Chapter 17: First Love

First love

"Finally, I've escaped..." Qing Qing Xukong hid in a secluded spot in the hallway and sighed to himself.

"So what exactly happened?" The girl named Zhong Zhong Yuxin asked, confused; the hallway did not hold only Qing Qing Xukong.

"How to put it... the situation is indeed a bit complex..." Qing Qing Xukong pondered in his mind; under no circumstances could he let his friends get dragged into these events.

"Anyway, you all know the new transfer student, right? It's said he even lives at your place?" Zhong Zhong Yuxin looked into Qing Qing Xukong's eyes and asked.

"Gulp... indeed so." Qing Qing Xukong swallowed and replied.

"Actually, that guy is the daughter of my mother's friend. Their family came here for work reasons, but they still haven't found a suitable house. They can stay at the company temporarily, but their daughter cannot, so she is staying at my place for now..."

"Phew, good... so that's how it is. But it is indeed suspicious enough. Are those things... fake too?"

"No... they are true, but the gap is still quite large, that's all..."

"But I have now become the target of everyone's attacks."

"In that case, we can only wait and see... no matter how much we explain, it will only deepen the suspicion."

Qing Qing Xukong felt incredibly moved; it seemed he still possessed a trusted bosom friend.

"So, Qing Qing Xukong, you abandoned me to secretly meet with another woman... although an excellent wife should grant her husband some private space, I ultimately cannot endure such behavior!"

"If you can't speak properly, then don't speak, okay! And why are you here too?"

"Eh? Eh! What on earth is going on? Could it be that you two have already progressed to this stage?!?" Zhong Zhong Yuxin's cheeks turned pink as she looked at Ling Yu with a shocked expression.

"So there are absolutely no such things! What is all this nonsense!"

"Yo, Qing Qing Xukong."

"Back to normal..."

"Hahaha, of course, of course. How could I, your trustworthy bosom friend, not believe your words?" Mocheng said to Qing Qing Xukong with a sunny smile.

"A bosom friend wouldn't emphasize that he is a bosom friend..."

"By the way, Qing Qing Xukong, how are you solving lunch?"

"Eating in the cafeteria. Why do you suddenly ask this..."

"I thought there would be a setting where a cohabiting girl makes a bento by hand."

"Do you think this is a Japanese anime..." Qing Qing Xukong replied speechlessly.

"..." Qing Qing Xukong looked to the side; Ling Yu was sitting on a desk belonging to someone unknown, surrounded by a crowd of girls.

"Phew... unexpectedly popular..." Qing Qing Xukong watched Ling Yu talking animatedly with others, then thought of himself and sighed deeply.

"Qing Qing Xukong."

"What..."

"What do you think of that guy Ling Yu?"

"Hmm..." Qing Qing Xukong glanced at Ling Yu, began thinking in his brain about the various things that had happened with that guy Ling Yu, and finally drew a conclusion.

"Non-recyclable waste."

Ling Yu seemed to notice Qing Qing Xukong's gaze, quickly turned her head, and threw a few coquettish glances at Qing Qing Xukong.

"Qing Qing Xukong..."

"Hmm?"

"Don't tell me that guy still has a tsundere attribute?"

"Get lost!"

"Phew, class is finally over. What should I eat?" Mocheng stretched lazily and said.

"Ah, I really want to eat the desserts from that newly opened shop outside." Zhong Zhong Yuxin looked at the vehicles flowing outside the school.

"So hungry, why hasn't it arrived yet..."

"It's just ahead... Also, why are you following us?!?" Qing Qing Xukong immediately turned his head, staring at a certain Lord.

"Hey, hey, I just arrived at this school too. Don't say I'm going to the cafeteria alone; I might even be lost."

"..." Qing Qing Xukong felt incredibly annoyed; why did this guy always have to interfere in his affairs.

What a troublesome guy, Qing Qing Xukong thought silently.

Ling Yu seemed to notice Qing Qing Xukong's thoughts, paused for a moment, and then silently followed behind Qing Qing Xukong.

Thus, the four of them walked toward the cafeteria; fortunately, no disturbance occurred on the way, otherwise Qing Qing Xukong really would not have been able to endure it any longer.

"Sigh, is the cafeteria still serving those dishes?"

"Be content; compared to other schools, ours is still considered good."

"..."

To be honest, compared to Mocheng and Zhong Zhong Yuxin, he felt the cafeteria food suited his taste quite well; although the flavor was not outstanding, at least it was ordinary. However, if he said so, those two would surely use it as a topic to make a big deal out of Qing Qing Xukong, so Qing Qing Xukong decided to remain silent.

Mocheng chose chicken cutlet rice, Zhong Zhong Yuxin chose a sandwich, Qing Qing Xukong selected a steak rice bowl, and Ling Yu chose the same as him.

"Hey, hey, Zhong Zhong Yuxin, won't you get hungry eating only this much every noon?"

"It's unavoidable to maintain my figure; do you think anyone likes gnawing on bread?"

"What hard work. Fortunately, we men don't have such worries, right, Qing Qing Xukong?"

"Why do you always like to intentionally or unintentionally pull the topic onto me..."

"..." Ling Yu sat quietly beside Qing Qing Xukong, silently chewing the food in her mouth; it seemed she did not intend to interject now. To be honest, Qing Qing Xukong thought this guy was quite cute when quiet, but he would absolutely not say it.

"Right..." While Qing Qing Xukong was looking at Ling Yu, Mocheng said to Zhong Zhong Yuxin.

"Indeed, it seems so..."

"Hey... what are you two actually talking about... I've already said I have no relationship with that guy." Qing Qing Xukong said helplessly.

"Indeed, it seems so..." Mocheng ignored Qing Qing Xukong and said to Zhong Zhong Yuxin.

"Just as you said... that guy Qing Qing Xukong really does seem to be tsundere."

"Not entirely. It seems only arrogance remains."

"It will gradually become more delicate..."

"Hey, the person in question is right here, pay some attention!" Qing Qing Xukong slapped the table and shouted.

But Mocheng and Zhong Zhong Yuxin showed no sign of stopping.

"Hmm...?" Qing Qing Xukong looked to the side; Ling Yu was gently tugging at his hem with her hand.

"Thirsty."

"Sigh... I'll take you to buy water. By the way, it's my money again." Although Yan reimbursed Ling Yu for her expenses, buying water for other girls with his own money would surely cause a stir if seen, so Qing Qing Xukong still hoped Ling Yu wouldn't follow him every day.

While Mocheng and Zhong Zhong Yuxin discussed things as if no one else were present, Qing Qing Xukong quietly took Ling Yu away.

"Isn't it nice to be quiet like this all the time..." Qing Qing Xukong said softly on the way to the kiosk.

"...?" Ling Yu looked up at Qing Qing Xukong with a puzzled expression.

"No, nothing."

Qing Qing Xukong and Ling Yu bought drinks and sat down in a shady corner.

"What's wrong exactly..."

"No, nothing. I was just considering some things."

"You consider things too? That's surprising. I thought you were the type to act first and consider the consequences later." Qing Qing Xukong looked at Ling Yu, who was holding her drink with her head bowed.

"Young man... do you hate me?" Ling Yu looked up and asked, staring into Qing Qing Xukong's eyes.

"Um..." Qing Qing Xukong felt a bit shy and averted his gaze.

Silence.

A long silence.

"No, actually... I don't hate you..." Qing Qing Xukong broke the silence first.

"Hmm..." Ling Yu's cheeks flushed red, and she let out a soft laugh.

"Then, may I continue?" Ling Yu looked up toward the front.

"Continue what?"

"Continue falling in love with you."

"..."

"Of course... you may."