hooklinebooks Chapter 33 Volunteers
Chapter 33 Volunteers
pat, pat.
Bai Cha Qianxia led Bai Yuze up the narrow wooden stairs.
We arrived at the second floor.
Compared to the first floor, the second floor was quieter, with only three or four tables.
Bai Chaqianxia walked to the innermost window seat with practiced ease and sat down. This seat faced an old locust tree in the back alley, its branches almost reaching into the window.
As soon as he sat down,
Shiracha Chika pouted.
She rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head to look at Bai Yuze, her eyes full of mockery and amusement: "What? You answered so quickly just now, do you think I'm not good enough for you?"
Bai Yuzhe's scalp tingled, and he quickly waved his hand: "No, no, class monitor, you misunderstood. It's just that I'm penniless right now, I can't even support myself, how could I dare to find a girlfriend? Let alone a beautiful girl like you, class monitor."
"What does it matter?"
Shiracha Chika blinked, speaking casually and naturally.
"I'll take care of you."
Bai Yuze touched his nose and said with a wry smile, "My stomach is fine, I don't want to be a kept man for the time being."
Bai Cha Qianxia stared at Bai Yuze for a long while, then suddenly smiled.
"You're not like this in front of Professor Mu at all. You know all about that middle-aged man's little hobbies. For example, the magical girl swimsuit violet figure he treasures on the top shelf of his bookshelf."
"You know, this figure is so precious that no one else is allowed to touch it."
Bai Chaqianxia looked up, smiling as she gazed at Bai Yuzhe, who had frozen in place for a moment:
"Who sent this? It's so hard to guess!"
"Ahem, it's just a 2D figurine. I saw it at the market by chance and bought it."
"Occasionally?"
Chinatsu Shiracha drew out her words, her smile widening. "But I remember this figure was a limited edition back then, and it was even a swimsuit version."
Bai Yuze opened his mouth.
Then silence.
It did take a little time to make this figure.
Seeing the other person's silence, Shiratsumi chuckled, and her previous anger dissipated.
"Okay, okay, there's nothing wrong with catering to someone's interests. There are plenty of people who want to cater to others' interests but don't have the opportunity. Besides, sometimes accepting someone's investment or kindness doesn't necessarily mean being a kept man. Just like Professor Mu accepted your figurine, and you accepted his guidance and resources in return. It's a kind of reciprocity, isn't it?"
"but......"
Bai Cha Chinatsu abruptly changed the subject, "If you ever find another rare magical girl figure, remember to get one for me too."
Bai Yuze looked at the other person with some surprise. "Class monitor, you like magical girls too?"
"Of course! Who doesn't like magical girls!" Shiratsu Chika pouted. "Not only do I like magical girls, I also want to become one. I've heard that magical girls all encounter magical spirits and then sign a contract, but I've never seen one before."
"A magical sprite?"
"Yes, I heard online that magic elves are creatures that look like pure white little animals, about the size of a kitten, with long, thin ears and soft, short fur. Their most distinctive feature is their huge, round, reddish-brown eyes, which are very cute."
Bai Yuze frowned slightly. This description sounded so familiar, but he just couldn't remember where he was going to look.
at this time,
Footsteps came from the stairs.
Uncle Longjie personally carried over a huge tray. On the tray were three dishes and a soup: a plate of glistening braised pork, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, a plate of golden-brown, crispy fish pieces of unknown origin, and a bowl of fragrant, milky-white soup.
The dishes are simple, yet they smell wonderful.
"Eat it while it's hot."
Uncle Longjie put the dishes down one by one. This time, his gaze swept over Bai Yuze again, but this time it was less scrutinizing and more meaningful.
"Girl, your classmate is fairly clean-cut, but she just loves walking along the river too much."
"Ugh, Uncle Longjie, you're so annoying!"
"Alright, alright, I won't bother you anymore."
Without saying a word, Uncle Longjie turned and left.
Bai Cha Qianxia turned her head and looked at Bai Yuze with an embarrassed expression:
"Um, sorry, Bai, that's how the people around me are. Whether they approach me or I approach them, they investigate everything thoroughly. They have no respect for people at all."
"It's okay, class monitor. Just keep investigating. If you can find out who the rich kid's parents are, that would be great. I'll have to thank you then."
Bai Yuzhe laughed heartily.
"Bai, it's good that you're not angry. But don't worry, when I get back I'll have them upgrade the security level of your file so that no cat or dog can see your information."
"Thank you, class monitor."
"You're welcome. After all, I'm your class monitor. Let's eat; it's on me today!"
"it is good."
Bai Yuze said dinner was ready, and immediately started eating. He picked up his chopsticks, his eyes fixed on the steaming home-cooked dishes before him.
They started showing off their food like crazy.
Don't let the small size of this shop fool you, the food is really good, much better than the food he ordered at Dewanglou yesterday.
