Loneliness and Rock and Roll with Band Observer

Qiu Hui frowned, not quite sure how to start.

But then I thought, if I have to hide everything in front of Liang, this conversation will be meaningless.

If I had one-fifth of Liang's outspokenness, I could ask this question directly...

"It's just a hypothesis at the moment...but what I want to ask is, what do you think about dating multiple people at the same time?"

Chapter 29: The Magical Use of Intelligence

Ryo tilted his head and studied Akie's expression.

At this moment, Qiu Hui looked like a puppy that had just been fished out of the water after struggling to exhaustion.

Under the slightly messy bangs, the eyes seemed to be drained of vitality. The lips were tightly pursed, and the face showed a bit of gloom.

In short, it is probably hard to convince people that such a person would have the ambition to interact with so many people at the same time.

"Why, do you want to try it?" Liang asked with a smile.

There was no trace of seriousness in her tone.

"If I really thought so," Akie let out a long sigh, "I wouldn't have said it so nonchalantly."

“How should I put it? It’s like leaning on the railing and looking down. Sometimes I can’t help but think, ‘What would happen if I fell?’ It’s just that kind of concern.”

Precisely because we haven't reached that stage yet, we are curious about that situation.

Perhaps from another perspective, it also looks a bit like an empty threat from a child.

"If you do this again, I won't play with you anymore", something like that.

"Really?" Liang let out a laugh whose meaning was hard to guess.

Although Qiu Hui didn't say anything, she seemed to have guessed about 70% of it.

Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that she is just pretending.

"Then why are you asking me? Do I look like someone who would have this kind of experience?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"They do look alike," said Akie.

The faint smile on Liang's face seemed to freeze for a moment.

"...I don't have that kind of experience." She said, "But it must be very tiring, right?"

"Why?" Qiu Hui asked, "Isn't it relaxing not having to worry about who to choose or who to be responsible for?"

Her tone was as stiff as an announcement in an airport lobby.

Liang looked at Qiu Hui's expression when she asked the question, and smiled as if he had guessed 70% of the answer.

"It doesn't matter what others think. But ask yourself, do you really feel that you don't have to take responsibility?"

Qiu Hui was speechless.

If she was really that irresponsible person, she wouldn't have been troubled by such things from the beginning.

After a moment of silence, Ryo said, "...I thought it would be better to let the matter between you and Pochi sit still."

Before Qiu Hui could explain, she continued, "But you take other people's affairs too seriously. If you leave them alone, you will feel that you have not fulfilled your responsibilities."

"So, I guess you didn't follow my advice?" Liang said.

"I just feel that we can't let Pochi stay in that state forever..." Akie wanted to argue.

"What about you?" Liang shook his head gently, "Aren't you a member of the band that ended it?"

"You think you should be the one to heal the damage Pochi sustained."

"So, what about yours?"

"..." Qiu Hui lowered her head slightly.

"...Do you already know?" she whispered.

"Know what?" Liang asked expressionlessly.

From her serious look, it can be seen that she really seems to have no idea.

"When you put it that way, I thought you had already..."

Of course, what Akie was talking about was how she was rejected by Aine and how she rejected Pochi.

"I don't know what happened exactly, but I'm sure you must have been quite shocked." Liang smiled, "Otherwise, how could you say such strange words just now?"

"...That's right." Akie nodded lightly.

In other words, I just had that strange thought because I was frustrated.

"Thank you, Ryo." Akie forced a smile, "Well, what should I do next?"

"Don't ask me." Liang shook his head helplessly, "Qi Hui is too troublesome. I don't know what to do anymore."

Although she was rejected straightforwardly, Qiu Hui did not feel dissatisfied at all.

"I am indeed a very troublesome person." Akie smiled, "But thank you for telling me this. Then let's continue practicing?"

……

At the same time, near the corridor outside the recording studio door.

Yutenji Wakamugi is extremely nervous now, even more nervous than when he first went to discuss cooperation with the staff of Souse.

Calm down, calm down Miss Meow Meng... You have discussed cooperation with Zou She, and Xiao Qiu also knows this, so it is completely normal for you to appear in Zou She's building, and there is nothing strange about meeting her by chance!

She nervously took out her cell phone and checked the chat history.

That was the information she got from Togawa Haruna.

Although the source is so suspicious that it makes people tremble uncontrollably, with the help of these things, Ruomai can grasp Qiu Hui's itinerary most of the time during the day, and then choose the time and place that will not arouse suspicion to create opportunities for encounter.

She had used this method to meet Qiu Hui during the aborted group photo shoot.

And today, after learning from the chat records that Qiu Hui had to practice during the day and meet someone to discuss band matters in the evening, she came over impatiently.

Although according to the news records, Xiaoqiu planned to practice until about five in the afternoon, but... who knows if she will come out earlier!

So, it never hurts to prepare early, right?

