They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"Eh?"

Ning Ruoxin looked at her somewhat dejected friend and finally couldn't help but interrupt.

"Although my brother didn't say anything, he has been observing your emotions ever since you met us."

"...That's because Ruoyu is a good person."

“Yes, my brother is a really nice person.” Ning Ruoxin nodded matter-of-factly, then said seriously, “But he’s not nice to everyone. He only cares about the people around him who he needs to care about. So if you go back now, do you think he’ll be happy?”

"........."

"It seems my brother has always felt a sense of guilt towards you. More importantly, you're not Ling Qingxue, A-Qing. You definitely have a place in my brother's heart too!"

"Neither my brother nor I, including Senior An Yu who was also hurt by Ling Qingxue, think you should be responsible for this. So don't be like this, this isn't the A Qing I like."

Ning Ruoxin gently hugged the slightly trembling girl and whispered.

"That little ray of sunshine who was willing to eat and go shopping with me in front of everyone when I was ostracized by other classmates, and who argued with those people on my behalf, is my favorite."

"Ning Ruoyu and I are siblings. So if I like a sunny girl like her, he'll definitely like her too. You can ask him if you have the chance! — Ah, of course, not that kind of liking."

"……puff."

The girl in Ning Ruoxin's arms couldn't help but laugh.

"Really are."

Her voice had a slight nasal tone.

"It was so touching, but what happened in the end? — Brother complex is terrifying."

"Thank you, Ah Xin. I like you the most too—not in that way~"

The morning sun shone on the two young women. Most of the men and women walking along the "Romantic Journey" path were in pairs, and their eyes were full of knowing smiles and tenderness as they looked at the two beautiful girls.

Although they may not understand what happened, they can at least feel the pure, transparent, and clear dependence and bond between the two girls.

"Ah, but..."

Ling Chuqing sat up straight from Ning Ruoxin's embrace and said.

"I guess I wasn't rejected after all. Ruoyu said 'I'm sorry,' and there are so many things that can be followed by 'I'm sorry, I need time to think about it,' 'I'm sorry, you're still young,' 'I'm sorry, I need to talk to my sister'... So Ruoyu, who doesn't have a girlfriend yet, didn't actually reject me, right?"

"???"

Ning Ruoxin looked at Ling Chuqing with a look of incomprehension, and after a long while, she managed to utter a few words.

"...a woman who lusts after another man's brother's lower body!!"

"Huh?! You're such a hardcore brother-obsessed woman, starting to get jealous of other girls!!!"

"Just because of what you said, my brother definitely won't hand it over to you!"

"What are you saying? I can't pretend I didn't hear you now!"

After laughing and joking around for a while, the two girls looked at each other, panting.

"...Add some clauses based on what the hospital agreed on last time."

"agree."

They nodded to each other, then sighed and couldn't help but laugh.

"Stupid brother complex."

"Stealing cat."

"That's not how you use that word."

"I don't care. I won't let you be my sister-in-law, don't even think about it."

"Ah, speaking of which, don't you think that many of the girls around Ruoyu seem to be a bit... Sister Anyu, needless to say, is probably the only one who doesn't realize it; Sister Chu Guyin was the same last time we went camping, it felt like she was special to Ruoyu; and Sister Qiu Luxi who came today, I always feel like she has a strange sense of acquaintance with Ruoyu."

"Now that you mention it... when I saw Senior Qiu Luxi, I was so busy hiding how startled I was..."

"Right, right? It feels like there are so many amazing girls around Ruoyu... Even though his reputation was so bad before, they all seem to be getting close to him."

"........."

Ning Ruoxin took a deep breath and gently clenched her fist.

"I will protect my brother!"

"I think it's a case of a brother controlling his own brother and stealing from him."

"Break off in thirty seconds."

……

Seven o'clock the next morning.

(Whispering) "Didn't we agree to be allies and defend against the senior students together? Why did you cause me trouble last night?"

(Whispering) "How dare you say that! You said you were going to be wary of your senior, but who was it that was flirting with someone else's brother last night?!"

(Whispering) "You gave me the opportunity to confirm—oh, never mind that, why did you get up so early? Don't tell me it was to prepare breakfast, you clearly begged Ruoyu yesterday to eat fried eggs."

(Whispering) "Heh, then why did you get up so early? You woke me up this morning by sneaking out of bed!"

(Quietly) "Don't think I didn't see the alarm you set last night! ... Forget it, let's stop sabotaging each other. This sofa is the best spot. We can each sit on half of it. That way we can both watch Ruoyu sleeping in peace."

(Also speaking in a low voice) "...Although this spot is usually all to myself, I'll compromise for now. We've agreed to be allies, so don't sneak away next time!"

Ning Ruoyu, who was clearly awakened but desperately trying to keep her eyes closed, lay in bed:

Why are these two little girls squeezing around on the sofa and making all that noise so early in the morning instead of sleeping?

Should I open my eyes or not? How can I open my eyes naturally, like I've just woken up? Seriously, why would anyone suffer like this in their rented room?!

[Next chapter preview: Ge Lanlan sighs.]

"...Doesn't that seem a bit too cruel?"

Wait a minute, where have I heard the name Xiao Yao before?

"Then this student is left, is that alright?"

"My name is Ning Ruoyu?"

Chapter 73: Little Biscuit's Fury!

"What?! You're going to that newly opened theme park?!"

In the lobby of the library on the first floor of the school's multi-functional building, there were only a few people. Ge Lanlan, sitting at a desk, had an expression of extreme regret on her face.

