"What can be done to make that person like dark chocolate again?"

"Hmm..." Zhou Jingtang fell silent for a moment after hearing the question.

"The purpose of this question is to make that person like eating dark chocolate again, right?"

He took a few steps forward and summarized.

Since his family was in the food business, he often encountered such questions.

Yan Jingshu chuckled softly, remaining silent.

After a while, she reluctantly said, "...You could think of it that way."

"But many people like dark chocolate." Yan Jingshu added.

Zhou Jingtang looked somewhat troubled. "But didn't you say that this person no longer likes dark chocolate?"

"Does she really not like it at all?" Zhou Jingtang asked next.

Yan Jingshu recalled Jiang Shuyi's expression when she spoke to her and felt a lump in her throat for a moment.

But she still seemed indifferent as she replied, "...I'm not sure."

"Maybe."

Song Jinxi looked over at Yan Jingshu upon hearing this.

She felt that the usually proud and dignified Yan Jingshu seemed to crumble in that moment.

"If there's even a little bit of liking left, that's fine. But if that person has completely lost any fondness for dark chocolate, then no matter how you try to promote it, it won't work..."

Zhou Jingtang walked up the stairs step by step, not noticing the expressions of the two behind him.

"For example, if someone doesn't like tomatoes, even if there's just a hint of tomato flavor in a dish, that person will be able to taste it."

"Sometimes, dislike is just that straightforward, it's something that can't be helped. Dislike is simply dislike, and there's nothing that can be done about it..."

Zhou Jingtang stated succinctly.

"Zhou Jingtang," Song Jinxi looked at Yan Jingshu's expression, wanting to stop him from speaking.

". . ." But the three had already reached the top of the stairs in front of a restaurant.

Before long, the classmates all entered the restaurant.

The tables in the restaurant were already set with food, which was typical Chinese cuisine.

"By the way, Yan Jingshu, didn't you say that many people like dark chocolate?"

Zhou Jingtang asked as he walked a few steps, seemingly recalling something.

"...Mm." Yan Jingshu replied stiffly.

"Then why must it be eaten by someone who no longer likes it?"

Zhou Jingtang pulled out a chair and sat down, unfolding a napkin to wipe his hands.

"Apart from that person, there are others who like it, right?"

"Can't the other people who like it eat it instead?"

Listening to Zhou Jingtang's questions, Yan Jingshu didn't respond.

Song Jinxi lowered her head, expressionless, fiddling with the chopsticks in front of her.

Yan Jingshu's gaze swept over to Jiang Shuyi, who had entered with Wen Yao.

Jiang Shuyi quietly returned Wen Yao's bag to her.

Wen Yao smiled at Jiang Shuyi.

The sight of the two standing together made Yan Jingshu feel somewhat uncomfortable.

---

After lunch, Jiang Shuyi and Wen Yao went to visit a few attractions together.

The afternoon sun was nice, and the sounds of birds filled the forest.

"I rarely come to parks like this, but today I feel that it's quite nice here." Jiang Shuyi remarked.

Wen Yao didn't respond.

After a while, the two arrived at the deer park.

They bought a basket of carrots to feed the little deer.

The deer here were very friendly, immediately coming over when they saw people.

After they finished feeding the deer wit carrots, one little deer seemed to take a liking to Wen Yao and kept following her.

When they were about to leave, this little deer even tugged at the hem of Wen Yao's clothes, refusing to let her go.

". . ." Wen Yao glanced at the little deer but didn't say anything.

"Want to play with it a little longer?" Jiang Shuyi asked with a smile.

"Jiang Shuyi," Wen Yao looked at her watch, "we should go to the next attraction."

"But the next place is just a forest, and these little animals are so cute." Jiang Shuyi tugged at Wen Yao's hand, looking at her with a hint of pleading.

"Wen Yao, you actually like little animals more, right?"

". . ." Wen Yao didn't answer immediately.

Seeing Wen Yao's hesitant expression, Jiang Shuyi quickly said:

"Since you don't dislike it, let's change our plans to continue feeding the little deer instead of going to the next attraction."

Jiang Shuyi took the initiative and went to buy another small basket of carrots, splitting it in half to give to Wen Yao.

Wen Yao accepted the carrots.

The little deer from earlier continued to circle around Wen Yao's legs.

Wen Yao gently patted the little deer's head.

Jiang Shuyi didn't know who to envy for a moment. "...It really likes you."

Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi, somewhat confused, and asked lightly, "Does it like me?"

"I think so."

Feeling doubted by Wen Yao, Jiang Shuyi became uncertain.

"If it's this close to you, isn't that a sign it likes you?"

Jiang Shuyi said quietly, lacking confidence.

Wen Yao replied calmly, "I don't think so."

"Why not?" Jiang Shuyi asked, surprised.

Wen Yao patted the little deer's head and then offered it a carrot. The deer obediently began to munch on it.

"The animal world is very simple, whoever is good to them, they will be good to that person."

Wen Yao lowered her gaze as she spoke.

"Whoever gives them food, they will follow that person."

