Chapter 427

"I wasn't interested in it to begin with. Yesterday, Xiyuanji Qilai asked me what collectibles I had that could be exchanged, and I showed her photos of my room; she took a fancy to this one at a glance."

"As for that poetry collection of hers..."

Yukimura Suzune glanced at Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai, who was playing with the wood carving lovingly.

"It's because she has liked collecting all kinds of strange things since she was a child; this poetry collection was mixed in with other collections who knows how many years ago and put away by her, and she forgot about it herself."

"If I hadn't brought it up and asked her if she had any old items related to literature, she would have gone back and flipped through her collection catalog to remember there was such a book; otherwise, this thing would probably have been left in her warehouse until the end of time."

Natsume Chikage realized:

"So that's how it is."

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai shook the brightly colored wood carving in her hand, her tone full of joy:

"Don't you guys think this wood carving is particularly interesting?"

"Look, twist this, and the pattern on it will change!"

"How cute, how full of vitality!"

Yukimura Suzune and Natsume Chikage's gazes landed on the wood carving with exaggerated shapes and strong color contrast at the same time; it was really hard to say it was "good-looking" against their conscience.

Yukimura Suzune was even more blunt, her tone flat:

"Don't think so at all."

Hearing this, Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai's fair little face puffed up slightly.

Seeing this, Natsume Chikage quickly laughed it off, trying to ease the atmosphere:

"Uh... I actually think... it's quite unique, it's an interesting little gadget."

Hearing Natsume Chikage say this, the disappointment on Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai's face vanished instantly, and she regained her innocent and lively brilliance.

She suddenly held the wood carving close to Natsume Chikage, her eyes shining, and turned the wood carving in front of him again, saying happily:

"Sure enough—I knew you could understand, Natsume-kun!"

"It's really interesting, right?"

Natsume Chikage looked at Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai, who was suddenly close at hand and whose long eyelashes he could almost see clearly, couldn't help but be stunned, his cheeks heating up slightly, while a helpless complaint rose in his heart:

This girl... whenever she gets happy, she always suddenly gets close without any sense of distance...

Yukimura Suzune witnessed this scene, made an imperceptible "tsk" sound, reached out her hand, pressed it on Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai's smooth forehead, pushed her back to her original position gently, and said with her usual complaining tone:

"How many times have I told you, you need to pay attention to keeping an appropriate distance from boys, don't just lean over like that! Every time, every time it's like this!"

"If you do this, it's very easy to make people misunderstand, you know?"

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai was pushed away, and only then did she realize her lack of composure, her fair, innocent face blushing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

She quickly sat upright, her fingers unconsciously winding a strand of hair tied with a pink hairband hanging by her shoulder.

"Sorry, Natsume-kun... I, I was too happy just now, I didn't notice..."

"However, I really... I'm really happy that someone can understand my tastes."

"Ah—right!"

Speaking of this, she suddenly remembered something, and while saying this, she started rummaging in her school bag again.

"Natsume-kun, didn't you say you wanted to collect the stones I have here? I've carefully selected five that I think are very suitable for you; come and see which one you like!"

Yukimura Suzune observed silently from the side, and at this moment couldn't help but ask tentatively:

"Natsume-kun, are you... sure you want to collect her stones?"

"In her collection library, there are more interesting or higher market value things. You... really only want stones?"

Natsume Chikage smiled, his tone natural:

"Seeing her always carrying or studying various stones every day before, some are indeed polished very beautifully, and the textures are special."

"Since it's the Collection Club's 'collection' activity, choosing to collect things the other party truly loves, I feel that's more meaningful, so I chose this."

Yukimura Suzune glanced at him, her gaze staying on his face for an instant, seemingly wanting to judge the truth of his words.

Finally, she moved her gaze away imperceptibly.

At this moment.

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai had already taken out five stones of different sizes, all carefully selected, from her school bag and lined them up on the table carefully.

Some were as warm and moist as jade, some were colorful, and some had strange natural textures.

