Side story: Castorice's high school life (3)

Since walking together after school that day, a subtle connection seems to have formed between Luo Li and Castorice.

During breaks, Luo Li would still twirl her pen, but her gaze would always unconsciously drift toward the quiet, silver-purple figure diagonally in front of her.

Occasionally, when Castorice gets up to get water or leaves her seat, her gaze will casually drift towards Luo Li's direction, as fleetingly as a dragonfly skimming the water.

This subtle interaction, like a pebble thrown into still water, may create small ripples, but it doesn't escape the notice of certain observant people.

"Li Zi, you seem a bit distracted with your pen lately?"

Yang Shan hooked his arm around Luo Li's neck, grinned mischievously, and whispered, "Where do you keep glancing?"

Kong Yan'er also appeared out of nowhere and leaned over, pushing up his non-existent glasses, and said in his unique, slightly teasing tone, "Data collection and analysis shows that the target person Castorice's, 'silent attention level' has increased significantly recently, which is suspected to be related to someone's 'wildflower offensive'."

"Get lost!" Luo Li's ears burned. She broke free from Yang Shan and glared at Kong Yan'er angrily. "Stop using your crappy superpower to analyze such nonsense."

Despite this, he felt a strange, indescribable joy in his heart.

Did she... really pay attention to him?

The last period that afternoon was a self-study period. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on Castorice's hair.

Unusually, she didn't immediately organize her notes or read the book. Instead, she turned slightly to the side and gently placed a neatly folded note on the corner of Luo Li's desk.

Luo Li was stunned, her heart skipped a beat.

He almost held his breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he opened the note.

The above is written in neat, yet slightly cold, handwriting:

Luo Li:

I am grateful for the wildflowers that day, and for walking with you after school.

If you have nothing else to do after school tomorrow afternoon, could you Mourning Funeral Home?

Polyxena would like to ask you some questions about school clubs.

If you find it inconvenient, there's no need to force yourself.

--Castorice "

The note was plain and the tone was as calm as ever, but the words "Mourning Funeral Home" still made Luo Li's heart skip a beat.

It wasn't fear, but a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and a certain tension of being treated specially.

She invited him to her house? That place that others considered eerie?

He almost immediately picked up a pen and wrote forcefully and quickly on the back of the note, "Okay, definitely there."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "You're welcome." Then, taking advantage of the fact that no one was looking, she quickly handed the note back.

Castorice took it, glanced at it, and without turning around, simply nodded very slightly. Her earlobes seemed to have a faint, transparent pink tinge in the light.

This scene, though brief, was witnessed by Murong Xue, who had been keeping a Castorice.

She scoffed dismissively and looked away.

The news that Luo Li went to the Mourning Funeral Home as promised the next day somehow spread like wildfire during breaks between classes.

The source is unknown; it may have been a classmate who saw Luo Li walking in that direction and made a guess based on previous rumors, or it may have just been a baseless rumor.

But when Luo Li walked into the classroom the next morning, she could clearly sense that the atmosphere was a little strange.

A group of boys who didn't usually get along gathered together, and when he came in, they deliberately raised their voices.

"Hey, have you heard? Someone's got some nerve, going to 'visit' a place like that?"

"Mourning Funeral Home, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Don't they find it unlucky?!"

"I'm amazed that someone would go to a place like this just to pick up girls."

"I heard it's very yin (negative energy) inside; if you get in, you might have bad luck for years!"

"Isn't it unlucky to get too close to people whose families own funeral homes?"

The discussions weren't particularly loud, but they were certainly jarring.

With the cruelty and herd mentality unique to teenagers, it pierced through like cold needles, one after another.

Murong Xue and her friends listened from afar, their faces filled with undisguised disdain.

Yang Shan frowned, wanting to speak up for Luo Li, but Luo Li stopped him with a look.

Kong Yan'er had somehow wandered over to the group of boys and said slowly, "According to the 'Urban Management Regulations,' funeral homes are legal and compliant public service facilities. Linking a legitimate profession with 'bad luck' is a typical and outdated superstitious idea. I suggest you read more books and stop spreading unverified negative energy." His smile was harmless, but his words left the boys speechless for a moment.

Luo Li walked to her seat expressionlessly, stuffed her schoolbag into the desk, making quite a noise.

He's not exactly popular; he's mostly just joking around, but when something really happens, there are far more people watching the drama unfold and kicking someone when they're down than actually helping.

But he never imagined that simply accepting an invitation from a classmate would lead to such a collective attack.

Bad luck? Unlucky?

He recalled Castorice's calm, watery purple eyes, the slightly cool fingertips of her hand as she accepted the wildflowers, and her straight yet frail back as she walked along the path to the funeral home.

These shallow folks don't understand anything at all.

He stood up abruptly, a small movement, but enough to silence the surrounding noise for a moment.

He didn't look at those who were mocking him, but went straight to the water dispenser to get some water. He spoke calmly, his voice not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the small area:

"A person whose mind is filled with bad luck will find everything unlucky."

What's wrong with the funeral home? At least it's much cleaner than some noisy, sour-smelling corners.

He didn't name names, but his sharp gaze swept over the few who had been talking the loudest, silencing them instantly, their faces flushing red and then turning pale.

After saying that, he filled his water bottle, returned to his seat as if nothing had happened, and took out his textbook for the next class, as if he had just casually commented on the weather.

