After being attacked by the rich young ladies with hatchets, I chose to enter "sage mode".

"No...it's just...can't friends really stay together forever?"

Looking at Su Rongxue's pitiful and adorable expression, Xia Rong thought that only this girl could ask such a question.

"Friends will always part ways eventually, but as long as we remember each other and keep in touch when we have time, that's enough. After all, we'll all go our separate ways in the future, either with our careers or our families. We can't stay together forever. Why would you, silly girl, ask such a question?"

Listening to Xia Rong's soft explanation, Su Rongxue knew perfectly well; she just didn't want to know.

"I...I understand."

After giving a weak reply, Su Rongxue seemed to have made up her mind. She took out a small notebook, secretly wrote a string of words, folded it up, and gave it to Bai Yu during the first break of evening self-study.

Bai Yu, half asleep and half awake, took the note Su Rongxue handed her, glanced at it, and then went back to sleep.

This girl only wrote one sentence.

"Wait for me after evening self-study."

It was a very simple sentence, which Bai Yu, who was dozing off, didn't take to heart at all, and didn't even think much of it. (Chapter 238: Not Wanting to Be Friends)

The evening study session passed incredibly quickly, especially since Bai Yu was dozing off and no one was watching her.

As soon as evening self-study ended, Bai Yu's first reaction was to rush back to the dormitory to play a couple of games and then go to sleep. She was exhausted after the day.

However, just as Bai Yu was about to leave with Li Cheng and the other two, he suddenly felt a crumpled piece of paper in his palm. This reminded him of his promise to Su Rongxue, who had asked him to wait for her after evening self-study.

Thinking about this, Bai Yu finally began to wonder why the girl had asked him to stay and wait for a while.

Logically speaking, there shouldn't be anything between me and Su Rongxue that requires us to talk privately, right?

However, Bai Yu didn't leave. Instead, she let Li Cheng and the other two go first, while she sat in the classroom and waited.

After all, Su Rongxue is a simple girl. As a friend, it's better to wait.

Bai Yu sat in the last row of the classroom and did not leave. Su Rongxue sat in the front row and did nothing. Xia Rong had already left before her.

Just as most of the students in the classroom had left, Su Rongxue closed her book, stood up awkwardly, and looked in Bai Yu's direction.

At this moment, Bai Yu was still playing games with her head down, showing no sign of being in a hurry.

As she walked up to Bai Yu, Su Rongxue appeared somewhat nervous and reserved, her slight biting of her lip making her seem even more delicate.

"Bai...Bai Yu..."

With a soft call, Bai Yu looked up and saw Su Rongxue with her hands clasped together in front of her lower abdomen, looking at her nervously.

"Why did you ask me to wait a moment?"

Bai Yu, on the other hand, felt that Su Rongxue's timid and nervous demeanor was quite normal.

After all, this girl always seemed to be so gentle, weak, and easily pushed over in front of him.

Can we talk outside?

Su Rongxue didn't seem to want to talk about it in the classroom, since there were several classmates present, and she just couldn't bring herself to say it.

Bai Yu didn't see anything wrong with Su Rongxue's request. It was good to go out, and it would be convenient to get back to the dormitory after they finished talking.

"Okay, take all your textbooks with you. If you need anything, just tell us and hurry back to your dorm."

Hearing Bai Yu's calm words, Su Rongxue nodded obediently, looking just like a well-behaved kitten.

Holding two or three textbooks, each about three centimeters thick, Su Rongxue followed Bai Yu out of the classroom.

The weather at the end of February was still very cold. The cold wind at night always seemed to find a way in and seep into the gaps in your clothes if you weren't careful, making you shiver with cold.

The two walked together to the corner on the first floor. Bai Yu exhaled a breath of warm air, rubbed her hands, and turned around. Before she could even speak, Su Rongxue bumped into her.

"Ah~"

With a soft gasp, Su Rongxue looked up at Bai Yu with a mix of embarrassment and shyness. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed Bai Yu had stopped.

"Alright, we're already on the first floor. Just say what you need to say, or I'm going back."

Bai Yu didn't have any particular opinion on Su Rongxue's clumsiness; in fact, it was just Su Rongxue's personality.

When Bai Yu told her to speak up if she had anything to say, Su Rongxue forgot how to express herself, even though she had prepared her answer.

He stammered and lowered his head, unable to utter a single word for a long time. Only his small hands, clutching the textbook, tightened their grip due to nervousness and timidity.

Seeing Su Rongxue with her head down, unable to utter a single word for a long time, Bai Yu felt helpless and leaned against the wall behind her with her arms crossed, saying softly.

"If I don't know what to say, then I really have to go. It's getting late."

Bai Yu's urging not only failed to elicit any response from Su Rongxue, but also made her even more nervous.

In her haste, the girl could only express the general idea she wanted to convey.

"Can...can we not be friends...?"

A hesitant and timid voice came from Su Rongxue's small mouth. Bai Yu was stunned when he heard it. Could Su Rongxue really say that she didn't want to be his friend?

Bai Yu's first reaction was that Su Rongxue wanted to break off their friendship. Looking at her nervous and timid appearance, Bai Yu became even more certain of this.

"Don't you want to be friends?"

Bai Yu asked a question with some uncertainty, but remained calm.

Su Rongxue didn't know what to say next, so she just nodded obediently.

