Chapter 4

  Ren Da College's latest super big news this month!

  Makino Ibuki and Myōsei Kiri's shocking romance is heating up again! This news has been confirmed - Makino Ibuki moved into Myōsei Kiri's apartment two days ago, and the two have started their sweet cohabitation life!

  "Hey, how's the taste?" Koizumi asked ambiguously.

  "What taste?"

  "What's the taste of Makino Ryuhyo?" Koizumi's eyes gleamed with malice as he winked, "Is it as great as his face?"

  "Shut up!" Ming Xiao Xi retorted back at her with two words, not in a good mood.

  "Don't be so stingy! It won't kill you to tell me, will it?" Koizumi pleaded.

  "You think I don't know? In the next minute, you'll sell this to those gossip reporters from Rende School Newspaper for a high price!" Ming Xiaoxi had seen through her long ago.

  "Good friends should share good fortune! You're happy with your romance, I'm happy with my little windfall! Don't be so stingy!"

  It's really hard to convince her, Minako sighed and suddenly thought of a question: "Koizumi, why is everyone so interested in what happened between me and Makino Fuyu?"

  "Nonsense! Makino Ryuichi is Japan's number one beautiful boy, after all! His flawless face and figure... Ah, how many girls drool over him..."

  "Then I snatched their idol, shouldn't I be attacked? Why is everyone just excited and being so polite to me?" Ming Xiaoxi found it strange.

  "What a lucky woman!" Koizumi said with a crooked mouth, "How come nobody hates you? But what can be done? You're so fierce that even Tōji Hironao isn't your match. The previous group fights were also easily settled by you. Who would dare to mess with you now? Plus, the three Japanese princes have already shown their intention to protect you, who dares to provoke them? Haven't you noticed that even the teacher is being extra polite to you? Last time, your geometry homework was given a full score! It's unreasonable!"

  "That's what I got after putting in a lot of effort, don't wrong me!" Ming Xiaoxi felt extremely wronged, her hard work day and night was misunderstood by others.

  "Anyway, since they can't have you, they might as well fantasize that they are you. Besides, Mukoyoshi Rei has always been icy cold, so their hopes were slim to begin with. So, you don't have to worry about it!"

  Ming Xiao Xi looked at her with admiration: "Xiao Quan, if you don't become an analyst in the future, it will be the greatest loss to the people!"

  Koizumi smugly farted: "You just know?"

  Ming Xiao Xi suddenly remembered something very important, raised her watch to look at the time, and it was already six o'clock! She hadn't realized it. She hastily gathered her things and rushed out of the classroom.

  "Hey, you haven't told me about your stuff yet!" Koizumi shouted.

  "See you next time!" Ming Xiaoxi replied while running, oh no, she didn't have much time left.

  Ming Xiao Xi rushed back home with all her might, gasping for breath, but she was still late.

  Her small apartment entrance was crowded with many people, including Makino Fuyu, Kazama Chiri, Tōji Hiroo, Tōji Hirosue and Marebito Hyōga. They had obviously been waiting for a long time.

  Seeing her finally return, Dong Si's Ha Xue pouted and said: "Ming sister, why are you so late? My feet have gone numb from standing!"

  "I... I... am almost there..." Ming Xiao Xi stuck out her tongue and panted, ah, exhausted to death.

  Feng Jiancheng took over the large shopping bags from her hands and smiled:

  "Since you're here, let's go in."

  It's still better for Kazama-senpai, Akira shook off the numbness in her arms and took out the key from her pocket to unlock the door.

  Dong Si Haoxue collapsed onto the chair in the living room, rubbing her numb feet.

  "Ming sister, why don't you give Pastor Yang a key? That way we won't have to wait so long."

  Ming Xiao Xi, who was drinking water with her head tilted back, almost choked, because - why did she have to give him the key? He wasn't even someone special to her.

  Dong Si was still complaining:

  "Older sister Ming, why don't you even have a sofa here? My waist is so sore from sitting."

  Ming Xiao Xi's teeth chattered "ge ge" sound, the impolite little thing, when visiting others' homes, still complained about this and that.

  The reckless and lawless Dongsi Haoyue is back again:

  "Ming sister, this is our first time coming to your home, what delicious dishes will you serve us?"

  "Hurray! Many people eating hot pot together, what a great atmosphere!" Dong Si Hao Xue cheered.

  Ming Xiao Xi smiled slyly:

  "You like it, but I need someone to help me collect hot pot ingredients."

  Dong Si's body suddenly shrunk.

  Kazuma stood up: "I'll help out."

  Ming Xiao Xi gestured for him to sit down, her eyes fixed intently on Dong Si Hao Xue:

  "Hey! Come!"

  "Don't...!" Higashi Temple Hiroseto pleaded.

