Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 59

It was time to get off work, and Jiang Xingran planned to invite Ling Xi to dinner, hoping to take the opportunity to find out the reason for her sudden drastic change, but before she could open her mouth, she was interrupted by a stranger at the door.

“Ling Xi.”

Lin Fangwan’s appearance did not provoke any emotional change in Ling Xi. She looked over in response to the voice and merely nodded coolly. Only after tidying up her desk did she pick up her cross-body bag and walk out.

“How did you know I was at school?”

“Today is a workday. I guessed you would either be at your studio or at school. It wasn’t hard to find you.” Lin Fangwan smiled sweetly and suddenly suggested, “I’ve reserved a nice private dining restaurant. I heard it’s quite popular, but I don’t know if it suits your taste. Can we finally catch up properly today?”

Listening to Lin Fangwan’s light and cheerful voice, Ling Xi lowered her eyes slightly, acting indifferent but not refusing: “I’m not picky.”

Walking under the familiar phoenix tree shade, a sudden illusion arose, feeling like the sunset regretted being late and missing the beauty of the morning glow.

Lin Fangwan held her hands behind her back, her branded bag swaying from side to side on her fingertips. It was clear that she was secretly happy.

Ling Xi walked towards the parking lot. Although the atmosphere was pleasant, her heart felt strangely empty. To avoid awkwardness, she could only force a casual topic: “How have you been all these years?”

“Not good.”

Wasn’t this exactly the topic Lin Fangwan wanted to discuss? It was right up her alley. She answered simply without hesitation, which drew Ling Xi’s surprised gaze: “Not good? Is the relationship strained after marriage?”

“As you know, it was a commercial marriage with no emotional foundation to begin with. Life only gets worse.”

As she spoke of her failed marriage, Lin Fangwan’s calm expression fell into Ling Xi’s eyes, and in a flash, her memory leaped back to that ridiculous and tragic day—

“Yes… I got engaged, just within the six months after we met.”

“What could I do! I could give you so many things, why did you insist on choosing the one thing I couldn’t give?”

“Fine, I’ll give you back your freedom…”

From calmly admitting the lie to hysterical crying, Lin Fangwan finally left quietly amidst the dead silence. The abandoned Ling Xi sat by the door, sobbing uncontrollably. The weeping in the corridor lasted all night.

Quickly stopping the flood of memories, Ling Xi’s eyelids fluttered. Not wanting to continue the topic, she chose to remain silent.

Lin Fangwan yearned for Ling Xi. Like a small woman, she reached out and pinched the hem of Ling Xi’s clothes, asking in a low voice: “What about you? Do you have any plans for marriage and children?”

“I’ve been working honestly all these years and taking care of my side business. Life has been pretty good… I haven’t considered getting married.” Ling Xi answered truthfully, but added: “Nor have I considered dating again.”

Ling Xi was clearly trying to put Lin Fangwan off, at least indicating that she had no intention of rekindling their old relationship.

The Ling Xi who regained her memory was special. Her indifference was wrapped in gentleness. Although she spoke politely and her expression was amiable, every word could be a killing blow to the heart.

Ling Xi’s words struck Lin Fangwan’s heart. Her expression remained calm, and she put on a self-mocking smile: “Marriage is a tomb. Don’t go down this road of no return, it’s good… but staying single, that’s more like punishing yourself.”

Lin Fangwan said this to try and find a different look in Ling Xi’s eyes. Even if there was only a tiny bit of concern, she would magnify the delusion of reconciliation.

Ling Xi, however, was unmoved. She walked indifferently into the parking lot. The small tank-like vehicle accompanying the Beetle was too conspicuous.

Ling Xi didn’t realize how hurried and flustered her steps were as she headed towards Qiao Bo’er’s car.

When she reached the car door, she knocked on the window.

The person who rolled down the window was Qin Yun. Ling Xi avoided her frivolous smile and turned her head to look for Qiao Bo’er.

Fortunately, the person she was looking for was sitting in the passenger seat.

