They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

The two sisters shared an umbrella. Ling Chuqing, close to her older sister, looked around and her eyes met mine.

Perhaps realizing that her behavior was a bit childish, she stuck out her tongue and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

"I'm sorry, Brother Lü Ning. I meant to help, but I ended up taking up your time again."

"It's okay, strolling around the city in the rain is quite interesting."

"Oh right, I remember you've been studying in another city, right, Brother Lü Ning? Haven't you been home in a long time?"

"Well, that's a bit complicated..."

I changed the subject.

"How about we stand under the eaves over there for a while while I check the navigation?"

"So you finally gave in." Ling Chuqing glanced helplessly at her sister.

"Don't expose me, you're so annoying!" Ling Qingxue shook her sister's arm and said to her sister in a coquettish tone.

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

"...Hey, is that Chuqing's friend walking over there?"

This statement surprised not only Ling Chuqing, but also me.

Following Ling Qingxue's gaze, Ling Chuqing and I saw someone who, no matter how we looked at it, shouldn't be here.

"Ah Xin! It's Ah Xin!"

Ling Chuqing called out, but due to the rain and her hurried pace, the other person seemed not to hear her.

"Um! Brother Lü Ning, Sister, can you go back first? I need to talk to a friend about something, it's very important!"

Ling Chuqing spoke earnestly and sincerely to Ling Qingxue and me.

“I’m fine, but classmate Lü Ning…”

"I'm fine, you go ahead. I can take a taxi back from here." I handed the umbrella to Ling Chuqing. "Good luck!"

"Okay, thank you, Brother Lü Ning! See you next time!"

She rushed out with her umbrella, and Ling Chuqing's figure quickly disappeared into the alleyway.

"...I'm sorry for causing you trouble." After a moment of silence, Ling Qingxue said somewhat apologetically.

"It was clearly my idea to take you to the subway entrance, and now you're stuck here waiting in the rain."

"It doesn't matter, after all, that matter is very important to Ling Chuqing."

"Chu Qing is the same way. That child isn't usually like this. Maybe it's because that friend is too important, more important than any of us... yeah."

She spoke her last sentence very softly, but just like before, it reached my ears.

"..."

I did not answer.

The methods are too low-level; I can't be bothered to deal with them.

"Um, if we still haven't gotten a taxi, how about I take you to the subway station? Just, as long as you don't mind sharing an umbrella with me..."

Ling Qingxue lowered her eyes, making it impossible to see her gaze or expression. But her tone seemed to be filled with shyness and unease.

"Never mind, I think the car should arrive soon."

"Oh, I see..." Her tone revealed her disappointment without any attempt to hide it.

She seemed to remember something, a troubled expression on her face, and picked up her phone to edit something.

I naturally picked up my phone as well, but instead of typing, I just glanced at it.

really.

Are you almost there? It feels like the rain is getting heavier.

[And maybe it's just my imagination. I felt like the boy I was sheltering from the rain with kept looking me up and down.]

[Shocked emoji]

I chuckled, as if I'd stumbled upon a funny joke, and typed a reply.

【I'm so sorry! I ran into a little accident outside, and I lost my umbrella, so I might not be able to get there in time. If you're not in a rush, would half an hour later be okay?】

I saw a flash of contemptuous anger across Ling Qingxue's face.

"Oh, okay then. You go ahead and do your own thing; you don't need to pick me up."

I'm sorry! I'll get things sorted out here as soon as possible!

"Really, it's not necessary. I'll go back myself. Thank you."

The tone of her reply became very cold, and at the same time, as if to let me know, Ling Qingxue deliberately sighed and looked preoccupied.

"What happened?"

I would never normally ask such a question, as it would only cause trouble that has nothing to do with me. But now, I'm still happy to see how things develop.

"It's a little... no, it's nothing serious."

After I asked her, Ling Qingxue hesitated and carefully considered her words.

"If it's nothing serious, then something must have happened, right? If it's alright, may I listen to it?"

As she wished, I asked tactfully, like a warm-hearted boy eager to show friendliness to a girl.

“Actually…” Ling Qingxue bit her lip, her slightly raised eyes were a little moist, making her look especially pitiful on a rainy day.

"Chu Qing's friend's brother is harassing me."

Damn it, you're talking nonsense! You're slandering me, this person is slandering me!

...Well, whatever. I feel like I've gotten used to being splashed with dirty water in this world, and I'm almost turning into a sewage processing plant.

I played along, displaying eight parts surprise and two parts anger.

"How could this be? Is it that boy named Ning Ruoyu? I heard from Chu Qing that he's not very good, could it be..."

