Accidentally Becoming a Green Tea Goddess Everyone Loves - Chapter 13

Following Valentine’s Day, the plot was about to enter its second phase—the beginning of the romantic arc between Jiang Peixing and Lu Yanwei.

Shen Shirou’s primary objective was to ensure Lu Yanwei learned about her status as a woman with a fiancée. After all, she was the sole architect driving the connection between Jiang Peixing and Lu Yanwei; she needed to act as the bridge that brought them together.

Even Shen Shirou couldn’t help but marvel at how melodramatic the novel’s setup was. On one side was her fiancée, and on the other, her friend. And she was somehow the one responsible for successfully joining their hands.

However, this was only the first step. According to System 888’s strict instructions, Shen Shirou could only let Lu Yanwei know she was engaged. As for the fact that her fiancée was actually Lu Yanwei’s boss, Jiang Peixing—that was a detail she had to keep hidden for now.

It just so happened that Lu Yanwei had asked to meet her today. In fact, since they’d met, Shen Shirou had been dropping by Lu Yanwei’s place every few days. She assumed today’s invitation was just like any other—a chance to chat and exchange pleasantries.

The moment Shen Shirou entered, Lu Yanwei had tea ready for her.

Lu Yanwei thought of the resolution she had finally reached after days of agonizing. She looked at Shen Shirou, gathering her courage. “Shirou, actually, the reason I asked you here today is to tell you.”

She wanted to tell Shen Shirou that she liked her.

Lately, even in her dreams, every little detail about Shen Shirou would flash through her mind. She realized she had truly fallen for her. After much hesitation, Lu Yanwei had finally made a decision. She wanted Shen Shirou to give her a chance; she was willing to take things slow. Even if Shen Shirou only saw her as a friend for now, she would wait until the day Shen Shirou fully opened her heart.

Lu Yanwei believed that with a sincere heart, she could move Shen Shirou. And now, she intended to lay out all her feelings with the utmost earnestness.

But before she could continue, she stopped abruptly. Shen Shirou looked utterly dejected.

The last time Lu Yanwei had seen her with such an expression was when she was drunk at the bar. She couldn’t help but set aside her confession, asking with concern instead, “What’s wrong? You look unhappy.”

Shen Shirou hesitated. “I.”

“Is there something you can’t tell me?” Lu Yanwei asked. “I don’t like seeing you so troubled.”

Only when Shen Shirou was happy could Lu Yanwei feel happy herself. She loved seeing Shen Shirou’s smile more than anything.

“Yanwei.” Shen Shirou took Lu Yanwei’s hand, her long lashes fluttering as she spoke with forced nonchalance. “You’re my best friend. How could I have anything I couldn’t tell you?”

“It’s not really worth mentioning,” Shen Shirou sighed softly. “Actually, I have a fiancée.”

“I’ve known her for a long time, but she hates me,” Shen Shirou said wistfully. “She wouldn’t even make time to see me on Valentine’s Day.”

Shen Shirou’s casual words hit Lu Yanwei’s ears like a suffocating net, leaving her with nowhere to breathe. The word “fiancée” echoed relentlessly in her mind.

So, Shen Shirou already has a fiancée.

Lu Yanwei’s heart sank. All her testing, her hopes, and her careful anticipation vanished like bubbles in an instant. At that moment, she found it hard even to breathe.

Her feelings could never be known to Shen Shirou now. If she spoke, she would only become a burden and a source of distress for her. Or perhaps, once Shen Shirou knew, they wouldn’t even be able to remain friends—a life Lu Yanwei couldn’t imagine.

Just half an hour ago, Lu Yanwei had meticulously prepared everything. She had bought a room full of roses and hidden them in the bedroom, planning to give Shen Shirou a surprise during her confession. She wanted to tell Shen Shirou she didn’t want to send lilies anymore; she didn’t want to stop at being just friends.

But now, those roses were destined never to be given. They were doomed to wither away in secret.

Lu Yanwei had to act as if nothing had happened, forcing a smile to comfort her. “You’re so wonderful. How could anyone hate you?”

It was true; she herself couldn’t love Shen Shirou enough. But now, she didn’t even have the right to love her.

Recalling the scene at the bar, Lu Yanwei finally understood who the “she” Shen Shirou had mentioned was. Logically, she should be comforting Shen Shirou, perhaps suggesting that the fiancée simply didn’t understand her yet and was failing to appreciate her heart.

But Lu Yanwei found she couldn’t say a single word in that person’s favor. She had never met this fiancée, yet she already felt a deep resentment toward them. Why was someone she cherished and treated with such tenderness being treated so carelessly by someone else?

“No matter what I do, she won’t give me a second glance,” Shen Shirou said dejectedly. “To her, I’m just an unwanted presence.”

“It’s her loss for not knowing how to cherish you, for not seeing how good you are.” Lu Yanwei gently put an arm around Shen Shirou’s shoulder. “Don’t be sad. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

If she could, Lu Yanwei truly wanted to take the fiancée’s place, to hold Shen Shirou in her arms and tell her exactly how beautiful she was and how much she deserved to be loved. But she couldn’t.

Lu Yanwei stood up. “If you want to drink like last time, I can go to the convenience store and get some beer.”

“I’ll drink with you, okay?” Lu Yanwei sighed. “Don’t be sad all by yourself anymore.”

Precisely because she had tasted this pain herself, she didn’t want Shen Shirou to suffer the same.

Shen Shirou’s eyes shimmered with a layer of mist. She looked up, her expression pitiful. “Yanwei, will you stay with me forever?”

“Do you want me to leave?” Lu Yanwei replied. “Then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

Lu Yanwei leaned down and reached out toward Shen Shirou on the sofa, gently patting her head. “Because I will definitely stay with you forever. Do you understand?”

Shen Shirou frowned. “Yanwei, I’ll take words like that seriously.”

“It’s not a matter of taking it seriously or not,” Lu Yanwei chuckled, shaking her head. “It’s simply the truth.”

“I have something for you.” Lu Yanwei pulled out the matching pendants she had prepared earlier. But now, this gift couldn’t be given in the name of love.

“Wear this pendant. When I’m not around, let it keep you company,” Lu Yanwei said. “Consider it a testament to our friendship.”