Chapter 38
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Sun Yutan told eighty percent of the truth and skipped over the significant parts.
There are thousands and thousands of friends whose relationships slowly fade away. She and Song Xin belonged to the most common and clichéd category.
They used to like each other so much that they could share any small secrets. Song Xin had always been a timid and obedient girl, and despite her growing affection for Xie Jinghao, she never dared to make a move. The only person she confided in was Sun Yutan, who kept her secret close to her heart.
She didn’t want to make any progress, nor did she want the male lead to notice her. She was afraid that something uncontrollable would happen.
As a result, Xie Jinghao became closer with another girl, which made Sun Yutan extremely anxious. She would go to Xie Jinghao’s place from time to time to disrupt their relationship and at the same time, she would help Song Xin strategize and advise her to gradually make her presence felt in front of Xie Jinghao by starting with small things.
Before the high school entrance exam, Sun Yutan encouraged Song Xin, “You can write a little note and suggest that you both attend the same high school. It couldn’t hurt, especially since Liu Ji isn’t going to pass the exam anyway. At least you’ll still be classmates.”
After that, their paths diverged. Sun Yutan left for Haicheng, and Song Xin’s family grew stricter, resulting in rare communication between the two. So, she was left in the dark about what was happening between her friend and Xie Jinghao. All she knew was that rumors were circulating that the two had become a couple.
And then, the most unexpected thing happened. Xie Jinghao actually sought her during their university years and confessed his belief that she was the one who had written the little note all those years ago.
Sun Yutan’s heart skipped a beat as she realized what was happening. Fear gripped her as she immediately shook her head and denied it, “No, no, no, it’s a big misunderstanding.”
As she reflected on her past actions, Sun Yutan was filled with regret. She knew she had overstepped her boundaries by constantly meddling in the affairs of Song Xin and Xie Jinghao, causing unnecessary misunderstandings. In her heart, she felt like Zhu Bajie – a character who was not good at being a person both inside and out.
The weight of her guilt became too much to bear, and Sun Yutan came up with a wild idea to atone for her mistakes. She started dating a senior student from a neighboring dormitory, someone who often teased her. To ensure that everyone knew about their relationship, she even posted lovey-dovey pictures of them online.
As she thought about these past events, Sun Yutan let out a sigh and pulled Chen Rui to leave. The shame she felt was overwhelming, and she was eager to leave the past behind.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m going to get a haircut. We may have lost, but we shouldn’t give up.”
Sun Yutan pondered for a moment and said to Chen Rui, “Why don’t you go back first and let me handle this alone.”
Chen Rui calmly said, “That won’t work. I’ve been invited.”
“It’s going to be boring,” Sun Yutan said. “It’s just a group of people sitting around a table telling lies. Chen Rui, it would be so much better for you to go back and take a nap. Why torture yourself with me?”
“Don’t try to hide anything from me,” Chen Rui pinched her chin. “I’ll go and make the arrangements. If there’s something you need to tell me, you’d better do it now.”
“What are you talking about?” Sun Yutan stood up. “It’s nothing. You’re just being paranoid.”
Sun Yutan originally thought that she could get away that night, but unfortunately someone informed Liu Ji of her plans.
Liu Ji was the only person who had intentionally offended Sun Yutan during her time in school. Women never forget a grudge. Even if the mountains crumble and the earth splits apart, they would never part with it.
As soon as Sun Yutan pushed open the door of the private room and saw Liu Ji’s ambiguous expression, she had a premonition that tonight was going to be a disaster.
“Come, sit here,” Liu Ji patted the seat next to her. “Sun Yutan, oh Sun Yutan, I’ve missed you so much. Let’s catch up.”
“No way,” another classmate said. “I also have something to catch up with Sun Yutan about. What gives you the right to hog her all to yourself?”
Liu Ji said, “I’ll see who dares to compete with me.”
“Don’t be in a rush,” Sun Yutan greeted each of her classmates before finally sitting down beside Liu Ji.
“I heard your boyfriend is treating tonight?” Liu Ji spoke to Sun Yutan and Chen Rui, “I won’t be polite.”
“As you wish.”
“You have personality.” Liu Ji leaned in closer, “Handsome guy, can you give me your contact information?”
“Stop it, Liu Ji.” Sun Yutan separated the two. “Why are you asking so many questions?”
