Chapter 46

But there is one point that is completely different.

On Japan's LINE, once you click on the chat interface with others and read the other party's message, the system will immediately display "Read."

In this situation, if you don't reply to the message, it will be regarded as extremely impolite behavior!

Even if you are accused or complained about because of this, others will mostly not stand on your side.

In serious cases, you may even encounter bullying.

Some Japanese high school girls do indeed bully classmates because of "reading without replying."

Such events have even been frequently reported in various news headlines.

This is by no means alarmist.

In Japan, the severity of "reading without replying" is just that outrageous!

[Saionji Nanase: Xia Xia Xia Mujun, didn't I tell you when you were going back that I would add you to the group? I'll add you now.]

[Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Then I'll trouble you.]

[Saionji Nanase: Okay.]

Soon, the phone vibrated, the screen lit up, and it showed a notification of being added to the class group chat.

He tapped lightly to enter the group interface and found that even though it was late at night, the group was still unexpectedly active, and many students were still chatting warmly.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun replied to a few welcome greetings simply, then stopped speaking in the group, keeping silent.

And the students in the chat group were still chatting about various things, and chat messages kept jumping to the top of the screen.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun thought for a moment and chose to set the class group to Do Not Disturb mode.

After all, he had to write, and having it jump to the top of the screen all the time was annoying.

As for group messages, he would look at them when the homeroom teacher @ the whole class; there was no need to look at other times.

At this time, a new message popped up in the private chat window with Saionji Nanase.

[Saionji Nanase: Xia Xia Xia Mujun, your complexion seemed not very good in class today, are you really okay?]

[Xia Xia Xia Mujun: I'm fine, thanks for your concern.]

[Saionji Nanase: (*^▽^*) That's good. But why are you still not resting so late, Xia Xia Xia Mujun? Did you just finish work and come back?]

[Xia Xia Xia Mujun: That's not it, I got off work at ten. I just stopped by to eat some late-night snacks, and after washing up and tidying up when I got back, it was this time before I knew it.]

[Saionji Nanase: So that's how it is... Then I won't disturb your rest anymore, good night, Xia Xia Xia Mujun.]

[Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Good night.]

Ending the conversation with Saionji Nanase, he turned to click on the message sent by Mr. Sakai Shion after eight o'clock.

[Sakai Shion: Remember to send me a copy of the photos or videos of the scene after you arrive at the tournament venue tomorrow.]

[Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Mm, okay.]

At this moment, Sakai Shion, who was still focused on preparing lessons at the desk, heard a slight notification sound from her phone.

She picked up her phone and glanced at it, saw Xia Xia Xia Mujun's concise reply, and noticed that the time displayed at the top of the screen was past eleven o'clock.

Still not asleep so late?

Could this Xia Xia Xia Mujun be staying up late playing games?

She sighed helplessly.

She didn't reply again, turned her phone to silent and placed it face down on the desktop, and refocused her attention on the lesson plan in front of her.

Seeing that Mr. Sakai didn't reply again, Xia Xia Xia Mujun put away his phone, skillfully clicked on the document app, and continued to focus on writing in the quiet night.

The next morning, the sun was just beginning to rise.

The platform was filled with the cold air unique to the early morning.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun and Natsume Ruri, as usual, were wearing neat and clean school uniforms, waiting side by side for the train to arrive.

Natsume Ruri, just like yesterday, gently hugged her brother's waist from behind, pressed her cheek against his back, and closed her eyes, looking sleepy and dependent.

"Didn't you go to sleep earlier than me last night? Why are you still looking like you haven't woken up today?" Xia Xia Xia Mujun tilted his head slightly and asked softly.

Natsume Ruri said groggily: "Ruri is still growing, I always feel like I haven't slept enough."

"Is that so..." Xia Xia Xia Mujun was silent for a moment.

Indeed, his sister was in a critical period of growth and development, and her need for nutrition and rest was great.

Her current height wasn't outstanding, and if her nutrition couldn't keep up, she might really be a little bean sprout forever.

He secretly calculated in his heart that within the limits of his economic conditions, he must try his best to let his sister eat better.

As for the money problem, he already had a preliminary plan.

As long as he could win at least three consecutive games in this Shogi tournament, his basic living expenses for next month would be stable.

Coupled with the salary about to be issued by the coffee shop, supporting himself until the novel's manuscript fee arrived shouldn't be a problem.

So during this period, there was no need to be overly frugal in terms of diet.

At this time, accompanied by the rhythmic vibration of the tracks, the train slowly entered the platform.

This was the line his sister needed to take to school.

Watching the train stop steadily, Xia Xia Xia Mujun fell into deep thought.

His destination today was the venue of the "Newcomer Shogi Tournament," which was actually on the line his sister took to school.

But he absolutely couldn't get on now; he had to wait for the next one!

The reason was simple: he absolutely couldn't let his sister know that he secretly spent 20,000 yen to sign up for this tournament! Otherwise, his sister would definitely explode instantly!

This is by no means alarmist.

Natsume Ruri had already calculated every income and expenditure of the family clearly.

According to her meticulous plan, as long as she saved strictly, the rent would be just enough when the coffee shop's salary arrived.

As for the food, clothing, and daily expenses afterward, she was also prepared to tighten her belt and barely survive.

If she knew that he had "squandered" such a "huge sum," he would definitely be scolded to pieces!

If he explained that he went to play Shogi to make money?

His sister would absolutely not believe it!

In Ruri's cognition, he didn't know Shogi at all, and rushing to participate would be no different from giving money to the organizer for nothing.

Therefore, before he actually won a few games and held the prize money firmly in his hands, Xia Xia Xia Mujun made up his mind to keep this secret strictly.

Otherwise, it would only make the already tight family atmosphere even more tense.

Don't look at his sister as usually obedient like a gentle little cat; once she gets angry, the power is comparable to a volcanic eruption, and the most difficult thing is—she is extremely, extremely hard to coax!

Unless it was a last resort, Xia Xia Xia Mujun never wanted to touch this "minefield."

He checked the time on his phone.

It was just past seven, and the tournament wouldn't start until nine.

It took about half an hour to get there by train, so there was plenty of time.

The train doors opened with a "hiss."

"Brother, Ruri is leaving first." Natsume Ruri waved at him.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun also raised his hand to respond: "Mm, be careful on the road, call me immediately if anything happens."

"I know, you hurry over too, your train is here." Natsume Ruri stood on tiptoe and pointed to another train slowly entering the station behind him.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was stunned for a moment and looked back.

That was indeed the train he usually took to school.

But he didn't need to take it today.

But to make the act complete, he could only pretend to be about to get on the train and walk slowly toward that platform.

"Okay, then I'm leaving too."

"Mm-hmm!"

Under his sister's gaze, Xia Xia Xia Mujun walked to the opposite platform, stood still, and pretended to wait patiently.

Since the train his sister took arrived first, it also departed first.

Before long, the doors closed, and the train carrying his sister accelerated slowly, disappearing at the end of the tracks.

Watching the train go away, Xia Xia Xia Mujun breathed a sigh of relief—finally, he didn't have to really take that train to school to act.

And the train that was heading in the direction of his "school" was currently stopped at the platform in front of him.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun naturally didn't get on; he prepared to turn back and head to the platform he was just at.