Chapter 1680: NO.295: She Still Says Thank You

NO. 295: She still says thank you.

"How come? Did you finally take the wrong medicine?"

In the corner of the high-altitude, thin-air mountain-top leisure area, seeing this little sister flipping through the drug instructions made some people find it funny, as if the sun were starting to rise in the west.

Although there really is no sun here, there is at least a star that everyone habitually calls the sun.

"What do you mean taking the wrong medicine? Rather, I'm looking at it to avoid taking the wrong medicine! Ling Sis, don't block the light, move over a bit!"

Given that there is still network coverage on the mountaintop, this person actually isn't holding a phone or tablet but is studying a piece of paper—if this were at home, I'd have to call big brother over to take a look.

Too bad they're not here.

So she could only, with great regret, take a photo of them while they were buried in looking at something.

Then she'd complain, and then she'd feel a bit annoyed when they lifted their head to glance at her.

"Ah, you're starting to dislike your big sister—I really miss when we first met in Shang Shu."

"Back then, little Xi was really polite and proper, so cute."

"... Those things back then..."

Hearing that, Xi, who was also a bit unable to sit still, lifted her head and saw big sister squatting in front of her.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"... At least don't say it here."

"Don't be scared, don't be scared," the big sister waved her hand casually, "I also learned that silent technique from Aomo, so only Chazuo and He can hear it."

""

Letting that half‑familiar friend know about this isn't reassuring either… and it's right in front of little Chazuo… I still haven't found a chance to ask for an autograph……

Has the big sister become too integrated in Aomo's social circle that she can't empathize with our position here?

Xi wanted to speak but held back, then immediately rubbed her forehead.

The half‑familiar friend relationship is really a troublesome trait. Being a bit more stranger allows pointless arguments; being a bit more intimate allows frank, confident talk; but being stuck in the middle leaves no room for the conflict that would damage my and big sister's image, so such a conversation involving personal information should just end here.

But there are some things I can't hold back.

"Ling Sis, you're close enough with them, but I'm not."

"So I grabbed you and brought you here."

"You still know you were grabbed, huh?" Xi rubbed the bangs that slightly covered her left eye, "I should obviously be indoors at a comfortable temperature reading manga, watching matches, binge‑watching, drawing—why am I……"

"Still cold?"

"What? It's fine." Xi, whose words were suddenly cut off, met the other's concerned gaze and felt inexplicably guilty.

"Like that, I still wanted to say you could have a sip."

"Ling shook the porcelain alcohol bottle in her hand, also shaking off the apology of a certain great painter, who was still holding her head and then burst out laughing."

"Is it really okay to make people drink alcohol in this ice‑and‑snow world?"

"Singing in the daytime calls for drinking— isn't that just right to warm the body?" The great poet, completely unbothered, turned to look aside and said, "He, do you want some? Chazuo, never mind— kids shouldn't."

"..."

Still paying attention to the boiling point of water in her pressurized little stove, Chazuo didn't lift her head, just twitched her ears and stayed silent.

"Huh? Me," He, who had been curiously observing Chazuo from the side, lifted his head and quickly waved his hands, "Um, not now— let's wait until Aomo comes out to talk."

"Her alcohol tolerance isn't bad, but it's just passable. Normally it wouldn't stop her from accepting invitations to strong drinks that Ling often offers, but now it's another matter."

"Just as Miss Xi said, this place is ice and snow."

"Moreover, walking a few hundred steps outward leads to cliffs."

Besides that, not far away the camping area is scattered with many tents and their owners busy setting up beds and stoves. Even without mentioning the two small villas built with spatial techniques not far off, this place is clearly unsuitable for a drunken revelry.

"That's fine, though it feels like that side also won't be wrapped up anytime soon."

"Ling, who never insists on dragging people to drink, pulled out her portable backpack and began setting up a folding chair and small table."

"Don't just squat there separately— sit down and get busy, and little Xi too……"

"What for?"

"Not bad."

"...?" As she sat down on a chair she'd just grabbed, she lifted her head in doubt and saw a blue‑tinged hand reach out, patting her before she could dodge.

"The owner of that flower‑hand praised: 'Although it's not exactly the pinnacle, I really didn't expect you to make it this far smoothly.'"

"Isn't that also entirely thanks to that guy's medical kit?"

"Not boasting right away is already quite rare; seeing little Xi, you've made such an obvious change, so I still want to praise you……"

"I've always been different from before."

"But you were just fighting with little Nian the day before and came to me crying, right?" Ling pointed out the contradiction in that logic.

"If it weren't for Nian always rushing to claim credit, I wouldn't have done something so embarrassing."

"As soon as I finished saying that, I started attacking little Nian, you……"

"I'm clearly not wrong…" Xi muttered, unconsciously forgetting that she had previously viewed herself as mature.

After all, she thinks she's not wrong, yet she's told she hasn't grown up— this humiliation makes it hard not to feel aggrieved.

"Right and wrong, yes and no— no matter how it started, once we argue there's nothing pure about it, little Xi. Also, because your home rest time clashed with little Nian's, I first invited everyone, then brought you over here."

"... Anyway, you just want me to make some friends……" Xi, who sees herself as rational and sensible, wouldn't be swayed by Ling's crude talk.

A little jab for a date— it couldn't fool me! In fact, I've heard this sort of talk plenty in the old company dorms; everyone's just beating around the bush trying to trick themselves into going out and arranging a social circle for themselves.

"But speaking honestly, is there really a need for this?"

"The internet in this world is so convenient— she's got plenty of friends on various social forums and apps; whether you've met in person doesn't matter, just say whether the spiritual experience side has been enriched!"

"That's secondary; what I really hope is that you feel happy and fulfilled from group activities, rather than wanting to leave every second."

"I really do want to leave every second." Xi muttered again quietly.

Especially during several previous mountain climbs when I gave it my all, there were times I couldn't catch my breath.

Even now?

Now… just…

It was only then that I remembered there were still two 'outsiders' here, and I instinctively glanced at the badger and that black-haired horse girl, Xi, then quickly looked away.

It's still okay.

Well, not completely wanting to leave, then it has some meaning as Aomo said.

？Is this also his doing?" Xi was like being mocked by the BOSS on the MT, and instantly stabilized her hatred.

Ah uh..." The embarrassed person who instantly felt something was wrong rubbed their hands together and put them together, saying, "It's not really his fault either; I had some ideas, discussed them with him, and then he listed a few options..."

So that guy was scheming against me!

Want coffee?

Just as the words fell, the Chazuo who had been busy with the intelligent high-pressure cooker spoke up, looking up at her.

It caused the words she was about to blurt out to stick for several seconds, then she blurted them out, missing a part.

... Want.

Thank you.