They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"What do you mean by manipulating space?"

"You don't really need to worry about that... okay, okay."

Seeing Qiu Luxi's eyes, I knew that my attempt to gloss over the situation wouldn't work.

"After all, it's just a private upload and an unofficial channel. Once everything has settled down, you can release an official announcement or something to clarify for me that we are a club and are rehearsing for a campus event."

"At that time, I also asked Xiao Lai to verify the authenticity of this matter in his capacity as a teacher, and implied in the text that the video was filmed on campus, and why it was leaked and caused rumors, just like those negative trending photos, is still unclear to the school."

"At that time, those who spread rumors first should have a big headache. When netizens' curiosity spreads to the background of the event, their genuine candid shots and fabricated stories will be discovered by netizens who scrutinize them closely."

They've shot themselves in the foot. As long as we win, we can wash our hands of everything—including the fact that they manipulated public opinion with fake videos, which we can blame on the other side and call a blunder between online trolls.

However, there is a premise.

"That is, I can win, right?"

Qiu Luxi looked at me quietly. That's why catgirls are so great; even though she's the protagonist in this turbulent storm, she's so calm, as if it has nothing to do with her.

It's no wonder that many people on the trending topics described her as indifferent. Being around Qiu Luxi, you really do get the feeling that she doesn't care about anything.

But right now, I truly hope that she doesn't care about anything.

"Please, with me behind you, how could you possibly lose?"

I said with a forced, relaxed smile.

Actually, this kind of thing is no different from the popular male escorts in Xinjiekou soliciting votes back then; it's all about who can better fool the customers holding the votes. Out of respect for this gray industry, I'll conservatively estimate my chances of winning to be about 90%.

however.

"I don't care whether I win or lose. But I don't want you to lose. Not even the slightest possibility of losing."

Qiu Luxi shook her head, rejecting my suggestion.

My smile froze on my face.

“So, I won’t let you stand behind me,” Qiu Luxi said softly. “Ning Ruoyu, you’re lying to me. You’re not planning to stand behind me—you’re planning to stand in front of me.”

"Hey, you're making me sound so great! We're not related at all, I'm not that kind of nice guy, hahaha..."

“Ning Ruoyu, do you know that whenever you want to lie or hide your true feelings, you act very seriously and solemnly, and also very matter-of-factly?”

Eh?

What is this, a stray cat's intuition?

Qiu Luxi gazed at me, her indigo eyes devoid of any gloom, gleaming with a hint of brilliance and determination, as clear and pure as the sky after the rain, making me involuntarily look away.

How to describe it? It's like a cat that insists on pushing open the bathroom door to see what's going on while you're taking a shower—full of silly worries that make you both laugh and cry.

"Really? I didn't even notice." I casually tried to change the subject. "Don't worry about the details. Trust me, this is really the simplest and most direct way. We'll send the video this afternoon, and they'll probably surrender by tomorrow."

“Yes, I’ve always believed in you.” Qiu Luxi nodded. “But Ning Ruoyu, I don’t want you to stand in front of me or behind me—I just want you to be by my side, like you would in an amusement park.”

"It can be very close, but not too far."

Help! Is this directional problem ever going to end?!

Seeing Qiu Luxi's stubborn attitude, which was as stubborn as a cat, I couldn't help but want to rub my temples.

What's wrong with the people around me? Why do they all try to hold me back when there's a shortcut right in front of me?

“If you insist on using this method, then I would rather apologize to Grandpa and go home.”

"what?"

These words made me somewhat angry. Miss, what do you think my purpose is in helping you right now?

"Going back to being a caged canary, huh? Oh, I should say a caged cat," I said, frowning.

"That's okay, because you are more important than freedom."

The girl spoke frankly and matter-of-factly, completely unaware of the weight of her words.

"Even though I'm locked in a cage, I already know about the outside world. There are big amusement parks, fragrant cafes, lots of cats, fast subways, lively schools, and a very clumsy senior named Ning Ruoyu."

"For me, that's enough. And knowing all this, next time, I'll try even harder to get out. So just wait for me outside, I'll definitely come out of the house—because I promised I'd be your lead singer!"

"no sooner said than done."

...White clouds drifted lazily above the rooftop, and a flock of wild geese, seemingly preparing to fly south, streaked across the sky, making one realize that autumn had already arrived.

Qiu Luxi's unwavering gaze was fixed on my face. Unlike her usual lazy and sleepy demeanor, she looked determined, like a cat patrolling its territory, proud and persistent.

Who said this guy was indifferent? He looks like this, his eyes are so intense it's frightening.

"...Really not going to work? To be honest, the solution I'm offering is the simplest, easiest, and most satisfying, and it's also the one that will benefit you the most."

I still wouldn't give up, and like a disheveled salesman, I made a last-ditch effort.

Absolutely not!

Qiu Luxi denied it in a very forceful tone.

"Ning Ruoyu, are you an idiot? Or are you a fried egg?" The girl shook her head vigorously.

