“You should totally join the Track competition, Liz!”
Elizabeth blinked and gaped in surprise.
“Yeah!” One of her classmates piped up, “It would be fun!”
“Plus, I heard Ivo would be joining as well.” Another one says, simultaneously wiggling his eyebrows.
Elizabeth almost groaned, “Guys—”
Her classmates laughed before telling her they were kidding and just joking around, but that she definitely should try out for Track nonetheless.
Away from the riffraff of the class, Zhang Ming sat by the sidelines quietly.
The boy had a face of pure neutral disinterest, and yet was also giving sad puppy eyes at Reke, Elizabeth watched in amusement.
And when Reke glanced his way, the boy immediately turned around as if nothing even happened.
Then Reke starts sending puppy eyes at Zhang Ming.
‘This was getting ridiculous.’ Elizabeth thought to herself.
She slowly made her way to him and nudged him with her shoulder, “What’s with the face?”
Reke gave her a ‘look’, “What face?”
“The face like you just dropped your favorite ice cream.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“You look like one with how you’re pouting.”
“I’m definitely not pouting.”
“And I say you definitely are.”
Reke gave her the stank eye.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
(A/N: Lowkey love these best friends XDDD)
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“Lf’r yffc jnblvlcu wf rlcmf ijra alwf kf ajixfv. Snfgsalwf P fnfc mjamt j uilwqrf bo tlw, tf’r pera ubcf atf cfza alwf P yilcx.” Efxf fzqijlcfv, “P wjcjufv ab mbgcfg tlw sfrafgvjs rb kf mbeiv ajix. Dea tf kbeivc’a fnfc ifa wf ja ifjra jqbibulhf. Lf uba jcugs, jcv rcjqqfv ja wf.”
Jeez, it always surprises her that he only ever talks more when it’s about Zhang Ming.
Elizabeth said, “Alright, well I do think that Zhang Ming was a bit rude for telling you off like that—”
“Thank you—” Reke interjected.
“But…” she raised an eyebrow at him, “You should’ve let it go when he ran off from you the first few times. I’d hate to say ‘I told you so’, but I did tell you to give him some space.”
“I did give him some space!” Reke almost whined.
“More space, then. It was clearly too soon for him.” she told him.
Reke sighed and laid his head on his crossed arms on top of the table, “I just wanted to know what happened at the library…”
“And now your impatience and stubbornness has caused Zhang Ming to run off once more. And this time after an even bigger problem.”
Reke could only groan in response.
–
As soon as he came back home, Zhang Ming slumped onto the living room couch and just sat there.
Didn’t even change out of his uniform or at least turned on the TV.
He still didn’t know what to do about Reke.
He wants to befriend him, but after an argument— was that an argument? —like that, he didn’t really know if Reke would even still want to be friends with him.
Zhang Ming sighs. What’s the point of talking about if Reke still wants to be friends when Zhang Ming can’t even talk to him at all?
It was unfair. He saw Elizabeth came by to talk to Reke at school.
The front door jiggles open then it slams shut with the cheery voice of Zhang Ling calling out, “I’m home!”
As soon as she walks in, she’s met with the sight of her little brother as a miserable puddle on the couch.
Welp, time to do some sister-ing.
She puts down her bag on the table then sits beside Zhang Ming.
“What’s up with you?”
The boy shakes his head, “Nothing.”
“C’mon, we both know it’s not nothing. You’ve been in a mood since yesterday.” She said before patting him on the shoulder encouragingly, “Just tell me, you know I would never judge.”
Zhang Ming nods, he knows it’s true.
“And who knows?” She then smiles teasingly, “Maybe I can help you in some way.”
Zhang Ming hesitates for only a short second before continuing on. He doesn’t really know what to do anymore and didn’t have much of a choice.
“I… I snapped at someone recently. And, I feel bad and want to apologize. But I don’t think I could face him and talk to him at this point.” he opened.
Zhang Ling lets out an inquisitive noise in contemplation.
“If it’s talking to him that’s giving you problems, then why not try writing him a letter?”
“…a letter?”
“Yeah! It gives you more time to think about what you want to say and totally cancels out all your problems with speaking to him face-to-face.”
“Huh…”
“Plus a letter would be more personal and you would come across as sincere compared to something like, I don’t know, texting him on social media.” She adds.
Then she stands up and brushes her hand on her clothes as if to wipe off some dirt, “Now my work here is done. Thank the best big sister ever later, Xiao Ming.” She says and leaves after giving him a small pat on his head.
…of course! Zhang Ling is right! (•̀o•́)ง
He could write to Reke instead!
If he thinks about it, a letter would probably be a better option than just messaging him. Aside from the reasons his sister told him, a letter means less chances of interfering with Reke’s Encounters. If he messages, Reke might feel the vibration or the sound of the notification during an Encounter. However, if it was a letter, then Reke would just open and read it when he’s free.
(Well, there is still a chance that he might open it before or during an Encounter. But definitely a smaller chance than messaging him.)
…he’ll make sure to serve all the dishes to Zhang Ling then do the dishwashing later for dinner. (；’ ∀ ‘ )
–
Extra:
The parents both watched as Zhang Ming bounced back and forth from the table to the sink as he cleared the table.
Then he situated himself at the sink and started washing the dishes while their eldest daughter sat at the living room trying to paint her nails.
“Guess that problem was solved.” Rose Zhang remarked.
“I don’t know if I should be impressed or scared how Zhang Ling did it.” Zhang Lefeng said.
(A/N: Both Zhang Lefeng… both.)
–
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!
–
This author has something to say:
You know, I recently realized that as much as Villain Systems (or at least bad/evil systems) are mentioned… I don’t actually remember seeing and reading one where the Main Character is still under that sort of system and having to face many sufferings because of them.
I only ever see these systems mentioned in a book’s timeline wherein the Main Character has already overpowered them. (Quickly Wear the Face of the Devil is an example.)
Have you guys ever read one with it? Give some recommendations and your own small review about it if you want hehe
Sister is the Best.
I will have to think about the system novel.
I know he feels bad but it’s for the best if they don’t get along 🙁 poor babies
Haha… will the system even allow him to write that letter? It’s just another way to make contact with a person he shouldn’t have any. Wish you the best ZM ^^°
Thx for the ch ٩(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )و