These past few days, Liang Sheng has been with Ni Sihan on the way to school, with Lu Ziqing after class, and with Ni Sihan again after school.
Liang Sheng was already used to Ni Sihan’s hugs and cuddles.
To be honest, Ni Sihan is very happy, because Liang Sheng’s Adoration Value towards her is:
“Liang Sheng’s Adoration Value towards Ni Sihan: 10”
Gu Yuqi hasn’t seen Liang Sheng much lately; even when they do meet, they just brush past each other or exchange a greeting before going their separate ways.
“Eh? Liang Sheng!”
Once again brushing past each other, Gu Yuqi grabbed Liang Sheng’s little hand. “Hey, Junior Sister Liang…”
I’m not done talking.
“Liang Sheng!” was ruthlessly interrupted by Young Miss Lu Ziqing who ran over.
“Ah, Senior Sister, wait a moment. I’ve been a bit busy lately.” Liang Sheng pulled her little hand out from her own senior sister’s grasp.
Ah… Gu Yuqi looked at her hand raised in mid-air, now empty and forlorn, and slowly withdrew it.
Really… the sports meet is coming up soon, so being busy is normal too. Gu Yuqi kept reassuring herself: friends can’t stay tied together all the time, right?
Evening.
Gu Yuqi looked at her chat with Liang Sheng, remaining silent for a long time.
Is she playing with someone again? Or chatting with someone? Or… is she getting all kissy with someone else?
No, Gu Yuqi shook her head. They’re just friends—why should she care so much about these things? But… just the thought of Junior Sister Liang Sheng finding a boyfriend in the future, possibly getting married, having children, and her being unable to stay by her side forever made her feel so awful, so awful, so awful. Her heart felt like it was being gripped by someone’s hand.
Send her a message to say hi.
“Good evening”? No, too bland—it looks just like something an ordinary netizen would say.
“Junior Sister Liang Sheng, I miss you”? No, that seems too frivolous, and too straightforward—won’t Junior Sister Liang Sheng misunderstand?
“Junior Sister Liang Sheng, it’s been so long since you’ve been with me”? No way, this sounds exactly like a resentful wife—Junior Sister Liang Sheng would despise her!
What should I do? Gu Yuqi started pacing around in her room, aiya, what on earth should I do?
Oh! Gu Yuqi clapped her hands. She’d seen Liang Sheng practicing running with Lu Ziqing lately, but had no idea what event they were training for! Why not… use this as an excuse to ask and strike up a conversation?
Junior Sister Liang Sheng, I’ve seen you practicing running lately. Are you participating in some event?
Yes, just like that, very natural. Gu Yuqi nodded in satisfaction and clicked “Send”.
After waiting five minutes, Gu Yuqi still hadn’t gotten a message from her little junior sister.
That’s not right. She used to reply instantly before. Gu Yuqi frowned, rubbing her hands anxiously.
Actually, it’s not that Liang Sheng doesn’t want to pay attention to her—right now, Liang Sheng is being “crushed under Mount Tai.”
Hana was grinning from ear to ear.
Really, Liang Sheng thought, this sort of situation happens almost every few days. She really wants to lock the windows and doors, but she’s also afraid that Hana will smash them or kick them open.
“Hana, cut it out! Someone sent me a message.” Liang Sheng heard the “special care” notification sound and knew it was a message from a senior sister.
“Sheng~chan~” Hana hugged Liang Sheng, “Right now, your eyes can only have me in them~”
“Okay, okay, okay, it’s always just you alone,” Liang Sheng couldn’t laugh; she was almost out of breath from being strangled by this little yandere, “but can you let me check the message? If not, can you at least loosen your arm and let me catch my breath…”
I’m really gonna die!
“Sheng-chan, you can watch if you want~ But…” Hana smirked mischievously, “I’ll have to charge a fee!”
“Stop! Stop your beastly actions!” Liang Sheng hurriedly broke free from Hana’s grasp and fled.
At the crucial moment, Hana’s mom suddenly called Hana, telling her to come home for dinner.
