Chapter 578: NO.160: The Solution She Thought Of

NO. 160: The Solution She Thought Of

No doubt, no surprise.

The boy walked silently down the street, his mind also extremely calm.

The streets of the industrial zone have always been sparsely populated, like ant colonies residing in an ant nest, often staying in the various high-rises even during break time.

Thus the scenery along this way is empty and monotonous; even if the simulated greenery projection device is activated, that green cannot bring a relaxing freshness.

But the girl walking a bit ahead was happily walking back and forth, innocent and pure, as if even that greenery projection could spark her interest, then she pulled out her phone with a 'click'.

She found an angle that seemed quite nice, storing that South-American-style greenery together with herself into the electronically quantified data, then turned her head to look at the projections of other greenery.

The sound of her little leather shoes went pat-pat, and her gray tail swayed lightly behind her.

Clearly situated in the cold, temperature-less virtual image beneath the steel forest, yet she behaved as if she were strolling through a natural suburb, and seemed not to notice the boy behind her.

Even though the boy was staring at her.

So-called going out for a walk was just Zhenjiling's solitary way to clear her mind, and she indeed never spoke to Aomo from start to finish.

The two were like strangers who happened to be on the same road, parting ways with others after leaving the meal point, then walking along the same path at their own paces.

They possessed comparable quietness and patience.

But compared to the not-so-boring Zhenjiling, Aomo was obviously far more idle, simply staying not far behind and observing her every move.

Zhenjiling, 14 years old, birthday March 31, a third-year junior high Horse Girl, excelled in short-distance simulations, receiving many invitations from trainers yet remained independent.

On Umastagram she had 1.37 million followers; given her introverted, self-disciplined nature, this was no miracle—she knew her own charm inside out… Aomo pondered what he knew about her.

There was a lot of content, wide-ranging, but it was all scattered stuff with little continuity.

For a middle schooler without a trainer and not yet of debut age, there's no need to rush to designate who will be the trainer, let alone the fact that she had once bluntly said she didn't like him.

Aomo believed the truth of that statement.

A girl skilled at disguising herself and grasping her own charm would naturally not like a man who would destroy everything she has built; no matter what happens, just from compatibility it's terrible.

But if one were to aim at the schedules of Chazuo, Suzi, and Bourbon, that would obviously be too early; Zhenjiling's recent posts and related information contain no mention or hint of skipping grades.

She had no need to gather enemy intelligence, nor would she do so.

Precisely because she grasped her own charm did she know where to use it; she had her own pride and restraint.

Then…

"Miss Zhenjiling."

When he saw her pass the last projection of data, and the phone she held to accent her pose gradually lowered, he finally spoke, breaking the long silence.

Upon hearing that, the girl turned her head and replied with a beaming smile: "Hi! Zhenjiling is here~☆"

Her ears twitched slightly atop her head, the phone in her hand tilted, then she brought her hand behind her back—a truly playful and cute sight that made Aomo also smile, and his next words were exceedingly gentle:

"Could you tell me the purpose of your trip?"

"I feel you don't like me much, even have some dissatisfaction, so why go to such trouble?"

"It's not quite like that," said Zhenjiling, her smile unchanged as she leaned in, hands behind her back, step by step: "Kalian is still just curious about trainers, or rather, Mister Aomo still has some curiosity."

"If it's just some exaggerated reports, it's not worth your excessive concern."

"Or perhaps not," the girl stood before the boy, looking up at Aomo: "Regarding Kalian's previous counter-question, Mister Aomo, do you recall it?"

"Four years ago at the Fuchu Horse Racing Track?"

"Hmm, I didn't expect Mister Aomo to still remember."

"As for short-term memory, those who hold Crystal Element can be said to be quite experienced."

"Crystal Element…" the girl seemed to care about this, lowering her head, even her fingers sliding across the pink phone case.

Aomo raised his head, gazing at the sky that had long since cleared after rain.

Large clouds still blocked the sunlight, looking directly at it rather uncomfortable, also bringing the season's typical scorching heat.

But beneath the thin cloud's lingering shade, Zhenjiling hesitated slightly, then asked: "Mister Aomo, may I ask you a question?"

"There's no problem."

"What… what do you think of the Jidong people?"

"?"

Even though Aomo's mind had been piecing together various guesses, this question still slightly exceeded his expectations—like a secret political opening move, not something a 14‑year‑old girl would ask.

"That is, from societal to personal levels, what do you think of the Jidong people?"

This is the blatant political opening move—what tactic is this?

Is Miss Zhenjiling trying to gather my political stance to really let loose?

Aomo hesitated whether to casually make something up, but seeing her eyes—those violet‑red pupils still glowing in the shadow—he sighed inwardly and then said:

"Loneliness."

"The Jidong people, who advocate building the whole social machine with each resident as a part, are essentially utter loneliness."

"Each of you is mutually scattered, your nature having extremely thick barriers; only a rare few are exceptions."

