"Y-Yes, I swear."
Bai Qiu said jokingly.
"Hm!"
But Gao Songdeng looked genuinely happy at the words, nodding firmly.
"Deng, please straighten your leg."
Since the bandage needed to stick to her knee, Bai Qiu said this to prevent it from loosening when she stood up later.
Only then did Gao Songdeng realize that Bai Qiu was crouched before her, ready to apply a bandage.
She felt a little shy.
"Mm…"
Still, she obediently turned slightly and straightened her lower leg.
Then, noticing the designs on the bandages, her attention was instantly captured.
"This is the sixth series of marine creatures."
"There's the coral reef manta ray, sunfish, ribbonfish, whale shark, blue whale, sperm whale…"
As she spoke, Gao Songdeng pulled out several more bandages from her bag.
Her hands rested limply in front of Bai Qiu.
"Want some?"
Gao Songdeng looked at Bai Qiu, eyes full of anticipation.
Seeing her suddenly become so cheerful again, Bai Qiu couldn't help but chuckle.
"Deng, you're back to normal!"
"But now… you're the one getting patched up."
Hearing this, Gao Songdeng's cheeks flushed slightly, a little embarrassed.
"Sorry… for giving you trouble just now…"
Bai Qiu shook his head, then carefully applied the bandage perfectly over Gao Songdeng's injured knee.
"Thanks…"
Seeing that she still held so many bandages, Bai Qiu picked out a few more for her.
Gao Songdeng immediately lit up with a smile again.
Bai Qiu thought Gao Songdeng was actually pretty easy to cheer up, as long as you were willing to accept her quirky little gifts.
Earlier, when she had suddenly run off, it had really caught him off guard.
The two of them stood up, and Bai Qiu asked:
"Any other pain or discomfort?"
Since Deng hadn't wanted to speak earlier, he could only judge the injuries from what he observed.
"No."
Gao Songdeng shook her head gently.
"That's good."
Bai Qiu relaxed.
Suddenly, he noticed an open diary lying nearby.
It looked like it had fallen when Deng had tripped.
Seeing Bai Qiu pick it up, Gao Songdeng instinctively opened her mouth, but Bai Qiu had already read a few lines.
"A heart burdened beyond endurance, eyes fluttering and trembling in this world."
"I am always alone."
"Through springs that only know decay, I spend each year blandly and coldly."
Bai Qiu didn't read further.
The lyrics were poetic, but just these few lines felt overwhelmingly negative.
Speaking of which, the system had revealed that Gao Songdeng seemed to have played in a band before.
He returned the diary and asked:
"Did you write this, Deng? Are these lyrics?"
"Y-Yes… lyrics," Gao Songdeng replied softly. This diary doubled as her lyrics journal.
"Your lyrics are really good."
Bai Qiu asked further, "Were you really in a band?"
Gao Songdeng hesitated slightly but didn't want to lie to a friend.
"Before, but… the band…"
"…already disbanded."
Bai Qiu: "..."
This time, he could truly feel the sad, heavy aura that radiated from Gao Songdeng, as if an invisible pressure could swallow him too.
Though he was curious about why the band had broken up, he decided it was best not to push.
Better to let the day pass peacefully.
"Ah, I see…"
He quickly changed the topic. What to say? Bai Qiu's mind raced.
Got it!
"Deng!"
"Will there be a seventh series?"
Bai Qiu held up the marine creature bandage.
Gao Songdeng looked up, thinking for a moment.
"The seventh series… will be next month. Do you want one, Qiu? I'll get it then!"
"Please get one for me!"
Bai Qiu beamed, relieved.
Though Deng still seemed a little down, the invisible pressure had at least lifted.
…
Because of the earlier chase, the two ended up at the school playground.
They had no intention of returning to the astronomy club.
Bai Qiu and Gao Songdeng headed toward the school exit.
Outside the gate, Bai Qiu suggested:
"Want to go to a nearby dessert shop?"
He explained, "Consider it a small apology for chasing you and causing you to fall."
But Gao Songdeng shook her head vigorously, insisting it had been her own fault.
