After Transmigrating, I Became the Most Cowardly Kid (GL) - Chapter 8

After her parents left, Chi Zhihuai watched from the balcony until their car drove away, making a note of the time.

She paced around the room, touching things here and there, finally enduring the five minutes. The moment the time was up, she immediately slung on her heavy backpack and put on her shoes.

By the time she reached the bus stop, Chi Zhihuai was so hot her head was steaming, and she started thinking about why exactly she had brought so many books.

It’s too heavy!

Exhausted, she saw an empty spot on the long bench in front of the station and hurried over to sit down. Then she took out her phone to check the time.

She was surprised to see a “Good morning” message from Shang Han.

!!!!!!

Chi Zhihuai adored “ZZZ.” She believed Sister Z was a stepping stone on her path to survival!

The bus she needed arrived just then. Chi Zhihuai ran onto the bus, swiped her card, sat down, and focused on replying to the message.

Chi Zhihuai: Morning [cute emoji]. You’re up early.

ZZZ: You are too.

Chi Zhihuai: Mhm! And I’m already heading out!

ZZZ: Heading out to do what?

Chi Zhihuai: First, to buy an ice cream, then to the municipal library to study.

ZZZ: …Is that ice cream really that good?

Chi Zhihuai: Yes!

The conversation ended there. The other party didn’t reply again. Chi Zhihuai pondered for a long time but couldn’t think of anything to say, so she reluctantly put her phone back in her pocket.

Fifteen minutes later, she got off the bus near the vocational high school and ran toward Yixin Supermarket.

Since it was the weekend, there were no students. The usually bustling little supermarket was quiet. The owner had set up a chair at the storefront, fanning himself and chatting with the woman selling newspapers next door.

Chi Zhihuai walked up to the owner, tightened her backpack straps, and asked softly, “Hello, excuse me, did you happen to find a student ID card yesterday?”

The owner stopped fanning himself and squinted at her.

Chi Zhihuai blinked, “at a loss,” gripping her backpack straps even tighter.

No mistakes allowed! She was a timid, weak little lamb right now, and had to constantly project a sense of nervousness and fear!

Chi Zhihuai channeled all her acting skills. The owner watched her for a moment, then stood up and walked into the store, muttering as he went, “You students, always making trouble, always losing things…”

He grumbled as he reached the counter, reached out his arm, and retrieved a stack of identification cards.

Right on top was her missing student ID.

Chi Zhihuai hastily grabbed her student ID and smiled at the owner, “Thank you so much!”

“Hey, wait, there’s one more,” the owner called out, thinking she was about to leave. “You’re from No. 1 High School, do you know this person? She’s also from No. 1 High School. Her student ID has been missing for over half a year, and I haven’t seen her come to look for it.”

Chi Zhihuai leaned over and saw the photo on the student ID, freezing for two seconds.

Shang Han?

She took the student ID and whispered, “I know who she is, but…”

“Oh, it’s good that you know her. I see you two are only one class apart. Even if you don’t know her, please help me deliver it,” the owner tucked the remaining two IDs back into the counter, picked up his fan, and continued to fan himself. “Thank you, little girl.”

Chi Zhihuai felt like she’d been handed a hot potato. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to deliver it to Shang Han, but she knew Shang Han rarely came to school. If she didn’t come next week, wouldn’t Chi Zhihuai be stuck with Shang Han’s student ID?

Although getting to look at the beautiful girl’s photo was nice… it was too strange.

Chi Zhihuai hesitated for a moment but still put away the student ID: “We should be thanking you.”

Passing the freezer, she paused and pulled out the watermelon ice cream she had eaten yesterday.

She had lied yesterday, and she didn’t know if that increased the risk of breaking her persona. She figured she’d buy an ice cream to placate the system.

Paying and walking out, Chi Zhihuai jumped twice, shifted her backpack higher, and tore open the ice cream wrapper.

Tossing the wrapper, she happily bit the tip of the watermelon ice cream.

This ice cream was genuinely delicious!

Chi Zhihuai got onto the bus heading to the municipal library, eating her ice cream while playing her match-three game.

Meanwhile, outside Yixin Supermarket, a black motorcycle suddenly pulled up.

“Boss, did someone come by to buy watermelon-flavored ice cream just now?”

“Yes, but she left a while ago.”

“Thank you.”

The owner watched her leave and squinted.

That young girl… why did she look familiar?

The weekend was the busiest time for the municipal library.

There were students, office workers who enjoyed reading, and middle-aged and elderly people who regularly spent their time there.

As Chi Zhihuai carried her backpack in, she had just swiped her card when she heard an old man next to her exclaim, “It’s always liveliest on Saturdays and Sundays.”

A companion agreed: “Yes, all these young people. Seeing them makes me feel young again.”

Walking to the stairwell, Chi Zhihuai moved aside for them, then suddenly heard someone call her name from behind.

She turned around and saw Chen Qin raise her hand and wave vigorously at her.

Standing next to Chen Qin was a girl with straight black hair who had her hands in her pockets and a lollipop in her mouth.

She looked difficult to approach.

But that was only how she looked. Chi Zhihuai rarely judged people by appearance. She quickly walked over, giving a shy smile: “Hello.”

Meng Qianwen removed the lollipop and nodded: “Hello, Meng Qianwen.”

Chen Qin knew her deskmate was shy and reserved, so she quickly interjected, “This is Chi Zhihuai, my deskmate, the top student in our class!”

