Are you, as meal replacement users, ready for the consequences?

Page 3

Xiangzi loves me too, she can't live without me, I love her, I've always loved her...

But you couldn't make Xiangzi cry his heart out, to wail at your grave. You were truly useless, Ningzi…

What am I thinking? Why would I have such thoughts? Is it my wish to make someone cry uncontrollably? How disgusting. Why would I think like this? Why? Is there something wrong with me?

"You idiot, why are you out so late?"

"Sister, I was worried when I saw you hadn't come home late, so I wanted to come out and look for you... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Ningzi calmed down a little and hugged Xiangzi tightly, ignoring the teddy bear.

Lies slipped out of Ningzi's mouth; she spoke without even thinking, the words just flew out on their own.

Yes, it flies, it comes out very naturally, just like water droplets splashing out of a waterfall.

"Ningzi...you idiot, if something happens to you, I..."

Xiangzi was held in Ningzi's arms, and her trembling made Ningzi feel the fear and panic that could not be ignored.

This was her sister's unease. Ningzi could feel the sister's hot, wet tears soaking her chest, the tears tracing the curves of her skin, and flowing into the depths of Ningzi's heart.

Was Xiangzi sad...? This sadness is for me, it belongs to me, it's proof of his love for me...?

Waaah, I'm so sad too. I was so awful. How can I live with myself after doing something so terrible? I'm so heartbroken, so incredibly sad...

"Sister...I'm so scared...I...I want to go home..."

"Go home, okay, I'll take you home."

I don't want to go back to that rented room; the terrible air there makes my lungs burn.

But Xiangzi was there with him.

"Um…"

Ningzi's hand was taken by Xiangzi. Her nightgown was soaked and water was dripping onto the doll next to her.

The teddy bear stopped talking; it seemed to have drowned.

Ningzi picked up the teddy bear with disdain; it was covered in mud from the riverbank.

I have to wash it again. If I wash it again, will it tear again? And if it tears, I'll have to sew it up. It's such a hassle.

However, she was in a much better mood today and didn't dwell on these things.

If you get yourself dirty again, I'm going to take you apart, Mr. Teddy Bear.

……

It was one o'clock in the morning, in Ningzi and Xiangzi's bedroom.

Xiangzi fell asleep, but she tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep with tears streaming down her face.

She glanced at it furtively, as if appraising a work of art. Lying on the side, Toyokawa Ningko looked at it again and again.

The fruit her sister brought home tonight was delicious, which made Ningzi even happier.

Her sister didn't abandon her; her sister loves her. Yes, she has to confirm it every day, otherwise she's really worried.

After returning home, he was scolded by his older sister for a long time, but Xiao Xiang's scolding was also tender and delicious, very cute, and almost made Ningzi laugh.

Xiangzi also said he wanted to take himself to the hospital for a check-up, fearing he might suffer from long-term health problems.

Ningzi doesn't want to go to the hospital because it will only bring misfortune.

However, my sister was worried about me, she was really worried, and they talked a lot before going to bed.

This week, because Xiangzi is going to school and working, they have less and less time to chat. When was the last time they chatted this much like today?

I forgot, Xiangzi seemed to have brought fruit home last time too, but she didn't drown herself last time.

Last time, Xiangzi was five minutes late coming home and she was going to have her blood drained, but he suddenly came back while she was looking for a razor blade, so things were delayed.

Well... as long as Xiangzi didn't abandon her, that's good...

Xiangzi…my Xiangzi…hehe…

We'll be together for a lifetime...

You can never leave me...

"A lifetime, Xiangzi..."

We agreed on a lifetime, not a second less, at least a thousand years, no, at least ten thousand years!

Even if they turn into ashes, they should be mixed together.

Toyokawa Ningko stuck out her tongue and licked the tears from the corner of Xiangzi's eyes; Xiangzi's tears were sweet.

It was because her tears took away all her sweetness that her life became so bitter.

Ningzi swallowed Xiangzi's sweetness; she liked what Xiangzi was expelling.

It's not just tears.

"I'm sorry for making you worry today, Xiangzi. I love you."

Toyokawa Shoko shuddered, like a frightened little wild animal.

Did I have a nightmare? That's good.

Goodnight, panda.

Goodnight, Xiao Ningzi.

The teddy bear, clipped to the clothes rack on the balcony, closed its eyes several times, whispering towards Toyokawa Ningko's room:

"Good night."

Chapter 4. Then, Wakaba Mutsu fell into memories.

A coffee shop with tables for four and seats for two.

"It's the weekend today, but there are surprisingly few people."

Toyokawa Shoko's elegance remains unchanged; the way she picks up her coffee cup undoubtedly reflects her understated elegance.

This elegance did not disappear with the decline of his life; it was something deeply imprinted in Xiangzi's bones.

"It tastes just like I remember, it's delicious."

