They are in the music show, but I am a stranger to them

"Okay~ After school this afternoon, when Aine and Deng get out of school, we'll go to [SPACE] to find grandma and see if she can fix your guitar. If she can't, she can also help you replace it with a similar guitar."

"Hehe, thank you Brother Qi~"

After receiving the same response from Chen Qi as before, Aiyin smiled broadly. Aiyin, who had been worried that the closeness between Gao Songdeng and Chen Qi would affect her relationship with Brother Qi, was completely relieved.

It seems that Brother Qi is still the same Brother Qi as before, and he has not forgotten me, his neighbor’s sister, just because his sister has returned.

Anyway, Deng was only staying at my house for one night. She was able to stay the night yesterday because of special circumstances, but Deng couldn't possibly live with Brother Qi forever, right? That wouldn't be acceptable even if they were siblings.

Well, after all the calculations, it turns out that Brother Qi and I spend more time together. Normally, Deng can spend as much time with Brother Qi as he wants.

Just think of it as me placing a bet on my sister in advance in order to pursue Brother Qi?

"Okay, then I'll go back first."

After finally making all the arrangements for Deng and basically confirming that what happened yesterday would not affect the friendship between Aine and Deng, Chen Qi was completely relieved and planned to leave here as soon as possible before the group of high school girls from Yuqiu surrounded him.

There was no way. In Japan, where the average height of high school boys was only 1.6 to 1.7 meters, Chen Qi's 1.88 meter figure naturally looked out of place. Especially since Chen Qi was standing in front of the women's college with a gig bag on his back, he almost instantly became a rare existence like a giant panda in the eyes of these JKs.

Let's leave quickly. Thinking this way, Chen Qi said goodbye to Deng and Aiyin and immediately turned around and left.

And at this moment, Chen Qi turned around and happened to meet the eyes of a blue-haired girl who was coming towards him and also noticed him.

Chen Qi, Xiangzi: "Huh?"

The moment Chen Qi and Xiangzi ran into each other with almost no mental preparation, they made surprised sounds almost at the same time and subconsciously froze in place.

Could this reaction be even bigger?!

The high school girls were already curious about the identity of Chen Qi, who was surrounded by Takamatsu Deng and Aine. When they saw the look on Chen Qi and Toyokawa Shoko's face, their reactions were either love at first sight or like they were meeting old friends, which aroused these girls' strong curiosity!

Before they had time to discuss the relationship between Toyokawa Shoko and the unknown boy, something even more unexpected happened.

Takamatsu Deng and Aine, who had already said goodbye to Chen Qi, turned their heads together when they heard Chen Qi's surprised voice. However, when they found that the person looking at Chen Qi was Xiangzi, they rushed towards Chen Qi as if they were facing a great enemy.

"Light? You..."

The approach of Takamatsu Deng and Aiyin finally brought Toyokawa Shoko back to her senses. However, when Shoko saw Takamatsu Deng standing with Chen Qi again, and in front of her, she held one of Chen Qi's hands without hesitation.

Even such a simple action made Xiangzi quickly realize what was going on.

"I see, Deng...it looks like you've found your brother. Congratulations."

Looking at Gao Songdeng who was standing with Chen Qi again, Xiangzi's face was full of fatigue and looked much colder. There was no obvious expression, but she still felt genuine joy for this scene in her heart.

Along with this, Xiangzi's strong sense of guilt and remorse towards Gao Songdeng was also reduced a little.

After all, Xiangzi had always believed that the reason why Chen Qi ran away from home in the end was because he had quit Crychic and destroyed the wish that Chen Qi had always wanted to realize... It was he who had brought indelible harm to Chen Qi that made the exhausted Chen Qi choose to escape from it all.

Therefore, Xiangzi has always regarded the separation of Gao Songdeng and Chen Qi as his own fault... and now, seeing the brother and sister standing together again, Xiangzi is naturally happy.

However, compared to the lights, what Xiangzi was more concerned about was the look that Chihaya Aine cast on him.

