I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

Feng Rongqing said he had already mentioned me to his cousin, so he would wait at the school gate after school. However, looking at the junior high school students returning home from school, no one was looking around at the gate, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

Did I arrive too early... or did I find the wrong school? All sorts of doubts piled up in my mind, but my thoughts seemed to be interrupted. I just stared blankly at the students who kept leaving the school gate.

"...Are you the person...whom my sister introduced to me?"

"..."

The guy coming straight toward me from the crowded school gate was slightly shorter than me. He wasn't exactly handsome, but he was still considered attractive. There was a hint of distrust in his eyes, and his tone of voice was quite casual... He didn't even offer a greeting, nor did he even bother to add a "you."

"I was indeed asked by your sister to help you."

Although I didn't give his sister's name to confirm, I don't think it's possible to find the wrong person.

"...But you... don't look like someone who could make multiple girls crazy about you." He couldn't help but frown in suspicion. "I thought you were more... handsome or more coquettish."

"If it's all about looks, then I don't have any theories to teach you. I can't share my looks with you—someone like me can make girls fall for me through tricks, and that's more convincing, isn't it?"

This guy is still too young after all, and he can't even understand this kind of logic.

"Oh... makes sense." He nodded in agreement. "Then I will respectfully address you as 'Master'."

Regarding this very abrupt decision of becoming his disciple, he suddenly reminded me of someone.

"You can call me whatever you want—the most urgent thing now is for me to see the girl you want to pursue with my own eyes, so I can judge how to pursue her. As the saying goes, you know your enemy and you know yourself—well, I guess you've done some research on this, right? You should have looked up her home address, right?"

Although this behavior isn't something worth emulating...well, it shouldn't matter.

"Well...I know that. If you want to meet her, I can take you there right now."

"Oh, that would be great."

.........

"Master, you've dated so many girlfriends, aren't you afraid they'll find out?"

I was actually asked such a difficult question. Logically, I shouldn't have to face such a situation... But since Feng Rongqing is praising me like a god of strategy, I might as well put on some impressive presence to bluff people.

"...Though these words aren't very nice." I coughed lightly twice. "I feel like I'm the only one in the world who can bring them happiness, so I'm doing this seemingly philandering thing... But in reality, I just want them to be happy. It doesn't matter if they're discovered. They like me, and with my mediation, they'll definitely get along very well."

"...Such remarks...truly worthy of being a master of love." He gave me a thumbs up.

"But if you truly like someone, you must treat them with all your heart. Although there is no relationship in the world that is perfect at first glance, but..."

but.

The feeling of liking someone won't change easily. Even if a long time has passed, even if there's a huge distance between us. But if you like someone to that extent, you won't let go easily even if you're rejected.

"But what is it? Master..."

"No, nothing..." I shook my head, letting my emotions get in the way. "Rather than that, tell me a little bit about the girl you like."

"Eh? Is that what you want to talk about?"

"Of course... Why do you like her? What's her personality like? Does she have any hobbies? I need information. The more I know about her, the better my strategy will be."

A certain god once said that it is the same to treat girls in real life as a game and try to capture them.

"But... saying this to someone you just met is too..."

"Opportunities are fleeting," I said, patting his shoulder. "Besides, you don't want your feelings to go unexpressed, do you?"

Although I am not 100% sure.

"...I understand." He seemed to have made up his mind, "Then I will tell you everything I know now."

.........

Something seems to be wrong.

"...Um...and then..."

Watching him chattering endlessly about the girl he liked, I vaguely sensed something was different. No, it seemed like it couldn't be explained simply as "different."

"She... is..."

The girl he liked seemed quite familiar from his descriptions. So familiar that he could almost see the corresponding person in his own experience...but his memory seemed to be blocked by something, and he couldn't recall anything from before.

"Master! Master! Are you listening? Hello!"

"...Ah." I realized I was distracted. "Of course I heard that. I was just thinking of a solution."

"Is that so? Then do you think I can succeed?"

"That's not impossible." I thought about it, "But are you sure you want to date a bad girl? It should be easier to find a decent girl, and the difficulty might not be too high."

...What's going on? I always feel that this mood is inexplicably familiar.

"She just looks like a delinquent on the outside...and her actions are a little bit like delinquent, that's all. But...actually, she's a very good girl at heart, I know that!"

“…”

Nothing is more convincing than a teenage boy blushing and saying that he really likes the girl and can accept everything about her.

"Oh? Then how did you know that?"

I asked back in a feigned indifference.

"...I've had some conversations with her." He turned his gaze to the side. "I know she likes sweets, is kind, and is afraid of being alone. She just pretends to be bad and hangs out with others. But that's simply because she doesn't know what to do... But I think if my relationship with her improves... I'll be in a position to convince her."

"..."

What's going on with this feeling... It seems like I've had it before, long, long ago. I just kept it hidden in my heart, never revealing it to anyone.

"...I can convince her to do what she likes instead of wasting her youth on such meaningless things. I want to see her do what she likes...I hope she can find her own happiness. Even if she doesn't like me that much in the end, I don't care..."

Even if he doesn't like it, it doesn't matter... Is that what he thinks...

"...So, you don't plan on dating her?"

"I didn't say that at first." He looked at me calmly. "Dating... that kind of thing would only restrict her from doing what she wants. I just want to be closer to her, that's all."

