They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

I took a sip of coffee.

In such situations, rushing the other person to speak might frighten them; sometimes, appropriate silence can allow the conversation to unfold more smoothly.

"...Actually, since the beginning of last semester, Ah Xin has occasionally lost things."

"Occasionally? Or maybe he just forgets or something?" I looked out the window at my apartment.

“I thought so at first, and even teased her about how forgetful she was... But I definitely saw it the day before yesterday during tutoring. Her reference book, which had been missing for a few days, was lying tattered on the ground.”

“Ah Xin is very careful with her things, there’s no way she could have done that to the reference book herself.”

“I’m thinking if someone did this on purpose… that would be terrifying! And lately, Ah Xin has been losing things more and more frequently, I don’t think this is just an accident!”

"That does make me a little uneasy," I nodded.

"...Yeah. And I'm worried. I've heard before that bullying is getting worse, but I have no idea who's doing this sneaky thing."

Ling Chuqing's face showed a hint of resentment.

"And even though that's the case, all sorts of scandalous things about Ah Xin's brother keep spreading around us. People are looking at Ah Xin more and more strangely!"

"I see. So you think Ning Ruoxin went through this because of her brother?"

Ling Chuqing nodded.

“Ah Xin was actually very popular at school at the beginning. She should still be popular now.” Ling Chuqing said, her head down, her voice somber.

"Before people knew about her relationship with Ning Ruoyu, many girls in the school were very close to her, and quite a few boys had confessed their feelings to her... But all of this changed after it was discovered that she was Ning Ruoyu's sister."

"The girls were worried that she would be harassed by her lecherous brother, so they avoided her. The boys said a lot of dirty and lewd things behind her back, and some even said that she was so pretty and a younger sister, they wondered what her brother would do to her at night..."

The person who says that clearly has no siblings. Well, someone who can say something like that probably doesn't have parents either.

I continued to listen and offered a couple of responses.

"This is disgusting! There's a limit to how much you can talk without thinking! ...So, Ning Ruoxin was actually ostracized at school?"

“That’s how it was at first. But Ah Xin is Ah Xin!” Ling Chuqing put her teacup on the table. “Even if she’s looked down upon because of this, she’s still the same as before—excellent in both her studies and her interpersonal skills. So the school shouldn’t be talking about this anymore.”

"This is just my guess." I turned my head and met Ling Chuqing's gaze.

"Although it's not a new topic, the mark left on Ning Ruoxin will not disappear. Even if people don't mention it, as long as something happens to Ning Ruoyu, people will feel more contempt for this 'younger sister'."

"So it's not that you're safe just because it's not a topic of conversation. This aversion is just hidden deep inside and has reached a consensus. It's as if everyone should naturally despise it."

"Don't we see similar situations in real life? Like the children of criminals. Even though the topic has changed, the shackles on their bodies have never lessened. Of course, Ning Ruoyu might not be that bad, but as the 'sister of an abnormal person,' I think it's unlikely that she will attract sympathetic glances."

As I said this, I sighed.

"...That's too sad."

Ling Chuqing lowered her head. A light rain began to fall outside, mirroring the girl's gloomy mood.

“She did nothing wrong, yet she’s ostracized because of her family. She’s not the child of some drug trafficker, and she didn’t live a happy life with dirty money.” Ling Chuqing said, her voice trembling with tears. “It’s not something she could choose.”

"She's an idiot, an idiot who still defends her brother!"

The girl sniffled, and large tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks, as if she had been holding back her grievances for a long time.

"Why did she have to do this! Why did she have to be family with someone like that! She didn't want a brother like that either!!"

"It's so pathetic and unreasonable for someone like that to get hurt like that!"

These words had probably been hidden in this girl's heart for a long time. It wasn't until she met someone unrelated that she dared to truly say them.

Although it is actually me.

I silently handed her a tissue. Her nose was slightly red, and she reached out to take it.

"Thank you, Brother Lü Ning. I'm sorry, I couldn't hold back my emotions."

