Jiang Qian looked at Fang ng and said,
"That day in the car, I didn’t an to stop you from studying abroad with . I only said that because a year ago, I heard your parents say your dream was to go to Tsinghua."
Fang ng hadn’t had a real heart-to-heart with Jiang Qian since elentary school. Over the years, Jiang Qian had always been cold and distant, never opening up to anyone.
But today, Fang ng smiled.
"Tsinghua? That must’ve been sothing I told my parents when I was a kid. I changed my mind in middle school—I’ve always just wanted to be with you."
Jiang Qian chuckled.
Fang ng continued,
"And that day in the car, I got upset for no reason. I shouldn’t have snapped at you… I’ve always known you considered a friend, but…"
She had so much she wanted to say, but at this mont, neither of them knew how to put their feelings into words.
Fang ng lowered her head.
"The real reason we fought this ti is still because of what happened back then, isn’t it? Jiang Qian… can we finally talk about it properly?"
Jiang Qian took a deep breath.
"Alright, let’s be honest today. Back then, when I got into that fight and asked you that question, you didn’t answer . I… I was really angry."
Fang ng’s eyes widened.
Jiang Qian stared ahead, lost in mory.
"I never brought it up all these years, and I kept telling myself it didn’t matter. That your hesitation didn’t an anything. But… every ti I think about it, it still hurts. Back then…"
Her voice suddenly wavered, becoming raspy with emotion.
"Why didn’t you answer ? Even if you had just nodded, I would’ve felt like everything I did for you as a kid wasn’t a joke. I always thought of you as my best friend. Anyone else could hesitate, but not you. And yet…"
Fang ng clutched Jiang Qian’s sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Jiang Qian, I’m sorry… I really am. I’ve regretted my hesitation so many tis over the years. I’ve always wanted to tell you that if I could do it over, I’d say yes without a second thought.
"I just… I didn’t react in ti. And later, no matter how many tis I wanted to talk to you about it… no matter how much I tried…"
Tears slipped down her cheeks, her voice trembling as she tightened her grip on Jiang Qian’s sleeve.
"Every ti I tried to bring it up, I could see the doubt and resentnt in your eyes. I knew that no matter what I said afterward, you wouldn’t believe . But I swear—I always thought of you as my best friend. How could I not have helped you?"
Jiang Qian’s eyes reddened as she t Fang ng’s gaze. Tears rolled down her face as well.
Outside the sports equipnt room, Lin Zhengran stood at a distance, watching the students who had finished their physical fitness test playing around on the field.
Having heightened senses wasn’t always a good thing.
Sotis, even when he didn’t want to eavesdrop, if he focused just a little, he could hear everything clearly.
But no matter what, it seed like the conflict between these two best friends was finally coming to an end.
A little while later, in the corner of the storage room, Fang ng took so tissues from the torn pocket of her clothes and wiped Jiang Qian’s tears.
With a smile, she said,
"It’s been so long since I’ve seen you cry, Jiang Qian. You actually remind of how you used to be when we were kids."
The two best friends sat hand in hand.
Jiang Qian sighed.
"I always knew you did a lot of things for . My sister told . She said you trained in martial arts so you could protect if I ever got into fights. And that you studied dicine because of that ti I took you to the school infirmary."
Fang ng lowered her head shyly.
"Yeah… Your sister asked about it once. I didn’t want to admit it, but I can’t really keep secrets from her."
Jiang Qian took a deep breath and suggested,
"Co back and be my assistant, Fang ng. Ever since you quit, everything’s been a ss. I can’t sleep well, I can’t study properly. Forget about surpassing Lin Zhengran—I can’t even surpass my past self anymore."
Fang ng smiled and nodded.
"Okay. But Jiang Qian… are you still trying to find Lin Zhengran’s weaknesses? Honestly, maybe you should just give up. He’s… different.
"I observed him for over a year, and he’s just not a normal person. If he actually wanted to be famous, he’d be number one in everything. He can even think while he’s asleep." She laughed lightly. "Though I know you’d never admit defeat."
Jiang Qian thought about Lin Zhengran, her face heating up slightly.
"Honestly… after fighting with you, I realized my curiosity about him changed a long ti ago.
"At first, I just wanted to compete with him and surpass him. But ever since he taught piano… and then two days ago, when I went to talk to him about us… I finally admitted to myself that it’s not just about his abilities anymore.
"I feel like I know him. He’s so similar to how I used to be… but so much stronger. I don’t even understand my own feelings right now.
"All I know is… I want to understand everything about him. And yesterday, he even confessed to —though he took it back right after."
Fang ng had been listening carefully, but then—
"Wait. What? Confessed?!"
Jiang Qian explained,
"Yesterday, when I asked him to make a request, he suddenly said ‘anything except sleeping together.’ I thought he ant he wanted to be his girlfriend, and I figured… why not? I was open to trying. But then he imdiately clarified that’s not what he ant."
Fang ng stared blankly at Jiang Qian.
For so reason, hearing the word confession made her feel… odd.
Empty.
Jiang Qian suddenly asked,
"By the way, Fang ng, I’ve been aning to ask—you and Lin Zhengran seem really close. Last week, you even went to KTV together.
"And if I heard correctly just now, you said you’ve been watching him for over a year? You even know he thinks while he sleeps? What, are you watching him sleep now?
"Does that an… every ti I gave you ti off, you were spending it with him?"
Seeing Jiang Qian’s curiosity, Fang ng suddenly chuckled.
"That’s a long story. The short version is… I have a childhood engagent with him."
Jiang Qian’s eyes widened.
"WHAT?! You too?! Just how many childhood engagents does he have?!"
Fang ng answered but imdiately turned the tables.
"As far as I know, just two— and your sister. But this is a complicated story. I’ll explain everything tonight.
"But we’re not done talking about this yet.
"Why did Lin Zhengran even ntion sleeping together in front of you? Why did you misunderstand it as a confession? And most importantly—why did you agree?"
Fang ng locked eyes with Jiang Qian.
"Tell the truth. You’ve already fallen for him, haven’t you?"
Jiang Qian stiffened.
"I…"
She averted her gaze, cheeks flushed.
"I don’t even know what ‘liking’ soone feels like. So… probably not?"
Jiang Qian then turned to Fang ng.
"But recently, everyone’s been saying you’re his girlfriend. He told you’re not. Fang ng, you don’t like Lin Zhengran, right?"
Fang ng imdiately waved her hands.
"Of course I don’t li—"
She didn’t even finish.
All the monts she had spent alone with him suddenly flashed through her mind.
For a second, she couldn’t say the last word.
Did she really not like him?
Before she could figure out her answer, Jiang Qian’s phone rang—it was the driver.
At the sa ti, Lin Zhengran, who had been waiting outside, finally walked back in.
He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"What the hell are you two going on about now?"
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