Chương 43: Orange Juice

The moment the school bell rang, Lin Che rushed into the classroom, panting. Fine beads of sweat still clung to his forehead, and his uniform tie was slightly askew from running.

Under the slightly surprised gazes of his classmates and teacher, he quickly walked to his seat, pulling out the chair as quietly as possible and sitting down.

"call--" He had just breathed a sigh of relief when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He knew without a doubt who sent the message, but what surprised him was that the guy was using his phone during class.

Using the desk as cover, he quietly took out his phone. The moment the screen lit up, a message from Su Yuqing immediately popped up:

"Where have you been?! Why are you only coming back now?"

It also included a pouty rabbit emoji at the end.

Lin Che's lips unconsciously curled up, and he quickly replied:

"Something came up, I'll talk to you later."

After sending the message, he subconsciously looked up at the row in front of him. Sure enough, Su Yuqing was secretly turning half her body to look at him. She puffed out her cheeks slightly and mouthed "explain clearly" silently, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction and curiosity.

Lin Che shook his head gently at her, put his index finger to his lips to make a shushing gesture, and pointed towards the podium. Su Yuqing pouted and reluctantly turned around, but the next second, his phone vibrated again.

"Is it related to Xiao Li?"

Lin Che looked at the message and was slightly taken aback: "This guy's intuition is too accurate, isn't it?"

He hesitated for a moment, but still replied:

"Um."

In the blink of an eye, the school bell rang, and the classroom immediately became noisy. Students packed their bags in twos and threes, discussing club activities and weekend plans.

Lin Che slowly stuffed his textbooks into his schoolbag. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Su Yuqing surrounded by several girls, having a heated discussion. He slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and deliberately slowed his pace as he walked out of the classroom. Sure enough, not long after, he heard light footsteps behind him.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Su Yuqing jogged up and grabbed his backpack strap.

Lin Che stopped and almost bumped into the panting girl as he turned around. She looked up, her cheeks flushed from running like ripe apples, and her bright eyes were full of curiosity.

"So," she lowered her voice, leaning closer mysteriously, "what exactly did you go about?"

Lin Che reached out and gently patted the top of her head, the soft touch coming from his palm.

"How about we talk about it when we get home?" He gestured with his chin towards the teachers' office.

"Weren't you going to a class officer meeting?"

"Ah!" Su Yuqing's eyes widened instantly, and she stomped her foot in annoyance.

"I almost forgot!"

She frantically pulled her notebook out of her bag.

"Then, why don't you go home first?"

"Can a class leader like this be reliable...?" Lin Che shook his head with a hint of helplessness.

"No, I need to go to the mall."

"Mind your own business!" Su Yuqing glared at him angrily, then blinked as if she remembered something, "Oh right, you just said..."

"Let's go to the mall." Lin Che adjusted his shoulder strap.

"I'll probably get home later than you."

"The shopping mall?" She tilted her head.

"What are we going there for?"

"Didn't we encounter an accident yesterday?" Lin Che sighed, the chaotic scene of the infiltration of the Void Realm flashing before his eyes.

"We also lost the things we bought, and we didn't look for them afterward. We have to go back again."

"Oh right!" Su Yuqing slapped her forehead, then flashed a sly smile.

"Then... remember to bring me some good food?"

"Dream on." Lin Che reached out and lightly flicked her forehead, eliciting an exaggerated "Ouch!"

"But you," he reminded her, "don't forget to buy Xiaoye some butter bread; she's been thinking about it all day."

"Okay!" Su Yuqing made a face at him, turned and ran towards the office. After a few steps, she suddenly turned back, cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted, "Remember to come back early!"

Lin Che watched her energetic figure, couldn't help but smile, picked up his schoolbag and left the school.

On the street, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the roadside trees, and leaves fell with the wind, covering the sidewalk. Lin Che stepped on the fallen leaves, making a soft "rustling" sound.

The memory of my last visit to the mall is still vivid in my mind—the sudden intrusion of the virtual world, the chaotic crowd, and the shopping plan that was forced to be interrupted.

But today, the streets are bustling with pedestrians, and the glass facades of shopping malls reflect the soft sunlight; everything seems so peaceful and serene.

"Finally, I can get things done smoothly," he muttered to himself as he pushed open the glass door of the mall.