That kind of...undisguised sharpness and scrutinizing look made Xiangzi feel very uncomfortable from the bottom of his heart, and also made Xiangzi start to doubt.

Chihaya Aine... this girl who was so close to Chen Qi in [SPACE] and who was almost certain to have a strong liking for Chen Qi, why would she look at me like this?

Have I been exposed?

Aine, could it be that she had seen through her disguise that day? Did she recognize her as the person who worked part-time at SPACE that day?

When she thought of this, Xiangzi couldn't help but feel nervous, especially now that Chen Qi himself was standing in front of her!

Xiangzi was very worried. With the close relationship between Aiyin and Chen Qi, the relationship between the two would probably be even closer than that between him and Chen Qi before, and they might even get to the point where they could talk about anything.

If Aiyin saw through his disguise and conveyed his guess to Chen Qi...

Then, Chen Qi would definitely guess that she was working part-time to raise funds for the band. And with Chen Qi's character, if he knew that she was forcing herself, he would definitely interfere!

I will never cause trouble to Chen Qi again! This is the only burden I can reduce for him, and the only thing I can do to make myself qualified to stand in front of him!

If Chen Qi had to help him with the band's funding, Xiangzi would rather never see Chen Qi again in his life because it would be completely humiliating.

No, in this situation, I must leave quickly before Chihaya Aine sees through the clues!

"——If there is nothing else, Deng, I am glad that you can get back together with your brother, so I won't bother you any more."

Almost instantly, Xiangzi stopped smiling and returned to her usual cold and indifferent self. She pretended to be calm and raised her head slightly, imitating the confident and proud self in her memory, and walked past Chen Qi, Deng, and Aiyin step by step.

And at the moment when Xiangzi walked around the three people, Xiangzi's heartbeat almost reached its limit.

She was very afraid that she would be recognized by Aine, and even more afraid that Aine would call her and say something like "I remember who you are, you are the employee from that day".

Xiangzi knew that Chen Qi might have known about her family situation for a long time, which was why Chen Qi did not stop her on the day she quit the band.

Xiangzi also knew that Chen Qi might have guessed the financial difficulties in her life... But Xiangzi still didn't want Chen Qi to witness it with his own eyes, or be forced to admit his poverty to Chen Qi.

That was her only dignity...If even this outer layer was stripped off, then she would really have nothing left.

So, don't call her and don't touch her fragile self-esteem anymore...

"——Wait, Xiangzi."

However, the sudden male voice that surprised everyone immediately stopped Xiangzi's escape.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chen Qi's face was once again filled with a smile full of tolerance and tenderness, and he approached Xiangzi, who had his back to him, step by step.

When he inadvertently noticed that a small corner of the pick was exposed at the long cuffs of Xiangzi due to gravity, he made an action that made the female high school students watching on the scene exclaim in surprise.

Chen Qi, under everyone's gaze, took Xiangzi's hand with the bracelet on it with both of his own hands. He placed Xiangzi's hand in the palms of his own hands, as if he was protecting the most precious treasure in the world.

"Oh~~~~"

All of a sudden, all the female high school students who were watching were shocked by Chen Qi's bold action and let out ambiguous exclamations, which echoed in the sky above Yuqiu Girls' College for a long time.

As the protagonist whose hand was grabbed by Chen Qi in public and who was watched by all the girls, Toyokawa Shoko was unable to maintain her cold expression. With her cheeks flushed, she whispered to Chen Qi behind her:

"Chen Qi, what are you doing? Do you know that this is at the school gate?"

"Of course I know that, but I do have something I want to discuss with you in private."

Facing Xiangzi who was whispering reproaches to him and constantly trying to pull his hands free from his restraints, Chen Qi was also trying to comfort Xiangzi.

On the other side, he calmly used his large palm to cover the area of ​​the pick that Xiangzi didn't want to expose.

"We are good friends. Even though the band broke up, you won't even give me a chance to talk to you now?"

In the end, Xiangzi, who had almost no strength left to resist, faced Chen Qi's warm hand, with his cheeks becoming increasingly rosy. It was unclear whether he was compromising or helpless. After a long sigh, he pretended to not care and flicked his hair before responding softly:

"...Really, let's talk quickly. I don't want to be late because of you, Chen Qi."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine in a moment."

