The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

As someone who likes and is used to being in control of everything, he might allow the world to have corners that he doesn't see or care about, and allow the people around him to have their own little secrets and thoughts, but he can't allow the only thing he can control, his "self," to lose control...

So he took out the diary, but without reading it, he just tried to touch the CD.

But that's what it ended up being, fear of sleep, fear of dreams, fear of memories (the past) that would catch up with him.

Again, he really didn't like the rain, but he loved rainy days.

Because since the beginning, when Pingxin was in a bad mood, he liked to stay in the toilet or in the rain, because then the tears would not be obvious, and no one would be able to find him.

"Come find me..."

The figure disappeared, leaving only a sigh in the air. The rain continued to fall, but this concert encompassing the entire Tokyo had not yet stopped, not by a long shot.

Chapter 60 Dinner at the Shengyan Family

This was a dinner that matched most people's impressions. A long red carpet stretched from the main gate to the entrance of the banquet hall. Men and women coming and going were all wearing expensive evening gowns and driving luxury cars of different brands but equally expensive.

A transparent and sparkling crystal chandelier hangs above, a carpet woven from gold threads lies below, and in between are people with their arms held straight. Holding champagne, they shuttle through the magnificent ballroom, searching for people they know, those who can bring them benefits, and those who might hinder their pursuit of benefits.

Without exception, they all have a sanctimonious smile, a smile with a dagger hidden in it, and an extremely experienced eye, treating different people with a thousand different faces.

They see not people but strings of numbers, and their gaze won't linger even for a second on worthless people, just like no one pays attention to the waiters in uniforms weaving through the crowd. They only focus on the champagne on the plates.

As for the "base" of the champagne tray, who cares?

The same goes for those precious pastries and expensive delicacies. These small profits are worthless compared to the amount they may get, so they despise them and are even unwilling to sacrifice their so-called decency just to fill their stomachs.

Food is made to be eaten, and when you're hungry, you should eat. But here, the rules aren't so simple and straightforward. Even so-called truths can be swayed by the human heart. Humans are creatures that seek profit and avoid harm, and their hearts are always worth less than gold. Therefore, they sometimes disregard even so-called rules.

For businessmen, the only creed and unshakable goal is "profit", the profit of interest.

The world is bustling with people, all for profit; the world is bustling with people, all for profit.

This sentence first appeared in the "Six Strategies and Proverbs" of the pre-Qin period, and was later developed and promoted with the help of "Records of the Grand Historian" by Sima Qian, a famous historian and writer of the Western Han Dynasty, and modern education.

Perhaps times are changing, but human nature has never really changed. This is a tragedy for ordinary people, but for the "upper class" it is a very convenient rule to exploit.

Without exception, the guests attending this dinner are all self-proclaimed elites of the upper class and social elites. Their conversations are not like those of street thugs full of yelling and snapping tongues, but are elegant, keep a certain distance, and are full of "Hello, I'm fine, everyone is fine". Then they think about how to take more benefits from each other.

In this regard, there is actually no difference whether it is a rogue who dropped out of junior high school or an elite with a master's or doctoral degree from overseas. Everyone is working hard to live a better life. Simply put, everyone wants to make money, and no one will ever have too much of this kind of thing.

Money is the crystallization of desire, and the pursuit of desire is human nature.

Those who came here today were seeking money, but also the desire for more. The men and women in formal attire certainly didn't come here to just stand around; they came to eat. The food was each other, and the main course was with today's host, the Shengyan family.

Anyone who knows a little about the history of the East should know that in ancient times, common people only had names like Goudan, Gousheng, and Dazhuang, because surnames were the privilege of nobles and warriors, and were passed down from generation to generation like titles and had clear hierarchies.

It was not until the Meiji Restoration that Emperor Meiji made it mandatory for everyone to have a surname, and then all kinds of strange surnames emerged like mushrooms after a rain.

Just like the old farmers in Yan State could only imagine the emperor using a golden hoe and eating 10 white flour buns for every meal, the common people in Dong State were limited in their knowledge and cognition, so their naming skills were very limited. Therefore, most of their surnames were related to place names, occupations, and symbolic objects, and the same was true for the surname Shengyan.

As we all know, salt and iron were high-class businesses in ancient times, and the surname of the salt-producing family is related to this. Although they also want to claim some kind of noble blood, it is a pity that their ancestors were just laborers in the past, and they got this surname because they helped the nobles manage the salt trade.