  Ming Xiao Xi grasped her ear and dragged her towards the kitchen. Humph, daring to be so arrogant on her own turf, hadn't she even heard of the saying "a strong dragon cannot suppress a snake in its own lair"?

  "Oh no......" Dong Si's anguished cry echoed through the air.

  But perhaps she had committed too many atrocities in the past, and now everyone present was indifferent to her plight. She could only be dragged away by Ming Xiao Xi to clean up the mess.

  Dong Si Hao Xue is really a useless person, she is clumsy and careless in the kitchen, breaking this and knocking over that. After Ming Xiao Xi scolded her severely, she finally kicked out the tearful Dong Si Hao Xue from the kitchen.

  The one who finally helped out was Bingyue's icy gaze. Her hands and feet were extremely agile, and she quickly chopped the vegetables and washed them. Most of the work later on was taken care of by her. Ming Xiaoxi leisurely admired her efficient movements, praising this beauty for being truly exceptional. However, as he watched her nimble actions, Ming Xiaoxi began to suspect that with her agility and reflexes, she shouldn't have been unable to dodge Fengjian Furen's slap earlier?

  "You're doing it on purpose."

  Bing Ji's eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

  "Are you intentionally not dodging that slap?" Ming Xiaoxi asked.

  Bing Ji Tong smiled wryly: "No wonder Cheng said you're very sensitive."

  "Is that true? Why?" Ming Xiaoxi was very puzzled, if it were her, she would never tolerate being slapped by someone else.

  "Because... " Bingjiu's beautiful eyes slowly moistened, like two cold stars submerged in icy water, "because... she is Cheng's mother."

  "Ah......" Ming Xiao Xi opened her mouth wide.

  After a while, she murmured:

  "My goodness... You must really, really like Fūin-kun!"

  Bing Jue closed her eyes, and Ming Xiao Xi could no longer tell if there were tears sparkling in them just now.

  The next question surged up to the curious mouth of Mingyue Creek:

  "Why did you answer me?"

  Ming Xiaoxi found it strange that with Bing Jiuliang's personality, he should have ignored her previous question, wasn't her master Mu Ye Liu Bing like that?

  Bing Yue's eyes looked at her: "Because Cheng said, he hopes that I and you can become friends."

  Ming Xiao Xi was still immersed in the conversation they had just had, even as they began to eat hot pot. She stared intently at Kazuki, what kind of charm did this man have? In Akira's life, was he the most important person?

  "Mei-neechan! Mei-neechan!" Higashi's small hands waved in front of her, forcibly pulling her attention back. "Mei-neechan, if you keep staring at Kazamatsuri-kun like that, Makino-kun might get jealous."

  Ming Xiao Xi slapped Dong Si Hao Xue's hand and said fiercely: "Hurry up and eat your food."

  Makino Ryu said coldly:

  "She's willing to see whoever she wants to see. It has nothing to do with me."

  "Ah!" Dong Si's scream was even more frightening than those in horror movies, "Pastor Niu actually reacted! And his words were filled with a sour vinegar taste! Ah, the thousand-year-old iceberg also had human-like reactions, the magic of love is really amazing!"

  "Bang!" Fūin no Kaze used her finger bones to knock on the door, "If you don't shut up, you won't be able to get out of here alive."

  Dong Si's eyes widened as he took a closer look, and oh no, Ming Xiao Xi and Muye Liu Bing emitted gazes that were like the god of death, it was too frightening.

  But... but...

  "Haha, look at Pastor Ye and Ming's faces! They're as red as a monkey's butt, it's so funny!"

  Really! The two of them had incredibly red faces, and they even looked like a married couple!!

  Kazami Akane and Hyōga couldn't help but join in on Tōji's hearty laughter.

  The result was that Dong Si's buttocks were repaired miserably, and she was still ouching in pain until they finished eating hot pot.

  Feng Jian held a cup of clear tea in his hand and asked Mu Xue Liang: "Aren't you going back?"

  Makino Ryu nodded solemnly with a gloomy gaze.

  "What's going on at your place?"

  "Ever since you and Miss Ming left that day, Master has been in a terrible rage." Bing Ji Dian said to Muye Liu Bing.

  Ming Xiao Xi interrupted: "Tong, don't call me Miss Ming, it's very awkward. Just call me Xiao Xi."

  Bing Jue hesitated for a moment, and Feng Jiancheng smiled and patted her on the shoulder. She finally nodded in agreement.

  Makino Ryuhyou suddenly said to Hyourin, "Help me buy a folding bed and have it delivered here."

  " Folding bed!" Ming Xiaoxi shrieked, "Are you planning on staying here for a long time?"

  "Folding bed!" Dong Si shouted, "Aren't you supposed to sleep in the same bed? Why do you want to sleep separately? Other couples..."

