Chu Youning looked a little lost as she said this.
When she first learned that quite a few people had heard her thoughts, her reaction had been utter mortification.
But now, there seemed to be another feeling in her heart, a fear she could not put into words.
She was afraid that just as she slowly realized she had grown fond of this place, the people around her would begin leaving her, one by one.
The System could not quite understand its host's sudden melancholy.
[Host, haven't you always been pretty confident?]
[Only a handful of people can hear your thoughts. Far more can't, and don't they treat you well just the same?]
"System, humans have a way of protecting themselves: the more they lack something, the harder they try to show they have it.
"As for me... I didn't have a family that gave me a sense of security and taught me confidence growing up, so I could only slap my own face swollen to pretend I was plump~"
Chu Youning let out a deep sigh.
The next second.
A shadow fell over her head.
Chu Youning looked up. The first thing she saw was an oil-paper umbrella, and beneath it stood Qing Qianxue in smoky blue robes.
"What are you doing here?"
Qing Qianxue quietly crouched beside Chu Youning and gently stroked her head with his free hand. His voice was soft, with a soothing strength to it.
"I felt that Ningning needed me, so I came."
"Oh." Unwilling to admit it, Chu Youning stubbornly retorted, "You're far too full of yourself. I don't need you!"
Then Chu Youning continued, "Besides, it isn't raining, and the sun isn't even that strong right now. What's with the umbrella?"
"Well, I happened to pass by and noticed a little girl