My sister never calls me brother.

"Are you still folding paper stars?" Song Mingyuan asked.

"Why are you asking this?" Wang Linlin asked, puzzled.

"I was just curious. I remember in the first year of high school, when we were deskmates, you kept folding paper, saying you were going to give it to someone you liked." Song Mingyuan smiled. "Thinking back now, you were so girlish back then, hahaha..."

"Don't laugh. I stopped doing this kind of thing a long time ago." Wang Linlin was a little annoyed by Song Mingyuan's grinning face.

"Why didn't you fold them anymore? I remember you used to be quite enthusiastic about this." Song Mingyuan asked, puzzled.

"I've found someone I like, and I've already sent out those paper stars," Wang Linlin said calmly.

“Really…” Song Mingyuan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “Then congratulations.”

"And you?" Wang Linlin asked, "Are you still obsessed with your virtual girl?"

“Of course!” Song Mingyuan nodded. “My wife and I love each other every day.”

“Idiot…” Wang Linlin muttered.

"But I didn't expect you to become the head of the news agency, considering you seemed a bit slow back then," Song Mingyuan said with a carefree laugh.

“Yes!” Wang Linlin raised her eyebrows. “After all, I can’t compare to you, who is talented at everything and is always appreciated by others. I climbed to the position of regimental commander, but I had to put in several times the effort of an ordinary person to achieve that. Are you satisfied now?”

"Uh, I didn't mean anything by it." Song Mingyuan realized that he had touched a sore spot again.

"Never mind," Wang Linlin waved her hand and said quietly, "I'm actually very jealous of you..."

"Huh!?" Song Mingyuan was taken aback.

“You’re very smart, and you always strive for improvement in everything you do. Those words of dislike towards you were just me saying them out of anger, because I can’t do what you do, which is why I was jealous of you.” Wang Linlin paused. “After joining the news agency, I couldn’t get any recognition from my seniors no matter what I did. Maybe it was because I was too stubborn? But after putting in more effort, I finally gained their approval and got to where I am today…”

Wang Linlin looked at Song Mingyuan seriously and said, "That's why I can't agree with your club's plan. If I did, wouldn't that prove that all my efforts have been in vain?"

After listening, Song Mingyuan remained silent for a while, then said, "I'm telling you, are you very sad that you're not appreciated by your seniors at the news agency?"

"Of course I'm sad, but I worked much harder than everyone else," Wang Linlin said with certainty.

“What you’re doing now, just like your predecessors, is hurting the enthusiasm of the younger generation, and they will be saddened.” Song Mingyuan paused and said, “Although my juniors in the club are not working well together right now, I believe in them, so I will take into account many of their opinions instead of restricting them and making it difficult for them to run.”

"You seem quite proud of your younger colleagues..." Wang Linlin said casually.

"Of course! I almost committed a crime to get them all together..." Song Mingyuan said with a wry smile. "Lin Nianwei is the smartest and most analytical among my juniors. She is the strategist of the club. Zhou Han seems like a fool, but he has a delicate side to his personality. Moreover, he acts faster than he thinks, which often brings surprises. Miyazaki Airi is the most meticulous among them. She is the key link and lubricant connecting the entire club."

"Did you forget to say one?" Wang Linlin reminded her.

"You mean Lilith..." Song Mingyuan frowned and thought for a moment, "Her thoughts are too scattered; it's impossible to know what she's thinking. Her position is difficult to pinpoint, but..."

“After I leave, they will all become the backbone of the club, and I sincerely believe in them.” Song Mingyuan smiled happily. “So I also hope that you can believe in your juniors, because after we leave, they will be the masters of the club, and it’s time to let go.”

Wang Linlin fell silent, as if she was thinking, but it was unclear what she was thinking.

"Do you think I'm wrong to uphold the club's ideals?" Wang Linlin's tone revealed no emotional fluctuation.

“That’s right, but your perspective is too narrow.” Song Mingyuan looked up at the darkening sky and said, “I don’t think I did anything wrong in reforming the club, because I continued the club’s spirit, just changing the mode of expression from literature. My senior once said that the club is just a shell. As long as the members are happy, it’s a club no matter where it is. That’s the spirit of the club, and it applies to everyone…”

Wang Linlin didn't speak, but kept her head down in silence, fiddling with her fingers in a troubled manner.

