So, it's about light novels, huh? It seems like what I said yesterday had an effect. As long as she isn't bringing up the secret she found out about me at the bookstore yesterday, it's fine. Wu Shen felt relieved.
"Wu Shen-jun, why do you look so relieved?" Utaha asked, puzzled by Wu Shen's reaction.
"I thought Kasumigaoka Utaha was going to silence me because of yesterday's incident," Wu Shen said jokingly.
"No matter what, I wouldn't do anything illegal like that. You're overthinking it."
"I know, I was just joking."
"At most, it's just a small punishment for those who can't keep a secret," Utaha said with a smile, but there was no warmth in her eyes.
When Utaha met Wu Shen, she had already considered scaring him and teasing him first to ensure he would keep his word and not reveal her secret.
"After I got home, I thought about it carefully. Speaking of which, Wu Shen-jun's actions yesterday seemed very suspicious. First, he glanced at me after class, and then he seemed to say something like sexual harassment." Kasumigaoka Utaha reached out a hand to brush back her black hair, which was fluttering in the wind.
"Uh..." Wu Shen was speechless, unable to think of any defense, as everything Utaha said was true.
But he also found it inconvenient to explain. He couldn't possibly say he was actively observing her to conquer her, could he?
"After all that, and then unexpectedly meeting at the bookstore after school, don't you think it's a bit too coincidental? Wu Shen-jun, you're not some kind of stalker, are you?"
"How could that be? I'm a good, new-age youth! My trip to the bookstore yesterday was definitely a coincidence." Wu Shen quickly shook his head and replied righteously. This time, Wu Shen had a clear conscience. The encounter at the bookstore was absolutely just an accident.
Utaha was momentarily stunned by Wu Shen's reaction, but she quickly returned to her original demeanor.
"Maybe the bookstore was a real coincidence, but what exactly did you mean by your first words to me yesterday, Wu Shen-jun?" Utaha showed a playful smile, seemingly hinting at something.
Hearing this, cold sweat began to pour down Wu Shen's forehead.
Wu Shen, of course, knew what she was referring to: the words, "Your stockings are nice," which he blurted out when his brain glitched at the very beginning.
He had thought that because of Wu Yi's appearance, Utaha had forgotten about it, but now it seemed it wasn't that simple.
A demon, an absolute demon. What happened to the literary and fresh female scholar? Why is all I see a dark-bellied girl? Is this Utaha's true face?
However, now that he understood Utaha's true nature, Wu Shen had a countermeasure. Instead of being timid and passive, it was better to turn passivity into initiative and face the challenge head-on!
"Kasumigaoka Utaha, I admit my mind short-circuited for a moment. As a man, I cannot deny your charm, otherwise I wouldn't have unconsciously blurted out such words. If my unintentional words hurt you, please allow me to apologize! I really didn't mean it."
With that, Wu Shen bowed deeply to her.
"Eh?" Unexpectedly, Wu Shen admitted it so frankly and directly that Utaha herself was a bit flustered, her face slightly flushed.
"There's no need to be so serious; I was just joking..."
"So you're saying Kasumigaoka Utaha, you forgive me?" Wu Shen's current gaze was as innocent as could be.
"Um... there's nothing to forgive or not forgive. I wasn't asking Wu Shen to apologize from the beginning."
"That's good. Now let's talk business. Kasumigaoka Utaha, why did you call me here?"
"Oh, it's like this, I wanted to ask you..."
At this point, Utaha tilted her head and paused for a moment. She suddenly felt like something wasn't quite right. She had initially wanted to tease Wu Shen to gain the upper hand, but somehow, she was inexplicably led on by him in the middle?
Seeing Utaha successfully fooled, Wu Shen repeatedly sighed in his heart: It's all about the tricks! It's all about the tricks!
"So, Kasumigaoka Utaha, is there something you need me for?" Wu Shen didn't give her more time to think and continued to press.
"This is a novel written by my friend. I wonder if I could trouble you to take a look and offer some opinions?" Utaha hesitated for a long time, finally made up her mind, and extended her other hand, which was hidden behind her back, along with the document bag she was holding, to Wu Shen.
"Your friend? I feel like this is your novel, Kasumigaoka Utaha?" Opening the document bag, the first thing that caught his eye was the title, Love Metronome, in large letters. Recalling what Wu Yi had said, Wu Shen understood everything at this moment.
"Wu Shen-jun, if you don't want the rumor of you being a severe stocking fetishist to spread throughout the entire school, then don't ask questions you shouldn't, okay?" Utaha gave Wu Shen a gentle smile, but Wu Shen could clearly feel the surging dark killing intent and blatant threat coming from her.
"I was wrong! This is Kasumigaoka Utaha's friend's novel!"
"That's right. So, after you've read it, could you please give my friend some feedback and opinions?"
"Mission accomplished, guaranteed!"
"Very good. Then I look forward to Wu Shen-jun's reply, okay?" Accompanied by her soft and warm voice, Utaha elegantly stepped away from the rooftop.
"I guess I increased our intimacy, right?" Holding the document bag and watching Utaha's retreating figure, Wu Shen sighed to himself.
He had been worrying about how to discuss the novel with Utaha, but unexpectedly, Utaha came to find Wu Shen the next day. It saved him from wasting brain cells trying to figure out a solution.
As he walked back with the document bag, he happened to see an unfamiliar girl pacing back and forth at the entrance of his class, seemingly hesitating about something.
She had a refined appearance, long black hair that reached her shoulders, and a detached and indifferent expression, but her beauty was absolutely top-notch. Her slightly fluttering black hair, crystal-clear delicate skin, bright eyes, and thin cherry-colored lips. Red bow ribbons were tied on both sides of her hair, and she wore a formal school uniform and black over-the-knee stockings.
"Another woman of the same caliber as Kasumigaoka Utaha." Wu Shen realized that his current class was truly full of beauties, no wonder even Utaha was only "one of" the strong candidates for Most Popular Girl. It seemed the competition was quite fierce.
When the girl saw Wu Shen about to turn into the classroom, she walked up to him and spoke in a faint, cool voice:
"Excuse me, student, could you wait a moment? May I trouble you to ask something? Do you know who Wu Shen is in this class?"
As she asked this question, her expression was both serious and apprehensive, as if she had made a great decision to inquire.