They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

Chapter 81: An Accidental Gathering

Although they managed to salvage the situation in the end, it was a rather reluctant attempt.

But I don't think all the students at Linwai High School are idiots.

Rather than saying it was a final addition, it was more like a fig leaf to cover up the truth.

Seeing An Yu sitting helplessly on the ground, I sighed.

However, it was precisely this casual sigh that made An Yu shiver as if he had a stress reaction.

"Did I...did I do something bad to you again?"

An Yu raised his head and said uneasily.

"Huh? Your destructive power is only enough to threaten a can of luncheon meat. I'm not luncheon meat."

He had expected to receive some criticism, but instead received no response whatsoever. An Yu seemed relieved, nodding and appearing much more at ease.

...This child is broken.

I patted my forehead slightly and looked at Chen Di next to me.

"I tried my best, you know?" he said with an innocent look. "I'm not like you who can pick locks."

"When we arrived, who was that guy leaning against the wall, listening to the radio with such interest?!"

"I feel very touched," Chen Di said with a smile.

Damn it, this guy didn't even bother pretending anymore, he immediately started laughing gleefully.

"Are you able to stand up?"

Qiu Luxi walked up to An Yu and extended her hand.

"That, thank you."

An Yu glanced at me, took Qiu Luxi's hand, and stood up with a little effort.

...Since you're all standing up, stop tugging at my sleeve. I'm not a handrail on a bus.

"Junior, I..."

An Yu finally loosened his grip on my sleeve and said to Qiu Luxi with some hesitation.

“I cannot support Ning Ruoyu in solving the problem that way. I don’t know what to do either… I’m sorry, if there’s anything I can help with, or if you need me to be a witness, I’m all I can do! But that method is the one thing I cannot accept.”

She bowed to Qiu Luxi in apology.

"I will try my best to help. I'm really sorry."

“…Silly woman.” Qiu Luxi poked An Yu’s cheek, who was looking down.

"I wouldn't agree to this guy using this method either."

She said nonchalantly, "If he dares to use this method, I'll drop out of school!"

There's no need to specifically mention those previous conversations.

Seeing Chen Di's ambiguous smile, I slightly shifted my gaze.

Honestly, is this kind of relaxed atmosphere just naturally created when teenagers of the same age get together? These girls have absolutely no sense of urgency, what kind of time is this!

And An Yu, you don't think that your unauthorized broadcasting is over, do you?! The aftermath is yet to come!

"In short, let's go back first. There was a lot of chaos at noon today, everyone should at least calm down first."

I suggested that.

"Um. That, Ning..."

An Yu's phone kept ringing even though there were no calls. She turned on the screen, glanced at the messages, then looked at me uneasily, hesitating to speak.

This guy seems to have become much more timid, which is really strange.

So I patted her head without any hesitation, which startled her and made her stiffen slightly.

"Just say what you want to say. What's wrong? Are you still engrossed in the radio drama you just watched?"

"It's not a radio drama!" she said unhappily, finally regaining some of her energy.

"It's Li Yueyao. She said she wants to talk to us after school this afternoon, and she especially wanted to see you—would you be willing to go see her?"

Now? Qiu Luxi's matter is more important. I don't have time to discuss who is right and who is wrong with that girl anymore.

Just as I was about to refuse, An Yu added.

"She said she also wanted to help with Qiu Luxi's matter."

Ah, although she's impulsive, she seems to be a very smart girl.

……

"An'an!!!"

On the rooftop in the afternoon, as soon as they met, Li Yueyao hugged An Yu tightly, causing An Yu to struggle wildly.

"Um, Xiao Yao, breathe, my breath..."

"I, I, I had no idea! An'an, you've been suffering so much all this time!"

An Yu frantically waved his hands, like a drowning person struggling—it certainly looked like he was in a lot of pain.

"Gulu gulu gulu..."

"Waaaaah, I'm so sorry!!! An'an, please don't say things like that again! I'll listen to your explanations from now on, I'll try to understand you, and I won't let you do anything so desperate again!!!"

"Cuckoo..."

"Excuse me for interrupting your sentimental talk—this child looks like he's about to faint from lack of oxygen."

I said it casually.

"If you use more force, she probably won't say those things again."

"And honestly, from the perspective of doing what's best for her, it's more appropriate to treat that speech as a 'radio drama'."

