I save a pathological girl with a twisted love story.

"Isn't it time yet?"

The courtyard, empty of people, was especially quiet.

Occasionally, you can hear insects chirping, but it's unsettling.

A sudden gust of wind blew, making people feel a little cold and some even shiver.

So she waited and waited, not knowing what she was waiting for.

—But, after waiting for a long time.

"I probably won't be coming today."

When Asakawa Yo realized these things, a deep sense of loss inexplicably rose in her heart.

She twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers, remaining silent.

What is Asakawa Yo thinking at this very moment?

No one knows what she's thinking.

—But her gloomy eyes kept flashing, and her emerald green eyes kept blinking.

Her fingers clenched involuntarily, and her legs curled up in front of her.

It tapped the floor slowly, glancing left and right every now and then.

After holding on for a while, I leaned against a nearby pillar.

He closed his eyes, but opened them again after only a few seconds.

"That would make me look like I have a guilty conscience."

Asakawa Yo muttered something to herself and took a deep breath.

She glanced in a certain direction again and reached out to smooth a strand of hair from her forehead.

She walked in a certain direction.

Chapter 401 The Surging, Unspeakable Thing

The door was wide open, and the night breeze would drift into the room.

The moonlight fell like shimmering scraps of paper, scattering across the ground. In the long corridor outside, the dark wooden planks rippled like the surface of a lake.

Asakawa Yo carefully stepped onto the "lake surface," her slender feet, clad in black calf socks, treading lightly, almost hesitant to exert any force.

They tiptoed to the front of the house and blocked out all the moonlight.

The shadows alone were almost filling the room.

Xia Wuzhao was fast asleep, but Xiao Ai kept calling out in his heart.

For some reason, I was somewhat disappointed.

Asakawa Yo squatted at the doorway, her expression somewhat complicated.

"But, I also feel a little relieved."

A gust of wind suddenly swept by, making the hem of her skirt and strands of hair rustle.

"Eh--"

With a sigh, she braced her hands on her knees and prepared to go back.

Suddenly, Xia Wuzhao opened her eyes.

"His eyes are black."

Asakawa Yo suddenly realized this, and today seemed to be the first time she had looked at Natsugiri Kai so intently.

However, the two remained silent.

Her shadow swayed slightly in the moonlight.

For a long time—for a very long time.

Until the atmosphere became awkward, like over-fermented liquor.

Good evening, Asakawa-kun.

Xia Wuzhao greeted him calmly, as if the situation were quite common.

Good evening, Xia Wu.

Asakawa Yo smoothed her sideburns and said those words unconsciously.

Xia Wuzhao sat up, facing Qianchuan Yao.

He was wearing a black yukata, as if he had known all along that Asakawa Yo would come.

"Perhaps, it's time for me to say something first."

Asakawa Yo rubbed the ends of her hair with her fingers, her lips moving slightly.

"At least, Xia Wuzhao spoke first. Now, it's my turn to say something."

Just as she was about to say something, Xia Wuzhao looked at her with a calm gaze and pointed at her.

"Your underwear is showing, white satin underwear."

Xia Wuzhao spoke calmly, but Qianchuan Yao looked somewhat embarrassed.

She plopped down on the floor and reached up to cover the hem of her skirt.

She smoothed her bangs again.

After a long pause, she finally said, "I thought Xia Wu wasn't interested in this kind of thing."

"So, you also peek at girls' underwear?"

Xia Wuzhao remained calm, showing no sign of panic at being accused: "I was just reminding you. If you keep pretending not to know, it would seem rather strange."

Asakawa Yo didn't want to dwell on these things; she simply turned her head to look at the night sky outside.

They remained silent.

She didn't speak, and Xia Wuzhao didn't speak either.

If it were an ordinary person, remaining silent like this would probably feel awkward by now.

Neither of them felt awkward; they acted as if nothing was wrong.

After a long time—

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that Asakawa Yo finally turned her head. She looked at Natsugiri Kai and said, "That girl—Mizuki. She texted me and said she's already arrived in Second New Tokyo."

"so what?"

Xia Wuzhao looked at her calmly: "Did she regret it? Did she want to come back because she couldn't find a job? Or does she want to borrow money from you?"

