They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

Chapter 95: Damn it, is the public security in Lucheng really that bad?

"Boss lady, did you overhear Senior Chu Guyin talking to you about things at school?"

“That child rarely talks about herself.” Chu Qingya hesitated for a moment before replying, holding the sample packs and bagged flowers. “But I will take the initiative to talk to her about what happened at school.”

"So, regarding the relationship between Senior Sister and President Wu Yuehua, have you heard anything, Boss Lady?"

"...I'm sorry, but the person I mainly heard about was you. As for the others, I feel like Gu Yin didn't quite know how to describe them."

I thought of the comments I heard when I first met my senior, and nodded.

That's true. If we take into account the senior's personality flaws, it's understandable that she said her relationship with Senior Wu Yuehua wasn't very good. Senior Chu Guyin probably couldn't distinguish between good and bad relationships; for her, perhaps her relationship with anyone was, "not very good."

However, if that's the case, it seems that the relationship between Wu Yuehua and Chu Guyin won't last any longer...

"........."

I felt the gaze of the proprietress next to me. When I looked up and met her eyes, Chu Qingya smiled.

"Xiao Ning, do you want to know what Gu Yin thinks of you?"

"It's best not to listen when the person involved isn't present."

"So nice."

Chu Qingya nodded in satisfaction. Could this also be a test for motherhood?

"Ah, I wasn't testing you, I just felt that your answer was exactly what I expected, it felt both polite and distant," Chu Qingya explained casually.

Although I feel it would be better not to explain at all.

“Even though you don’t want to hear it, I promise it’s a very good evaluation.” Chu Qingya winked at me. “When I heard that girl say that about a boy, she even opened a bottle of champagne that night.”

"I really don't dare to hear such exaggerated words."

"Actually, it's not the kind of love that's very direct and obvious. My child definitely can't compare to Xiao Qiu's child in this aspect, and as a mother, I'm also very anxious about it."

Chu Qingya lowered her head gently, as if reminiscing about something, and said.

"But for that child, it's already been really difficult."

"I had already prepared myself for that child to end up like me. Even so, I felt that I wanted to stay with her for the rest of my life. It's strange, isn't it? Even though that child might not even have the feeling of loneliness, I still wishfully didn't want her to be alone."

"..."

I walked on in silence. There was a shortcut back to the shop that led through an alley, a route I certainly wouldn't have taken so casually in my past life, even during the day. But this was Lucheng in Jiuhua Kingdom, and having stayed here for almost half a year, I naturally followed Chu Qingya into this dimly lit alley.

"Or maybe it was just my self-satisfaction. After meeting you, I realized that my thoughts back then were not so much for Guyin's good, but rather that I was the one who was truly afraid of being alone."

Chu Qingya murmured, then suddenly seemed to come back to her senses, and smiled as she touched her cheek.

"Oh dear, what am I saying? Really, all I wanted to say was that Gu Yin is able to have a boy she can talk to, and can slowly live a more youthful life like a normal girl—I really thank you, Xiao Ning."

I met Chu Qingya's eyes. We were talking about something that should be discussed with a smile, but I always felt that there was a hint of regret hidden in her eyes.

It's said that every parent subconsciously projects their own expectations for life onto their child, which is often the source of conflict. At this moment, I really want to know how Chu Qingya, who hoped Chu Guyin would spend his youth like an ordinary child and not be lonely, got through her own past.

"...Please don't call me Xiao Ning anymore."

"Huh?" Chu Qingya was slightly taken aback, then revealed that somewhat forced smile.

"That's true. I always act like an elder, and you must feel uncomfortable, right?"

"No, I just think..."

I suddenly widened my eyes and then pulled Chu Qingya into my arms.

"Eh?!"

Ignoring Chu Qingya's exclamation, I barely managed to sidestep the dagger that emerged from the shadows of the alley.

"Damn it!"

Seeing that things were going badly, the person who had extended the dagger rammed into me. While supporting Chu Qingya, who was staggering and almost fell to the ground, I raised my left hand to block.

Because I had someone in my arms, I couldn't easily dodge. I had no choice but to sacrifice my left hand to protect myself and Chu Qingya. It was almost an instinctive action. And as I expected, the guy's knife wasn't that sharp. Thanks to my long-sleeved autumn coat, I knocked the dagger away from him the moment his hand slipped due to the recoil.

