A few days later, at the Old District Senior High School.
After finishing half a day of classes and eating her meal, Wu Menghan sat in the cafeteria. She rested her chin on both hands, her eyes unfocused as she watched the boys and girls passing by.
There were couples holding hands and close friends laughing together, which only made her appear more lonely.
“Hmm? Hanhan, so you’re here. Why didn’t you go back to the classroom?”
Her best friend noticed her and sat down beside Wu Menghan.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about some things.”
Her voice was low, and she didn’t sound like she was in a particularly good mood.
“If something is on your mind, say it. Maybe I can help you come up with a plan.”
The best friend rested her chin on one hand, frowning in thought, when a sudden spark of realization flashed in her eyes.
“Hanhan, you couldn’t be… in love, could you?”
“Eh?”
Wu Menghan was slightly stunned. The first thing that came to her mind was Vivi — she thought of her chubby little cheeks and the shy little expressions she made from time to time.
It felt as though something had scratched her heart. She shook her head and blushed.
“I… I am not.”
The best friend pushed up her nonexistent glasses and put on a confident smile, as if she had seen through everything.
“Hanhan, acting like this isn’t like you at all.”
“So ~ there is only one truth! Tell me, Hanhan, do you have someone you like?”
“I really don’t. It’s just… I just feel like she’s very similar to a certain person.”
Her best friend’s eyes lit up as her gossip-loving soul began to burn fiercely.
“Hanhan, curiosity is the beginning of love. Once you become curious about him, it proves you have at least some feelings for him.”
Wu Menghan was at a loss for words. She slowly covered her heart. For some reason, her heart was currently racing.
“Come on, Hanhan, aren’t we best friends? Tell me about it. Maybe I can even give you some advice.”
“It’s just… I feel like… she’s very much like my brother. Whether it’s her daily habits or some small details, they’re all very similar.”
“Ooh, ooh, ooh! Hanhan, so you actually have a brother-con?”
“Wha — ?! I don’t! I’m not!”
“It’s written all over your face, yet you still say you aren’t.”
Wu Menghan glanced at her reflection in the phone screen. Although it was a bit blurry, she could clearly see her bright red cheeks.
She leaned back, turned her head away, and muttered softly.
“I’m not. I just… miss him a little, that’s all.”
“And so you’re treating that person as a replacement for your brother? Hanhan, that’s really low of you.”
Her friend said this teasingly, only joking around, and didn’t actually think poorly of Wu Menghan.
Wu Menghan lowered her head bashfully, and it seemed as though tears were shimmering in her eyes.
Vivi really, really resembled her brother, but all the signs from her investigation these past few days showed that she was simply similar to her brother in some behaviors and habits.
“Eh? Hanhan, why are you crying? I was just joking just now. You… don’t take it to heart.”
Wu Menghan looked up and smiled, wiping away her tears as she tried to act strong.
“It’s okay. I just didn’t control my emotions well.”
Seeing her best friend in such a pitiful state, the girl couldn’t help but sigh. She reached out and wrapped an arm around Wu Menghan’s shoulders.
Unprepared, Wu Menghan let her head rest on her friend’s shoulder. It was very warm and soft.
“Sigh, Hanhan, I apologize.”
“If you like him, why not try to discover more of his good points? Besides, at a time like this, you really do need someone to lean on, don’t you?”
‘Someone to lean on…?’
Thinking of Vivi’s fragile little body, she suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. Vivi was so small; if she tried to lean on her, that would be truly pathetic.
However, after hearing what her friend said, her mood did improve quite a bit.
“Thank you…”
“Eh, what are you thanking me for? You still haven’t told me his name yet.”
“She… she’s called Vivi.”
Her friend’s expression froze, her brain failing to process the information.
What boy would be named Vivi? Could it be… the ‘Vi’ for ‘Vigor’? And then Wu Menghan gave him a pet name?!
Wow ~ this gossip was getting juicier and juicier. She had to get to the bottom of this.
“Hanhan, you’re not being honest.”
“Ah? What did I do?”
“You’ve already given him a pet name. Hurry up and tell me, how far have you two progressed?”
Wu Menghan’s cheeks flushed red as she glared angrily at her inappropriate friend.
“Are you crazy? What pet name? Her name is just Vivi, the ‘Vi’ from rose.”
“Ah? Huh? What boy is named Vivi?!”
“Who told you she was a boy?”
Wu Menghan’s words struck her friend’s young soul like a hammer. Her brain crashed instantly, unable to process such complex information.
“Eh? What’s wrong with you?”
“You… said a girl named Vivi is like your brother?”
“Yeah?”
“Is there something wrong with you, or is there something wrong with me? How is that possible?”
“Hmm?”
“Whether from a physiological or psychological perspective, it’s absolutely impossible for a girl to have a high degree of similarity with your brother, right? How did you even link the two of them together?”
The best friend spoke a long string of words, trying to express her internal shock.
Wu Menghan took a sip of water and rested her chin on one hand, thinking her friend’s words made sense.
From a physiological standpoint, even if some people shared similar movements and habits, it shouldn’t reach the level of similarity between Vivi and her brother.
Was it a coincidence? Or was there some other reason?
Her mind raced, but she couldn’t think of anything for the time being.
At that moment, as if she had suddenly discovered the problem, her friend slammed her hand on the table, her eyes filled with shock.
“Hanhan, don’t tell me your brother was a femboy!?”
*Pfft!*
The water sprayed all over her friend’s face, soaking the upper half of her clothes. Her expression instantly turned dark.
“Cough, cough! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I couldn’t help it.”
Wu Menghan wiped the water from the corner of her mouth and hurriedly pulled a tissue from her pocket, wanting to wipe the water off her friend’s face.
But her friend recoiled, instinctively crossing her arms over her chest.
“Don’t, Hanhan. I’ll do it myself. I’m scared.”
“Eh?”
Confusion and doubt appeared on Wu Menghan’s face. She wanted to ask more, but she heard her friend mutter softly.
“I’m straight. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.”
Hearing this, Wu Menghan’s face darkened instantly, and she gave her friend a resentful glare.
The best friend playfully stuck out her tongue, taking it as a small bit of revenge.
After the farce ended, they returned to the classroom.
At this time, Wu Menghan began to re-examine her relationship with Vivi.
Her friend’s words made a lot of sense, so she decided to test her further. Vivi wasn’t a replacement for her brother; she was an independent person.
However, she still wanted to figure out why Vivi’s habits were so similar to her brother’s.
She thought about it and finally fixed her gaze on her phone. On the screen, a product name was displayed:
**[Portable Camera]**