“Then I’ll head off first.”
The school gate was not far away, and Zhong Siji proposed they separate as usual.
“Eh? Why? We’re not that far from school anymore, are we? Is Classmate Siji on cleaning duty today?”
Yan Yanyan asked in confusion.
“It’s not that. Classmate Siji is probably worried the recent rumors will drag us in.”
Drawing on yesterday’s experience, Xu Runhui explained to Yan Yanyan.
Yan Yanyan raised an eyebrow.
“You mean that rumor about being dumped by a girlfriend of three years? And all those miscellaneous little stories? Honestly, it’s no big deal, is it?”
“If it were only those, it would be fine.” Zhong Siji sighed.
“Most of them aren’t too bad. It’s just that one of them actually claims that back in middle school I already had girlfriends in droves, and not only that—I took whatever I wanted from them, then discarded them like trash once I’d squeezed out every last bit of usefulness.”
“I’ve never heard that one?” Yan Yanyan said, puzzled.
“Because after all it’s something without solid proof. Probably no one would bring it up with Classmate Yan Yan.”
A measure of understanding dawned in Yan Yanyan’s heart.
Given the image she presented to others, if someone tried to chat with her using such a vile and groundless rumor as a topic, they would most likely end up being disliked by her.
Although the school’s human relationships weren’t that complicated, social hierarchy still existed.
Certain lower-class topics simply wouldn’t circulate among groups higher up the social ladder.
“But still, you have to admit that’s way too outrageous, right? Do people actually believe a rumor like that?”
Given Zhong Siji’s current social standing, of course he had no idea, so he could only look toward the other person present.
Xu Runhui thought for a moment and said, “There should be some people in class who don’t really believe it. After all, everyone can see what Classmate Siji is usually like.”
“Eh? Really? That’s surprising. I thought everyone believed it. So it was only some of them.”
Zhong Siji hadn’t expected that his reputation in class hadn’t completely hit rock bottom.
Looking at how happy Zhong Siji seemed, Xu Runhui decided not to tell him the real evaluation.
That guy may be really good-looking, but that aura and presence…….. are there really any girls who dare talk to him?
“Then isn’t that fine? As long as enough time passes, everyone in class will naturally stop believing a rumor like that, right?”
“But this rumor has already gained a certain market in the school. Just a few days ago I overheard a few upperclassmen saying: ‘That tall guy with the big butt in Class 5 of the first year seems to have been a player before.’”
After all, Classmate Siji’s looks really do attract attention.
“……….Tall guy with a big butt—that’s way too vague. It isn’t necessarily me, right?”
It’s absolutely you! Yan Yanyan and Xu Runhui answered in perfect unison inside their hearts.
“In short, for certain people, the fact that we’re by Classmate Siji’s side is undoubtedly confirmation of the rumors.”
“In other words, the truth no longer matters, right?” Yan Yanyan added.
Zhong Siji nodded.
“I’ve already stopped caring about myself. But I don’t want you two to get dragged into it either.”
“You can’t just stop caring! Classmate Siji! High school still has three years left, doesn’t it? Are you planning to spend all three years without having any contact with anyone inside the school?”
“………..”
Zhong Siji recalled what Teacher Wu Di had said to him the day before yesterday: “Some moments, once you let them slip away, even if you can make up for them later, the feelings of that time can never come back, you know?”
How could he not understand that principle? But what exactly was he supposed to do?
The world was no longer the world he knew.
Everything left him at a loss.
No matter what he did, it felt as if countless eyes were staring at him from behind.
These rumors were the same—some could still be called grasping at shadows, but most of them were simply fabrications from nothing, weren’t they?
Yet what could he do?
At the very least, he shouldn’t cause trouble for others, right?
Aah, it seemed he had already caused trouble for others.
Zhong Siji looked toward Yan Yanyan and Xu Runhui.
Just yesterday he had still felt that being with Yan Yanyan would bring him trouble, yet today it was his turn to be afraid of bringing her trouble.
One had to admit it was rather marvelous how a person’s feelings could reverse so completely within a single day.
And there was Xu Runhui as well. If she hadn’t extended a helping hand to him first, he probably wouldn’t have helped her drive off those people from Momoi.
Thinking about it, he really did feel a little sorry toward her.
Yet even someone as cold as himself—after only two short days—had been treated as a friend by them.
They had even agreed to some of his unreasonable requests.
After they had already gone this far, he really couldn’t cause any more trouble for his friends.
“Well, Classmate Yan Yan, Classmate Runhui, in the end we should still……….”
But Yan Yanyan and Xu Runhui, as if knowing exactly what he was about to say, cut him off.
“That’s why Classmate Siji, you just don’t get it. Friends are precisely the ones you’re supposed to trouble.”
After all the thick-skinned effort it took to finally get the title of ‘friend,’ is someone like me, Yan Yanyan, the type to let a cooked duck that has already reached my mouth fly away?
And even after reaching this stage you’re still considering others……… Classmate Siji, you really are ‘sweet.’
“I….. I actually wanted to say this since yesterday! Even if people gossip about me and Classmate Siji, I don’t care one bit!”
Xu Runhui added in her heart: If anything that would be even better. Then there wouldn’t be more people competing with me for Classmate Siji.
These two were already hunting dogs who refused to let go of their prey no matter what.
“Classmate Yan Yan, Classmate Runhui………”
Completely unaware of the two girls’ true inner thoughts, Zhong Siji was so moved he no longer knew which way was up.
What is righteousness? This is righteousness! Compared to these two, I, Zhong Siji, am not even worth a dog’s basket!
They had only spoken a few words two days ago and become friends less than a day ago, yet in such a short time they were not only willing to become the taste-testers for this beginner’s bentos, but were also willing to bear the risk of other people’s rumors for the sake of their friendship with him.
It was only a pity that neither of them was a man; otherwise he would definitely have imitated Liu, Guan, and Zhang and performed a Taogu Three Sworn Brothers oath.
It would surely have become a beautiful tale of the age.
The more he thought about it the more regretful he felt. Zhong Siji couldn’t help sighing aloud: “Ahh!”
Thinking Zhong Siji was still worried about involving them, Yan Yanyan and Xu Runhui couldn’t help speaking up to comfort him:
“Classmate Siji, just rest easy. Since we’re friends we’ll definitely help you! Rumors are still just rumors in the end. What’s false remains false. As long as we find the right method we can definitely eliminate the influence of the rumors.”
“Classmate Siji helped me when I was at my most helpless. I… I also have to repay that kindness. So whatever Classmate Siji wants to achieve, I’ll do everything in my power to help!”
“Thank you both, Classmate Yan Yan, Classmate Runhui. I’m no longer that worried about the rumors. I was just feeling a little regretful, that’s all.”
Yan Yanyan and Xu Runhui exchanged a glance and both raised their eyebrows together. “Regretful about what?”
Could it be regret that he didn’t meet me / me earlier?
“If only the two of you were also men, then the three of us could swear brotherhood as different-surname brothers and share weal and woe across three lifetimes.”
“No no no, let’s forget about that. Being women is actually pretty good.”
Yan Yanyan waved her hands repeatedly in fright.
“Classmate Siji, even for me that’s a bit too hardcore.” Xu Runhui’s face had gone completely pale.
Zhong Siji: “?”