Hikigaya Hachiman is still in the dark

"Oh, um, sorry."

I hurriedly took steps to catch up with Liumei. At this moment, we had to walk together.

"It's nothing to apologize for..."

Liu Mei said this and adjusted the hem of her skirt with her hands again. Maybe my action just now accidentally messed up her skirt.

"Speaking of which, Liumei, why are you waiting for me?"

"Send me home." After a moment's silence, Liu Mei answered my question.

It seems like there is another reason, well, I can roughly guess it.

"Aren't you going back with the other members of the student council?"

"No need."

After she finished speaking, Liu Mei's pace obviously quickened. In order to keep up with her, I also slightly quickened my pace.

In this case, I must have been excluded. I had already discovered some clues in the meeting room. Now it seems that it is certain. As long as they are high school students, there will be such a strange group. There is nothing we can do about it. However, Niwa Feng actually let Liumei stay. I thought he was a more responsible student union president.

"Speaking of staying in the United States, I'm really surprised that you would join the student union."

"What's so surprising?" Liu Mei asked me back. At this time, she tilted her head, as if she wanted to know my answer.

"I thought you were the type who didn't join any clubs."

I said this awkwardly. I always felt a little embarrassed to say this in front of the person himself.

"That's pretty much it, but there's something slightly wrong."

"mistake?"

"I can't explain it clearly with Hachiman, but it's just a trivial matter."

"Oh, that's how it is."

Don't want to say it? It's a little troublesome.

"Are you still adjusting? Working in the student union."

"I don't have too many feelings. If I have to describe it, it's just that I have to sacrifice a little bit of my own time after school. The work is not very difficult and I can basically handle it."

"Really? You're still as good as ever."

"I really don't know whether you are praising me or mocking me with this statement, Hachiman..."

"Why do you ask?"

When Liu Mei heard my question, she paused for a moment, but then quickly took another step.

"Because generally speaking, aren't excellent people good at socializing? Aren't excellent people in the teacher's eyes generally also popular with others? If you consider the social aspect, I don't think I'm very good."

Liu Mei spoke calmly, as if it had nothing to do with her.

"Indeed, after all, socializing is part of success." My words made Liu Mei stop. This time she didn't take another step. I gently pushed her from behind, and she took another step to catch up with me.

"But excellence is not just that. People who can persevere are also excellent. If you are easily influenced by other people's opinions, then the so-called excellence can only remain in the eyes of others. What is reflected in your own eyes is definitely not an excellent self. That is just an excellent person, not an excellent self."

"So I think it's great that you can stick to some of your own ideas."

"That sounds like what Hachiman would say." Rumi chuckled and replied, "You're so conceited that you look like an idiot."

"Arrogant and stupid and all that..."

"It makes no difference. Hachiman has been arrogant and conceited since a very early age. That's why he has always been steadfast in walking on his own path."

"I can't refute it unexpectedly..."

"Is the truth."

As Liu Mei said this, she adjusted her scarf with her hands and covered part of her face with it. Her voice gradually became lower, but in my ears, her words became extremely clear, as if this was the only voice left in the world.

"But because of this, I was also saved. Thank you."

My heart is like a white feather falling into a calm lake, causing ripples.

Saving others, getting thanked, etc., is the feeling of achievement so complicated?

"Hachiman is also an outstanding person. He has been an outstanding person since a long time ago."

Liu Mei's voice was soft, but extremely firm.

“Well, I’m so sorry…” Not knowing how to respond, I turned my head away and responded shyly.

"Normally speaking, in this situation, shouldn't you treat me to a meal?"

Liu Mei looked at me. Her bright eyes were clearly visible even in the dark, and as lively as an elf.

"No problem, but I have to choose the location."

"Yeah, no problem."

After Liumei answered like this, I smiled knowingly. I haven't been to that ramen restaurant for a long time.

"Why do you want to eat ramen so late at night?"

"Hehe, you don't understand. Ramen is a delicacy that can be eaten 24 hours a day, all year round."

"Although I don't dislike ramen, I still find it a little unacceptable."

"You'll know once you try it. This ramen shop is very unique. It's the best in Chiba!"

"Hachiman, now you look like a liar who is deceiving others."

I ignored Liu Mei's words and prepared to have the pork bone ramen I had been looking forward to for a long time.

"Ah, isn't this Hikigaya?"

I heard a familiar voice behind me. I suddenly froze in place and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. It must be because of the weather. Yes, it must be.

"Hello, editor-in-chief."

The corners of my mouth twitched and I spat out these words like squeezing toothpaste.

"If you don't want to say hello, don't say it. Such an unpleasant greeting makes me lose the mood to come out for dinner!" Editor-in-chief Xiaozhi glared at me fiercely, looking very unhappy.

Oh no, I'm done for. If it was a few days ago, it wouldn't have been a big problem, but now that I've started writing novels again, I'll definitely die a miserable death if I make my editor unhappy here.

"Nothing, editor-in-chief. I was just a little nervous when I met you here suddenly. I didn't know how to start the conversation." I explained with an awkward smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah, that's true." I stood up straight as if I was in high school when I was caught daydreaming in class, and beads of sweat had already begun to appear on my forehead.

"I'll just believe your lies for now."

Since you know it's a lie, don't force me to explain it away. It will kill people.

"So, who is the girl hiding behind you? Have you fallen to the point of deceiving young girls?" Without looking at me, Editor-in-Chief Xiaozhi looked at the American who was hiding behind me and spoke.

"Hachiman, who is this scary woman?"

Liumei hid behind me, grabbed my clothes tightly with her hands, and asked me.

Oh no, even though staying in the US was unintentional, there is no doubt that the adjective "terrible woman" would definitely make the editor-in-chief of the small branch in front of me furious.

