Chapter 27.2 - Special Appearance (2)
Love is just a feeling, yet they all desperately collect evidence. Xu Riqing's evidence only resides in Sheng Huainan's every glance, every subtle expression. A gesture, a tone of voice. He has never said "I like you," nor even "I really enjoy studying with you," so no matter how loudly she shouts her truth, no one believes her.
Her every glance, every subtle expression, is just a misunderstanding.
Luo Zhi let out a long, tired sigh.
"What good is evidence? Anyway, he never acknowledged it, not even with an IOU. What are you going to do, eat him up?" She chose the most vulgar language, speaking slowly, "You two have no blood relation, no national or familial grievances. Being in love is not a matter of principles. Since he likes you, why doesn't he acknowledge it? Xu Riqing, if you keep being this clueless, I really want to slap you."
Then, for about ten minutes, neither of them spoke.
"Is it because... of his ex-girlfriend?" Xu Riqing calmed down a lot.
"If so, then it's simpler. He still likes her, not you."
"You've been talking for so long, just to make me believe he doesn't like me."
"Xu Riqing—" Luo Zhi's expression was already weary.
The two girls stared at each other in silence.
"Isn't it just so hard to swallow your pride? Is admitting defeat so difficult?" Luo Zhi said slowly, "You're just refusing to admit defeat."
Xu Riqing froze for a moment and suddenly began crying. Luo Zhi hesitated for a second, glancing at the curious onlookers, and then sat down across from her, gently patting her back. Xu Riqing cried softly, repeatedly mumbling, "Why, why, why."
The free tissue on the table still had rough marks from grass stalks, but Luo Zhi had no choice but to hand it over. She casually turned off her phone.
About ten minutes later, Xu Riqing finally calmed down in Luo Zhi's arms.
Luo Zhi relaxed and smiled.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Such a beautiful woman! I would be so happy if I were a guy."
"If you were a guy, I might actually like you." Xu Riqing's makeup had all smudged, especially her eyelashes, which were a mess, with mascara stuck to her lower eyelids, making her look like a total panda. Yet, her smile was dazzling, the kind of unreserved smile that even moved Luo Zhi. But, did she smile this openly in front of Sheng Huainan?
When Xu Riqing returned from the bathroom, her face was clean again, though her acne was obvious, her eyes bright.
"I think I need to think about it more," Xu Riqing apologized with a smile at Luo Zhi. "But thanks."
"Don't mention it," Luo Zhi shook her head.
As they parted, Xu Riqing hesitated and said, "Actually..."
"What?"
"I had a moment just now when I suddenly felt like you never speak a single word of truth."
Luo Zhi was about to speak when a cool breeze rushed into her throat, making her cough for a while.
"Am I really that bad at lying?" Luo Zhi asked with a wry smile.
"No, it's just too clever," Xu Riqing said seriously, then burst into laughter.
"By the way, the first phone number that sent the text message is mine, you can save it." Xu Riqing called out to her, waving and heading toward the cafeteria.
Luo Zhi watched her tall figure and then remembered to turn her phone back on.
"Not bad, it didn't take too long. Looks like your phone bill is still good," Luo Zhi sighed in relief.
"What happened afterward? You just cut off the call," Zhang Mingrui asked.
"Xu Riqing cried, and I didn't know when she would stop. I couldn't let the phone company profit, so I hung up. We didn't talk about anything else after that. We chatted about other things, and once her emotions calmed down, we left the café."
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me. I'm still considering whether this counts as doing a good deed or causing harm."
"It’s definitely a good deed. But your mouth is really sharp. Don’t you talk much usually, and that’s why it’s all coming out now?"
Luo Zhi smiled without speaking.
She was sharp and righteous when facing Xu Riqing, but in reality, she felt guilty, even a little ashamed. However, the presence of Zhang Mingrui reassured her, making her feel like she was doing something good.
"Luo Zhi, she’ll get better, right?"
"Mm, I think so. Maybe a few more crying sessions, a few more days of confusion, but she should be fine."
"She seems smart, but she's actually really naive. If only she were as smart as you."
"You think I'm smart?" Luo Zhi laughed.
"Aren't you?"
Luo Zhi knew she wasn’t a very smart person. All her little cleverness was used to protect her fragile self-esteem, and her main method was lying.
Last night, she sent those two anonymous numbers to Zhang Mingrui. A few minutes later, Zhang Mingrui replied, saying the number from the mobile phone company belonged to Xu Riqing, but he didn’t recognize the one from the 132 prefix.
"What’s going on?" Zhang Mingrui asked.
Luo Zhi told him the truth, and Zhang Mingrui quickly called her.
"Luo Zhi, could you do me a favor?"
Luo Zhi listened to Zhang Mingrui's disjointed explanation, only asking him, "Are we really helping her, or are we just tearing apart a couple with potential?"
"Luo Zhi, you should know Sheng Huainan," Zhang Mingrui said.
"I don’t know him," Luo Zhi sighed. "Or maybe I’m helping you commit a crime. You can use my hand to remove Sheng Huainan’s position as a rival in Xu Riqing's heart."
"If you insist on thinking that we’re mutually benefiting from this, I can’t help it."
"Who said anything about mutual benefit?"
"Let me put it this way. I’m doing this for her good, but not because I ever liked her," Zhang Mingrui emphasized the word "ever." "As for whether you like Sheng Huainan, the answer is in your heart. I’ve never guessed. I’ve told you everything about Sheng Huainan and Xu Riqing. Tomorrow when you meet her, you can judge for yourself whether I’m right. I just hope you can help her. I trust your eloquence and judgment. If it were someone else, they’d definitely mess it up, like me."
After his lengthy and serious explanation, Luo Zhi was speechless, only saying, "I’ll try."
Dealing with Xu Riqing’s situation wasn’t difficult. Anyone would approach it in a straightforward manner, tackling the core issue. Zhang Mingrui called Luo Zhi, quietly listening to the phone conference.
During Xu Riqing's tears, Luo Zhi suddenly felt that Zhang Mingrui was a warm-hearted guy.
Very few guys would go to such lengths to rescue a girl in the way a girl would, and not for any ulterior motive.
"Anyway, let me treat you to a meal."
"Then let's go to the third cafeteria. I’m almost always there at 5:30 waiting for freshly baked bread."
"Just like my little dog. When I was in high school, I would feed it every night at 7 p.m., so it would start waiting by the door at 6:30 every evening."
Luo Zhi smiled. Zhang Mingrui seemed to be in a good mood.
Before going to bed, Luo Zhi received a text from Xu Riqing.
"I envy you, Luo Zhi. I wish I had the courage to be as calm and indifferent as you in front of him. What you said, I understand, but when it comes to him, I can't do it. Looking back, I must have been really embarrassing. If I could, I would wish the heavens would give me a chance to say something dignified and strong in front of him, or to casually chat and laugh—haha, I mean, whether it's true or not."
Whether it's true or not.
The speaker may not have intended it, but the listener feels it deeply.