  This punch wasn't thrown by Ming Xiao Xi. (She wanted to beat Dong Si Hao Xue, but before she could even move, someone else had already acted.)

  This punch is really vicious.

  Dong Si's mouth immediately swelled up high! Her tears dripped down with a patter.

  The one who threw the punch was Tōji Hiroo, who had been silent until then.

  He glared at Dong Temple Haosnow with a fierce gaze, then looked deeply at Ming Xiaoxi and Makiyuki Hyo, without saying a word, turned around and left the apartment.

  Everyone was at a loss, and only Kazehaya seemed to have let out a faint sigh that was almost inaudible.

  Ming Xiao Xi painfully treated Dong Si's wound: "Ah, Dong Si Hao's hand is so heavy!"

  Dong Si's tears fell uncontrollably:

  "He's been acting strange lately... has a bad temper... my mom and I think he's like a time bomb... we're careful around him... didn't expect to still get hurt... I didn't even say anything... took his anger out on me... hit me so hard it hurts... why do I have to be his sister... I'm so pitiful..."

  Barbarian! Akira Higashiyama gave a deep label to Terao Tsunohiko.

  But anyway, he is still Dong Si's older brother.

  She comforted the sorrowful Tōji no Kōsetsu:

  "Alright, don't cry anymore. Be more careful in the future and avoid him when he's in a bad mood... If... if he really bullies you unfairly, come find me! I'll protect you!"

  Dong Si rushed into her arms with a loud cry: "Ming sister! You're still good to me!"

  The day after eating hot pot, the incredibly proactive Hyorin had workers bring a foldable bed into Myeongyi's apartment. Poor Myeongyi argued strongly against it, but her protests had no effect on Hyouka. She couldn't help but wonder if he saw right through her and knew she was all bark and no bite when it came to him. (At this point, Myeongyi also found it strange that she was always so soft-hearted towards Hyouka... so soft-hearted that in the end, she actually gave him a key to her apartment!)

  From then on, Mingyue Xi officially started her "cohabitation" life with Mu Ye Liu Bing.

  No, more accurately, she started her inhuman "old mother" life!

  Every morning, she has to use all sorts of methods to get Ryūichi out of bed (because he's a lazybones), then she has to make breakfast, lunch and dinner for him (because his stomach is bad, she even has to carefully plan the nutrition), after that she has to clean up the room (Ryūichi is just the kind of person who creates trash everywhere), finally she also has to do his laundry. (He loves cleanliness, never wears the same clothes two days in a row. That's good, but his cleanliness is built on someone else's suffering, he won't even wash one pair of underwear!)

  Mingyue Creek was not without resistance, she had once gone a week without helping him with laundry, letting him finally run out of clean clothes to wear, and sneaked aside to watch what he would do! Who knew... He actually... He actually just wore a pair of briefs at home, wandering around!

  Good heavens! There are actually people as lazy as this in the world! She thought with a bleeding heart, that one really can't judge people by their appearance alone. The true nature of Japan's number one pretty boy is actually so despicable, those girls who are infatuated with him have truly lost their eyesight.

  Ming Xiaoxi finally finished the household chores and brought up the only dish for dinner, "green vegetables with tofu", her whole body aching.

  Makino Ryu pointed at it with chopsticks:

  "Is this all?"

  "Ming Xiao Xi glared at him with her eyes wide open: "You're looking down on it? This is the last coin I managed to scrape together from my drawer! We should be grateful just to have something to eat!" She was on the verge of tears, "Tomorrow... we might not even have this to eat... Ever since you arrived here, my expenses have skyrocketed. To support you, I'm considering going out to find a job..."

  "Let's eat!" Makino Ruka interrupted her impatiently. It wasn't like he hadn't given her living expenses before, but she had said something about "bestowing favors without expecting anything in return", and now it sounded as if he was a freeloader who relied on women for his livelihood.

  Ming Xiao Xi made a face at him for eating with his head down, what's wrong with this ungrateful kid!

  The day after tomorrow is Cheng's birthday.

  "What?!"

  "Cheng wants me to invite you to his birthday party."

  "Ugh......" Ming Xiao Xi gritted her teeth, holding onto her chopsticks tightly. What to do? Cheng's birthday was coming up and she wanted to give him a gift! Wind间-senpai was the person she respected the most! But... but now she was impoverished and penniless... all because of this stinky little brat in front of her! She glared fiercely at Makihiro Ryuhyou.

  Makino Ryuhyo showed no reaction to her venomous glare: "The day after tomorrow... Tsubaki will also go."

  "Oh... Ah! Are you going too?!" Ming Xiaoxi recalled the scene where Fūin-san's wife had a big fight with her at the Fūin piano recital, "B-but... that's Fūin-senpai's mom..."

  "He'll go with us," Makino said, putting down his bowl and chopsticks. With that, he turned around and walked out of the room, indicating that this conversation was over, without any intention of washing the dishes.