"Oh? A scary woman? Hikigaya, your way of educating children is a little strange, isn't it?"

I think there is nothing wrong with this statement. Also, why did you use such a strange word as "I educate"? I always feel like I am a pervert when you say this.

"Well, my current job is a teacher, and this is me...you can consider me your student." I originally wanted to say that the person studying in the United States is my student, but since the schools are different, I can't force him to be called my student.

But after all, I am a teacher now. In some ways, it doesn’t matter much if the students studying in the United States are my students.

Chapter 96 Absolutely Not

"Your main job is teaching? I don't remember any writers in our publishing house taking writing as a part-time job." The editor-in-chief raised his eyebrows and looked at me unkindly.

Indeed, basically all the writers in our publishing house are full-time, and it is almost impossible to have a part-time job. Even if students want to create, they must be college students. After all, as long as you are not the kind of person who wants to work hard, you will always have a lot of free time in college.

Having said so much, in fact, the editors of our publishing house are very "excellent". It is almost impossible to submit manuscripts late. Of course, such strict requirements are also the reason why our publishing house can become an evergreen in the industry.

"For various reasons, please rest assured that I will never delay submitting the manuscript." I bowed deeply to the editor-in-chief, just like a corporate slave who made a promise to the president before the end of the workday.

"Really? Considering your previous behavior, I am totally uneasy."

The editor-in-chief looked away, seemingly nonchalant, but I kept breaking out in cold sweats and the pressure didn't decrease at all. It was a truly terrifying aura.

"Hey, I will never delay my manuscript. I will definitely submit it on time!"

I responded to the editor in chief in a panic. After looking at me coldly, the editor in chief finally said, "For the sake of the sales of your last work, I will not care for the time being, but if the new work is delayed, I believe you will not forget how I treated people who delayed submission."

As soon as the editor finished speaking, the nightmare-like memories began to erode my memory. I must not delay submitting the manuscript. I definitely don’t want to experience that again.

"Absolutely not!"

I bowed deeply again, this time at a perfect 90 degrees, breaking the record again.

"Now that the new work has been resolved, let me explain the little thing behind you."

"Who are you calling a little one? You are obviously a little one too."

"Wait, Liumei, that sentence..." I wanted to interrupt Liumei anxiously, but I felt something black behind me, like the flame of a dark flame dragon burning. Although my mouth was dry, I still swallowed my saliva out of fear, making a "gulp" sound.

Question: "What are the three taboos for editors-in-chief of Xiaozhi?"

Answer: 1. Don’t say the editor-in-chief is small.

2. Never say that the editor-in-chief is small.

3. Never forget the first two points.

"Bi! Qi! Gu, get out of my way. I want to talk to the big guy behind you."

The editor's voice was particularly long-drawn out, like a ghost. Although there was a smile on his face, the black energy that was constantly emanating from behind you was extremely terrifying. It was so scary. Please be more aware of this. You now look exactly like a witch.

This is probably what the so-called darkening feels like.

The American student standing next to me was so scared that she hid behind me. Well, I was also really scared when I saw the editor-in-chief turn evil for the first time.

Let me introduce my editor-in-chief here. The fact that she is the editor-in-chief is enough to show that she is a very outstanding person. Except that she is too scary when urging for updates, she is actually an easy person to get along with. However, the editor-in-chief is only 1 meters tall, with very distinctive black twin ponytails, so the editor-in-chief looks like an elementary school student.

Of course, this is what she cares about most. She often goes to clothing stores to customize some adult suits or other clothes in order to make herself look more mature. However, everything has the opposite effect. For example, although the editor-in-chief now wears a black suit, he gives me the feeling of a primary school student who has worn the wrong clothes.

After saying so much, there is only one conclusion: if Liumei were handed over to the editor-in-chief, she would definitely die.

"Well, editor-in-chief, don't worry about it. Children don't understand."

"She is obviously a child, and she is so small, yet she treats Hachiman like this."

Well, although I am very grateful that you stood up for me, I think we will both die if I speak up now!

"Oh? Really? I am a very outstanding adult. Hikigaya listens to me because I am better than her. Anyway, as a child, you would not understand."

Just say what you want to say. Why are you looking at me so proudly? Aren't you just a child who is angry? Where is your dignity just now? Please show your generosity as an adult and let Liumei and me go.

"You are shorter than me, why are you so confident?"

"Bang" The editor-in-chief hunched over as if he had been shot by an arrow. No matter what, he shouldn't have made such a pose. If the subtitles were inserted below, it would definitely be: Liumei used a high-powered attack on the editor-in-chief, and the effect was outstanding.

"I'm not young at all. Judging from my age, I'm fully qualified to be your mother. Moreover, I'm a very powerful person. I manage many people like Hikigaya. If they don't listen to me, they will die miserably. Can you do that?"

It's just the relationship between the editor and the author, please don't use such misleading commentary. Also, is it okay for you to simply reveal your age like this?

"He's just a complete child. He never grows taller."

"You really dare to say that."

The two of us were arguing meaninglessly, and of course my head was getting bigger and bigger. Why did this happen? Needless to say, the editor-in-chief probably felt that I was being bullied and wanted to help me out, but now things were developing in a way that I hated.

"Hikigaya."

"Hachiman."

Both of them looked at me and spoke at the same time. I was so scared that I immediately stood up straight.

"Who is right?" the two people said in unison.

Then my hair started to tingle, and I had to resort to this last resort.

I pulled out my cell phone and made a call.

"So, you called me at night specifically for this purpose?"

Senior Ai Shang looked at the editor-in-chief and Liu Mei who were staring at each other, then stood behind the editor-in-chief, sighed, and spoke to me.