Chapter 3: Different
What was that?
Listening to Yu Hui’s words, it seems like she’s saying I’m currently pursuing Li Nai…
Why me? I really can’t understand.
It’s incomprehensible, illogical. Who knows what happened in between.
But if this is the truth…
Then what is my relationship with Lianbing right now?
And what is my relationship with others?
What is the current situation?
Originally, when I saw Yu Hui, I was thinking, ‘It seems there haven’t been too many major changes,’ but now her words have completely shattered my perception.
“Lord Juncheng, what’s wrong?”
“N-no… ah, I’m not dating Li Nai today.”
“Is that so? Because when you’re usually in a good mood, you’re meeting with Sister Li Nai, so I…”
After I chuckled dryly, I tentatively asked Yu Hui.
“Um, Yu Hui, do you… often meet with the class monitor?”
…
“You mean Sister Li Nai? I don’t know if she was a class monitor in her school days, but you usually call her Nai-jie, or Sister Nai Nai. …”
I unintentionally used the nickname I usually call Li Nai. Actually, calling her “class monitor” was giving her face. Most of the time, I directly…
This is bad. I unintentionally used the nickname I usually call Li Nai. Actually, calling her ‘class monitor’ was giving her face.
Because Li Nai herself not only calls her ‘brainless zombie’ but also greets her with casual terms like ‘Hey,’ or ‘You over there.’ she doesn’t care, and even when I call her, she’s happy to chat with me, because most of the time I’m very dismissive and ignore her.
But the current Li Nai is not a zombie, nor is she in the same grade as me.
Am I an idiot? I made a logical error like this. Perhaps I inherited Li Nai’s brainless halo.
“…You’re really strange today. Could it be memories from your previous life…”
“No, don’t worry, I’m not affected.”
Although from another perspective, I did come from a ‘previous life,’ but that was the ‘previous world.’
“If you suddenly feel cognitive impairment, please tell me immediately. When it gets severe enough that you can’t distinguish between past and present life, you might be replaced by your past life memories.”
I couldn’t deny her words, so I just nodded in agreement.
“I understand. If there are real problems, I’ll tell you.”
“Please do.”
She had also suffered from past life memories before, so naturally, she would be concerned about this matter.
And I have indeed been influenced by past life memories, so I should be careful.
But honestly, I don’t think I’m still influenced by so-called past lives. How should I put it? Hmm, perhaps because my sense of self has become stronger.
Afterward, I intentionally or unintentionally asked Yu Hui some questions. Based on Yu Hui’s answers, I got a general understanding of the situation beforehand.
But it’s difficult to get the full picture of all the events solely from Yu Hui. After all, asking too many questions might arouse her suspicion.
So I only asked in broad strokes.
Confused by the situation, I headed to classroom 3-3 with a jumbled mind.
The moment I stepped into the classroom, the previously noisy room immediately fell silent, and everyone looked at me.
Huh? Why is everyone looking at me?
But I’m not my old self anymore. With so many people staring at me, I can still maintain a calm and composed demeanor, walking to my seat expressionlessly.
As soon as I sat down and put down my school bag, Lianbing, who was already in her seat, propping her chin and gazing out the window, naturally turned her head, elegantly swept up her hair, and smiled, saying good morning.
“Good morning, Juncheng.”
Calling me ‘Juncheng’?
Speaking of which, everything began when Lianbing first spoke to me.
But I am no longer the me who was utterly defeated and tormented back then!
I’m on my ‘second playthrough’ now! I’ve accumulated a considerable amount of experience points!
Therefore, I didn’t overthink it and simply replied.
“Oh, morning.”
Seeing my natural reply, not only did Lianbing widen her eyes slightly in surprise, but the surrounding classmates also looked as if they had seen a ghost.
“Oh dear, I’ll have Shirley cook red bean rice to celebrate when we get home today.”
“Hm? Why? Did something good happen?”
“Hehehe, because this is the first time you’ve ever replied to me after I’ve said good morning to you a hundred and twenty-eighth times.”
“Oh?”
I used to not reply to her? Did I just ignore her directly?
…Right. In the beginning, I instinctively felt a sense of danger from Lianbing and avoided her like the plague.
But I still got entangled with her later.
“Have you finally given up on the older woman and decided to embrace me, this young and beautiful maiden?”
“How did you even connect saying good morning to something so far-fetched?”
“Because the last time I confessed to you directly, you used the cliché excuse ‘I already like someone’ to reject me, didn’t you?”
Oh, I get it.
Because I liked Li Nai, I rejected Lianbing’s confession, and thus none of the subsequent events happened.
Is there really such a way to avoid this?
Yes, although this method might not work on Lanhua, it might work on Lianbing. Why didn’t I think of it back then!
“The person you like is definitely that curly-haired older woman who waits for you at the school entrance from time to time.”
“Well, probably…”
Speaking of Li Nai.
But did Li Nai change her hair to curly? Oh, that would definitely change her aura.
“You handsome pretty boy, I pity your future.”
“Dear me, don’t be vicious and slander others…”
I sighed helplessly, but Lianbing’s smile widened, looking very happy.