“Are you looking for me for something?” Ling Xi asked politely. Qiao Bo’er’s eyes went past her and landed on Lin Fangwan. Without fear of Ling Xi’s displeasure, she sneered: “What a nuisance.”

Ling Xi’s brow furrowed. Qin Yun seized the moment to say: “Bo’er said you love good food, and since you missed out on the afternoon tea, why don’t we go for something even better? Let’s go.”

“Sorry, I have plans.”

“Then let her come with us.” Qiao Bo’er finally spoke, her tone cold and allowing no refusal, clearly filled with provocation.

“Alright.” Ling Xi’s agreement caused the trailing Lin Fangwan to freeze slightly. Qiao Bo’er also glared at her with anger, as if this agreement flustered both women.

Ling Xi could have refused, but her heart was like a frozen boulder; she wouldn’t overly consider the feelings of others.

The so-called ‘love triangle’ wouldn’t cause her any harm either.

Only Qin Yun found it highly amusing: “Great, three women make a show, four women are even more exciting! It’ll be lively for dinner.”

She really didn’t mind stirring up trouble!

“Wanwan, you ride in my car.” Ling Xi turned back, and that “Wanwan” was so intimate that it made Qiao Bo’er grit her teeth and let out a suppressed grunt of anger.

“I’ll send you the address. Drive safely.” After a simple instruction, Ling Xi got into her own car.

Qiao Bo’er was furious, scolding Qin Yun: “Did you really have to come pick her up just to annoy me?”

“Tsk, look at you, getting mad by yourself. Aren’t you afraid of damaging your liver? By eating with Lin Fangwan, you can gauge her strength, interrupt her private date with Ling Xi, and still spend time with Ling Xi. It’s a great deal, three birds with one stone! Do you understand divergent thinking?!”

Qin Yun was a master of using a minimal effort to achieve maximum effect.

The private dining restaurant Lin Fangwan booked happened to be near Lion Head Mountain, not far from the Qin family’s mansion. This was considered Qin Yun’s territory.

The Chinese-style courtyard design was antique and elegant, with a tranquil and pleasant environment. The dining tables were exclusive. From this perspective, Qin Yun’s arrangement was quite correct. Such a place was indeed an excellent choice for a date.

Qin Yun walked in the front. When the account manager saw that the visitor was from the prominent Qin family on the mountain, they immediately greeted her warmly: “Miss Qin, long time no see!”

“A friend booked a private room. Please lead the way.”

“No problem, please follow me.”

Thinking that Chu Xi was still working overtime in the office, Qin Yun felt a little sorry for her and came up with an idea while holding her phone: “You go in first, I’ll make a call to Chu Xi.”

Qin Yun was being somewhat deliberate; she left the three-way drama for Ling Xi to handle.

Since Lin Fangwan followed Ling Xi’s lead to have this awkward dinner, she received more attention from Ling Xi.

Upon entering the private room, Ling Xi helped pull out a chair for her: “You sit next to me.”

“Thank you.” Lin Fangwan’s elegance was different from Qiao Bo’er’s; she was more in line with the softness of Eastern women, seemingly making her more endearing.

Qiao Bo’er, feeling at a disadvantage, felt a competitive urge rise in her heart. She sat silently on Ling Xi’s other side.

Perhaps being unmoved was a way to protect herself, but the earnestness in the details was a giveaway of her concern.

“You haven’t been back home for a long time, right? See what you’d like to eat.” Ling Xi turned her head to ask Lin Fangwan about ordering, but her hand was busy pulling out tissues and constantly wiping the table in front of Qiao Bo’er.

“You’re going to wear the table down, don’t you have to be this clean?” Ling Xi grumbled, but her hands didn’t stop wiping for a second.

The scene from when they ate hot pot surfaced in Qiao Bo’er’s mind. This gesture made Qiao Bo’er’s heart pound. She raised her hand and quietly took the tissue from Ling Xi.

At that moment, Ling Xi’s hand lightly squeezed her fingertips, intentionally or unintentionally rubbing them, giving Qiao Bo’er the illusion that she didn’t want to let go.

Lin Fangwan saw it all, remaining outwardly calm, but deliberately instigating a silent rivalry: “You should remember my tastes. You can order whatever you like.”