"I don't want you to help me by hurting yourself. You have to be okay!"

What the hell is a bomb? To be called an idiot by a cat like you is the most insult I've ever received in my career.

I sighed and lowered my shoulders.

"Fine, fine, the parties involved don't agree, so Plan A is completely bankrupt—I really can't understand you people, I was so confident in this plan."

Like a failed project manager, I grumbled and held a grudge.

"?"

"Stop being a caged canary. Cats should be shamelessly pushing bottles off the edge of the table with their paws."

"You're not allowed to say that about the cat... well, it's true."

"Right?" I smiled.

"I have as many solutions as I need. Although other things might be a bit more troublesome, it's none of those incompetent online trolls' place to tell me what to do."

I simply chose a method that saves time and effort. However, in terms of manipulating public opinion and manipulating people's minds...

—When did it become the turn of these useless people who only know how to hide behind their screens to lecture me?!

A conservative estimate is that Option 1 has a 90% chance of winning, and the remaining 10% are unlikely to win either – I will win with the remaining options.

Just as I was about to give a confident smile and tell the surprised-looking Miss Cat what the next steps would be,

My phone rang, and a strange message popped up from Chen Di.

I tried my best.

Then, broadcasts rang out from the rooftop—no, from the entire school.

"Um, sorry to bother everyone. I'm An Yu from Class F of the second year of high school..."

? ? ? ?

[Next chapter preview: "What right do cowards have to feel sad?"]

"Because he is certain of one thing: that he is capable of being a disliked character."

"Sometimes I even wonder, is the Ning Ruoyu of today really the same Ning Ruoyu of the past?"

"...Don't do anything foolish!"

Interlude: Stop bullying him!

"Hey, where's Ning Ruoyu?"

The previous break ended badly, and at the beginning of the lunch break, An Yu wanted to stop Ning Ruoyu, only to find that his seat was already empty.

"He ran out a few minutes before get out of class ended."

A boy next to Ning Ruoyu said ingratiatingly to An Yu. Although he had felt hopeless about sitting next to Ning Ruoyu at the beginning of the semester, he never expected that this seat would frequently attract An Yu and Chen Di, giving him a feeling of finding oil in the desert.

"I see. Thank you."

An Yu was somewhat disappointed, but still politely thanked the boy. The boy waved his hand, indicating that she should feel free to ask him any questions.

"Then, do you know where Ning Ruoyu went?"

The boy waved his hand dismissively, indicating that he had absolutely no idea about such a question.

An Yu nodded and returned to his seat.

"...Couldn't find them?"

"Ah."

Because Ning Ruoyu was sitting in the back, An Yu and Ge Lanlan, who were in the front row, did not notice that he had slipped away beforehand.

"I did see it at the time, but I didn't expect that guy..." Hu Dan said with some self-reproach.

There was an unspoken rule in Class F: occasionally, someone would leave the classroom early during the last period to reserve a seat in the cafeteria. When Hu Dan saw Ning Ruoyu leave, she was puzzled but didn't think much of it.

"Hmm, it's okay, I'll go find him later... Eh? What if the class monitor...?"

An Yu noticed Chen Di, who had also walked to Ning Ruoyu's position, and glanced at him with a conflicted and hesitant expression on his face.

"...Go ask the class monitor, we'll go to the cafeteria and order lunch for you first."

"!"

"Is that okay?"

An Yu looked up at Hu Dan.

"Hmm. Otherwise, you would definitely be thinking about this all the time, right? An'an, once you're preoccupied with something, you always get distracted—and then you can't even enjoy your meals, can you?"

"Well, I don't have any worries anymore."

An Yu's blush made Hu Dan feel a slight pang of sadness. Concealing her own emotional turmoil, she gently patted the girl's head.

"Go ahead, go ahead. If anyone is going to find that guy, it's probably only the class president."

"Ok!"

Watching An Yu run towards Chen Di's location, Hu Dan smiled slightly.

"...Don't you feel heartbroken?" Ge Lanlan said calmly from the side.

"And you, don't you feel sad?" Hu Dan didn't answer, but instead asked in return.

Ge Lanlan was slightly taken aback, and then gave a bitter smile.

"Me?... Compared to An'an, I'm a coward. What right does a coward have to feel sad?"

……

"Monitor!"

An Yu greeted Chen Di, who was deep in thought.

"...Hmm? What's wrong?"

Chen Di snapped out of his daze, looked at the somewhat anxious girl, and smiled gently.

"Um, do you know where Ning Ruoyu is right now?"

"I'd love to ask that guy too."

Chen Di's words carried a hint of emotion.

"Even you don't know?"

An Yu was visibly disappointed.

"But I can guess it to some extent."

"Please, please tell me!"

Chen Di was startled by An Yu's change in mood and gently waved his hand.

"Okay, An Yu, calm down first."

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry."

“Although he said he was discussing it with us, it was probably just a notification,” Chen Di said softly. “For him, this plan is the one that maximizes his interests, so no matter how much we say, he will stick to his own opinion.”