All Part of the Plan

Shi Cheng hurriedly shook his head.

Damn it, he was the hunter!

Shi Cheng roared in his heart.

"What this means is..." As a seasoned bookworm, Shiina Hiyori quickly connected it to the text and explained it to Shi Cheng from beginning to end.

At first, Shi Cheng listened with great interest.

After all, Shiina Hiyori's voice was sweet and pleasant.

It was practically like listening to music.

But as time passed.

Shi Cheng increasingly sensed that something was off.

Shi Cheng sneaked a glance at the passage she had pointed to earlier to confirm.

Could that have been a very long section?

Otherwise, how could she have talked for so long?

Looking at the short passage on the page.

Shi Cheng raised his head and looked at Shiina Hiyori, who was still talking nonstop.

He discovered that an indescribable flame seemed to be burning around her.

A delicate girl like her.

Should not have possessed such energy.

What was going on?

Before Shi Cheng could figure it out.

Perhaps Shi Cheng's gaze had reminded her.

Shiina Hiyori abruptly stopped, reluctantly closing her cherry-red lips.

It was rare for someone to be willing to listen to her ramble on for so long.

She had to cherish this hard-won blessing.

Shiina Hiyori cautiously asked, "Sorry, did I talk a little too much?"

Shiina Hiyori's tiny heart pounded violently.

She had done far more than talk a little too much.

She had practically spoiled half the book.

Only realizing it now? Was she some kind of hardcore book fan?

Shi Cheng secretly became more alert. It seemed he needed to raise his assessment of Shiina Hiyori another level.

Seeing Shiina Hiyori's hesitant, worried expression.

Shi Cheng gathered his courage and tested the waters.

As the saying went.

The bold starved, while the timid went hungry.

He was going all in.

Shi Cheng sat down beside Shiina Hiyori, grabbed her soft little hand, and said excitedly, "Listening to you explain it makes it feel even easier than reading it myself."

Huh? Huh huh huh?!

Panic appeared on Shiina Hiyori's delicate face.

Why had he come over?

And why was he holding onto her hand?

Before she could offer a polite reminder.

His heartfelt words immediately captured Shiina Hiyori's full attention.

Someone finally understood her!

Shiina Hiyori smiled shyly. "As long as you don't mind me spoiling things."

Shiina Hiyori frankly admitted her earlier mistake.

Then she looked at Shi Cheng expectantly with her little eyes.

He probably would not mind, right?

Shi Cheng shook his head. Of course he did not take it to heart.

If he had the chance, he would even be willing to let Shiina Hiyori spoil an entire book for him.

"Really? That's wonderful." Shiina Hiyori, who had not yet had her fill, brightened and suddenly became excited.

She picked up the top book from the stack, ready to go all out.

It was rare to meet someone who shared her interests and was willing to sit down and listen to her.

Shiina Hiyori only wanted to keep talking for three days and three nights.

Watching Shiina Hiyori gradually reveal her crazier side, Shi Cheng's mouth twitched as he lightly patted the back of her hand.

They should handle the important matter first.

As for listening to her preach, that was not necessary.

He could just treat it as cultivating his character.

"This can wait. We don't even know each other yet. My name is Shi Cheng, first-year Class D."

"Mhm." Shiina Hiyori nodded vigorously, fully agreeing with Shi Cheng.

She really had been impolite.

She had finally met someone with similar interests.

Yet she had only thought about herself.

That was terribly inappropriate.

Shiina Hiyori looked serious and said softly, "My name is Shiina Hiyori, first-year Class C."

After introducing herself.

Since they were newly acquainted friends, Shiina Hiyori kindly made a suggestion and pointed at the book she had just brought over.

"Shi Cheng, I recommend starting with this one. It's the prequel."

Shiina Hiyori did not directly say that the book he was reading was difficult, since she had to consider Shi Cheng's pride.

Shi Cheng took her advice to heart.

Then he said something that made her heart stop.

"Rather than reading it slowly by myself, I'd rather listen to Shiina explain it. It's much easier to understand that way."

"Then I'll explain it!" Shiina Hiyori had been impatient for this all along.

Shi Cheng nodded.

He gave her an encouraging look.

Shiina Hiyori perked up, vowing to make Shi Cheng understand everything thoroughly.

Shi Cheng kept smiling.

And quietly moved a little closer to her.

So he could listen more conveniently.

Their shoulders touched, creating quite the studious atmosphere.

Shiina Hiyori, immersed in the moment, did not notice at all.

Or perhaps she had noticed.

But she was busy right now.

How could she spare the attention to care about it?

Couldn't she see that Shi Cheng was listening so seriously?

Who knew how much time passed.

Shiina Hiyori stopped, her mouth dry.

But the passion in her eyes showed no sign of fading.

It was the first time she had talked this much.

Though she was somewhat unaccustomed to it.

She still resolutely reached for another book.

Shi Cheng's eyelids twitched. No, she was going again?

Thoughtful as ever, Shi Cheng raised a hand and held down the hand she was about to use to turn the page. "Shiina, you should rest for a while. What flavor of iced tea would you like?"

"Huh? Mm, okay." Shiina Hiyori lightly pursed her somewhat dry lips.

If Shi Cheng had not mentioned it, she would not even have noticed.

Shiina Hiyori turned her smooth little face sideways, and her eyes met Shi Cheng's.

She was not some innocent fool.

She could understand certain implications.

Looking at the sincere gaze he gave her, Shiina Hiyori suddenly felt a little guilty.

What was she thinking?

Shi Cheng was simply concerned about her.

And they had only just met.

How could that be possible?

It was a little hot, and she could drink something cold, so Shiina Hiyori said airily, "Plain iced tea is fine. Sorry to trouble you, Shi Cheng."

"It's fine." Shi Cheng chuckled. "This is my thank-you gift. I hope Shiina won't dislike it."

Shiina Hiyori puffed out her soft cheeks. "Shi Cheng, you're being too formal. Aren't we friends?"

Shiina Hiyori's tone became unusually firm, as though emphasizing the point.

Shi Cheng's expression turned strange.

They had only met today, yet they were already this close?

He did not think too much about it.

Leaving Shiina Hiyori's eager gaze behind, Shi Cheng walked over to a vending machine.

He returned with two bottles of iced tea.

Shi Cheng unceremoniously sat down beside Shiina Hiyori again.

Even as a listener.

He was still eager to learn.

A wave of heat washed over her, and Shiina Hiyori's delicate body trembled slightly.

Apparently, now that she had returned to normal, she was a little unaccustomed to it.

Shiina Hiyori really wanted to ask Shi Cheng to sit across from her.

But when she remembered what she had said earlier.

She suddenly felt like she had dropped a rock on her own foot.

Fortunately, Shi Cheng was fairly well-behaved and did not get overly handsy.

Otherwise, her cheeks would definitely be flushed red by now.

Though they were not much better at the moment, already faintly pink.

Suppressing the shyness in her heart, Shiina Hiyori twisted open the cap.

She took a small sip of iced tea to calm herself down.

After a pause, Shiina Hiyori lightly coughed and decided to quickly shift her attention.

"Shi Cheng, then I'll begin."

Thinking of the several books still waiting for her.

Shiina Hiyori was already itching to continue.

"Mm, I'm here." Shi Cheng rested his chin on his hand and quietly watched her.

Sure enough, the road ahead would not always be smooth.

At least, he was facing a serious obstacle right now.

If Shiina Hiyori were not so beautiful and sweet-voiced.

He truly could not imagine how he would keep this up.