A sentence of "you're really something" put us into an awkward silence for nearly a minute.
The beauty in front of me couldn't even manage to retract her stiff smile before being choked by my highly 'creative' greeting, her expression turned colorful. A blend of forced smile and anger flashed across her face; even the world's best face-changing artist couldn't hope to replicate such an expression.
"Sorry!"
"Sorry!"
We said in unison, then both stood there awkwardly.
I didn't know why the beauty froze, but I was genuinely surprised. I had assumed she was here for revenge (considering her expression), but I didn't expect her first words to be an apology — though her tone lacked any real sincerity.
"Uh — it's fine, no, why are you apologizing?"
The beauty bowed, gritting her teeth, "I'm here to apologize for attacking you a few days ago!"
"Ah — oh." I was a bit nonplussed; it felt like we'd both been ready for a life-and-death duel, with me having prepared poison darts and wills, and she looking furious, only for her to suddenly suggest playing rock-paper-scissors. I was instantly confused.
After a few seconds of confusion, Qianqian's voice came from the living room, "Ah Jun, who's at the door? Why don't you let them in?"
I finally reacted and said, somewhat awkwardly, "Beauty, had dinner yet? We're eating right now. Want to join us?"
I felt this was the most creative thing I had said in my life — considering it was to someone who almost killed me.
A few minutes later, this girl, who introduced herself as Lin Xue, sat at our table, taking the place of my sister, who had been escorted back to her room by Qianqian because she'd drunk too much.
"You said you're Ah Jun's friend?" Qianqian looked at Lin Xue with a suspicious gaze.
Lin Xue shook her head resolutely, "That's what he said. I'm not this guy's friend!"
Qianqian turned to me, "How come I've never heard of this friend of yours?"
Clearly ignored, Lin Xue shouted angrily, "I said, I'm not this guy's friend!"
"Uh — Lin Xue is someone I just met a few days ago. I haven't had the chance to introduce her to you guys yet."
"Hey, are you listening to me at all? I am not this guy's friend!"
"How did you and Ah Jun meet?" Qianqian ignored Lin Xue's protest again, "Based on personality, you two shouldn't get along, right?"
"I already said, I'm not this guy's friend…" Lin Xue protested feebly.
"Alright, forget how you two met," Qianqian raised a glass, "Today we're having a welcoming party for Lili's sister, and let's also welcome Lin Xue as a new friend!"
Lin Xue was in tears…
Watching the two lively and self-centered friends in front of her, Lin Xue couldn't help but suspect, is this guy really the powerful superpower user from that day?
Recalling that day's events, Lin Xue shuddered; such powerful force — could it still be categorized as a superpower?
At this moment, with her mind already in chaos, Lin Xue suddenly noticed that there was another person who had been ignored.
That blind girl named Pan Lili, if Lin Xue's guess was correct, she must also be a powerful superpower user. But why didn't this little girl react to her arrival at all? She should have sensed her identity, right?
Seeing the little girl quietly eating her food, Lin Xue couldn't help but think, "What a child with weak presence! Even I, who excel at reconnaissance, subconsciously ignored her existence… Could this be her superpower? To hide her presence? Such a useless ability…"
"Don't think about my brother." A voice suddenly appeared in Lin Xue's mind, startling her so much she almost dropped her chopsticks.
"Stay calm; it's a basic quality for a warrior." The voice echoed again, confirming to Lin Xue that this wasn't an illusion.
Was this the little girl's superpower? Mind communication?!
Lin Xue suddenly became excited as if she had discovered a new continent.
Superpowers come in all shapes and sizes, with some being incredibly odd and useless. This often led to superpower users being powerful yet unable to make significant impacts, but this little girl's 'mind communication' was a rare and powerful superpower, worthy of being called a royal skill. Although it wasn't suitable for direct combat, its role in team actions…
At this point, Lin Xue realized, with the girl's ability being 'mind communication,' then the elusive high-temperature energy from the other day must belong to the infuriating guy in front of her. Despite him humiliating her and his terrible personality, if they could join her organization…
For the sake of the organization, enduring some grievances was nothing. In the worst case scenario, she could give this guy named Chen Jun some trouble in secret to balance things out…
Sitting across from these two treasures, Lin Xue felt that Xu Qianqian was really in the way…
"Hey!" Lin Xue suddenly spoke.
"Mm?" I responded somewhat puzzledly. This enigmatic girl named Lin Xue still confused me, but she had been friendly so far, so I just observed her silently. What was she going to say now?
"You two," Lin Xue's gaze flicked back and forth between me and Qianqian several times before finally saying, "are you guys a couple?"
"Who knows!" Qianqian and I answered in unison.
Lin Xue was dumbfounded.
What kind of answer was that? Yes? No? How could there be such a nonsensical reply in the world?
"Well," Qianqian pulled at her hair in frustration and said, "I guess you could call us lovers — there seemed to be some development after transferring to the same school half a year ago, but now… Hey, Ah Jun, are you my boyfriend or not?"
I… cramped up a bit…
Although I knew Qianqian could sometimes be extremely offbeat, I never thought she could reach this level, but thinking carefully, our relationship was indeed like that; we both had good feelings for each other, cared for each other, but couldn't find the feeling of romance. It was like — before we even got to talk about love, we'd already entered the couple's mode…
"Qianqian, unfortunately, I am your unlucky boyfriend…" I said with a sullen face.
"Oh," Qianqian turned to Lin Xue, "Looks like we are lovers."
I didn't expect our relationship to be defined in such an absurd way.
Lin Xue was almost crashing.
She suspected that the two people opposite her were deliberately messing with her, but from her observations, neither showed any sign of joking.
"Alright, I get it. You're both a funny couple," Lin Xue said helplessly, "Seeing a beautiful stranger suddenly appear by Ah Jun's side, don't you feel suspicious or jealous at all?"
Qianqian blinked, then looked puzzled and said to me, "Ah Jun, I think she's right. You suddenly met a pretty girl. Shouldn't I, as your girlfriend, be unhappy or something?"
"In theory, yes." I analyzed very seriously.
"Then why don't I feel anything?" Qianqian was more puzzled, "Is it because you give me too much security?"
"Qianqian," I almost cried, "now I'm starting to doubt my place…"
"Alright, alright, I was just joking," Qianqian waved her hand, "I know you well enough. Although I don't know how you met Lin Xue, I can tell there's nothing inappropriate between you two…"
Lin Xue finally confirmed that the presumed lovers before her couldn't be handled with normal relationship solutions, so she said in frustration, "Alright, you win… It's getting late. I should go. I'll leave you two to chat."
Actually, what I wanted to say was, I've been waiting for you to say that…
After the disheartened and confused Lin Xue left, Qianqian stood up and said, "Okay, I should go too. I've got an afternoon shopping date with Zhou Jie and the others. The colossal task of washing the dishes is all yours~~~"
Looks like Qianqian did mind a bit, judging by how she waited for Lin Xue to leave before getting up. She still didn't trust me to be alone with an unknown pretty girl.
I have to admit, it gave me some comfort…
After Qianqian left, it was just Pandora and me in the living room for a few minutes before the doorbell rang.
I got up to open the door, and unsurprisingly, there stood Lin Xue, who had just left not long ago.