  Ming Xiao Xi tidied up her bowl and chopsticks while secretly thinking, surely nothing strange will happen on that day.

  Ming Xiao Xi was exhausted and begged Dong Si Huang Xue: "My lady, aren't you tired of strolling around yet..."

  Tōji Kōsetsu's head was firmly pressed against the window, intently examining all the goods on display inside: "No way! I've got to find the perfect gift for Fūin-kun in the whole world!"

  Her eyes shone with a longing light:

  "On the nineteenth birthday party of Kazama brother, the gift I gave him should be his most favorite one. In this way, he will always carry it with him until he is very old and still take it out nostalgically, saying softly that this was given by my beloved little sister Yuki..."

  "Hey, this is really romantic."

  Dong Si's small face suddenly fell: "But I haven't even thought about what to buy yet!"

  Ming Xiao Xi deeply felt the same way and was also worried about this matter.

  Dong Si looked at her with a sorrowful expression: "Ming sister, I'm still worried about one thing."

  "You know Ice Extreme Eyes is going too."

  Ming Xiao Xi nodded.

  "I'm so afraid of Hyorin, you don't know, as long as she's around the atmosphere always becomes very eerie..." Toshiya Hōsetsu's eyes were distant. "It's been like that since we were kids, Kazuma treated her especially well, in a way that was quite strange, I couldn't explain it clearly... Hyorin seemed to really like Kazuma, yet at the same time she seemed to be avoiding him... She always acted so strangely, making others not know what she's thinking... Sometimes I secretly thought, does Kazuma like her?... If Kazuma likes her... What should I do?"

  Ming Xiao Xi had never seen her so down before, she opened her mouth but didn't know how to comfort her.

  "Have you and Iceberg Eyes known each other since childhood?" she asked cautiously, unsure if the topic was suitable.

  "Yes. My brother and I have been playing with Kazama-kun and Makino-kun since we were little kids. Because Hyorin always followed Makino-kun around, everyone got to know each other pretty well. By the way, you probably don't know this, but Hyorin is an orphan, abandoned by her parents at birth, and it was Makino-san who raised her."

  "Ah, her life is so pitiful..."

  Dong Si's mouth pouted up:

  "Hmph, why are you saying she's pitiful just like Kazama-kun? What's pitiful about her, isn't she living just fine? I hate how she always pretends to be pitiful, it's not like she wants Kazama-kun to 'dote' on her or something! And Kazama-kun is really gullible, getting deceived by her like that!" She suddenly let out a startled yelp.

  Ming Xiao Xi held up a small mirror in front of her:

  "Tong Si Huo Xue classmate, take a look at your face, isn't it scary?"

  "You're just like a jealous woman, not lovable at all. If I were Kazama-senpai, I would have run far away from you by now!" Ming Xiaoxi looked at her sternly, "It's because Kazama-senpai is a good person that you like him, isn't it? What's so special about him being nice to Bing Yujian? If you were mean to Bing Yujian, would Kazama-senpai think you're lovable? How can you be so stupid?"

  Dong Si's face turned pale and he lowered his head, not daring to make a sound.

  Ming Xiao Xi patted her head:

  "Alright, stop saying that about Hyouka, I know you don't really mean it, you just have a crush on Fuku-chan, right? Alright, tomorrow is Fuku-chan's birthday, so go pick out a gift already."

  "This sentence reminded Dong Si Hao Xue: 'Ah! My gift! I must find the best gift in the world! I definitely can't lose to Bing Ji Tong!'"

  She pulled Ming Xiaoxi up with one hand:

  "You just scolded me, now I'm punishing you by making you accompany me to run through all the shops until I'm satisfied!"

  Ming Xiao Xi cried out loudly, Oh my poor legs!

  Feng Jianxue really is so handsome, Ming Xiaoxi thought to herself for the twenty-sixth time.

  His charming eyes are as gentle as a spring, his handsome nose is as majestic as a snowy mountain.

  "Fūin-kyōdai, this is a birthday gift for you, I hope you like it!" Tōji Kōsetsu eagerly presented the gift she had carefully selected - an expensive men's watch. (According to Tōji Kōsetsu's explanation, as long as Kazehaya wears it, every time he looks at his watch, he will think of her, and won't that be thinking of her all the time?)

  "Thank you, Xiaoxue." Fēng Jiān Chén smiled as he accepted it, "It's a very beautiful watch. But you're still just a kid, so don't be too extravagant."

  "Ah." Tōji Hiroshi smiled sweetly, praising it as pretty. It seems Fūin no Onii-chan likes her gift quite a bit.

  "Cheers." The beautiful ice-blue eyes were still dressed in a black evening gown, which set off her mysterious and alluring temperament. "Happy birthday to you."