Bright red blood dripped from the cut, falling to the ground along with the knife. But at the same time, I safely shielded Chu Qingya behind me.

"Fuck, damn it."

The sneak attack and change of tactics that happened in the blink of an eye were blocked. The person was also very decisive, directly grabbing the fallen objects on the ground and throwing them at me while running away.

Without hesitation, I picked up the dagger and threw it behind him, but unfortunately, he dodged it very quickly, only managing to scrape a bright red line of blood on my arm.

"Are you fucking crazy?" the startled attacker yelled at me. His attacks had indeed avoided vital points, suggesting his primary objective was robbery. But my counterattack was aimed at the center left of his back.

I didn't say anything. The things he just threw at me, which I didn't dodge because Chu Qingya was behind me, are now scattered around me.

Bang! I hit the man's ankle, and he lost his balance and fell to the ground. Unfortunately, although what we bought was heavy, it was just shower gel. He fell in pain but quickly struggled to his feet. After giving me a resentful look, he finally disappeared into the depths of the alley.

I couldn't chase after him. Without knowing if he had accomplices, I couldn't leave Chu Qingya here alone.

"Are you alright?" I asked Chu Qingya, who seemed still shaken, behind me.

Her gaze shifted from unfocused to focused, and finally, after staring at my face, she seemed to awaken from a dream.

"No, you shouldn't be asking me! What about you?! Xiao Ning, are you alright?! You're bleeding!!"

Looking at my still-bleeding arm, Chu Qingya asked in a panic.

"No, it just looks scary, it's nothing serious." I shook my head. Getting injured was just the lesser of two evils; I was already prepared when I raised my hand. Although the other party didn't seem to intend to kill, if I hadn't blocked that knife for Chu Qingya, it would most likely have pierced the landlady's arm.

This is just my personal speculation. Even after missing his first strike, that guy didn't seem to give up. Instead, he planned to stab Chu Qingya's arm and then seize the small bag she was carrying. Although it's possible that he only intended to cut the bag's shoulder strap from the beginning, the ruthlessness he displayed made me unwilling to take the gamble.

This is outrageous! Is the public security in Lucheng any better? How is this any different from my previous life?!

"How can this not be a problem! Do you think I'm stupid?!" Even though she came from a well-off family, Chu Qingya had grown up in the Jiuhua Kingdom of this world, and she was still a little flustered by this situation. "We need to get to the hospital quickly and call the police! How could this happen? I should have never brought you out in the first place!"

"If you hadn't brought me along, would you be able to handle that kind of thing, boss lady?"

"Don't talk back to me like this, you're going to drive me crazy, you idiot!"

Chu Qingya's eyes reddened with anxiety, showing no composure whatsoever. She hurriedly pulled out a band-aid from her bag, then casually tossed her expensive bag to the ground and began to examine the band-aid.

"No, no. The wound is too big..."

After all, it was a cut. I looked at Chu Qingya, who had completely lost her composure, and gave a wry smile.

"Why do you seem even more panicked and scared than before? I already told you, it's okay. But, boss lady, do you have any clues about this matter?"

The other person was wearing a mask and hood, so I couldn't see their face clearly. But even in those few seconds of fighting with them, I felt a little uneasy.

"I...I don't know. Could it be related to Jin Shuheng?" Chu Qingya was still worried about her wound. "How could this be unrelated? We should go to the hospital quickly!"

Chu Qingya seemed to have some idea about what was going on with Uncle Gold Tooth, but even so, I still have to write a pitiful word for Uncle Gold Tooth—he was the first to be suspected after something happened, and his sycophantic behavior ultimately led to his downfall.

"This guy doesn't have any burly guys like that under his command. Who could it be? Or is it really just a regular robbery...?"

That's why I said it!!!

Chu Qingya's loud shout startled me, and I subconsciously straightened up slightly, like a student accepting a scolding.

"Are you an idiot?! Is this the time to be thinking about this?! Hospital, hospital, hospital! How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?! Come with me to the hospital!!!"

