Chapter 2539: Chapter 1699: A Strange Encounter (Let’s Take It Easy)

After confirming that the abandoned mental hospital was the entrance to the Subspace, Duanmu Huai decisively bought the place and repaired the gates and walls. In this way, it became private property, with strict prohibition on any entry or exit.

Of course, Banai and Chitanda didn’t know about this, but they would discuss their own incredible encounters from before.

"I really didn’t expect that something like that would happen in that place."

"It’s just because it’s deep in the deserted mountains and forests that such things happen."

Walking on the campus, Duanmu Huai and Banai were chatting idly.

"If it were in the city, the likelihood of such things happening would be much smaller."

"But not zero, right... Hmm? What’s that girl doing?"

While Banai was bored and looking around, she suddenly saw something and curiously glanced to the side. Duanmu Huai and Chitanda also turned their heads and saw a petite, short-haired girl crouching by the flowerbed with her back to them, seemingly searching for something.

"Hello!"

As someone with full yang jiao attribute, Banai naturally wouldn’t ignore this. She walked over with a cheerful smile and greeted her.

"Did you drop something?"

"Uh?"

The girl didn’t expect anyone to speak to her, so she turned around nervously, looking at Banai. Only then did the three notice that she was holding a handful of small stones.

"Huh? Little stones?"

Seeing this, Banai tilted her head in confusion, while the girl seemed a bit flustered. In contrast, Duanmu Huai’s eyes lit up.

"Oh? Could it be you’re playing Stone juggling? This is quite nostalgic."

"Stone juggling? What’s that, Xiao Ai?"

"You guys don’t know? It’s a popular game among children. I played it when I was little."

As he spoke, Duanmu Huai walked to the flowerbed, found five stones of similar size, and tossed them triumphantly.

"Watch closely."

"...........?"

Although they didn’t know what Duanmu Huai was going to do, Banai and Chitanda watched him curiously, while the petite girl, who was about to leave, stood there, staring at the stones in Duanmu Huai’s hand.

Feeling their gaze, Duanmu Huai chuckled, then tossed the five stones onto the ground and picked up one.

Then, Duanmu Huai tossed it up, quickly grabbed another stone from the ground, and caught the falling stone.

"Wow!"

Seeing this, the three couldn’t help but exclaim, while Duanmu Huai continued tossing, catching, and grabbing the remaining stones in no time.

"This is just the beginning, watch closely!"

Saying that, Duanmu Huai tossed the stones on the ground again, then tossed one up. This time he grabbed two stones at once, then caught the falling stone. Repeating twice, he upgraded the performance, grabbing three stones at once, then the remaining ones.

"Wow wow wow!"

At this point, the three watched with wide eyes, engrossed. Duanmu Huai’s trick was ordinary and not complicated, but they clearly didn’t expect such a way to play with a few small stones.

Finally, Duanmu Huai caught the five stones again, tossed them on his hand’s back, and retrieved them in his palm. Banai immediately got eager.

"Let me try, let me try! Xiao Ai, let me try! This looks fun!"

"Go ahead, follow my sequence. If you can complete a round, it’s a cycle."

"Hehehe, it looks easy, no problem."

Confident, Banai took the stones and started playing like Duanmu Huai.

Of course, it’s a simple game. Banai was just unfamiliar at first, but she quickly learned it and started playing enthusiastically.

"This stone juggling is quite fun. I’ve never seen it before!"

"Neither have I..."

Not only Banai, but even Chitanda and the petite girl started playing the stone tossing game like Duanmu Huai. Since it’s a simple game, anyone with decent reflexes could easily learn it, so they were having a lot of fun.

It wasn’t until the bell rang that they snapped back to reality.

"Ah, I, I have to go."

The girl took the stones, bowed to the trio, then hurried away.

"What a strange child."

Having enough fun, Banai got up, dusted her hands, and mumbled as she looked at the girl.

You’re quite strange too.

"She’s a first-year student."

At this time, Chitanda added.

"How do you know?"

"Because of the color of her ribbon."

"Oh... which means she’s our junior. Hmm... I can’t believe we’re seniors now..."

Banai looked incredulous, but it’s understandable. Everyone thinks they haven’t changed until they see students younger than themselves and get a sense of reality... or maybe unreality?

"Ah, damn, class is starting!"

"We’ll talk later."

Duanmu Huai waved and headed toward the performing arts department building, while Banai and Chitanda rushed to the general studies department.

By the way, was that girl also in the general studies department?

For Duanmu Huai, classes in the performing arts department were generally about slacking off. Most of the time, he was aimlessly wandering around. As he wandered, he spotted a familiar face.

"So... that band is really cool!"