Bai Yuzhe ate about two or three bowls of rice before he noticed a burning gaze fixed on him.
look up,
He then noticed the class monitor propping himself up with his small hand, head drooping as he looked at him.
"Squad leader, why are you looking at me like that? Eat!"
Bai Cha Qianxia rolled her eyes at Bai Yuze. "Bai, do you think I'm like you, that I can only eat one bowl and then I'll get fat?"
Bai Yuze glanced at Bai Cha Qianxia, then subconsciously looked down.
"Gaining a little weight isn't a big deal!"
"Bai Yuzhe!"
"Ahem, sorry, I just thought you looked really nice today, class monitor, and I couldn't help but glance at you a few more times."
Bai Yuze hurriedly apologized, then lowered his head and continued eating. He definitely had a good impression of the class monitor, who was broad-minded and kind.
But there's nothing we can do; the fact that the other person isn't a magical girl is a major drawback.
"Tch, all talk and no action."
When Bai Cha Qianxia saw Bai Yuze lower his head and concentrate on cooking again, she pouted in disappointment.
Eat and drink
Bai Yuze was about to pay the bill.
Although the class monitor said he would treat everyone,
However, considering the debt of gratitude he owed the other party, he decided that he should repay as much as he could.
But when he went downstairs
But then she saw Shiracha Chika standing at the bar, holding a bill in her hand, seemingly arguing with the owner.
"Uncle Longjie, this isn't the first or second time I've eaten here. How can you overcharge me for something I'm already familiar with? Forget the beef, you overcharged me 8 yuan for this stir-fried vegetable dish alone! The wholesale price of cabbage at the market has clearly dropped!"
"No, vegetable prices have gone down, but rice prices have gone up. Why don't you see how many bowls of rice your classmate ate? Besides, you're all grown up now, why are you worrying about a few dollars?"
"What's wrong with me? Do you think my money comes from thin air? I don't care, you have to give me a discount."
"Okay, okay, I'll round it down to zero, alright?"
"Hmph, that's more like it."
After paying with her phone, Bai Cha Qianxia turned around and took two more bottles of coconut milk from the refrigerator, handing one to Bai Yuze beside her.
"No, you little rascal, you really are."
Uncle Longjie looked at the other person with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
When I came out of Longjie Kitchen
It was already past one o'clock in the afternoon.
The sun is fine,
The old streets of Hanjiang District are exceptionally quiet on an autumn afternoon.
Bai Cha Qianxia patted her stomach contentedly, then turned her head to look at Bai Yuze beside her, asking in a light tone,
"Bai, what are your plans for this afternoon?"
"Um?"
Bai Yuzhe was taken aback by the sudden question and subconsciously answered in a low voice:
"……go home?"
He had only planned to help the class monitor buy supplies today and then go home to continue his classwork.
As soon as those three words were uttered,
Shiracha Chika's expression changed instantly.
She reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her eyes widening slightly, her whole body jolted.
"You hate me that much? I've been treating you to all sorts of nice things, you should at least take me out for a walk!"
His pouty and somewhat childish accusatory demeanor was completely different from the gentle and composed class monitor he usually was.
"No, no, I'm just a little worried about the security situation in Hanjiang District; it's not exactly good."
Bai Yuze quickly waved his hand to explain.
Although the security situation in Hanjiang District is not as bad as in Yingwu District,
But it's not much better. Although the other party doesn't have any airs of a rich young lady, she is a real heiress. If she runs into the Ash Gang again, Bai Cha Qianxia might not have any objections, but her family might. It's not worth provoking such a behemoth for no reason.
Seeing that Bai Yuze's anxious explanation didn't seem fake, Bai Cha Qianxia's expression softened somewhat, but she was clearly not entirely satisfied with the answer:
"Shall we go to the maple leaf area?"
Bai Yuze pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Do you like helping others? I mean, the kind of helping that involves actually doing something."
Bai Cha Qianxia blinked and nodded without hesitation. "I like it, otherwise I'd bring you breakfast every day. You wouldn't actually think I like you, would you? I just feel sorry for you..."
Upon hearing this, Bai Yuze instinctively wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but the next second, Bai Cha Qianxia's eyes suddenly flickered, "But later, I suddenly realized that you're not bad either. You're good-looking, have a decent character, and good grades. It's not like you can't give it a try."
Bai Yuzhe: "..."
Bai Yuze pretended not to have heard what the other person had said earlier.
"Squad leader, I know a place in Hanjiang District that specializes in charity work. They often need volunteers there to help distribute food, organize supplies, or just keep some elderly people living alone and children company. The environment there is very safe. Do you want to go and check it out?"
Is helping others a source of joy?
Shiracha Chika's eyes lit up. "Of course!"
Regarding the class monitor's decisiveness
Bai Yuzhe was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected the other party to agree so quickly.
Hanjiang District
Bai Yuze took Bai Cha Qianxia to a church.
