Chapter 32: That Nightfall
Starting school and being on holiday didn’t seem very different.
Even though she had become a girl, for Mu Le, things were still more or less the same.
If she had to point out something, it was that she suddenly had a few female friends who stayed around her every day, which made her a bit uncomfortable.
In the past, Mu Le didn’t have many friends. In fact, for most people in her class, she only recognized their faces. After a whole year, she might not even talk to them more than a few times.
This was probably because of her personality.
Although Mu Le could act very relaxed in front of Xiao Yuze, that was only when she was with him.
By nature, Mu Le was rather quiet and not very talkative.
Even though she sometimes joined group activities and talked with others, she was definitely not the type who was always full of energy and could chat easily with anyone.
She had joined a school club out of boredom, but unless necessary, she rarely went there.
“Hey, Lele, what are you daydreaming about? The light is still red!”
Just as Mu Le was lost in her thoughts, someone tugged at her clothes.
She was stunned for a moment, then realized she had somehow walked to a crossroad.
When she turned her head, she saw Xiao Han looking at her with a helpless expression.
Mu Le smiled awkwardly and coughed lightly. “Sorry, I got lost in thought just now.”
“Hehe.”
After hearing that, Bai Xin suddenly leaned closer, with a smile on her face that made Mu Le feel a bit uneasy.
Among the three girls, the one Mu Le felt easiest to get along with was Xiao Han.
Although Xiao Han’s parents were both business people, they had always been serious about her education and upbringing.
Also, because her grandfather used to be a university professor who specialized in classical literature, Xiao Han, who grew up with him, was influenced by him as well.
She gave people the feeling of being gentle, polite, and well-educated.
Yes, the kind of person who would definitely make a good wife.
So among the three, Mu Le felt the most relaxed when she was with Xiao Han.
As for Bai Xin…
It had to be said that she was like a bundle of energy, always full of life.
Even if she talked to herself all the time, she never seemed to get bored.
And to be fair, the awkwardness and uneasiness Mu Le felt when she first met them were mostly eased by Bai Xin, who kept the atmosphere lively.
In truth, she was a very cute person.
But…
“What is it?” Seeing Bai Xin’s expression, Mu Le couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
Hearing this, the smile on the girl’s face became even more strange.
“Nothing~ I’m just curious why you’ve been daydreaming since we left. Could it be because of… someone?”
“…Huh?”
“Well, after all, this time we came out to have fun, that man doesn’t know anything about it. And we’re even going to a place like that, so I was wondering… Lele, are you worried he might get upset?”
Mu Le: “…I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Yes, this was the most troublesome part!
In other ways, Bai Xin was fine. But sometimes, the things she said would make people feel embarrassed for no reason, making you want to cover her mouth.
Seeing Mu Le avoid her gaze, Bai Xin finally couldn’t hold it in and let out a quiet laugh.
Just as she was about to say more, Luo Xinyan in front finally turned around helplessly and said to Bai Xin, “Alright, stop teasing. It’s just a KTV. The way you’re talking makes it sound like we’re going to sell Lele.”
“Hehe, I just wanted to see Lele’s cute reaction.” Bai Xin stuck out her tongue. Her words made black lines seem to appear on Mu Le’s forehead.
“Stop teasing Lele, or if she gets embarrassed and angry, Xiao Yuze might come to take her away.”
Luo Xinyan chuckled softly, then took the lead in walking onto the crosswalk as the light turned green.
Looking at their backs, Mu Le forced herself to resist the urge to turn around and leave.
Among them, Luo Xinyan had always played the role of the “big sister.”
But unlike her elegant, classical beauty, her personality was not gentle and refined like Xiao Han’s.
On the contrary, she was decisive and acted quickly, never dragging things out.
She also had her own opinions and principles about many things.
In essence, she could be considered a very strong person.
But when facing friends, she gave a feeling of being reliable and easy to get along with.
She didn’t have Xiao Han’s kind of gentle warmth that seemed to accept everything, but she still made people feel very comfortable.
She would often make light jokes. Nothing offensive, but enough to keep the atmosphere lively.
People like her, no matter where they are, would probably always be at the center.
At least, Mu Le felt she could never be like Luo Xinyan.
And even if she could, she probably wouldn’t want to.
Everyone has their own personality, and different personalities lead to different ways of living and different experiences.
Choosing a way of life that makes you comfortable and that you can keep going with is what matters most.
As for her current self, Mu Le still didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry.
Without realizing it, her thoughts drifted away again.
She shook her head and quietly looked at the three girls ahead, who were chatting and laughing.
Night slowly fell. There were not many people on the street, and only a few lights were on here and there.
The summer air was still warm, but a light breeze in the evening brought a refreshing feeling.
At first, she thought she wouldn’t be able to fit into this group so quickly.
But then she suddenly realized that she had never rejected this kind of life.
Mu Le, at her core, was a very lonely person, both in the past and now.
So this small friendship that suddenly appeared, no matter the identity or the form, was something she truly cherished.
“Lele, hurry up! We still have quite a distance to walk. After singing, let’s go get some snacks. I remember there are some nearby, but I haven’t been there for a long time,” Xiao Han said, slowing down on purpose and turning back with a smile when she noticed Mu Le falling behind.
Mu Le was stunned for a moment, then nodded, a small smile appearing on her lips.
“Okay.”
Come to think of it, she had never gone shopping or singing with friends before.
It actually felt… pretty nice.
“But remember to call Xiao Yuze later. Otherwise, when he finishes his work and goes back but doesn’t see you, who knows how he’ll look for you, hehe.” Bai Xin suddenly turned around and winked at Mu Le.
Mu Le coughed lightly. In fact, she had already sent him a message before coming.
Of course, she wasn’t going to say that. Otherwise, Bai Xin would definitely tease her again.