Lin Cheng itched with anger, his teeth grinding.
As expected, the one who understood you best might not be your lover, but your enemy.
“What kind of avoidant attachment formula are you slapping onto me?” Lin Cheng always felt there was a hint of guilt in his voice. “Don’t listen to her nonsense…”
He wasn’t even sure who he was saying that to. Lu Xiaoxiao stood there with her arms crossed, gazing at him wistfully. Xu Wanyue didn’t know what to do, so she kept her head slightly lowered, trying her best to fade into the background. But it felt like so many eyes were on her, making her heart race and her throat tighten.
“No, since you were the one who brought her into the Fruit Shop, we’re all family now. Of course I have to warn my sisters to be careful not to get fooled.” Jiang Lingxue came to Xu Wanyue’s side and suddenly took her hand gently. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to steal your man or mock you. This is really just… a friendly reminder.”
Xu Wanyue panicked, almost instinctively blurting out, “I, I don’t…”
“Don’t what?” Jiang Lingxue smiled.
But Lin Cheng’s face had turned utterly grim.
Don’t what? Don’t like him, that’s all… Just say it. Once those words were out, the guy lying in that hospital bed would take ten thousand points of critical damage. He wouldn’t sense the favoritism and indulgence anymore; cracks would form in his heart, growing wider until all his desire to perform vanished.
“I don’t…” Xu Wanyue grew tongue-tied.
But for some reason, she couldn’t get the words “I don’t like him” out of her mouth.
Saying it would end all her troubles. She’d said it in front of Lin Cheng before anyway, so just spit it out now. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about all those stares. She just wanted to be an invisible little wallflower in the corner.
And Xiaoxiao wouldn’t get mad at her for it, right?
“I…”
Xu Wanyue finally lifted her head slowly. Her eyes fell on Lin Cheng’s face.
“My head’s all messed up,” she said softly.
“You’re so silly,” Lin Cheng said, looking into her eyes.
“It’s too complicated. I can’t think straight.” Her voice was still small.
“Do you like me, then?”
“A little bit.” Xu Wanyue held up one finger.
“Then I like you a little bit more.” Lin Cheng suddenly grinned.
“You like me a little more… fine, just a little more. Anyway, I only like you a little bit.” Xu Wanyue finally tilted her head up, her eyes now fixed only on Lin Cheng.
“Maybe someday you’ll like me a little more than I like you?” Lin Cheng winked at her.
“That’s a someday thing.”
“So you’ll stick with me forever after that?”
“No one can stick with anyone forever.” There was a stubborn edge to Xu Wanyue’s voice now.
“As long as both people believe it, they can be together forever and ever.”
“Only kids think that way.”
“I’m a kid, then.”
“I can’t win against you.” Xu Wanyue’s cheeks puffed out slightly, and Lin Cheng poked her on the cheek.
“Watch out for her. She’s a scheming black-hearted type who can’t stand to see others happy.” Lin Cheng pointed at Jiang Lingxue’s face. “Heh heh, woman’s heart is the most venomous of all.”
Jiang Lingxue just shrugged it off. “Too bad.”
“If you keep being gross, you’ll get karma.” Lin Cheng smiled at her.
“Then I’ll just keep trying harder.” Jiang Lingxue shrugged again, looking utterly unconcerned. “Anyway, since you’re fine, I’ll head out.”
“Once I’m discharged, you won’t be able to run anywhere.”
“Still pulling those same old tricks? I’m bored of them already.” Jiang Lingxue’s tone dripped with contempt.
“Heh heh, just wait and see.”
Jiang Lingxue tilted her head and shot him a disdainful glance before turning and leaving the room.
Lu Xiaoxiao was still standing there. Out of nowhere, she said, “Your relationship with her is so weird.”
“Yeah, it kinda is.” Lin Cheng gave a helpless laugh.
Lu Xiaoxiao stayed in the room. They spread out a flight chess board on Lin Cheng’s bed. He flicked the dice with his fingers while Xu Wanyue held back her luck. A few hours passed like that. Lin Cheng occasionally checked his phone. Around five in the afternoon, there was a knock at the door.
Xu Wanyue went to open it, but she’d never seen the girl standing there.
The girl wore a white dress, her black hair cascading down, giving her a gentle and quiet air. She carried a thermos bucket. She froze for a moment when she saw Xu Wanyue, then asked softly, “Excuse me… is this Lin Cheng’s room?”
“She’s here for you.” Xu Wanyue let Jiang Li in.
Of course, Jiang Li knew the room number because Lin Cheng had told her during their earlier chat. She’d really wanted to visit him, and after hesitating, he’d given it to her. She hadn’t expected her to even bring dinner.
Dinner was lavish: braised meatballs, stir-fried cabbage, sweet-and-sour pork ribs, and a corn sparerib soup.
But Lu Xiaoxiao and Xu Wanyue’s eyes quietly sized up Jiang Li, making her a bit uneasy. There was no seat left for her in the room. She asked softly, “How’s your injury?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll be out tomorrow.”
“Oh, that’s good.” Jiang Li replied softly, then added in a light voice, “Thank you… for saving me yesterday.”
“No big deal. I was heading to the city center anyway.” Lin Cheng smiled helplessly. Jiang Li seemed at a loss for words, and about five or six seconds of silence fell over the room.
