The large rooftop had only three people on it.
It seemed a little empty, yet for those two girls the three-person rooftop somehow felt far too crowded.
So it wasn’t my imagination.
Classmate Yan Yan really is very interested in Classmate Siji.
She’s already so popular, so why can’t she even leave Classmate Siji alone?
I somehow feel a little disgusted…
“Someone like a campus prince would be more appropriate.”
Her little sister’s words timely echoed in Xu Runhui’s mind. Would Classmate Siji prefer this kind of “prince”?
He definitely would, right? After all, Classmate Siji himself is pretty cool… If only she would disappear.
The pitch-black, inexplicable emotion made Xu Runhui jolt in sudden alarm.
I was just thinking it would be better if Classmate Yan Yan disappeared…?
No no no no. Why would I think that? Classmate Yan Yan has been so kind to me and even shared her bento with me. It’s just… just a little emotional confusion.
Right. It’s only because I’m too hungry. If I eat a little more and replenish some sugar so my brain can start working, it’ll be fine.
Uwah! So bitter. It’s bitter melon. Classmate Yan Yan’s bento has this too?
Speaking of which, there’s way too much bitter melon in Classmate Siji’s bento.
If he likes it that much, do I need to start getting used to it early too?
But no matter how you look at it, that amount is just too…
Just as Xu Runhui was thinking about how she could possibly eat that much bitter melon, two intense gazes from the left and right woke her from her contemplation.
The next moment, what entered her eyes was Zhong Siji’s puzzled expression and Yan Yanyan’s somewhat inexplicable smile.
“Classmate Siji, Classmate Yan Yan? Is there something on my face?”
Looking at Yan Yanyan’s smile that didn’t reach her eyes, Xu Runhui suddenly felt a little scared.
“There’s nothing, really. I just didn’t expect Classmate Runhui to like bitter melon this much.”
Zhong Siji didn’t say anything, while Yan Yanyan remained silent, maintaining the smile that in Xu Runhui’s eyes had already become somewhat terrifying.
Thinking of the mountain of bitter melon piled in Zhong Siji’s bento, Xu Runhui almost blurted out, “Mm-ah, I quite like eating bitter melon. Every time they make bitter melon at home I finish it all by myself.”
“For real? There’s actually someone who loves this stuff that much?”
Huh? Why does Classmate Siji look a little incredulous?
“I didn’t expect Classmate Runhui to like bitter melon this much. You and my little sister would definitely get along well.”
Eh? What does Classmate Siji mean by that? Could… could it be… Is Classmate Siji going to introduce me to his family?
This is way too fast! I’m not ready yet! What should I do! Should it be traditional or Western style?
Which one would Classmate Siji like?
“But no matter how much you like it, you still shouldn’t snatch it from someone else’s chopsticks, right?”
“Eh? ……….Ehhhhhhhh? The bitter melon I just ate… was it the one I snatched from Classmate Siji’s chopsticks?”
“Yeah. I had just picked it up when you stole it. If you want more, there’s still plenty in the bento box, you know?”
“I… I’m sorry! I was spacing out just now!”
“So that’s what it was. I thought so. No matter what, it wouldn’t go so far as snatching from someone else’s chopsticks. How is it? Does the bitter melon my little sister made suit your taste?”
Xu Runhui looked at the slightly fluorescent residue on Zhong Siji’s chopsticks and subconsciously licked her lips. “Quite sweet.”
“To actually call bitter melon sweet… Classmate Runhui, you really do love bitter melon. Don’t you think so, Classmate Yan Yan?”
Yan Yanyan still maintained that inexplicable smiling face. “I think what Classmate Runhui called ‘sweet’ wasn’t referring to the bitter melon.”
Xu Runhui lowered her head in shame at those words, while Zhong Siji remained completely foggy.
“If it’s not bitter melon, then what else could it be? By the way, what’s wrong with you? Why are you smiling in that way that doesn’t reach your eyes? It looks kinda creepy.”
“Eh? Am I? Then maybe it’s because……..”
Yan Yanyan’s gaze slowly turned toward Xu Runhui, who was still keeping her head down.
“I didn’t expect someone could so boldly steal food right in front of others.”
Knowing what Yan Yanyan was referring to, Xu Runhui’s face almost pressed against the floor.
“It’s only a few pieces of bitter melon. And it doesn’t really count as stealing either. Classmate Runhui didn’t do it on purpose. It’s fine.”
Zhong Siji was still completely out of the loop.
Yan Yanyan gave Xu Runhui a meaningful look and said slowly, “But the ‘thing’ Classmate Runhui stole… I also really want to eat it, you know?”
Just as she expected, Xu Runhui trembled all over at those words.
“So you also want to eat bitter melon. You should have said so earlier. There’s still plenty in my bento. Come on, don’t be polite. Just eat as much as you want.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll respectfully obey~~”
Only her chopsticks did not reach toward the bento box. Instead they reached toward the exact spot Xu Runhui had just reached for.
Zhong Siji looked at his once-again empty chopsticks and couldn’t help freezing in place.
“Mm. Just as Classmate Runhui said, it’s quite sweet.” Yan Yanyan happily savored the spoils of war in her mouth.
“What are you doing?”
“Eating bitter melon.”
“Then eat from the bento box. Why are you picking from my chopsticks again?”
“Eh? Did I pick from Classmate Siji’s chopsticks? Sorry~~ I spaced out too.”
“You clearly watched my chopsticks and then picked it up.”
“Eh? Did I? Something like that couldn’t have happened, right? After all, I’m a lady. How could I pick food from a gentleman’s chopsticks?”
“Ah, right. Classmate Siji, that piece of bitter melon looks delicious.”
“They’re all bitter melon. What difference is there!”
“Just like how even twins are slightly different, even bitter melons of the same variety have slight differences in taste.”
While Zhong Siji and Yan Yanyan were going back and forth nonstop, Xu Runhui, who had been keeping her head down the whole time, finally raised it.
“Yan… Classmate Yan Yan, Classmate Siji seems very troubled. Could you please stop doing that?”
Somewhat surprised that the usually rather soft Xu Runhui could say something in such a heavy tone, Yan Yanyan couldn’t help looking into Xu Runhui’s eyes.
And this time, Xu Runhui, who would intentionally or unintentionally avoid other people’s gazes, did not look away.
Interesting. “I was just joking with Classmate Siji.”
“But I feel like Classmate Yan Yan doesn’t look like she’s joking at all.”
“Eh, saying that is a bit much, isn’t it? Classmate Runhui started it first.”
“I… I only did it by accident, and… and I really like eating bitter melon.”
“What a coincidence. I also quite like bitter melon. The part Classmate Siji can’t finish can be safely left to me. Classmate Runhui doesn’t have to pretend to like bitter melon either.”
“Who… who’s pretending! I… I also really love bitter melon!”
The two of them simultaneously stretched their chopsticks toward Zhong Siji’s bento box. In the blink of an eye, that tall pile of bitter melon was poked and scattered into complete disarray because of their struggle.
And at that exact moment…
“You two!!!”
A low call came from the man beside them. The calm anger in his voice made Yan Yanyan and Xu Runhui both tremble involuntarily.
They immediately stopped their struggle, then slowly turned their heads toward the source of the voice—Zhong Siji.
At this moment his face showed a serious expression that had never appeared even when he was fighting.
“What exactly have you two treated someone else’s little sister’s bento as!?”