  Feng Jian Cheng's eyes were indeed different when looking at her, as if they had an unusual sparkle: "Tong, I was worried you wouldn't come."

  Makino said coldly: "My achievement."

  Feng Jian Cheng hugged him: "Thank you."

  Makino Ryū's eyebrows furrowed in discomfort as he awkwardly extricated himself.

  Bing Jue Tong walked very close to Feng Jian Chen, his low voice like a dream:

  "I... want to give you a gift."

  Dong Si Hao Xue, who had arrived beside Ming Xiao Xi, tightly gripped her arm and nervously observed the actions of Bing Ji Tong.

  Bing Jue's eyes slowly and elegantly moved her hands to the back of her neck, taking off a long, slender necklace that shone with a silver light from around her neck.

  Under the dazzling lights, it sparkled with a brilliant glow...

  "How can she......" Dong Si's teeth clenched in anger.

  Ming Xiao Xi looked at her with confusion.

  "That's the ice crystal pendant that Bing Xue has been wearing since she was a child, and normally doesn't let anyone touch it. I heard that when Mu Ye Bo picked her up, she was already wearing it..."

  Fujiwara no Sadaie stared at the necklace in surprise: "This isn't..."

  "Let me put it on for you?"

  "Witch......" Tōji Kōsetsu said indignantly.

  Ice Extreme Pupil gently pulled down Wind Interval's body, softly putting the necklace around his neck, then...

  She kissed Fūjin's right cheek.

  Bingji Tong gently closed his eyes and kissed Fengjian Cheng's cheek.

  A blood-curdling scream!

  Ming Xiao Xi's ears were buzzing. She immediately covered Dong Si's mouth. What was she calling, the romantic scene was almost ruined by her.

  A blood-curdling scream!

  This was sent from where? Dong Si's mouth was clearly sealed by her!

  A black shadow pounced over!

  A chilling slap in the face!

  Bing Jue Tong fell to the ground, with four shocking bloodstains on his face.

  All of this happened in an instant.

  Ming Xiao Xi's attention was completely absorbed by Dong Si's vast snowfall, and she didn't even see clearly what had happened.

  A grand and luxurious banquet hall, everyone's attention was focused here.

  Only to see the Wind Interval Madame like a madman, holding up her palm, staring at Bing Ji's eyes with fire: "You! You this cheap woman! Shameless stinky woman!"

  Bing Jue's small teeth bit tightly on her thin lips, and her dark eyes were unfathomable.

  "Tong, are you okay?" Ming Xiaoxi hastily ran to the fallen Bing Jitong's side, just as she was about to help her up, a hand had already stretched out before hers.

  Feng Jian Cheng helped up Bing Yujian's silent Ice Extreme Pupil, painfully looking at the bloodstains on her face: "Does it hurt?"

  Bing Ji Tong's eyes flashed with an unusual light, and he said hoarsely, "It's nothing."

  "You shameless woman!" Mrs. Kazama shouted, "How dare you sneak in here! Get out! Get out of my sight!"

  "She is with me."

  A cold voice interrupted Mrs. Kazami's hysterics.

  Makino Ryu's icy gaze and overwhelming aura startled her, and his frantic anger momentarily subsided.

  But when Fujin's wife saw Ice Extreme's figure clinging to Fujin Chuan's chest again, the crazy impulse seized her once more:

  "You cheap woman! Do you think that just because you have the support of the young master of the Mu Ye family, you can get away with anything? What are you? You actually dare to seduce my son! Don't think I don't know what kind of tricks this vixen is up to! This cheap goods isn't even worthy of licking my son's little toe! As long as I'm alive, you'll never be able to get close to my son!"

  Mrs. Kazami rushed up and grabbed Iceberg's long hair, forcibly pulling her out of Kazami Akito's arms!

  "Ah......" Bing Ji Tong cried out in pain, two tears suddenly falling.

  "Mother!" Fūinji Chō interrupted hastily.

  "Fujiwara-sama!" Makino Fuyuice grasped her hand that was about to strike, his voice as cold as ice and snow. "Kokoro is a member of the Makino family, it's not your place to discipline her."

  "What happened?"

  In the midst of a stalemate, Fuuma Kotaro's father - Japan's number one politician Fuuma Yujiro emerged from the group of politicians in the side hall with a gloomy face and came to the center of the storm.

  His cold eyes scanned around before fixing on the frantic expression of Mrs. Kazama.

  A bright red palm print immediately appeared on the right cheek of Fujin's wife!

  "Get out of here, you shameless guy!" He ordered his men to escort Fuuka's mother out of the banquet hall.

  Then, Kazehaya Koji smiled stiffly at the guests: "My wife's manners are rough, and I'm afraid she's made a fool of herself in front of all of you. However, today is our little dog's birthday, so please forgive her."

