I Thought This Was a Slice of Life

Shuya nodded.

He knew Li Shuhong was advising him out of genuine kindness.

In this era where technology is powerful, the role of individual martial prowess has been infinitely diminished.

...But it is not entirely useless.

As long as an expert is willing to lower their status to engage in infiltration and assassination, the destructive power they possess is absolutely unbearable.

Just like the Dahua Special Forces of the past...

Back then, there was no Shuke, nor was there any Qidian ACG section; there was only the Qidian Fanfiction section.

That was the origin of everything, the beginning of the dream.

At that time, everyone was fueled by passion, with no concept of paywalls, and the comment sections were very harmonious; there weren't many people who would troll.

Back then, I started a Ga-Rei fanfic and wrote it with such joy, without any pressure. Even if I missed an update, no one would complain; it was just the feeling of everyone gathering together because of interest and fate.

Everyone wrote books purely out of love.

In my heart, that is an eternal pure land.

It is a pity that we can never go back.

Finally... are there any brothers from another mother who chased Love and Sorrow of the Phoenix with me back then? Come out and say hello.

Section 59 52 Reaching a Consensus

Li Shuhong and Shuya successfully reached a consensus.

He would mentor Shuya for one month, and Shuya would study hard to inherit the school of Ikeda Ichinosuke.

As for the start time, it was set for tomorrow.

"Kid, have you ever seen Tokyo at four in the morning?"

Li Shuhong said with a mysterious air.

Shuya smiled and played along with his act, and after Li Shuhong asked for Shuya's address, he left.

He said he would come to pick him up tomorrow.

After dealing with the expert, Shuya called Aoki Shin, as he had left without saying goodbye earlier and felt he should let him know.

On the phone, Aoki Shin didn't say much, only telling Shuya to study hard. He was currently hanging out with Jackie Chan and the others in Kabukicho and it wasn't convenient for Shuya to come over.

He also knew what kind of person Li Shuhong was, so he didn't pry too much into the conversation between Shuya and him, fearing he might hear something he shouldn't.

Aoki Shin talked to Shuya for a while before Jackie Chan took the phone.

Jackie Chan simply congratulated Shuya a few times without saying anything extra.

But Shuya could tell that his tone had become much closer. It seemed that even though Li Shuhong only agreed to teach him for a month, in Jackie Chan's eyes, Shuya was already considered one of their own.

This was a very comfortable thigh to hug.

Shuya chatted with him for a few sentences before the phone was passed back to Aoki Shin, who didn't have much else to say to Shuya, other than to inform him that Mai was still waiting for him at the television station.

Shuya was quite surprised.

He looked around, not knowing where he was, so he went out to hail a taxi and took it back to the television station.

As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Mai standing there with her arms crossed, looking at him unhappily.

"Shuya! You ran off so suddenly, you shouldn't make people worry like that!"

"Sorry, sorry. I'll let you know next time."

"There's going to be a next time?!"

"I reckon there probably will be."

Shuya was still very self-aware.

"You... hmph! Forget it, it's not like I can control you."

Mai rolled her eyes at him, and seeing him covered in sweat, she frowned and said, "You should pay attention to your appearance."

As she spoke, she took out a fragrant little handkerchief, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned toward Shuya to wipe his sweat.

"Oh."

Shuya suddenly saw her delicate little face leaning in, the breeze she stirred up carrying a fresh fragrance.

Shuya, this single dog, had his heart racing uncontrollably.

Mai's fair little hands were waving in front of his face, and her hair even brushed against his arm.

This slightly intimate gesture made Shuya feel quite flustered.

"What's wrong? Shuya... ah."

Mai tilted her head, realizing something.

She coughed lightly, stepped back, and said seriously, "Sorry, you are a good person."

"I know! And I'm not interested in you! I have someone I like, okay!"

Shuya was furious.

What did you mean by that when I didn't even say anything!

Are you looking down on my magnificent, youthful face or what!

"Eh--- so Shuya actually has someone he likes?"

Mai was startled, then leaned in with a mischievous smirk.

