Biting her lip, Shiina Mahiru reached out her fair little hand and gently tugged at his clothes.
"Um... Lin Xi, are you asleep?"
Lin Xi opened his eyes, looked at her cautious appearance, and sighed helplessly.
He patted the spot next to him and said in a deep voice:
"Come a little closer."
Shiina Mahiru's face turned red, but meeting his unquestionable gaze, she lightly bit her lip and still sat over there bashfully.
Lin Xi moved his arm.
And put it around her slender waist.
Shiina Mahiru's delicate body trembled, and she subconsciously turned her head in a flustered manner to look towards the kitchen.
Ogihara Sayu was still busy over there.
"Shiina, you don't think I did what was on the news, do you?"
Lin Xi lowered his head and stared straight into her amber eyes.
Shiina Mahiru averted her gaze, not meeting his eyes.
"I didn't say that, it's just... did you do it?"
Lin Xi didn't answer directly, but instead said:
"Before I answer your question, I want to ask you, if I did it, would you stay away from me and hate me?"
"No!" She quickly shook her head, "Didn't the news say that those two people deserved it? It's probably heaven's punishment."
Lin Xi looked at the girl who was trying to excuse him, and the corners of his mouth curved up.
"Don't worry, I didn't do it myself. I just asked some friends... well, just a few kitties."
"My initial goal was just to let my kitty friends sneak into their cars and cause trouble, preferably causing a car accident to paralyze them, and our troubles would be solved."
"When I saw the news this morning, I was also shocked that there was actually a supernatural event."
"But it doesn't matter..." He said, hugging her slender waist tightly.
"Even if we really encounter a supernatural event, I will protect my tenants."
Shiina Mahiru's eyes were slightly moist.
Why did he keep saying 'my tenant'?
Wouldn't it be better to just say he wanted to protect her?
However, she also knew.
It was because she had said that if he dared to confess, she would dare to reject him, so he wouldn't say it directly.
She didn't hate being treated so carefully.
While thinking.
Shiina Mahiru turned her head and glanced at Sayu, who was still busy, and suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you... but, I made plans with Miura-san and the others to go sing and relax today. Can you let go of me first?"
"You... are holding me too tight."
She said softly, her cheeks already red to the roots of her ears.
She regretted making such a shameless move of actively kissing a boy on the cheek as soon as she did it.
He wouldn't think I was a casual girl, would he?
While Lin Xi was being careful with Shiina Mahiru.
Wasn't the angel-sama also being careful with him?
She knew he was lying.
The events on the news were definitely related to him, but she wouldn't be afraid of him because of it.
Hearing her words, Lin Xi stared at her seriously.
"You're going out shopping again so soon after the incident? What if someone targets you again?"
"Um... I won't be that unlucky..."
She retorted unhappily, but meeting his serious gaze, her tone weakened again.
"But... I already made plans with them... Isn't it bad to go back on my word?"
Lin Xi sighed, "Give me your phone number. I need to check on your safety from time to time."
"You should have my phone number, right? Why didn't you call me when something happened yesterday?"
Shiina Mahiru lowered her head embarrassedly, not saying a word.
Could she say that she didn't think he was that capable?
Besides, when something like that happens, people usually think of calling the police, right?
But she thought about how she called the police yesterday, and that scumbag was still released, and she felt even more guilty.
She was in a complicated mood.
Lin Xi suddenly heavily kissed her delicate cheek and said matter-of-factly:
"Who told you to kiss me just now? I have to kiss you back."
"Okay, you can go out now. Remember to bring pepper spray. You must call me if anything happens, understand?"
"Okay."
Seeing her agree, he then let go of her slender waist and turned to walk into his room.
Shiina Mahiru covered her cheeks, her small mouth involuntarily pouting.
Could she say that she suddenly regretted agreeing to Miura and the others?
She had an urge to stay at home.
Looking at her slender waist.
She thought of the feeling of being held by him just now, and actually felt a little reluctant.
She didn't know when it started.
She seemed to no longer completely reject being held by him or having her slender waist embraced.
The girl with a complicated mood finally went out.
The companions were still the trio from yesterday.
Yui Yuigahama, the dumpling-headed beauty who likes to cater to people's topics and is well-rounded.
Yumiko Miura, who looks proud and has the aura of a queen with her golden hair, just like her.
Don't think Yumiko speaks with a bit of arrogance, but once you become friends with her, you will know that she is super kind and cares a lot about the feelings of her friends.
And Hina Ebina, who wears glasses and gets nosebleeds when she sees boys together, thinking of conveying some strange knowledge to her.
