15 15

I think I've come to regard him as my son.

15

Kawakami Wakai:! ! !

She lost her balance and fell to the ground with the chair, making a loud noise.

"Ruoyi?" Her mother's knocking voice came from outside.

Since the car accident that year, her parents seemed to have been left with some psychological trauma. They were extremely sensitive to even the slightest bumps or bruises she made, so such a loud noise naturally attracted their attention.

Fortunately, the room had soft tatami mats and a carpet, so Ruoyi didn't feel too much pain. She stood up, straightened the chair, and turned off her laptop before opening the door.

"No, it's okay, Mom! I accidentally knocked over the chair while I was tidying up."

After looking Ruoyi up and down for a while, her mother had her walk a few steps to make sure her walking posture seemed fine before giving her a few more instructions and leaving the room.

Kawakami Wakai: Phew...

She always felt that things would be terrible if her mother found out about her relationship with Fedia.

After confirming that her mother had gone downstairs, Ruoyi returned to her seat, reopened her computer, and cautiously spoke into the voice call, "Sorry, Fei Jia, I scared you. My mom—"

Before she could finish speaking, Ruoyi sensed that something was amiss.

She could almost hear heavy breathing from the other end of the voice call.

"...!"

Speaking of which, Fedia had been coughing a bit before...

I hope this person didn't faint from the noise she just made.

Kawakami Wakai was momentarily at a loss.

She didn't know Fedia's exact address, and since he was abroad, she couldn't call Lucia's ambulance. She didn't even have the contact information for the only friend of Fedia she knew—the one named Gogol.

For some reason, my heart suddenly started to race.

Then, Fei Jia's somewhat light voice came through the voice call: "Ah, sorry, I was a little dizzy just now, probably because of low blood sugar..."

"..." This person is terrifying!

"Then you should quickly replenish your sugar!" Kawakami Wakana hurriedly said. "Chocolate or drinks are the best ways to replenish glucose. When I was in the volleyball team, I would eat a piece of chocolate to replenish my energy after exercising."

"Don't play games or anything like that. If you're not feeling well, just lie in bed for a while."

Fei Jia didn't answer. The sound of tearing some packaging paper came from the other end of the voice call, followed by footsteps. The other person had probably obediently crawled into bed.

“By the way, Neko,” his voice was still a little hoarse, “you mentioned the new movie earlier, which I haven’t seen yet. But—”

"If I were also a superpowered person, what would you think?"

Kawakami Wakai:?

You're sick and you're still acting like a teenager!

"Go to sleep," she said bluntly. "When you're asleep, you can dream about anything."

"..."

After hanging up the phone, her mother came upstairs and knocked on the door, saying that the bath water was ready and asking Ruoyi if she wanted to take a bath first.

“I’ll be right there!” Kawakami Wakana replied.

After answering, his gaze fell on the floor of the room.

Her room was originally Western-style with ordinary wooden floors, but after the accident, she was moved to a tatami room on the same floor that was used as a guest room, and thick carpets were laid on the desk and bed. That's why she didn't hurt herself when she fell.

Kawakami Wakai:!

No, no way!

She seems to have made an incredible discovery...

The next day, Ruoyi immediately told Hinata Natsumi, who had traveled with her back to school, about this incredible discovery:

"Xia-chan, I've discovered—"

"I feel like I've come to regard Feyja as my son."

Hinata Natsu: ? ? ?

What the heck?!

Seeing Hinata Natsu's expression as if she were happily devouring a Stargazing Pie in one hand and a Haggis in the other, Kawakami Wakana had no choice but to recount the little incident from the previous night, including the embarrassing words she had unintentionally typed.

Hinata Natsume: "..."

Hinata Natsume: "...??"

"Silly cat," she couldn't help but tap Ruoyi on the head, "What do you mean by treating him like a son? You've clearly fallen for him!"

Startled, Ruoyi quickly covered her mouth, telling her not to speak so loudly.

Hinata Natsu sighed: "Family affection and romantic love are essentially both 'love'. If you really feel that your concern for him is similar to the concern your uncle and aunt feel for you, then I can probably say for sure."

"But Meow-chan—"

Her eyes were fixed on Ruoyi.

"How much do you really know about that... um, Fedia?"

Hinata Natsu's question surprised Wakana for a moment.

When Xia Jiang asked her this, she realized that all she knew about Fei Jia was that she was from Russia, was currently in college, and had hobbies such as music and movies, and wasn't very good at playing games. That was all.

Even things like "somewhat pessimistic personality" and "a bit chuunibyou" were just things I sensed during my conversation with Fei Jia.

even--

She always had a vague feeling that she had truly entered the other person's heart.

