I save a pathological girl with a twisted love story.

In the swaying train carriage, under the gloomy, rainy sky, the sunflower spoke of despair with unwavering spirit.

Xia Wuzhao looked up at Asahi Aoi: "You know what? When someone is explaining something, they might be covering something up. Especially when they're desperately trying to explain."

The vibrant energy of the sunflowers abruptly ceased, and the pattering rain outside the window instantly filled the entire carriage.

Her straight back gradually collapsed.

Yet she forced herself to stay upright, unlike before when she slumped weakly against the chair back as if her spine had been removed.

“That’s ridiculous, Natsugiri Kai,” Asahi Aoi said. “Such a conclusion is just speculation without any data. If that’s really the case, then tell me, why were you waiting for the train at that seaside station before?”

She looked at Xia Wuzhao with a mocking expression.

“Because my home is nearby, I’m waiting for the bus here,” Xia Wuzhao answered easily.

“How ridiculous, Natsugiri Kai.” Asahi Aoi seized on Natsugiri Kai’s weakness. “There’s no residential area here at all, and that’s a semi-abandoned station. Apart from those tourists, there’s no way anyone could be waiting here.”

"If your theory is correct, then you have other motives. You are just covering up your reason for waiting here."

"What reason is there to wait here? On rainy days, I'm the only one who rides the tram along the tracks, swaying and wobbling past the seaside station."

Aoi smiled broadly and said, "Don't you dare admit it? Don't you dare admit what you're thinking?"

She felt a surge of pleasure, as if an electric current was coursing through her spine, causing her whole body to tremble with excitement.

"I won."

This sentence kept echoing in my mind.

"It's because I'm going to work, so I need to plan my route in advance."

Xia Wuzhao casually stated this reason.

Aoi was stunned, and all her pride and smugness vanished in an instant.

She felt an indescribable exhaustion, her damp hair tugging at her head like iron blocks.

It felt as if heavy stones were pressing down on his shoulders.

"I'm not reconciled, I'm not reconciled."

She finally said, "Really? You have a scholarship, why are you working part-time?"

Aoi Asahi asked this question.

“Because I was an abandoned child,” Xia Wuzhao said. “Although I was taken in by an old man, he has since died. So, I have to make money by doing all sorts of things.”

"Scholarships alone are not enough to support my life."

Aoi was stunned; for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

But he blurted out, "That's really lucky."

"That's right, it's luck. Because of luck, I don't suffer. I can freely control myself instead of being controlled by others."

She finally turned to look at Xia Wuzhao, only to find him nonchalant.

He seemed completely unaware of how lucky he was.

Asahi Aoi moved her lips, wanting to say something, but then felt that she had no right to say anything.

She slumped into her seat, just like she would at school, her wet, heavy bangs obscuring her expression.

Chapter 13: Soaked by rain, sinking into iron-like clothes

Listening to Asahi's words, the driver couldn't help but say, "Young lady, family is wonderful. We're all family, connected by blood; nothing can be separated from us."

Aoi's fingers clenched tightly as she bit her lip.

I don't think so.

She said those words.

He clearly wanted to refute her with a resounding, iron-like tone.

All that could be described was a patchwork of bright red rust; when pressed with a finger, the iron-like substance would shatter into pieces.

Even if it's cotton, although it's soft, it will bounce back when you press it.

But this rust, which is so similar to iron, is as fragile as a withered leaf, as fragile as air.

Even if they are truly withered leaves, it's fine, because withered leaves were once lush and green, blooming with verdant beauty on the treetops, bathed in dappled sunlight.

But what's wrong with rust?

Dead leaves are pressed into books as labels, and people hold the stems to recall the brilliance of summer.

The cotton will be tucked inside the quilt, and we will thank it for its warmth in the dead of night.

Withered leaves are the splendor of midsummer, while cotton is a memento of winter.

But rust is a burden, superfluous, and troublesome.

When they look at it, they frown. Their lips purse into a thin line, and their eyes show disgust and aversion.

It is so annoying, yet so fragile.

The same goes for Aoi's words; they were both so repulsive and so fragile.

There was nothing in her words except rebuttal.

But how can such words convince others?

It just makes me feel irritable.

The driver said, "Young lady, family is family. Whether you think about it or not, family is there, and you can't give it up. The most important thing in life is family."

"This is an unbreakable thread, this is an unbreakable rope."

Upon hearing this, Aoi's lips finally trembled, just like the gentle drizzle outside.

She wasn't moved, she hated.

The person I hate isn't the driver, but myself.

What's so hateful about the driver? He was just telling the truth.

She hated herself for wanting to scream and argue back, yet being too cowardly and powerless.

Deep inside, there was a self-loathing that piled up like the sea.

"I think not having a family might be a good thing."

That's what Xia Wuzhao said.

He turned his head to the side and looked at the small trees outside the window that were swaying back and forth in the rain.

How many families are there where life is fulfilling, parents are harmonious, and everyone can feel happiness?

