They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

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"Although...I don't know...please guide me..."

Senior Sister Chu Guyin seemed completely unaware of what was happening, but she still cooperated by answering according to the identity I had introduced.

"stare--"

But her cat-like, fixed, curious gaze put immense pressure on me.

It wasn't because of my senior's gaze, but because of President Wu Yuehua, who was observing her from the side... Her gaze towards me began to scrutinize me.

As I endured the silent torture of the older couple's gazes, a voice of redemption finally came from afar.

"The drinks are back! Who ordered Oriental Leaf? Come and claim them!" Xu Xingxin shouted.

“I bought that, just throw it over!” Ge Lanlan raised her hand.

"Be careful!"

The drink traced an arc in the air before being caught steadily by Ge Lanlan.

The two exchanged a smile. Ge Lanlan continued chatting with An Yu, while Xu Xingxin and Chen Di walked over to me.

"What do you want to drink? I bought bottled water, carbonated drinks, and coffee."

"Sprite is fine."

I took the soda out of the bag.

"Ning... Lü Ning!"

An Yu shouted to me from the grill.

"What?"

"Do you know how to grill meat? We don't know if it's cooked through here!"

"You can take a look... never mind, I'll handle it."

"Then I'll go over there too. Xu Xingxin, could you help distribute the drinks?"

Chen Di handed me a disposable apron from the makeshift dining table.

"Okay, I know. Oh, by the way, I ran into the Ling sisters on my way here. She seemed quite interested in our barbecue. Should we invite her?"

Are you sure she wants to come?

I'm a little confused. Logically speaking, Ling Chuqing just experienced a strange accident, so why would she be out playing now?

"Probably? They have no reason to lie to me."

"It seems there are too many boys over there, and the graduating seniors even secretly got some beer."

Got it, the legendary male dormitory in university.

"Anything's fine with me, I have no objections," I replied. An Yu on the other end was already urging me on.

"Hey, hey, hey, are you there? This meat looks like it's on fire!"

"Stop it, young lady!"

From now on, we'll need to put up signs for fire prevention, theft prevention, and security at the campsite.

"Excuse me, have you seen my brother?"

Ning Ruoxin asked me and Chen Di, who were taking over the oven, a question.

"It seems they took some kebabs to another camp, but I'm not entirely sure."

I just made it up on the spot.

Chen Di added with a smile, "Before he left, he said there was no need to look for him; he would naturally come back when the time came."

This guy is truly born with the divine body of a gigolo. He can lie to young girls without even needing to coordinate his story, and he can even cover up his teammates' oversights—seriously, don't you want to consider joining us?

We can team up and become legends in Xinjiekou!

"Oh, I see." Ning Ruoxin looked a little listless.

"Thank you, seniors."

She thanked us sincerely and then left.

"...Don't you feel a little guilty about deceiving your sister like this?"

A while after Ning Ruoxin left, Chen Di glanced at me.

"I have my reasons. Deceiving people is such a troublesome thing, who would be willing to do it if they didn't have some ideas?"

As I said this, I thought of Ling Chuqing, who had blushed and waved goodbye to me when we said goodbye.

"But it seems you're not planning to tell me these thoughts now?"

"You know me too well! It's a little scary, be careful walking alone at night!"

"Then don't sleep too soundly in the same tent at night."

"It's terrifying that such a handsome and gentle guy would say something like that with such a calm expression!"

It was probably the influence of the charcoal fire, the aroma of meat, the moonlight, and laughter woven into a symphony.

Chen Di and I were in a good mood, joking with each other.

Occasionally, An Yu would come over eagerly waiting for food, and sometimes the senior would come over holding up a strange thing and asking if it could be grilled.

Occasionally, Hu Dan and Ge Lanlan would come over to help with the shift change, and sometimes the chairman would ask how much food was left.

Ning Ruoxin occasionally helps pass food, and Xu Xingxin occasionally comes over and loudly announces his new discoveries.

Then, the two sisters who arrived late joined the dinner. Gradually, it became more than just dinner; it turned into an evening party where everyone chatted and laughed together.

"This is the kind of youth I wanted to experience."

I handed over the task of baking the golden cake and toast to the two girls who knew how to use the oven, and then I stretched.

"That's a really profound and old-fashioned way of saying it."

