Chapter 303

She tilted her head and asked.

Natsume Chikage recalled Hanyu Jianghui's appearance of wanting to speak but stopping, and finally leaving in a hurry, and a strange premonition arose in his heart.

But he didn't show it, just nodded and walked towards his shoe cabinet.

The moment he opened the shoe cabinet door—

Clatter.

As if refreshing daily, several carefully decorated letters slid out and scattered on the ground.

Jinweitong seemed to be used to this scene, her face had no surprise, just standing quietly in place, waiting patiently.

Natsume Chikage sighed helplessly, bent down to pick up the love letters one by one, temporarily stuffed them into the side pocket of his school bag, and then changed into indoor shoes.

"Is there anything else?" He straightened up.

Jinweitong nodded and pointed to a direction inside the teaching building.

"Natsume-kun, please come here."

What she pointed to was the dedicated elevator usually only allowed for faculty and staff.

Natsume Chikage was not surprised that Jinweitong could use this elevator.

Coincidentally, he also had some words he wanted to ask her alone, so he didn't ask much and followed.

Beep—

A crisp prompt sounded, and the clean silver elevator door slid open silently.

The two stepped into the spacious carriage one after another.

The elevator door closed slowly, isolating the complex gazes of envy, sympathy, or gloating from outside.

After all, in the eyes of ordinary students, being able to use this elevator itself was a symbol of some privilege.

But traveling with Jinweitong, this "privilege" probably brought more unease.

The carriage was exceptionally quiet, with only the faint sound of mechanical operation.

The smooth, mirror-like metal walls reflected the figures of the two.

Natsume Chikage broke the silence first:

"What about President Yudang? If you are here, could it be that she also came to school?"

Jinweitong shook her head, her black hair swaying gently with the movement.

"The young lady is busy with important matters, and I don't know where she appears every day."

She turned her face, looked at Natsume Chikage, and added in a flat tone:

"If Natsume-kun really wants to see the young lady, I can also inform her of this."

"If you are lucky..."

She paused, and a trace of extremely faint, elusive emotion seemed to flash in her eyes.

"The young lady might, like last time, 'pass by' and let you find her."

Natsume Chikage was silent for a moment.

The sudden experience last time was still fresh in his memory.

"Forget it..."

He decisively refused.

Immediately, he remembered another thing and asked tentatively:

"Tong, I heard from other student council members that there is a 'National Language Countermeasure Book' in the student council room... is that yours?"

Jinweitong nodded and admitted it very simply:

"It's mine."

"What's wrong?"

Natsume Chikage felt that although Jinweitong was mysterious, compared to that high-and-mighty President Yudang, she seemed... "easier to talk to"?

Perhaps, he could try to probe and ask if he could "collect" the special equipment she held?

Although this thought was a bit risky, it was rare to have a chance to be alone, so asking didn't seem to hurt.

He cleared his throat and organized his language:

"Ahem, actually I joined a 'Collection Club'..."

Jinweitong's tone seemed to really reveal a trace of curiosity:

"Collection Club? I haven't heard of it. What does this do?"

Natsume Chikage explained:

"Actually, it's just collecting various objects with stories, and by understanding the stories behind the objects, writing articles and such."

Jinweitong listened quietly and then said a gentle "Mm".

"Seems quite interesting."

"So, what is your purpose?"

Natsume Chikage thought for a moment and decided to use a half-true, half-false statement:

"Actually, I also have some... strange collection habits."

"So, I want to collect... Tong, your 'National Language Countermeasure Book'."

Jinweitong tilted her head again, this action making her look a little less dangerous and a little more like a girl's confusion.

"Do you want to collect it yourself, or do you want to collect it for the 'Collection Club'?"

Natsume Chikage was silent for a moment.

He didn't want to bring unknown trouble to the Collection Club.

"For myself." He said frankly.

Jinweitong blinked after hearing this.

Then, she kept that tilted head posture, motionless, and stared at Natsume Chikage for a long time.

The elevator made a crisp "ding" sound and stopped steadily on the third floor.

The carriage door opened slowly, and the light from the corridor outside shone in.

But Jinweitong still didn't move, nor did she move her gaze.

Natsume Chikage felt a bit hairy from her look, a chill rose inexplicably on his back, and he suddenly regretted making this request.

"You can." Jinweitong spoke suddenly, her voice calm and waveless.

"Really?" Natsume Chikage's face was happy, almost unable to believe it was so smooth.

"However," Jinweitong's addition arrived as scheduled, "you have to pay a price."

Natsume Chikage's heart sank.

"... What price?"

Jinweitong seemed to think very seriously, then shook her head gently.

"I haven't thought about it yet."

"Wait until I think about it, then I'll tell you."

Natsume Chikage fell into deep thought.

"If by then, the price you propose is something I feel I can't do... I can refuse, right?"

Jinweitong nodded, her tone matter-of-fact:

"Of course."

Natsume Chikage weighed it.

Anyway, if the price was unacceptable by then, he could just refuse.

The initiative seemed to still be in his hands.

He nodded:

"Okay."

Because the elevator door hadn't closed for a long time, it began to make a slight prompt sound.

Natsume Chikage stepped out.

"Then I'll go first."

Jinweitong stood in the carriage and nodded slightly.

"Mm, bye-bye."

The elevator door closed slowly behind him, locking that slender and mysterious figure back into the independent, narrow space.

Natsume Chikage calmed down and walked towards his class.