Zongman: Evolution Paradise

These traditional streets have small parks for children to play in, and she was sitting on a swing in the park, getting wet in the rain.

Why isn't she seeking shelter from the rain? What is she doing there?

Jolyne walked up to her and tilted her umbrella.

"Jyolun?"

The rain stopped falling, and Shiina Mahiru looked up in confusion, only to be surprised to find Jolyne standing in front of her.

"Hi."

Jolyne greeted her.

"Hi?"

Shiina Mahiru responded to him using Jolyne's greeting.

"Why are you staying here? Aren't you going to find shelter from the rain?"

Even if you don't have an umbrella, most shops wouldn't stop you from going in to take shelter from the rain.

"Don't worry, I'll leave right away."

Shiina Mahiru's eyes were somewhat dim, but she still forced herself to be cheerful and pretended that nothing was wrong.

Shiina Mahiru didn't want to cause Jolyne any trouble or cause her any worry, so she stood up and prepared to leave.

Unfortunately, she exuded a fragile aura, and her voice sounded extremely tired. Coupled with her petite body, she didn't seem alright at all; instead, she seemed to be telling others to come and comfort her.

Jolyne naturally noticed her low spirits, but they were just neighbors and classmates who weren't very familiar with each other, so he didn't ask any further questions.

I simply held up an umbrella to shield her from the rain as much as possible and took her to the shop over there.

People came and went on the street, some with umbrellas, some without, some in a hurry, some calm, and all kinds of sounds came together, making it very noisy.

Shiina Mahiru lowered her head, stayed under the umbrella, and looked at Jolyne beside her, a ripple of emotion stirring in her heart.

It was a feeling of being redeemed.

When she was alone in the park in the rain, Shiina Mahiru had the illusion that she had been abandoned by the world.

The loneliness and pain in her heart surged up like a tide, and Shiina Mahiru was like a kite with a broken string, weightless, drifting in the cold wind.

However, just as she was about to suffocate, an umbrella appeared over her head, blocking the rain.

All those feelings ceased because of the umbrella that suddenly appeared; the tide receded, and the broken string was pulled back.

"It's you again, Jolyne."

Shiina Mahiru secretly said to Jolyne in her heart.

The journey wasn't far, and Jolyne quickly delivered Shiina Mahiru to a nearby shop.

"They sell umbrellas inside. If you don't want to buy any, you can wait here for the rain to stop."

Jolyne stopped and spoke to Shiina Mahiru.

"Thank you, Jolyne."

Shiina Mahiru left Jolyne's umbrella, walked under the eaves, and expressed her gratitude.

"You're welcome. Just don't tell the landlord about the ceiling."

Jolyne waved her hand, opened her umbrella, and stepped back into the rain.

Shiina Mahiru stood under the eaves, watching Jolyne's departing figure, her eyes dimming.

As expected, he still left.

Perhaps relying on the brief warmth Jolyne brought, she couldn't help but hope that Jolyne would continue to stay with her.

The result is clear: this was merely her wishful thinking.

To Jolyne, she was just a neighbor and classmate whose name she had just memorized.

Thinking this, the umbrella suddenly reappeared in front of Shiina Mahiru.

"Jolyne, what brings you back?"

Shiina Mahiru asked, puzzled.

"I suddenly remembered that I haven't made amends to you about the ceiling. Would you like to come have dinner with me?"

Jolyne extended her hand, inviting her to join in.

Chapter 27 Two-Person Ramen Challenge

As if by some strange twist of fate, Shiina Mahiru took Jolyne's hand.

I regretted it a little after I took his hand.

Wouldn't this make Jolyne seem too frivolous?

But it really does feel warm.

Shiina Mahiru blushed slightly as she looked at Jolyne beside her. Perhaps it was psychological, but she felt a warmth emanating from Jolyne.

In fact, Jolyne was using the Golden Light Spell to help her dispel the cold.

He was indeed going to leave, but Shiina Mahiru stayed under the eaves and didn't go inside.

Jolyne's divine eye noticed that the evil spirits on the street were all surging towards Shiina Mahiru.

Worried that something might happen to her and the landlord would come to inspect the house, Jolyne had no choice but to return.

Jolyne looked at Shiina Mahiru and wondered if Soubu University had a lot of problem students.

Normal college students shouldn't be shuttling between the cafeteria, classroom, and toilet, dealing with the pressure of exams and college entrance exams every few days.

(Originally a high school student, now modified like this; please replace if the context is incorrect.)

At most, you might feel sentimental about the passing of autumn while sleeping, and then continue with the next day of cramming under the pressure of reality?

No wonder Hiratsuka Shizuka always complained to him about how difficult the job of a teacher was, and other discouraging things.

Arriving at a nearby station, Jolyne took her onto the tram.

The train was crowded, but after seeing Jolyne, everyone on the train was quite polite and made way for her, leaving her some space.

