Dating sim loading: My girlfriend is a cunning young lady
Chapter 331 - 167. School Trip (16)

Chapter 331: 167. School Trip (16)

The bus passed Uji Bridge when Dubian Che rang the bell, and he got off there with Kiyono Lin.

Uji Bridge is the oldest existing pure Japanese-style bridge in the Island Country, with a total length of 153 meters, constructed in the year 646.

To this day, while the bridge body inevitably uses reinforced concrete, the railing still retains a wooden structure, bearing a sense of history.

Next to the bridge stood a stone statue of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of "The Tale of Genji," and, flowing beneath, the Uji River where Chisako regularly practiced the tenor horn.

"Is there anything special about this place?" Kiyono Lin asked, holding onto the railing.

"Nothing special, I just wanted to take a walk by the river with Miss Kiyono on an autumn afternoon," Dubian Che said while eyeing the frothy water surface.

"Lies."

Dubian Che laughed, "Actually, it’s because there are beautiful reed beds here. As a musician who plays the oboe, and a professional reed master, I have a particular fondness for the reeds, the raw material for reeds."

"So it’s for such a boring reason."

"Boring?" Dubian Che turned back, looking at Kiyono Lin’s profile as she gazed into the distance. "There are people in this world who love the sky, cherish flowers, and are fascinated by trams; do you find them all boring?"

"No," Kiyono Lin denied with a casual tone, "I just wanted to mock you, I’m not interested in what others like."

"You’re truly cunning, Lin. With you saying that, even if I’m mocked by you, I find it hard to be angry."

Kiyono Lin turned around, facing Dubian Che.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling, "This is one of the tricks to make you fall for me."

The breeze from the Uji River brushed across her cheeks, her long hair swaying gently, bringing a comfortable scent to Dubian Che.

"If you speak about your intentions outright, I won’t be moved at all."

"No worries, I don’t want to bother with things that are too simple," Kiyono Lin declared confidently.

"Admirable," Dubian Che nodded and once again followed the endlessly flowing water of the Uji River with his gaze into the distance.

Far away on the riverbank, there was a bird with snow-white feathers holding something in its beak.

Dubian Che leaned out over the railing to get a better look.

Kiyono Lin glanced at him. Compared to him, the wooden railing seemed too low; it always felt like one could easily fall over it.

She extended her hand subconsciously and gently tugged at the corner of his school uniform.

"Pond heron? Egret? Or a white heron?" Dubian Che turned his head, "Lord Kiyono, can you see what that is?"

Kiyono Lin nonchalantly let go of his uniform and looked in the direction he had been looking, "You’ll have to catch it and let me see it up close before I can tell you what it is."

"Then let’s go! It looks quite plump; I can already imagine the scene of its fat dripping onto the charcoal, bursting into flames as it roasts."

The two of them headed down the stairs beside the bridge.

"Miss Kiyono, do you like chili powder on your barbecue? I’ve heard that some people like to dip it in sugar, which is an unimaginable perversion."

"I sometimes try that ’perverted’ behavior you mention with roast suckling pig."

"Just thinking about Miss Kiyono dipping in sugar, that method seems cute."

They chatted as they drew closer.

Unfortunately, before they could approach, the white bird raised its long neck, swallowed the fish in its mouth, flapped its wings lightly on the water, and flew away.

They continued their stroll along the riverbank, walking on a levee paved with stones.

Maple leaves, lush with growth, filtered the light of the sun. Benches were placed along the riverbank where joggers and tourists would rest.

"Fusang is at its finest in autumn light, where maple leaves reflect the tender chill," Dubian Che recited aloud.

"Who wrote that?"

"Lu Xun."

Kiyono Lin gracefully nodded her head, her gaze drifting to the distance.

Under the sunlight, the surface of the Uji River sparkled with dappled lights, water splashing against wooden piles or stones, creating white spray.

In the distance, the peaks welcoming the maple leaf season were tinged with red and yellow.

She retracted her gaze and noticed Dubian Che had picked a stalk of Mang Grass from the surrounding weeds, waving it as he walked.

For some reason, she suddenly felt cheerful; a tender warmth overflowed in her chest.

"Mr. Dubian, would you like to hear my story?" In the midst of emotions she had never felt before, she uttered those words.

"I’m not interested in other people’s past," Dubian Che stopped waving the Mang Grass, turning to look at her, "except for Lin."

Kiyono Lin made no comment on his words.

"I’ve lived without expectations," she said. "I don’t form attachments to anyone, I don’t expect any responses from others for anything I do, nor do I need them."

Dubian Che remained silent, staring at the reed bed not far ahead.

"As a child, when everyone laughed uproariously, I wouldn’t even bother to twitch an eyebrow, or perhaps ’couldn’t twitch’ is more accurate since what caused the uproarious laughter were outright lies, and I only felt nauseated."

"I could have guessed such a past," Dubian Che nodded.

They walked towards the reed bed under the shade of maple trees.

"Back then, I wouldn’t hesitate to point out someone’s lies to their face. At first, they dismissed me as a child and would laugh it off, but as it happened more often, they could no longer laugh and looked at me as though I were a freak."

Two girls sat by the riverside, and Kiyono Lin paused her narrative.

It was only after they had moved away from the girls that she continued self-mockingly, "The people around me started to distance themselves, ridiculing me for considering myself righteous, including your Meiji."

At the last remark, she looked at Dubian Che with a smile.

Dubian Che, feeling awkward, tossed the Mang Grass into the river water and brushed off his hands.