I play wind instruments in Kansai.

Her lips were a thin line, devoid of smiles or weariness, showing no expression whatsoever. Her eyes, like glass beads, were beautiful but lacked liveliness.

"Shiraishi-kun, have you seen Daidouji-senpai?" Miyamine asked.

Hitomi Shiraishi shook her head, each strand of hair falling neatly to her shoulder.

"Are you alone in the car?"

"Yes, the car has air conditioning."

Where is Kirishima-kun?

"Minister Hanako."

Gong Lingwang looked around but found no trace of Daidoji Seiko. Helplessly, he got into the car.

The air conditioning inside the car hit me head-on, and the sweat on my skin began to cool down within seconds.

This feeling in that moment is almost a luxury.

Gong Lingwang walked forward and, without asking any questions, sat down next to her and said:

"for you."

"Give me?"

Shiraishi Hitomi looked at the ice cream he handed her; through the transparent plastic lid, she could see that some of it had melted.

Gongling Wang said without blushing or skipping a beat:

"Yes, it's specially for you. I don't know if you'll like it."

Hitomi Shiraishi was somewhat surprised, but she still reached out and took it, saying softly:

"Thank you."

"It's alright, if you don't eat it now, it will completely melt later," Gong Lingwang reminded him.

She nodded and removed the top transparent plastic cover.

Gong Lingwang observed Shiraishi Hitomi and found that she ate in a similar way to him, both of them taking a small bite and rarely licking.

"What are your thoughts on the parade?" he asked.

Shiraishi Hitomi pursed her lips and said:

"I'm very happy."

Where is Kirishima-kun?

"Well......"

She fell silent immediately, it seemed that Kirishima Ruka was not very satisfied with the outcome of the parade, so she was discussing something with Minister Tanihana.

Gong Lingwang didn't keep them in suspense and said in a low voice:

"It's alright, as long as you're happy, Shiraishi-kun."

"I?"

She looked up at him with some surprise.

"I just hope you can focus your attention on other things, not just on Kirishima-kun."

Hitomi Shiraishi lowered her head, took one bite of her ice cream, and then refused to eat any more.

She felt as if she were immersed in cold water, and the sound of Gong Lingwang reaching her ears was muffled.

Gongling Wang tentatively said:

"Shiraishi, you have a mother who loves you very much."

".......Um."

Hitomi Shiraishi nodded, then lowered her head and took another bite.

"Is it possible that your stepmother would love you even if she weren't affected by Kirishima's abilities?"

"......"

Upon hearing his words, Shiraishi Hitomi quietly lowered her eyes, her gaze wandering aimlessly in the air, as if deciding whether to give a reply.

But in that instant, she also realized that Kirishima had told him about her situation.

"I'm pretty good at judging people, and Kirishima once told me that she hasn't used her abilities for a long time."

"I can fully sense the tension emanating from Shiraishi Hitomi," Miyamine Nozomi said gently.

“If that’s the case, then your mother is truly sincere towards you now, or she has always been this way. You have a keen eye for observation; I think you probably realized this even earlier than I did.”

A soft groan escaped from Shiraishi Hitomi's throat.

It's shameless to admit, but Gong Lingwang actually quite liked her soft moans and gasps. He had no filthy thoughts; he just thought they sounded nice.

“You don’t owe anyone anything,” Miyamine said. “Kirishima-kun’s current situation is not your fault.”

Shiraishi Hitomi's eyes flickered for a moment:

“But I’m all that’s left for Ryuka.”

"Don't think too highly of yourself. Senior Gu Hua is with her, and I might be able to be with her too."

"Well......"

It seemed like she had gone too far. Shiraishi Hitomi fell silent, looking dejected.

Gong Lingwang realized that talk therapy would hardly change her mind; talking to her was like being in a vast ocean with no bottom in sight.

Shiraishi Hitomi hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Miyamine Nozomi and said:

Is this really a good idea?

"How am I supposed to know what you mean if you don't explain clearly? What does this mean?" Gong Lingwang asked, puzzled.

"You've been staying here with me the whole time," Shiraishi Hitomi said, mustering her courage. "Is this really okay?"

"Why not? I quite enjoy being with you."

Gongling Wang openly admitted,

"You're just a pushover. Even if I say something wrong, you won't argue back, and you'll just accept whatever comes your way. Where can you find a girl like that?"

"Well......"

His words were too crude, yet too realistic, and for some reason, Shiraishi Hitomi felt a sense of loss, her voice weak and feeble:

"Then why do you care about me? I'm not important in the club, and nothing I do will end well."

