“I can’t just pretend like nothing happened.”
He Bin took a step forward: “I’m not asking you to pretend nothing happened. I want you to know how I feel—don’t see me as a little brother, don’t see me as a kid.”
“See me as a man, okay? But we can still interact like we did before.”
“Weren’t we getting along just fine before?”
Lu Shuangshuang retorted, “Xiao Xiang, it’s different. Before, I only saw you as a little brother, which was why I could be so at ease with you. And I… I can’t see you as a man. Now that I know your feelings, I can’t see you as a little brother anymore either.”
“I think… we should try to see each other less from now on. Not seeing each other at all is impossible, but if there’s no reason to meet, then let’s not meet.”
“No!”
He Bin anxiously grabbed Lu Shuangshuang’s hand: “Shuangshuang, I was wrong. I won’t ask for anything, as long as we can still see each other, okay?”
Lu Shuangshuang pulled her hand back and clasped it behind her: “We’ll still see each other anyway.”
He Bin knew that the “seeing each other” Lu Shuangshuang meant wasn’t the same as what he meant. He instinctively wanted to argue, but seeing how uncomfortable she looked, he swallowed his words and simply nodded slightly: “As long as we can still see each other, that’s fine. I’ll do whatever you say.”
Even though she heard the answer she wanted, Lu Shuangshuang didn’t feel happy at all. Instead, she felt a tightness in her chest: “Is there anything else you wanted to say to me? If not, I’ll go first.”
“Okay.”
A breath got stuck in her chest, unable to go up or down. Lu Shuangshuang didn’t know why she felt so awful.
“Shuangshuang, watch out for the car.”
Ye Zhiqiu pulled Lu Shuangshuang aside: “Shuangshuang, what did you say to Xiao Xiang? You seem so distracted.”
“Nothing much. I just said we should try to see each other less from now on.”
Ye Zhiqiu looked surprised: “Are you planning on not even being friends with Xiao Xiang anymore?”
“Zhiqiu, my mind is a mess. I don’t know how to handle this situation.”
“Normally, if someone told me they liked me, I’d be happy. But I never expected that person to be Xiao Xiang.”
“I’ve always just seen him as a little brother. He’s still a kid. How could he like me? It’s so strange.”
“He must be teasing me. I said we should see each other less, and he agreed. When I said I was leaving, he didn’t say anything either.”
The onlooker sees clearly, while the participant is confused. Ye Zhiqiu sensed that Lu Shuangshuang’s feelings for He Bin weren’t simply those of seeing him as a younger brother.
She just hadn’t realized it herself.
“Shuangshuang, it’s okay.”
Ye Zhiqiu gently patted Lu Shuangshuang’s shoulder: “I think you shouldn’t be so resistant to Xiao Xiang’s feelings for you. As for how things end up romantically, why not let it happen naturally?”
“Let it happen naturally?”
Lu Shuangshuang shook her head: “I can’t just let it happen naturally.”
“Then follow your heart. Do whatever you feel like. If you don’t want to see Xiao Xiang, then don’t. If you miss him, then go see him.”
Lu Shuangshuang felt tempted, but she still had concerns: “Isn’t that a bit much? Wouldn’t that be playing with Xiao Xiang’s feelings?”
Ye Zhiqiu laughed: “If you don’t do that, how will you know what your true feelings for Xiao Xiang are?”
Lu Shuangshuang stressed: “I see him as a little brother, nothing else.”
“Okay, okay, nothing else.”
Ye Zhiqiu’s dismissive tone made Lu Shuangshuang flustered and annoyed. But soon, she realized something was off. Why was she getting flustered and annoyed? Was it because Zhiqiu didn’t believe her, or was she feeling guilty?
But why would she feel guilty?
Squeal—
A car screeched to a halt in front of them, interrupting Lu Shuangshuang’s thoughts.
Xu Wan got out of the car, storming furiously up to Ye Zhiqiu: “Shen Zhiqiu, was it you? Did you report A-Can for taking kickbacks?”
Lu Shuangshuang spread her arms, shielding Ye Zhiqiu: “Xu Wan, are you crazy? What right do you have to come here and interrogate Zhiqiu?”
“Lu Shuangshuang, this has nothing to do with you.”
Xu Wan tried to pull Lu Shuangshuang aside, but Lu Shuangshuang shook her off: “Xu Wan, everyone knows about the mess between you and Chen Can. If you have no shame, that’s your problem, but don’t drag Zhiqiu into this.”
“Let me tell you, Zhiqiu is my best friend. Her business is my business!”
Xu Wan glared angrily at Lu Shuangshuang: “Shen Zhiqiu really is a vixen. You two didn’t get along before, and now you’re defending her like this. Looks like she’s got you so bewitched you can’t tell which way is up.”
“Here, up, down, left, right!”
Lu Shuangshuang never played by the rules. She pointed in four different directions, raised her chin, and glared defiantly back at Xu Wan: “Xu Wan, I think you’re the one who’s bewitched.”
“No, you’re not bewitched. Chen Can has eaten your brain.”
“What’s so great about a womanizer like Chen Can anyway? You treat him like a treasure!”
“Never mind that he hasn’t divorced Shen Liya yet, even if he did, I wouldn’t want a man like him.”
“And yet you’re throwing yourself at him, proud to be treated like a worn-out shoe!”
Seeing Xu Wan’s mood turn volatile, Ye Zhiqiu quickly grabbed Lu Shuangshuang and pulled her behind her. She caught Xu Wan’s raised hand: “Xu Wan, don’t go too far!”
“I’m going too far? You two are the ones going too far!”
Xu Wan shook off Ye Zhiqiu and pointed at her: “I know you reported him because you couldn’t seduce A-Can.”
“Shen Zhiqiu, how can you be so scheming and shameless!”
“You’re already married into the Yue family. What more could you possibly want? Is Yue Mingyuan not good to you? I heard he treats you like a treasure. Would you be doing this to him if you cared?”
“I finally got together with A-Can. Why can’t you just leave him alone? Do you have to take him away from me to be satisfied?”
Ye Zhiqiu felt helpless: “Xu Wan, I’ve told you many times. There’s nothing between Chen Can and me anymore.”
“You said it yourself, I’m married to Mingyuan now. Why would I try to steal your Chen Can? Yue Mingyuan is better than Chen Can in every way. It’s not like I’m blind.”
“Besides, I didn’t report Chen Can. I didn’t even know about the kickbacks until you mentioned them.”
“Taking kickbacks is a serious offense. Chen Can could be discharged from the military and might even go to prison. Do you still want to be with him?”
Xu Wan looked proud: “I’m different from you. Besides, A-Can was wrongfully accused. He would never do something like taking kickbacks. And even if he did, he must have had a compelling reason.”
“Think whatever you want.”
Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t be bothered to argue with Xu Wan anymore. She knew Xu Wan was deeply in love with Chen Can, but she hadn’t realized it had reached the point where Xu Wan couldn’t tell right from wrong.
Whether it’s a man or a woman, people like this aren’t devoted lovers—they’re just plain stupid.