After a while, she looked up, wanting to say something, but saw Song Mingyuan holding up the project plan and looking at her.

"This is your request, and I think our Seigaku Agency has completed it." Song Mingyuan adjusted his glasses.

Wang Linlin stretched her hand out into the air and hesitated for a moment.

“Your efforts all this time have not been in vain. Haven’t you just secured an opportunity for them? An opportunity to change the club.” Song Mingyuan paused and said seriously, “I think your seniors left the club to you because they wanted to give you a stage to let go of your stubbornness.”

Wang Linlin let out a long sigh, took the plan, and seemed to have made a great decision.

"Should I say thank you?" Wang Linlin asked, looking at the proposal in her hand.

"No need for that, we've been deskmates for a long time." Song Mingyuan smiled and scratched his head.

"Really..." Wang Linlin, clutching the proposal, got up to leave. Halfway there, she turned back to look at Song Mingyuan, her eyes darting away, and said, "Um... I..."

"Wait!" Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Song Mingyuan quickly called out, "Don't tell me you like me right now, I don't know how to answer you..."

"Aren't you being a bit too narcissistic? That's not what I wanted to say..." Wang Linlin sighed, then continued, "I wanted to ask you, do you still have the rabbit plush toy I gave you?"

Song Mingyuan thought for a moment and said, "Of course it is. I've kept it safe. I keep that doll with my wives."

"Is that so..." Wang Linlin didn't turn around this time and left directly.

But she thought to herself—

So he really did keep that doll safe...

Chapter Thirty-Five: Love Within the Doll

Two years ago, Wang Linlin was selected to attend this high school after passing the high school entrance examination.

Full of hope, she wished to create unforgettable memories at this school.

When Wang Linlin received her acceptance letter from Jinteng Academy, she was genuinely happy because she was not particularly smart and her grades were average, but she was still very lucky to be accepted.

Being in a strange new environment made her a little nervous, because she didn't know anyone at this school; her friends from elementary and middle school were all in different places.

This is something that gives Wang Linlin a headache, as she has always thought that socializing is a troublesome thing.

After arriving at her new class, Wang Linlin quietly found a corner to sit down. She looked around at the people and thought to herself, "Although everyone seems to know each other well, we probably don't really know each other, right? Why do we have to act like we've known each other for a long time?"

"Oh~" Song Mingyuan walked over, pointed to the person next to Wang Linlin, and said with a smile, "There are no seats left, can my classmate sit next to you?"

Although Song Mingyuan was asking questions, he had already sat down without hesitation.

That was the first time the two met, and Wang Linlin's impression of Song Mingyuan was that he was extremely shameless.

As soon as Song Mingyuan sat down, he took out a lot of figurines of various shapes and sizes and placed them on the table, completely ignoring the surprised looks from those around him.

Wang Linlin frowned as she looked at this strange man, wanting to ask Song Mingyuan to move to another seat, but she was too embarrassed to speak up.

When introducing themselves, Wang Linlin gave a very brief self-introduction, but when Song Mingyuan went on stage, he showed off a T-shirt with his wife printed on it and kept promoting something that was inexplicable.

"Doesn't he feel ashamed?" Wang Linlin thought to herself.

After the self-introduction, it was revealed that Song Mingyuan ranked third in the city in the high school entrance examination. This shocked almost everyone, because everyone thought that this shut-in was just an inconspicuous person. They did not expect him to be a top student.

He's just a shameless shut-in, only a little smart. That was Wang Linlin's first impression of Song Mingyuan, though it included a hint of jealousy.

From the moment Wang Linlin and Song Mingyuan sat together, they seemed to be caught in a vicious cycle, sitting side by side for a whole year. They changed seats quite a few times during that time, but they always ended up sitting together in a strange way.

Regarding this matter, Song Mingyuan believes it was simply fate.

Wang Linlin did not respond to this view.

But it's clear she really wants to stay far away from Song Ming, as for the reason—

In Wang Linlin's eyes, Song Mingyuan was simply a monster, because this guy seemed to have talent in every aspect.

It's hard for many people to accept that they can do better than those who work hard without putting in the effort, right?

