Chapter 71 Making Ice from Boiled Water (9)

Shi Yu could definitely hear it, regardless of the distance between the inside and outside of the house.

Shu Ningmiao interrupted him: "Let's talk outside."

Rennagi was confused, but still gestured for Eric to walk outside with him. Shu Ningmiao glanced through the window and saw Shi Yu get up and walk back to the door, pretending to talk to him, but actually trying to stop him from going any further.

Shi Yu didn't care about the commotion outside, her eyes crinkling into a smile: "Did you come to see me?"

It's obvious that this is impossible; she has never been to the music room since the start of the semester.

Shu Ningmiao simply changed the subject: "You were just using your superpower, why?"

The piano music that had just come through was a piece she had never heard before. The [Arrogance] ability was also showing an additional status effect that was now immune, so Shu Ningmiao asked him if he was using a special ability.

Shi Yu doesn't care about his superpowers and never practices them. Why does he use his superpowers for no reason when he's alone?

—With Shi Yu's hearing, he must know that there are other people outside.

Shu Ningmiao became suspicious of him.

Eric was in very bad shape, looking so flustered, and he even came all the way to the sixth teaching building to listen to him play the piano. It was as if he was possessed.

At least Shu Ningmiao didn't find Shi Yu's piano playing to be that captivating.

Revisiting the game's storyline, the female protagonist developed feelings for Shi Yu because of his gentle attitude and the music he played.

Because from his music, she sensed his inner vulnerability and tenderness—that's what the game's narration said.

Having learned from Su Ni's experience, Shu Ningmiao couldn't really trust the game's plot and could only treat it as a reference.

A world built entirely on love is precisely the most illusory.

The fairytale romance between the prince and Cinderella may seem so on the surface, but what made Yu approach Erici back then?

Because of Erice's kindness?

Based on her understanding of Shi Yu, this reason is completely invalid for Shi Yu.

"I don't know." Shi Yu was blocked at the door, but she wasn't annoyed. She sat back down on the piano bench and opened the front cover. "I'm just playing around."

He placed another piano stool next to him, gesturing for Shu Ningmiao to sit down.

He started playing the same piece again, a gentle and light melody that seemed completely out of character for him.

Shu Ningmiao sat down next to him and randomly pressed a few keys on the piano, producing a jumble of noises.

She had studied piano, of course, only so that she would have something to say at banquets and salons and not be ignored.

Shi's father was most afraid of losing face, so he hired all sorts of tutors for her when she was still not even as tall as the piano bench.

If you let her see that these are all meaningless things, that she doesn't like playing the piano and doesn't feel any joy when studying, then what in life is meaningful?

Shi Yu could hear her dissatisfaction in those few jarring noises. She looked up in confusion, but only paused for a moment before changing the tune and continuing to play along with the disordered notes she had randomly pressed.

The chaotic notes dissolved in his suddenly changed melody, transforming into a new tune.

Shu Ningmiao placed her fingertips on the black and white keys and suddenly pressed them down seriously.

She was playing a very fast-paced etude.

Having not touched a piano for a long time, she only remembered this difficult piece that she had practiced repeatedly before.

Shu Ningmiao lacked Shi Yu's musical talent. Her learning relied solely on building muscle memory through hundreds and thousands of repetitions. There were no moving melodies or heartfelt emotions; only increasingly faster and higher notes from her fingertips, drowning out all the surrounding sounds.

The rapid, rhythmic beat was like a storm, leaving no room for maneuver. Shi Yu's fingertips were forced to stop, and he stared intently at her.

Shu Ningmiao emphasized the last word before turning her head to meet his gaze, and said softly, "Why aren't you cooperating with me?"

Shi Yu chuckled. She was the one who had played several wrong notes, yet she spoke with a self-righteous air: "You don't seem to want me to cooperate."

"Good to know." Shu Ningmiao lowered her head, absentmindedly pressing the black and white keys. When she looked up, a sharp, cold line formed between her pupils and the whites of her eyes beneath her eyelashes: "Don't do anything that makes me unhappy."

