They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"That's right! I clearly reported the problem with the K index, but my dad and uncle still don't believe my analysis at all. To be honest, I'm feeling a bit tired."

"Oh, I see. You know so much! Eh? It's almost been two hours? Can I... can I extend the time? I'll take either champagne or a voucher!"

"You can't cut in line, yeah, that's true."

"A private referral from an employee? ...Really? Won't that cause you trouble?" (whispering)

"Okay, I got it. I'm really looking forward to seeing you again next time, hehe~ I'll order even more next time!"

……

"Xiao Ning, what about that female college student who used to always specifically ask you for help? Is she a PhD student? It doesn't matter, it's all the same anyway. Has she stopped coming recently?"

"Confessing to you? Hahaha, another one, another one. Isn't she hilarious? So funny."

"She wants to leave home and start her own business, and she even offered to pay your breach of contract fee? Does she think this place is some kind of brothel, and is she trying to buy her lover's freedom? Is she brain-dead?"

"Oh, so you're drawing a line again, huh? How many is this this month? No, I don't have a problem with that, since your performance won't be affected anyway... But honestly, I think next time you reject someone, don't be sarcastic and give them that look. They were customers before, after all."

"Well, it doesn't matter. To be honest, I never care what kind of interactions you have with clients behind the scenes, as long as it doesn't affect your work. But as someone who's been there, I have to give you a word of advice. You should be careful about what you do and whether you get what you deserve later."

"You keep rejecting everyone and end up being reincarnated into a world where everyone rejects you... Hey, hey, don't go! You're so boring in private!"

……

I was pushed.

"what?"

Coming to my senses, I asked instinctively.

"What should I do? This is so embarrassing, Ning Ruoyu. I should have known better than to suggest eating at the buffet."

The fact that An Yu could reflect on the food issue only shows that this meal was indeed extremely unpleasant.

"But you don't seem to have eaten any less either."

"Because I simply didn't dare sit down with those two kids! Didn't you notice that as soon as they sat down, I made an excuse to get something?!"

An Yu, with tears in her eyes, grabbed my arm and shook it hard.

"Even if you ask me, what can I do?" I took a sip of my cola.

“I can’t handle Ning Ruoxin normally, and the child next to her looks like he hates me even more… I can eat here, so you better calm down.”

"Because they don't know, but I do! I have to watch all three of your expressions every time I hear a sentence, it's so painful, waaaaah..."

An Yu had a long face, but breadcrumbs still lingered at the corners of her mouth.

"Pretending to cry won't solve anything now. They're both back, you'd better..."

An Yu quickly let go of her hand, checked her clothes and hairstyle, and then smiled nonchalantly at the two returning people.

"……very good."

I swallowed my suggestion. Girls really are born actors.

"Is there anything good to eat?"

"Although I walked around a lot and saw a lot of things, I didn't feel any desire to put them on my plate."

Ling Chuqing answered me, while Ning Ruoxin nodded and looked at me with an indescribable expression.

"Me too, me too! Even though they all look so shiny and appealing, I don't know why I don't feel like eating them. Buffets are so weird!"

An Yu, who had piled the vegetables high, said shamelessly.

"Hmm, maybe that's the secret of buffets?" Ling Chuqing sat down across from me.

"Brother Lü Ning, is there anything you need? I noticed you haven't gotten up to get anything since you came in."

"No need, I also have trouble making decisions. Anyway, An Yu will take more, I'll just take from the plate she brings."

Even An Yu doesn't guard her food at buffets.

“You two have such a good relationship~” Ling Chuqing said with a smile.

"It's just a twisted fate that we grew up together!" An Yu blurted out, then gave me a smug look, like a big dog seeking praise.

Stop pretending, I can tell you've wanted to say this for a long time.

"Oh, childhood sweethearts, huh? I'm so envious..."

Ling Chuqing slightly opened her mouth.

"Not really, because I went to study in another city after that, so I'm not that familiar with it anymore."

"Haha, only very close friends would dare to say something like that~"

Judging from her way of speaking and style, Ling Chuqing should be a very understanding and caring child, which is completely opposite to her sudden outburst of temper just now.

"...Senior An Yu, did my brother say anything else after that?"

Ning Ruoxin, on the other hand, seemed completely out of place in the dining atmosphere.

"Well—I already told you, basically it's about letting you have fun and ordering takeout yourself."

The argument ended with An Yu smoothing things over.

“I confirmed with Ning Ruoyu, and he’s perfectly fine. He’ll figure out how to have lunch himself.”

But this kind of lie also leads to more lies.

"Takeout... I get it."

Ning Ruoxin nodded.

I can already imagine going back and being criticized for wasting money on junk food... that guy An Yu.

"..."

This time, Ling Qingxue didn't say anything offensive, but she clearly turned her face away and snorted. She made no attempt to hide her disgust and disdain for the name Ning Ruoyu.

"Xiao Qing, do you really dislike Ning Ruoyu?"

Thank you, Captain An Yu. When it comes to taking real action, you still remain slow to react and always bring up sensitive topics—which is truly gratifying.