Meeting again, the girls were all a little excited.
Yui Yuigahama took the lead in speaking.
"Hey, did you guys see the news? I usually never watch it, but this news was broadcasted forcibly, and my mom also dragged me to sit on the sofa and watch it for a while ｀ . ."
"Me too!" Hina Ebina immediately raised her hand in agreement.
Yumiko Miura raised her hand and flicked her hair, "Me too, I saw the news and felt it was unbelievable."
"Yesterday, I used my phone to inquire in my friend's chat group, and that Toshihiko Takayama, a third-year student and a senior in the soccer club, was the culprit who tripped Lin Xi-san onto the thugs yesterday."
"I didn't expect him to look so decent, but his heart is so dirty. He actually hired criminals to surround us girls."
"Luckily, Lin Xi-san arrived in time, and we were saved, but... Shiina, do you know why he appeared there?"
Yumiko Miura suddenly looked at Shiina Mahiru with great interest.
Shiina Mahiru blushed a little when she mentioned that person.
She lowered her head unnaturally and said, "I asked him, and he said he suddenly had a bad feeling and came over following the guidance of a god."
"Wow, the guidance of a god? It feels so romantic!"
Yui Yuigahama's eyes lit up, staring straight at Shiina Mahiru, gossiping, "Could it be that you and Lin-san have a telepathic connection? He sensed that you were in danger as soon as it happened?"
"Speaking of which, you two seem to live in the same direction, go to school together every day, and sometimes go home together... Are you two, really not dating?"
Yui Yuigahama was also very nervous when she asked this.
Actually, she had been paying attention to Lin Xi since the incident on the first day of school.
If Shiina Mahiru was really dating Lin Xi, she would feel a little sour.
But Shiina Mahiru quickly shook her head, "No, it's just a coincidence. Putting aside whether we are dating or not, I don't plan to date boys in high school anyway."
"Really? Then does he have a girlfriend?"
Yui Yuigahama asked subconsciously.
Her voice even carried a bit of joy.
Hina Ebina immediately pushed up her glasses, looking at her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
Miura Yumiko also playfully nudged Yui's arm, "Yui, don't tell me... you've fallen for Lin Xi?"
"Ah, no! It's just that, I... I was just asking."
Yuiigahama Yui blushed, explaining in a flustered manner.
"It's just that Lin-san saved us, didn't he? I was wondering what we should do, what kind of gift would express our gratitude."
Miura Yumiko smiled knowingly.
"Just offer yourself up to him, and he'll definitely be happy. Our Yui is such a cute bishoujo, after all."
Yuiigahama Yui's face turned even redder, and she stomped her foot in embarrassment, "Then why don't you offer yourself up, Yumiko?"
Miura Yumiko said matter-of-factly, "Is that even a question? Although I'm grateful to Lin-san, there's already someone in my heart! As for who it is, I don't think I need to say, right?"
Yuiigahama Yui pouted and nodded slightly.
Indeed, there was no need to say it.
It was definitely Hayama Hayato.
Ebina Hina, however, seemed to see through everything. She knew that Hayama was only using Yumiko as a shield.
"Alright, alright, stop teasing Yui. Shiina-san, you haven't answered yet. Does Lin-san have a girlfriend?" Hina said with a smile.
All three girls stared intently at Shiina Mahiru.
Shiina Mahiru suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
Almost involuntarily, she blurted out a sentence.
"Of course he does, and he's already living with his girlfriend!"
The instincts of a maiden had spoken.
If that philandering guy knew that three beautiful girls had feelings for him and wanted to thank him, who knows what might happen.
In any case, she would first give him the label of 'living with his girlfriend' and nip any potential rivals in the bud!
"Ah? He has a girlfriend, and he's living with her..."
Yuiigahama Yui's shoulders slumped, and her tone was clearly filled with disappointment.
Noticing the strange gazes of the other three, she quickly shook her head and said with an awkward smile:
"It's not that I really care, I was just asking. Speaking of which, what kind of gift should we give to express our gratitude?"
She immediately changed the subject.
The three of them also tacitly agreed not to continue teasing her.
After all, heartbreak is a painful thing.
As friends, they should take care of each other's feelings.
However.
The problem arose.
If they couldn't give him a girlfriend, what kind of gift should they prepare?
The three girls thought for a moment and then looked at Shiina Mahiru with understanding.
Miura Yumiko asked, "Shiina, you're Lin Xi's desk mate, so do you know what kind of things a guy like him likes?"