  "Hehe..." Someone in the crowd let out a forced, "relaxed" laugh, and everyone quickly regained their composure, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened, everything was very "calm" and "natural"...

  Ming Xiao Xi's mood was as gloomy as a pitch-black night.

  How could Fūjin's mother treat Hyōrin that way? What will happen to Hyōrin and Fūjin-senpai now? How can she help the two of them herself? Why did Fūjin-senpai's mother intervene instead?

  She can now truly understand the deep helplessness and sigh contained in Bing Yujian's sentence "Because... she is Cheng's mother".

  Yes, after all, she is Kazama-senpai's mother. What should I do to be correct and not hurt everyone?

  Ming Xiao Xi felt more and more depressed as she thought about it.

  "Is Bing Yue an orphan?"

  Makino Ayumu was taken aback by her sudden question, "Yes."

  "Are you good to her?"

  "Not good." He was very concise.

  "What? Why?" Ming Xiaoxi jumped up in surprise.

  Makino Ryuhyo's eyes became distant: "In the Makino family, she was just a useful tool..."

  "You just treat her as a tool?!"

  Makino Ryu sneered with a cold smile: "If she couldn't be of use, Makino Hideo would have abandoned her on the streets long ago. How could she possibly still be alive now?"

  "...so no one cares about her?" Ming Xiaoxi asked bitterly.

  "Perhaps...only Zhenba..."

  "What about you? Don't you care about her? She's grown up with you after all..."

  "Me?......" He seemed to find it very amusing.

  "I think you still care about her, otherwise you wouldn't have spoken up for her just now!"

  "Is there anyone in this world worth my concern?"

  Ming Xiao Xi suddenly felt very angry: "Can you not speak like that?! You're clearly not as indifferent as you seem, so why do you have to pretend like the whole world has nothing to do with you?!" She didn't like the way Makihara Tohru seemed to be isolated from the world, it made him seem hard to approach.

  "I'm hungry." Makino Ruka blurted out these words.

  "Oh... right, you haven't eaten anything yet." Ming Xiaoxi suddenly remembered that they had a unpleasant encounter with Kazama Akane not long after they met, and then she, who disliked the hypocritical atmosphere of the banquet, pulled Makino Fuyu out to the garden, where they had been wandering until now, so they hadn't eaten anything at all.

  She said hastily: "You'd better eat something quickly, or your stomach will hurt again."

  "Me?" Ming Xiao Xi was standing in front of a lush cluster of flowering trees, the fragrance wafting over, the tree shadows swaying. "I want to stay a bit longer, you go ahead, I'll come find you."

  Aren't you hungry?

  "I'm not hungry...... Huh?! Are you concerned about me? Is it? Is it!" Ming Xiaoxi blinked her eyes.

  Makino Ryū turned around and left, his movements so quick that she didn't have time to discern whether the expression on his face a second ago was unnatural or not.

  It wasn't long before Ming Xiaoxi, who was hiding behind a cluster of flowers and lost in thought, was startled by a noise.

  "Huh? When did those two people appear in front of the flower cluster? Was she just sleeping? She didn't hear their footsteps coming at all."

  Ming Xiao Xi sighed at the loss of her pure land, and was about to leave, but found that the two people in front of the flower cluster were actually Feng Jian Cheng and Bing Ji Tong, whom she had been thinking about and worrying about.

  "Sorry, Cheng..." said Bing Yue in a low voice.

  Fujiwara no Sai gently stroked the bright red bloodstains on her face: "Tou, why did you say that? If Mother was wrong, I'll apologize to you for her."

  "Why... doesn't she like me?"

  Fūin's eyes narrowed in bitter amusement.

  "Is it because I'm an orphan, a person of low status?"

  Fujiwara no Sai rubbed her eyebrows, for a moment she didn't know how to answer.

  "And you?" Ice Extreme's eyes were like a dream, "Will you also look down on me as an orphan, as someone of low status?"

  Fūin Kazuki was taken aback: "T...?"

  Bing Ji Tong smiled bleakly: "I asked the wrong question. I know you're good to me... your goodness to me is the most precious thing in this world..."

  Feng Jianzhen tightly hugged her fragile body into his arms:

  "Your eyes... being good to you is the least I can do in this world... You deserve all the happiness that other girls have..."

  "I don't aspire for other happiness... as long as you... can always... be good to me..."

  Feng Jian Cheng held her even tighter...

  Beautiful ice pupil, gentle wind interval, under the cool night sky, embracing forgetfully...

  Ming Xiao Xi's nose turned sour and two streams of hot tears flowed down.

  It's really touching...

  Embracing the icy pupils of Fūjin, his body suddenly stiffened!

  Her lips as soft as a petal kissed his neck...

  Fujiwara Akira stared at her in shock: "Tou...".