“Mmm, you don’t like spicy food.”

Lin Fangwan looked at Qiao Bo’er, her smile radiating the joy of gaining the upper hand. But soon, Ling Xi smiled: “What a coincidence, Bo’er doesn’t like spicy food much either. It’s better to eat light in the summer.”

With just one sentence from Ling Xi, Qiao Bo’er stopped her competition with Lin Fangwan. Because Ling Xi, who wasn’t being a jerk anymore, still remembered her preferences. She simply and generously stated: “Your friend is back after a long time. Let’s go with what she prefers.”

“Miss Qiao is truly too kind.”

“Alright then, I’ll go pick out the fish. You two sit for a bit.” Ling Xi took the menu booklet and left the private room.

The two stunning and exceptional women shed their phony smiles almost simultaneously.

Lin Fangwan poured herself a cup of hot tea, took a sip, and pursed her lips: “Miss Qiao must really like Ling Xi.”

“She’s so wonderful, how could one not like her.” When talking about Ling Xi, Qiao Bo’er’s expression and tone lost their sharpness.

“So, you must be very afraid of my appearance.”

In Florence, Joe Di had exposed all of Qiao Bo’er’s weaknesses. Lin Fangwan brought up a topic intended to provoke her, and that casual tone was indeed infuriating.

It must be said that Lin Fangwan was very clever; she broke the situation using a method that cost her nothing.

With a seat separating them, Qiao Bo’er turned her head to examine the arrogant-looking Lin Fangwan. She really did have two faces, one for in front of others and one for behind.

“Trying to provoke me this way? Only one person is good at such tactics. Joe Di’s methods are as disgusting as ever.”

Qiao Bo’er mocked calmly. Lin Fangwan hadn’t expected Qiao Bo’er to be so clever as to immediately figure out the mastermind behind her on their first direct confrontation.

“Pearl Josepha, you are more formidable than I thought.” Lin Fangwan spoke Qiao Bo’er’s true name, but this name only triggered deeper anger in her.

Qiao Bo’er suppressed the rage with difficulty, a vein throbbing on her forehead. She rebuked: “What right do you have to call my name? Appearing in Xuancheng with unclear intentions, what benefit did Joe Di give you exactly?”

Lin Fangwan stood up and walked over to Qiao Bo’er. She seemed to be intentionally stalling for time, slightly bending over to whisper in her ear: “Do you want to know the ending? The ending is that I will take a fortune large enough to last a lifetime. Then I will reconcile with Ling Xi, and you, you will only be the sacrificial lamb in this transaction.”

Qiao Bo’er slammed her hand on the table and stood up, glaring fiercely at the cunning woman in front of her.

Other than Ling Xi, no one had dared to provoke her so openly. But she was screaming internally that she couldn’t explode, couldn’t let Ling Xi see her most disgraceful side.

Lin Fangwan’s attack was effective. She smiled disdainfully.

Suddenly, a raised hand struck her own face fiercely, without hesitation, without even blinking. The ability to be so ruthless to herself could only be described as an admirable determination to achieve her goal no matter what.

Lin Fangwan’s sudden and bizarre action made the stunned Qiao Bo’er warn with a low voice: “You… what are you doing?”

But the self-slapping didn’t stop, and another heavy blow landed in the blink of an eye.

A shocking palm print instantly appeared on Lin Fangwan’s face. She stared intently, enjoying Qiao Bo’er’s astonished expression, while still taunting contemptuously: “I considered many ways to deal with you, and only finally understood one principle—when facing an enemy stronger than yourself, you must use the most repulsive method. The more vulgar and outrageous, the more it can stir up the waves of conflict. Just like now, you are powerless against me.”

Lin Fangwan’s laughter was sharp and piercing. She laughed until tears streamed down her face. She sniffled, capturing Qiao Bo’er’s strange expression. She had to win, to win back the Ling Xi she had lost.

Just as the third heavy slap landed, Qiao Bo’er finally reached out to stop this absurd and suffocating behavior. In that very instant, the door was pushed open.

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