Chi Zhihuai was frantically denying this three times in her head.

I’m not, I don’t, stop talking nonsense!

“Oh, cool.”

Meng Qianwen walked toward the stairs with the lollipop in her mouth. Chen Qin pulled Chi Zhihuai’s sleeve and whispered, “She’s a nice person, she’s just been in a bad mood lately.”

Chi Zhihuai nodded and followed her upstairs.

On the second floor of the library, there were two rows of small private study rooms, which were soundproofed, allowing people to talk without disturbing others. They could stay as long as they liked, but everyone was required to buy a drink from the library café.

Chi Zhihuai had just finished her ice cream and didn’t want a drink, so she randomly ordered a lemon black tea. Meng Qianwen had a cheese foam oolong tea, and Chen Qin, suffering from choice paralysis, finally chose the same bubble tea as her cousin.

The lemon black tea was prepared fastest. Chi Zhihuai took the cup and said, “I’ll go find a spot first.”

Study rooms with the “Do Not Disturb” sign hung outside were occupied. Chi Zhihuai walked down the aisle for a bit and finally found an empty room. She turned the doorknob and walked in.

She dropped her heavy backpack, slumped onto the leather chair for a second, and then quickly sat up straight.

After organizing her books, Chi Zhihuai habitually picked up her phone and was surprised to see a message from “ZZZ.”

ZZZ: Did you get your ice cream?

Chi Zhihuai: Mhm! I’m already at the library.

ZZZ: Study hard.

Shang Han put down her phone and looked up at the gold plaque above the library entrance.

She didn’t know why she had gotten up immediately after waking, rushed to wash up and go out, rushed to the supermarket, and then chased after her to the library.

Shang Han started her motorcycle, paused for two seconds, then suddenly killed the engine and got off the bike.

However, after standing next to the car for a while, she quickly got back on the motorcycle and rode away.

If she didn’t find the person, she would feel unwilling. If she did find her, it would make the other person suspicious.

Forget it. It’s enough to know she arrived safely at the library.

Shang Han rarely went out this early. For a moment, she didn’t know where to go. She rode the motorcycle around aimlessly for a bit, then sent a message in her group chat, calling people out to play games.

Tang Chen was the first to reply, saying he was in a bad mood and needed video games to soothe his sorrows.

Shang Han sent a message in the group saying “Found someone,” and then messaged him privately.

ZZZ: Fine, come to the arcade for a match.

Knight Tang: That’s not a match, that’s you unilaterally abusing me.

ZZZ: Are you coming or not?

Knight Tang: Coming!

Even if it was abuse, a good round of King of Fighters was still satisfying.

Tang Chen immediately washed his hair and went out. Arriving at the arcade, he instantly saw his boss waiting for him, clutching a large basket of tokens.

Totally handsome!

Tang Chen unceremoniously grabbed a handful and chose a two-player fighting machine at random.

Shang Han placed the tokens aside, leaned down, and placed her hands on the joystick and buttons, ready for battle.

The first round began. Tang Chen chose to attack. Shang Han used retreat as an advance, seized his opening, and instantly launched a combo attack.

Tang Chen grit his teeth: “Again!”

This time, Shang Han went on the offensive. Tang Chen was suppressed throughout the entire round, only managing to knock off half a bar of Shang Han’s health before he died.

The two didn’t move, standing in front of the same machine and fighting for an hour. Finally, Tang Chen threw up his hands in surrender: “Let’s play something else.”

Shang Han had no objection. She glanced around and said, “Want to play the dancing machine?”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

After being completely dominated on the dancing machine again, Tang Chen leaned against the railing, panting: “Ugh, a bit of exercise feels much better.”

Shang Han leaned on the opposite railing and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Tang Chen tilted his head slightly: “It’s my ex-girlfriend. Last night, I desperately messaged her and added her back, asking her to meet today for bubble tea and hot pot… Guess what she said?”

Shang Han looked at him. He continued: “She said she’s going to the library to study! Isn’t she messing with me? I’ve known her for years, don’t I know her better than that?”

He had expected the boss to agree with him, but the reply Tang Chen heard was—”Which library?”

Damn it, is that the main point???

Tang Chen pouted: “She didn’t say, but it’s probably the municipal library. It’s the closest one to our neighborhood.”

Shang Han flipped the small basket of tokens in her hand: “Do you want to see her?”

Tang Chen replied weakly, “Of course I do.”

Two young girls walked into the arcade and were standing in front of the claw machine, watching.

“They have Doraemon…”

“The one holding a dorayaki is too cute!”

“Should we try to play?”

“I…”

Before the girl could finish, a small basket of tokens suddenly appeared in front of them.

The tall, handsome girl looked unapproachable, holding a small green basket in her hand. The tall boy next to her looked cocky, his hair dyed blonde, his shirt unbuttoned to his chest, radiating an air of hooliganism.

The two girls were startled, thinking they were blocking the machine they wanted to play. Just as they were about to leave, they heard the tall girl say, “We’re leaving. You can have these.”

With that, Shang Han placed the tokens directly on the claw machine and turned to leave.

The girls behind her whispered in awe, “That Miss is so handsome…”

Tsk, tsk, tsk. The boss really knew how to flirt without even trying.

Tang Chen clicked his tongue, then quickly followed her: “Boss, are we going to the municipal library now?”

Shang Han looked back at him.

“Why else?”