Amitabha! Liang Sheng nearly kowtowed ten resounding times to the heavens.
After Hana left, half an hour had already passed.
Liang Sheng quickly grabbed her phone and sent a message to Gu Yuqi.
“Ah, Senior Sister, I got dragged into it by Lu Ziqing, signed up for the Women’s Tied-Leg Run, or whatever it’s called.”
A long time passed.
Gu Yuqi only replied with one word: “Mm.”
Mm? Is Senior Sister Yuqi in a bad mood? Why just one word? Or did I do something wrong? Or… have I not replied to her for so long that she’s mad?
“Senior Sister, I had something going on earlier, sorry! Next time, I definitely, definitely, definitely reply to you right away!”
Gu Yuqi gave a self-mocking smile.
“So the ‘something’ was getting all lovey-dovey, hugging and kissing with that girl named Hana!”
What! Liang Sheng’s pupils suddenly contracted. “S-Senior Sister, did you come here?”
Oh no.
She checked Gu Yuqi’s favorability toward her.
“Gu Yuqi’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 130”
It had actually gone up instead of down! Liang Sheng was stunned. What was going on?!
“Senior Sister, sorry sorry sorry!” Liang Sheng recorded a voice apology. “I swear I won’t lie to you anymore, Senior Sister!”
Junior Sister didn’t even say “Yuqi” anymore… Gu Yuqi sat despondently on the edge of her bed, tapping open Liang Sheng’s profile icon, then closing it; opening her space, then closing it. She did this over and over several times, not knowing how to keep talking to Liang Sheng.
“Oh no…” Liang Sheng felt utterly lifeless. “I think I’ve made Senior Sister Yuqi mad…”
“Then just go coax her,” Akino Kazuko said casually.
“You’re really one to talk without the backache!” Liang Sheng had no energy left.
“Then tomorrow, go explain it to her.”
Liang Sheng sighed. “Guess that’s the only way.”
The next day, Liang Sheng—dark circles like a panda under her eyes—went early to the street corner Gu Yuqi had to pass through, to intercept her.
Gu Yuqi, meanwhile, hadn’t slept well all night either. Her mind was full of Liang Sheng; even while counting sheep to fall asleep, the sheep heads turned into Liang Sheng’s head one by one. Way too eerie.
Last night, after waiting five minutes with no reply from Liang Sheng, she’d gotten anxious. Figuring she had nothing better to do anyway, she decided to go check out Liang Sheng’s place.
Ten minutes later, she arrived downstairs. Looking up, her smiling face froze in an instant, then slowly slumped.
She saw two figures folded together. Liang Sheng hadn’t drawn the curtains.
Ah… Looking closer. She made out the hair color of the girl on top: purple. The one below had green hair—green! It’s green! Aaaah, green! Gu Yuqi gradually turned Liang Sheng-ified, not just the hair color but those vivid expressions too.
Hurry up and escape this heartbreaking place! Gu Yuqi didn’t look anymore, turned tail and ran, tears streaming straight down her cheeks.
From childhood to now, she’d never felt this heartbroken.
The scene was pure drama, heartbreaking as it was.
Of course, after she left came the moment when Liang Sheng pushed Hana away—but sadly, she didn’t see it.
“Senior Sister Yuqi!” Liang Sheng spotted the familiar figure and ran over, blocking Gu Yuqi’s path.
“Liang Sheng?” Gu Yuqi jumped.
“I was wrong!!” She had no idea what she’d done wrong, but apologizing was the right move!
The light in Gu Yuqi’s eyes dimmed as she tried to pull her hand free.
“Senior Sister Yuqi…” Liang Sheng burst into tears.
Liang Sheng’s tears hit Gu Yuqi hard.
“Pa!” Gu Yuqi slammed Liang Sheng against the wall.
She looked down at her little junior sister’s rosy red lips.
“Y-Yuqi Senior Sister?” Liang Sheng was scared, shrinking back—Gu Yuqi’s gaze was too terrifying.
Gu Yuqi’s mind was a total blank right now, filled only with her junior sister’s red little mouth. She slowly lowered her head, closed her eyes.
