They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

Page 72

"Hey, don't you guys think that Senior Chu Guyin has been acting a bit too... you know?"

However, before I even entered the men's restroom, I saw several girls chatting in front of the sink.

"Even though Qiu Luxi has come to our school, she still acts like the only queen in the academy?"

"Yeah, although I'm not interested in stairs or anything like that, I feel that the other two girls, whether it's An Yu from Grade 11F or President Wu Yuehua, are very easy to get along with. As for Senior Chu Guyin, well..."

"It's not that it's bad, it just feels a bit inexplicable?"

"Yes, yes, last time I dropped something while I was moving my homework. She walked right past me without even glancing at me."

"Oh, and the cafeteria too, it's so frustrating. If you don't talk to her, she'll just take the seats that other people have reserved."

"They've been spoiled by those fan clubs and support groups, haven't they?"

"Yeah, yeah, I was wondering if it was because she was too busy making music that she was in a bad mood. Look at Qiu Luxi, although she's also very independent, she's still reasonable..."

The girls chattered away, and their voices grew louder and louder in front of the sink.

Once a group develops a shared viewpoint, it will consider it to be the mainstream.

I didn't intend to get involved in anything; it was just by chance that I saw Senior Chu Guyin at the corner of the corridor not far away.

She looked somewhat bewildered.

That's right, her hearing is better than mine, so she probably heard every word I said. But judging from her current appearance, it's less about being angry and embarrassed, and more about being confused by what she couldn't understand.

"Um, classmate?"

I couldn't stand it anymore. Although I didn't intend to argue with these girls on behalf of my senior, I could at least persuade them to leave.

"Hmm?...You're Ning Ruoyu?"

Very well, my name is still widely known today.

When they saw me take the initiative to talk to them, the girls' expressions all turned sour.

Let's just send them away like this. I thought to myself, deliberately trying to force a lewd and ingratiating expression.

but.

"If you're already finished washing, could you please move aside as soon as possible?"

A familiar voice came from behind.

Ge Lanlan, smiling, and Hu Dan, frowning, watched the chattering group of girls. Although their words were polite, they clearly carried a hint of reproach.

"Okay." "Sorry." "I'm leaving."

Although Ge Lanlan and Hu Dan weren't particularly famous at school, they were still somewhat respected. The group of girls didn't seem to harbor the same disgust for me; instead, they ran away with a hint of awe.

"Hey, Ning Ruoyu~"

Ge Lanlan greeted me with a smile, while Hu Dan crossed her arms and remained silent.

“Those were really harsh words,” Granlan added.

"As someone who shared an umbrella with my senior on the way home, I feel disgusted when I hear such slander."

"If that's the case, it seems the senior student over there ran away."

As I said this, I pointed to Chu Guyin, whose back I could only see now.

Ge Lanlan was slightly taken aback. "Then you're not going... Oh, right."

She also knew about the disbandment of the senior student club.

"...No, I'm going to tell my senior that it's their gossip, not her fault." Ge Lanlan immediately abandoned me and Hu Dan, "Dandan, wait for me here!"

"Eh!?"

Hu Dan and I both exclaimed in disbelief at the same time, and looked at each other with indescribable expressions.

I should have stayed in the clubroom to explain the whole story to Qiu Luxi!

[Next chapter preview: I might as well train and go do some Su Nuo ritual.]

Do you think I'm stupid?

"She told you about this."

However, his tone seemed to carry a pleading quality.

“…Ning Ruoyu, you’re in a bad mood.”

Chapter 58: Colors Dyed on a Blank Sheet of Paper

Wait, no way, me and Hu Dan?

How did you come up with this combination? Grandma, are you a genius?

real or fake?

I might as well train and go practice Su Nuo.

Even summer camping trips only managed to make Hu Dan and me go from being at odds to getting along peacefully. But we never really evolved to the point where we could have a conversation while sharing a room.

I looked at Hu Dan, but Hu Dan didn't look at me.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

I began.

It's so stupid to just wait here like this. We might as well go back sooner; maybe we'll catch An Yu and Ling Qingxue fighting live.

Ah, but Hu Dan must never find out about this.

"...You were trying to speak up for your senior, weren't you?"

Hu Dan suddenly spoke up and asked.