He asked that question.

The driver was speechless for a moment.

"What percentage of all families does that represent?" Xia Wuzhao asked again.

“Very few,” Xia Wuzhao said, “Happy families are rare, they make up a very small percentage of the world. Even in this small town, the percentage is very low.”

"Happiness is like sunlight shining on a house; the front is bright and beautiful, while the back casts a wretched shadow."

"But this is already considered a very good house. In many other families, there is not even a ray of sunlight, only a mess of clothes and clothes."

"There are very few happy families in the world. On the contrary, there are so many sad families that it is infuriating."

"So please don't say things like that so casually. If you're trying to show off your age or your knowledge, there's no need to do so, because there are plenty of people in the world living miserable lives."

"If you think I'm wrong, then let's just stop talking and stop kicking someone when they're down."

“I actually think it’s fine not to have a family,” Xia Wuzhao said. “I was just a homeless child. I feel quite free, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

"Aren't there any difficulties in life?" the driver asked.

"Perhaps, but I've forgotten," Xia Wuzhao replied.

"Having a family is always better," the driver said.

"No matter how dilapidated a house is, it can still shelter you from some wind and rain. But more wind and rain will still get in, and if you just huddle under the broken tiles, you will still be soaked."

What's the difference between clothes that are soaked through and clothes that feel as heavy as iron from being drenched?

"It's better to go outside, even though you'll still get wet. At least you won't have to huddle up, anxiously hoping that the broken tiles will provide shelter."

"Ha, you're all too young. You don't know how heavy the rain is, how much it hurts when it hits you. You don't know how desperate it is to walk in the rain," the driver said, shaking his head.

“It’s because you’re too old,” Xia Wuzhao said. “You’ve forgotten the hesitation and anger under the tiles, forgotten the vibrant colors in your hazy dreams, forgotten the joy of walking alone in the rain, feeling the wind blowing.”

The driver was taken aback; he was momentarily stunned.

“Young man, look at what I’m saying to you.” He chuckled, “Saying these things while driving is against the rules. Especially in the rain, if something goes wrong, it’ll be a big mistake.”

"But the tram just keeps running on the tracks, day and night, and that doesn't change." Xia Wuzhao listened to the swaying and clanging sound.

"Even if the tram is running on the tracks, who knows what will happen in the future? If a problem does occur, I'll be in big trouble."

The driver said, "When there are a lot of people, I don't dare to say a word. If someone reports me, I'll have my wages docked or something."

"This is devastating! My family depends on this salary. I can't say any more."

He smiled and adjusted his hat: "I've been doing this job for decades, and I'll be relying on it to make a living from now on. I can't give it up."

He straightened his back, operating the tram like a machine, just as he always had.

The tram rattled and clattered.

By the time the tram finally arrived at the station near the school, the rain had stopped.

That's how the gloomy rain is; sometimes it lasts for three days straight, and sometimes it only lasts for a few hours.

Picking up the umbrella from the side, Natsugiri Kai said to Asahi Aoi, who had been silent all along, "We've arrived at school."

Aoi followed behind, also holding an umbrella.

Just as they were about to get off the bus, Xia Wuzhao said to the driver, "The rain has stopped. The downpour just now made me wonder if it would rain for a week."

The driver said, "Haha, you can never predict the weather. Look how quickly the rain stopped; it might start again in the next moment. So, young man, you'd better bring an umbrella."

"Although this is a bit troublesome, when it really rains, you won't just watch others walk away with umbrellas while you're left anxiously alone."

Chapter 14 Asahi Aoi, you are truly a pathetic woman.

Standing at the station, it's still some distance from the school.

This is a necessary road for passing through the school, where you can see many students in school uniforms.

The boys poked around with their umbrellas, leaving several wet marks on their clothes.

They sometimes complained about their dirty clothes, but everyone just laughed and stomped through the water.

When passing by a girl, the boy would deliberately stomp hard in the puddles.

The splashing of water startled the girl, causing her to scream.

The more the girls scream, the happier the boys are.

But if the girls act coquettishly or blush, the boys will also blush and run away.

By that time, boys were just as timid as girls.

The girls were just as generous as the boys.

Standing under the train station, both of them held umbrellas.

Xia Wuzhao unceremoniously hoisted her umbrella onto her shoulder, while Asahi Aoi poked the tip of her umbrella into the ground.

Use that cheap, white plastic umbrella tip to poke into the gap between the floor tiles.

Her hair hung limply, devoid of any life.

People kept glancing at Xia Wuzhao. As a good student, Xia Wuzhao was very conspicuous in the school.

Many people want to get along with Xia Wuzhao, but Xia Wuzhao is too aloof and too unconventional.

This left many people empty-handed.

The sunflower standing to the side naturally attracted a lot of attention.

It felt like a million tiny arrows were piercing her body, making her face flush red and her head feel hot.

The damp hair seemed to have dried out as well.