"I hate it the most."

Ling Chuqing said firmly, "Even someone like me who is 'unrelated' can feel the hatred buried beneath her words."

"Did he do anything? Oh, I forgot to tell you, he and I are actually classmates."

"Hey, then sister, don't you live in misery every day?"

I'm truly sorry for causing global climate anomalies; I'm packing my bags to land on the moon.

"Actually, it's alright. Although I didn't understand him before, thought he was weird, and even had some unpleasant experiences with him, now I think he's actually a..."

Okay, okay, Miss An, that's enough. I know you wanted to say a few words of justice for me, but the atmosphere has only gotten worse.

"That must all be an act!" Ling Chuqing looked a little flustered, but the concern in her eyes seemed genuine.

“Sister An Yu, you must be careful of that kind of person! He's like the snake in Mr. Farmer's story; being nice to him won't help! I actually know him…”

"Snapped!"

Oh, don't worry, it wasn't a slap. It was just the sound of chopsticks being placed on the table.

"I'm full, so I'll head back now."

Ning Ruoxin stood up and nodded slightly to us.

"Um, Xiaoxin?"

"Ah Xin! Don't be angry, I am..."

Ling Chuqing tried to pull Ning Ruoxin back, who was clearly angry, but her hand was shaken off.

"I'm sorry, my brother, for making you dislike me. As your sister, I really can't stay any longer. Goodbye."

As she said this, she walked straight out of the store.

Ling Chuqing sat in her seat, looking lost and dejected, and even continued to look in the direction Ning Ruoxin had left, without making any other movements.

Well, how should I put it? He deserved it.

I leisurely picked up my cup and took a sip of my cola. Speaking ill of the other person's brother to my sister—that's incredibly tactless!

I won't have the slightest sympathy for you, will I?

"Well, Guo, we should probably chase after them after them. I'll pay the bill. Xiao Qing, you go ahead!"

An Yu gently patted Ling Chuqing's shoulder; at this moment, she actually acted like a mature adult.

"Make up with your friend as soon as possible, okay? Okay, okay, don't be sad. Talk it out properly and apologize sincerely. Go now!"

Ling Chuqing looked up at An Yu and me, and nodded vigorously.

"Yes, sorry."

"It's okay, it's okay, go ahead, here's a shrimp cracker for you, good luck!"

An Yu stuffed the snacks into her hand and watched the girl go after her friend.

Once Ling Chuqing had completely disappeared from sight, she looked at me and gave a bitter smile.

"In the end, it was still just the two of us eating at the buffet."

"I don't have much of an appetite, but you can try harder."

An Yu nodded, and after eating a few bites of chicken wings, he looked up at me again, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Don't ask me what happened, I definitely don't know either."

"Hey, I didn't think about that." An Yu tilted his head.

"what is that?"

"If Xiaoxin goes back first—won't she find that no one is home at all?"

……

"Hey, hey, hey! I was just saying! Maybe Xiao Qing went somewhere else with her?!"

"You're not really going to leave me behind, are you? I...I'm a girl, you know? And people have even complimented me on how cute I am!"

"Ning Ruoyu, come back!! I don't want to eat at a buffet alone!!!"

"Ning Ruoyu, you bastard who values ​​your sister more than your friends!!!"

[Next chapter preview: The relationship between these two siblings is really not good. Even their WeChat conversations are full of hostility and gunpowder. It feels like they have a small argument every three sentences and a big argument every ten sentences.]

For me to be so humble and subservient to a girl I've only known for a short time is already considered to be following basic social morality.

Are you a stalker?! I'm calling the police!

I chuckled and sighed, giving her a helpless look while suppressing the discomfort welling up inside me, and reached out to pat her head.

I just treated her as a difficult, but unpleasant, customer I had no choice but to deal with.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Basic Tactics for Dealing with Younger Women

My sister was washing fruit in the kitchen, and I didn't dare to breathe loudly in the living room and dining room.

My former colleagues can rest in peace now. Who was it that kept praising me to the point of ruin, saying I could handle any woman? Did they just jinx me?

...Ah, but to be honest, I've already physically transmigrated, so perhaps I'm the one who needs to rest in peace over there.

"I've already cut the apple. Remember to use toothpicks."

Ning Ruoxin frowned as she watched my sinful hand about to be extended.

I gave an awkward laugh, but she ignored me and turned to go to the kitchen to get some toothpicks.

“I don’t know if you actually ate out, or if you went out for some weird reason and didn’t eat—and I don’t care.”

For some strange reason... from a certain perspective, Ning Ruoxin's high level of aggression lies in including herself in the scope of harm.

This summer, besides dressing up to play basketball with Chen Di and the others, I did do some other things that are not easy to talk about openly. So, it's not entirely unfair of her to say that.

However, when Ning Ruoxin saw me rushing back from outside, panting, she still silently went to the kitchen to prepare fruit for me.

My dear little sister, your stubborn yet soft-hearted personality makes you an easy target for bad people, you know?

"You really ate it, don't worry~"