“What’s wrong?”

Not many students commute to school, and the bus wasn’t full. Zhou Fu took a seat as soon as she got on, so she didn’t understand why Chen Yuan was standing in the middle, holding onto a handrail.

Logically, as upright a person as he was, even commended as a little hero for saving someone, and having become a member of the Communist Youth League in the first year of junior high because of his iron will, and considering that he and Zhou Fu only had a simple friendship between classmates, even sitting together wouldn’t mean anything, but...

Why am I a little scared?

“Which stop are you getting off at?” Chen Yuan asked.

“Jiangning Road.”

He had seen her get on at Jiangning Road this morning, hadn’t he? Although she had been slightly unable to accept him because he was heterosexual, she had already come to terms with it.

In her mind, he was free to do as he pleased.

“Would Xuefu Road be closer?” Chen Yuan asked again.

“About the same.” Zhou Fu thought for a moment, then said, “Jiangning Road is closer when coming, but going back is about the same. However, you don’t have to cross the road at Xuefu Road, so it’s usually more convenient to get off there.”

“Okay.” Hearing her say that, Chen Yuan felt a little more at ease.

Since she could get off at the Fourth High School stop, she would stand at the door before the announcement, so Xia Xinyu would at most see Zhou Fu waving and greeting him when she got on the bus, not the two of them sitting together.

Of course, let it be clear beforehand, I'm not afraid of anything.

I am upright and have no lewd thoughts in my heart, so I have a clear conscience. Moreover, Xia Xinyu and I are just neighbors, meal buddies, and a temporary community of fate, not a couple, so how could there be a wound of betrayal that would never heal?

“I’ll sit inside then, so it’ll be easier for you to get out later.”

“Okay.”

Zhou Fu shifted her body, turning her legs towards the aisle, and Chen Yuan walked into the space left.

However, as he turned to sit down, his bag suddenly felt a springy resistance...

[It hurts!]

Sorry, sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose, don’t accuse me of sexual harassment, there are cameras watching!

Chen Yuan sat down cautiously, placing his bag on his lap, and looked at the girl next to him with a subtle, uncomfortable expression, who seemed to still be recalling the throbbing pain from just now, feeling somewhat guilty.

So, whether big or small, everyone has their own troubles.

Children worry that adults don’t understand them, adults worry that there’s no one to confide in… no, what size did you think I was referring to?

Xia Xinyu: Which bus are you on? I’m waiting for you at the station.

Looking at this message again, Chen Yuan hesitated briefly before sending it.

Chen Yuan: 737, just got on, I’ll text you when I’m close

It’s like a DUI checkpoint, the more nervous you act in front of the police, the more likely they are to pull you over and make you breathe into a breathalyzer, so at this time, just casually put one hand on the steering wheel and drive with a bland expression.

Besides, Chen Yuan, who hasn’t drunk any 'alcohol,' has nothing to fear, right?

Not afraid at all, only idiots are afraid.

“Aren’t you… almost at Xuefu Road?”

The bus drove for a while, and was almost at the imposing gate of the prestigious Fourth High School. Chen Yuan, seeing that she still had no intention of getting up, finally couldn’t help but tentatively ask.

Why isn’t she getting up yet?

You aren’t listening to the ‘Prepare to disembark’ announcement at all.

“I’ll get off at Jiangning Road.” Zhou Fu replied, “It seems about the same, I’m more familiar with that road.”

[Perfect, I'll buy a few steamed buns at Jiangning Road to take home.]

Very candid, this is true candor.

But...

Watching the bus slowly decelerate, almost arriving at the imposing, awesome gate of Fourth High School, Chen Yuan didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt inexplicably guilty.

If only he could hear his own thoughts.

“I’ll ask Lao Mo to change your seat for you tomorrow morning.”

“…” Zhou Fu had been looking at her phone, but Chen Yuan suddenly spoke, and about a topic that had already ended, which surprised her a little. However, she still seriously responded, “Okay, is there anything I need to do?”

“No, just stay in the classroom, otherwise the classmates will think you’re acting like a princess, wanting to switch seats with someone.”

“…Then what will the classmates think of you?”

