Chapter 331

The breeze outside the window blew gently, lifting the thin curtains of the small three-tsubo room, revealing the heavy night color outside.

And inside the cramped room, a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere permeated.

Natsume Ruri, who had been sobbing earlier because of those words from her aunt, was now lying on the tatami, resting her chin on her hands, her fair calves swinging comfortably in the air, staring at the comedy show on the TV, occasionally letting out "giggle" laughter.

Natsume Chikage took two cups of milk that had just been heated from the microwave and handed one of them to his sister:

"Ruri, it's getting late, finish the milk and it's time to sleep."

"Mm."

Natsume Ruri sat up, took the warm and slightly hot milk, brought it to her mouth, and blew air "whoosh-whoosh," but her gaze was still firmly stuck on the TV screen.

Suddenly.

She seemed to have remembered something, turned her head, and inquired:

"By the way, brother, how have you been doing at school lately?"

Natsume Chikage was confused:

"Quite good, why ask this suddenly?"

Natsume Ruri muttered in a low voice:

"Didn't you join that 'Collection Club'?"

"This is the first time Ruri has heard of such a strange club, I'm very curious what you all have been doing these past few days?"

Natsume Chikage was somewhat surprised:

"You want to know?"

Natsume Ruri nodded forcefully, her eyes bright:

"Mm! I want to know!"

Natsume Chikage took advantage of the milk still being warm, sat cross-legged, and began to tell his sister about the two incidents the Collection Club had solved recently: the "Century-old Cherry Blossom Tree" and the "Seven Mysteries of the Swimming Club."

After Natsume Ruri finished listening, she leaned her body forward slightly in excitement:

"Brother, these two incidents sound so interesting!"

"Especially that one in the swimming club, who exactly solved the final puzzle?"

Natsume Chikage smiled and rubbed her hair:

"Of course, it was solved by everyone working together."

He glanced at the clock on the wall and reminded:

"Alright, it's really getting late, the milk is almost cold too, drink it up, then go brush your teeth and sleep."

Natsume Ruri nodded obediently:

"Mm-hmm."

A moment later.

A soft "click" sound.

The room's lights went out.

Natsume Ruri was already lying on her own bedding, her chest rising and falling slightly with steady breathing, already having sunk into dreamland.

Perhaps because the weather was somewhat stuffy.

In her sleep, she kicked off the quilt unconsciously.

Natsume Chikage walked over, tucked the quilt corners in for her again, then returned to his own bedding to lie down, and took out his phone as usual.

He intended to see if there were any unread messages.

If not, he would prepare to write.

Click on the LINE icon.

He found that Furukawa Masahiro, Tsukishima Rin, Sakai Shion, Snow Village Lingyin, and West Garden Temple Nanase had sent messages.

Natsume Chikage first clicked on the message Furukawa Masahiro had sent earlier.

【Furukawa Masahiro: Oh my, I am old, when you sent a message at 10:30 last night, I had long since fallen asleep, I am really sorry for replying only now.】

【Furukawa Masahiro: But regarding what you said about coming to my place to play shogi again on Thursday, it is completely no problem, I welcome you anytime. After school, call this number directly: 0X-XXXX-XXXX, and someone will pick you up then.】

【Natsume Chikage: Okay, I will dial this number at that time.】

After the reply was finished.

Natsume Chikage did not expect to receive a reply immediately.

After all, Furukawa Masahiro himself said he was old and slept early.

However, at this moment.

The message notification sound rang unexpectedly.

【Furukawa Masahiro: Big brother, then it's a deal, you must come then.】

【Natsume Chikage: This tone... is it little Saio?】

【Furukawa Masahiro: (*^▽^*) Mm-hmm! Grandpa said big brother replied late, so if I hadn't slept yet, he asked me to help reply.】

【Natsume Chikage: Haha, I usually only have time to check messages at night, sorry. Then we'll see you then, little Saio.】

【Furukawa Masahiro: (〃'▽'〃) Mm-hmm!】

After replying to Furukawa's message.

Natsume Chikage turned to click on the message Tsukishima Rin had sent around 10:30.

【Tsukishima Rin: Natsume-kun... did Zhongdao Wushi go to look for you today?】

【Natsume Chikage: Yes.】

The message was replied to almost in seconds.

【Tsukishima Rin: Actually, I clearly rejected him before... but I didn't expect him to still be doing this kind of thing of threatening others until now. And this time it even implicated you... I am really very sorry!】

【Natsume Chikage: Regardless of gender, there will always be such people in the crowd. Even for me, this is not the first time I have encountered it. So you don't need to care too much.】

【Tsukishima Rin: He didn't hurt you, did he?】

【Natsume Chikage: No, it was just verbal provocation.】

【Tsukishima Rin: Regarding this matter, I actually talked to him again today and clearly rejected him again. But he is still the same as before and simply won't listen. I know the root of the problem is with me... so even after knowing the situation today, I didn't dare to go find you, for fear of causing you trouble again...】

【Tsukishima Rin: But if it isn't resolved quickly... I really feel bad in my heart.】

【Natsume Chikage: It doesn't count as trouble. And I also think it should indeed be resolved quickly; if one has to be verbally provoked every day, it will inevitably affect one's mood.】

【Tsukishima Rin: Σ(⊙▽⊙" Wait—Natsume-kun, you wouldn't be thinking of using violence to solve it, would you? That is absolutely not allowed! If the matter blows up, both you and he could possibly be expelled from school.】

For Natsume Chikage, he did not completely reject violent means.

But that would always only be the last choice when at the end of one's rope.

Currently, this matter was far from reaching the point where that means needed to be used.

One could even say.

Even without Near-guard Hitomi's proposal, Natsume Chikage himself had other relatively 'gentle' solutions.

It was just that since he had already promised Near-guard Hitomi, there was no need to consider other plans.

【Natsume Chikage: Don't worry, I have no intention of using violence.】

【Tsukishima Rin: That's good. I intend to report it to the teacher; after all, this already counts as a bullying phenomenon, and the teacher's side definitely won't sit idly by.】

【Natsume Chikage: No need, the student council accountant, Senior Near-guard Hitomi, has already negotiated with me, and she will come forward to find Zhongdao Wushi to resolve this matter peacefully.】

【Tsukishima Rin: (*°▽°*) Miss Near-guard? She would actually lower herself to come forward and help? If it were her, it would definitely be easier to resolve than the teachers coming forward...】

【Tsukishima Rin: Does that mean... I don't have to specially hide from you, Natsume-kun, like I did today?】

【Natsume Chikage: You didn't need to hide in the first place... besides, the school is only so big, you see each other when you look up, so where could you hide?】

【Tsukishima Rin: That's great, that's really great...】

Tsukishima Rin, lying on her own bed in her pajamas, placed her phone on her well-developed chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

From Natsume Chikage's reply, she could see that he did not hate or distance himself from her because of this incident.

For her, this was the most important thing.

But having said that, Tsukishima Rin really didn't expect that the big figure Near-guard Hitomi, who almost never came to school and rarely managed affairs, would actually help Natsume-kun.

This really made her feel very surprised.

She was even somewhat puzzled, why would such a figure specially help Natsume-kun?

But regardless, it was great that Miss Near-guard was willing to intervene.

It was just unclear how Miss Near-guard intended to make Zhongdao Wushi negotiate and reconcile with Natsume-kun at that time.

I imagine that when Zhongdao Wushi sees Miss Near-guard intervene, he will definitely feel fear, right?

And in most cases, President Yutang would not directly handle problems, but would hand them over to Miss Near-guard to handle.