Will the plagiarism girl be a substitute for the preference for women?

"Cough...I've come...seeking salvation."

She did things that Xiang could never have imagined doing.

"Also, it replaces Xianglai... as a form of redemption."

Would Xiang ever think that I am that kind of person?

"Don't seek salvation like this!" Chizuru said through gritted teeth. "You deserve to be loved, not to torture yourself like this!"

"If physical pain could replace mental pain..."

Mu freed one hand and pulled down China's left sleeve, revealing a series of scars.

"It was you who mentioned it to me, cough...".

Do not……

??No!

Taking advantage of the moment when Muteng made her move, China immediately pulled her hand away from Muteng's neck and hugged her tightly, not giving her any chance to do so again.

beep??

China's phone rang; the caller was Aine.

"I'll be quiet," Mutsu whispered, leaning on China's shoulder.

"Okay, okay, Xiao Mu is such a good girl." Qian Nai breathed heavily as she slowly took out her phone.

"China, how about we go to the arcade tonight?"

"Okay, send me the address..."

After ending the call, China loosened her grip on Mutsu's arm, but Mutsu put it back down.

"Give me another hug."

"Mmm, give me another hug..." China gently patted Mutsu's back.

Chapter 193 Do Not Imitate

When we embrace each other in harmony, fragments of memories pile up, crashing into our minds like a massive, heavy object at tremendous speed.

These memories collided with her original thoughts, causing Chinai's mind to momentarily go blank.

A familiar feeling... just like that time I came to my mother's bedroom.

This is part of the memories of Moon Forest, including several communications with Souyo and Mutsu.

It wasn't much; the original owner had basically explained the situation beforehand. Su Shi was always pestering him, and Mu was forced to become the go-between for the two of them.

However, once the content changes from "retelling" to "memory", the sense of immersion becomes even deeper.

No... there's something the original owner didn't mention??

About six months ago, after lunch one day, China returned to find a milk tea "mysteriously" on her desk again.

The students couldn't help but be curious about this man who was not talkative but often received gifts from others.

Amidst the murmurs, China, carrying her milk tea and clenching her fists, strode over to another classroom.

However, the person she was looking for was not there; only a blue-haired girl was sitting quietly reading a book.

Chika placed the milk tea on Muku's table: "Please tell Su Shi to stop bothering me."

"you can……"

Mu stopped turning the page, and a piece of paper floated diagonally in mid-air.

Since Su Shi met someone who looked similar to He Xiang, and because their interactions were not smooth, passing on messages between them has become a part of Mu's life.

Because Mu was an "accomplice" in Crychic's disbandment, she naturally helped Su Shi deliver a message as "atonement."

When Su Shi tries to contact China via LINE to ask her out, she always refuses or ignores him. However, if Mutsu suggests something like "the three of us go shopping" in his own name, the success rate increases significantly.

Sometimes, Mu gets tired of this life of relaying messages.

After successfully arranging a meeting with China, she would receive praise and affirmation from Su Shi, and she would continue to shine brightly.

However, Su Shi had some thoughts of wanting both.

"Speaking of which, every time I ask Mu to ask Chika out, she's pretty likely to agree... Could it be that Chika has feelings for Mu?"

“That’s not how it is,” Mutsu shook his head. “China said she wouldn’t refuse my request just because she didn’t want to see you, because that would only drag you into this.”

Su Shi frowned: "Her relationship with you is obviously unusual. Could it really be that Xiao Xiang changed his name?"

Mu remained silent for two reasons: first, she always believed that she was just a mouthpiece among the three; second, if she denied that Qiannai was Xiangzi, she would fall into the trap of being questioned by Su Shi about where Xiangzi was.

Coming to her senses, she noticed that the pages of the book, which had been half-floating in the air, had been turned over by a gentle breeze. Without showing any impatience, Qian Nai left abruptly.

"What were you trying to say?" China asked, straddling her legs and sitting backwards in the seat in front of her.

"Could you... tell Su Shi yourself?" Mu asked, glancing sideways.

"I've told her several times not to send me anything, but it's no use."

China clicked her tongue in puzzlement.

"Why don't you drink it?"

"I..." Mu seemed to be in a dilemma again.

"When Su Shi sees it, just say it's a gift from me."

“Please…” Mu pursed her lips, “Don’t use me as a tool.”

China was taken aback for a moment, then said coldly, "Haven't you been a tool for Su Shi and her family all along?"