She released her hands from the piano keys and placed them neatly on her lap. Shi Yu smiled and simply put his hands down as well, leaning down to gently lift her hands: "How can I make you happy? Kneel down, kiss your fingertips, and be at your feet. I'm sure you'll like that more?"

Shu Ningmiao gave a cold laugh, curled her fingertips, raised her hand slightly, and pulled it out of his hand: "You can try."

Shi Yu grasped her fingertips, lowered his body, and his cold, soft lips landed on her fingertips, then became somewhat warm.

He raised his eyes in that position, a faint smile playing on his lips. His light gray eyes shimmered, and his long, thin, platinum-gold eyelashes looked like snow covering his eyes.

“It’s just something trivial.” He added meaningfully, “You’ll be unhappy too?”

She often felt that Shi Yu was like a spirit who had recently gained human form, with an astonishingly strange perception of society and morality.

Even if he killed someone and hid the body in the piano, he would tell her it was nothing important.

Therefore, she had no way of judging the extent to which he considered it insignificant.

Shi Yu said this because it was highly likely that this matter had nothing to do with her.

Shu Ningmiao frowned slightly: "It's best if it really is unimportant."

For the sake of Erici, she and Shi Yu wouldn't go so far as to fall out; the warning was just a token gesture.

Calculating the time, it should be enough for Lian Na to explain things to Ai Ruiji. She pulled her hand away, pushed Shi Yu away, and turned around to see Ai Ruiji standing by the window, staring blankly at them, motionless.

Rennagi stood behind Erigi and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Shu Ningmiao walked over, crossed her arms, and said to Eric through the window, "Don't come over again."

She spoke as if asserting her sovereignty, her tone matter-of-fact.

With just one sentence, Erici's face turned deathly pale. Shu Ningmiao knew that Erici was thin-skinned, so she said it on purpose.

She and Shi Yu also had a romantic relationship.

Hearing this, even if Shi Yu used a curse on her, she probably wouldn't come back.

“I’m not…” Tears welled up in Erice’s eyes, her face flushed red, and she didn’t know how to explain. Her already tense emotions completely collapsed. She covered her eyes with her hands and turned to run away.

Rennagi stared dumbfounded at her retreating figure, then turned back to look at Shu Ningmiao, who remained calm and composed.

Shu Ningmiao hurried downstairs and stopped under the shade of a tree, away from the sixth teaching building. She leaned casually against the tree and reached out to Lian Nagi: "Are you almost there?"

Rennagi took out a white stone and handed it to her: "Hmm."

It's really not difficult to get things from Erici. Although Rennagi hasn't spent much time with her, she can tell that Erici is quite easy to fool. All you have to do is tell her that Achini has changed his mind. Erici will definitely not be as suspicious as Shu Ningmiao to the point of seeking confirmation.

Since it was him who gave it to her, Erice had no suspicions whatsoever.

Just as Rennagi had described, Shu Ningmiao took the white stone and saw nothing unusual about it; it didn't even have any aura like a supernatural item.

It looks like an ordinary stone, pure white and slightly translucent, with a texture that is thicker than jade.

"When it came into contact with the Yelu instrument, did it not react at all?" Shu Ningmiao asked him.

“No.” Rennagi turned her head away: “…Teacher Yelü is very perceptive. If there had been anything unusual, he would have noticed it then.”

What exactly is this thing? Shu Ningmiao stopped fiddling with it. It seemed she still had to show it to Weston; this was the best solution she could think of right now.

Shu Ningmiao didn't have much hope of curing Yelü Qi's illness, but with the problem in front of her, she had to try to find a solution.

The terminal in her pocket vibrated. Shu Ningmiao took out the terminal and handed the stone to Lian Nagi: "Here, I'll take a picture."

She intended to open the camera, but her attention was drawn away by a notification that popped up at the top of the screen.

"A save point has been detected. Would you like to save?"

……etc.

New save point.

Shu Ningmiao froze on the spot, her fingertip hovering over the notification.

Rennagi obediently held the stone in both hands and looked at her.

She clicked on the notification and, as if in a dream, smoothly overwrote the old archive with the current time.