  Bingjiu's eyes froze, she held her breath, using all her courage to wait.

  The night wind blew by, and Feng Jiancheng's body was stiff and icy cold.

  Bingjiu's eyes widened in horror as her body trembled with cold sweat, her heart freezing inch by inch.

  Two glittering tears rolled down her shattered eyes.

  "Isn't it possible? You think it's impossible?" Bing Yue's lips trembled slightly, "Happiness like other girls... can't I have it?"

  Fūin's slender body finally left her: "Tō...".

  In his empty arms, more tears silently welled up into his desperate eyes.

  "You can't... like me, can you..."

  Fūin Kazuki tightly closed his eyes: "It's my fault. I thought..."

  "Is there another girl in your heart?" Her voice trembled like a cold wind, "Is... she...?"

  "No!" Fūin replied hastily, "Things aren't as you think."

  "Is... is it because of your mother?" Ice Extreme's eyes were on the verge of collapse, "Doesn't she like me?... If that's the reason... I'm willing to do anything to change her impression of me..."

  Kazuma closed his eyes in pain, unwilling to see Hyōga's pleading gaze:

  "No."

  "Isn't it?...... Isn't it because of your mother?...... Ha...... Ha......"

  Bingjiu's eyes sparkled as she laughed helplessly, her hands waving aimlessly in the air.

  "None of those... so... you mean... it's just that... you don't like me at all?"

  "You don't like me, why bother with me! Is it fun to tease me?! Why do you pretend to be nice to me! I hate you!" The thoroughly hurt Iceberg Eyes lost control and shouted loudly, she had already lost the protection of her usual cold exterior shell, this blow was an unbearable injury in her life.

  Fūin Kazuki painfully tried to comfort the emotionally fragile Hyōga, stretching out his arms to embrace her.

  "No! I like you! It's just..."

  "What's that? You say... you say!" Bing Ji's eyes struggled free from the warm hands on his shoulders, and he sneered, "You want to say that you like me in a way that I don't ask for, right? You want to say that you just like me like a little sister, right?"

  Fujiwara no Kamatari nodded solemnly.

  The weather is strangely cold tonight, with gusts of cold wind blowing suddenly, making people shiver.

  A few minutes of silence felt as long as despair.

  Her beautiful eyes, like the night sky, had dried up all her tears. With an icy tone, she said: "I am ashamed of my behavior earlier. Please be at ease, Kazama-sama, I will not bother you again." She stood up straight, her still slightly trembling body, and walked away from the swaying flowers with a steady gait.

  Fūin's arm stretched out weakly in an attempt to stop her: "Tō...".

  His voice was like a dark night curse, emitting endless charm...

  Hyorin's eyes turned cold as she looked at him: "Fujiwara-sama, please spare me."

  She bowed deeply, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall...

  It seems they too are resolutely bidding farewell to Wind Between the Pines...

  It seems like an eternity has passed.

  Ming Xiao Xi's tears flowed like a small stream...

  The sorrowful scene that just appeared before her struck the softest spot in her heart.

  However, the heartbroken her again had to worry about the next problem - should she show up to face the wind interval that has never left? (But she really didn't know what to say at this moment.) Or should she leave quietly? (But looking at the sad and lost wind interval, she finally couldn't take a step away.)

  Just as I was hesitating, a voice came from the wind on the grass:

  "Come out."

  Ming Xiao Xi cautiously emerged from behind the flower tree, forcing a smile and saying: "Hehe, Fūjin-senpai found me..."

  "Yes, you're crying so loudly, I think it's hard not to hear."

  "Oh..." Ming Xiao Xi smiled awkwardly, was her voice really that loud?

  "Ah, but Kazama-senpai... I didn't mean to spy on you and Hitomi... I was..." She hurriedly explained why she was there.

  "I know. We must have disturbed you."

  "Heh, it's not entirely like that..." She thought to herself, initially they had disturbed her, but later she was surprised by what happened to them and didn't quietly leave with the attitude of "a gentleman does not watch a lady in distress", which is somewhat unjustifiable.

  "Come, sit with me for a while."

  Ming Xiao Xi obediently walked over and sat down beside him shoulder to shoulder.

  The expression of Fūin no Gakuen's upperclassman is so gloomy, his eyebrows are furrowed as if they can't be smoothed out.

  Half an hour later...

  "How come you're not saying anything?" Fūin asked quietly, "I thought you'd have a lot of questions for me."

  Ming Xiao Xi moved unnaturally: "Cough, my mouth is very clumsy, afraid of saying something that shouldn't be said..."

  "Is it...?"

  Ming Xiao Xi suddenly thought of a topic:

  "Ah, today is your birthday, isn't it? I haven't even congratulated you yet!" At the banquet, first Tōji Kōsetsu monopolized Fūin's attention with his chatter, and then there was the Hyōga event, so until now she hadn't had a chance to congratulate the birthday boy.

