Jin know that I was not far from the mall? Well, let’s not go into it too deeply.

Although there are many kinds of chocolate on the shelves, they all have one thing in common: they are expensive.

I'd say Valentine's Day has always been associated with chocolate vendors...

I picked up two bags of chocolates that looked well-packaged and prepared to go to the counter to pay.

"Hey, isn't this our old friend?"

A malicious voice came from the cargo rack next to me.

Hmm... Is this some unlucky guy who met a bad friend? But it’s none of my business.

"I also bought some chocolates. Who are you going to give them to? Haha." Another voice followed.

Luckily I don't have a friend like that... Is this the kind of conversation friends should have?

"It's none of your business..."

The person being questioned spoke...

Wait, this sound...

"It's been a long time since we last met. I didn't expect you to become a good girl now?"

Hey... No way, is this such a coincidence...

I looked towards the conversation.

"Hey? Xiaoling, do you have a boyfriend? Who is he? Is he handsome?"

"I told you it's none of your business, didn't I?"

Ling Jiayin spoke to a few people with an annoyed look on her face.

It seems these are Jiayin's former "playmates." She really made the wrong choice of friends.

"But you look quite cute like this..." He said as he was about to move closer to her.

Simply outrageous.

I don't know where I got the courage from, but I quickly rushed to Ling Jiayin's side and raised my arms to protect her behind me.

"Brother, can you stay away from her?"

..........

Both parties seemed startled by my sudden appearance.

"Who are you? Where did you come from?"

"Ah, I see. You're Xiaoling's boyfriend, right?"

"Hey, hey, are you sure? How could a guy like this top student like Ah Ling? I think he's just an overly hot-blooded student."

"These days, those who get too hot-blooded never have a good ending."

"Okay, okay, we have other things to do, let's go today."

"Okay, I'm in a good mood today, but I might not be so good next time."

"Goodbye, Xiaoling~ I won't disturb your world of two~"

"Hey, I haven't even said I'm her boyfriend yet, please stop saying that..."

"Women's intuition is the best."

...........

This...seems to be alright.

That was a close call. I thought I was going to be dragged out and beaten up by these guys. I was so scared that I didn't even dare to look at their faces closely.

"Are you okay?" I turned around and asked Ling Jiayin.

"It's okay, I'm okay, thank you...really..." Ling Jiayin seemed a little excited, "I was really scared just now...They are different from me, they are really unreasonable guys...I really just..."

"Don't get excited, it's okay now."

"Um...."

Although I kept comforting her, Jiayin couldn't help but shed tears.

..............

Everyone has a vulnerable side. When faced with the vulnerable side of others, do you choose to hurt them or protect them?

At this moment, facing Ling Jiayin whose weakness has been exposed...

"do not Cry,"

I don't know if it was subconscious, but I reached out and wiped away her tears.

"You really look best when you smile."

Deciding to discard things

What's the best way to like someone?

A romantic confession or a holiday gift?

This kind of thing is just a formality, right? If you really like someone... you will do everything you can to protect that person.

That's what I think.

However, if you want to protect the one you love...strength is necessary.

What he lacked was strength. He had neither a strong physique nor reliable friends.

If I had to find out what I have...

"Sheji is a gentle person."

It seems that this kind of useless tenderness is all I have.

Chapter 7 [Memories] Things I decided to abandon

"Be safe on the way back."

Without any extra words, I hurriedly said goodbye to Jiayin at the intersection.

Walking in the opposite direction.

Although I wanted to look back, I held back.

Jiayin just told me...I am a gentle person.

Gentle again... Many people have said this to me before...

What's the use of my gentleness then?

At best, it is just an excuse to help others for free. Faced with a situation like the one Jiayin just encountered, this kind of gentleness is completely useless.

Rather than having this useless tenderness, I would rather have the power to protect something.

The weaker a person is, the more he cares about, and the more cowardly he becomes.

Because we are weak, we are afraid of losing precious people and things; because we are afraid of losing, we value ourselves even more; because we value ourselves too much, we try to stay away from trouble; because we stay away from trouble, we live a comfortable life...but in the end, we are still weak.

Like a vicious cycle, the weak ones will become weaker and weaker.

Just like me...

..................

Today is Valentine's Day. I should be in a good mood since I know that today's harvest will not be zero, but I don't feel any joy at all.

Looking at the familiar way to school, I felt inexplicably reluctant to arrive at school.

However, habit overcame the inexplicable thoughts, and I arrived at the classroom on time.

"Good morning, Sheji."

Greetings as always from Good News.

"Oh, good morning..."

I don't know why, but I always felt that I couldn't look her in the eyes. My heartbeat suddenly quickened and my face inexplicably became hot.

"Here." She handed over a box naturally, "The chocolates you promised me."

"Um...ah, thank you." I took the box, but still didn't look at her directly.

"You seem a little strange today... Are you feeling unwell?" Jiayin asked me with concern.

"Well... maybe I stayed up late watching a movie last night, so I'm a little sleepy..."

He made up a random excuse to change the subject, then quickly slumped over the table.

"Hey...the teacher will be here soon. Do you think this is the time when we used to sit in the last row?" Jiayin seemed to want me to get up, but seeing that I was indifferent, she could only sigh.

"When the teacher comes, tell him you're not feeling well and go to the health room to lie down for a while."

.....【Health Room】.....

I didn't stay up late, but I still went to the health room using the excuse of feeling unwell.

I also feel like something's wrong with me... Yesterday, Jiayin was just a good classmate. But ever since what happened yesterday afternoon, I feel like I can't get along with her the same way I used to.

"What's going on..."

I couldn't help but sigh and talk to myself.

Thinking back on my behavior yesterday afternoon... could this be considered a heroic act? Seriously, I've known for a long time that there's no reward for being a hero, but why did I still have the urge to meddle in other people's business?

Is it simply because he still has his childhood dream of being a hero, or is it because he and Ling Jiayin are close classmates?

Also, why would I do something like wiping away Jiayin's tears...ahhh, I feel my heart beating faster.

When I think of her, her face pops up in my mind. When I see or think of her name, my heart beats faster. I can't look at her face properly when talking to her. When I hear someone call her name, I subconsciously look around for her figure...

Hello...wait, this situation.

I should have thought of that earlier.

Ah...I think...I like her.

.............

What do people usually feel when they suddenly realize that they like someone?

Anyway, after I realized that I liked Ling Jiayin, I didn't feel shy or have the urge to confess my feelings. Instead, I felt a calmness that even I found incredible.

My heartbeat subsided, and my emotions quickly settled. For the first time, a series of questions popped up in my mind simultaneously.

I suddenly remembered what my father once said to me.

That was when Archer left the previous year. I ignored school rules and class schedules, climbed over the wall to skip class and ran to the bus station, but I didn't see him.

I sat on the platform in a daze for a long time before my head teacher and dad appeared in front of me.

As the homeroom teacher, I naturally had to listen to a lecture, but my father didn't say anything, but asked for leave to take me to the hospital because I had scratches on my body when I landed after climbing over the wall.