They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

"Walk?"

"Walk."

Chen Di took the meal card from the drawer and walked out of the classroom with me.

"I'm going to the supermarket to buy some things, I'll go up in a bit."

"OK, I'll leave the door open for you."

After saying hello, Chen Di and I parted ways at the stairwell, one going up and the other down.

……

Watching the clouds drift across the sky, I lay down on the rooftop and leisurely ate some bread.

That's the good thing about school uniforms—they're dirt-resistant. Or rather, you don't really care if they get dirty.

A gentle breeze from the rooftop brushed against my cheek. Unlike the perpetually gray skies of my previous life, the world here seemed to have a remarkably well-maintained environment. Occasionally, an airplane would glide leisurely through the clouds like a giant whale, its roar barely audible.

"Ah, this sky. Ah, these white clouds. Ah, these thighs. Hey? Where did these thighs and..."

"!"

I heard the sound of shoes screeching on the floor, followed by a cry of pain, "Ouch!"

"?"

I got up, braced myself on my arms, and glanced at An Yu, who was sitting on the ground with a thud, desperately trying to hold down her skirt with her hands.

"..."

At that moment, her face was flushed and she looked at me with a slight mist on her face, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know what to say.

"What? It's you."

Why is An Yu here? Just now, when Chen Di and I went out together, she was chatting with her friends.

Oh, so she was secretly eavesdropping on other people's conversations the whole time?! I've heard that high school girls are very concerned about what others are saying and what they're saying, but I never imagined their daily lives were this terrifying.

I lay back down.

Seriously though, don't bother people looking at the sky with your legs.

"You, you're eating here?"

"No, actually I'm saving the world," I said absentmindedly, waving the bread in my hand.

"Huh, really?"

"You actually believe that? Well then, if I'm going to lie to you next time, you'd better cooperate and get fooled."

"……Um."

Huh? What does that mean?

Before I could understand the meaning of An Yu's "hmm," she had already walked to my side again—this time she held her skirt down firmly.

"Can I lie here too?"

She pointed to the spot next to me.

"Although I really wanted to refuse, unfortunately the rooftop isn't mine."

"hey-hey."

She first carefully sat down on the ground, tucking her skirt under her bottom, then tidied her hair and slowly lay down.

"...The sky is so blue."

"Ah."

"The clouds look very white, but they are too scattered and not clustered together, unlike cotton candy."

"Ah."

"That one from yesterday..."

She didn't continue speaking even after a long wait.

"Ok?"

"I had pea and diced meat last night, it was delicious!"

Why is this person showing off that they've served dinner?

Because I was lying on the ground, I couldn't see An Yu's expression clearly. I could only hear the noise coming from the playground and other parts of the school, and the soft breathing not far away.

"Are you and the class monitor secretly plotting something?"

"Do you want me to help you get closer to the class monitor again?"

"...Don't joke like that."

I don't know why, but even though saying such things used to make her angry and embarrassed, now I just said it softly, and it sounded a little sad.

This made people feel a bit lost, and even I felt embarrassed to continue being so irreverent.

"More or less, but it's nothing serious and none of your business."

I did add the word "们" (men) for now. In this world, I've started to speak more euphemistically.

"Qiu, was junior Qiu Luxi involved too?"

"Well, sort of. She can be of help too."

"what about me?"

"Eh?"

I was slightly stunned.

"Am I able to help?"

Turning my head, my eyes met An Yu's.

There always seemed to be a lot of caution and probing hidden in those gray eyes.

This put me in a difficult position, as I hadn't originally intended to answer. I felt that An Yu seemed a bit strange today.

"Perhaps it would be possible if you could play a musical instrument? But since this is something I have to do myself, you don't need to..."

"What instrument is that?!"

An Yu suddenly sat up, completely ignoring his disheveled clothes, and asked impatiently.

"Eh? If I had to say... I'd say bass. I've seen a lot of bands online complaining that bassists are the hardest to find."

Whether it's true or not, I don't really know; I was just saying it offhand.

"Bass..."

An Yu immediately took out his phone and seemed to start searching.

"Three months! It seems like I can learn it in three months!"

She excitedly held her phone screen up to my face. Reluctantly, I sat up and took it, glancing at it briefly.

Hmm, that's what the website says. But starting from scratch? That's way too difficult!

Although I, who also started from scratch, am not qualified to judge others.

"That's the best-case scenario, requiring a lot of time and perseverance, right?"