Seeing Xiangzi compromise, Chen Qi felt relieved. Soon, Xiangzi, who was at the mercy of Chen Qi, was pulled by Chen Qi and slowly walked towards a cafe on the other side.

Of course, Chen Qi did not forget Aiyin and Deng who had been watching him from the side. However, Chen Qi did not think too much about it. He simply explained to them and said:

"I'm sorry, Aine, Deng, Xiangzi and I have something to discuss, you two should go to school first."

"Wait, Brother Qi, this——"

However, Aiyin, who was full of doubts, faced the departing figures of Chen Qi and Xiangzi. She wanted to say something, but when she saw Chen Qi holding Xiangzi's hand tightly, she couldn't help feeling annoyed, and finally she simply didn't stop them.

However, Aiyin did not stop it, but that did not mean she could not make trouble behind Chen Qi's back.

"Really?! Stupid Qi-ge! Idiot! Scumbag! Wooden head!"

"Tomorin, let's go. Let Qi go wherever he wants. Let's go back to the classroom."

Deng: "Eh? Aine-chan, wait——"

However, Takamatsu Deng, who originally wanted to quietly follow and talk about what was going on, was led into the campus by Aine's hand without any reason. Takamatsu Deng, who could not resist, could only turn his head slightly and watch the backs of his brother and Xiangzi going away, with countless thoughts in his mind...

Xiangzi, is your relationship with your brother still that good? This is the first time I know...

Could it be that during the six months when his brother had no news, Xiangzi was still in contact with his brother?

Xiangzi had already quit the band, so why did she still pester her brother? Could it be that Xiangzi had some other purpose?

However, while Takamatsu Deng's brain was constantly working, Aiyin, who was holding Takamatsu Deng's hand, did not forget to cast her gaze towards the backs of Chen Qi and Xiangzi who had not yet left. In addition to feeling a little jealous that "If Brother Qi has something to do, I can't be there and can only talk to Xiangzi", Aiyin was more concerned about Xiangzi's affairs.

That was Toyokawa Shoko, the one Xiao Mu asked me about yesterday, the one who almost made me become a "substitute"...

This was the second time Aiyin met Xiangzi, but after hearing Chen Qi's answer yesterday, she learned that Chen Qi and Xiangzi were the core members of their former band. Aiyin now looks at Xiangzi from a completely different perspective than when they first met.

When she first met Xiangzi, Aiyin thought she was just a classmate with a rather cold personality who was involved with the band that Qi Ge used to be in.

And now... apart from anything else, the fact that she was held by Brother Qi's hand, with that unconcealable smile and happy look on her face, was enough to make Aiyin extremely alert!

Cold personality? Pah! She is the type of person who only smiles at people she likes!

Especially Brother Qi seems to care about Xiangzi very much... No wonder Xiao Mu asked Brother Qi if I was Xiangzi's "substitute".

Humph, he already has her, yet he is still so unfaithful...

Aiyin narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of jealousy making her feel very unhappy. This was the first time she clearly felt the existence of a "love rival".

Toyokawa Shoko is definitely her biggest rival! For the first time, Aine gave such a clear definition to a person in her heart.

"Aine-chan! Aine-chan!"

However, Chihaya Aine had just stepped into the school gate with Deng, when they were suddenly greeted by a crowd of classmates who surrounded them. For a moment, Aine was unable to grab Deng's hand in time, and the crowd also consciously split into two groups, one group surrounded Aine, and the other surrounded Takamatsu Deng.

“Aine-chan! Who was that handsome guy who was so familiar with you just now? He’s so charming! Is he your boyfriend?”

“Yes, Aine-chan. And why did he leave with Toyokawa Shoko from Class B? What’s the relationship between the two of them? Tell us quickly!”