"Because it really has a lot of meaning. Although there were more girls, the interpersonal relationships weren't as bad as I thought." I took the opportunity to stretch my arm and deliberately punched Chen Di's shoulder lightly.

"Ha! Have you eaten? If not, take this punch!"

Chen Di smiled somewhat helplessly.

"You little brat."

"Wow, you even know this term~ You've disappointed me, you 'normie' classmate."

Before I could even stop smiling, Ling Chuqing walked up to me and Chen Di in a flustered manner.

Chen Di and I exchanged a glance, both of us looking somewhat uneasy.

"Brother Lü Ning, Brother Chen Di, have you seen Ah Xin?"

"She seems to have disappeared!"

...Then what are you waiting for? Call the police!

[Next chapter preview: However, it's normal for him not to reply, so Ning Ruoxin didn't feel too sad.]

Ning Ruoxin felt dizzy and her whole body was in a daze.

"Even if it's Ning Ruoyu, I should find out she's not here by midnight, right?"

They are not siblings.

Interlude: Can't we still have hope?

Messed up.

Sitting by the roadside on the mountain road, Ning Ruoxin looked up at the starry sky and stared blankly.

Although senior students Chen Di and Lü Ning told her where her brother was, Ning Ruoxin still decided to bring Ning Ruoyu back after Ling Chuqing and the others arrived.

If given the chance, perhaps at least Ning Ruoyu and Ling Chuqing could get along well—Ning Ruoxin realized that she might still harbor such a wish deep in her heart.

However, Ning Ruoxin didn't see Ning Ruoyu anywhere, neither at the basketball club's camp nor at the more distant western camp. Even after sending him messages, he didn't reply.

However, it was normal for him not to reply, so Ning Ruoxin didn't feel too upset.

Sending him messages is more like a habit, just like when her parents go out and she leaves a message on the refrigerator or desk.

I just let him know; I didn't expect him to do anything.

Ning Ruoxin sighed softly.

Under the moonlight, the girl revealed an expression rarely seen on her face—a hint of unease and a touch of loneliness.

By the time she realized she might have gone too far, the mountain path had become somewhat unfamiliar. Busy searching for people in the crowd, she didn't even notice that something was wrong with her phone.

The battery problem she had encountered while shopping with A-Qing happened at the worst possible time. She felt her phone vibrate to warn her of low battery, frantically tapped the first contact in her list, and before she could even finish sending a message, her phone automatically shut down.

I think I'm lost, somewhere between West Camp and North Camp.

"Even if it's Ning Ruoyu, I should find out she's not here by midnight, right?"

Ning Ruoxin said softly.

There are several rugged forest trails between the West Camp and the North Camp.

Realizing she was lost, Ning Ruoxin sat quietly by the roadside and stopped wandering around.

"I'm going to cause trouble for others again."

Perhaps because she had been constantly apologizing to others for her brother's situation, Ning Ruoxin harbored a deep fear of causing trouble for others.

It's like a group project. The result of group projects is often not teamwork, but rather the most impatient and inept person taking on everything. Because of her brother, Ning Ruoxin has been trying hard to become a mature and sensible person.

Although this idea is actually quite childish.

From the lively dinner party just moments ago to the quiet silence now filled only with the chirping of insects, Ning Ruoxin felt as if she were in a dream.

"Ah chirp!"

I left my hoodie in the tent because I was eating, and I didn't feel cold when I went out, but now I realize that it can be quite chilly in the mountains at night.

She should stand up and move around at this point—but deep down she didn't want to move anymore. Ning Ruoxin hugged herself tighter, trying to just get through this time like this.

Why did I send it to him in the end? Ah Qing's chat window was right below.

Ning Ruoxin felt dizzy and her whole body was in a daze.

Perhaps there are still some fantasies. That he could become friends with senior students An Yu and Chen Di, and maybe his brother would change... such delusions.

If you're supposed to be sensible, can't you still have hope?

Ning Ruoxin sniffed, feeling somewhat wronged.

"Why aren't they here yet?"

"elder brother."

she said softly.

……

"Ning Ruoxin! Ning Ruoxin, can you hear me? Answer me if you're there!"

An anxious voice came from afar, calling her name.

The girl suddenly stood up from the ground. She felt dizzy from getting up so quickly.

"I'm here!"

Ning Ruoxin covered her head and responded with the loudest voice she could manage.

dizzy.