Probably because Lu Xiaoxiao and Xu Wanyue weren’t saying anything.
A few seconds later, Jiang Li murmured, “Well, you should eat first… When you’re done, I’ll take the thermos back.”
“His hand’s broken. He can’t eat by himself,” Lu Xiaoxiao cut in suddenly from the side.
“Mine… isn’t broken.”
“You’re just toughing it out. He hurts like hell even moving his hand a little. You could feed him,” Lu Xiaoxiao added out of the blue.
Lin Cheng was speechless. Jiang Li looked at him in confusion, then asked softly, “Who are they…?”
“Coworkers. Not close. Just heard him report on his mission progress.” Lu Xiaoxiao’s voice was excessively cold. Jiang Li gave a cautious “oh” and turned to Lin Cheng. “Then… should I feed you?”
“I’m really fine.”
“It’s no trouble.” Jiang Li’s voice was gentle. She picked up the thermos, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to Lin Cheng’s mouth. His eyes flashed with resentment for an instant, but he had no choice but to eat obediently. That meal was pure agony for him. Xu Wanyue sat nearby with earbuds in, silently scrolling short videos. Lu Xiaoxiao pretended to look out the window, though she was probably smirking inwardly.
Half an hour later, it was finally over. Jiang Li packed up the thermos and said softly to Lin Cheng, “I’ll head home now?”
“Yeah, be careful on the way.”
Lin Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. But in that instant, Jiang Li leaned in close, whispering right by his ear so softly only he could hear.
“If you can’t sleep tonight, call me. I’ll tell you a story.” Her tone was rushed and shy. As she pulled back, her earlobes flushed pink. Lin Cheng’s ear tingled. Jiang Li waved lightly at him. “See you?”
“Bye.”
Jiang Li left the room. Lin Cheng lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. Xu Wanyue kept scrolling videos without a word. Lu Xiaoxiao gazed at the setting sun outside. After a hesitation of one or two seconds, Lin Cheng ventured, “Does anyone want to hear me explain?”
Xu Wanyue shook her head.
Lu Xiaoxiao scoffed.
“I can really explain.”
Lu Xiaoxiao turned around, arms crossed, staring into his eyes. “Who cares?”
“…”
Lin Cheng took another critical hit.
“I’m the patient here! The patient! Covered in wounds, and you’re still hurting me.” Lin Cheng sounded like he was about to cry.
“You’re the one who hurt me first.” Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes bored straight into him.
“Then do you want a kiss too?”
“As if I’d let a dog bite me.” Lu Xiaoxiao sneered.
“…”
Women really were fickle creatures. Just a few hours ago, she’d been saying she loved him.
Lin Cheng reached out and poked Xu Wanyue’s slender waist. She pulled out her earbuds and looked up from her videos. Lin Cheng gazed at her. “Do you want to hear my explanation?”
Xu Wanyue shook her head. “No need.”
“Does that mean you believe things are clear between me and her?”
“No.” Xu Wanyue shook her head again, answering innocently. “You’re already tangled up with a bunch of girls anyway.”
Lin Cheng felt like he was about to keel over.
“Who am I tangled up with?” Lin Cheng shot back at Xu Wanyue.
Xu Wanyue held up a finger and started counting. “Xiaoxiao.”
Lin Cheng nodded. “Guilty on that one.”
Lu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at him from the side.
“Litchi,” Xu Wanyue continued.
“Litchi and me… guilty too.”
…He could’ve denied that one, but last month Litchi had stepped on him with her white silk stockings-clad feet, so he had to own up.
“Jiang Lingxue.”
“Guilty.”
No choice there. He could’ve claimed it was all in the past, but they’d hooked up at home just a few days ago—and Xu Wanyue had walked in on it.
“Grape.”
“Grape and me…” Lin Cheng started to explain, but Xu Wanyue gazed at him gently. “You slept with Grape the night before last, right? Nothing happened?”
“We just… took a bath together.”
“Oh, just a bath together.” Xu Wanyue emphasized “together” heavily.
Lin Cheng hung his head in defeat. “Guilty.”
Xu Wanyue looked at him tenderly. “If there aren’t any other names besides those four I just said, I can kinda understand. It wouldn’t mean you’re tangled up with tons of girls, Lin Cheng. Just say there aren’t any others, and I’ll believe you.”
But there was one name in Lin Cheng’s head he couldn’t mention: Lu Lingling.
“I…”
Lin Cheng was utterly tongue-tied and could only hang his head. “Fine, but Jiang Li and I really have nothing going on.”
“But Xiaoxiao just messaged me that you had her send you pics of her in her underwear.”
Lin Cheng’s eyes widened as he glared at Lu Xiaoxiao. She stood with arms crossed, her gaze teasing. “Can’t talk about it?”
“It all stems from a beautiful misunderstanding…” Lin Cheng pulled out his phone and opened his chat with Jiang Li, starting from that “show me the white silk” message.
He finished the story.
Xu Wanyue lowered her head and went back to her short videos.
Lu Xiaoxiao rubbed her stomach. “I’m hungry, Yueyue. Let’s go eat.”
“Mm-hmm.” Xu Wanyue stood up.
“Hey, pay attention to me… come on, notice me…”
Xu Wanyue reached out and patted Lin Cheng’s head. “Okay, okay. We’ll come back after dinner to keep you company.”
Hand in hand, they left the room.