Just bought a drink from the vending machine, Duanmu Huai heard Ruby’s familiar voice. Turning around, he saw Ruby not far away, gesturing excitedly as she talked to her two friends.

"Especially that drummer. I never thought such a petite girl could drum so well. Oh, watching her made me want to form a band."

"What instrument do you plan to play? Guitar?"

As Ruby finished speaking, Duanmu Huai came over, sipping his drink and curiously asking.

"Ah...!"

Seeing Duanmu Huai’s arrival, Ruby’s two friends quickly stood up to greet him.

"Hello, Duanmu."

"Oh, hello to you all."

Duanmu Huai nodded at the two. They were Ruby’s school friends, one was Furi Unknown Fire, and like Mai, she was on the acting path, having appeared in early morning dramas and was a popular actress. The other was Shou Minami, a photo model with some fame.

Of course, neither of them could compare to Duanmu Huai.

"So, what are you talking about? You’re doing well as an idol, why suddenly a desire to form a band?"

"Haha, it’s nothing much..."

Ruby chuckled in response to Duanmu Huai.

"I was on a show recently and met a band there. They’re quite impressive, and they’re about our age. I didn’t expect there could be such a female band, and their skills are quite amazing, so I was a bit envious."

"Oh, I thought you were planning to turn B Komachi into a band."

"I have no such plans, can’t dance while holding a guitar."

"Just smash it? That’s rock ’n’ roll."

"Wow, that really sounds like something Xiao Ai would do..."

Ruby was speechless at Duanmu Huai’s remark. Even worse, she could vividly imagine Duanmu Huai smashing a guitar to pieces on stage.

Such a lively image.

"I heard many schools have girls’ bands. Doesn’t our school have one?"

"I don’t think so," Shou Minami said.

"Since we’re an arts school, even if the regular class forms a band, it wouldn’t be very noticeable."

"I think forming a band just for fun is okay, after all, it’s not like you have to win awards..."

The group naturally chatted about the topic. Speaking of, perhaps due to this world’s nature, girls forming bands in high schools were fairly common. Quite a few junior high and high school girls’ bands were famous, but they had little influence in the arts circle.

As an idol group, Ruby felt collaborating with a girls’ band would be reassuring, but not many girls’ bands would actually pursue a professional band career. Such bands usually have high aspirations and aren’t willing to be a background for an idol group.

"Speaking of which, Duanmu doesn’t seem to get involved in this area," Shou Minami curiously asked.

Ruby directly burst into laughter.

"Xiao Ai can’t, Xiao Ai absolutely can’t!"

"Eh?"

"Xiao Ai is tone-deaf, can’t sing at all. Going to karaoke is torture!"

"Really? I haven’t actually heard Duanmu sing..."

Faced with Ruby’s disclosure, Shou Minami looked surprised, but Duanmu Huai took pride in it.

"What’s the big deal? I have to leave some room for others. Better to browse my phone than sing. I’m not planning to release an album."

Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes, completely indifferent.

"Anyway, I can’t sing, not that I can’t chant."

Duanmu Huai’s voice was pleasant, and with practice, he could sing beautifully, but he was just too lazy to practice.

When all else fails, he could always use the Hymn of the Mechanic Religion from that doomed planet as filler.

Soon, a new day ended, and as usual, Duanmu Huai planned to visit the club after school. However, when he reached the school gate, he saw many students gathered there, peering outside.

What’s going on? What’s the excitement?

Curious as usual, Duanmu Huai joined them and finally saw what they were looking at — a girl dressed in another school’s uniform standing at the gate.

She looked familiar?

The girl had long green hair that reached her waist, looking like a porcelain doll but with no expression. Hmm...

"Hey, isn’t this Mu?"

Duanmu Huai went over and greeted her, and the girl, seemingly daydreaming, only reacted when she heard Duanmu’s voice, quickly bowing her head.

"Hello..."

"Didn’t expect to see you here. What are you doing?"

Duanmu Huai still had some impression of this girl. Her name was Ruoya Mu, the daughter of a talented actress, Sen Minami. Duanmu Huai had met her at several celebration parties, finding her an introverted kid, not good at engaging with others. Duanmu Huai exchanged greetings with her before, so they were acquainted.

"I... I’m waiting for someone..."

"Waiting for someone? Do you know someone attending this school? Want me to help call them?"

"..........."

The girl lowered her head, shaking it slightly.

"Okay, well, if you need anything, feel free to find me."

Duanmu Huai didn’t say much more. After all, the girl was always like this, seen at parties standing alone, looking pitiful. Her energetic mother was quite the contrast — maybe she sapped all her daughter’s spirit.

With a wave, Duanmu Huai turned to leave, and the girl watched him until his figure disappeared, then turned her gaze back to the school gate.