“They all know my character, they probably think He Sijiao is too noisy and affecting my studies.”

“Pfft… sorry, I, I think so too.”

Actually, Chen Yuan had been quite quiet the whole way. That was just his personality, but even if she chatted with him, Zhou Fu wouldn’t feel any pressure. His world-weary expression and bland tone made her feel relaxed, and the conversation came naturally.

It was just that she was a little strange as to why he suddenly brought up this topic.

Just as the two of them were chatting normally, the students from Fourth High School who had boarded at Xuefu Road gradually filled up the few remaining seats on the bus, and Xia Xinyu and her classmates also got on at this stop, immediately seeing the two Eleventh High School uniforms, talking and laughing.

The guiltier you are, the more timid you become.

So Chen Yuan wanted to do the opposite and chat freely with Zhou Fu.

This way, their relationship would seem normal—the friendship between gentlemen is as light as water.

“Here.” Pretending to suddenly see Xia Xinyu, Chen Yuan raised his hand and greeted Xia Xinyu.

“…” Following his gaze and seeing Xia Xinyu, Zhou Fu was immediately dumbfounded.

[Wait, why did you ask me to sit together if you're going home with your little girlfriend?]

Wasn’t it you who asked me!

[Oh right, I did ask… so what do I do now?]

Not bad, she knows how to reflect.

No, act natural.

We didn’t do anything out of line, the only thing that might have been a little ambiguous was that I drank your milk this afternoon.

“…Mm.” Xia Xinyu had seen Chen Yuan chatting with the girl next to him and making her laugh before he even raised his hand, so she seemed calm when he greeted her, not surprised at all.

Her classmate next to her, however, showed a somewhat nervous expression, as if foreseeing a war about to break out.

[Why is he going home with another girl?]

[And she's such a bi-bi-bi-bi… big girl]

[Xia Xinyu doesn’t discipline her little boyfriend strictly enough.]

“I’m getting off at the next stop, let your… friend come sit here.” Zhou Fu got up, ready to leave, but quickly put her bag back on the seat, holding the spot, then looked at the quiet and pretty girl with a ponytail.

She wanted to invite her, but couldn’t bring herself to say it.

[If I were a boy, there wouldn’t be so many problems.]

Get lost, if you were a boy, I’d take a taxi home and wouldn’t even sit with you!

“Then I’ll sit over there.” After greeting her classmate, Xia Xinyu walked over to Chen Yuan.

“You sit, I’m getting off at this stop.” Zhou Fu forced a smile, but because of her personality, the smile was swallowed up by her unhideable awkwardness before it even fully formed.

“Thank you.” Xia Xinyu smiled and nodded at Zhou Fu, poised and generous.

There was no animosity or targeting in their gazes.

Well, Chen Yuan overestimated himself.

He's not exactly a hot commodity.

“Want to go to the supermarket to buy some groceries later?” Chen Yuan proactively asked.

Xia Xinyu nodded, but her gaze drifted towards Zhou Fu, who was facing away from them.

She stared intently at the short-haired girl with glasses.

[This girl has such a good figure.]

[Her face is so cute too.]

[Her glasses are a bit thick, if she didn’t need glasses, she would look even prettier.]

Hearing Xia Xinyu's thoughts, Chen Yuan finally felt relieved.

There was no secret comparison or irreconcilable conflict between the girls, this was a genuine compliment, wasn't it?

Although he didn’t know if it was ‘truly’ genuine, that’s what she said in her heart.

“Jiangning Road is almost here, passengers preparing to disembark, next stop…”

After arriving at the stop, Zhou Fu, because she was a coward, got off the bus without even saying goodbye.

And Xia Xinyu didn’t observe her in a subtle way anymore, glancing at Chen Yuan before turning her head, taking out her English book, and silently reciting words.

What’s the meaning of that look she gave me?

Just as Chen Yuan was puzzled, he clearly saw that Xia Xinyu’s action of silently reading suddenly paused for a frame.

[Turns out I misunderstood Chen Yuan before.]

Misunderstood me?

She even reflected on herself, her personality is a little too good.

But where exactly did she misunderstand him?

[He can get along pretty well with anyone, huh?]