Chapter 298, Dusk Watching the Clouds
Shibuya Park is surrounded by a wide circular pedestrian street, which is quite long.

There are various kinds of vegetation planted on both sides, and now they are also hung with lights.

There are also many perfectly circular squares that have been deliberately cleared out, with seats on the edges where many people sit.

Because it is a good time to enjoy the lanterns, there are many people.

It can already be described as crowded.

Two vending machines are thoughtfully placed in the corner of the square, with a wide variety of goods inside, providing guests who are having a tryst under the lights with a more complete sightseeing experience.

Maybe it's because Christmas in Japan is so close to Valentine's Day, so basically young men and women are very close to each other. Of course, there are also some students, and the distance between men and women is very far. Hmm, immature.

In this situation, Zhuo had to be careful not to bump into others when walking, not to mention finding Yurina and Zero hiding among the dark shoulders and heads. He felt that it was great that he could ensure that he would not be lost.

The result was unexpectedly simple.

Turn left about ten meters ahead on the right, and you will see a circular square. Although the situation is slightly better than the street, there are still a lot of people.

The dim blue light was not enough to illuminate the faces of passers-by.

So how did Zhuo find Yurina in this situation? It was simple. She was too distracting. Among the countless couples who were almost all in pairs on Christmas, she and Zhuo were both pagans and pathetic singles.

But the pagan was different from Zhuo, she was wearing a red long skirt that was as bright as the dark blue sky. It was called a long skirt, but it was actually the kind with velvet, which felt like a red version of a slim military coat.

None of this is the point. The point is that she is holding a flower basket that is full, even overflowing, and is smiling as she sells the roses in her basket to every couple who passes by.

Because of the beautiful scenery, atmosphere, and the loved ones around them, the guests passing by were more or less excited. When they inadvertently saw Yurina, their eyes clearly revealed surprise and admiration.

Faintly she could hear the high school boys not far away talking about Yurina. When she noticed other boys glancing at her, she looked them in the eye without fear. Until those boys looked away with a little shyness, Yurina would step forward with a smile on her face and try to sell the roses in her basket.

After selling the flowers and leaving, the boy breathed a sigh of relief, while the boy with the pot-cut hair next to him secretly took a few deep breaths and whispered, "It's so scary. She looked so cute from the back, but I didn't expect she would still be so cute when she turned around."

"I always felt like you said only one sentence, but I didn't expect you said two." The boy next to her was still stealing glances at her out of the corner of his eye, but his tone was calm, and he was pretending to be mature.

"Do you want to go up and talk to her? She looks like a high school student..." said the guy with the pot cut.

"Forget it, do you think we are the only ones who thought of this?" The 'calm' boy patted his shoulder and pouted in the direction of Utsunomiya Shuo.

Zhuo calmly withdrew his gaze and sighed.

——A despicable honey trap.

"I knew it. Instead of worrying about them, it would be better to worry about whether I will die from exhaustion—"

Zhuo held his forehead and sighed helplessly, "I knew it would be like this."

……

"What are you doing?"

"Wow——Does this guy want to buy flowers too?"

"…Where's Zero?"

"Hmm? Zero? What's that?"

"..."

"This guest? This guest, what's wrong with you?"

"..."

"Okay, okay, Romanov is selling flowers on the other side of the park. Really, he just knows how to be so rude! Let me make it clear first, this was Romanov's idea, I was just an accomplice."

Yurina confessed under his silent attack, but still expressed her dissatisfaction with Zhuo's expressionless stare.

Zhuo didn't think that he was having a sour face, he was just keeping a blank expression as usual.

Zero's situation was complicated, and Zhuo knew that "the whole world forgets someone" was possible, so maybe because he thought of the worst possible situation, he didn't control the intensity of his expression, causing Yurina to think that he was angry - Zhuo was not angry with Yurina. It's normal to joke between friends, and ignorance is not a crime. Yurina didn't know those incredible "word spirits".

So he lowered his head helplessly and said, "Okay, I apologize. Ren called you but you didn't answer. He's very worried. Go meet him...see you later."

"Oh, it's too noisy around here so I didn't hear you, Kouma Kouma~"

"That's good to know. Go quickly."

Yurina checked the phone hidden in the flower basket and found that there were indeed several missed calls. In order not to make Ren worry, she did not delay and unlocked the screen and called back immediately.

"Zero is understandable, but has the only daughter of a wealthy family become so introverted that she is selling flowers on the street at Christmas to earn her first pot of gold?"

"Why, it can't be done!"

Yurina held the phone to her ear with one hand and waved at him with a fist with the other.

Seeing that she had started to gather as planned, Zhuo didn't intend to say anything more. He shook his head and went to the other side of the park to look for another "flower girl".

Shibuya Park is quite large, and even if you choose to walk through the inner paths, it will take more than ten minutes. If the gathering is not smooth, you may not be able to go home until very late. Thinking of this, Zhuo felt a little tired, and quickened his pace, hoping to finish as soon as possible.

"Wait wait wait - Okay, okay, that's it, see you at the street corner later, baybay~"

Before Zhuo had taken two steps, he was caught up by Yurina who had not yet hung up the phone. She was holding a flower basket and a cell phone in one hand, and the other arm was extended in front of Zhuo - although she was still talking to Ren on the phone, it did not affect what she was doing at all.