Bai Yu never expected that Su Rongxue would break off their friendship with him in this state. However, he wasn't really that affected by it.

I was just a little surprised that Su Rongxue could say such a thing. Given this girl's personality, she shouldn't want to break off friendships with anyone. Wasn't it her idea to become friends in the first place?

However, he will respect Su Rongxue's choice, which will not do him any harm. After all, his original intention and purpose was to keep his distance from Su Rongxue.

"Fine, if you don't want to be friends anymore, then delete all our contact information. If you don't want to delete it yourself, I'll be the bad guy."

Bai Yu appeared very open-minded, but Su Rongxue didn't mean it that way at all; she completely misunderstood his words about not being friends.

"No...no, that's not what I meant, I meant..."

Facing Bai Yu, Su Rongxue was already somewhat timid, and now, her already tense emotions were compounded by a sense of panic, making her even more unable to express herself in words.

Seeing Su Rongxue's anxious expression and lack of words, Bai Yu had no idea what the girl was trying to say. He couldn't understand Su Rongxue either, so he could only frown and ask in confusion.

"So what do you mean?"

As soon as Bai Yu said this, Su Rongxue dropped her textbook, opened her small arms and hugged Bai Yu. Her face was as red as a ripe apple, almost as if it were about to bleed.

Su Rongxue buried her head in Bai Yu's arms, her small hands tightly gripping his clothes, and whispered something in a voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't like being friends..."

Bai Yu didn't quite understand this sentence before, but how could she not understand it now? Damn it, not being friends doesn't mean leaving her world, but rather wanting to take things a step further!

As Bai Yu lowered his head, he was about to pull Su Rongxue's small hands away from him when he noticed that the girl's fair hands were trembling involuntarily due to nervousness, as if she was afraid of being rejected.

No matter how reluctant Bai Yu was, she couldn't take things any further with Su Rongxue. Taking that step would lead to an abyss. Chapter 239 Reluctant but Must Reject (Monthly Bonus 23)

Although seeing Su Rongxue's obviously nervous and timid appearance made it hard to refuse.

However, Bai Yu couldn't be completely sure that Su Rongxue's intention was exactly what he was thinking, although the possibility was very small.

To avoid any misunderstanding, Bai Yu asked a question with some uncertainty.

"Su Rongxue, what exactly do you mean?"

Upon hearing Bai Yu's words, Su Rongxue tightly gripped Bai Yu's sleeve and replied shyly and gently.

"Together forever."

Five simple words, yet Bai Yu was at a loss for words to answer.

Although the answer seemed to be confirmed, he didn't want to accept it.

Why did this girl suddenly like me for no reason? Now she's even expressed her feelings, albeit clumsily, but somehow she's incredibly cute. What's up with that?

Reaching out, Bai Yu gently pulled Su Rongxue's small hand away. There was no way Bai Yu could have that kind of relationship with Su Rongxue.

In my previous life, it was this kind of relationship that led to the unbelievable price I paid later on.

Therefore, he absolutely does not want to repeat the same mistakes in this relationship, nor is it possible for him to do so.

"Don't say things like 'forever together,' or you'll cause a lot of misunderstandings."

Bai Yu was rejecting Su Rongxue, but in a rather tactful way, perhaps because she couldn't bring herself to be too blunt.

But Su Rongxue's expression clearly showed a pitiful and helpless look because of Bai Yu's words.

"Is it not allowed?"

With her lips slightly bitten, who could resist Su Rongxue's pitiful appearance?

But Bai Yu is truly different. It's impossible not to refuse her; the psychological trauma is there. If she doesn't refuse directly, the outcome is hard to predict.

Moreover, there's Si Yu, who seems to have a split personality. If this girl finds out, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Therefore, from any perspective, Bai Yu could not possibly agree to Su Rongxue's request.

"No."

Although she spoke with great conviction, Bai Yu's tone was not as aloof as usual.

But does this have anything to do with being aloof or not?

Upon hearing these three words, Su Rongxue felt very uncomfortable. She reached out and tugged at Bai Yu's clothes, speaking stubbornly and aggrievedly.

"Can't I be very obedient and not throw tantrums?"

To be honest, Bai Yu was momentarily moved by those soft, weak, and somewhat aggrieved words.

But reason should always come first. If you knowingly take on a task despite knowing the potential consequences, it's no different from courting death.

If all I want is to live a healthy life, then no matter how well-behaved and cute Su Rongxue is, I have to refuse her, even if it means making her cry.

"It's impossible no matter what. I have no intention of having that kind of relationship with anyone. Although you are indeed very likable, you shouldn't be looking for me. Find someone who knows how to cherish you better."

Su Rongxue's already fragile heart felt as if it had been violently ripped apart, causing her pain, discomfort, and even a slow rise of an impulse to destroy what she could not have.

"I really will be very obedient. If you're worried about not being able to afford to support me, I... I can eat less... no, I mean I won't eat snacks. I can hand over my allowance. I'll be a good boy and listen to you..."

With tears welling up in her eyes and a slightly choked voice, she said to Bai Yu, "Perhaps Su Rongxue has really fallen in love with Bai Yu."

But Bai Yu really didn't dare to have too many expectations of this girl. She was a combination of angel and devil, and he knew the dangers involved better than anyone.