"Youjie, sorry to keep you waiting for so long," Alice came out of the room with a tray of freshly brewed black tea. The tea was still served in fancy-looking teacups, which she placed on the coffee table in front of me. Alice said, "Please enjoy," and I finally picked up the teacup to savor it.

After all, I had been waiting on the sofa for over ten minutes, and it was natural to feel a bit impatient. Although it was the lowest level of impatience, I couldn't wait to taste the black tea brewed by Alice. It was like when you're thirsty and your brain sends a signal to drink water. I took a sip and felt a slight bitterness on my tongue, but as I savored it, I noticed a peculiar sweetness. This is what they call "bitter-sweet."

Unconsciously, I became immersed in the taste. Although I didn't pay much attention to tea before and rarely drank it at home, I used to buy some low-quality tea leaves to brew tea. At that time, I simply thought that all tea tasted the same, just bitter. Of course, I considered its refreshing effect, so I would sometimes drink a little on my own. But it didn't really have much effect and would often make me wake up frequently at night. It's not a pleasant memory.

But why do I suddenly enjoy drinking tea now? Maybe it's because of the taste of black tea, or perhaps Alice is really skilled in this area. It's like cooking; someone who doesn't know how to cook will always make something unappetizing or inedible. But someone who can cook not only increases your appetite but also makes you crave it every day. Speaking of which, Su Yuqian's cooking skills are completely opposite to her academic performance.

Compared to Zhiye... What's wrong with me? I was just drinking tea, and suddenly these thoughts came to mind involuntarily. I immediately interrupted my daydream and focused my attention back on tasting the black tea.

However, I suddenly felt someone's gaze on me. I glanced and found Alice looking at me. When our eyes met, she seemed a bit flustered and quickly averted her gaze to the floor. What's wrong with her? Why does she seem to avoid my gaze? Did I accidentally reveal the contentment on my face while I was lost in my thoughts? But come to think of it, I'm still troubled right now. Thinking about it, I sighed.

"Youjie, did my behavior just now upset you? I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare at you... It's just that I couldn't help but notice your slightly intoxicated expression... But... But I didn't mean anything else. I'm not the kind of girl who stares at others with a foolish look," Alice explained anxiously.

I felt like I heard something serious, but knowing that it wasn't because I accidentally exposed something, I felt a bit relieved.

"No... I'm just dealing with some troubles, it's not because of what Alice did just now."

"Huh? No... that's not it. What did I say? How can I be so clumsy as a maid... Oh no..." Alice suddenly covered her blushing face with the tray and let out a low moan.

"What's wrong?" I looked at her in confusion.

"It's... it's nothing. Youjie, it seems like you've finished your tea. Let me pour you another cup." She quickly picked up the teacup in front of me and hurried back to the room. What's going on? I didn't understand at all. Did I do something to annoy her?

I sighed and looked at the coffee table. Suddenly, I realized that I didn't really understand girls. It's like with An Lisi, I kept knocking on her door even though she clearly didn't want to talk to me. Although that was under relatively normal circumstances, now I'm the one who's anxious and desperate for attention, while the other person completely ignores me. I feel frustrated, and I even thought about using violence to break down that door. I even wanted to tell her that her disregard for her own life and death was foolish! But this was just a momentary impulse in my mind, and it was unlikely that I would act on it. Even if I did, it would only make her dislike me more. I didn't have such intentions. I just wanted everyone to go to school together in good health. I couldn't turn a blind eye to someone's life and death. I felt frustrated and melancholic, and sometimes I would even hold my head and make sounds similar to wailing.

"Youjie... yours..." I turned my head only to find Alice looking at me with surprise. I was holding my head at the moment, and Alice might have seen that kind of mental breakdown. "Alice, that thing you just saw..." I awkwardly tried to explain. I hope Alice won't develop any disgust towards me because of this. It's really terrible. It seems that I still can't control my emotions properly.

Just when I felt that my life was filled with darkness and gloom because of this, I heard a faint sound of a teacup being placed on the coffee table. I raised my head in confusion and saw a cup of hot tea steaming in front of me.

