At the entryway, I slipped on my shoes and bid farewell to Sister Mengmeng.

Honestly, if not for her today, things wouldn’t have wrapped up so neatly. After all, the guy had a knife—a little bad luck, and I’d be in the hospital.

Sister Mengmeng walked me to the bookstore entrance and leaned against the doorframe. Just as I was about to tell her to head back inside—

“Hey, Xiao Hua.”

“…Huh? What is it?”

Being called back so suddenly felt odd. It was late, and normally, Sister Mengmeng would’ve already shooed me home to do homework.

“Um, Sister Mengmeng, what’s up?”

Did she find out about me snooping through her underwear drawer? What’s done can’t be undone…

But it wasn’t that.

“Um… I wanted to ask… about you and Star…”

“Ah… th-that thing? It’s really not what you think, Sister Mengmeng. Just an accident.”

As I started rehashing the whole story, she shook her head. “That’s not it.”

“Of course I trust Xiao Hua. I’m not prying… but it’s suspiciously coincidental, right? Though asking feels like prying now…”

I’d never seen Sister Mengmeng so flustered. Today’s events must’ve rattled her—a single woman unused to such drama.

“But Xiao Hua, you really care about Star!”

“Huh?”

Seeing my confusion, she continued:

“Sure, your right hand was in a weird spot, but your left was protecting her! You do care about Star. Your attitude’s totally changed from before!”

I had reasons to care!

But I couldn’t tell Sister Mengmeng yet—she was the only one who knew Yao Star妍 was the illustrator. Maybe that’s what she meant by “attitude”?

Before knowing Yao Star妍 was the illustrator; after knowing.

The shift was obvious to anyone.

“Ah… that was just instinct, Sister Mengmeng…” I scratched my cheek. “Nothing as complicated as you think… Besides, look at how she treats me. She clearly hates my guts. Why would I care about someone like that?”

Sister Mengmeng looked genuinely surprised. She raised both fists like she was swearing an oath:

“But I’m sure Star doesn’t dislike you.”

“R-really?”

“Yes… just a feeling.”

Though she insisted, I hoped it was true—but deep down, I doubted it.

After I saved her today, she still acted awful. Slapping an injured guy? That screams hatred.

Thinking this, I felt guilty toward Willow然.

That girl had done so much for me, pointing out my flaws—even if self-serving. Yet my likability with Yao Star妍 hadn’t budged.

Sister Mengmeng had only known Star a few hours. Clearly, she’d misread things.

Improving my relationship with Star would take effort.

Sister Mengmeng missed all that. Still…

“Thanks, Sister Mengmeng. It’d be great if things improved.”

“Yeah! If they do, maybe Illustrator won’t draw those doujinshi about you!”

Doujinshi about me?

I’m not diving into that scene.

…

“What did you do to Star yesterday?”

Willow然 wasn’t completely airheaded—she could be sharp.

“H-huh? What are you talking about?”

The next day, after school, Elder Sister Liu欣 had summoned me to the editorial office.

On my usual route home, Willow然 stood waiting in her uniform, arms crossed.

Her first words weren’t a greeting but that question. Typical of her—but shouldn’t she be asking how I knew?

She gave me a meaningful glance. “How weren’t you afraid of being seen when you dragged Star three blocks from the dumpster?”

“Uh… so you heard…”

Willow然 would definitely complain. Dragging a girl three blocks broke her “normal theory.”

I only explained the thugs A and B, skipping Sister Mengmeng’s part. If I mentioned her, Willow然 would grill me—and my “pervert act” might slip out.

One leverage point with Willow然 was enough.

She kept glancing at me. “Gale Splendor, did you do something unforgivable?”

“No! Absolutely not!”

“Your reaction’s super suspicious! How’d your hand get hurt?”

“How could I? I always remember your ‘normal theory.’ I’d never treat Yao Star妍 like some novel cliché!”

So far, “heroic rescue” or “lucky pervert” moments weren’t intentional. I’d avoided them, aiming for “normal.” So this wasn’t a lie.

“As for my hand… just got slashed by a thug.”

“Heh. Good job!”

Willow然 beamed, arms still crossed. So easy to please. Surprisingly, she didn’t rage about my “abnormal” bare-handed blade catch.

“Don’t disappoint me!”

Her gullibility made her easy to fool.

“Uh… you’re not mad?”

“Mad? Why? For catching a blade bare-handed?”

I nodded.

“Listen, Gale Splendor. Your pickup tricks are abnormally gross—but one exception exists: heroic rescues!”

Why didn’t you say that earlier!

I’d have handled those thugs at the dumpster without detours!

“Also, getting injured works wonders!”

Willow然 declared seriously: “Star will realize how serious it was. She’ll think hard about where she’d be without you!”

So… my actions were kinda right?

“Never knew Gale Splendor had a reliable side!”

Willow然 turned ecstatic, patting my back hard.

What a pain.

But more than that—I cared about:

“Willow然, do you know why Yao Star妍 was at the dumpster yesterday? Or is it on her way home?”