New Situations Always Turn Up

Shi Cheng naturally had no reason to refuse.

Besides, all the facilities on the ship were free, so there was no need for him to stand on ceremony.

And now he had someone to lead the way.

He did not need to agonize over what to eat later.

Before setting off, Shi Cheng waggled his eyebrows and said, "You won't find me, the third wheel, an eyesore later, will you?"

Hirata Yosuke froze for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

Oh?

Hearing that one-sided answer,

Shi Cheng's eyes lit up.

So he was henpecked after all. But why did he not ask Karuizawa Kei for her opinion?

Since he was not going to ask, Shi Cheng was definitely going.

Shi Cheng had never been someone afraid of trouble. Even if Karuizawa Kei did not want him there, he would cling on until he had finished eating.

It would also be a good chance to get close and see what exactly was going on with Karuizawa Kei.

The two of them then headed together to a restaurant that looked quite decent.

Judging by its exterior and the food it offered,

it had probably been chosen by Karuizawa Kei.

That struck Shi Cheng as a little strange.

Are you henpecked or not? Make up your mind.

But since they were already here, he might as well go in and take a look.

"You're so slow. You made me wait forever."

Karuizawa Kei spotted them immediately and complained at once.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Hirata Yosuke sat down across from Karuizawa Kei with an apologetic look.

Watching their interaction, which felt completely off,

Shi Cheng frowned oddly.

No, what is with you two? Are you even a real couple?

"Huh? Why did you bring someone else? I didn't..." Only after Hirata Yosuke sat down did Karuizawa Kei notice Shi Cheng beside him.

She had been about to drive him away.

For some reason, she suddenly stopped. The resistance vanished from her face, replaced by a faint trace of fear.

"Shi Cheng, sit wherever you like."

Weren't you just about to chase me off? Go on, then.

Shi Cheng could not make sense of it. He had already been prepared to trade insults with her.

But since she had backed down, Shi Cheng naturally could not keep giving her attitude.

But the problem was,

the two of them, a couple, were not sitting together.

And you're making me choose between the two of you?

His gaze swept quickly over them.

Because of Karuizawa Kei's words,

Shi Cheng decisively chose to sit beside her.

Sitting beside a girl was far roomier than sitting with a guy.

He was someone who knew how to enjoy himself.

To guard against Hirata Yosuke suddenly exploding, Shi Cheng stayed prepared at all times.

Yet Hirata Yosuke's expression remained perfectly normal, as though he had tacitly approved of it.

Shi Cheng could not understand it, but that did not stop him from being deeply shocked.

Had Karuizawa Kei trained him that well?

He did not even react to this?

After getting over his shock at Hirata Yosuke's lack of response, Shi Cheng, seated beside Karuizawa Kei, noticed something else.

He could clearly feel that Karuizawa Kei had become unusually tense.

A faint sheen of sweat had even appeared on her face.

It was as though she was afraid of him.

You two are playing some kind of role-playing game, right? And I'm the actor who doesn't know what's going on.

Since he did not understand, Shi Cheng could only judge based on common sense.

"Let's eat. It'll get cold soon."

Hirata Yosuke finally spoke, but it was not what Shi Cheng wanted to hear.

"That's true," Shi Cheng replied.

If not, then not. Eat first.

During the meal, Shi Cheng's leg under the table inadvertently brushed against Karuizawa Kei's fair, soft thigh.

Unfortunately, the school only provided boys with long trousers, so he could not accurately tell just how smooth it was.

Before Shi Cheng could lament that he was unable to savor the feeling properly,

he noticed something else. She did not move away.

Something this good exists?

Is this right?

Shi Cheng quickly glanced to the side.

Karuizawa Kei's expression was rigid, as though she had been immobilized by a spell.

Shi Cheng blinked.

She's that immersed in the role?

Her superb acting instantly won Shi Cheng over.

As expected of a gyaru. She really knew how to play.