"Yes, I asked you about it back then, and you said your club organized a visit to an art exhibition over the weekend..."

An Yu said in a low voice.

"If I had known it was that theme park that Jiang Group just opened, I definitely would have chosen to go with you! Tickets for that park are already being sold at exorbitant prices by scalpers!"

"It's said that the daily visitor flow is limited for the sake of the visitor experience, and the service is top-notch. It's also said that the gifts and rewards for many attractions are so generous that people wonder if they are more expensive than the tickets. Ahhh, that's great, I want to go there and check it out too."

Ge Lanlan sighed.

“Then how about next time… oh no, hahaha, it’s become a habit, I haven’t changed it.” Xu Xingxin, sitting on the far left of the table, scratched his head.

Oh right, speaking of which, Xu Xingxin used to pursue Ge Lanlan.

Could this possibly trigger a muscle response?!

Thanks to these two, the learning atmosphere on site became both funny and awkward.

"Come on."

I exchanged a glance with An Yu, who was tearing open a snack package across from me.

“...It’s a vanilla bread roll,” she said softly.

"It has no pungent smell, and it doesn't make any noise when you eat it!"

During the last summer study session, I was working on physics problems while she was happily eating red bean toast. I confiscated it, citing the strong red bean flavor, and only returned it to her after the session.

"When I'm tormented by math problems, I'll punish you even if you turn into a cookie, let alone a loaf of bread."

I always thought I was an emotionally stable person. I could remain unfazed even when a 300-pound "fairy" and my colleague were passionately making love in front of me—but I stumbled on these "high-scoring 300 questions".

Before she could react, I took the small bread roll.

"?!"

"I'll return it to you once I've written out the second sub-question of the first major question."

I said this, and continued to bite the pen.

"!!!"

An Yu stretched out his hand, his slender fingers spread open, then reluctantly closed them again. He then listlessly slumped onto the table, looking utterly aggrieved and despondent.

"...Doesn't that seem a bit too cruel?"

Sitting next to me, Chen Di, who was helping me with the multiple-choice answers, said in a low voice.

"Don't worry, I'll return it to her when Hu Dan comes back—so she won't complain."

I sighed.

Although club activities are important at Linwai High School, the school also stipulates that Thursday afternoons are a day off for all clubs. Clubs generally do not hold any activities on this day, and members are free to arrange their time as they wish. This serves as a break for members of clubs that are engaged in high-intensity regional competitions.

The first monthly exam was about to begin. I was planning to go to the library to study with Chen Di and Xu Xingxin when I ran into An Yu and her friends at the entrance, who were also discussing where to go next.

Since we're all classmates, why don't we hold a study session for Class F at the library? Xu Xingxin suggested.

Although studying with acquaintances can be quite inefficient, it was a high school activity I had always dreamed of, so I had no objections. And that's how I ended up joining in.

"Ah, is that An'an?"

An Yu, who was lying on the table, was suddenly hugged from behind. Someone called out to her affectionately in a soft voice, and then, as if charging her, someone pressed against her body and gently stroked her head.

"?"

Because it was a girl's voice, although somewhat surprised, An Yu was not frightened. She raised her head from the table and looked back.

"Oh, Xiao Yao~ You're at the library too~"

"Hehe, that's right! After all, today is the club's day off! I did terribly in the last placement test at the beginning of the semester, and the monthly exam is coming up soon, so I really need to cram—after all, if I fail consecutively, I'll be suspended from club activities!"

Wow, this comment is so relatable, it feels like she's a girl I could be a teammate with—wait a minute, where have I heard the nickname "Xiao Yao" before?

Where is it...?

"Don't worry, don't worry! When we were in the same class, the teacher praised you for having a good foundation! You'll definitely be fine as long as you study a little!" An Yu smiled sweetly.

"Oh my, so cute, so cute~ *tweet*" Xiao Yao buried her face in her chest. "Hey, An An, are you studying here too? Can I join? I want you to teach me English~"

"Huh? But I didn't do as well as you on my English test this time, right?"

"Then I'll teach you some English~" The girl named Xiao Yao seemed to be a huge fan of An Yu. After greeting him, she didn't keep her distance and kept sticking to An Yu, rubbing and scratching him.

Xu Xingxin looked very satisfied, but I was very disappointed.

What the hell?! Your English is better than An Yu's, so that just means you did better on the exam than me? People like this, who clearly did well but spout all sorts of hypocritical nonsense, are even more annoying than traitors!

My gaze toward the girl turned somewhat unfriendly.

"Well, I think it depends on whether everyone agrees or not..."

An Yu turned her head and looked at us, somewhat at a loss.

“I have no objection!” Xu Xingxin immediately stated, “You’re Li Yueyao from Class C, right? I’ve heard from senior Ma Hang that you’re a very good shooter!”

"Ah, thank you~" Li Yueyao replied politely with a smile. Compared to her attitude towards An Yu, her attitude towards Xu Xingxin, while polite, was noticeably colder.

"I welcome you." Compared to Xu Xingxin's enthusiasm, Ge Lanlan seemed a little more casual. Li Yueyao smiled gratefully at her, but her hand continued to stroke An Yu's head.

"Please make yourself at home," Chen Di replied politely, then continued to frown at the wrong questions on my test paper. Li Yueyao probably recognized Chen Di, but the surprise only flashed across her face briefly, and she didn't show any reaction.

"Then this student is left, is that alright?"

She smiled at me and said that.

This student?

I gave her a strange look, then pointed to myself thoughtfully and said...

"My name is Ning Ruoyu?"