"It's okay. Ning Ruoxin has a very good friend."

I smiled and shook my head.

"I'm just anxiously waiting here without being able to do anything. I'm not like that at all."

Ling Chuqing twitched her lips in a self-deprecating manner, as if trying to force a smile.

"Don't be too pessimistic. At least from what you've said, as someone who was standing by, you didn't witness any direct conflict, so this targeted behavior may only be at the stage of showing malice, and hasn't yet reached the level of group-accepted bullying."

“Bullying is a very tricky thing, and even teachers often can’t intervene in it. Because no one can stand in front of someone and protect their life all the time.”

I recalled my own past experience. Back then, there was a new employee in the workplace who, because he didn't know the rules, stole someone else's client and was then targeted by a group of senior employees.

As the top performer and a veteran employee, I intervened and limited this behavior at the store manager's request. However, even though the veterans toned it down considerably in person, I don't know what happened behind the scenes or if they couldn't stand the atmosphere of passive-aggressive behavior, but in the end, the new employee still left.

Bullying is something that is very difficult to intervene with external forces. If you don't change or resist, it will only make things look better—or even get worse.

"Yes, I know. Although I can't ask Ah Xin directly, I plan to keep bothering her and staying by her side!"

After wiping away her tears, Ling Chuqing returned to her cheerful self. Although her eyes were still red, she spoke with renewed energy and vitality.

"...Be careful not to get disliked!" I joked on purpose.

"(。???)ノ? Hey, persistent Xiao Qing is now even prepared to be disliked, she still wants to make A Xin happy!"

Ling Chuqing saluted me.

"If necessary, I'll grab a C4 bomb and fight that bastard to the death!"

"Don't do this kind of thing. Life is more important!"

"Hehe, just kidding! Don't worry about Brother Lü Ning, I'll cherish my life!"

Who cares whether you cherish your life or not! I'm talking about my fragile life right now, threatened by C4!

"...I really have to thank Brother Lü Ning. If I hadn't met you today, and you had both comforted me and made me happy, I definitely wouldn't have been able to make up my mind."

"It's nothing, just a little bit of help is fine." I smiled gently.

"It's not just a little bit, it's a ton of it!"

Well, even if you emphasize it, it still sounds the same, right?

"This world has both trashy older brothers like Ning Ruoyu and great seniors like Lü Ning. I feel like I have more confidence in guys now. It's clearly not your fault, Lü Ning... I'm so grateful!"

Those words really touched a nerve.

I kept smiling and took a sip of coffee.

Perhaps I'm still a scumbag at heart. Even hearing that Ning Ruoxin might be being bullied didn't really stir my emotions.

I showed neither anger nor surprise, discussing it rationally and calmly, as if it were someone else's business. Although it was supposedly to play the role of Lü Ning well, deep down I probably didn't feel it was my own business.

The trouble caused by "Ning Ruoyu", the consequences suffered by Ning Ruoxin, Ling Chuqing's worries and struggles - and what about me, as Ning Ruoyu?

Just like the perfunctory statement I made.

"You're welcome. I was just an outsider offering some insignificant advice."

You see, perhaps in terms of detaching myself and observing from the sidelines, I'm not really any different from that "Ning Ruoyu".

……

"Finally found you~ Oh my, Lu Ning, you're here too!"

I looked up in the direction of the sound.

The black-haired girl stood behind me with a smile, and when she saw me turn around, her smile became even more beautiful and gentle.

[Next chapter preview: My house is right across the street. Even elementary school math problems wouldn't have such an absurd travel problem. I'm not some crazy person who opens and closes the floodgates to store water.]

[Ning Ruoyu, are you home? It's raining, and I'm taking shelter from the rain in the neighborhood near your house.]

This kind of heartwarming and fun interaction between sisters, along with a touch of endearing clumsiness, is sure to make many guys' hearts flutter.

