They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

Page 37

The burly man who was rejected smiled kindly, but as he turned around, he gave me a fierce glare.

...What does that have to do with me?

"So, An Yu said you have something you want to know—is it possible that anyone involved is involved in the shady business?"

"You've been reading too many novels, haven't you?"

What we experienced before may have given this girl the illusion that "the gray market is all around us".

"Huh, really? I was thinking I was going to encounter something exciting again—disappointing, bad review!"

"Just don't cry if you really encounter it. Why do you think gray industries are called gray?" I said irritably.

Honestly, the gold-toothed uncle we met last time, although he was an ordinary figure in the gray industry, was almost a local tycoon for ordinary small-time thugs.

For a street urchin to be recruited into the organization and undergo training is the first step towards officially starting work. In a sense, he's more like an agent who discovers idols, selecting those street-smart guys worth paying attention to.

"That's because of you. Although we don't know who you are, they all seem to be a bit afraid of you—ah, you were just pretending all along, weren't you? You deliberately put on a show to keep ordinary people away from this world!"

Grandland said excitedly, as if she had discovered the truth.

"That explains it! Don't worry, I promise I won't tell anyone!"

"...With such a great mind, why don't you write novels?"

I sighed.

Those people weren't necessarily afraid of me; rather, as an old fox, they were used to being cautious of people of unknown origin. We're all just trying to make a living; if it's always a matter of life and death, then nobody will survive.

It's like my boss in my past life, who always greeted me with a smile, was actually the head of the sex industry in a gray area. Using the gold-toothed uncle as an analogy, he's someone the uncle will only see a few times in his life.

Judging from his appearance, he seems like a nice guy who likes to confide in others and often laments the ravages of time, appearing weak and easily bullied.

Of course, this is only because I genuinely understand the industry's inner workings and am considered a "peer" by them. Otherwise, they would most likely be acting unreasonably.

"Don't try to find out about these things out of curiosity or anything."

To avoid potential trouble later, I couldn't help but offer this reminder.

“I wouldn’t have been so bold without you here,” Ge Lanlan said confidently.

"It won't work even with me here!"

"Okay, okay... but if I get into danger, you'll come to save me like last time, right?"

Ge Lanlan looked at me with a smile, her eyes slightly gleaming.

I suddenly felt a headache coming on.

"Keep dreaming, you think you can..."

"What are you talking about?"

Ling Qingxue appeared beside us without us noticing—okay, I'm lying, I actually noticed her a while ago, but I still showed a surprised expression.

"Qingxue?! What brings you here? We were just chatting about things in class. Weren't you and the others playing Truth or Dare?"

Ge Lanlan pouted, revealing a somewhat unhappy expression, and slightly distanced herself from me, giving me more space to chat with Ling Qingxue.

"Oh, you noticed I was playing that?" Ling Qingxue glanced at Ge Lanlan and nodded with a smile. "Welcome, Lanlan, to come and play!"

"Thank you~" Grandma replied politely.

"That's Ning Ruoyu."

Ling Qingxue shyly moved her face closer.

"What, what's the matter?"

With a slight tremor in my voice, I held my breath and made swallowing motions to consume oxygen and make my face turn slightly red.

(This kind of thing can easily make you feel nauseous, so it's not recommended for ordinary people to practice or use it.)

Ling Qingxue breathed softly into my ear.

"I lost a game of Truth or Dare, can I pat my head?"

"Sure! Are there any other requirements?"

I was so happy I was trembling all over.

Holding my breath and swallowing is really uncomfortable; I'm a little short of oxygen.

"Um, well. Sorry, I'm rather short, so if it's alright, could you squat down a little?"

I glanced at her.

There was not a trace of gloom in the girl's eyes; they were open and sincere.

In the distance, many of the basketball club's busybodies had already secretly picked up their phones.

I laughed.

"Of course it's okay!"

“I told you I could nourish my scalp by putting olive oil in my hair!” I said loudly to Ge Lanlan next to me.

"?"

Ge Lanlan was full of questions.

Ling Qingxue's eyes widened.

"—In order to attend the social event, I specially sprayed my hair with gel and applied some folk remedies to it."

"Qingxue, you have to give it a good pat~"

This time, I leaned close to her ear and whispered something.

"..."

Visibly, the guy's expression turned ashen, as if he had eaten something filthy.