To make sure it wasn't a dream, she saved the file again.

The save file shows a time difference of a few seconds, which means that the place she is standing on right now is the save point?

But how was this save point triggered, and what is its connection to 'Crow'?

She looked up; there was a protective net over Kornunos, and no birds in the trees.

This is the exit of String Light Academy. She goes in and out several times every day to go to class, and the game has never reminded her that this is a save point.

Shu Ningmiao shifted her gaze back to the stone. Could it be because of it?

Rennagi tilted her head: "Is it ready yet?"

Shu Ningmiao opened her camera and took a picture of the stone.

Just as she was about to put away the terminal, she caught a glimpse of a figure rushing out from behind Rennagi.

It was Erici with red-rimmed eyes.

Unexpectedly, Eric returned. Rennagi turned around, but before she could speak, Eric snatched the stone back from her hand and angrily shoved her, saying, "You traitor!"

Rennagi didn't expect her to attack so directly. She was pushed and stumbled. Erici grabbed the stone, breathing rapidly, and trembling nervously.

A mental breakdown and overwhelming shame filled her mind.

As she walked to the artificial lake, a gust of wind cleared her head, and she realized she should come back and explain things to Shu Ningmiao.

I never expected to see Rennagi hand the things to Shu Ningmiao.

The last thread holding her rationality snapped completely.

She gripped the stone tightly, as if it were some treasure, even though she had no idea what it was for.

Erice felt betrayed and that everyone was misunderstanding her.

A jumble of thoughts filled her mind, followed by the fear of isolation. She couldn't find herself in front of Shu Ningmiao: "You're lying to me. So you and she have been in cahoots all along."

Rennagi stood up and dusted herself off: "...It wasn't collusion, listen to me, this stone..."

Erice interrupted him loudly, his eyes blazing: "You know perfectly well who she is, you know her attitude! She'll definitely hand this over to the government. You've betrayed us! I'm going to tell Su Ni, tell Sister Liang, tell Achini..."

Rennagi said softly, "No... she and I are friends."

The word "friend" struck a nerve with Erice even more. She thought of Linlu, and her body trembled violently; she looked very unwell.

Shu Ningmiao took a step forward, diverting Ai Ruiji's attention.

Staring at her with bloodshot eyes, she remained unmoved and offered no comfort: "I have no ill intentions towards Prometheus. If you don't believe me, give the things to Rennagi first, so she doesn't get hurt."

When she said "don't fall," she was obviously referring to the stone, her dear save point.

"What if I don't give it to you?" Erice bit her lip. "What would you do?"

What else could Shu Ningmiao do but implement Plan A, which she hadn't originally included Lian Nagi in her calculations—by simply taking her away.

That's what she thought, but she couldn't possibly say it out loud right now: "What do you think?"

"Don't talk to me like that." Erice's emotions suddenly erupted: "How can you be so self-righteous, as if everything in the world belongs to you!"

Why isn't Shu Ningmiao upset by her parents' attitude? Why doesn't she panic when she doesn't do something well? Why isn't she afraid of losing her friends?

As for her, whenever anything out of her control happens, she is completely led by the nose.

Completely controlled by his emotions, Eric gripped the stone tightly in his hand and slammed it to the ground.

The stone looked very hard, but it was actually more brittle than glass. The moment Eric moved, a crisp cracking sound rang out.

The surroundings instantly became eerily quiet.

The stone broke into several pieces, and its original white color gradually became cloudy.

Eric stared at the shattered pieces, his mind clearing somewhat, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

Shu Ningmiao took a deep breath.

She quickly calmed herself down, resisted the urge to kick Erice into the artificial lake, and opened the terminal.

She found the save screen and clicked on the latest save file several times.

There's no other way. Regardless of the side effects of reloading, save points are the most important thing.

However, after clicking several times, there was no response from the save file.

The pop-up appeared slowly under her finger.

This save point is broken and cannot be read. Please use another save file.

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The author's note: A wonderful personality is one that faces and solves problems, regardless of whether the methods are correct or not.

Ai tends to subconsciously avoid problems, shifting the burden of confronting them onto other issues.