With a serious expression, Ruomai walked in circles in the corridor, her arms sticking out from her shoulder-strap dress subconsciously folded across her chest, reflecting her inner uneasiness.

The reason why she was so uneasy was actually because she realized that there was an obvious opportunity in front of her.

Earlier on the Ferris wheel, Xiaoqiu confessed to Aine while joking...

That’s right, it was a confession! Only a fool would believe that Xiao Qiu was really joking at that time!

After that, Aine also called me and said that she was troubled by rejecting Xiaoqiu's confession...

That’s right, it’s Xiao Qiu! Even a fool can guess who the friend she’s talking about is!

In other words, Xiaoqiu is currently in a state of having just been rejected, and is at her most vulnerable and sensitive!

Whether it is bonus points or deduction points, they will be multiplied many times... So, you must act with caution...

Suddenly, there was the sound of a door opening behind her. Ruomai... Miao Meng thought that Miss Qiu Rangzi had finished the practice early, but just as she was trying hard to rehearse her facial expressions, she noticed that the other person was just a staff member passing by.

"..."

Meow Meng... Ruomai turned away with disgust, calming his rapidly accelerating heartbeat while rethinking his next strategy.

Wakamaki feels guilty about using the information provided by Ms. Haruna, which was obtained through means that were no different from a crime.

However, without this information, she would not be able to seize the opportunity to spend time with Xiaoqiu.

“What should I do next…?”

Realizing that Qiu Hui probably wouldn't come out for a while, she simply found a chair nearby, sat down and waited slowly.

Chapter 30: Do you agree now?

Qiu Hui will not let her worries affect her work efficiency.

Although her mind was now filled with the aftermath of her emotional dispute, her concentration on practice was not affected at all.

However, if you observe carefully, you can still tell that something is wrong with her.

"Ryo, what happened to Akie today?" After the practice, Hongxia asked in a low voice, "It's not just today, she seems to be in a bad state recently."

"She has some complicated personal issues to deal with," Ryo replied quietly, "something that's a little too exciting for Nijika."

"Exciting?" Hong Xia asked back, confused.

However, although she didn't understand what Liang meant, she could still understand that Qiu Hui was worried.

"Is there any way we can help her?" Hongxia asked.

"If you want me to make a suggestion..." Liang showed a rare indecisive expression, "...we should just do what we are supposed to do as band members. It's better for us not to interfere in other issues."

"why?"

"Because...Akie is a person with an overly strong sense of responsibility."

Liang said this, fully revealing that she thought the other party was quite difficult.

"I feel that if you want to help her with something, it's best to clearly state the price. Don't do anything like 'no reward' or something like that. Not asking for anything in return is a huge kindness in Qiu Hui's eyes, and she needs to pay a lot in return... Her thinking seems to be so weird."

Liang sighed and cast a deep and distant look.

"…So every time I help her, I ask her to treat me to a meal, so that she won't think of other ways on her own."

"Is this the reason why you seek free food and drinks from others?" Hong Xia asked in a subtle tone.

"..." Liang exercised his right to remain silent.

Just at this time, Qiu Hui packed her things.

"I have something else to do later. I'll excuse myself. See you later!"

She said goodbye to everyone as usual and was the first to leave the practice room.

Looking at Qiu Hui's back, Liang suddenly made a guess.

"Nijiya, I suddenly feel that according to Akie's way of thinking, perhaps..."

"Maybe what?"

"Perhaps, I should treat her more harshly."

"What do you mean by rude?" Hong Xia was a little scared. After all, the word "rude" had nothing to do with her nature.

"Because she seems to care a lot about principles like 'equivalent exchange'..."

Ryo crossed his arms in front of him.

"…So, if I hurt her severely before being nice to her, maybe she will be able to suppress her urge to reward me."

Liang said thoughtfully. Of course, she said this purely from a hypothetical perspective, and did not specifically refer to or allude to any real person.

……

Today's practice is over, and Pochi's feelings have also been taken into consideration.

In other words, it's time to move on to another item on the agenda.

After leaving the practice room, Qiu Hui's face once again showed the vague melancholy that she had when she was talking to Liang before.

She took out her cell phone and used the front camera to confirm her expression.

She was somewhat surprised to find that she looked so strange in the camera.

Maybe it's because of the angle, Qiu Hui thought. Since she's not good at taking selfies, her face always looks distorted.

But the source of that strange feeling is not just the deformation of the face shape. There are other reasons.

For example...expressions.

Qiu Hui felt that maybe she shouldn't have that expression right now.

But, what is the right choice?

In front of Pochi, in front of Aine, in front of everyone who finished the band, in front of Tomo, in front of Shoko, Riki, and Suyo, in front of strangers...

Different relationships require different attitudes. She had been adapting to different situations for so long that she almost forgot what expression she should show in front of herself.