0145: Filming Complete

"How do you feel? Are you tired? In a little while, once I get a gimbal, I can film by myself."

Looking at Ji Yun, who had been holding the phone and standing there for an hour, Xu Lin figured she must be getting a bit tired.

"No. Is it okay for you if I just chat with you like this?"

"No problem at all. I'll edit it later. Whether you watch short videos, movies, or TV shows, they all require post-production editing."

"Xu Lin, you even know how to edit? That's so cool."

"Uh... my editing skills are just amateurish, but I know a professional uploader. If there's anything I don't understand, I can ask her for advice."

Thinking of that book-lover friend, Xu Lin had originally planned to ask for her opinion during his first filming attempt. In the end, though, he decided not to disturb her; she was probably busy during the day.

"Well, just make sure your filming doesn't interfere with your studies."

"Don't worry, I can manage it."

Mentioning studies reminded Ji Yun of an important matter.

"Xu Lin, Senior Bai Xiaoxiao called me."

"She called you? What's wrong?"

When he left her house that day, he had repeatedly asked her if there was anything he could help with, and she had always said no. Why did she call Ji Yun instead?

"How should I put it? I figured I still ought to let you know. She just feels like she doesn't know what to do."

"What does she mean she doesn't know what to do?" Xu Lin asked, turning up the heat on the oil, feeling a bit confused. What was that Bai Xiaoxiao thinking about now?

"She talked to me about the college entrance examination next year. Although she beat around the bush and didn't spell it out, her meaning was that she wants to keep her distance from you."

"At the same time, she's afraid that if she gives up completely, you two might become total strangers in the future. After all, she hasn't even confessed her feelings to you yet."

"Oh."

Xu Lin nodded. That sounded just like something Senior Bai would do—fragile and introverted. To be able to say all that to Ji Yun must have taken an enormous amount of courage.

"Is that your only reaction?"

Hearing Xu Lin's casual "oh," Ji Yun let out a small cry, sounding rather displeased.

"What kind of reaction were you expecting?"

"Aren't you going to talk to her a little bit?"

"She has to make these decisions for herself. Besides, I'm not her boyfriend. I don't have the right or the status to lecture her about this."

"But doesn't she like you? And don't you know it?"

"I know she does, but she hasn't said it to me; she said it to you. A man might want to have it all, but she also deserves the chance to make her own choices."

"I can't just forcefully gather every girl who fancies me into my arms. Even if you guys wouldn't be angry with me, my own conscience wouldn't let me live with it."

"Wait a minute, Class Monitor Ji Yun, what do you mean by that? Aren't you collaborating with the superstar Chu to eliminate rivals? You're practically aiding the enemy right now."

Hearing Xu Lin put it that way, Ji Yun paused to think about it. It seemed she really was.

She was sympathizing with the rival. But Senior Bai was such a good girl, and seeing her trapped in such confusion made Ji Yun feel genuinely sorry for her.

Senior Bai was looking at things very realistically. Once they went off to college, the two of them would be worlds apart. It might be better to cut ties early and focus on studying hard.

Of course, the main thing was that she didn't know what Xu Lin was really thinking, nor did she know if this guy was just going to brush her off with vague answers!

Miss Ji Yun turned instantly alert. Although Xu Lin wasn't looking at her, diligently frying the croquettes as he was, he could still feel her sidelong gaze.

For the sake of harem safety, he couldn't act overly enthusiastic toward other girls. Besides, he genuinely didn't want to influence her life choices.

Especially with Bai Xiaoxiao—if he told her he liked her and that she should stop studying and marry him instead, it might severely shake her resolve.

Yet, he didn't want her to cut him off entirely either, because reconnecting wouldn't be easy. It left him somewhat at a loss as to what to do.

Having finished frying the croquettes, Xu Lin took back his phone, saved the video he had just shot, and snapped a nice-looking photo as well.

"I'll use this as the thumbnail. I didn't expect the phone's image quality to be this decent. Good thing most people still watch things in 720p and 1080p; it won't hold up as well once technology advances further."

Just as he was about to take the phone to his room, transfer it to his computer, and edit it so he could upload it by evening, Ji Yun called out to him.

"Xu Lin, regarding Senior Bai... would it be okay if I talked to her?"

"Of course. If I were the one talking to her, I'd be afraid of clouding her judgment. I don't have many virtues, but knowing what I want is one of them. She's just not quite clear on that yet."

"Mm." Ji Yun nodded and picked up a croquette.

"This is even better than the ones Chu Fengyi and I made."

"Take it to my bedroom to eat. You two didn't have lunch, did you?"

"Yeah, we got too caught up buying clothes."

"Let's go."

"You know, I'm starting to understand how you feel," Ji Yun said, holding the plate as she followed behind him, as if struck by a new realization.

"What feeling?"

"I mean, being liked by too many people is actually a kind of pressure, because you can't make promises to everyone."

"Yeah. So as long as I have you guys, I'm already very happy. Don't go suspecting I'm secretly looking for other girls, okay?"

In truth, that wasn't it at all. Just a moment ago, he had been thinking that if twelve girls bought him clothes, he could have brand-new outfits all year round.

However, when they reached the bedroom door, Xu Lin grabbed the door handle and pushed, only to find it wouldn't budge. It was locked from the inside?

"Chu Fengyi?"

He knocked on the door. A rustling sound came from within, and a dozen seconds later, the door swung open.

"Want to try the croquettes I made?"

"Sure, let me go wash my hands first."

Xu Lin nodded, and Ji Yun placed the plate down beside the computer.

The moment he sat down, though, something felt off. He caught sight of the magazine on the desk, and his pupils dilated instantly!

Damn it! Chu Fengyi didn't go rummaging through his things, did she? Still, she had memories from her past life; this little bit of stuff shouldn't shock her, right?

Xu Lin opened the magazine and found the disc inside untouched, sitting in the exact same position.

It seemed she hadn't touched it. Then why had she locked herself inside his room?

He hurriedly booted up his laptop next. Before he could even search around, he spotted the clue: his download manager was still running.

He opened his "Study" folder, navigated to the "Math" folder, and then into the "Olympiad Math 123" folder. Inside were two subfolders: "Olympiad 1" and "Olympiad 3."

Opening "Olympiad 3," he found two WPS files. The second one was his cherished, premium wheat seed collection that he had kept for years.

Chu Fengyi, you really are something else. You even managed to find it hidden away like this. Impressive—truly a worthy relative of Chu Qingchan, both of you knowing how to find movies to unwind.

"Ji Yun, keep eating. I'm going to wash my hands too."

"Okay."

Stepping outside the bathroom, he saw Chu Fengyi rubbing her hands together. Xu Lin sneaked up quietly behind her.

"Careful or I'll hit you with an elbow strike."

"I wasn't trying to ambush you. By the way, why are you rummaging through my files?"

"Ahem, I was just worried about your physical health, checking to see if you're normal." Chu Fengyi didn't even deny it.

"Which one was good?"

"I didn't watch many. But I might download a few today and take them back to use as teaching materials for Ji Yun."

"Don't go teaching her weird things."

"Rest assured."

"I can't rest assured about you at all!"

Bickering back and forth, the two of them returned to the bedroom just in time to see Ji Yun pick up the disc and move it toward the computer drive.

Xu Lin leaped forward in a panic and grabbed her hand!

"Wait!"

"What is it?"

"Uh... the disc drive is broken. It'll fry the disc."

"Really? Oh, sorry. Good thing I didn't put it in."

"Phew..." Putting it in would have been a disaster in every possible way. Better leave it to her two Chu older sisters to introduce her to the new world instead.