She seemed to nestle completely into my arms, closing her eyes. Her soft, translucent lips were slightly parted, as if anticipating something.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Ling Qingxue's Thousand Layers of Schemes

"Sister? What brings you here!"

Ling Chuqing's voice was filled with surprise, and she immediately grasped the girl's hands.

"It's raining, you idiot~ You said you're near your friend's house, but there aren't many places to take shelter from the rain around here, are you?"

The black-haired girl affectionately patted Ling Chuqing's head, then poked her forehead.

"I told you to check the weather forecast before you go out! Seriously, you're still so irresponsible."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Lü Ning."

The girl smiled gently at me.

"It's alright, I just happen to be killing time nearby."

I responded politely.

Although I don't understand what Ling Qingxue's purpose was in greeting me back then, I don't live in some hentai world where knives and crazy women run around on the streets, instigators smirk in the woods, and sluts pant heavily on the sidewalks. There's no need for me to investigate everyone's secrets just to protect myself.

As long as the other party doesn't provoke me, I don't want to delve into it. Even though there was one thing she just said that bothered me.

Love & peace, coming home on time every day for simple meals, the simple life is the true life.

“I see it’s raining quite heavily outside. If it’s okay, would you like to go to the subway station together?” Ling Qingxue suggested. “I brought two umbrellas, so Chuqing and I can share one.”

"You two are going to too much trouble, is it really necessary?"

The tragedy of having to share umbrellas in the rain is still fresh in my mind, and I don't want to experience that long afternoon of "adding wine, relighting the lamps, and starting the banquet again" again.

"Brother Lü Ning, shall we go together? We don't know when this rain will stop. We'll take you to the subway station, which will make it easier for you to go home or anywhere else!"

Ling Chuqing extended a warm invitation. Ling Qingxue nodded beside her, seemingly preoccupied with something, as she was replying to a message on her phone.

My house is right across the street. Even elementary school math problems wouldn't have such a ridiculous travel problem. It's not like I'm some crazy person who opens and closes the floodgates to store water.

Just as I was about to refuse again, I saw the screen of my phone, which I had been holding when I got up, light up faintly.

To avoid disturbing others, or being disturbed by others, my phone is always in full silent mode, and even the screen is a privacy screen (although it's troublesome and inconvenient).

[Ning Ruoyu, this is Ling Qingxue. Are you home? It's raining, and I'm taking shelter from the rain near your house.]

If it's not too much trouble

Could you come and bring me an umbrella?

Immediately afterwards, the unknown number sent an address.

I casually put my phone back in my pocket, my face expressionless.

"Then... I'll shamelessly use your umbrella."

I looked a little embarrassed as I blindly typed a reply to the message, amidst Ling Chuqing's delighted eyes and Ling Qingxue's gentle yet profound smile.

No trouble at all! I happen to be nearby, I'll be right there!

What did I just say? Ah, if you don't provoke me, I don't intend to delve into it further.

But if you're "curious" about me, I don't mind digging into your background when I have time.

I took the umbrella from Ling Qingxue and made myself look like a sunny, outgoing boy who rarely interacts with girls.

—The address Ling Qingxue just sent me isn't this coffee shop at all. It's an antique shop on a street corner, which you might have to pass on your way to the subway.

I'm in this place! It's a bit remote, and there aren't many people around. I'm a little scared...

Be careful when you come over, it's raining quite heavily.

[Emoji Stickers (Heart emoji, thank you)]

I glanced at Ling Qingxue, who was engrossed in playing on her phone with a serious expression.

This is too much of a split personality!

……

"Hey, should we go this way?"

"I told you we should have used navigation! Sister, you're clearly terrible with directions, yet you still dare to lead the way!"

"Turning on navigation is so embarrassing..." Ling Qingxue glanced at me, who was also being teased, her cheeks flushed, and she muttered with her head slightly lowered.

The volume was just right to reach my ears, a touch of girlish charm that brings a smile to my face.

"This place seems quite remote. Is it even possible to get to the subway station?"