After entering the mall, he went straight to the telecommunications service hall. The process of getting a new phone card was exceptionally smooth, and in less than twenty minutes, a brand new SIM card was in his hands.

"I'll just keep using the old phone like this," he muttered to himself, carefully putting the card away.

"I'll put this card in the phone that Wanyi's mother gave me."

This decision was made after careful consideration, since it would be inappropriate to use a phone that is clearly designed for men during a "Star Frost" event.

"Next... let's go buy a new copy of the things we lost before."

He walked towards the stationery section, bought what he needed, and was about to leave the mall with his shopping bag when a familiar figure came into view again as he passed the small park by the side entrance of the mall.

Luo Bingli.

She stood in front of the vending machine, a few coins clutched between her slender fingers, intently looking at the drink options.

"How come I keep running into her everywhere?" Lin Che's expression was a bit strange. It was normal to bump into her in the cafeteria, but to run into her on a shopping trip that was decided on the spot was a bit too coincidental.

He stopped and observed the girl's every move. She hesitated for a moment, then finally made up her mind and prepared to insert a coin— Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Che strode forward and, just as the coin was about to fall into the coin slot, preemptively inserted his own change.

"Orange juice?" he asked casually, his finger already pressing the corresponding button.

Luo Bingli whirled around, her icy gaze piercing like a knife. When she recognized the person, her brows furrowed immediately: "You've been following me?"

"Coincidence." Lin Che shrugged, gesturing to the shopping bag in his hand.

"I just finished shopping and am about to go home."

Luo Bingli's gaze lingered on the shopping bag in his hand for a moment. The bag did indeed contain stationery and snacks. She then looked at Lin Che's clothes—an ordinary school uniform jacket, with a backpack on his shoulder, which did look like he had just come to shop after school.

"Say what you will." She finally replied coldly, turning to leave.

"Wait a minute." Lin Che bent down, took out the spilled drink, and handed it over.

"Here, this is for you."

Luo Bingli stared at the drink in his hand, her brows furrowing slightly: "Didn't I already say I didn't need it?"

"Consider it a thank you for becoming friends with my sister." Lin Che's tone was calm and sincere, his gaze fixed firmly into her eyes.

"Yuqing cherishes you very much."

These words seemed to have touched something, and Luo Bingli's fingers tightened slightly. Silence spread between the two of them, with only the buzzing sound of the vending machine filling the void.

Finally, she spoke: "... Why do you meddle in these things?"

"What things?" Lin Che raised an eyebrow.

"It's my business," she said softly.

"You could have just pretended not to see it."

Lin Che gazed at her tense face, then suddenly smiled—not a polite smile, but a genuine, warm one: "Because I feel that you don't really want to be alone."

Luo Bingli's pupils contracted slightly.

"If you really hated anyone getting close to you, you wouldn't have become friends with Yuqing in the first place," Lin Che continued, his tone gentle, as if stating a simple fact.

"So, I want to give it a try too."

Without waiting for her response, Lin Che shoved the orange juice into her hand and turned to leave, saying, "If you encounter any trouble in the future, you can come to me." As he turned to leave, he added firmly, "I will definitely help."

Luo Bingli stood there, watching the boy's receding figure. After a long while, she looked down at the drink in her hand, gently pulled the tab, and carefully took a sip.

A sweet and sour taste spread across her tongue. She lowered her eyelashes and murmured softly, "... meddling in other people's business."

"Xiao Li, you actually accepted this time?" Ruby peeked out from her collar, tilting her fluffy little head as she asked, "Didn't you always refuse before?"

Luo Bingli didn't answer immediately. She took another sip of orange juice, the cool liquid sliding down her throat and bringing a refreshing sensation.

"There are two reasons," she said slowly, her voice calm.

"First, since he is Yuqing's brother, we will definitely have to deal with him a lot in the future, and it would be a bit inappropriate to keep refusing him."

Ruby blinked her round eyes: "And the second reason?"

Luo Bingli looked in the direction Lin Che had disappeared, her eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression: "I'm just a little curious about him."

"curious?"

"Hmm." She nodded gently.

"I want to see what's so special about Yuqing's suddenly appearing brother."

After saying that, Luo Bingli turned and walked in another direction. Her back view was still lonely, but the hand holding the orange juice was a little tighter than usual.