Ok.

A red and white flower bud was brought to Zhuo's eyes.

The phone was hung up. "Flowers, for you."

"..."

The little flower in front of me was neither a red rose in a basket nor was it wrapped in a transparent ribbon to prevent it from being thorned. It was really just a simple little flower - like the kind that was picked casually from the grass.

But Zhuo recognized this flower.

Its flowers are like small trumpets, with bright and colorful colors. The petals are white, the edges are red, and in the middle are dozens of yellow stamens that look like antennas - a bit like a morning glory, but actually it is a forsythia.

Although it wasn't the red roses that made Zhuo feel relieved, he also felt disgusted with himself for the despicable thoughts in his mind... He was silent for a while, thinking, "This is probably the first time I've been given flowers in my two lifetimes," and asked, "Why are you giving me flowers? Let me make it clear: I can't help with big things, and I don't want to help with small things."

"No. . . . Christmas present?"

"No. I didn't return the favor at all."

Even though it was the first time he received flowers, Yurina's reason was too far-fetched, and it was not nice to accept flowers from another member of the opposite sex, so Zhuo was going to refuse anyway - imagine if Ling was on the other side of the park and accepted flowers from another boy, he would definitely be twisted and almost crazy! So if he put himself in her shoes, he wouldn't do the same.

Even though we're not together.

Yurina was not frustrated or angry after being rejected. She just glanced at the buds of the forsythia, then thought for a while and looked at him again.

"Then... let's commemorate our meeting. Please accept this flower."

Yurina held out her arm again.

"What kind of a reason is that?"

"That's why it's a commemoration. Hurry up, I have to hurry and sell all the remaining roses!"

"..." Zhuo lowered his head and stared at the flower bud, then shook his head again, "No need."

This might be a bit unfair to Yurina. Not only did Zhuo stubbornly reject her kindness, but his tone was also a little cold, with a clear sense of alienation.

"Well! Well! Don't say that. Flowers are very precious... Give it to your girlfriend, she will definitely be very happy." Yurina said, looking into his eyes.

"……How much?"

Although Zhuo doesn't have a girlfriend yet, Yurina, as a good friend, may not think so. After all, she has witnessed with her own eyes that "Zero has been living with Zhuo", so she naturally won't believe that nothing has happened between them. Although it is a misunderstanding, Zhuo did not choose to solve it. Instead, he planned to make the best of it and let Yurina think that she is already with Zero - adolescent love comes and goes quickly, even if Yurina liked him, she can change at any time.

Zhuo intended to use this to convey that he already had a boyfriend.

"..."

Yurina took back the forsythia in her hand, held it in her hand and stared at it. After a moment of silence, she said softly, "The price depends on the object." She looked at Zhuo, "You... Hmm..." She stretched out her hand again and handed over the small flower, "... for you."

"Don't look down on me... 200 yen is enough."

"200 yen? These are flowers, right?"

"Then add another 300 yen."

"Not enough~~"

Zhuo really couldn't figure out the price of flowers, and the random quote might be really outrageous, so Yurina smiled and walked back and forth a few steps, then stopped and turned to look at him:
"And I clearly said I would give it to you."

Yurina pursed her lips and jumped twice, then jumped in front of Zhuo:
"You actually want to send me away with 500 yen.

"That won't do~~ (his expression returns to an indescribable smile)
“Words are a reunion.”

In the last sentence, Yurina's voice suddenly became very soft, giving Zhuo a gentle feeling. She took the opportunity to take the last step. When Zhuo took a half step back and couldn't dodge, she inserted the small flower into Zhuo's chest pocket.

Zhuo looked down at the "done deal" Xiaohua, thinking that even if he returned it, he would not be held accountable. He sighed heavily.

On the contrary, Yurina was looking at the combination on his chest, and seemed quite satisfied with it, showing a gratified expression.

"Ah~ Let me tell you first, Zero might not be happy."

"Yeah, I can feel it."

Even so, Zhuo would not be half-hearted and make a move that would make Yurina feel that there was a chance - that would be a very irresponsible behavior, and Zhuo would never do that. If you like someone, then you like them. If you don't like someone, you should make it clear on the spot, so that people can give up the idea as soon as possible, which is good for the other person.

However, Yurina had never expressed her feelings for him, and since they were close friends, Zhuo couldn't say it clearly, so he brought up Zero again.

Yurina had an expression that said, "I knew that a long time ago."

"I will love her forever and will not be changed by outsiders."

Zhuo turned his head, looked at the roadside, decided to take drastic measures, and said so.

"..."

Facing Zhuo's coldness, or even his deliberate oath-like harsh words, Yurina blinked, tilted her head to observe him, then pursed her lips and smiled:
"This scary guy, are you afraid that I will threaten you with this?"

She showed an amused expression and waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no. Don't worry."

"...I really don't know what you are doing."

"That's what I should say. Go ahead, go ahead! ByeBye~~"

Facing Zhuo who had already said this, Yurina still maintained a cheerful smile without getting angry.

Zhuo also doubted his guess - the tooth cup! If he guessed wrong, she would make fun of him for the rest of his life!
With such grief in his heart, Zhuo finally walked onto the path leading to the other side of the park.

(End of this chapter)