My sister never calls me brother.

Remembering Lin Nianwei's request to escalate the conflict, which was essentially an attempt to intensify the tension, Song Mingyuan understood this perfectly.

"What's wrong? Do you have another opinion?" Wang Linlin asked curiously.

"This matter cannot be fair; it must be one-sided, with one side being vilified," Song Mingyuan stated his additional request.

"Why?" Wang Linlin was somewhat surprised and couldn't understand.

"Well..." Song Mingyuan hesitated, then mumbled something, "Wouldn't it be better to escalate the conflict and create more publicity?"

"This completely violates the impartiality of journalism, and I cannot agree to it." Wang Linlin frowned, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Song Mingyuan felt helpless, as if Wang Linlin was surrounded by an impenetrable wall of steel, and he had no idea where to begin.

He scratched his head, having run out of other options, and could only resort to his tired, overused tactic—

With lightning speed, Song Mingyuan knelt on the ground, his movements practiced and precise. "I'm begging you~ Do as you please~"

“Hey—” Wang Linlin’s face darkened, having been cornered by Song Mingyuan. “Don’t just kneel down all the time.”

"It's okay, my knees are worthless anyway." Song Mingyuan said shamelessly, refusing to back down.

"You..." Wang Linlin didn't know what to say. Hearing his self-deprecating tone, she felt a pang of heartache.

She realized that Song Mingyuan's pitiful state was inextricably linked to her own actions, and that he had endured countless hardships along the way.

If he hadn't stood up that day, their situations might be completely opposite now.

Although Song Mingyuan's request went against his principles, feelings can sometimes go against the tide.

Wang Linlin also wanted to help Song Mingyuan out of personal motives, but her traditionalist nature made it difficult for her to compromise, especially on matters of principle.

She was caught in a dilemma, the scales of selfishness and principle tipping back and forth.

After waiting for a long time without hearing Wang Linlin's reply, Song Mingyuan felt he should add some leverage. He said in a low voice, "If you agree, I will grant you a wish. As long as it is within my power, I will do my best to fulfill it."

"Huh!?" This sentence interrupted Wang Linlin's train of thought. She asked blankly, "Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Song Mingyuan knelt on the ground and raised his head. "When have I ever broken a promise? My reputation is the most valuable thing I have."

Wang Linlin's eyes darted back and forth as she pondered, but it seemed it wasn't official business; rather, she was having her own little scheme.

Song Mingyuan had no idea what Wang Linlin was thinking. Her face flushed red and then turned pale, making it difficult for him to guess what was going on.

"Okay, I'll be willful this once." Wang Linlin finally compromised and said—

"However, I haven't decided on my wish yet. I'll talk about it when I've thought about it."

After Zhou Han was suspended from school again—

Did not go home.

Instead, they wandered around outside all day, stopping and starting as they pleased.

Anyway, I've probably lost the bet with Teacher Dong about leaving the group.

He even punched Gu Bai this morning.

He still can't understand why Gu Bai stood with those people.

Where did Gu Bai, who was kind, humble, and always thought of others before acting, go?

Is his saintly demeanor just an act?

Zhou Han herself felt there was a certain possibility.

After all, people's hearts are hidden behind their skin; who can easily fathom them?

Perhaps Gu Bai has a dark side to him at heart.

Perhaps I really was a fool, deceived by Gu Bai's appearance.

Perhaps I shouldn't have gone to Gu Bai yesterday; he had already planned to use me.

Too many possibilities kept flashing through Zhou Han's mind...

He didn't know which reason was true; either one was possible.

High-rise buildings stand tall in the distance.

The spire, reaching straight into the clouds, blocked out the last rays of the setting sun.

A huge shadow loomed over Zhou Han.

As the gentle light gradually faded, the shadows also expanded.

No matter how he moves, he can't escape the shadow.

It was as if they were mocking him.

far away.

A group of people dressed in the uniforms of Zhongqing No. 8 Middle School walked towards Zhou Han in a nonchalant manner.

It all seemed like a coincidence—

Sun Qi was surrounded by a crowd, looking like a big shot.

Side Story: Mountains and Flowers

April of last year.

I graduated from junior high school smoothly and entered the affiliated high school of Yamanashi University.

I was cared for by my maternal grandparents.

As for my biological father, he died of cancer at a young age and was buried in a cemetery in Kanagawa Prefecture.

After entering high school, I moved from Kyoto to Yamanashi Prefecture.

A place very close to Mount Fuji, mainly mountainous, known as the kingdom of fruit trees.

High school life has been going on for over a month now, and apart from needing to rebuild my interpersonal relationships, there's nothing giving me a headache.

Why do I have a headache?

Because I spent my junior high school years in Kyoto, and after graduation, many of my friends did not choose to leave, but mostly chose to stay in high school in the Kyoto area.

So after entering high school, I basically didn't know anyone, and I had to start my interpersonal relationships from scratch. I'm not very good at actively trying to please others, which made my circle of friends develop very slowly.

Someone like me must be considered an oddball.

As for my friends from junior high school, they basically stopped contacting me after they learned that I was leaving Kyoto, and they didn't send me a single email during the holidays.

I don't really understand. Does this mean that after I leave Kyoto, we'll never see each other again?

So I was in a very depressed state throughout the entire holiday.

Like those otaku, I spent the entire holiday hiding at home.

I feel quite pathetic, having spent the entire holiday at home all by myself.

I doubt anyone would believe me if I told them, because I was quite popular when I was in middle school.

Every weekend, boys would ask me out, but I'm quite skilled at saying no, and I can politely decline most of their requests.

But why did everyone disappear after graduation?

Is it because I've rejected too many people?

After careful consideration, I think it's possible.

If too many boys reject you, rumors will circulate behind your back, making others hesitant to pursue you.

During that time, I really hoped someone would come to find me.

If a boy had approached me back then, I would have gone out with him without hesitation, regardless of whether he was handsome or not, or whether he would say romantic things.

I was so bored at home.

But reality crushed me; not a single person came to me.

My relatives all privately think I'm a homebody.

After entering high school, I received a gift from my relatives.

At first I thought it was a pretty dress or a backpack or something.

When I opened it, I didn't know what expression to make; in short, I felt extremely awkward.

Faced with such kindness, I could only force a smile and say thank you, though in reality I felt like I wanted to die.

The gift was a cushion with a picture of a scantily clad anime girl on it.

This is terrible, this gift is awful, everyone thinks I'm a homebody now.

I don't know how to explain it, and even if I did, I doubt anyone would believe me.

If a girl stays at home for a month, what else could she be but a homebody?

This is a dark chapter in my history, and I swear that only I know about it for the rest of my life.

However, this cushion isn't entirely useless; it can be used as a punching bag to vent my frustrations.

When I left, my relatives stared in disbelief at the completely disfigured pillow.

I left with a smile and composure. I think they should know that I'm not a homebody by now, right?

Of course, there were happy things after entering high school.

such as--

The thing that makes me happiest is meeting my childhood playmate.

Her name is Kawai Tani Sawaya. I always called her Xiaoya when I was little, and I still do now.

She calls me Aili, and when we were little she called me Xiaoli, but I stubbornly rejected that.

I dislike being called "little" because I always feel it's a curse, and now it's come true.

I don't want to mention which part of my body this curse came true on.

When I met Xiaoya again at her high school in Yamanashi Prefecture, I almost didn't recognize her.

I don't mean I can't recognize Xiaoya as a person, but I can't recognize her... Sigh, let's not talk about it, it makes me feel ashamed.

I always seriously suspect that she ate something that caused her to develop so well.

However, I'm sure she didn't become like this because she drank milk.