"It's okay, I can learn! I'll be the bassist!"

She grabbed my arm. "Isn't it said that bass players are hard to find? If I learn, you won't need to look anymore. In the meantime, I'll also be responsible for finding friends who can play bass. If I haven't learned by then, I'll find someone to replace me!"

“So let me try playing bass!” An Yu said earnestly. “I want to help too!”

"...He clearly doesn't even know what 'busy' means."

I sighed.

"Alright, don't take it too seriously. I didn't just prepare one plan; it's just one of the more feasible ones. Don't feel too pressured; just practice it as a hobby and get a feel for it."

"I will work hard!"

Oh no, you didn't hear a single word I said.

I smiled helplessly and handed the milk from the bag to An Yu.

"Then let's consider this as the cost of hiring; I can't afford anything higher."

—You ask me why I always buy milk even though I'm lactose intolerant? This package deal is cheaper than buying it separately, and I usually save the milk for my younger sister, since she's still at an age where she needs to grow taller. Anyway, she always seems very happy when I bring it home for her.

"Hehe, thanks~"

An Yu happily accepted the milk. Could it be that milk is actually a form of hard currency in this world? Ge Lanlan, Ning Ruoxin, and An Yu—it seems like everyone is quite happy to receive milk.

Is milk really that delicious? I don't understand.

Hmm, I'll try sending some to Qiu Luxi next time. I heard cats really like milk. Anyway, that's how it's portrayed in "Tom and Jerry."

"It's kind of amazing, actually. Last semester I was the one asking you for help, and this semester, I can finally help you!" An Yu said softly. "Ah, although not really yet—I will help!"

Okay, okay, that's commendable courage. Hopefully, I won't receive your requests for help on how to read sheet music later...

"Ning Ruoyu".

The rooftop door was quickly pushed open, and Chen Di strode over, carrying nothing in his hands.

"I was wondering why you arrived so late. Was the convenience store really crowded?"

The milk was delivered too early.

"No, quite the opposite. Right now, probably nobody in the whole school is in the mood to eat."

Chen Di's words stunned both An Yu and me.

He said with a serious expression.

"Qiu Luxi seems to have been cyberbullied."

[Next chapter preview: "Should we go find Qiu Luxi and Senior Sister?"]

"I have no other way."

The evaluation of "amazing" is quite subtle.

"I'll tell you why later. Wait a minute."

Chapter 77: When an avalanche occurs, every snowflake bravely ventures to the ends of the earth (Bonus Chapter)

"Qiu Lu Xi #Theater Bullying# Exposed"

I clicked on this title.

"Idol Qiu Luxi is being denounced by extras for allegedly acting like a diva and isolating other actors on set!"

Below are a few photos that look like they were taken secretly. In the photos, you can vaguely see Qiu Luxi sitting alone on a makeup cart on set, while some extras are chatting and laughing in the distance, and she seems to ignore their "enthusiastic" greetings.

"Isn't it common knowledge in the industry that Qiu Luxi has a bad temper? (laughs)"

“I heard from a friend that she is indeed very aloof, I don’t know what she’s so proud of, but she doesn’t even acknowledge her fans.”

"I still don't know how she became famous. Her singing and acting are terrible, and her expressionless face looks like a side effect of plastic surgery."

"The 'girlish' filter has shattered; she looks like an old lady in the leaked photos!"

"That's what their aunt looks like! Why haven't I met an aunt like that?! This is blatant lying!!!"

An Yu, who was next to me, probably saw the same comment and couldn't help but complain.

Taking unflattering photos and then humiliating someone's appearance is a common tactic used by online trolls, but unfortunately, Qiu Luxi is indeed a flawless beauty, and this comment disappeared when the page was refreshed.

"With just a few pictures and an interview that doesn't even amount to evidence, why does the comment section act like it's solid proof?"

An Yu seemed to be asking Chen Di, while I carefully read through all the related revelations.

The seemingly unsubstantiated photos, taken at somewhat ambiguous angles, make this kind of "confirmed or not confirmed" revelation seem less like a bomb thrown into a pond and more like the fuse of a bomb.

The rapidly rising popularity and the increasing discussion among passersby caused the topic to gradually spread. Even someone like me, who didn't have personalized recommendations enabled and had absolutely no connection to entertainment information, could see related topics in the comments section of the updated information.

It looks like we won't be able to have rooftop lunch today.

"Should we go find Qiu Luxi and her senior?"