“I’m trying to steal your man, isn’t it obvious?”
“I was wrong, okay? It was me who didn’t know any better before. You’re the bigger person, so don’t take it out on me, okay?”
“But I will take it out on you.” Liu Ji snorted. “Do you know that Song Xin and Xie Jinghao are getting engaged?”
Sun Yutan was taken aback, “Really?” She looked at Song Xin, who was sitting next to Xie Jinghao, and the two were whispering like a pair of lovebirds.
“Sun Yutan, you used to have such a problem with me, but in the end, didn’t your good friend benefit from it?”
Sun Yutan rose from her seat and made her way over to Song Xin. She longed to explain herself, to make things right between them. Unfortunately, she had missed the best time. Perhaps some words never had the best time, and it was never appropriate to say them.
Fortunately, these two ended up with a good result. She congratulated the couple.
“Thank you.” Song Xin smiled. “Will you come, Xiao Tan?”
Xie Jinghao said, “Look at how awkward she looks, how could she dare to come?”
Sun Yutan stared at him incredulously. How could this culprit be so casual? “Don’t you think it’s because of you?”
“Blame my bad luck for being your nemesis and causing a rift between you two,” Xie Jinghao joked. “Okay, Sun Yutan, don’t take it to heart. We’re doing well now. Don’t hide from us when you see us, making us reminisce about our foolish and silly years.”
“That’s great,” Sun Yutan breathed a sigh of relief.
When she returned to her seat, she found that Chen Rui was surrounded by several female classmates, headed by Liu Ji, talking to him with great interest.
Chen Rui responded with a half-hearted tone, with no noticeable change in his expression. Only those familiar with him could tell that he was getting increasingly impatient.
Sun Yutan stood by and watched as a cool-looking girl in leather boots and jacket approached her. She said, “In the afternoon, we heard Wu Shan praising your boyfriend to the high heavens. We were all very curious. Liu Ji refused to believe it, saying that Wu Shan was exaggerating. And now – who’s the one getting close to him?”
“She’s doing it on purpose to annoy me,” Sun Yutan smiled. “Let her do as she pleased for a while.”
“How deep is the grudge between you two that you can’t seem to resolve it?”
“No, after today, it should be almost over.”
Chen Rui finally saw Sun Yutan who was watching from the sidelines. He bid his leave apologetically and walked towards her through the crowd.
“Is it fun to watch?” he asked with a straight face.
Sun Yutan said, “You’re really popular.”
“Not as much as you.”
After the two left, Chen Rui settled the score with her. “It’s really a peach blossom debt. Sun Yutan, why do you keep getting involved with others?”
“Isn’t this a bad peach blossom?” Sun Yutan sighed. “I suffered heavy losses.”
“Serves you right.”
“I know, it serves me right,” Sun Yutan said, sighing, “You guys are really weird, saying you like someone easily and then waffling just as easily.”
Other than a frightening encounter, there was nothing between her and Xie Jinghao. She had dated the senior for a few months, but only received news of Xie Jinghao and Song Xin getting back together.
As she reflected on the situation, Sun Yutan couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotions wash over her. In this flashy world, everyone wanted to save face and avoid hitting the same wall twice. She had thought this way, and so had Xie Jinghao, but Song Xin was different. Despite the challenges they faced, she had persisted in her pursuit of Xie Jinghao, and it had finally paid off.
Perhaps someone had to persist for things to come to fruition.
“Us guys?” Chen Rui looked unbothered. “Who else?”
“Many friends are like this too. They can’t be satisfied with just one person in the fish pond. They want this and that, and they settle for something similar if they can’t get the best. They keep looking for better options, thinking the grass is always greener on the other side.”
She said everything she could think of with a hint of meaning. Chen Rui understood that he was being targeted. He asked, “Are you the best?”
After asking, he turned around and left. Sun Yutan caught up and protested, feeling wronged. It was clear that when you scold someone, you need to name and shame them.
She caught up and explained, “I scolded Xie Jinghao, not you. Chen Rui, you are different.”
“What’s different about me?”
“You used to be shy and reserved, so you wouldn’t speak up easily.”
Chen Rui laughed in anger and grabbed Sun Yutan’s neck, pulling her forward. “Who do you think you are?”
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