NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 71: Chapter 71
Sonoko and Ran fell silent. They felt as if something warm was flowing into their hearts, a very strange and hard-to-describe sensation.
The impulse broke a little more.
In the second painting, also of the classroom, it depicted lunchtime. Sonoko and Ran were on either side of a figure, seen from behind, patting him on the back, clearly comforting him, with a common dialogue bubble: "We will protect you."
Beneath the figure's back was a line of text: "I am... very happy. Could they be angels sent by God to my side?"
Sonoko and Ran couldn't help but remember that at noon that day, when Lin Yi, newly arrived at school, was bullied by others.
They fell silent again, their hearts warm, feeling something indecipherable that brought them pain.
Their hearts began to doubt.
Half of the impulse had disappeared.
The third painting was also set in a classroom, showing the figure from behind offering bentos to Sonoko and Ran, who happily accepted them.
Beneath the figure's back was a line of text: "The first time I prepare lunch for someone... they accepted it and said it was delicious... I'm so happy (≧?≦)!"
Seeing this, Ran and Sonoko felt a knot in their hearts for reasons they couldn't understand.
Half of the purpose of coming here had already slipped their minds.
The fourth painting depicted the murder at the art exhibition.
The content of this painting was larger, with a small Shinichi Kudo meticulously investigating the scene, while Ran and Sonoko held the place, and in a corner, a figure from behind was vomiting in the bathroom.
Beneath the figure's back was a line of text: "Kudo is amazing... Ran and Sonoko are also great... only I was the worst."
Upon seeing this, Sonoko and Ran were completely swept back to that day at the art museum.
They both couldn't help but smile beautifully.
The fifth painting had two parts: left and right.
The left part showed the figure from behind doing card tricks, while Sonoko and Ran clapped in surprise with sparkling eyes.
Beneath the figure's back was a line of text: "They are happy... I can finally earn a point!"
The right part showed the figure from behind playing the "Joker" game with both of them.
Beneath the figure's back was a text: "I discovered the secret of the two of them."
When Sonoko was about to draw the "Jester" card, she always stared at it intently.
When Ran was about to draw the "Jester" card, her nose always twitched slightly.
Should I tell them?
Maybe not... This is a good opportunity for them to get to know me better.
After reading this, Sonoko and Ran instinctively looked at each other. Ran couldn't help but ask, "Is it true?"
Sonoko nodded. She used that detail to always avoid Ran's "Joker" card, which allowed her to achieve a perfect victory that afternoon.
Then Sonoko asked, "What about you, Ran? Is it true?"
"I... didn't realize." Ran replied somewhat embarrassed.
Although Ran didn't give a definitive answer, Sonoko knew it was probably true as well.
From the first painting in the lobby to the fifth in the hallway, they both watched attentively.
The original aggressive impulse of Sonoko and Ran completely dissipated, leaving no trace.
Compared to their determined attitude during lunch, that determination had vanished without a trace.
With such subtle feelings, Sonoko and Ran continued to look at the sixth painting in the hallway.
The sixth painting depicted a meal at a restaurant called Asakusa Imahan, with Ran and Shinichi sitting together, while Sonoko and the figure from behind got up to leave.
Beneath the figure's back was a line of text: "If we're not here, Ran and Kudo can chat more comfortably."
The seventh and eighth paintings were placed one above the other.
The seventh painting was on top, this time in a four-panel comic style, clearly showing Lin Yi, instead of just the figure from behind.
He took Sonoko shopping for clothes at the supermarket, then "borrowed" someone else's Harley, and finally, they admired the night view on a mountain, sitting on the bike, with Sonoko raising a beer, very happy.
Beneath it was a line of text: "Sonoko is happy, which is really great."
The eighth painting was below, also in a four-panel comic style, showing Lin Yi as a delivery person encountering Ran, who had an obviously angry expression. Then, they talked in a café, with the "heartless boss" hitting the glass outside. After that, Lin Yi apologized outside while Ran stormed out angrily, and finally, at home, Ran was cooking.
Beneath it was a line of text: "Ran is finally happy, which makes me very happy too."
These two paintings were the last, and after viewing them, they reached the living room.
After seeing all the paintings, Sonoko and Ran probably understood why Lin Yi had hidden things from them.
The mood of the two was quite complicated at that moment, and they were in such a mess that they didn't know what to do at all.
If Lin Yi had approached them with bad intentions from the start, they would surely have been very angry and labeled him as a despicable man.
But after seeing these paintings, Sonoko and Ran understood Lin Yi's "thought process," realizing that he hadn't acted with bad intentions.
He had found them by chance that night, by coincidence was in their same class, and when he was bullied, they stood up to protect him...
Putting themselves in his shoes, if they were Lin Yi, wouldn't they also be moved by the girls' actions?
Probably yes. Definitely yes!
Anyone would.
The thoughts of demanding explanations began to fade in Sonoko and Ran, and instead, they started to consider things from Lin Yi's perspective.
They even began to feel that... Lin Yi hadn't done anything wrong.
All he had ever wanted was to be good to them, to make them happy.
Although he was dating both of them at the same time, his intentions were good.
Wasn't that enough?
Sonoko looked at Ran with a complex expression and saw that Ran was already starting to bite her lips, looking like she was about to cry.
Sonoko took Ran's hand and gently said, "It seems... we misunderstood him. He's not as bad as we thought."
Ran nodded: "Yes... I can understand."
Lin Yi came out of the kitchen "just in time." Seeing Sonoko and Ran at the living room door, he smiled and said, "Whatever you want to say, let's talk after lunch, okay?"
He was holding two bentos in his hands.
Although they had already had lunch, both involuntarily nodded.
---------------------
Now Available on Patreon up to Chapter 160!
👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/LEYI396
"Friends, I have big plans: two new projects will be launching very soon! Currently, I'm already working on three ongoing projects, with new chapters updated daily.
✨ Current Projects:
Based on Detective Conan: already at 160 chapters!
Another project has reached 330 chapters
.A third project is now at 100 chapters.
Your support is key to helping these projects grow. If you can, I invite you to check out my Patreon page! I truly appreciate all your help."
✅ Benefits of subscribing to Patreon:
Two new chapters every day, uninterrupted!Your subscription directly supports the continuation of all these projects.
Thank you for being part of this creative journey! 🌟
Merry Christmas to everyone! 🎄🎁