Middle School Definitely Had No Classmates

"Mm, goodbye." Shi Cheng waved.

After Shiina Hiyori left, Ichinose Honami was still puzzled.

She felt she needed to understand it. It seemed important.

Seeing her distress, Shi Cheng smiled and explained, "Still haven't figured it out?"

"Mm." Ichinose Honami furrowed her lovely brows tightly.

"Shiina thought we were dating, so she didn't stay and interrupt us."

After saying that, Shi Cheng stared at her intently, anticipating all kinds of reactions from Ichinose Honami.

"Eek!" A captivating flush rapidly spread across Ichinose Honami's fair cheeks.

She looked absolutely mouthwatering.

Shi Cheng held himself back. Rather than reaching out, he teased, "No way, Ichinose. Is your resistance to this kind of thing really that low?"

With such outstanding natural assets, even if she had never agreed to date anyone, she should have had some experience at least.

Ichinose Honami puffed out her round cheeks as if dissatisfied. "Why do you think I'm so experienced?"

Ichinose Honami was not actually angry.

She simply did not understand why Shi Cheng would think that.

Shi Cheng widened his eyes in surprise. "Did all your middle school classmates wear thick glasses? Couldn't they see how well-endowed you were?"

Not to mention that her face was beautiful, Shi Cheng did not think someone could grow so magnificent that quickly.

She must have already had them back then.

Shi Cheng could not help giving her an appraising glance. She was almost on par with Sakura Airi.

Shi Cheng's probing gaze did not earn him a coy reproach.

The Ichinose Honami who had been so cheerful just moments ago lowered her head with a dark expression.

It was as though something he said had struck right at her heart.

Certain it was not because of his gaze, Shi Cheng frowned in confusion.

Judging from her reaction...

She truly had no experience.

Yet Ichinose Honami's behavior was still very strange.

He could not make sense of it.

Shi Cheng rubbed his chin, unable to figure it out.

Seeing her unpleasant expression, Shi Cheng had no intention of stepping on another landmine.

Shi Cheng clapped his hands lightly, livening the mood with an easy smile. "Looks like I'm lucky, then. I might get the chance to become Ichinose's one and only."

"Sorry, I suddenly remembered I still have something to take care of."

Whether she had heard him or not, Ichinose Honami rudely and swiftly left her seat.

Watching her flee in disarray, Shi Cheng did not blame her.

Ichinose Honami must have had some hardship she could not speak of. Shi Cheng completely understood.

"Sigh." Shi Cheng let out a soft sigh.

He had not expected such a nice little perk to leave in the end.

How sad.

Still, he had gained quite a lot.

At the very least, he now knew Ichinose Honami was hiding a major secret no one else knew about.

And it was an especially fatal one.

Shi Cheng hummed as he continued enjoying his free dinner.

With nothing else happening afterward, time quickly reached the same hour on the following day.

"Shi Cheng, I have something to tell you!"

On the way to the Library after school, Shi Cheng was precisely intercepted by Ichinose Honami.

He glanced at the quiet little path, where hardly anyone would notice them.

Then he glanced at the dark woods beside it, feeling somewhat concerned.

Would several burly men suddenly jump out of the bushes?

"Ichinose, what is it?" Shi Cheng withdrew his surveying gaze and turned serious.

This girl really would not do. Her patience was far too poor. She needed much more practice.

Looking at her pretty face, tinged with anxiety, Shi Cheng could easily guess what Ichinose Honami was thinking.

She had definitely come because of yesterday.

Wasn't this practically confessing without being asked?

Could she really not keep her cool at all?

It seemed like it was some extremely serious dark history.

Shi Cheng nodded inwardly, becoming even more curious about what it was.

Under Shi Cheng's calm gaze, Ichinose Honami nervously clenched her fists.

Only after calling out to Shi Cheng did she suddenly come to her senses.

Her behavior had been somewhat abnormal.

Especially after what happened yesterday.

She had become completely unable to stay calm.

There was no helping it. Ichinose Honami had come here precisely to escape her past life.

So she did not want anyone here to know about it too.

Her thoughts racing, Ichinose Honami awkwardly laughed it off. "Shi Cheng, you're going to the Library to study too, right? We can go together."

Her intention to conceal the truth was now incredibly obvious.

But she had no other choice.

Because she could not ask Shi Cheng not to overthink it.

Nor could she give a reasonable explanation for what she had done at the time.

After all, an explanation was a cover-up. She had finally understood that.

So now, Ichinose Honami only hoped Shi Cheng would be a little more simple-minded and let her fool him.

"That's it?" Shi Cheng looked slightly disappointed. "I thought Ichinose had deliberately waited here to confess to me."

"Ahaha." Ichinose Honami gave an awkward little laugh.

Hearing his hint, whether intentional or accidental, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

She could use herself as the price to keep Shi Cheng's mouth shut.

After all, his eyes often wandered where they should not.

But how could she do that?

Ichinose Honami's face filled with resistance.

She was someone stained by sin.

She had no value.

"Sorry, Shi Cheng. I made you misunderstand." Ichinose Honami lowered her head honestly.

After all, her behavior really was easy to misinterpret.

She could completely understand why Shi Cheng had misunderstood.

"Sigh." Shi Cheng sighed softly, still looking somewhat regretful. "Then let's go."

"Mm-hm." A tiny flutter stirred in Ichinose Honami's heart.

Could someone like her be okay too?

But that thought only appeared for a brief instant.

She barely even noticed it.

Seeing the Library appear in the distance, Ichinose Honami suddenly let out a breath of relief.

The class study group revolved around her.

Yet she had not been there. She really felt sorry for them.

Fortunately, Shi Cheng had not delayed her for long.

Otherwise, she would have had to seriously consider which lie to use.

As she thought about it, Ichinose Honami lowered her head in low spirits.

It seemed she had become a bad girl again.

Shi Cheng glanced sideways at the dispirited Ichinose Honami beside him and tentatively hooked a finger beneath her soft chin.

He reminded her, "Watch where you're going. It'd be such a shame if that pretty face got hurt in a fall."

"Oh, okay." Ichinose Honami nodded with flushed cheeks, pulling herself together again.

She did not notice Shi Cheng's bold action at all.

Only after Shi Cheng calmly withdrew his hand did Ichinose Honami suddenly realize what had just happened.

She wanted to say something.

But he had already pulled back, and he had only meant well.

Ichinose Honami truly felt too embarrassed to blame him.

She could only suddenly murmur in a tiny voice, so low it was nearly inaudible.

"Shi Cheng, you seem really practiced at that. You must have been popular in middle school."

It was an extremely strange thing to say, yet she said it naturally.

And because the place was so quiet to begin with,

her whisper-like voice reached Shi Cheng's ears.

Are you a White Album Scholar too?

Shi Cheng turned his head in surprise.

He said seriously, "No. My standards are high. I'd only consider someone like Ichinose."

Hearing his words of approval, Ichinose Honami turned her head away in embarrassment, not daring to look at him.

"I'm not as good as you say."