Chapter 25: The Death Sentence Named “Childhood Friend” (1/4)

“Xiaoya? Xiaoya?”

Before Tong Ya could fully revel in her excitement, Luo Yueli had already walked over and waved a hand in front of her face.

What’s up with Xiaoya?

Three question marks popped up over Luo Yueli’s head. She couldn’t help recalling how Tong Ya had looked that morning.

Don’t tell me she’s…

Huh… Xiaoya’s smiling like a total pervert…

“Huh?”

Tong Ya reacted a beat late. She paused for a few seconds before snapping back. “What’s up, Lizi?”

“No, I just thought your smile was really…”

Luo Yueli mulled it over, but the word “perverted” refused to leave her mouth.

“Really… wild.”

So she settled for a softer version.

“Huh? Was I?”

Tong Ya quickly wiped the corner of her lips. “I was just remembering some really funny things from the past.”

Yeah, right. You were grinning like a lovesick… girl.

“Really?”

Why don’t I believe that?

Luo Yueli blinked, the corner of her mouth curling into a mischievous smile. “Actually, I think… you were thinking about a boy.”

“Normal funny things definitely can’t make someone smile like that.”

“You must have been thinking about someone you like, right?”

“Tell me—who is he?”

“Huh?”

Tong Ya nearly jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Did she find out I’m trying to seduce her childhood friend?

It’s only the first day…

Do I still smell like Su Yichen?

No way. I changed clothes at noon… As a little cat who may lack hands-on experience but is loaded with theoretical knowledge, how could I make such a rookie mistake?

She turned her head. Luo Yueli’s auntie-smile face was drawing closer and closer.

Tong Ya’s heart skipped a beat. She blinked rapidly, putting on an innocent “What are you talking about?” expression. “I wish I had someone, but I haven’t met any boy I like yet.”

“Lizi, I’m not as pretty as you, my figure isn’t as good, and I’m shorter.”

“Boys don’t like me at all, okay?”

“If it weren’t for the fact that more than twenty guys have asked you for your contact info in the last two days, I would’ve almost believed your nonsense.”

Luo Yueli gently tapped Tong Ya on the head, wearing a tragic expression. “Sigh…”

“Xiaoya’s already falling in love…”

“And I’m the only one still single…”

“What?”

“I’m clearly not!” Tong Ya threw her arms around Luo Yueli. “Lizi, I don’t want to date any boy at all.”

“How about… we just get married later?”

“I’ll marry you.”

Luo Yueli’s face filled with disgust, her pretty eyes rolling halfway before stopping. “Who wants to marry you?”

“Xiaoya, today…”

“Yichen took you to the infirmary. Everything okay?”

“!!!”

Tong Ya, who had thought she’d successfully dodged the topic, suddenly tensed up inside.

She really is that manipulative vixen PUA-ing my Brother Yichen…

And she’s still probing me!

What do you mean “okay”? You’re clearly fishing for how I feel about Brother Yichen.

“The doctor said I just hadn’t eaten in the morning and didn’t sleep well last night. Nothing serious.”

Tong Ya’s completely off-topic answer made Luo Yueli raise an eyebrow.

Even though the question she’d asked and what she actually wanted to know were miles apart.

How should I ask…

Directly?

Or…

Luo Yueli struggled internally.

She wanted to indirectly find out what impression Su Yichen had left on Tong Ya after today’s events.

But she couldn’t say it outright—after all, her own childhood friend really wasn’t worthy of Xiaoya.

“Su Yichen didn’t bully you, right?”

Tong Ya tilted her head. “Bully?”

“I mean…”

The moment the words left her mouth, Luo Yueli realized they sounded wrong, but she had no choice but to push through. “Yichen has never interacted with any other girls besides me.”

“He doesn’t know how to get along with girls.”

“I’m afraid he might accidentally do something… that makes you misunderstand.”

Oh, I see…

Using concern as an excuse to show off and dig for information, huh?

Showing off that the handsome youth is your childhood friend, showing off that you stole Su Yichen’s first time!

Don’t get angry. Don’t let Lizi see any cracks!

Right now I’ve only just started seducing Su Yichen. In his heart… I definitely still can’t compare to Lizi.

If she finds out…

Tong Ya had already imagined the scene of Luo Yueli confronting Su Yichen: In your heart, who matters more—me or Tong Ya?

Have you stopped loving me?

Break up with her right now!

If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to accept being dumped…

Just like Brother Yichen yesterday, abandoned by Lizi…

No. It would be even worse.

Should I…

Say there’s nothing between me and Su Yichen? That I’m just Brother Yichen’s little sister?

No, that won’t work either.

What if Lizi blames Brother Yichen because of this…

Won’t he end up hating me?

If he starts disliking me…

“Su Yichen, he…”

“Is a little rigid… not very good at getting along with girls, but it’s fine.”

“Maybe because I’m not that close to him yet, he’s a bit…”

“Not very talkative.”

Tong Ya chose her words carefully. Her eyes sparkled under the lights as she spoke, secretly watching Luo Yueli’s expression the whole time.

Right now Luo Yueli had only one thought.

Asking was the same as not asking.

At least he doesn’t seem disliked…

But maybe not.

Maybe Xiaoya is still being considerate of my feelings since I’m right here…

So she’s saying nicer things than the actual situation?

“He is a little like that.”

“Even in front of me, he’s wooden.”

Wooden?

Tong Ya secretly rolled her eyes.

He’s clearly just too nervous to speak in front of the goddess he’s been longing for, okay?

“Actually it’s not a big problem, Lizi.”

Tong Ya’s beautiful eyes flashed. “If there’s a chance, just let Su Yichen interact with more girls.”

“Once he learns how to get along with them, he definitely won’t be like a block of wood anymore.”

“Mmm…”

Luo Yueli nodded and returned to her hanging chair.

Su Yichen turning out like this… I really do bear some responsibility.

Xiaoya’s idea is actually the same as mine—let him interact with more girls… learn how to get along with them…

But Yichen genuinely doesn’t know how to interact with girls. If I suddenly push him into it… he’ll probably just end up hated.

And then get hurt all over again…

At that thought, Luo Yueli’s little face paled.

She couldn’t push him into the abyss with her own hands again. After all…

We are childhood friends.

In Luo Yueli’s heart, those four words symbolized the purest, most flawless kind of affection.

And romantic love…

It felt like nothing more than that affection going bad…

It was something Luo Yueli still couldn’t accept.

That summer after junior high graduation, when she had rejected him… if the surface reason was that Su Yichen’s attraction to her wasn’t strong enough, then the deeper reason was that she simply couldn’t accept this kind of emotional change at the time.

Actually, before that confession of his… their relationship had always been very good.

They trusted each other completely, innocent and carefree.

***

September 21st, afternoon. Clear skies.

The closing ceremony for military training had ended.

It was a period for classmates to get to know one another, and also a period of mutual adjustment.

Students with richer emotions already had tear-blurred eyes.

Su Yichen stood in a corner of the track field, expressionless as he watched the lively crowd of students inside.