They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival.

What are you doing outside?

"Hmm, that classmate An Yu you met last time, she gave me a few zongzi."

Ning Ruoxin gave Ning Ruoyu a strange look.

"...Please don't tell such boring, fantastical lies."

"You can just say you bought zongzi outside. After all, it's a festival, and I won't blame you for wasting money."

Ning Ruoyu scratched her head.

"But I think it's really outrageous that he uses his busy studies as an excuse not to go home for holidays like this."

The boy's sister said this and took the bag from his hand.

Although her words were somewhat accusatory, the girl was probably worried about her brother being alone in his rented apartment during the holiday and had come to take care of him. In this respect, even if she was misunderstood, Ning Ruoyu could only smile bitterly to herself.

"Ah... but how should I put these rice dumplings?"

Ning Ruoxin frowned. "You didn't pick this to save money, did you?"

"...Is it really that bad? Maybe it's actually quite delicious."

Ning Ruoyu looked at this irregularly shaped thing, which was hardly even worthy of being called a zongzi (rice dumpling).

Didn't you say you were really good at adding meat and red dates?!

"Hmm, but it does seem to be the salted egg yolk and pork flavor that you would prefer. The rice is also steamed quite well... I'll go heat it up."

These words startled Ning Ruoyu slightly. He glanced at the brown rice dumpling his sister had placed on the plate and gave a wry smile.

Seriously, I was just saying, but don't do things you're not good at just because of this...

Meanwhile, on the way from the boy's home to the subway station, a short-haired girl was hurrying along carrying a bag.

"Well, they don't even dare to give it to us..."

The girl sighed as she walked.

That day, after hearing the boy casually mention it, she went online to research how those zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) with salty rice were made. After seeing many strange and unusual recipes, she finally—made even stranger and stranger zongzi.

Before leaving home, she hesitated for a long time between the usual ordinary zongzi and the strange zongzi she made herself, and finally decided...

Bring them all.

"……Ugh."

Looking at the other bag she had brought back, the girl couldn't help but sigh.

It doesn't look very appealing, but it must taste pretty good. However, if I don't give it to them, it feels like...

"Meow wow!"

"Well!"

Lost in thought, the girl bumped right into someone passing by at the corner.

Because he was so focused on the bag that he deliberately lifted it, he ended up falling to the ground.

"pain……"

The other person fared even worse, falling face-first and possibly scraping their knees.

"Ah, sorry sorry!"

An Yu quickly stood up and tried to help her up, but she shook her head repeatedly, her baseball cap pressing her head even lower.

“No business, no use.”

It was only after hearing those crisp, indifferent words that An Yu realized the other person was a girl.

"I'm so sorry! I was just thinking about something and my mind wandered off! Are you alright? Should we go to the hospital?"

“No business, no use.”

The same thing was repeated: the person on the other end seemed to be a very wary child who wasn't very willing to get close to people.

"Hmm, are you sure you don't need to?"

"Well, let's go."

The girl in the baseball cap stood up, patted her knees, and looked ready to leave.

"Ah, then at least!"

An Yu quickly handed over the bag in his hand.

"?"

The girl in the baseball cap didn't take it immediately, but she also didn't try to leave right away like she had before.

"Well, after all, today is the Dragon Boat Festival. I made a few zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), they don't look very pretty, but they taste pretty good... Should I?"

Why do you start to lose confidence yourself as you talk about it?

"Hmm... because it's my first time doing this."

An Yu said this.

"I think it looks pretty good."

"Hehe, thanks...wait, wait?! That's not right?!"

An Yu quickly glanced into his open bag and was stunned, as if struck by lightning.

"For example, if this were a regular zongzi, then the bag I gave Ning Ruoyu..."

"?"

The girl in the baseball cap seemed not to have heard what An Yu was muttering to herself, and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"...Here you go, I need to go back and get the zongzi back. No, no, that won't do either, I, I'll just pretend nothing happened, um, I'll just deny it to the death..."

An Yu handed the bag to the girl in the baseball cap, looking dejected, and left.

“...A strange woman.”

The girl looked at An Yu, who was dragging a shadow, and tilted her head.

"But it's very interesting~"

……

"Master, Miss is back."

"Sigh, you're only getting back now? I knew being an idol wasn't a good job; you can't work even on holidays!"