“However, it’s not too late to abandon darkness and embrace the light. I’m still very interested in you, Juncheng. Even though you’re a pervert who likes older women…”
“So, how can you deduce that I like older women from something as trivial as saying good morning? So you’re planning to make a move on me today? Look, as the saying goes, ‘The day’s plan begins in the morning.’ If you want me, you have to start with a good morning.”
Is that what that proverb means?! What have you done to the ancient proverbs!
“No, even if my preferences have changed, it wouldn’t be for such a casual reason… I’m not thinking with my lower body!”
“Who knows?”
People’s preferences change over time. Someone who disliked green peppers as a child might like them when they grow up…
Moreover, strictly speaking, both in terms of expiration date and user experience, new is always better. After all, most people…
get tired of the old and prefer the new. For second-hand items, there are always lingering doubts.
“You didn’t say anything, yet I feel like what you’re saying is… Speaking of which, this has nothing to do with age.”
Besides, Li Nai is only five years older than me.
Five years… seems to be within an acceptable range?
She’s a beautiful lady in her twenties, the kind that sparks endless imagination.
Calling her a mature woman or an older woman is too rude.
Lianbing seemed about to say more, but just then, the bell for early morning self-study rang.
“It’s already that time. Our morning conversation has to end here.” I raised my hand and apologized to Lianbing.
“Sorry, I won’t ignore your greetings anymore.”
After thinking for a moment, I added.
“Oh, this isn’t because ‘the day’s plan begins in the morning.’ It doesn’t mean anything special.”
Anyway, I’ll just say this for now, until I figure out my exact relationship with Li Nai.
“Hehehehe… That makes me happy too.”
As long as you’re happy.
I shrugged and sat up straight, my eyes meeting Xue Qing’s.
“Good morning, Xue Qing.”
It seems my relationship with Xue Qing has returned to the original state. It’s a bit sad.
But I have to say, the me in this world is really amazing. I’m truly impressed. I’ve stepped into the abnormal but haven’t fallen deeper into it. That’s not simple at all.
Just the fact that ‘Li Nai didn’t turn into a zombie’ has caused a huge change in the world around me.
Zihua, is this the future you envisioned…
Speaking of which, where’s Lanhua? I don’t feel Lanhua’s gaze, and she’s not even in the class. Lanhua’s seat is empty.
That’s strange, is she absent?
Around noon, I was planning to go to the school cafeteria for lunch, but then I suddenly remembered the bento box Xinran made for me this morning, so I decided to eat in the classroom instead.
Just then, someone called me and walked towards my seat.
“Juncheng.”
It was my good friend, A Liang, Luo Yingliang, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Yo, long time no see, A Liang.”
“Long time no see?”
“A day apart feels like three autumns. I missed you terribly.”
“Why are you staring at me like that? I’m just joking. You don’t seriously think I’m gay, do you?”
A Liang said, pushing up his glasses.
“You don’t need to explain. I didn’t mean it that way. I just feel like your presence is very strong today.”
“Presence?”
“Yes, or perhaps aura? Normally, you adhere to the ‘three no-touch’ principle, never doing anything attention-grabbing, and trying to maintain your transparency.”
“That’s true.”
Before I was hit on the head by the Yata no Kagami, I indeed had no presence.
And I’m still adhering to the principle of not doing anything attention-grabbing.
“But today, you actually had a back-and-forth with Ji Lianbing. Most people would have been roasted alive by her venomous tongue. When she suddenly confessed to you, it was already surprising. Although your subsequent rejection made people think you were crazy.”
“So, what’s gotten into you today? Didn’t you decide to have absolutely no contact with Ji Lianbing?”
“Ahaha… Maybe I took the wrong medicine.”
Talking to Lianbing is already part of my daily life. Moreover, interacting with her naturally becomes like that. I simply can’t ignore her anymore.
I can’t explain this point to A Liang.
I can only vaguely brush it off, take out my bento, and use actions to indicate that it’s time to eat.
“Did your sister make you a bento again today? Tsk, it’s good to have a sister.”
“Uh? Oh…”
…What??
This means this bento wasn’t made on a whim by Xinran, but rather, my bento has always been made by Xinran?
I opened the bento box and saw…
…doesn’t exist, of course. It’s just a very ordinary bento.
But it was made with great care and looks good. I wonder how it tastes.
Speaking of which, Xinran also wrote a note asking me to evaluate her hamburger steak today, so I should try it carefully.
A Liang sat in Xue Qing’s seat and took out the bread he bought from the convenience store. I also took out my chopsticks and picked up a hamburger steak.
“Aren’t you going to brag about your sister’s bento to me today?”
As soon as I took a bite, before I could even chew, I heard A Liang say.
“How rare, you die-hard sister complex guy has a day where he doesn’t show off his sister.”
Then, accompanied by a complex and strange, but definitely not delicious taste spreading from the hamburger steak, and A Liang’s words bombarding my mind, I couldn’t help but…
My taste buds felt like they were hit by a nuclear bomb.
Under the double blow, I immediately spat it out.
Looking at A Liang, who was covered in my spit, two questions simultaneously arose in my mind.
Why is this hamburger steak, which looks delicious, so unpalatable?
And he called me a sister complex. Isn’t the role reversed?