Even as he admired her, Shi Cheng did not forget to continue playing along.

As long as she did not call a stop,

he would remain a dedicated actor.

Shi Cheng put down the hand holding his chopsticks and switched to the other one.

He happened to have a sudden whim and wanted to practice his left hand's dexterity.

"Mmph!" Karuizawa Kei let out a muffled cry, lowered her head, and flushed scarlet.

Her honey-colored bangs covered her frightened eyes, making it impossible to see what was really happening.

Hirata Yosuke, who had been eating seriously, raised his head and asked Karuizawa Kei with concern as her body trembled uncontrollably, "Karuizawa, what's wrong?"

"Yosuke, I'm fine. It's just spicy!"

Karuizawa Kei gritted her teeth and managed to force out a faint voice.

"Drinking more water will help."

As long as she was fine, Hirata Yosuke was relieved. He nodded and continued eating.

"I know."

Something isn't right here.

At that moment, Shi Cheng could not be bothered to continue enjoying himself. His attention returned to how they had addressed each other.

One called the other Karuizawa, while the other called him Yosuke.

Is this some kind of professional act?

Even he, an outsider, was starting to feel as though they were not actually a couple.

But if they wanted to keep acting,

then of course he would play along.

"No!" Karuizawa Kei suddenly grabbed Shi Cheng's hand and looked at him with watery, pleading eyes, her voice tiny.

Seeing how pitiful she looked,

Shi Cheng was not fooled.

He calmly said, "Are you finally done with the cosplay?"

Shi Cheng withdrew his hand and resumed eating normally.

His right hand was still easier to use. The food even tasted better that way.

Karuizawa Kei stared at him, red-faced.

Trying to understand what he meant.

Had she been exposed?

No.

If she had truly been exposed, how could he have withdrawn his hand? He would only have gone even further.

Having figured out the key point,

the redness on Karuizawa Kei's face faded slightly.

After racking her brains, Karuizawa Kei finally found the answer.

She remembered some scenes she had seen before.

She shot Shi Cheng an embarrassed, resentful glance.

You don't watch anything decent. You only watch this kind of stuff.

Of course, Shi Cheng had no idea what she was thinking.

Otherwise, he would definitely have snapped back.

You're so pure. You don't watch it.

The matter quickly came to an end.

Because the meal was over.

"I suddenly remembered I still have something to deal with, so I'll head back first." Once Shi Cheng moved aside and cleared the path to freedom,

Karuizawa Kei decisively stood up and made her escape.

She moved as fast as she possibly could.

In the blink of an eye, she had disappeared.

Was that really necessary? It's not like I'm some savage beast.

Watching her fleeing figure, Shi Cheng smiled and looked at Hirata Yosuke.

"Hirata, that won't do. She just left you behind like that?"

Shi Cheng mocked him freely as though nothing had happened.

Men ought to be tougher.

Hirata Yosuke seemed unconcerned about either matter. "It's fine. I understand."

Shi Cheng's eyes gleamed.

But do you really understand?

"Fine, then. Do you have any activities planned next? I'm bored out of my mind over here."

Since Karuizawa Kei had run off,

Shi Cheng could freely occupy Hirata Yosuke's time without any guilt.

"Mm." Hirata Yosuke thought for a moment and took out his phone.

"Let's go swimming."

The swimming pool on the cruise ship was no smaller than the school's.

It was even better.

When Shi Cheng arrived,

all he saw was a sea of pale skin and a crowd of heads.

Nearly half the girls in the class were there.

With so many girls around,

there was naturally no shortage of boys.

If the place had not been so spacious,

it might have turned into a packed crowd.

Once they reached this cool place, Hirata Yosuke no longer belonged to him.

With Karuizawa Kei absent for once,

a girl boldly pulled Hirata Yosuke away.

Shi Cheng was not envious.

Her figure was pretty good, but unfortunately, her looks were lacking.