"!!"

Li Yueyao quickly released her "enthusiastic embrace," finally giving An Yu a chance to catch his breath.

"Cough cough cough... Um, I felt a little dizzy just now... Xiao Yao, did you say anything?"

"An Yu, who has been resurrected, asked."

"I have to say, An'an, your radio drama is amazing! The storyline and characters are so engaging that it almost made me cry!"

"No, that's not a radio drama..."

"Especially the crying voice and nasal tone, ahhhhh I'm so sad, An'an, you're so lovable!!!"

"Gulu gulu gulu——"

"Alright, let's wait until you've finished explaining before we take you back for some petting. Can we talk about serious matters now?"

I sighed when I saw An Yu, who wanted to explain but was about to faint.

"Oh, right... wait a minute, you agree to let me take An'an back to pet her? You said it, it's a deal, okay?"

Li Yueyao, like a criminal who had exploited a legal loophole, had a greedy and sinister glint in her eyes.

"Whatever."

An Yu isn't some roadside pebble; my opinion doesn't count for her.

For a fleeting moment, Li Yueyao's breathing became heavier.

"Snapped."

The blade struck her head, and Hu Dan looked at Li Yueyao with a chilling gaze.

"Let An'an go."

An Yu, having broken free from Li Yueyao's grasp once more, instinctively ran behind me and hid timidly.

“Ning Ruoyu, you too, don’t agree to anything related to An’an so easily—that child will take it seriously.”

Hu Dan sighed and said to me.

"Hey, are you really going to take this seriously?"

I looked at An Yu in surprise.

"I'm not that stupid!" An Yu said, dissatisfied.

Hu Dan sighed.

"What if Xiaoyao says that Ning Ruoyu wants you to go home with her first?"

"Well……"

"what?"

Has your intelligence degenerated to this extent?

I quickly started teaching this kindergarten child.

"From now on, remember to come and confirm with me face-to-face about anything related to me. Don't believe or spread rumors, especially about going home, understand?"

"Ning Ruoyu, don't treat me like an idiot! I won't just go home with anyone!"

An Yu looked genuinely angry and lightly tapped my back with her fist.

This person gets angry for no reason at all.

"...Let's get down to business."

Li Yueyao looked somewhat regretful, coughed lightly, and then spoke to us.

"Actually, after that broadcast at noon... after the drama, representatives and relevant leaders from several of our clubs had a group chat to discuss it."

"To be honest, we feel really useless to have An'an say something like this."

Li Yueyao looked at me.

“Ning Ruoyu, although I still can’t forgive you for what happened in the past, if you really are thinking about helping others even after all what An’an said, how can we stand idly by? Wouldn’t that leave us with no grounds to criticize you?”

Ah, it seems they've all guessed who "others" refers to.

"Therefore, Hu Dan, Ge Lanlan, and I, representing most of the student clubs at Linwai High School, are making this request to you."

"...Please let us help you."

"Most of the Linwai High School, no, except for the mysterious Literature Club, whose leaders we couldn't find, reached a consensus this afternoon after a brief online discussion led by President Wu Yuehua."

Senior Wu Yuehua probably just hasn't found the opportunity to reveal her identity yet...

"We really admire Qiu Luxi as an idol, and we won't allow anyone to slander our junior. If silence can prove innocence, then we originally intended to let time do its bidding; but if the other side recklessly uses the place that should be protecting its students as the center of the battlefield, then we can no longer stand idly by."

"This is something An'an made us figure out today. We don't want to lose to you."

Li Yueyao slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

"Last time was an accident. This time, I'm going to show An'an my handsome side."

"I see."

I nodded.

"Great to get everyone together! Since we're going to show off our cool side, what are your plans?"

"Eh?"

...I knew I shouldn't have had too many expectations of them.

Even so, the participation of the students as a whole made me somewhat pleased. If the self-disclosure of Option 1 was simple and convenient before, this unexpected joy has made the other options much clearer.

After all, unity is very important.

— Simply put, it's violence based on numbers.

"Never mind, it's alright. It's good that they're here. So, let's start with the initial attack and defense against those online trolls."

I said with a smile, and turned on my phone screen.

[Next chapter preview: It's as deserted as a suburban icehouse, with only a few comments, many of which are from new accounts asking for mutual follows.]

Cats are good and weak, cats are bad.