She smiled sweetly and acted coquettishly: "Shu-chan senpai, tell me about it. Who is she? Do I know her? Na, na, na, do you have a photo?"

Oh no! I said the wrong thing!

Shuya's face darkened; he couldn't believe this little demoness had found out.

Looking at how incredibly gossipy Mai-chan was, he figured he wouldn't be able to brush her off.

Shuya knew that if he didn't say something, Mai wouldn't let him go, so he said helplessly: "How about this, let's find a quiet place to talk?"

"Okay!"

Mai nodded enthusiastically.

Soon, the two found a quiet dessert shop to sit and talk.

Mai ordered a cup of ice cream to listen to Shuya's story time.

Shuya began to talk about the Quintuplets, about Rena, and about his history with them.

At first, Mai listened with great excitement, constantly eating her ice cream.

But as she kept listening, her excited smile slowly faded, and the movement of her hand stopped.

Mai pushed the cup aside and slumped onto the table.

With a gloomy expression, she clutched her stomach: "Sorry, I have a bit of a stomachache."

Swinging her legs, she said sullenly: "Ah---! If I had known, I wouldn't have listened. I thought it was going to be a sweet and sour love story! But instead... I regret it, I regret it!"

Shuya gave a wry smile: "Is, is it really that exaggerated?"

"No, the fact that you, Shuya, think you have a chance is what I find truly admirable."

Mai waved her hand weakly, feeling as if the ice cream had turned bitter.

"A mentally normal woman in her twenties wouldn't possibly be interested in a six-year-old kid, right?"

"Hey, what kind of way is that to talk? Can't you encourage me a little? Are we still best friends!"

Shuya said indignantly.

"It's precisely because we're best friends that I don't want you to continue this," Mai said rationally. "Give it up, Shuya."

"How would I know if it won't work if I haven't tried?"

Shuya huffed twice.

"Sigh, you're good at everything, except for being stubborn."

Mai-chan cupped her cheeks, looking at Shuya with a troubled expression.

"How about this, I'll take a loss. I'll pretend to be your girlfriend and go on a few dates with you to correct your skewed orientation?"

"Not necessary. I have no interest in little girls with no chest and no legs."

Shuya refused decisively.

"Hmph! You don't appreciate kindness!"

Mai-chan kicked him.

"Anyway, you don't need to worry about it. My mind is made up."

"..."

Mai sighed and picked up her little bag: "Then I'm leaving. I don't want to deal with you anymore. Good luck."

However, Shuya held down her small hand and smiled kindly: "Wait, Mai-chan. You heard my secret... and you think you can just slip away like that?"

"...Then what do you want."

Mai looked at him warily, feeling like she was in for trouble.

"Help me come up with ideas and strategies," Shuya said bluntly. "Even though you're a different age than Ms. Rena, you're at least the same gender. That's got to be better than me racking my brain alone."

"Eh? You've got to be kidding me." Mai's face fell, and she looked at Shuya pitifully.

She didn't want to get dragged into this mess; she just wanted to hear the gossip and be done with it.

...Now she couldn't even enjoy the gossip, and all that was left was trouble.

"Mai-chan, I'm your best friend, right?"

Shuya launched an emotional offensive.

"...Yes."

Mai said dejectedly.

"Then can you bear to see a good friend feeling sad?"

"...I cannot."

She closed her eyes and said with difficulty.

"Then do you think that running away after hearing my secret is a betrayal of the trust I placed in you?"

"I don't think—cough, I do."

Mai's tone became lifeless.

"Very good, I like honest, well-behaved children."

Shuya stroked her hair, and this time, Mai did not resist.

She was feeling desperate about being dragged into this troublesome affair.

Her own life was busy enough as it was, and now she had to accompany Shuya on this hopeless love consultation.

I shouldn't have been curious in the first place! Now I've gotten myself roped into this!

Mai was filled with regret.

Shuya's feelings were the exact opposite; he was overjoyed to have gained a tool-like helper.

And so, Shuya and Mai began a pleasant (in Shuya's opinion) conversation.

Shuya kept singing Rena's praises, while Mai listened until she was drowsy.

Seeing that it was already afternoon, Shuya finally let her go.