Frowning, Asakawa Yo looked somewhat listless: "Do you always think the worst of things?"

“Isn’t this good?” Xia Wuzhao said, “If you always think of the outcome as wonderful, then it will be very disappointing if the ending is not so wonderful.”

"As long as you imagine the ending to be bad, then as long as the ending isn't too bad, it will always be pleasing."

"Soliciting nonsense."

Asakawa Yo gave her this evaluation.

Xia Wuzhao remained noncommittal, simply looking at Qianchuan Yao: "My thoughts will not change because of your words, so you don't need to comment on what I said."

After a brief silence, Asakawa Yo looked at him and said, "You really are quite open-minded."

But Xia Wuzhao did not answer her question; she simply waited for her to continue talking about Mizuki.

“I had already exchanged LINE friends with Mizuki before. So we keep in touch often. She's currently working as a waitress in a shop in the mountains.”

As if mocking Xia Wuzhao, Asakawa Yao said, "It's a ramen shop run by an old man. Although the salary is a bit low, he can barely afford to live in a small room."

"Oh." Xia Wuzhao looked at the smiling Qianchuan Yao: "Did you come here today just to talk about these things?"

"Of course not!"

Asakawa Yo frowned slightly.

"I didn't come here today just to talk about these things. I just came to see Xia Wuzhao because I felt a little uncomfortable."

"But these words, no matter what, I can't say them."

"So, are you going to lie?"

The moment this thought crossed my mind, my heart began to pound violently.

It's like a drum being repeatedly and heavily hammered.

“Your heart is beating very loudly,” Xia Wuzhao said slowly.

"It's just a bit cold." Asakawa Yo glared angrily at Natsume Kai. "Of course, I didn't come to you today to talk about these things."

"What was the purpose of that?"

Xia Wuzhao was somewhat puzzled.

"—Because you've been appearing near the courtyard around this time every day for the past few days."

Asakawa Yo rubbed the ends of her hair with her fingers and said casually, "It seems too strange that you didn't come today."

"I thought something had happened to you, so I came to find you."

"So, you're worried about me?" Xia Wuzhao said calmly, uttering words that might lead to some misinterpretation.

"Don't say things that sound ambiguous."

He frowned slightly in disgust: "I'm just worried that you might be dead, or that something might have happened to you."

"After all, if something really happens to you, my mother will feel very guilty and suspect that I'm the one who caused you trouble."

"Now, you've verified it."

Xia Wuzhao shrugged: "You can go now, it's very late. You have a lot to do tomorrow, and a long bus ride back."

Asakawa Yo glanced at Natsume Kai, stood up straight, turned around, and walked towards her room.

Her skirt swayed, and her hair swayed.

Her slender figure stretched long and thin across the floor.

Xia Wuzhao lay down on the bed again, preparing to sleep.

Xiao Ai complained in Xia Wuzhao's mind, "Lord Xia Wu, you really don't know how to talk. The fact that she came to find you so late means that she has a little bit of affection for you."

"Besides, she also said she was very worried about you."

Xia Wuzhao said, "Being able to say it frankly is itself proof that you don't like it and have no affection for it."

"Liking someone is something you can't say out loud."

Chapter 402 Warmth Like a Suspended Thing on a Summer Night

The next day, they packed their things and said goodbye to the old man.

The old man didn't show any reluctance; he just stood outside the car and watched it drive away for a long time.

Even after driving a long distance, you can still see the elderly person in the rearview mirror.

Despite spending so many days together, Asakawa Yo's relationships with the others haven't improved.

Or rather, nothing changed.

I neither dislike nor like it.

Even during the long journey, she didn't say a word, just leaned against the car window with a drowsy expression.

Asahi and Chiho also became very quiet and looked very tired.

The warm breeze made people drowsy and listless. Before long, Sunflower fell asleep.

Leaning against Xia Wuzhao, her long hair fell in front of her.

Along with the warm breeze came a faint fragrance emanating from her body, and her breathing was clearly audible. Chiho seemed extremely tired, and she leaned her head against the car window, fast asleep.

"Om-"

Xia Wuzhao frowned and took her phone out of her pocket. Her phone vibrated.

Upon opening it, I saw a message from Asakawa Yo.