"She only wants you to call her sister, even if there are conditions, yours are too harsh."

Jiutiao Meijie did not state the conditions but instead said something else:

"You and Kiyono Lin are too close to think calmly, unable to view her objectively, always thinking from her perspective."

Where was Kiyono Lin wrong?

She simply didn't want to lie, insisted on not lying, hated lying.

In the moment when her heart was filled with anger towards the people of the world and all sympathy for Kiyono Lin, the words Jiutiao Meijie had just said echoed again in his ears.

'You and Kiyono Lin are too close to think calmly, unable to view her objectively, always thinking from her perspective.'

Was it necessary to refuse to get close to her own family and friends so much because she hated lying? Wasn't that too heartless?

But what was wrong with being oneself? And to maintain that, how much courage was needed.

These family and friends wanted to change her, make her give up on herself, learn to lie, become assimilated into a world of lies.

Surrounded by the sounds of harps and gospel singing, Dubian Che thought for a long time.

The more he thought, the more depressed he felt, finding the singing noisy and bothersome.

"I'm going to step out for a bit," he whispered to Jiutiao Meijie.

"Don't run off with Kiyono Lin," she joked.

"As long as you're here, I'll just stand at the door without moving."

"Go ahead."

Dubian Che stood up and walked out of the church amidst the gospel singing.

Having only gone inside briefly, the air outside felt extraordinarily fresh.

He looked up at the layers of overlapping leaves, almost transparent in the sunlight, so lush they seemed ready to drip with moisture.

He twisted his neck and saw Kiyono Lin in the middle of the wooded path; she was raising her phone to photograph the birds on the branches.

Dubian Che stood at the wooden door of the church, his hands in his pockets, silently watching her.

Kiyono Lin glanced at him from the corner of her eye and put away her phone, walking towards him.

The tall trees, the azure sky, the white floating clouds, the sunlight streaming through the branches, Kiyono Lin wearing a French-style shirt and a pale blue long skirt was approaching.

"What a beautiful path," Dubian Che said to Kiyono Lin, who had walked up to him.

"Is that so?" Kiyono Lin responded noncommittally.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"Karuizawa is a very damp place; yards, tree roots, and roads, moss grows everywhere, including your head, hasn't it?"

"The way you just walked over, gracefully..."

"Hmm?"

"If possible, please walk like that every year."

"Say something romantic, I might be happy and agree."

"Suddenly asking me to say something, I can't think of anything."

"What's happened?" Kiyono Lin asked in a very natural tone, "Feeling guilty over the various lies you've told in the presence of God?"

"People were just speaking ill of you."

Kiyono Lin laughed it off, not taking it to heart.

That's how she was, indifferent to the gaze of the world, even the opinion of family and friends couldn't sway her resolve.

No regrets, no cravings for acknowledgement or sympathy.

She stood alone on the unreachable highlands, with bleakness, loneliness, winds, rains, and thunder.

"Did you come out here upset because they were speaking ill of me?"

"I am upset, but that's not why I came out," Dubian Che paused briefly before continuing: "Meijie stood up for you."

"Is that so, thank you. But please tell her, there's no need to do anything for me."

Kiyono Lin stood shoulder to shoulder with Dubian Che, looking at the refreshing path dappled with sunlight filtering through tree shade.

Moss on the tree roots was beautiful, bracken lush and dense, crisp birdsong coming from the woods.

The summer breeze brushed the tender green leaves.

Dubian Che's mood gradually lightened.

There was still a lot of time, the scenery was also beautiful, everything would gradually get better.

'Tokyo hunk,' you must have faith that you can accomplish anything.

"It is a beautiful path," Kiyono Lin remarked, looking at everything before her.

"I'll make you two friends again," Dubian Che turned his head and smiled at her.

"Still thinking about these impossible things," Kiyono Lin sighed helplessly, then turned to smile back at him: "Go for it, Mr. Dubian."

"As long as I have the determination to do it, I'll accomplish it and show you."

"Is that so."

Suddenly a Female Goddess Staff member came by, smiling as she handed a camera to the two of them.

Dubian Che reached out with a puzzled look to take it, while Kiyono Lin leaned over.

In the soft light, the solemn church, the breeze moving the tree shadows, they stood smiling at each other in the brilliant sunshine beneath the verdant tree shade.

"May I ask, can this photo be displayed in the church?" the Female Goddess Staff asked.

"As far as I know, all the pictures displayed here are wedding photos of those who got married in this church," Kiyono Lin said.

"God tells me that both of you will certainly get married," the Female Goddess Staff chuckled.

"Ryou-san!" Dubian Che quickly interjected, "Don't scold, don't sneer, don't give cold looks, she just thinks the photo looks too beautiful, she is complimenting you for looking good on camera, let's not be angry, let's be magnanimous."

Kiyono Lin did not scold or sneer but just gave Dubian Che a cold look.

She said to the Female Goddess Staff:

"If non-wedding photos are okay, then by all means."

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