…Chu Qingya looked like she was about to cry because I was so worried. Oh no, she couldn't hold back her tears; she really looked like she was crying. Honestly, I'm the one who's injured, but looking at her, it seems like she's the one who's more anxious.

The way she looked at me inexplicably reminded me of someone from a past life.

For a moment I felt dazed, and I couldn't even lift my head.

"Yes, sorry."

"Eh?"

Perhaps not expecting me to apologize so suddenly, Chu Qingya was slightly taken aback, and quickly wiped her cheek with her hand to regain her composure.

"I'm the one who should apologize. You were trying to protect me. So, Xiao Ning, why don't you go to the hospital now? I'll call Xiao Li, and we'll go right now."

As Chu Qingya said this, she suddenly seemed to remember something and showed a somewhat apologetic expression.

"Ah, sorry, I called you Xiao Ning again without thinking. I'll slowly change it even though you don't like it."

“No, it’s not that I don’t like you calling me that.” I shook my head.

"But to me, I always feel that the boss lady and I are not much different in age, so I want to call you Chu Qingya. Since you are going to call me that, it would be quite hurtful if you called me Xiao Ning, so I hope you can just call me by my name."

"?!"

I looked at Chu Qingya, whose face went from deathly pale to flushed red, and smiled nonchalantly as if I hadn't seen anything.

"...You only said that because you noticed. My employee is a smooth-talking liar and an enemy of women."

Chu Qingya muttered under her breath, but quickly looked up and glared at me fiercely.

"If I promise you, you have to be a good girl and come to the hospital with me right now, okay?"

"I was planning to go anyway, I'm not Rambo..."

Of course I need to get treatment for my injury. When I said it's not a big deal, I just meant it wasn't a high priority in the current situation—I'm not some weirdo who likes pain.

"I don't care, the only reason I agreed was in exchange for you going to the hospital obediently, you know that!"

Adults are such a hassle.

I nodded.

"...Don't let it slip when you explain your reasons in the future," Chu Qingya said, turning her face away.

Then he immediately picked up his phone, looking very busy, and called the hospital and Xiao Li without waiting for my reply.

No, it's not necessary to call an ambulance, that would be too much.

I looked at the proprietress who kept switching between a mature, intellectual woman and a naive, innocent girl, and shook my head with a wry smile.

Sure enough, she was still bothered by the insult the blond guy on the electric scooter had hurled at the proprietress.

It's clearly just young people being foul-mouthed; they call anyone older than themselves "auntie" or "uncle."

Looking at the proprietress, whose age was impossible to guess from her appearance, I frowned slightly.

Was it just an accident, or was it targeted?

If this is targeted, that's just ridiculous.

[Next chapter preview: Your standards of judgment are too strange, aren't they?]

"We've really gotten on a pirate ship."

"...My emotional wounds are now even more severe."

Damn it, so this school really hasn't done a single decent job?!

Chapter 96: The Odd Jobs Branch of the Literary Society

"Are you injured?"

As soon as the bell rang for recess, An Yu practically leaped from his seat.

People around us glanced up; the girls gave wry smiles, while the boys gritted their teeth.

But unlike at the beginning, there were far fewer puzzled looks. Even Hu Dan and Ge Lanlan seemed to take it for granted and didn't even stop talking.

"I encountered some problems while working."

"Is a coffee shop that dangerous? Or was it scratched by a cat?"

An Yu looked worried and hesitated before adding another sentence.

Is "cat" a noun or a nickname here...? Although it seems I'm the only one currently calling Qiu Luxi "cat," it's true that An Yu and Qiu Luxi seem to have some conflicting opinions...

"And why weren't you told?"

"Huh?" I didn't react.

An Yu waved his hands repeatedly.

"Ah, I didn't mean to blame you. I just meant that as a friend, I would also like to know, so I felt I should have known in advance. But thinking about it, there's no need to tell me if you're injured, hahaha..."

The more she laughed, the quieter she became, and she even felt a little embarrassed.

"I just thought it was a small matter, so I didn't say anything. Chen Di didn't know either."

An Yu immediately showed a relieved expression.

Your criteria for judgment are too strange, aren't they? No, even I feel a bit off about using that excuse as my first thought.