The people who were closest to Aine were undoubtedly her and Takamatsu Deng's classmates from Class A of Grade One. Facing everyone's questions, Aine was quite happy when she heard the word "boyfriend", but when she thought of her brother Qi and Xiangzi running away together, her expression immediately turned ugly.

Finally, driven by strong jealousy, Aiyin showed her fangs in dissatisfaction, snorted with jealousy, and said in a pretended indifference:

"Who is he and his boyfriend? He is just a tenant in my house. He has nothing to do with me!"

"He can go with whoever he wants, date whoever he wants, what does it have to do with me? Humph~"

"Ah~~"

However, even though Aine said this, the strong dissatisfaction in her tone made all the onlookers hear that she was jealous. In the end, under everyone's booing, Aine, blushing, lowered her head in shame and walked out of the crowd, striding towards the direction of the classroom.

And once Aine left, the only person they could get entangled with was Takamatsu Tomori.

Compared to Aine, Takamatsu Tomori, who is the "mascot of Yugaoka", is treated much better than Aine. Many people are impressed by Tomori's cute appearance and strange behavior. Therefore, even though everyone surrounded Tomori, everyone was rational and did not cross the line, but gave Tomori a certain amount of personal space.

"Takamatsu-san, do you know that guy? What's your relationship with him?"

"Qi?" Gao Songdeng was slightly stunned, and then realized who everyone was talking about. Gao Songdeng looked at Aine's back as she left in shame and anger, and then turned his head slightly to the direction where Xiangzi and Chen Qi left, and then said to everyone with a slightly red face:

"Qi... is my brother. He came to send me to school today."

"Why--!"

"Is this true? Is that guy your brother, Deng-chan?"

"She's completely different from Deng-chan! She's so tall! And she's pretty good-looking too! And most importantly, she's very considerate!"

"That's great. I also want a brother like this~ so I don't have to find a boyfriend~"

"It's a pity that she seems to have been lured away by Toyokawa Shoko from Class B. What a pity! Why are all the handsome guys other than hers~"

However, as he lowered his head and listened to everyone praising his brother, Gao Songdeng's little face couldn't help but reveal a bit of pride and joy. It was not until everyone mentioned Xiangzi that Deng's expression broke away from the joy.

Brother, what exactly do you want to talk to Xiangzi about?

She had no time to pay attention to the voices around her. Now, Takamatsu Deng was only vaguely uneasy about this issue in her mind. She had to start thinking again about a very critical issue for her.

What should I do if Xiangzi wants to take my brother away again?

……

"Sorry for the wait. Here are your juice and sandwiches. Please enjoy~"

In a coffee shop not far from Yugaoka Girls' College, after the aproned waiter brought two glasses of juice and a sandwich to Chen Qi and Xiangzi respectively, he chose to leave with a smile, and no longer disturbed the young couple who had been holding hands and creating an ambiguous atmosphere since they entered the shop.

As soon as the food was served, Chen Qi had already taken a step ahead of Xiangzi and couldn't wait to eat. He took the sandwich and took a bite. Then he smiled at Xiangzi in front of him with satisfaction and said:

"Ah, I'm back to life. I haven't eaten a single bite of food since last night. Xiangzi, you don't know how much I want to eat."

Xiangzi: "...Really? Even if you were just taking care of the lamp, you shouldn't have forgotten to eat. Look, your lips are all sticky."

However, as soon as she entered the store and heard that Chen Qi had already ordered food for her, Xiangzi felt a little uncomfortable - she thought Chen Qi saw through her embarrassment and brought her here, intending to help her as much as possible by treating her to breakfast.

Given Xiangzi's personality and strong character, she had no intention of accepting Chen Qi's kindness. She thought that she was not so poor that she needed him to treat her to breakfast.

However, as soon as the food was served, Xiangzi's pitiful self-esteem was thrown out of the window when he saw Chen Qi, who seemed to have been hungrier than himself. Looking at Chen Qi who was wolfing down his food, Xiangzi, who could not tell whether he was smiling bitterly or trying not to smile, said with a smile in his tone:

"Don't worry. If you're not full, can I give you my portion as well?"

"No, this is Xiangzi's. We can just eat our own."