Bai Qiu also reminded her that he wanted to thank her for the fun bandages.
Finally, Gao Songdeng didn't refuse.
Bai Qiu planned to take the opportunity to help soothe her mood.
At the dessert shop, Gao Songdeng ordered a hot mocha coffee, and Bai Qiu added a slice of cake for her.
He got iced grass jelly and fries for himself.
After chatting for a while and finishing their food, they prepared to leave.
Before leaving, Bai Qiu packed some fried chicken to take home as part of dinner.
They stepped outside and reached a fork in the road.
Bai Qiu was about to wave goodbye to Deng when a figure behind her caught his attention.
The figure was watching them.
Bai Qiu exclaimed, surprised:
"Liang?"
Yamada Liang was crouched in the grass behind Gao Songdeng.
Gao Songdeng turned, curious rather than scared.
Was this person, like her, collecting little stones?
Liang first looked at Bai Qiu and said flatly,
"Huh, what a coincidence."
Then her gaze shifted to Gao Songdeng.
To Deng, Liang's voice was cold.
Expressionless, eyes as calm as still water.
And she was holding some unknown book and weeds.
Why a question mark? Because Deng was confused.
It was clear, though, that Liang's interest was different from hers.
Gao Songdeng felt oddly nervous — reminded her of a teammate from CRYCHIC.
Mu.
She didn't know how to respond, but Liang was Bai Qiu's friend.
Summoning courage, Gao Songdeng politely nodded.
"Hello, I'm Gao Songdeng. Nice to meet you."
"Mm, Yamada Liang. Just call me Liang."
Gao Songdeng was slightly surprised, but the conversation naturally paused.
She looked back at Bai Qiu.
"Well, Qiu-kun, I'll head off first."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
Bai Qiu nodded.
"Mm."
Gao Songdeng ran off, a tinge of melancholy in her heart.
Today had brought back too many CRYCHIC memories.
Liang glanced at her leaving, puzzled — why did she seem a little afraid?
Well, it made her seem unique, right?
Thinking that, Liang smirked slightly.
She then looked back at Bai Qiu — more precisely, at the food he was carrying.
Liang had watched him come out of the dessert shop.
Bai Qiu, interested, looked back at Liang.
Deng didn't know what book Liang held, but Bai Qiu did.
Edible Plants Illustrated Guide.
Liang stared into Bai Qiu's eyes, hand brushing the weeds against her stomach, as if hinting something.
Neither moved, staring at each other for a while.
Finally, the energy-drained Liang couldn't resist.
"Why aren't you talking?"
"I'm waiting for you to eat grass."
Her pupils contracted slightly, voice pitiful:
"I've been eating weeds for days… I'm so hungry."
"Then go ahead and eat."
Bai Qiu smiled politely — better to watch this live than through an anime.
Liang's eyes narrowed. Didn't this guy have any empathy?
"Xiao Qiu, we're teammates, right?"
"Yes!"
"Then shouldn't a teammate in need be helped?"
"Mm… makes sense."
Bai Qiu nodded, lifting the bag in his hand.
"Liang, here's some fried chicken."
Liang's eyes lit up — exactly the protein she desperately needed.
But Bai Qiu's next words crushed her hopes.
"Sorry, Liang."
"I can't give it to you."
"This is my dinner."
"If I give it to you, I'll have to eat flavorless instant noodles tonight."
"You wouldn't want me eating that, right?"
After saying that, Bai Qiu felt the last sentence was unnecessary.
Liang remained silent. I don't care if you eat noodles.
No — actually, she does care. She didn't even have noodles.
"So, Liang… still eating grass?"
Liang lowered her head, pretending to be disappointed and ignoring him.
"Then… I'll go first?"
Bai Qiu tested, no reply.
"Goodbye, Liang."
Bai Qiu left gracefully.
Liang watched his departing figure, unable to let it go.
"Gulp…"
She grabbed a handful of weeds and stuffed them into her mouth.
"So bitter…"
Why did he have to tell her that was fried chicken!
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