It is not so much "raw salt" as "born from" salt.

The most distinctive feature of the Shengyan family, a family of retainers, is their white hair. It's reasonable to suspect that their ancestors were originally appointed to manage the salt business precisely because of their white hair. The descendants of the Shengyan family still maintain salt-related businesses, demonstrating that they haven't forgotten their roots.

Under the gaze of everyone, the host of today's dinner finally arrived, accompanied by the protagonist of the dinner, the only daughter of the Shengyan family, a beautiful girl who perfectly inherited the white-haired bloodline of the Shengyan family and the purple pupils from her mother's side.

Namishio Noa (pronounced "Noah," spelled "Nai Ai"), who would have been 17 years old today, was a second-year student at Seijo Junior High School. She had been serving as the student council secretary since last year, a close friend of Hayase Yuuka and a trusted subordinate of Chozuki Rion, a young woman renowned both outside of school and beyond.

Tonight, she was even more dazzling than usual, instantly transforming from a quietly observing supporting role into the protagonist standing on the stage. This wasn't surprising at all, after all, today, April 4th, was her birthday.

And this is her birthday dinner.

As the real protagonist, she naturally has to dress up carefully from head to toe, like her bun, the necklace on her neck, and the mysterious and beautiful violet long dress.

As the true protagonist, she had to laugh, and laugh all the time, from the moment she was brought to the venue by her parents until she left. She laughed at the guests, at the waiters, at the air, at those who were trying to sell themselves at a high price, at those who made lewd glances, and at those who came to watch her joke and join in the fun.

Of course, social distance is also necessary. No one will cherish something that is easily available, so even to ensure her value, Noah will not be allowed to do jobs like hostessing. Her father will do it himself. A product can often only be sold at the highest price when it is competed for by many people.

So today this place is like an auction, the commodity is raw salt Noah, and the auctioneer is her father, her biological father.

The person who bids the highest today will be able to get engaged to the apple of Shengyan's eye and officially get married one year later when she turns 18...regardless of gender.

The only time they're so "open-minded" about their marriage partners is when it comes to money. They'll happily agree even if the other person is a pig or a dog, as long as it can bring more benefits to their "family prosperity"...

Oh no, it should be help, that's more decent.

Oh, decent.

Chapter 61 Toyokawa Shoko

People who should be happy aren't, while those who shouldn't be happy are all smiling. This world is so strange. It's like wealth always flows to those who have plenty, while misfortune always finds those who are already suffering. It seems strange at first, but if you think about it carefully, it's not so strange.

Because that’s what being human is, that’s what life is, and it’s essentially just a bunch of beep.

These words were certainly not thought up by a literary girl, but by a big shot who had no interest in being refined. He sat in a corner watching the farce, holding a glass of ginger ale in his hand and taking a sip from time to time, just like he usually observed the world.

No one noticed his existence, because they would not care about an unknown little character. You have to know that if you can't stand out, then you will always be part of the statistics, not even worthy of having a name, not even worthy of having a new line.

The star of this birthday party, the apple of the eye of the Shengyan family, Shengyan Noah, was being carried around the venue by her father's arm, like the eye of a typhoon. However, Pingxin thought the scene was more like a pile of pigeons scrambling for food, with a few likely leaving behind a pile of gifts as a "reward."

Noah had no contact with other opposite sexes except her father. Ping Xin knew very well that this was not a form of protection but a means of raising prices.

When people get a product, they are always very picky about it. From the appearance, feel, texture to the price, they can always find a reason to criticize you, and then get what they want at a low price.

What Shengyanjia is doing now is to seal the goods in bulletproof glass display cases, using the best lighting methods to bring out the best visual effects, but also using (seemingly) strict anti-theft measures to control everyone at a distance where they can see but not see clearly.

And then they will think that this is a rare treasure, because only real treasures will be hidden away, and the price will naturally go up...

Stupid, ugly, disgusting—that's how Ping Xin described them. Regardless of the outcome, after tonight, there might not be any more of the Shengyan family. All that's left is Shengyan Noah, or even just Noah.

Because there is more than just salt in this world, and anyone who doesn't follow the rules in his territory deserves to die, and that death will be very painful. Even if they want to be relieved quickly, they can't do it - because he won't allow it.