Mu lowered his eyes slightly and remained silent.

"If you don't want to be controlled by others, you can resort to some extreme methods, but I don't recommend you do that."

China said that, but left the milk tea behind and took it with her when she got up.

"What method is it?" Mu followed and tugged at China's left sleeve.

"...!" China instinctively swung her arm forward, pulling her sleeve up tightly.

Mutsu shuddered, realizing that she had unknowingly made some intimate gestures towards China.

She is not Xiang...

Although Xiang is now like a hedgehog, he cannot be touched.

"I'm sorry." Mu bowed her head.

"No, it's just that I can't stop talking nonsense again."

Chika had her back to Mutsu, her left sleeve tightly clenched.

"In short, you and Su Shi shouldn't contact me for the next few days."

After saying that, she hurriedly left the classroom.

Mutsu was familiar with this; China had given the same warning last time. Despite this, Sue went to find China without hesitation, only to find her angrily locking the classroom door as soon as she arrived. A day or two later, she heard that China was hospitalized.

Mutsuya belatedly realized that there was another reason why China was so sensitive to contact that wasn't exactly physical.

……

Another memory comes from after school a few days later.

Having learned her lesson, Su Shi naturally didn't go looking for China.

Or rather, it was after Mutsumi told him that "China was planning to give me the milk tea" that he started arguing with China.

Then, she actually brought Mutsu a cup of milk tea, and casually led Mutsu past China's classroom, trying to make China jealous.

Mu occasionally benefits from this, receiving care from the world, though this is not enough to compensate for the lack of love in the family.

What must one do to avoid being controlled or treated as a tool?

Will I receive genuine care after doing that?

Mutsu often reminisces about what China said, including this day.

After she and Su Shi went downstairs, she said goodbye to Su Shi, citing a ballet class she had at her club.

But Mu didn't go to the club; instead, after Su Shi walked away, he went back upstairs.

She carried the milk tea, which she had barely drunk, to Qiannai's classroom.

She saw that there was no one around the classroom, and China was lying on her side on the table with her left hand in the drawer.

The afternoon sun cast Mutsu's shadow, which China quickly noticed.

But instead of jumping up in surprise, she slowly turned around, her face showing exhaustion and fear.

"Why did you come to me?"

"I want to know..." Mu seemed to smell a bloody odor, which made her nervous.

The dim, slanting sunlight outlined half of China's face, and the shadowy light added a touch of aloofness to her features.

It could also be a physical phenomenon of a cold complexion.

"You want to know? If physical pain could replace mental pain..."

“The mental pain feels like it’s released along with the wound being opened; in reality, it’s transferred to the people around you.”

Do you want to be a bad person like me?

"I..." Threatening my loved ones with self-harm is an extremely emotionally damaging thing for Mu.

She dared not take another step forward to peek, and quietly walked out the door.

After Mutsu left, China lowered her head to the drawer opening and raised her left arm.

"hiss……"

Below the left arm, there were several thick layers of tissues, with drops of blood dripping onto them, leaving mottled marks.

…………

just now.

"Xiao Mu, my legs are a little numb."

"Hmm..." Mutsu obediently got off China.

"Let me see."

China stood up and gently lifted Mutsu's neck ring with one hand, where a faint bruise remained.

Clearly, this lace-trimmed choker was meant to conceal the fact that she was using someone else's hand to strangle herself in public.

"Don't do that again. It's dangerous, and... it's addictive."

China revealed her left arm.

“I haven’t had a single scar since I transferred schools. I’ve started to take better care of my body. You can’t just follow in my footsteps, can you?”

"Hmm..." Mu nodded.

“Okay,” China put her hands on Mutsu’s shoulders. “If you listen to me, I’ll write the song for you as soon as possible.”

Chapter 194 Mumu and Her Animal Friends

Someone who has hurt themselves would probably accept others doing the same.

Mu once thought so.

But the truth is, people who have cut numerous scars on their wrists are gently advising others not to do self-harming things.

Otherwise, you won't receive a "song" as a gift.

People who get candy by crying tell themselves that only obedience brings candy.

Things that cannot be done in front of Xiang, cannot be done in front of Qian Nai either.

The "substitute" that people expect is not exactly the same as a regular meal, but rather something that is close to a regular meal while still satisfying their desires.

Chinatsu is becoming more and more like the old Sho, and her mental health is improving.

It's so good that it's gradually getting better.

However, I couldn't keep up with the pace of her improved mental state.