Gong Lingwang revealed a bright, faint smile, turned sideways to get closer to her, close enough to clearly see the fine downy hairs on her face:

"Is this what you truly believe? Is this what you really think?"

She pursed her lips and furrowed her brows; the girl was as delicate as a doll.

The result was that this smugness made her even more adorable and charming, like a display item in a cabinet that wasn't for sale, making her all the more endearing.

Without thinking, Gongling Wang raised his hand and pinched her small earlobe, feeling the firm bounce back.

"Focus your attention elsewhere, I'll be with you, whether it's playing music or something else."

Hitomi Shiraishi's eyelashes trembled as she felt the pressure on her left earlobe. Her fingertip pressed against the ice cream wrapper, and after a moment of silence, she said:

"Gong Ling, you're so popular, why did you come to me?"

"Well--"

Gongling Wang put on a thoughtful expression and said...

"Because you have a great talent, just like a unicorn."

"Me? A unicorn?"

Shiraishi Hitomi tilted her head; her appearance was so alluring that one wanted to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

If Daidouji-senpai is constantly tempting people to commit crimes, then Shiraishi Hitomi is the complete other extreme, making people want to protect her, even at all costs, frame her and treasure her forever.

But Miyamine Nozomi held back.

"Yes, unicorn, you're a real eye-catcher. I've been watching you ever since the day you played the piccolo."

Gongling Wang said,

"I will try my best to make you like the piccolo. Of course, I will support you if you like other instruments. I think Kirishima feels the same way. Doesn't she often tell you this? You have to have your own ideas."

Shiraishi Hitomi hesitated for a moment, her small, cherry-like lips opening and closing repeatedly.

"So......."

She raised her eyebrows, her clear, bright eyes looking directly at Gong Lingwang, and said softly,

"Are you willing to support me for the rest of your life and make me feel needed?"

"..."

Miyamune Nozomi, who had always felt good about herself, finally noticed something was off about the girl.

There was a feeling that something was about to climb from Kirishima Ruka onto herself.

And all of this seems to be something he brought upon himself.

This topic was too "heavy" for him to figure out how to respond.

"Um, I'm sorry, I said some harsh things," Shiraishi Hitomi said, looking down with a hint of disappointment.

Gong Lingwang frowned. He had lived too casually all his life.

Questions like "Will you love me forever?" that you see in TV dramas seem trivial no matter how you look at it.

It is insignificant because very few people actually abide by this acknowledgment; it is almost merely a formality, becoming a universally accepted convention.

Even if betrayed, one will not be punished by heaven for saying this, because it is a 'common practice' and therefore justified.

Since that's the case... Gongling Wang thought, then he shouldn't be punished by heaven.

Besides, he'll only be at the school for three years, and he and Shiraishi Hitomi might not even get into the same school in the future. They'll go their separate ways after graduation.

After thinking it over, he lost contact with his elementary school classmates, except for Yukito Yanagi and Souji Mizuno.

In short, the probability of maintaining contact is very small.

Having learned from his elementary school classmate's experience, he suddenly felt confident, a confidence born from the proven 'conventional rules' of the world.

"How could that be? Isn't it quite interesting?" Gong Lingwang said with a smile. "I will support you for the rest of my life."

Seeing how gentle he spoke, the unease that had been lingering deep within Shiraishi Hitomi gradually melted away, as if her feet had finally landed on a solid floor.

[Market Update: Hitomi Shiraishi, +10%]

[Interpretation of the anomaly: Feeling anxious and estranged from Kirishima Ruka, he is filled with unease and fear, but receives a promise from a new friend.]

Current value: 31.5

Current holdings: 883724 yen

Current profit: 265735 yen

Before my eyes, a new change appeared in the market, with another surge of ten points.

Is it really that easy? Just talking to her for a few minutes can make your points skyrocket? Isn't that much more satisfying than endlessly practicing with Kato Ai?

Gong Lingwang looked at the analysis of the unusual activity but didn't take it to heart. He only felt that he was a one-in-a-million stock trading genius, comparable to Buffett, no, even surpassing Buffett.

Who can make their account gain nearly fifty percent in such a short time?

Who else! Their future is bright!

Looking at the girl beside her, Shiraishi Hitomi was focused on eating her ice cream, occasionally glancing out the window.

The fiery red sun slowly merged with the street, its afterglow lingering in the corners of the sky.

The moon, rarely seen during the day, hangs hazily in the sky.

49. Will blowing air into a girl's ear cause a reaction?

The streets were filled with tourists taking photos, and students in colorful uniforms carrying musical instruments were running around like they had lost their way.

Look here! Look here!