Therefore, Wang Linlin was hostile to Song Mingyuan from the beginning and disliked his lazy style.

Although Song Mingyuan happily shared his knowledge about staying at home with Wang Linlin every day, unfortunately she didn't remember any of it, or perhaps she simply didn't want to remember.

Before she knew it, Wang Linlin had become accustomed to Song Mingyuan's constant chatter, and her impression of him had gradually changed, but she couldn't remember when it started.

The first time was probably in the first semester of my first year of high school. It started snowing lightly outside. That year, winter came much earlier than usual, and the temperature dropped sharply. Many people didn't have time to change into their winter clothes.

Wang Linlin was waiting for her friend to go home together outside the teaching building. Because it was very cold, her face was red from the cold. She kept stamping her feet, breathing on them and rubbing her hands, looking a bit disheveled.

"Hey deskmate, are you waiting for someone?" Song Mingyuan walked out of the teaching building, ready to go home.

Wang Linlin turned around and saw Song Mingyuan dressed like a dumpling. She immediately felt a little angry. She thought to herself, "I'm shivering from the cold. Is he showing off by wearing so much to talk to me?"

“Yes!” Wang Linlin replied irritably.

"You look cold, but I'm very hot right now, hahaha!" Song Mingyuan laughed heartlessly.

Looking at Song Mingyuan's obsequious behavior, Wang Linlin felt a surge of anger, which also dispelled much of her chill.

“This is not funny at all…” Wang Linlin said angrily.

"I know, hehe." Song Mingyuan grinned, took off his cotton gloves, handed them to Wang Linlin, and said, "You should wear these, they might make you feel better."

Wang Linlin looked at the cotton gloves and hesitated because it was really cold. She really wanted to wear them, but what could she do?

"Aren't you cold?" Wang Linlin asked.

“It’s not cold at all, I’m even sweating.” Song Mingyuan paused and said, “Besides, my home is close by, I’ll be home soon.”

Hearing him say that, Wang Linlin felt relieved, took the cotton gloves, and said, "Then I won't be polite."

“Well then…” Song Mingyuan waved and left. “See you tomorrow.”

Wang Linlin waved goodbye, watching Song Mingyuan's retreating figure, thinking to herself, "Even though he lives in another world, he still cares about girls..."

Wearing the gloves, Wang Linlin could still feel the lingering warmth inside, which touched her heart inexplicably.

The next day, Wang Linlin learned that Song Mingyuan's home was not close to the school.

Seeing Song Mingyuan scratching his hands incessantly, Wang Linlin realized that he might have frostbite, but she didn't know what to say.

At that time, Wang Linlin's attitude towards Song Mingyuan gradually changed, and she gradually discovered many of his good qualities.

She herself didn't realize that she was inexplicably concerned about Song Mingyuan's affairs, and would occasionally steal a glance at him.

But when Wang Linlin realized she had fallen for Song Mingyuan, it was a completely different story—

Wang Linlin served as the class's life committee member in her first year of high school, and she was in charge of almost all the class's finances.

One day, the homeroom teacher asked for the class funds to purchase some hygiene products.

Wang Linlin hurriedly searched every corner of her seat, but couldn't find it.

Under the pressure of the entire class's gaze, Wang Linlin was very anxious.

She has realized that she lost the class funds, which is a very serious dereliction of duty for a student life committee member.

Wang Linlin's meticulous nature made it difficult for her to forgive herself. What was most frightening was that her classmates were whispering among themselves, wondering if she had embezzled the class funds.

This was the first time in Wang Linlin's life that she had truly felt the power of public opinion. When the power of language accumulates to a certain level, it can completely crush a person from the inside out.

Faced with public pressure, Wang Linlin didn't know how to defend herself and could only silently endure it. She clutched the hem of her skirt tightly, head down, listening to her classmates' discussions, lost in thought...

Song Mingyuan looked up at his deskmate. He couldn't believe that Wang Linlin would do something like embezzling.

Song Mingyuan stood up, adjusted his glasses, and said with a smile, "Oh, I secretly took the class funds because my wife's new figurine came out, and I was short of money, so... hahaha..."

The students were shocked by Song Mingyuan's words, but since he had already come forward to admit it, no one refuted him; they simply expressed their contempt and distanced themselves from him.