I deliberately blew a breath gently on my earlobe.

As if bitten by a dog, Ling Qingxue quickly distanced herself.

"I thought about it and felt that this request was a bit presumptuous and impolite. I'd better discuss with them about changing the topic!"

Ling Qingxue left in a hurry. Although her expression didn't change much, she looked rather disheveled, judging from her usual style.

Shamelessness knows no bounds. You idiot, trying to take advantage of me.

I stopped holding my breath, took my phone out of my pocket, and exchanged a satisfied glance with Ge Lanlan, who had witnessed everything.

“…You filthy scoundrel.”

She turned her head away, her face flushed, looking very unhappy.

My years of experience in the industry have taught me not to reason with girls in this state.

As I began to ponder how to use the information I had just received, someone poked me in the back.

"Could you come over here for a moment? I need to talk to you about something."

The person speaking turned their face away, avoiding eye contact. Their tone of voice lacked any of their usual energy and vitality.

Instead, there was an indescribable sense of resolve.

"……sure."

"Little sister Ling Chuqing~"

I thought about it for a moment, then accepted the invitation with a smile.

Next chapter preview:

Great, a little further on is the perfect place to dump a body. My corpse will rot and stink, but it will never be discovered.

Ling Chuqing clutched the hem of her clothes, looking quite angry.

I don't know if AI technology is mature yet, but it's quite useful in terms of not being human.

Well, I really wish there was a phone booth or something in the forest. I've already thought of a name for it: Eien-tei (Eternal Pavilion).

I silently stared at their backsides from behind, and subconsciously licked my lips.

Chapter Thirty-One: A Deeper Discussion in the Woods? No way!!

Under Ge Lanlan's somewhat uneasy gaze, Ling Chuqing and I took advantage of the fact that no one else was paying attention and left the basketball club's camp.

Without exchanging many words with me, Ling Chuqing simply led the way in silence.

As the forest grew denser, we arrived at an area that most campers wouldn't normally explore.

The dense, straight trees always give me a sense of déjà vu, like the suicide forests I've seen on TV before.

"Um...wouldn't it be unsafe to go any further?"

I spoke up to remind them.

Ling Chuqing did not answer, but continued walking forward with her head down.

Great, a little further on is the perfect place to dump a body. My corpse will rot and stink, but it will never be discovered.

Look, for example, that little slope over there. Even though it's only four or five meters high, if you roll down it, you'll definitely disappear.

I hope that children will sing "Little White Boat" at my grave someday.

"Then let's stay here."

Ling Chuqing suddenly stopped and glanced at the steep slope without making a sound.

Ah Zhen, are you serious?

I forced a fawning smile.

"Sure, hehe, Chuqing, is there anything you want to discuss with me?"

"I know a lot of people at your school and Linwai. No matter what trouble you have, just come to me!"

—This is just role-playing, please don't contact me.

Perhaps my self-assured and confident tone was too incisive and hit the nail on the head. I clearly saw Ling Chuqing's expression of disgust and nausea.

"...They're both seniors."

She muttered something under her breath. Unlike her sister's "whisper," this was barely audible and nonsensical, but my hearing is good, and I quickly understood what she meant.

Thanks to the English listening exercise. Xiao Lai's casual remarks during the class meeting, focusing not on the content but on the principles and experiences of interpersonal relationships, were incredibly insightful at that moment.

“I’m not in any trouble, and I don’t need your help.”

Ling Chuqing looked directly at me, as if she had made a very firm decision.

"To be honest, I really dislike you. But because of an older brother's encouragement, I feel that just disliking you won't bring about any change, so I want to talk to you."

"Oh, brother! I'm so envious!"

"Please be serious! That tone is very rude to both me and that senior!"

Ling Chuqing's face clearly showed anger.

"Oh, sorry, sorry, hehe, I'm just a smooth talker~"

I deliberately put on a playful smile.

“…” Ling Chuqing took a deep breath.

"You may not know this, but because of you, Ah Xin, your younger sister Ning Ruoxin, has been treated unfairly at school."

"That's it."

"That's all?! You're Ning Ruoxin's brother, aren't you?!"

Ling Chuqing's eyes widened.

Even if you're not filled with righteous indignation, shouldn't you feel shocked and ashamed? Ning Ruoxin only became like this because of you!

"Ahhh, I get it! And then what? And then what? The important part!"