The girl sitting opposite Shoko, Ruoye Mutsu, held a glass of mango juice in both hands.

After hearing Xiangzi's words, she did not rush to speak, but continued to sip her juice through the straw.

She didn't know what to say; Mu hadn't come to the coffee shop with Xiangzi in a long time.

If she were to speak, Mu would ask some questions about Xiangzi's life, such as whether Xiangzi was short of money, and about yesterday's phone call...

But Ye Mu didn't dare to speak, because she didn't know which words would upset Xiangzi... She didn't want to upset Xiangzi.

Therefore, Wakaba Mutsumi chose to remain silent.

Toyokawa Shoko sighed. She had taken the initiative to ask Muto out today, and she didn't really want to do it if she could.

Mu's family was well-off, and as long as Xiangzi asked, Mu would definitely help solve 99% of his problems.

But under normal circumstances, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't bring herself to speak up. She didn't want her childhood friend's pity, and even if she drowned, she didn't want to be rescued by others' sympathetic eyes...

This is Toyokawa Shoko's pitiful pride, one of the few things she has left.

But today, due to unforeseen circumstances, she has no choice but to temporarily set aside this damned pride.

"Mu, do you remember the phone call I made to you yesterday?"

Shoko Toyokawa put down her coffee cup and gazed at Mutsuki Wakaba, whose golden eyes were dazzling in the bright sunlight.

"Ah."

If Ye Mu releases the straw, the straw tip will be pitted and uneven from being chewed; that's the result of Mu chewing.

"Actually, Ningzi went missing yesterday."

Shoko Toyokawa still feels a lingering fear when she recalls Ningzi floating in the river yesterday.

If she chooses to go back to the old house to check, then her sister may have to say goodbye to her forever.

If her sister leaves, how will she wander alone in this world, feeling lonely and desolate?

Toyokawa Shoko dared not think any further.

"Ningzi, you're missing? Have you found her?"

Is it just my imagination? It seems like Mu's mood swings are a bit abnormal.

Shoko Toyokawa didn't pay attention to these details. She recalled every little detail of yesterday's accident and answered Mutsuka Wakaba in as calm a tone as possible:

"Found them, but they drowned."

"Xiao Ning has drowned! Is she alright?"

When Wakaba Mutsu remembered something unpleasant, her calm expression turned somewhat flustered.

Is it another Zisha (purple clay) teapot this time?

"It's nothing, she just choked on a little water, she..."

"Why doesn't Xiangzi go home and spend more time with his family?"

"..."

The coffee spoon stirred the coffee vigorously, making a crisp clinking sound against the cup. Toyokawa Shoko looked down at the light and shadow in the cup, unsure how to bring up today's topic.

She also wanted to stay home with Ningzi, but the family needed her to go out to work and solve difficult problems.

Only she, Toyokawa Ningko's older sister, Toyokawa Shoko, could do it.

"Mu, could you... do me a favor?"

After hesitating for a long time, Toyokawa Shoko gritted her teeth and spoke her mind.

It's all for Ningzi...it's all for Ningzi...

"Ningzi hasn't been acting well lately, probably because she's been lacking attention. I want to take her to school... so, Mu, can you help me...?"

"Please... I need your help..."

If Ningzi continues to be confined at home, her psychological problems will only worsen.

What happened yesterday might continue to happen, and the frequency might increase, and one day when I come back, I might only see my sister's body.

Therefore, even if it meant giving up his pride, which he had held onto for so long, Xiangzi wanted to improve Ningzi's condition.

"Should we help Ningzi enroll in school?"

“Yes, I taught Ningzi all her classes before, and she can definitely keep up with the textbook content, it's just her mental issues…”

"I will. I'll ask my parents. Xiangzi, let's take Ningzi to the hospital for a checkup."

This was the first time in a long time that Wakaba Mutsu had heard Toyokawa Shoko plead for help.

She has been actively offering help, but has never been successful.

But today, Xiangzi surprisingly took the initiative to ask for help.

It's not surprising that it's because of Ningzi.

"Xiangzi, should we take Ningzi to the hospital for a checkup? If her mental health issues are serious, it will cause problems for her school enrollment."

Wakaba Mutsu hadn't seen Toyokawa Ningko for a year. In her memory, she was a younger sister who loved to make her happy.

Ningzi will look at you with that natural, unforced gaze, and it feels strange, like a husband looking at his wife.

The kind of eyes that are sparkling with hearts.

"I will take her there."

"I'll save up some more money," Toyokawa Shoko thought to herself, "I can't afford the medical expenses right now."

“I’ll take Ningzi with me, and Xiangzi will come along.”

After finishing the drink in the clear glass, Wakaba Mutsumi began to inhale air.

"I'll pay."

"No need, I can afford it."

"Xiangzi will pay me back later, that'll be fine. You probably don't have much savings now."