Shiina Mahiru is only 156cm tall, and looks like a child standing next to Jolyne.

"You don't need to treat me to a meal; I should be the one thanking you."

Shiina Mahiru said in a low voice.

"Don't worry, I don't actually have any money to treat you to a meal, so this meal is free."

Jolyne took a flyer out of her bag and handed it to the puzzled Shiina Mahiru.

Shiina Mahiru took it; the pink flyer read: Couples' Double Eating Challenge?

"Hey, hey, hey, what couple... we're not even together yet..."

Shiina Mahiru's face flushed red as she spoke in a flustered manner.

Seeing her shy expression, Jolyne explained to Shiina Mahiru, "Don't worry, this is just a publicity stunt. Even if two women or two men challenge the boss, he won't refuse."

"That's it."

Shiina Mahiru knew she had misunderstood Jolyne, but she was still a little shy, so she changed the subject and asked, "By the way, why was Jolyne there?"

"Because I happen to be working there today."

Many more passengers poured onto the tram, making the carriage extremely crowded. The people around Jolyne were also pushed and shoved by those behind her, involuntarily compressing the space in their direction.

Jolyne had no choice but to move closer to Shiina Mahiru to shield her from the people around her.

Shiina Mahiru, clutching Jolyne's clothes, looked at his tall figure and inexplicably felt a strange sensation she had never experienced before.

She felt like a child being protected by Jolyne, an adult.

Shiina Mahiru quietly savored this wonderful feeling.

Jolyne didn't continue speaking. To him, Shiina Mahiru was just an unfamiliar neighbor, an unfamiliar classmate, and a creditor whose debts were about to be paid off.

Jolyne will not see herself as the protagonist, nor will she see anyone as a character in the story.

The plots he had seen in his past life were just a reference, but the person in front of him was a living, breathing human being.

Shiina Mahiru could appear at Soubu University, Hiratsuka Shizuka and Kirisu Mafuyu could get to know each other, and Sekiya Shinki could continue being his Silver Cod Prince.

So, although she is indeed very cute, Jolyne does not have any romantic feelings for her.

There are so many beautiful women in the world, does that mean you'll like every single one you see?

This isn't a card collection and development game where you can get a rare card, satisfy your sense of accomplishment, and then leave it to gather dust in your inventory.

This is also why Jolyne never explained her bad reputation after she went to university.

Well... I really messed with too many women in elementary and middle school. After middle school, I never had the idea of ​​actively pursuing anyone again.

The tram traveled smoothly and soon arrived at Jolyne's destination.

"Face Soul?"

Shiina Mahiru read out the name of the shop.

"The shop owner sounds rather immature."

Jolyne complained.

However, this restaurant is very popular, and you can feel the lively atmosphere inside even from the outside, so the food must be delicious.

Jolyne, holding the flyer, led Shiina Mahiru inside.

"Boss, two-person ramen challenge."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man, wearing a headscarf and with a stubble beard, stood up agitatedly.

He even pulled out a gong from under the bar, struck it several times, and excitedly shouted, "It's here!"

"Couple's Ramen Challenge!"

Upon hearing this, the customers in the store applauded to welcome the two who were taking on the challenge.

"Couples and such..."

Shiina Mahiru was quite shy in the face of this enthusiastic scene.

Fortunately, their enthusiasm was genuine, and they didn't bother Jolyne and Shiina Mahiru after they took their seats.

Soon, the shop owner and waiter carried over an enormous bowl of ramen and placed it on the table in front of them.

This challenge ramen uses traditional Japanese tonkotsu broth, which is simmered for a long time, resulting in a rich and fragrant soup.

The ingredients are quite generous, with pork chop, char siu, seaweed sheets, bean sprouts, soft-boiled egg, and ketchup arranged in a heart shape.

It's clear that the owner didn't deliberately make the ramen taste bad to discourage diners from succeeding in the challenge; on the contrary, he was very sincere.

However, couples who challenge themselves to eat ramen will naturally not split it into two bowls.

"So, you mean we're going to eat together?"

Shiina Mahiru felt the heart pattern on the ramen was particularly eye-catching, and her head was spinning with embarrassment.

"No, just order another regular ramen. I can finish this one by myself."

A two-person challenge is possible, but it's also possible for one person to finish it.

Jolyne handed the menu on the table to Shiina Mahiru, indicating that she should order something else she wanted.

"Shall I order another one?"

Shiina Mahiru doubted that she had heard correctly. She glanced at the giant bowl of ramen and assumed that Jolyne was taking care of her.

"But wouldn't it be a waste of money if one person couldn't finish it all?"

Shiina Mahiru asked softly, then turned her head, clutching the hem of her clothes and saying calmly, "If you need it, I don't mind helping you eat..."

In fact, her ears were already bright red.

Jolyne promptly refused: "Don't worry, I can finish it all by myself."

A question mark popped into Shiina Mahiru's mind, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart, unsure whether it was relief or disappointment.