"Actually, he harassed me back then." Ling Qingxue forced a smile, her voice tinged with a helpless and broken sadness that tugged at the heartstrings. "My friends couldn't stand it anymore and exposed his behavior. He was punished, and we hadn't been in contact for a long time."

"Then why are you bothering me again now?"

"Actually, it's probably because he found out? Recently, Ma Hang and I have been a bit..."

Just as I was about to continue speaking, Ling Qingxue seemed to suddenly slip and fall onto the edge of the steps. She instinctively grabbed my arm and fell into my arms.

"Hug, sorry..."

She looked up at me in a panic, her beautiful face so close that I could feel her gentle breath, her breath tickling my nose.

Her face flushed, but she didn't rush to break free. Her expression grew increasingly shy, yet also tinged with desire, highlighting the extreme contrast and allure.

"..." She seemed to completely nestle into my arms, and even closed her eyes. Her soft, translucent lips were slightly parted, as if she were expecting something.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

She trembled slightly and nodded almost imperceptibly.

I gently stroked her long hair.

Then let go and release her.

Snapped! ! !

Ling Qingxue fell to the ground.

—At the same time, I also narrowly escaped the sneak attack from behind.

[Next chapter preview: The attacker looked furious, as if he were the victim.]

I smiled nonchalantly and then stood in front of her.

After saying that, she looked up at me, her eyes filled with unspoken thoughts and tender emotions.

This kind of reckless youth, like a wild boar, is truly moving, as heroic as a eunuch going to a brothel.

"Three great illusions in life—sometimes they might not be illusions at all."

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Consequences of the Heroic Simp's Attack

After making sure Ling Qingxue had really fallen to the ground, I immediately squatted down and helped her up, as if I were protecting her by my side.

"You sneak up on a girl from behind and hit her? Have you no shame?"

I asked this despicable sneak attacker.

Well, although he should have been targeting me, today I'm going to pin this blame on you.

"Ling Qingxue! Are you alright?" I didn't care at all about the dirty water on Ling Qingxue's body, and my tone was full of regret. "I'm sorry, it happened so suddenly. I just wanted to push you away so you wouldn't get hurt."

"I...I'm okay." Although the "I'm okay" sounded a bit forced, Ling Qingxue still answered. "Yes, it's my own fault for not being prepared."

It seems she now understands what I meant by "Are you ready?"

"You dare ask me if I have any shame? Do you even have any shame yourself?!"

The attacker looked furious, as if he were the victim.

"I?"

I frowned, looking suspiciously at the chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) boy in front of me who was standing in the rain like a Kamen Rider.

What's going on? Are you acting in a TV drama?

"I always felt you were no good! You were forcing Qingxue just now, weren't you!"

"Qingxue already has a boyfriend, Ma Dui! Even if there's a misunderstanding right now, it's not for a bastard like you to interfere!"

He roared in the rain and charged at me like a wild boar.

"Wait! Xiao Hao, no!"

Ling Qingxue resolutely stood up from the ground, seemingly intending to stand in front of me.

I raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.

He held her head in his arms with one hand, and as he turned around, he kicked the boy in the knee, sending the charging wild boar flying away.

"Are you injured?"

I looked at her bright eyes and could vaguely see a blush on her face amidst her panic.

"No, no. Thank you."

she whispered.

"It's okay, I can't let you get hurt again this time."

I smiled nonchalantly and then stood in front of her.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. I neither forced Ling Qingxue nor know what she’s been through in her love life—but I do know one thing. Doing things she hates under the guise of doing what’s best for her is the most self-righteous thing to do.”

"If you want to talk things out, then please calm down. If you don't—violence might solve the problem, but I can assure you, your violence won't. Because it's ridiculously weak."

It's a very juvenile and overly righteous statement, but ignore it. Kids and adults alike enjoy this kind of pretentious atmosphere.

"You bastard—!"

The boy seemed unwilling to give up and got up, intending to continue having sex with me.

This kind of reckless youth, like a wild boar, is truly moving, as heroic as a eunuch going to a brothel.

"Zhang Yinghao, that's enough!!!"

You really are called Yinghao (Hero).

Startled by Ling Qingxue's angry rebuke, the boy stopped in his tracks and stood there dumbfounded.

"My business with Ma Hang is none of your concern! Why did you take it upon yourself to make decisions?"

"No, no, Qingxue." The boy panicked when he saw Ling Qingxue's reddened eyes and angry face.

“I, I am. Ma, he's my brother, and then, your words…”

"...I think you're the one who likes Ling Qingxue, right?"

I said coldly.