"When they see the person feeding them, they think that person is good to them and eagerly follow, believing that person will always give them food."

"But if a second person shows up with food for them, they will eagerly follow that person as well."

Her words came out cold, as if she were criticizing the animals for their lack of loyalty.

At that moment, a middle-aged couple holding carrots walked into the group of deer. The little deer standing in front of Wen Yao saw that the carrot in her hand was gone and immediately walked over to the couple.

Wen Yao crossed her arms. "Just like that, they will walk away..."

"Is that really how it is?" Jiang Shuyi stroked the back of the little deer in front of her. "But isn't there a famous movie about this?"

"There's a story of a little dog that kept waiting for its owner to come back, not knowing that the owner had died."

"Hachi: A Dog's Tale," Wen Yao recited.

So she does watch movies, Jiang Shuyi thought.

"Right," Jiang Shuyi smiled brightly. "So, I think animals have different personalities too."

"There might be those who can quickly adapt to their environment, like you said."

"But there are also those who are very sentimental."

Wen Yao looked into Jiang Shuyi's eyes and replied lightly, "Is that so."

---

After returning from the forest park, the students took the bus to the hotel.

The homeroom teacher, Li Roujia, asked everyone to decide on room assignments.

The students sat in the hotel lobby, chatting noisily. While waiting, Zhou Jingtang took out his board games and started playing with some classmates.

Wen Yao checked the list and noticed that a few people hadn't come to register for their rooms and pick up their room keys.

". . ."

Wen Yao looked behind Jiang Shuyi but didn't see the expected person.

"Where's Song Jinxi?" she asked.

"I don't know, she should be in the same room as me." Jiang Shuyi replied.

Wen Yao checked the form and saw that there were still a few names missing...

Wen Yao glanced at Yan Jingshu's name on the list and then looked at Jiang Shuyi.

"I'll go find her."

"I'll go with you." Jiang Shuyi followed closely behind.

"No need." Wen Yao quickly disappeared.

---

At the bus stop in front of the hotel, Song Jinxi helped Yan Jingshu pull down her suitcase.

As Yan Jingshu dragged her suitcase, the keychain on her bag fell to the ground.

Song Jinxi picked it up. "Yan Jingshu..."

Yan Jingshu didn't turn back.

Song Jinxi watched Yan Jingshu's back, remaining silent.

A person's silhouette can speak volumes.

In fact, Song Jinxi rarely saw this side of Yan Jingshu, yet she had seen too much of it lately...

So, Song Jinxi didn't know what to say.

The two walked to the hotel entrance.

Before they entered, Song Jinxi asked Yan Jingshu.

"...What are you going to do?"

"What are you asking about?" Yan Jingshu picked up a maple leaf and examined it closely.

Song Jinxi didn't speak, she believed Yan Jingshu understood what she was saying.

Before long, Yan Jingshu smiled.

"Do you think I would go and pester her? To make her come back?"

"I won't." Yan Jingshu said.

That's right.

Yan Jingshu would always remain aloof, the word "pester" was inherently incompatible with her.

Song Jinxi thought silently.

"She doesn't like me anymore, so being friends with her is the same." Yan Jingshu looked at Song Jinxi.

Song Jinxi's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Yan Jingshu quietly continue:

"Jiang Shuyi liked me."

"She really liked me."

— "I like how you handled that last string with your pinky."

— "Your violin's tone is beautiful."

— "Yan Jingshu, the first letter of your name is the same as the first letter of my name, right?"

— "Yan Jingshu."

— "Jingshu."

— "Yan Jingshu, I like you."

"She really liked me."

Yan Jingshu looked at the distant lake, raising her head with a hint of pride.

Then, with a somewhat disdainful and sly smile, she said, "But aside from liking me, she really has no other merits."

"The only things she's good at are fighting and playing the piano, and her piano skills are just—average."

Yan Jingshu seemed to smile as she walked ahead of Song Jinxi.

Song Jinxi stood behind her, seeing Yan Jingshu's gentle smile.

"However, now, seeing her with another Omega makes me feel as if she never liked me."

"It feels very strange."

Yan Jingshu glanced at the darkening sky, her smile gradually fading.

"I used to think she would always like me..."

"She was clearly someone who tolerated me and listened to my every whim."

"You know that."

Yan Jingshu smiled again.

Song Jinxi knew that Jiang Shuyi had once been someone who could tolerate Yan Jingshu's every whim.

So she looked into Yan Jingshu's eyes and said nothing.

Yan Jingshu turned around and smiled at Song Jinxi, "Once you've liked someone, it can't be too hard to like them again, right?"

"I don't know." Song Jinxi dragged her and Yan Jingshu's suitcase, her gaze lowered.

She silently sighed in her heart.

The two walked a few steps and saw a figure ahead.

Song Jinxi's heart skipped a beat as she looked at the person.

Wen Yao watched them approach, quietly turning her back.

"The only room assignment that hasn't been settled yet is for the two of you."

She probably didn't hear anything, right? Song Jinxi thought with a frown.

---

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