Chapter 55: Am I Very Popular…?
The waves splashed gently against Sumu’s delicate pink feet, like a farewell kiss before the tide receded.
The sea was scattered with bits of golden light, the setting sun quietly pressing down to the bottom of her view, tearing a golden pathway across the water’s surface, layering its brilliant hues in the clear sky.
Beyond the shadows lay this intoxicating orange-gold glow, tirelessly stealing away all other colors, illuminating the girl’s eyes to a dazzling shine.
Sumu instinctively wanted to capture this scene with her phone, but suddenly the screen went dark, as Tang Nai, who had unknowingly approached from behind her, blocked the camera lens.
“What are you doing?”
Sumu pouted and moved Tang Nai’s hand away, but soon she noticed the camera hanging around Tang Nai’s neck, causing her cheeks to flush slightly.
If she remembered correctly, there were some not-so-good images stored in there.
“Isn’t just taking pictures of the scenery a bit dull? You should stand further back, and I’ll take a picture of you.”
Sumu was momentarily stunned, then suspiciously asked, “How much per picture? You need to be clear about it.”
“Talking about money is too disheartening, Sumu. But if you insist on paying…”
Seeing Sumu’s expression hardening, Tang Nai grinned widely.
“Then I’ll charge you for a second time.”
Sumu silently adjusted her swimsuit, refusing to say more.
Every time she was defeated by this girl, it was so annoying.
Speaking of which, she realized she had never really taken a serious photo.
Standing in front of the camera, looking at the light reflected in the lens, Sumu’s eyes drifted off slightly, unsure of where to place her hands, she simply crossed them behind her, quietly rubbing her fingertips together.
It felt a little unnatural.
“Never mind, I don’t really like being photographed.”
“This is a precious memory! You didn’t say anything last time.”
Last time, I had already lost consciousness, okay! That was clearly coercion, going against a woman’s will, or should I say it seriously invaded my something rights.
“Anyway, I was heavily violated.”
Irina’s voice suddenly spoke within her mind.
Yes, that was evidently one-sided violation! Wait, isn’t this wording a bit strange…
Still caught in these thoughts, Sumu was suddenly jolted by a powerful force from behind.
Before she could even process the soft pressure against her back, she was startled into exclaiming due to the random squeezing sensation at her waist.
“Eh, who—”
“Of course, it’s me, Wooden Mouse~.”
Ye Wanjing casually continued to tease Sumu while ruthlessly assaulting her.
Her violent methods were purely playful, and although the physical contact was far more exaggerated than during her encounter with L, what Sumu felt was more shock than anything else.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be mindful of your image in front of outsiders? Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”
“Hehe, isn’t this kind of thing quite normal? Just like Lemon said, newbies should be punished.”
In a mix of anger and surprise, the little embarrassment Sumu felt disappeared entirely, replaced by pure thoughts of retaliation.
“Don’t think you’re the only one who can do this!”
Instead of stopping Ye Wanjing from continuing her antics right away, Sumu straightened her waist and, in a bizarre posture, reached her hand back.
It was like a boy getting flicked on his private parts and then, in embarrassment and anger, deciding to retaliate without holding back.
With Luo Jialan, Sumu always carefully avoided physical contact, blushing at even the slightest brush.
But with this girl behind her, humph.
Let’s see if I won’t pull down your excess weight today!
“Mmm, what are you doing? That angle, ouch, let go…”
Ye Wanjing, who started the confrontation, backed down first, pushing Sumu away, barely avoiding losing part of her body.
“You’re so rough, Wooden Mouse.”
Seeing Ye Wanjing’s disheveled state, Sumu smiled with hands on her hips.
It’s really hard to see this girl as the opposite sex.
Speaking of which, she doesn’t see me as the opposite sex either? No, no, anyway, it just means there’s no sense of shyness.
The physical collision was strong and forceful, but emotionally they remained unfazed, with only the desire to overpower each other and claim victory.
This is probably something like friendship, albeit in the damaging variety.
Addressing each other as if they were rivals, they fought without reserve, like true foes.
It wasn’t even unpleasant.
“Hehe, I recorded all of that just now.”
A voice drifted in, leaving both girls in shock.
Tang Nai pressed record again, capturing this moment, including their stunned expressions.
“Hey, this part has to be deleted!”
“Consider it payment for the photo. Next time, it’ll be free, definitely free.”
“Include me too, I want one as well.”
Ye Wanjing, who had been brooding over Sumu’s methods, suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Sumu’s neck, flashing a victory sign and beaming a radiant smile.
But this version of Ye Wanjing was a bit hard for Sumu to get used to.
“Don’t stick so close, your sweat is sticking to me.”
“That’s seawater, seawater! How could I be sweating?”
The commotion had attracted a few other girls.
Luo Jialan quickly approached, trying to discreetly push Ye Wanjing away while naturally standing to Sumu’s left.
“Then I’ll join in too.”
Tang Nai readily accepted, while inviting the other two over.
“Since we’re at it, let’s take a group photo.”
Gu Xiaobei stood on Sumu’s right side, while the tallest, Shen Meling, positioned herself next to Ye Wanjing. Seeing the cozy interaction between her and Sumu, a smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
This is nice, just what I wanted to see, a little more, a little more…
Thinking this, Shen Meling placed her hands on Gu Xiaobei and Luo Jialan’s shoulders, gently applying pressure to pull them closer to the middle.
In the next moment, Sumu felt her shoulders gently pressed against, her mind instantly flooded with countless question marks.
As she felt the warmth of several girls through their swimsuits, her face immediately turned as red as a ripe apple.
What’s going on here?
Conflicted.jpg
“Great, hold this pose, cheese!”
Without even counting down, perhaps worried that the girls would react and spoil this picture she was satisfied with, Tang Nai decisively pressed the shutter.
Moments later, the tightly grouped girls instinctively jumped apart as if they had been electrocuted, while the instigator, Shen Meling, remained silent, and Luo Jialan turned her head away to hide her inner fluster.
Only Gu Xiaobei and Ye Wanjing laughed obliviously—clearly, they had not yet developed any strange feelings.
“OK, perfect. Sumu, you are very popular!”
Sumu, still immersed in her embarrassment, was suddenly pulled out by this statement.
Am I very popular…?