"That's my answer, I'm afraid it won't satisfy you."

He looked at the bowed Zhenjiling, wondering if saying these things to a Jidong person amounted to slapping her in the face, especially since she was the promising Horse Girl he had been watching.

But that's about it; she never liked him anyway, so speaking thus is like holding up a mirror that can give her cuteness a fairer score than anyone else.

What's the fate of a mirror that speaks overly harsh truths?

Aomo wasn't quite sure, but fairy‑tale versions vary; however he could be certain these words meant nothing to Zhenjiling, after all…

Someone who can gain millions of followers just by cuteness will understand all this even more deeply.

After all, Umastagram isn't limited by any resident's birthplace.

Such deliberation needn't last long—just a few seconds—and he already heard her reply:

"No, this actually makes Kalian quite satisfied."

She smiled as she always did and said, stepping forward to stand beside Aomo, walking into the sunlight that young girls ought to avoid, then promptly raised her phone and gave it a slight shake.

Mr. Aomo, would you like to take a photo together? The sun is just right~

There's no problem with that.

Aomo replied calmly, watching her approach and lift her phone, then he was slightly taken aback.

Because the screen of the raised phone clearly showed video mode rather than photo mode.

Well then, recording, recording, this is Mr. Aomo whom Kalian hardly likes~!

The girl's eyes, reflected on the screen, blinked furtively; the contrast between her soft, gentle words and the content left him somewhat bewildered.

Because he rarely failed to discern the other's true intention, he felt only a logical contradiction.

And that brief photo session ended in his bewilderment; he watched as the girl lowered her phone and leisurely named and saved the just-recorded video, labeling it 'Brother,' which made him raise an eyebrow.

Even in the Jidong context's 'elder brother' version, this label is quite conspicuous; after all, otaku especially like it, and it indeed fits Zhenjiling's account route.

"Someone once told Kalian that to act coquettish, one should direct it toward an elder brother or sister-like figure."

Having finished saving, the girl turned sideways and naturally explained: "If facing such a role, even if Kalian is discovered pretending to be cute, she would still be forgiven, right?"

"I see," Aomo said with a helpless smile, even lightly clapping for her, "Does this count as you catching me with a bug?"

Zhenjiling's innocence and loveliness are built on an unbroken eggshell; her self-esteem and confidence likewise grow together, forming the pride of one who can master charm as desired.

But once someone sees through this pretense, everything she has built could be destroyed by that person.

This has always been something Aomo couldn't understand; Zhenjiling ought to have kept her distance from him, even acting more impulsively and nervously, which would stop him from revealing the 'truth' through her ever-growing fan account.

But she has now come in person for the second time.

Before her first visit, she had bluntly said she had heard the rumor that 'Aomo possesses a pair of terribly frightening eyes'—that too was a bold encounter, and Aomo merely thought the other party was still just a child.

And this second time…

She used Aomo's indisputable words to trigger a bug that was slightly unexpected.

Perhaps it was also to charge at her missing 13-point barrier, relying on her proud cuteness.

"But I might end up being a rather aggravating older brother," he chuckled lightly.

"Indeed, and I can't possibly be any more aggravating!" Zhenjiling said, puffing with anger.

This appearance actually has a cuteness that makes Aomo burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, I see, that's indeed not far off."

And her anger, no longer feigned, is not necessarily unbecoming.

"Damn it, don't laugh!"

"Okay, okay, I won't laugh, I won't laugh."

"Stinky brother, Kalian is heading back!"

Generally speaking, the increasingly unrestrained Zhenjiling clicked her tongue, turned away unhappily to head back the way she came, but that 'brother' call was so natural that it made Aomo pause slightly.

Thinking back, since that orphanage, no one has really addressed him like that again.

"Do you need a ride?"

"No need! Maruzen and Senior Qianming are still waiting for me! As for you, brother, no one's picking you up—you're going home alone!"

"Goodbye!"

The girl didn't look back, walking farther and farther; although still a child, she also showed a bit of the leg strength of a horse girl.

But using that as an attack would be utterly feeble.

Aomo thought to himself that he had walked alone for so many years, so he didn't care about this; after returning the farewell with a goodbye, he again restrained his smile like the traditional culture of the Dongyan Shu region.

He stood expressionless in place for half a minute, cleared his thoughts, then slightly wrinkled his nose and immediately stepped forward.

Then, while pondering whether to detour to Penguin Logistics or take a taxi home, he heard a question:

"How come it's only you?"

Upon hearing that, he turned his head and saw Qielinenina standing at the side alley entrance.

"Because others have a ride, I don't." He shrugged.

That remark made the other person involuntarily chuckle.

"Lei Moule would be happy to hear you say that."

"No thanks, I don't trust her grip on the steering wheel."

"So... has the contradiction been resolved?"

"The contradiction has deepened; it seems to be going up, but also falling down."

"That's not strange, after all, it's a past that came looking for us."

"The past, ah, that's indeed unavoidable."

"Right?"

"Yes."