Yet she said something like "be his god" without even knowing the real Fedya, and even ignored him for so long out of shame...

Kawakami Wakana couldn't help but have some doubts.

Could my behavior be considered "irresponsible"?

"Xia-chan, let's chat later!" Meeting Hinata Natsu's aunt-like smile, she picked up her phone and sent Fei Jia the words "I'm sorry" in the chat window of Jinjiang.

I know it's irresponsible of me to suddenly talk about gods and magic. But if I ever really do have that ability, at least I want to be your reason to live.

This time it's for real.

After sending that message, Ruoyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Until Fedya replied with a sentence in Russian.

Kawakami Wakai:?

This guy usually talks to her in English or Japanese, why is he suddenly speaking Russian?

Fortunately, it also has a translation function.

However, the translated content greatly surprised Ruoyi.

Fedia said—

So, you were actually pursuing me?

"...!"

"Sorry, I'll think about it," the other party replied again.

"..."

"Wow!" When she showed the chat history to Hinata Natsumi, the other person immediately covered her mouth. "It's so easy for a woman to pursue a man!"

"Stop joking!" Ruoyi said, a little annoyed. "Xia-chan, what should I say in response?"

"You're asking me?" Hinata Natsu pointed to herself in surprise, "Me, someone who's never been in a relationship?"

"..."

“Never mind,” Ruoyi sighed, “I’d better not reply yet and give him some time to think it over.”

"Hmm." Hinata Natsu nodded. "That's good too."

Just as she had decided, Ruoyi did not reply to Feijia. And it was unclear whether Feijia was truly considering the matter seriously, as she didn't send her any messages for the next few days either.

So, Kawakami Wakana temporarily focused her attention on real life.

University wouldn't start until mid-September, so Ruoyi had nearly a month of summer vacation left. She started looking for job postings online and in job magazines, planning to work part-time to earn some living expenses, just like she had planned.

She had experience playing volleyball, and due to her own hobby and university major, she also knew a little about other sports. She quickly found a shop selling sports equipment and started her working life.

Because she might only be able to come one or two days a week after school starts, Wakana Kawakami filled her summer vacation schedule with part-time jobs, and during this time, Fei Jia never replied to her messages.

As expected... even if Xia Jiang's guess is true, and Fei Jia is also interested in her, this choice will be difficult to make.

After all, if they really want to take this relationship seriously, it means that one of them will have to leave their hometown.

September has arrived before we knew it.

Lucia.

"It's so cold—" Gogol rubbed his hands as he stepped into the safe house where Fyodor was hiding, complaining as he took off his shoes: "It's only September, and the lowest temperature is already below ten degrees. When winter comes, it will probably be minus thirty or forty degrees."

“This temperature is nothing to me,” Fyodor said, staring at the computer screen without turning his head.

Gogol: Hmm?

"Why are you wearing an air conditioning blanket on, Natuosi?"

"..."

Fyodor ignored his friend and continued typing on his computer. Gogol didn't say much either, but his gaze fell on Fyodor's phone.

The opportunity has arrived!

While he wasn't looking, Gogol reached into the cloak draped over his body and soon got Fyodor's phone.

Hmm... Dostoevsky's password should still be four zeros, as always.

Sure enough, he entered 0000 and the phone was successfully unlocked.

Gogol clicked directly into "Jinjiang".

Then it almost exploded with a sharp crack.

Wait a minute! Fei Jia, his best friend, actually has someone pursuing him!

Does this mean that another person will be added to his assassination list...?

Just as he thought of this, a dark shadow appeared in front of Gogol's eyes.

Fyodor's pale face was right in front of him.

What are you looking at?

Gogol: Hiss—

He chose to change the subject: "Compared to me, it's you, Tuosi, who didn't even tell me that someone is pursuing you, such an important thing!"

Then he squinted and checked the time the message was sent.

"Huh? It's been several days already, why haven't you replied yet?"

Fyodor: "..."

Seeing his best friend's reaction, Gogol's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Let me guess—"

"Tuosi, are you afraid to reply?"

“Someone I met online, especially a foreigner, who knows what they’re thinking?” Fyodor said expressionlessly.

“But I think your little kitten is quite serious,” Gogol said, raising his voice with an “Oh,” “and isn’t this a good opportunity to find out more about the other party?”

As he spoke, he switched the input method to Japanese and quickly typed a line of text.

"Why don't we give it a try?"

Click send.

Fyodor: ...?

[Author's Note]

So why didn't Fedia dare to reply?

1. It's still unclear what Ruoyi wants to see.

2. If I were to date Ruoyi now, I would only be using her unilaterally.

3. Other