"It's not that I'm speaking up for the senior students, it's just that I find it annoying that they keep occupying the sinks."

I said it bluntly.

The school's handwashing stations are for both men and women, and a group of people gathered there making a lot of noise is really affecting public morality.

Do you think I'm stupid?

Hu Dan glared at me.

I shrugged, looking indifferent.

"……Ugh."

To my surprise, Hu Dan sighed when she saw my posture.

This is nothing like the impression I had of her having a bad temper.

"I'm sorry for many things I did in the past."

"?"

"...It's just...all sorts of things."

She looked a little guilty.

"Well, it's nothing, I didn't take it to heart."

I'm quite adept at handling apologies.

"But I have to say. Before, especially before An'an formally suggested that you leave, you were a complete scumbag."

"I won't deny that."

Because of our deepening relationship, An Yu automatically romanticized my past actions; Ge Lanlan did the same, misunderstanding that I had my own difficulties; Wu Yuehua and I didn't have much interaction, and my sister was just self-hypnotizing herself... I never expected that it would be her who would expose this.

"So I will not only not apologize for what happened in the past, but I will also continue to feel disgusted. But I also feel guilty for expressing my malice towards you without explanation."

Hu Dan bowed his head obediently to me.

"Is it because of what they saw this action?"

“No, there’s also An’an’s incessant chatter in my ear.” Hu Dan gave a wry smile. “You might not know, but lately, An’an will bring up you in every three sentences she says. All sorts of things, like ‘Ning Ruoyu said this’ or ‘Ning Ruoyu that guy,’ like a fan chasing after a celebrity.”

"Oh, but she doesn't realize it herself, so please don't tell her."

Hu Dan smiled gently, a rare sight for her.

"...You really like An Yu."

As I said this, I looked the girl over in my eyes.

"Yes, as a friend, I want to be your best friend."

For some reason, there was a hint of bitterness in Hu Dan's smile.

I don't know why, but I really want to ask a question.

A question I've wanted to ask since last semester.

Normally I probably wouldn't say this, but at this moment, I feel it's a good opportunity to satisfy my curiosity.

"There's something I've never understood. Why did An Yu say that she didn't want to pretend to like anyone anymore?"

A gentle breeze flowed through the corridor, causing Hu Dan's neatly tied ponytail to sway slightly, much like her somewhat turbulent heart at that moment.

"She told you about this."

"Although I was told to keep it a secret, I don't know why, but I feel that there is absolutely no problem in telling you now."

"The question itself is strange, it's like someone once told her that it's normal to have someone you like."

I looked out the window and saw a line of homing pigeons returning to their nests. Many runners looked up at the sky, talking to each other or taking out their phones.

It was just an ordinary day.

"That's the impression she got."

Hu Dan said softly.

"Well, I'm just guessing. Maybe someone wants to know who An Yu likes, so they deliberately say things like, 'It's normal for someone her age to have someone she likes~' or 'So, so, there must be someone she likes,' or something like that."

"After all, that guy is actually quite easily influenced by others. He will unconsciously believe that what others say is correct, and then reflect on whether he has a problem."

I shrugged.

"...You're terrifying! Those sentences you just imitated from a girl's voice, you even changed the tone and intonation. It's really impressive, but it's so similar that it's kind of disgusting."

"I'll reflect on it." I smiled. "Tell me, if someone really did ask that question, what would their purpose be?"

"..." Hu Dan fell silent.

"I think there are two. One is very normal, and the other is uncommon, but it just happens to fit the description."

Seeing that she didn't speak, I continued.

"The first one is obviously the simplest and most conventional guess. The person asking the question has a crush on a boy. He's very outstanding and amazing, and she's afraid that her best friend likes that boy, so she wants to get the answer through this opportunity."

"...I think if that's the purpose, then that person doesn't deserve to be my best friend."

Hu Dan said softly, but firmly.

"I see. Then the second guess is a bit unconventional, even a bit off-topic..."

"Ning Ruoyu".

Hu Dan interrupted my speech.

She smiled softly.

"I think I should go find Grandma again."

She said so.

However, his tone seemed to carry a pleading quality.

"..."

I nodded.

"I understand. Sorry for bringing up such a boring topic."