He didn't look in Castorice's direction, but he could feel a calm gaze, tinged with a hint of inquiry, falling on his back.

That's enough.

After school, following her Remembrance, Luo Li once again walked down the quiet path leading to the Mourning Funeral Home.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over him. Unlike yesterday's elation, today his mood carried a sense of calm after the storm, and a barely perceptible determination.

He stood outside the side door of the funeral home, took a deep breath, and was about to ring the doorbell when the door was opened from the inside.

It was Castorice who opened the door.

She changed out of her school uniform and into a simple dark-colored loungewear outfit. Her long, silver-purple hair was loosely draped over her shoulders. She looked less aloof and distant than she did at school, and more gentle.

"You've come."

Her tone remained calm, but her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, as if trying to confirm something.

"Please come in."

Luo Li followed her into the small building. The interior was much more normal than he had imagined.

Clean, tidy, and quiet, the air is filled with a faint scent, a mixture of sandalwood and disinfectant, which is not unpleasant but has a unique sense of solemnity.

Polyxena was nestled on the sofa in the living room, listening to an audiobook. Hearing the noise, she "looked" over, a sly smile spreading across her face, "Oh, the 'Pen Spinner' is here? Welcome to the River of Souls Frontier Observatory!"

She brandished her white cane. "I heard you 'cleared our names' at school? Well done!"

Castorice gave her younger sister a light glare, signaling her to be quiet, then said to Luo Li, "Don't listen to her nonsense—would you like something to drink?"

"Uh, water is fine, thank you."

Luo Li sat down somewhat awkwardly on the wooden chair in the living room, her eyes darting around nervously.

The furnishings are simple, with almost no superfluous decorations, conveying a sense of functional simplicity.

Castorice poured him a glass of water and sat down in the chair next to him. Polyxena, understanding the situation, put on her headphones and continued to immerse herself in her audio world, leaving the space to them.

After a brief silence, Castorice spoke, her voice lower than usual. "I heard about what happened at school today."

Luo Li tightened her grip on the water glass, then loosened it, shrugging casually, "It's nothing, just a few idle words—I don't care."

"Is that so?" Castorice looked at him, her purple eyes seemingly able to see through people's hearts. "But in the end, it all started because of me."

"It's none of your business."

Luo Li blurted out, her tone carrying a seriousness she herself didn't realize. "It's their narrow-mindedness. I think... there's nothing wrong with this place; it's very quiet."

He was telling the truth.

Compared to the boring noise and malicious speculation in the classroom, the excessive quiet here gave him a strange sense of peace.

Castorice paused slightly, seemingly not expecting him to say that.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath them.

"I'm used to it... This place... is just a workplace, but it's also home."

She paused, then lowered her voice. "Very few people... think like you."

At that moment, Luo Li seemed to see beneath her calm exterior a subtle loneliness that seemed out of place with her surroundings.

A strong impulse surged within him, making him want to dispel the invisible barrier that enveloped her.

I think it's great.

He repeated, looking at her with unwavering eyes.

"You... are very good too."

After he finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze.

Castorice raised her head and met his gaze.

Her cheeks slowly flushed a light red, which spread to her ears.

A flicker of panic crossed those usually calm purple eyes, like ripples spreading across a disturbed lake.

She subconsciously raised her hand and gently touched her burning earlobe with her fingertips. This slightly girlish gesture was a stark contrast to her usual aloof image, causing Luo Li's heart to race uncontrollably.

"You..." She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything immediately.

Luo Li belatedly realized that his face was burning. He gulped down a mouthful of water in an attempt to cool his soaring body temperature, but almost choked.

Seeing his somewhat disheveled appearance, Castorice suddenly laughed very lightly and very quickly.

The smile was faint, like the first flower bud blooming when the ice and snow melt, fleeting yet enough to leave Luo Li speechless.

"Idiot," she whispered, a hint of reproach in her voice that she herself didn't even realize.

That "idiot" was like a feather gently brushing against my heart, carrying an indescribable intimacy.

Luo Li felt like her ears were burning, but in her heart it was like a firework exploding, dazzling and brilliant.

He touched his nose and grinned foolishly; the gloom he felt from being mocked at school had long since vanished.

"Um... Polyxena, what club-related question do you want to ask?"

He tried to change the subject, concealing his inner turmoil.

Castorice seemed to have calmed down as well, but the blush on her face hadn't completely faded. "She was just making an excuse. Actually... I have some questions about the kendo club's training plan and wanted to get your opinion—I heard you're quick-witted."

This is clearly just an excuse.

The two exchanged a knowing glance before quickly looking away, leaving a sweet, ambiguous atmosphere in the air.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the unique silence of the funeral home enveloped the small building. But at this moment, Luo Li felt that this place was warmer than anywhere else he had ever been.

When he finally got up to say goodbye, Castorice saw him to the door.

"See you tomorrow, Luo Li," she said softly.

"See you tomorrow, Castorice." Luo Li mustered her courage and omitted the word "classmate."

Castorice did not correct him, but simply nodded slightly.

Stepping out of the funeral home, a cool evening breeze brushed against her face. Luo Li glanced back at the window illuminated by a dim, yellow light in the twilight, and a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

Bad luck? No, he felt that today was the luckiest day he had had since entering high school.