Suddenly, Ping Xin frowned, pressed his left elbow on his leg, and sank his body. Was he going to cosplay as The Thinker?

"The snacks here...are they too sweet?" Ping Xin wiped the cream on his right hand on the curtains with a stern face. Eating this kind of food every day, no wonder there are so many people with diabetes now!

There was plenty of time, enough for the boy to try every dessert at the dinner, memorize everyone's appearance, voice and personality traits, and of course, enough time to carry out a premeditated sales pitch, watching the white-haired princess walk from one end to the other and then back again.

Throughout the entire process, Ping Xin didn't make any moves, regardless of whether she was happy or not when communicating with others, because he didn't come here for Shengyan Noah. If the person herself had no intention of "seeking help" and didn't even tell him about the "marriage recruitment meeting" tonight, then what reason did Ping Xin have to be the hero that no one likes?

That's right, he was an uninvited guest who came here without anyone's invitation, and Ping Xin's arrival was not just for the sake of eating. He...

Yes, I am here to gather inspiration!

Ping Xin nodded, having successfully convinced himself. He then reached out to grab the strawberry-flavored cake on the table, only to find that his hand had bumped into someone else's.

It was a rare event; things like this had happened before. Ping Xin said nothing, but gave up on the last strawberry-flavored piece and reached for the higher-calorie chocolate cake next to it.

"Um...Sir, please use it if you don't mind."

"...?"

This should be impossible, because now with the buff on him, he is just a walking background board, a nobody that no one would care about. It should be like this, but why would the woman in front of him with blue hair and twin tails...the girl notice him?

When Ping Xin saw the girl for the first time, he changed his name to "girl" because she was different from the others here and had a pure beauty...not in a derogatory sense.

Her long blue hair makes her look gentle and elegant, and her amber eyes reflect her curiosity, like a newborn deer, full of curiosity about the world. The small twin ponytails on both sides do not make her look childish, but only make people want to protect her and be kind, just like a beautiful and kind princess in a fairy tale.

The beauty salon she often goes to must be very expensive, Ping Xin thought.

There's nothing much to say about the clothes, they're just embellishments for her, and there's really nothing good about little girls who haven't developed yet, and he's not a lolita complex.

Silently, he took the last piece of strawberry cake handed to him by the girl, looking at her gentle and lovely smile... Ping Xin stuffed the cake into her mouth at a speed that no human could react.

"You are the one who should act like a spoiled child, and you have the right and capital to do so."

The blue-haired girl wanted to say something but couldn't because the cake, which she would have to eat in two portions, was suddenly stuffed into her mouth. But she still had the energy to taste it because the man opposite her used a finger to push the cake into her mouth.

This strange person seems to have a weird personality, but he must be a good person, Toyokawa Shoko thought.

"So sweet..."

"I think so too. Also, good boy, remember to brush your teeth well at night." Ping Xin reminded him while wiping his hands with the napkin on the table. He felt embarrassed to do those petty "revenges" in front of others.

She was completely looked down upon by this clean-loving gentleman... Although she knew she was looked down upon, Toyokawa Shoko was not angry.

Although this waiter is "resting" now, he must be a kind, honest, positive and hardworking person. As a young lady who has never done housework, she has no "confidence" to preach to someone who has a serious job.

But if possible, I would like him to tell the pastry chef at tonight's dinner that this cake is too sweet and not good for health.

It might be nice with black tea, but tonight, only champagne is available for adults. This is because this is not a place for children, and this applies to both Xiangzi and Noah, the "protagonist" of the night.

They are just poor people who cannot control their own destiny.

Chapter 62 I'm Taking Her Away Tonight

"...But then again, why can you see me?"

When Toyokawa Shoko heard this question, her expression became a little confused, and her body stiffened, as if she was frozen in place. Could it be that... she had encountered a ghost?

But now she wasn't in an abandoned hospital, a gloomy castle, or a murderous mansion, but a resplendent banquet hall. The man before her, dressed in a white shirt and black vest, was strikingly handsome, his smile gentle and casual. He didn't look like an ugly zombie or ghost at all. If anything, a vampire was more likely, given that it was nighttime.

Although he was sitting in the corner, he was eating normally instead of staring at other people's necks and drooling. He also had a normal shadow, and his figure could be seen in the reflection of the window (legend has it that vampires cannot be reflected in the mirror), so even this most likely option was ruled out.