"Youjie seems to have something bothering you, right? You mentioned it just now," Alice said, surprising me.

"Well... yeah..." Even though I was seen in such a disgusting and scary state just now, Alice didn't bring it up and instead talked about something I should bear alone.

"Well then, please tell me. It might make you feel better. Although I'm not a very smart girl and not good at giving advice, I will do my best to help," Alice said sincerely. It was touching to have someone offer to help me solve my inner troubles. I didn't know how to express my gratitude, but I decided to handle this trouble on my own.

"It's not a big deal, just a low-level annoyance like how to improve my grades," I smiled and said.

"But it's not like that," Alice's tone was serious, without any hint of joking. She stared at me, making me feel uneasy.

"No, really, it's just like that," I continued to defend myself. Even if I were to talk about my troubles, it would only burden the other person with the same troubles.

"Youjie... it seems like you still see me as an outsider," Alice showed a displeased expression. Although she didn't say I was an outsider, we only knew each other a little and didn't have any further relationship. We couldn't even be considered friends.

"Well... I..." I couldn't find the right words to reply.

"I really want to help Youjie with your troubles. Although I'm not a powerful character, I try my best as a maid. But Youjie helped me solve my troubles, so I want to help Youjie with yours," Alice looked at me with burning eyes, her sincerity and determination hurting me.

"Well... actually, I..." I tried to speak, but Alice interrupted me.

"Please don't ignore that painful expression you had just now. Do you think I can't share your troubles?" Alice's overwhelming presence made it impossible for me to argue or resist.

I sighed and spoke out my troubles in detail, but I kept the secret about An Lisi's drug addiction. After all, it concerned An Lisi's future.

"So, it's still about that thing," Alice said after listening to me, showing an expression that seemed to say, "It's not a big deal." I didn't know what to say.

"Do you like that girl?" I almost sprayed the tea when I heard this question. "Why would you say that?" I said, completely unable to understand.

"Because from what Youjie said, you're very concerned about that girl named An Lisi, but she completely ignores you. Is it necessary for you to work so hard? It seems that no matter how hard you try, An Lisi won't fall in love with you," Alice said, even though it felt off-topic, it still made me feel sad.

"Well, I'm not persisting like this just to make her like me," I said, feeling misunderstood.

"Then what is it?" Alice tilted her head, showing her confusion.

"Please review what I just mentioned,"

"Sorry, most of the content just now was focused on Youjie's feelings for this girl," Alice smiled apologetically.

Is it always about romantic relationships when it comes to what girls notice? It's really helpless. So I patiently reminded her again, "It's because I want An Lisi to come to school, it's a simple idea, and I'm also entrusted by her homeroom teacher."

"...I still feel like it's not very convincing," Alice showed a somewhat regretful expression for some reason.

"But this is my most sincere intention," I said without hesitation, although I still concealed another important purpose.

"Well... I think Youjie should give up," I suggested.

"Give up?"

"Yes, because if you continue like this, you'll just be ignored. And Youjie is so troubled by this, but the other party doesn't care at all. So... my advice is to give up. As for her not coming to school, you can ask her parents to persuade her."

"But her parents can't be contacted for now."

"Well... maybe she will figure it out herself and come to school," I said, hoping Alice would be as optimistic as she thought.

"The possibility is very low, but it's not impossible," I didn't want Alice, who was giving me advice, to be discouraged, so I said this half-heartedly.

"So Youjie doesn't need to worry too much. Isn't it better to let things take their natural course?"

"Maybe..." I couldn't say the fundamental reason, so I couldn't solve the problem correctly. Alice seemed happy when she heard this, as if she had solved a problem for me. After that, I pretended to have solved the problem and drank a few glasses happily. When lunch break was over, I had to go back to the classroom. When I left, Alice said she hoped I could come and visit when I had time. I nodded slightly in response, although on the surface I agreed, I still felt that it would be better not to go to the principal's office so casually.