The Church of the Redeemers.
It was a simple but tidy three-story building with a warm off-white exterior and a simple metal cross on the roof. A short queue had already formed in the small square in front of the building, mostly people dressed simply.
There were elderly people carrying cloth bags alone, mothers holding their children's hands, and taciturn middle-aged men.
The air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant and the aroma of food.
Compared to the parrot area,
The people in Hanjiang District were clearly in better spirits, and the church's exterior decorations and the supplies it distributed were also clearly much better.
As soon as I got off the bus,
Bai Cha Qianxia glanced around, showing no discomfort or haughtiness whatsoever. Instead, she naturally approached the nun at the church entrance and bowed slightly.
"Hello, we are students from Holly University and would like to volunteer. What kind of work do we need to do?"
The nuns at the church were clearly used to it.
She first said that God would bless them, then distributed uniforms to Bai Yuze and Bai Chaqianxia and gave them a brief explanation of their work.
Bai Cha Qianxia was assigned indoors to help pack the nutritious porridge and bread to be distributed, while Bai Yuze was assigned outdoors to help maintain order in the queue and assist some elderly people with mobility issues.
The work is not complicated.
But it requires patience and attention to detail.
For the church,
Bai Yuze usually avoids coming unless absolutely necessary, but sometimes he has no choice but to come, which can be seen as a way to provide himself and Ye Yue with a backup plan.
The Redeemers are nominally a non-profit organization that helps the poor and homeless.
But Bai Yuze knew very well that
This church is a complete and utter hypocrite.
He didn't know what the church was plotting in secret, but it couldn't possibly be as simple as the outward appearance of helping the weak.
But none of this concerns him.
The church is just one of his fallback options; he comes over every now and then to try and gain favor with the church.
As he stood outside maintaining order, his gaze inadvertently swept across the queue and he spotted two familiar little figures. They were standing in the long line, holding small iron bowls distributed by the church, and waiting quietly.
It's a small tree and a small flower.
When Bai Yuze saw the other person
The two figures also saw him. A hint of joy flashed in Xiaoshu's eyes, while the little girl with two crooked pigtails beside him timidly grabbed her brother's clothes and curiously peeked at Bai Yuze.
"Little tree, little flower, come and get your food?"
Bai Yuze walked over, squatted down, and aligned his line of sight with theirs.
"Um."
Xiao Shu nodded softly, "The church provides free porridge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at noon. Father Raymond said that if we help clean the back garden, we can not only have a meal but also receive some supplies."
Father Raymond,
He is the head of the Redeemers Association in Hanjiang District.
A chubby priest who always had a smile on his face.
He enjoys helping the helpless children in Hanjiang District whenever he has free time, so he has a fairly good reputation in the area.
Bai Yuze didn't say much about it, but just touched Xiaohua's hair and said softly, "If you encounter any difficulties in your life, take bus 373 to Yueju Apartment to find me."
"it is good."
Xiao Shu nodded. He was young, but he had seen a lot about the coldness and warmth of human relationships. Although the older brother in front of him was a bit cold, he was not a bad person.
He's much better than that priest who always seems to be smiling.
Hello everyone.
I don't know when,
Bai Cha Qianxia came out from the inner room, holding two cookies carefully wrapped in oil paper. She squatted down next to Bai Yuze and handed the cookies to the two children, her smile as warm as the afternoon sun.
"I'm Bai-gege's classmate, just call me Qianxia-jie. These cookies are made of oats, they smell really good."
Xiao Shu hesitated for a moment, glanced at Bai Yuze, and only after seeing him nod slightly did she take it, whispering:
"Thank you, Chika-neechan."
The crisp thank you seemed to make Shiratsumi Chika very happy.
quickly,
She started chatting happily with the little tree.
Bai Cha Qianxia didn't ask much about their backgrounds, but gently chatted with them about the taste of the porridge today. She also glanced at Xiaohua behind her from time to time and praised Xiaoshu for taking good care of his younger sister.
With a friendly and natural expression, Xiaohua, who was originally very afraid of contacting people, actually began to take the initiative to get close to Baicha Chinatsu.
This made Bai Yuze, who was standing to the side, feel somewhat jealous.
md,
She had to buy rice and oil for them and give them treats before Xiaohua could barely manage to be shy and willing to interact with him. But as soon as Baicha Qianxia arrived, Xiaohua skipped the shy phase and snuggled up to her, her eyes practically overflowing with laughter.
Tsk,
Just as Bai Yuze stood aside with a long face, maintaining order at the scene,
Suddenly, a commotion arose at the front of the procession. A ragged, white-haired homeless man burst out of the line, his eyes unfocused, his finger trembling as he pointed at the cross on the church roof, shouting in a hoarse, terrified voice:
"Run! Everyone run! That thing hanging on the cross isn't a person... it's a monster! I saw it! Its eyes are black! And it's bleeding! It's a monster—!"