They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"...?"

“It seems we have all reached a consensus: ‘Language has no power when perspectives differ.’”

"This applies to both you and me, as well as to you and Senior Sister Chu Guyin, right?"

"...Very interesting. He's a cunning man. Was my reaction what you expected?"

"It's just that we get along very well." Ning Ruoyu smiled gently, casually changing the subject. "That's the premise of our bet. Since language can no longer distinguish which idea is correct, let's look at the result."

"Tell me, what was the result?"

"I want Senior Sister Chu Guyin to express her own thoughts. If she has her own plans and opinions, I think you won't object, right?"

“...You know perfectly well that what is simple for others is impossible for Gu Yin.”

Chu Qingya's tone became subtly angry. This stemmed from a mother's protectiveness towards her child.

"That child has no empathy! She can't understand other people's feelings! You knew this all along, yet you still forced her to do this! What's the difference between this and treating her like a puppet?"

"Then what's the difference between your actions and those of others?"

Ning Ruoyu said coldly.

"...At least, this is the easiest route."

As if a sore spot had been touched, Chu Qingya lowered her eyes, her tone becoming somewhat dejected.

It wasn't that she hadn't tried. Due to her congenital emotional deficiency, she had been trying little by little to awaken Chu Guyin's soul over the years.

In other words, Chu Guyin was able to grow into such a child, rather than a monster devoid of emotion or even indifferent to killing, thanks to her mother's care.

Even so, she only taught Chu Guyin how to "react," while "expression" was something Chu Guyin could never learn.

When engrossed in her own affairs, she becomes oblivious to her surroundings if no one disturbs her; when she sees someone getting angry, she will mechanically apologize immediately, even if she doesn't know why; when she sees an empty seat in a restaurant, she will sit down directly, because for Chu Guyin, this is the natural thing to do—she is not good at reading the room, she is just being taught "how to do it".

Just like Chu Guyin's music. It's full of the emotions of the composer and predecessors, but it fails to convey the emotions of the performer. Ironically, it is precisely this kind of "perfect performance" that meets the requirements of various competitions.

"Don't worry, I won't tell her what to say. My bet is that she has to express her own emotions."

Ning Ruoyu grasped Chu Qingya's hand, the warmth of his palm seemingly conveying the heat of the young man himself.

"Is this kind of thing... really possible?"

"Actually, I only guessed one possibility. But it's precisely because neither of us knew that it was a bet, isn't it?"

The boy had a slight smile on his face.

Looking at this boy who, despite being a high school student, seemed more like an adult than herself, Chu Qingya sighed.

“…I understand. If you can do it, anything is fine. But the premise is that it must be Chu Guyin's own idea.”

"of course."

"...I'm curious. If you weren't attracted by Gu Yin's beauty, why would you help us?" Chu Qingya forced a smile.

"What if I said it's because you're so beautiful, boss lady?"

"Eh?"

Unexpectedly, Chu Qingya was stunned by the answer, and then, unusually, her face turned bright red.

"No, don't tease the adults!"

She quickly let go of Ning Ruoyu's hand, stammering, and gently fanned her cheek with her hand.

"Haha, sorry, sorry. The atmosphere was just too tense. I just didn't want to owe my senior a favor. She has helped me a lot."

The boy lowered his head slightly, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion. "If I had to give a reason, it would probably be that I really like Senior Chu Guyin's music. Although she has no heart, she is still struggling in the world of music."

"I don't dislike that kind of pathetic courage that desperately shouts out in the mud."

"And she's always wanted to draw me into the world of music—in return, I also wanted to draw her into this terrible, boring, yet wonderful and rich real world."

He held the screen up to Chu Qingya.

"...So, by the way, I was just wondering if it's still possible to get an advance on salary?"

The screen displays a shopping interface, with a mint green guitar shining brightly on it.

……

After helping to tidy up the supplies, Ning Ruoyu said goodbye and left.

Chu Qingya sat quietly in the coffee shop for a long time before a young girl came down from the second floor.

"...Did you hear everything?"

Chu Qingya didn't turn around, but asked softly.

"Ah."