"..."

What am I hesitating about?

"Won't you regret it?"

"What are you regretting?"

"You did so much for her, and she's dating someone else."

"...That's not something I need to think about."

"..."

"Don't you like her?"

"...I'm different from you." He suddenly laughed. "I like to see her happy smile. But I don't want to own her entire life... That would be too selfish."

“…”

"I don't have your confidence... To be honest, I don't think I can bring happiness to anyone. I can only guide that person to find their own..."

"enough!"

That's enough...

"Master?...What's wrong with you?"

“…”

What the hell is going on... I've never experienced this before. Why is it so intense? Even my heart aches.

Damn it, damn it, it’s so troublesome, so troublesome.

"...I see."

"Eh?"

"Since this is what you seek, I will fully satisfy your request."

I won't care about the rest.

The dust settled

混乱

The city is becoming quiet as night falls.

Compared to the summer heat of just a few months ago, which only gradually dissipated after nightfall, the chilly wind that lingers on the streets now steadily sapped everyone's warmth. People, desperate to escape the heat, have already returned home early, watching TV programs to pass the time, checking the news, and waiting for the day to end.

Waiting for tomorrow to come. Day after day, year after year.

In this endless cycle, cities everywhere are changing. Huge buildings made of reinforced concrete divide the sky, creating a sense of insignificance for those looking up from below. It is this sense of insignificance that drives people to climb ever higher.

Among these giant buildings, most of which have similar shapes, what is slightly different is the church-like place built in the European style.

Although the young man remembered this building as having existed long ago, he had never seen anyone praying here, nor had he ever seen the dark, metallic, chilling door open. In short, this place felt both strange and familiar to him.

“…”

The young man, who was supposed to be walking towards his home, seemed to be attracted by this building that looked dark and solemn under the night sky, and his footsteps were involuntarily stepped onto the steps paved with unknown stones.

He had nothing to pray for, nor did he have any desires... Compared to those around him, his competitive spirit was quite low, sometimes even to the point of making others anxious for him.

The surroundings were completely silent, so quiet that he could hear his own footsteps and his increasingly nervous heartbeat. However, the young man continued to walk, gradually approaching the gate.

Keep getting closer and closer, until you can touch it with your hand.

As expected, the cold sensation reached the young man's consciousness as his fingers moved. He didn't dislike the touch, but he certainly didn't like the temperature. He simply touched it a few times before shoving his now-cold hand into his pocket. Then, with his back to the door, he leaned against it.

"Boom-"

The back of his head accidentally banged against the door. The dull thud echoed through the door into the empty space. However, the young man paid no attention to the sound, knowing full well that no one was inside. Since his head didn't hurt, he didn't care.

But he suddenly felt very tired.

Too tired to walk home, too tired to pull out his phone to call someone he knew to pick him up, too tired to do anything. Anyway, he just walked along the gate and sat down outside the building, straining to watch the streetlights gradually light up.

The warmth from the meal he had just eaten allowed him to temporarily ignore the chilly wind that still passed by. After putting his hat on, he drowsily closed his eyes. Fatigue, as if impatient, quickly spread throughout his body.

The night that had already fallen also merged it with the building, as if it was supposed to be so.

The hustle and bustle of the world, the quarrels and fun of people, the flickering lights of buildings... the moment he closed his eyes and ignored them, they no longer had anything to do with him.

At this moment, perhaps the only thing he could feel was the silence as dead as death.

Chapter 1 Chaos

"What else do you want?"

After knocking on the door of Feng Rongqing's studio, I raised my questions in a very rude manner.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

She looked like she had just woken up. She didn't have any hair accessories on her hair, and there was toothpaste foam at the corners of her mouth. She was standing in front of me with a cup and a toothbrush in her hands, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"...I've already helped your cousin...but his request was completely different from the conditions you gave me. So I can guess...you must have other requests, right? It doesn't matter, no matter how many, I can respond and I can agree to anything."

I've already guessed this. So it can't be wrong... I'm only one step away from knowing her whereabouts. There's no way I'm giving up.

"What are you talking about... Do I recognize you?" She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at my face as if seriously, stunned for a moment. "I still don't recognize you, but this school uniform looks very familiar. You go to the same school as me. So, who are you, classmate?"

"Are you kidding me?" I was clearly being sincere, but she still had the nerve to say that to me. "I'm quite serious! If you don't have any questions, you can just tell me about her."

"Is this a new way to pick up girls?" Her eyes were full of doubt. "I don't really dislike this form, but you should at least find a time, right? It's already too late for class..."

"Please stop teasing me. I beg you." I said, clasping my hands together in front of her. "Now that you've had enough fun, it's time to tell me about her, right?"

"...She? Who? You got the wrong person, didn't you?" She pointed at herself. "By the way, do you know my name?"

Is this the same trick again? It's a little later than I thought.

"Of course I know, you are Feng Rongqing."

At this time, she would definitely pretend to be stupid and say that she is not.

"...I'm not. You really have the wrong person." She showed a helpless expression, "Okay, okay, I haven't finished brushing my teeth yet..."

"Stop pretending, you...you were just saying yesterday that you knew everything about me and that you wanted me to help you solve the problems with your cousin and brother."