Tang Yu's good mood instantly plummeted when the voice that had called out to her. The corners of her mouth twitched in exasperation, and she wondered if she still had time to run away.
"Tang-Tang!"
It was, in fact, too late to run away.
Tang Yu could already hear the sound of hurried footsteps and labored breathing coming from behind her. Then, before she could even turn around, someone embraced her from behind, the other party's hot breath hitting her bare neck.
Tang Yu shuddered from the stimulation. Then, she hurriedly tried to push Yin Zhao-an away, saying, "Let go of me."
"I'm not letting go!" Yin Zhao-an said with her head buried into Tang Yu's shoulder, her voice sounding muffled. Then, in an aggrieved voice, she asked, "Tang-Tang, do you not want me anymore?"
There were many passersby on the street, and some giggled and smiled when they saw this scene. Some of them even started whispering to each other.
You bastard! We're still children!
Tang Yu had a very strong urge to curse at Yin Zhao-an when she saw the passersby looking at them. However, she eventually decided against doing so. Instead, she chose to take a softer approach, saying, "Please get off me first. I need to go to school."
Yin Zhao-an turned her head slightly to look at Tang Yu. Then, with a sad face, she asked, "Are you really not going to throw me away?"
"No, no, so get up," Tang Yu said coaxingly.
Yin Zhao-an dubiously separated from Tang Yu and tentatively grabbed Tang Yu's pinky. Then, when she saw that Tang Yu did not shake her hand away, she proceeded to wrap her whole hand around Tang Yu's palm.
It's fine, it's fine. I'll just treat her like a sister, Tang Yu consoled herself.
…
The moment they set foot into the school, Tang Yu retracted her hand and put both hands into her pockets, behaving as if nothing had ever happened.
Yin Zhao-an could feel the residual heat on her hand scattering, her hand gradually cooling down, just like her heart.
When Tang Yu was about to walk up the stairs to her classroom, someone suddenly pulled on her hand. Then, she felt something warm enter her hand.
"Your morning goat's milk. It'll nourish the stomach."
"Thanks."
Tang Yu accepted the goat's milk and thanked Yin Zhao-an. Then, she politely nodded at Yin Zhao-an before turning around to leave.
Yin Zhao-an let out an unpleasant sigh. Since when did her Tang-Tang feel so distant?
…
As soon as Tang Yu entered her classroom, someone "hungrily" jumped her, causing her to stumble a little. Then, as soon as she caught her footing, she heard the person in her arms coquettishly saying, "Tang Yu~ I have a math problem I don't know how to solve~ Save me~"
Tang Yu spread out her arms, not knowing where she should put them.
At this time, the boy who helped pass on Yin Zhao-an's message walked over to Tang Yu's help. After pulling Fang Ling away, the boy said, "My dear young lady, you should at least let Tang Yu put her things away first."
"...Oh."
Fang Ling followed Tang Yu to her seat like a tail, watching Tang Yu put her schoolbag down and the bottle of goat's milk into her drawer.
Confused, Fang Ling asked, "Aren't you going to drink it? My mom says that goat's milk is the 'King of Milk' and drinking it is good for your body. She won't let me leave home without drinking at least a bottle every morning."
In response, Tang Yu shook her head and lightly said, "I don't like it."
"Oh."
"Which problem is troubling you? Let me take a look."
"Okay!" Remembering what she was here for, Fang Ling quickly dashed back to her seat to retrieve her test paper.
…
"Yin Zhao-an, someone outside is looking for you," a girl who had just entered the class said to Yin Zhao-an.
Yin Zhao-an snapped out of her daze when she heard the girl's words. However, when she turned to the door, she found that, sure enough, the person outside wasn't her Tang-Tang.
Zhao Yu carried a book in his hands, his eyes sparkling when he saw Yin Zhao-an walking over. "Didn't you say you were looking for this book last time? I found it for you."
Yin Zhao-an glanced at the book's title—No Longer Human.
Yin Zhao-an didn't know what the book was about. She only knew that Tang Yu loved it very much. When they were living together before, she would always see this book in Tang Yu's schoolbag.
Yin Zhao-an accepted the book. It was a thick book with a gray cover. At first glance, it gave off a feeling of oppression.
Gently caressing the book's cover, she looked at it with an inquiring gaze.
"That… This bookmark is for you," Zhao Yu said, feigning calmness as he handed Yin Zhao-an a bookmark. In reality, though, his eyes were filled with anxiety and expectations.
Yin Zhao-an did not refuse the carved bookmark. After accepting it, she smiled at Zhao Yu and said, "Thanks a lot!"
Zhao Yu hurriedly left after leaving behind a "No problem." Yin Zhao-an did not mind the boy and returned to the classroom with the book and bookmark in hand.
Yin Zhao-an quietly looked at the well-preserved book, her mind wondering what the book contained that it managed to intrigue Tang Yu so much.
...
Yin Zhao-an was the first to rush out of the classroom when recess started. It was a stark contrast to her usual leisurely pace. Even the teacher couldn't help but be stunned by her behavior.
...
Tang Yu had just finished tidying her desk and was about to head to the cafeteria's noodle shop. However, before she could leave the classroom, she got stopped by a panting Yin Zhao-an.
Yin Zhao-an was so out of breath her face had turned red. Even so, she held onto Tang Yu's arm tightly without letting go. Then, she met Tang Yu's gaze and said, "Let's... Let's have lunch together."
Tang Yu lowered her gaze slightly, not knowing what she should say when she saw Yin Zhao-an's other hand firmly protecting two lunch boxes. Ultimately, she nodded in response. Then, she saw Yin Zhao-an breaking into a relieved smile.
Tang Yu suddenly felt as if she was bullying a child. Rubbing the tip of her nose in embarrassment, she took one of the lunch boxes out of Yin Zhao-an's hand and said, "Come on in, then."
Yin Zhao-an ate exceptionally quietly today, even quieter than Tang Yu.
Amidst the silence, Tang Yu looked around the classroom. Only a few people remained in the room, and they were doing their own things. Seeing this, she leaned forward and said in a hushed voice, "You really don't need to bring me lunch. I can eat in the cafeteria."
Yin Zhao-an slowly raised her eyes, the usual luster in those eyes all but gone. Then, she said, "No."