They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"You're not going to wipe your mouth with my shirt, are you?" I tried to lighten the mood a bit.

boom!

Okay, I got a light tap on the shoulder with a small fist.

"Could you temporarily pretend to be Brother Lü Ning?"

The voice behind me trembled slightly.

"I promise this is the last time! Please, I have something to say."

"...Okay, go ahead and say it."

I reverted to the upright and gentlemanly demeanor I had when I played Lü Ning, similar to that of Chen Di.

"........."

"........."

After a silence that made me wonder if the girl behind me had fallen asleep, I finally heard a soft, shy voice.

"Brother Lü Ning, thank you for always helping me."

Actually, I didn't help you much.

This statement comes from the heart.

My motivations were mostly for my own benefit and to investigate Ning Ruoxin. Several times I took advantage of Ling Chuqing's identity, and even when the camp was in danger, ultimately, if it weren't for my catalysis, perhaps Ling Qingxue wouldn't have gone so crazy.

“There are many things. But the most important thing is that I’m not crying now because of you, Brother Lü Ning.”

Is the dampness on my back sweat? It's so hot today.

"Brother Lü Ning, do you remember when you said you would grant me a wish once I recovered?"

When did I—damn, my child-rearing tips stopped working?

I didn't expect this child to have such a good memory; I miscalculated.

"...If it goes too far, I might not be able to do it."

I answered, forcing myself to be brave.

"It's not excessive at all! Not at all! I promise!"

Ling Chuqing said urgently.

"So, for everything I'm about to say, you have to answer 'no'... Is that okay?"

What kind of bizarre wish is this?

Although I was completely confused, I still nodded in agreement.

"I was actually a little tired just now."

"I've thought about whether I should explain things to my parents, move to a different city, and go to a different school. I want to keep my distance from my sister forever."

"Brother Lü Ning, do you think it's okay?"

I think I understand what she means a little better now.

"No."

"...I think so too. If we do this, we're not just giving up on my sister, but on the whole family."

"I will still try my best, even if it seems ridiculous."

"Hey, Brother Lü Ning, I'm so sorry to A Xin."

“My sister did this, and I’ve always had a prejudice against her brother.”

"I wasn't able to help her, but in the end I received so much help from her—should I stop being friends with her?"

She asked earnestly, and I answered earnestly.

"no!"

"...Actually, I'm reluctant to let her go. I've made many mistakes, but Ah-Xin is the one person I really want to be friends with forever."

"I'm really being unreasonable. If I didn't get your affirmation, I probably would have become cowardly and run away."

I felt a slight tremor behind me, and the occasional sniffling sound.

"Although it's self-deception, I really feel much more courageous just to get your reply, Brother Lü Ning."

"—So, one last question."

she said softly.

Compared to the force of the first two questions, the third question was really too light, as light as a bubble floating in the summer sky, crystal clear but fragile.

"Brother Lü Ning, I was attracted to you the first time I saw you."

"When you listened to my troubles, I felt happy to be understood; when you saved me, I felt that you were more important than my safety; when you first invited me out, I changed my clothes so many times in front of the mirror."

Even if you're just trying to comfort me! Even if you're lying to me! Whether you're Brother Lü Ning or Brother Ning Ruoyu, I—

"I like you! This is the first time I've ever liked someone, I really, really like you..."

"...So, can you choose me?"

So tears are actually quite hot.

The girl's embrace tightened slightly, and she could no longer maintain the decorum in her voice.

With tears streaming down her face, she spoke behind me in an almost pleading tone.

"Please, choose me..."

……

I sighed.

"--sorry."

After all, I was the one who lied first. Even I, at this moment, haven't been able to utter those two resolute words.

The sweltering summer wind swept across the hospital's flowerbeds, and the cicadas, whose lives are but a single summer, sang a song that was both noise and a final lament. I sensed the girl behind me gradually losing her strength, and sighed softly in my heart.

"...He didn't keep his word."

She muttered something softly, but didn't let go.

"Judging from that tone, can I just quit acting?"

"You broke your promise!"

She screamed again.

The noise was a bit loud, and a nurse nearby rushed over to check the situation. After seeing the scene, she gave a "youth is wonderful" smile and left.

—Look at the hospital gown I'm wearing!

"Um, could we put our hands down for a moment..." I suggested.

"It's all your fault! It's all your fault for breaking your promise!"

Ling Chuqing lost her temper.

Why didn't you say 'no'? You clearly promised you would say 'no'!

I spoke with righteous indignation.

"How can a man keep saying no! I said no the first two times to keep my promise, and I didn't say it a third time to maintain my dignity. I'm truly a good young man who embodies all five vices: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness!"

"All five poisons? What the hell?!"

Ling Chuqing still refused to let go.

"Brother Ning Ruoyu, you're such an idiot, an idiot, an idiot!"

"Don't say anything else, just let go, big brother!" Ling Chuqing's fuss made me seriously consider whether I should pry her hands off.

"...If you're like this, I simply can't bear to give up!"

In despair, she threw herself at me.

I'm not afraid of petty thugs, so how could I let a middle school girl get away with this?

I...I lost my balance.

I can understand! I wasn't mentally prepared; who knew she would suddenly pounce on me!

But instinctively, I still pulled the girl, who was also about to fall, into my arms.

Then tragedy struck.

We fell to the ground and became entangled in a hugging position.

Do you think this is the end?

"Oh, your brother! I just saw him over there by the flower bed, chatting happily with a little girl!"

Ning Ruoxin and the smiling nurse who had just left appeared in front of me and Ling Chuqing.

"Brother! Why aren't you back in your room yet? I've been waiting for you—"

"……elder brother?"

"...Ling Chuqing?"

This is the first time I've seen my sister's eyes lose their luster.

And they call their good friends by their full names.

[Next chapter preview: "Hey, Ning Ruoyu, I like you."]

"If this counts as a first kiss, then everyone's first kiss must be a pacifier, right?"

She breathed softly, her eyes sparkling with a blissful excitement.

"What? Is there anything left for us to talk about?"

"...Because I love you the most~"

Chapter 47: Not Wanting to Be a Local Thunder Girl's Magnet

"Hey, Ning Ruoyu, I like you."

"Haha, sorry, I hate you to death. Or rather, why don't you just die already?"

"Wow, you're willing to die for me. I understand your feelings for me."

I glanced at this lunatic. The nurse who was changing my dressing glanced at me.

She smiled gently at me, seemingly oblivious to everyone else around her.

"...Want to sleep with me? Sure."

The nurse gave me another look, her expression hard to describe.

"Are you fucking insane?"

I feel I'm already far enough away from this lunatic; any further and I'll have to rely on lip reading to communicate.

"This is my first time. All of it~" She seemed to suddenly remember something. "Ah, I know, it's because my leg is injured, are you sorry? It's okay, I can use my mouth~"

She opened her mouth slightly as if hinting, and gently licked her lips with her tongue.

"The medication has been changed—remember to rest and avoid strenuous exercise."

The nurse quickly put the equipment into the basket, seemingly not wanting to stay in that place for even a second longer.

"Damn it, I'm seriously considering whether or not to make Ling Chuqing give up."

Only when I mentioned Ling Chuqing's name did this madman finally stop staring blankly.

“…Ning Ruoyu, I don’t like it when you mention the names of those unimportant people when you’re with me.”

"Ning Ruoxin, Chen Di, An Yu, Chu Guyin, Wu Yuehua, Ge Lanlan, Xu Xingxin..."

I started reciting the names of the dishes.

Ling Qingxue smiled again.

“Although I don’t like them, I wouldn’t mind if you were planning to host a dinner for them.”