And...when I accidentally touched it just now, the man's hand was soft, generous and warm. No matter how you look at it, he is a living human being. If that's the case, why should he be "invisible"?

Although she had doubts in her heart, she still had a smile on her face. Toyokawa Shoko was quick-witted but would never easily speculate about others with malice. She would often use the simplest method to get the answer -

"Excuse me, why do you ask that? Am I supposed to not be able to see you?"

Yes, it’s the classic “If you don’t understand, ask.” Is it embarrassing to ask knowledgeable people for advice? At least Xiangzi doesn’t think so.

"No, I mean... I'm just an inconspicuous passerby sitting in the corner. Why would you think of talking to me?"

If someone else said this, they might be criticized for being too self-conscious, but Pingxin would not do that, because he really felt the gaze of the girl in front of him and knew that she was looking at him as he walked towards him.

There had been people like this before, but they would forget Ping Xin's existence in the blink of an eye, as if he had never walked into this world.

"Why do you say that? I think you're a handsome and kind man. You could use a little more confidence! If you work hard, you'll definitely... definitely be able to change your current situation and make friends!"

Her straightforwardness and kindness would even leave Ping Xin stunned. Could there really be such a woman in the world? A girl so kind that she would even pay attention to the background?

...I can only say that it is rare and precious even for flowers in a greenhouse to have such thoughts, but unfortunately such people are often deeply and painfully hurt by reality, it is just a matter of sooner or later.

Either she lives a carefree life under the deception (protection) of others, or after all, even a real princess has to go through hardships to gain happiness, let alone her?

But you are lucky to have met me. After you go back, tell my subordinates to protect her if anything happens in the future. This seemingly fragile person can be stronger than ordinary people if the proper forging method is used. At worst, she can be three times stronger when she turns evil.

However, as the listener, Hei Xin felt a little depressed. Why did he seem to be considered a friendless person? I may not have many friends, but I have a large harem (justified)!

"You're really so high and mighty..." But since you're so cute, I'll forgive you. Ping Xin smiled again and said, "Will you be my friend, this beautiful and kind lady?"

Xiangzi covered his mouth in surprise. "Since I was sitting there watching for so long, I thought the person you would choose to chat up would be Miss Namashio Noai."

*Acquaintances call her Noah, which is half a nickname. Her official name (and the one on her household registration) is Namiya Noai.

Ping Xin's smile froze abruptly, his initial enthusiasm turning into a slightly awkward expression. He'd previously avoided any solo performances because he'd assumed no one was watching him. But who could truly explain fate?

Is this girl a bit scheming? Or is she just like any other girl, with a bit of gossip and a bit of yearning for love?

Before Ping Xin could think of a "counterattack" the girl spoke again: "Toyokawa Shoko... That's my name."

Graceful, elegant, beautiful, innocent and kind, it is obvious that if the Creator really exists, He must be a biased guy, otherwise how could He put so many beautiful things on one person?

"I've changed my mind... I'll tell you the name next time we meet. Instead, I'll treat you to a good show today."

"A good show?"

Toyokawa Shoko didn't care about Hiranobu's mysteriousness, because in her opinion, Hiranobu, who was very "infatuated" with Namiya Noa and even looked like a "resentful woman" who was abandoned, was a loyal person, so it was normal for her to keep a distance from her.

Although there is a huge gap in status between him and Miss Namashinoai, there will be no problem if they are truly in love. Xiangzi prays silently for them in his heart.

After chatting for a few more words, Pingxin stood up and prepared to leave.

"Oh, a friendly reminder...it's best to stand to the side later. This is a good place." Ping Xin patted the chair he had been sitting on and said, "You can stand up if necessary."

After all, the higher you stand, the farther you can see.

......

...

..

Ping Xin didn't hide himself as he pushed open the door and left, but no one paid any attention, because no one cared about a defeated person who left in disgrace. Being nameless was a symbol of failure, and even Ping Xin had to admit it. The truly faceless were those whose lives were unknown from birth to death.

He could leave in obscurity, but he would definitely leave a lasting impression on this world, like a meteor streaking across the sky, like lightning and thunder tearing through the darkness. Though brilliant and fleeting, it would surely leave a deep impression on those who witnessed it, just like... now—

"boom--!"