"Any ideas?"

The girl shook her head.

“Ning Ruoyu is…special…”

"I don't know... how to describe it..."

"But...I still...don't know...why..."

"That's it."

Chu Qingya sighed softly, turned her face away, and gently patted the girl's head.

"It's okay, this is fine."

"That's good."

She spoke gently, looking out the window in the direction Ning Ruoyu had left, her eyes dim yet holding a glimmer of hope.

[Next chapter preview: So heartbroken. I hope you'll deny that.]

"That's right, I'll just say then that playing in a band isn't fun at all... Hey, sorry, what did you say?"

"Please, please."

“…a boring man.”

Chapter 66: Let's form a band for a while!

"Lead singer? Me?"

Qiu Luxi looked at me with an incredulous expression.

"After all, the only person I can imagine around me who can be in the center position is you."

I said it with a clear conscience.

"You probably can't imagine me singing so passionately for everyone, can you?"

"……really."

I'm so sad. I hope you'll deny that.

Actually, I'm not a bad singer. In my past life, I used to warm up the crowd and create an atmosphere for customers when I was working at a business. But at this school, if we were to form a band and I were the lead singer—I seriously doubt it would ever be born.

No, perhaps there's no need to doubt it.

Qiu Luxi is different. She debuted as an idol and is a professional singer. Her popularity has spread across the country, not to mention a small high school.

"No matter what, having me as the lead singer of the band is really..."

Qiu Luxi looked somewhat embarrassed. For someone as straightforward as her, who was like a proud and aloof cat, such an expression and reaction was quite rare.

This shows that being the lead singer of a band was indeed a difficult task for her.

"Don't worry, it's not a band for life, it's just a band that's formed for a while, maybe they'll only perform one or two shows before breaking up!"

I tried to ease her worries.

"...Are you trying to fulfill your wish to dismantle the team?"

Qiu Luxi seemed to have misunderstood something, and her gaze towards me was somewhat cold.

"That's a long story."

I couldn't directly bring up the bet with the landlady, since it also involved Chu Guyin's psychological privacy.

Qiu Luxi is a professional idol star after all. Even if it's a band that was formed casually and disbanded after the performance, she still has to consider the impact and consequences.

"It really doesn't work..."

If all else fails, find a rainy day, you guys film a video, I'll come over and yell that I'm quitting the band, then you can pin all the blame on me. That's what I'm thinking.

Just as I was about to describe my brilliant idea to the girl, Qiu Luxi sighed softly.

"Okay, I'll join."

"That's right, I'll just say then that playing in a band isn't fun at all... Hey, sorry, what did you say?"

"I'll join in."

Qiu Luxi said decisively.

...I hadn't finished my joke yet. It got stuck in my throat.

Things went so smoothly that I was somewhat bewildered.

However, Qiu Luxi didn't seem to be joking.

"Is it okay?"

"Ah."

"Isn't he an idol?"

"Idols can also have their own youthful interests, right?"

"So casual?"

"........."

Qiu Luxi looked up at me.

"So you disagree, and then you cry and beg me?"

"Please, please."

"Okay, I agree. The process is complete."

"No, no, no, I feel like I'm being brushed off."

This script is so rough! Do you really want to be a screenwriter?

"...a boring yet meticulous man."

Qiu Luxi ignored me and turned her head to continue looking at the sky.

"By the way, once the group is assembled, when is the performance?"

"Hmm, although I really want to do it during the school anniversary celebration on New Year's Day, I'm not going to do a big push right now, so it might be next semester?"

"Next semester?...How's your guitar practice going?"

"I'm writing."

In other words, I'm just getting started.

"?!"

Qiu Luxi seemed shocked by my lofty ambitions and remained silent for a long time.

"...I have to try my best to stay until next semester."

She muttered to herself. At the time, I didn't understand what she meant.

……

"I've already given up on the question of what order you'll appear in."

At the entrance of the gift shop, Chen Di, who was waiting for us with Hu Dan'an, said with a wry smile.

"........."

An Yu seemed a little dazed, then turned around and spoke to Chen Di in a very serious manner.