Shiina Mahiru opened her mouth, caught in a dilemma.
Naturally, she wanted to reveal his lecherous thoughts and his desire to start a harem, and dissuade these three beautiful classmates.
But Shiina Mahiru didn't want to ruin his reputation.
Firstly, it wasn't something a girl of her personality would do.
Besides.
He was so gentle with her, and she couldn't bear to see him despised by others.
So, after thinking it over, she replied:
"Didn't he say it during his self-introduction on the first day of school? He likes light novels, anime, and manga."
"How about we each prepare a manga or light novel to give him? What do you think?"
"That sounds like a good idea!"
"Leave it to Shiina!"
"As expected of his desk mate, I even forgot his self-introduction! I didn't expect you to remember, Shiina!" Miura Yumiko gave her a thumbs up.
Yuiigahama Yui pouted.
Actually, she also remembered Lin Xi's self-introduction.
Ebina Hina pushed up her glasses, wiped the drool from her mouth, and revealed a mischievous smile.
Miura Yumiko immediately noticed this and stared at her sternly.
"Hina, you wouldn't be thinking of giving Lin Xi manga about those strange things between boys, would you? Please give up on that idea!"
"Why not?" Ebina Hina protested.
"Listen to me, Shiina. I didn't understand the charm of BL at first, but after learning about it, I fell deeply in love with it. Lin Xi will definitely like it too!"
"This is the meaning of evangelism!"
Shiina Mahiru was completely dumbfounded.
She had always been curious about what Ebina Hina meant by the 'friendship between boys,' so she pulled Miura Yumiko aside and asked her in a low voice.
"Yumiko, what exactly does BL mean?"
Miura Yumiko covered her face, not wanting to speak.
"Hina, shut up! You're still a cute bishoujo when you don't talk!"
After scolding Ebina Hina, who had already fallen into fantasy and started to have a nosebleed, Miura Yumiko blushed and explained the meaning of BL to Shiina Mahiru in a shameful expression, leaning close to her ear.
Shiina Mahiru also blushed after hearing it.
She immediately shook her head.
"No, Ebina-san, you can't give Lin Xi something like that!"
"That's not gratitude at all, that's repaying kindness with evil!"
Although Shiina Mahiru still couldn't accept Lin Xi's philandering thoughts.
But feeling his warmth, she didn't say it out loud, but her heart was still fluttering.
But if Lin Xi was poisoned by Ebina Hina's manga and stopped liking girls, she would definitely cry.
No.
She absolutely didn't want Lin Xi to like boys.
Lin Xi in Sakura Dorm suddenly felt a chill.
Ebina Hina's proposal was rejected by three votes.
She immediately slumped her shoulders and sighed helplessly.
"Why don't you understand the friendship between boys?"
"No, we will never understand, and we don't want to understand. Hina, shut up! Please choose a more normal gift!"
After going around in circles.
Spending more than an hour.
Several girls chose gifts.
They planned to give them to Lin Xi on Monday.
After buying the gifts, they went shopping again and played for an afternoon.
The girls finally emerged from the psychological shadow of being surrounded by thugs yesterday.
It was almost time to say goodbye.
On the train.
Miura Yumiko couldn't help but say to Yuiigahama Yui, who looked absent-minded:
"If you like someone, you should pursue them early."
"Oh... ah?" Yuiigahama Yui, who had nodded subconsciously, blushed instantly to the roots of her ears, and said softly, "What are you talking about, Yumiko?"
"Don't pretend. Don't you have feelings for Lin-san? At least dozens of times, you've always been secretly looking in Lin Xi's direction when you're chatting with me and Hina."
Yuiigahama Yui was stunned.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Otherwise? So what are you afraid of? Yui, you're very cute, you know. Have a little more confidence."
Yuiigahama Yui quickly shook her head.
"That's not it. I do care about Lin Xi, but it's not like I like him."
"Alright, stop denying it. Me and Hina will help you!"
Miura Yumiko glanced at her playfully and patted her chest as a guarantee.
"I know you care about the fact that he has a girlfriend, but how will you know if he does or doesn't if you don't ask? Maybe that girlfriend is just something Shiina made up?"
"Ah? But why would Shiina do that?"
Yuiigahama Yui asked blankly.
"Idiot, aren't you the best at reading the atmosphere? Haven't you noticed that Shiina's expression is strange when Lin Xi is mentioned?"
"I think she likes Lin Xi too, so she deliberately said he has a girlfriend."
"Yui, you're still too naive. In love, girls are all selfish."
Yuiigahama Yui was in a state of confusion for a while.