Chapter 46: Reserved Only for You

“Then this time we really have to say goodbye. Goodbye, classmate Siji, classmate Runhui.”

“Goodbye, classmate Yanyan.”

“…Goodbye.”

Yan Yanyan’s place was a little closer to the school.

Although she was not very willing to leave the remaining two with space to be alone, she could not just follow them back and then walk all the way here again.

Never mind how abstract that would be; this was already the result of her having taken a detour.

But…

Yan Yanyan’s gaze swept toward Xu Runhui.

A Xu Runhui like this did not have much that needed to be guarded against, that was all.

Looking at Xu Runhui, wilted like an eggplant struck by frost, Yan Yanyan still could not figure out how someone as thick-skinned as her had shrunk back like this all at once.

Could a veiled jab that she was not as handsome as herself, and that her chest was ridiculously large, really cause this much damage?

If that were truly the case, it would mean that what Xu Runhui liked was nothing more than classmate Siji’s skin and flesh.

Otherwise why would she be distressed that her appearance and figure did not match classmate Siji in the world’s eyes?

It seemed that in the end she was still a shallow person trapped by looks, just like those people at school, paying attention only to things that floated on the surface while ignoring the treasures that were truly worth noticing and truly worth valuing.

How dull.

Xu Runhui, I am afraid I will forget you very soon…

As Yan Yanyan disappeared into the distance, only Zhong Siji and Xu Runhui remained on the street stretched long by the setting sun.

Under the dusky evening light was the girl’s somewhat dejected expression.

“It’s finally just the two of us.”

“Mm… mm!?”

Although the words were not wrong, why did they sound so weird?

Does classmate Siji want to say something to me alone?

Is there something among the three of us that classmate Yanyan can’t know?

Don’t tell me classmate Siji is going to confess to me!?

But Yan Yanyan’s blow, Qian Zaoling’s mockery, and Lao Gao’s silent comfort surfaced again in Xu Runhui’s mind.

That’s right…

A big-chested girl like me is already lucky across three lifetimes just to be able to talk with classmate Siji.

How could I still hope for more?

Even if I get slowly pushed away later, every extra moment spent together is a gain for me…

“Classmate Runhui? Classmate Runhui?”

Ah! Crap!

I accidentally wandered off again.

Classmate Siji is still talking to me.

“Sorry, classmate Siji. I zoned out just now.”

“Classmate Runhui, you seem to have been distracted all day today. Did something happen?”

“No, no, nothing happened at all. I… I’m fine! I… what could I have going on?”

That does not look like nothing is going on at all, does it?

Zhong Siji frowned.

“Classmate Runhui, we are friends, right?”

“Of course! Classmate Siji and I are of course friends!” Xu Runhui grew agitated.

If even that title did not remain, she would have nothing left.

“In that case, can my important friend rely on me a little more? If possible, I hope I can help my friend.”

Instead of being the one who can only be helped, Zhong Siji silently added in his heart.

Important… friend?

Does he mean me?

Xu Runhui had never thought she could be called important by anyone outside her family.

As if he had seen what was in Xu Runhui’s heart, Zhong Siji continued.

“Classmate Runhui and classmate Yanyan are both important friends of mine.”

As I thought.

Even here he has to bring classmate Yanyan along.

“Does someone like me really have the qualifications to be classmate Siji’s important friend?”

Someone like me?

Zhong Siji’s brows furrowed even deeper.

“Classmate Runhui, why would you say that? Did someone say something to you?”

“No one said anything to me.” Xu Runhui shook her head.

“I was only thinking, an ordinary student like me, even if I can be friends with classmate Siji and classmate Yanyan, how long can this friendship of ours last?”

The words had already reached this point, so there was nothing that could not be said.

Xu Runhui spoke the thing she had been thinking about all day.

“Aren’t we all just ordinary students?” Zhong Siji was still a little at a loss.

“I mean!” Looking at Zhong Siji putting on a bewildered face, Xu Runhui did not know why a fire seemed to rise in her heart.

“I’m just an ordinary girl who isn’t handsome, is short, has a big chest, has average grades, is average at sports, and has neither any hobby she can show off nor anything she’s good at!”

“Someone like classmate Siji, who is good-looking, has a good figure, and has transcendent athletic ability, will sooner or later be surrounded by equally outstanding people like classmate Yanyan, while an inconspicuous person like me will sooner or later be forgotten by the protagonist like those tutorial guide characters in RPG games.”

“Even if classmate Siji is very gentle, and his attitude toward me has never changed from beginning to end, the space and time that belong to me will all be slowly squeezed in the end, until I are reduced to an NPC friend who only says hello when arriving at school and leaving school!”

“They all said I only got to talk to you, classmate Siji, because of good luck!”

“I don’t want to become like that! But I have no way! I just can’t help thinking it would be nice if classmate Siji didn’t change, so I could get closer to you more easily and stay by your side more naturally. Even I feel disgusted at a me like that! But I just can’t help thinking it!”

“Runhui…” The girl’s sudden outburst left Zhong Siji stunned in place for a moment.

Crap!

What did I even say to classmate Siji!

Why did I yell at him too!

Classmate Siji didn’t do anything wrong…

Perhaps because the dark thoughts in her heart had all been poured out in one breath, Xu Runhui suddenly calmed down.

She began to regret her words, but an arrow released from the bow has no return, so she could only brace herself and add a sentence.

“I’m sorry, classmate Siji…”

“The one who should say sorry is me.”

“Eh?”

There was none of the scolding and distancing she had imagined, only pure apology.

“I’m very sorry. As your friend, I made you feel uneasy. Also, if one of us only became friends because of good luck, then the lucky one is absolutely me.”

“I was thinking it would be nice if classmate Siji didn’t change!”

“That isn’t your true thought, classmate Runhui. Otherwise why would you feel uneasy about it and disgusted with yourself?”

“But I…” Xu Runhui still wanted to say something, but Zhong Siji did not give her the chance.

“Classmate Runhui, do you know the hotel theory?”

Without waiting for Xu Runhui to answer, he went on by himself.

“The intersections between people are like checking into a hotel the other person runs. But the people you meet will grow more and more numerous, while the rooms in the hotel are always limited, so at the same time someone moves in, someone will move out. That can’t be helped.”

Xu Runhui’s eyes dimmed.

“But…” Zhong Siji’s tone suddenly turned.

“No matter who it is, there will always be a few rooms that are kept for certain people, right?”

Xu Runhui’s heart shook as she looked at Zhong Siji.

Reflected in the boy’s clear pupils was her own figure.

“So do you understand, classmate Runhui? What I want to say to you is that in my heart there is always one room reserved only for you.”