Chapter 34: Outsider

During breakfast, Shi Hai's house was unusually lively.

Actually, it was mainly Jian Sichun and Liu Zhenshan chatting while they ate, with Shi Hai and Zhu Lingjie being the quiet ones.

The contrast at the table was like summer and winter, lively on one side and desolate on the other.

Seeing such a lively Jian Sichun stirred something in Zhu Lingjie's heart.

This girl actually had such a good relationship with Liu Zhenshan that she could call her "Mom"...

Since when did she and Shi Hai become friends?

Of course, Zhu Lingjie didn't know that Jian Sichun had only "become friend" with Shi Hai the day before.

Then, she had forcibly followed him to his house, taking less than half a day to quickly get close to Shi Hai and his mother.

This kind of social prowess would only make Zhu Lingjie sigh in admiration even if she knew. 

She and Jian Sichun were worlds apart.

Most of the time, Zhu Lingjie sat to the side quietly, which made people find her boring.

Even if she was beautiful, people still preferred those who were fun, not just a pretty face.

Only Shi Hai wouldn't dislike her…

Zhu Lingjie turned her head to look at Shi Hai beside her. 

He was just eating his meal quietly.

Even though they are not saying a word to each other, it never felt awkward to be with him.

But that wasn't because there was nothing to say, but because they were too familiar with each other. 

Just a glance could convey what they want to say.

However, Shi Hai probably wouldn't notice her gaze now… Zhu Lingjie thought, feeling a bit lonely.

"What's wrong?"

"Ah?!"

Shi Hai's sudden question startled Zhu Lingjie.

He put down his bowl and said, "It looks like you have something to say."

He noticed me!

Just this made Zhu Lingjie very happy.

Though she didn't have anything special to say, she still racked her brains trying to keep the conversation going.

She couldn't let the conversation end like this!

Even if she couldn't say something interesting, at least she had to talk to him actively.

I'll never ignore you again! "Um… Do you have classes this morning?"

"I have specialized classes in the morning, no classes in the afternoon."

"I have classes in the morning too… Shall we go together later?"

"Sure."

At this moment, Jian Sichun joined in, raising her hand to indicate she wanted to go too.

"Take me with you! I'll go too!"

Shi Hai, a bit puzzled, asked, "Do you really have classes this morning?"

"Hmph! Can't I go to university even if I don't have classes?"

"... Do whatever you want."

"Hmph~ Let's have lunch together too. I haven't eaten in the cafeteria for ages."

Jian Sichun, of course, didn't want to be apart from him for a moment. 

Whether she had classes or not, she planned to stick with Shi Hai.

Zhu Lingjie envied Jian Sichun's straightforwardness in asking Shi Hai out, as she herself didn't dare trouble Shi Hai.

What she struggled to say with all her might, Jian Sichun seemed to say effortlessly, making Zhu Lingjie feel a bit inferior.

No… there's no need to compare myself with her.

Shi Hai had once told her the same.

—You don't need to compare yourself with anyone. Just be yourself—

These words, engraved in her heart, gave Zhu Lingjie strength.

"I… can I join too?"

"Of course you can!"

Jian Sichun hadn't forgotten her purpose. 

Even if Zhu Lingjie didn't ask, she intended to bring her along for a threesome.

I haven't agreed yet… Shi Hai retorted in his mind again, but it seemed the current situation didn't allow him to refuse.

He was inexplicably dragged into lunch plans.

It's not that he didn't want to eat with them, but going to the "cafeteria" together…

With how attractive these two are, Shi Hai could already imagine the guys in the cafeteria staring at him in envy.

He didn't want to be the center of attention; he just wanted a peaceful campus life.

He had to think of a way to get out of this… 

Shi Hai began to ponder.

After breakfast, before leaving, Liu Zhenshan called the two girls to her side.

"Wait, you two, come here for a moment."

After they all came in front of her, Liu Zhenshan took out two keys with a smile.

"Here~ a key to our house, one for each of you."

The two understood immediately and showed expressions of understanding.

Jian Sichun accepted it without hesitation and gave Liu Zhenshan a hug.

"Thank you, mom~"

"You're welcome. Please come over often in the future~"

"Of course!"

Zhu Lingjie also wanted to do this, and the emotions she revealed were also noticed by Liu Zhenshan.

She was actually quite surprised that Zhu Lingjie would express her thoughts so clearly... This was a world of difference from before.

And her little look of wanting something but not daring to do it directly touched Liu Zhenshan's heart.

Lingling, this child, has actually become so cute!

She is simply an angel!

So Liu Zhenshan asked tentatively.

"Lingling, do you want a hug too?"

"Um—!"

After hugging Zhu Lingjie like she's a small animal, Liu Zhenshan felt that her maternal instinct had reached a new peak. 

She stroked her hair lovingly and said.

"Lingling, if you want, you can call me mom, okay?"

"Um...Mom..."

"Hey~"

Liu Zhenshan was overjoyed.

That's right! This is the feeling of being a mother that she has always wanted!

Because her "sensible son" who was envied and praised by her colleagues has never acted like a spoiled child to her even once since he was a child...

Her maternal love, which had nowhere to vent, had long been thirsty!

Sensible? Being sensible is useless!

If you don't even let me hold you, I gave birth to you and raised you for nothing!

It turns out that a daughter who knows how to act coquettishly is much better than that naughty son.

"Mom! I want one too! I want one too!"

"Yeah! Come on, everyone, come together!"

Shi Hai's mouth twitched.

"…What the hell…"

...

On the way to school, as expected, Jian Sichun and Zhu Lingjie walking together formed a beautiful scenery.

Shi Hai actually deliberately quickened his pace and wanted to keep some distance from them on the subway, but these two people always followed him, one on his left and one on his right, like guardians, and they were so close that their shoulders were almost touching.

In the eyes of outsiders, he is probably seen as a scumbag who has two girlfriends at the same time.

But for Shi Hai himself, it was like being a prisoner escorted by the police, with a strong sense of urgency.

What's most troubling is that this situation continues on college campuses.

They even followed him to the college building where the maritime professional courses were taught, where they saw many familiar faces.

Fortunately, at least they didn't follow him into the classroom, otherwise he would have been surrounded and questioned by a group of nosy boys in the class.

After seeing the two off, Shi Hai's shoulders dropped as he walked into the professional course classroom.

Shi Hai arrived later than usual today, and Chu Chen from next door was already in his seat.

"Morning."

"Hah... morning."

"You look tired."

"A little bit…"

"What happened?"

"Brother Chen, I actually don't hate sweets. I even crave sweets sometimes, and buy some chocolates myself..."

"Um."

"But if one day I was suddenly force-fed two large pieces of chocolate that were so sweet that they made my teeth fall out, even if I like sweet things, I would still find it a little hard to adapt... I guess I'm not being pretentious, am I?"

"Indeed, it shouldn't count."

"So... Brother Chen, since you are so popular, can you tell me how you usually keep a certain distance from girls?"

"This is very simple."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"Tell them straight out that you are not interested in them."

Well, that's the perks of being a cool, handsome guy.

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