  She pulled out a paper box tied with a bow from her small bag: "This is the birthday gift I gave you, hope you like it."

  Kazami tore open the paper box, gently shaking out its contents. There were stars, paper cranes, and small bells. A gentle breeze blew by, "ting-ting-tang" a crisp and pleasant sound...

  "It's a wind chime." Fūma Kaito smiled lightly, "You made it yourself?"

  "Hmm." Ming Xiaoxi smiled slightly.

  "I don't have a lot of money, nor do I have anything special, so last night I made this wind chime. I know it's not very interesting and you may not need or like it, but I've heard that if someone makes a wish in front of the wind chime, it will 'ting-ting-tang' even without any wind, and no matter how big your troubles are, they'll immediately disappear..."

  A strange and unusual light flashed in Fengjian's eyes.

  "Hehe." Ming Xiaoxi scratched her head, grinning foolishly, "It's not necessarily true that it's so effective, it's just my wish, hoping that Kazama-senpai will always be happy and never have any troubles..."

  Kazami gazed deeply at Ming Xiao Xi: "I thought you would rush out and question me about why I treated Ling like that."

  Akane Akebono scratched her head again: "I'm a bit reckless in my daily life, I don't distinguish between right and wrong before taking action, just like how I treated Toshiyuki Higashitera back then..."

  "But...” She looked up at Fūin with a gaze as devout as if she were praying to the heavens, “I believe in you, Fūin-senpai! You would never intentionally do anything to hurt anyone! I trust that any decision or action you take is what you truly believe is best and most suitable!”

  Fujiwara no Takaie tightly grasped her right hand, a surge of heat in his palm...

  There isn't even one star in the sky.

  Feng Jiancheng's left hand grasped Ming Xiaoxi's right hand.

  Ming Xiao Xi's curiosity, which couldn't be killed, quietly raised its head again:

  "Senpai... don't you really like Tsubasa?"

  "How do you feel?"

  Ah, Fuuka didn't get angry after all. Her courage suddenly surged up:

  "I think you like Ling! She's so beautiful... Every time you see her, you're so happy... And most importantly, if you didn't truly like Ling, she wouldn't possibly like you that much either..."

  Fujiwara no Sai lightly sighed: "How could I possibly dislike Tama?"

  "Why didn't you kiss her then?" Emotions overtook Ming Xiaoxi's rationality, and the words blurted out, "Isn't that how it's written in books? The prince kisses the princess, they fall deeply in love, and overcome all obstacles to rush towards a beautiful future!"

  Feng Jiancheng couldn't help but laugh even when he was in a bad mood: "You can still write poetry?"

  His smile was like the bright moon breaking through dark clouds, leaving Ming Xiao Xi stunned. Ah, for his smile, she'd be willing to write a few more "poems".

  Unfortunately, dark clouds soon covered up the bright moon again.

  Feng Jian smiled bitterly and said: "I can't treat her like that."

  "Why?"

  "Why?"

  Fūjin no Kazuki still didn't answer.

  "She likes you, you like her, why can't you two be together?" Ming Xiaoxi asked persistently.

  Feng Jiancheng's eyes were like a riddle, unfathomable. But Ming Xiaoxi, who didn't even know how to write the word "give up", was determined to jump down and try to get to the bottom of it.

  His silence ignited Ming Xiao Xi's stubbornness, and language no longer went through her brain but directly burst into the air:

  "Why can't we be together? Do you really like her as much as your own sister? Please! This excuse is too old-fashioned and clichéd. Who would believe it? She's not even your real sister, saying that will hurt her..."

  Kazehaya's face suddenly turned pale, his fingers somewhat tense.

  Ming Xiao Xi opened her big mouth, blinked her eyes repeatedly, and then turned to look at him with a timid expression, her voice suddenly taken away.

  An idea struck her like lightning!

  "Ah! It can't be!" she exclaimed, tightly grasping Fūin's hand.

  "Could it be... is it..."

  The most rotten, rotten to be spat and scolded by thousands of people, the bitter TV drama plot, rotten to the unbelievable coincidence!

  Is it possible for such things to happen in real life?

  But think about it, is it really just a coincidence? Everything seems to be connected in some way...

  She asked Fuuka Toshinari in a terrified tone: "Touma won't be... your..."

  The night wind blows, cool and refreshing to the bone.

  Fujiwara no Teika was speechless.

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyes sparkled like torches.

  After an unknown period of time, Kazehaya closed his eyes and let out a bitter smile, as if sighing:

  "Silly girl, why are you always so sensitive?"

  Ming Xiao Xi's left hand covered her mouth tightly, but her fingers still let out a whisper of astonishment: "Tong... Tong is yours..."