"Natsume-kun, look, these are the five! Which one do you think has the most eye appeal?"

Natsume Chikage's gaze swept across the table, and when he saw an amber raw stone with a warm and moist luster, as if containing a faint golden flow of light inside, his gaze couldn't help but pause.

That stone was emitting a faint, strange light that only he could see.

【Amber Solid Stone】

【Quality: Green】

【Effect: After equipping, you can release a 'Solid' defense skill once; this skill effect lasts for one second, with a cooldown of fifteen seconds.】

【Introduction: Coo-coo-ga-ga!】

【Synthesis Condition: At least three pieces of the same type of equipment are needed!】

The moment he saw this line of information, Natsume Chikage's heart brightened.

"I want this amber stone."

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai blinked, her slender fingers pointing to the other few stones that were clearly more crystal clear and even had a greenish tint, and asked curiously:

"Natsume-kun, will you look carefully again? Don't these few jade-like stones look prettier? Are you really sure... you want this amber raw stone?"

Yukimura Suzune also looked over; although she didn't study stones deeply, she could see that those jade-like stones were clearly of higher value.

She also couldn't help but reveal some confusion:

"Natsume-kun, aren't there jade stones with better quality here? This amber raw stone... whether in terms of ornamental value or market value, should be inferior to those few, right?"

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai nodded repeatedly in agreement, her tone sincere:

"Mm-hmm! If these few were taken to be processed by someone, or sold directly, they could be worth quite a bit of money."

Natsume Chikage shook his head, his gaze falling firmly on that amber stone:

"No, I want this amber stone. I don't need the others."

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai was stunned.

Actually, she had specifically picked out a few jade stones of higher value, harboring a trace of hope in her heart that she could indirectly help Natsume Chikage.

After all, she knew very well that Natsume-kun's family situation was relatively difficult now.

Moreover, they were not only classmates in high school, but also attended the same school in junior high, and their fathers were even acquaintances.

She had never found a suitable way to provide help without hurting the other party's self-esteem.

This "collection exchange" activity, in her view, was an excellent opportunity.

But Natsume-kun was now ignoring the more valuable jade stones and specifically chose this relatively "ordinary" amber raw stone?

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai really couldn't understand and couldn't help but ask further:

"Natsume-kun, can you tell me... the reason why it absolutely has to be this stone?"

Yukimura Suzune also cast a probing gaze at him, clearly equally curious.

Natsume Chikage thought for a moment, an earnest expression appearing on his face, and said slowly:

"Just like when you see a special stone, Sister Xiyuan Si-san, you are attracted to it at first glance, you won't consider whether it's the most valuable one first, right?"

"My feeling is about the same."

"There's no particularly complex reason; it's just looking at it... feeling it's pleasing to the eye and suits my heart."

After Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai finished listening to these words, her lively eyes were instantly lit up, twinkling with brilliant radiance, and the smile on her face became exceptionally bright:

"Mm-hmm-hmm! I understand! I completely understand this feeling!"

"Sure enough—Natsume-kun, you and I have the same thoughts on this point! We are the same kind of people!"

Hearing this, Natsume Chikage blinked, then smiled.

From a certain perspective, he and Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai were perhaps truly the same kind of people in terms of "being obsessed with collecting specific items."

Yukimura Suzune glanced at Natsume Chikage from the side, sighed imperceptibly, somewhat helpless, and also somewhat admiring.

"Really... a fool."

She had changed her view of Natsume-kun quite a bit again.

Convinced that this fool was truly someone who wouldn't use unscrupulous means for fame and fortune.

After all, if he really wanted to do that, he should have taken those more valuable jade stones here.

Although Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai was somewhat regretful that Natsume Chikage didn't choose the more valuable jade stones, causing her small "funding plan" this time to fall through.

But thinking about it, there would always be other opportunities in the future.

She looked at the warm and moist amber stone in her hand, and a smile bloomed on her face again: ===== CHAPTER 428 =====