"Ah, this is really uncalled-for. What’s the harm in talking about it? Hey, Li Si, you’ve changed so much now! If this were in the past, you would have shared everything without holding back! Is it because we haven’t kept in touch for so long that you feel distant?" Zhou Rou said, her eyes reddening with grievance.
"Hey, what’s up with you this New Year’s?" Li Si was speechless. Had she said anything harsh?
Bai Shasha looked puzzled as well.
"Are you off work today? How co you have ti to hang out?" Li Si didn’t want to hear more and changed the topic.
"I’ve got work later. Isn’t this because I missed the two of you? It’s New Year’s, so I thought we should get together. By the way, Li Si, how old is your elder brother? He seems older than you by quite a bit, right? Is he married?" Zhou Rou dug for details, clearly curious about Leng Mochen.
Li Si frowned slightly. "I wouldn’t know!" She stopped talking and focused on the barbeque, listening to the two of them chat.
"Hey, Zhou Rou, why can’t you go three sentences without ntioning Li Si’s elder brother? Could it be that he’s actually sothing special?" Bai Shasha couldn’t help but ask, her curiosity piqued. Who was this elder brother who earned such attention from Zhou Rou?
"You see, this is the difference between you good college students and , soone who’s stepped right into society! You guys look at n for their looks, wondering if they’re handso. I, on the other hand, care about whether a man has money, whether he’s willing to spend on , and whether he’s husband material!"
"Oh my god, Zhou Rou, are you already thinking about marriage? We’re the sa age; how old are we after this New Year?" Bai Shasha was shocked by her perspective. After the New Year, calculating in traditional terms, they’d be 22, but in actual age, only 21!
"Shasha, should I say you’re naive or simply too dreamy? Don’t you realize how realistic society has beco today? The best years for won are these recent few. If you don’t use this ti to find a husband with good conditions, you’ll only narrow your choices by the ti you’re 25 or 26, ending up with so older man with neither money nor power." Zhou Rou took a sip of beer and shot a glance at the unmoved Li Si, feeling inward disdain.
"Hmm... what you’re saying does make so sense. But I still want to find soone I truly love. If there’s no love and just good conditions, what happiness could there be in being together?" Bai Shasha maintained her stance.
"It’s no use reasoning with you, Shasha. Believe , in a few years, after you graduate and start working, you’ll know if what I said today holds any validity!"
"Maybe... haha." Bai Shasha chuckled awkwardly. Despite being classmates for years, today she found that Zhou Rou had diverged significantly from her old self.
"Sigh, Li Si, why are you only eating skewers? The two of us are chatting, and you’re not chiming in?" Zhou Rou turned to Li Si, giving her a push. "Tell us, how do you view n and love? Li Si, your elder brother seems like a great option, especially if he isn’t married yet!"
"I have nothing to say. Believing in n and love is about as reliable as believing the sun will rise from the west tomorrow morning." Li Si pondered briefly before replying.
"Wow, what a profound statent! It shows you’ve experienced life, huh, Li Si? Be honest with us—did sothing happen to you? How else could you co out with sothing this deep?" Zhou Rou clapped her hands in approval, wearing an inquisitive, gossipy expression.
"Haven’t eaten pork but seen pigs run before? You’re overreacting." Li Si didn’t want to dwell on this topic, but Zhou Rou didn’t let it go.
"That’s not right. Li Si, you’re so beautiful—there’s no way nobody’s chasing you. I don’t believe it! Shasha, you two went to the sa university; how could you not know? Has Li Si been in a relationship?"
"I can vouch for this—I’ve known her as soone who ignores worldly distractions and focuses entirely on her studies!" Bai Shasha replied, feigning seriousness.
"Fine, I see now. Between the three of us, you two are the tightest! I can’t even get a truthful answer here; it’s hopeless. Who asked to miss out on the chance to go to college?" Zhou Rou lanted dramatically, feeling increasingly dissatisfied. She had even shared her matter with Zhang Weicheng openly, while they kept all secrets locked away.
"What exactly hasn’t been said to you anyhow? Zhou Rou, it’s New Year’s, and we’ve gone out of our way to et up. Can’t we discuss sothing else?"
Li Si truly didn’t understand Zhou Rou’s weird vibe—what was she trying to dig for, saying things so passive-aggressively?
"That’s right, Zhou Rou. Look, we haven’t seen each other for over a year, apart from the class reunion. This is the second ti. Why don’t you share how your job’s been going? Any fun stories at work?" Bai Shasha tried to smooth things over.
"Work’s been good. Oh, I actually have to thank you, Li Si. Thanks to you introducing to this job! We got paid at year-end and even received bonuses. The pay was generous, so I’m treating you two to this al—to thank you for your help and Shasha too!"
"No need to be so formal. As long as you like working there, that’s good!"
"But Li Si, how do you know Manager Cui? He’s pretty famous in society, everyone generally knows of him. I don’t recall any of your relatives or friends having connections with him?"
Bai Shasha glanced nervously at Li Si, only to hear her casually respond, "His daughter is my good friend."
"Look at that! Li Si is just different now—making friends casually and having such major influence! Truly impressive. Hey, Li Si, I’ve noticed sothing—you seem very popular among n. Both Manager Cui, Brother Yin, and Brother Leng all seem quite fond of you! It’s practically a case of blossoms blooming all around! Haha, just joking, don’t mind!" Zhou Rou spoke with feigned indifference, her tone tinged with mockery.
"You call this joking? I don’t think so!" Li Si’s face darkened half the way, inwardly regretting coming today and increasingly disappointed by Zhou Rou’s comnts.
"Zhou Rou, that joke is a bit much, isn’t it?" Bai Shasha said disapprovingly. How could soone talk like that openly in front of others?
"See, Shasha, you’re still the sa as when we were in school—always quick to get mad. Now look at Li Si—much more ladylike."
"Li Si, you see, I don’t have your kind of charm. High-quality, wealthy n all gravitate toward you. If you’re not interested in them, could you introduce to one?" Zhou Rou asked expectantly.
"That’s one favor I can’t do. They’re just ordinary friends—not very close." Li Si couldn’t promise anything, especially after witnessing Zhou Rou’s drunken nonsense tonight. If this was the truth revealed through alcohol, was it her true self?
Zhou Rou’s face changed instantly, her eyes welling up again as she said, aggrieved, "Li Si, I always knew it—you act like you’re helping , but you actually look down on inside. Is it because I told you both about the thing with Zhang Weicheng? You’re polite on the surface but laughing at inside, aren’t you?"
"Zhou Rou, let just say this—are you drunk or using alcohol as an excuse to act out? When have Li Si and I ever laughed at you? If that’s the case, why would we even bother eting you today?" Bai Shasha couldn’t hold back anymore, having endured it all night. She couldn’t believe Zhou Rou had beco this way.
Li Si smiled bitterly and took a sip of beer, its bitter taste lingering as she said, "Zhou Rou, you’ve changed so much—do you realize it? Don’t talk about how Shasha and I have changed. You’ve changed too! And changed to a point where I can barely believe this is who you’ve beco."
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