At the Qiu family mansion, the old man sighed deeply after hearing the news.

"It's too hard, this kind of work is too hard. I don't even have time to reunite with my family for a meal. I really don't think I can do it."

The old man said something that would make ordinary passersby furious.

"Does our Qiu family's granddaughter have to work so hard? What was the point of this old man risking his life for before?"

"And that Linwai High School. I think it's completely pointless! What good teachers or connections can she meet there? It's a complete waste of time—if Xiaoxi wants to experience it, arrange the best high school experience for her. If all else fails, there's Lucheng High School in Lucheng, where the student council president and that monster from the Jiang family are..."

"Master, Miss brought back some zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and said she hopes you can heat them up and serve them to her."

Old Master Qiu was silent for a moment.

"...Actually, I think Linwai High School is alright. After all, academic studies are the priority in Lucheng High School, so it would be good if Xiaoxi could have more fun there."

“After all, Xiaoxi has been sensible since she was little. But we really need to reconsider the entertainment industry; it’s too tiring and too chaotic.” The old man glanced at the butler beside him. “We’ll call Shuheng over later. He’s full of clever ideas; let him give me some advice.”

"understood."

"...And the zongzi haven't been served yet? Go to the kitchen and urge them. Otherwise, Shuheng might come over for a free meal."

"Sir, there are quite a lot of them."

Grandpa Qiu frowned. "That was bought for me by my granddaughter. How could I let outsiders eat it? Remember to take a picture and send it to the couple abroad. It's Dragon Boat Festival, so share it with them too."

The butler quickly turned around. "Understood. I'll go right away."

As he stepped out of the room, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

As expected of Grandpa Qiu, his hidden doting on his granddaughter is terrifying. Saying he'd take pictures to send to his husband and wife is basically just him showing off the "gift" he received from his granddaughter…

Oh, and I also need to contact Mr. Jin Shuheng. Sigh, I'm so busy.

The butler sighed as he happened to see his young mistress squatting by the pond, staring blankly at the fish.

Outside the villa, the occasional sounds of boys and girls laughing and joking could be heard, while behind a wall, a girl seemed lost in thought, like a kitten.

I feel a bit lonely.

Although he adores his granddaughter, Grandpa Qiu genuinely doesn't know how to communicate with her. Even now, though he's happy to have received zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), he doesn't know what to say to her.

...I wonder if the young lady will still be all alone like this next Dragon Boat Festival. Will she find someone she can rely on and who she can be affectionate with in her upcoming high school life?

It feels difficult. But at this moment, the old butler still sincerely hopes so.

Perhaps there is such a cat-training master in this world?

Perhaps, they are very, very close, as close as—the distance of a zongzi (rice dumpling)?

……

Meanwhile on the other side.

Ning Ruoyu looked sadly at the broken rice dumpling.

"Don't be greedy for small gains in the future."

"I'm cleaning the table," the younger sister said coldly as she walked into the kitchen.

The boy picked up a piece with his chopsticks.

"Actually, it's not bad... haha..."

He lowered his head helplessly.

Chapter 99: I refuse to step onto the big stage!

"Hello?"

"Ah, um, hello."

The girl with glasses looked up at me timidly and said hesitantly.

“…Ning Ruoyu, right?”

"Oh, I've been thinking about changing my name."

"Eh?"

The other party seemed unable to understand.

"...Sorry, forget about it. That happened in the previous version."

The version currently used in schools has been updated. Unfortunately, please refer to it as Ning Ruoyu Ver2.07 for now.

Whether or not to add a beta version is another matter, but in short, I'll pay to get early access. If things go wrong, I'll withdraw my money and run.

"Well……"

She seems like a somewhat rigid girl; at least she doesn't seem to be able to handle my rambling.

"I just said it casually. May I ask what you need me for?"

"Oh, well, I'm from the drama club. We chatted online a bit last time."

Last time?

Oh, about Li Yueyao that time. She gathered quite a few people, and I'd never met many of the people in charge; we just chatted briefly online.

"You didn't attend that buffet dinner... no, you didn't attend the small gathering hosted by your junior, Qiu Luxi, right?"

"Yes, I don't really feel comfortable in crowded places." The girl smiled shyly. "How did you know?"

Recognizing people is a basic professional skill in the industry.

I smiled. "I just don't think I saw you back then. So, is there anything I can help you with?"