How I Accidentally Bent My Best Friend - Chapter 14

The evening training session was canceled, and after dinner, there was still plenty of time. Watching Lu Wei return to her dorm, Chen Yushu stood in place for a long while before turning around and wandering aimlessly around the campus.

The gentle night breeze brushed against her cheeks as Chen Yushu let her mind empty, allowing her thoughts to flow quietly.

Before she knew it, she had arrived at the sports field. Someone was playing the guitar and singing, others were jogging, the vast field was bustling with activity.

Chen Yushu found a random seat on the bleachers and sat down, quietly observing the people in the center of the field, feeling out of place amidst the lively atmosphere.

Suddenly, two girls in military training uniforms appeared in her peripheral vision. They sat down and immediately began chattering excitedly.

“It’s so great that we don’t have to train tonight! This is amazing!”

“We have that girl from the painting class to thank for this! The way she stood up to them was so satisfying! I was right there, practically ready to applaud her on the spot!”

“She’s such an icon! I heard she’s also a painting blogger with over a million followers! Some wealthy guy once spent six figures to buy one of her”

“Oh my god, I’m so jealous of her classmates and friends!”

Even in college, the legends about Lu Wei never seemed to fade.

Chen Yushu couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. She wasn’t surprised, Lu Wei had always been like this, someone who naturally belonged in the spotlight.

The two girls didn’t stay seated for long and soon headed down to the field.

Their words stirred ripples in Chen Yushu’s recently calmed heart, spreading in slow, bittersweet waves.

She took out her phone and opened a private folder in her photo album. Her finger hovered over the screen, hesitating as she tapped in and out repeatedly. Only after confirming that no one was around did she finally allow herself to look through the photos one by one.

With them came a flood of memories, so overwhelming that her eyes grew moist without her realizing it.

Chen Yushu took a deep breath and sped up, skimming through each photo with just a glance. Even so, it took her over half an hour to go through them all.

Pausing on the last one, she gazed at the person in the photo and smiled, her heart fluttering as if it were just yesterday.

But unrequited love had no cure. All her hidden feelings, after tonight, would be buried deep in her heart, never to see the light of day again.

Chen Yushu exited the album and hid the folder, hoping she would never have to see it again.

Having made her decision, she felt much lighter, though a faint ache still lingered in her chest a stubborn, instinctive reluctance.

As the crowd on the field gradually dispersed, Chen Yushu retraced her steps in the growing silence.

Outside the dormitory building was a small grove of trees, the only path back and a popular spot for couples at night.

Using her phone as a flashlight, Chen Yushu walked carefully forward, luckily avoiding any awkward encounters.

The sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot was oddly eerie, making her quicken her pace.

Just then, a choked sob came from ahead. Squinting, she could make out two blurry figures near the exit of the grove.

Probably a couple having a fight.

Chen Yushu wasn’t one to eavesdrop, so she lowered her head and prepared to walk past.

“If I hadn’t taken the day off today, how much longer were you planning to keep this from me?”

Wait was that voice, Jiang Yuran?!

Chen Yushu froze, debating whether to take another route. But she wasn’t familiar enough with the campus to know any alternatives.

Before she could decide, the argument ahead escalated, voices growing louder. Covering her ears wouldn’t have helped.

“How long have you been with him? Tell me!”

“Keep your voice down,” the girl said impatiently. “It was last semester, okay?”

“Last semester?” Jiang Yuran repeated numbly, then let out a self-deprecating laugh. “If you’re with him now, why didn’t you break up with me first? Were you just stringing me along while enjoying his affection?”

“You knew before we got together that I’ve always dated guys before.”

Jiang Yuran scoffed, her voice trembling as she asked, “So that’s your excuse for two-timing? You’ve really mastered the art of having your cake and eating it too, huh? You disgust me!”

The girl grew defensive. “You know my family situation. Even if I didn’t date anyone now, my mom would set me up with someone after I graduate.”

At that, Jiang Yuran gagged, nearly shouting, “Then why did you stay with me for so long? All your excuses are just bullshit, you’re just a terrible person! A terrible person! Fine, I’ll step aside. May you and your boyfriend live happily ever after, with triplets to boot!”

Chen Yushu hesitated where she stood, her heart pounding, the guilt of eavesdropping surging to unbearable levels. She wished she could shut off all her senses right then and there.

Before she could quietly slip away, the argument seemed to reach its climax, and the flood of revelations had already seared into her mind.

For a moment, Chen Yushu wasn’t sure what shocked her more, the fact that Jiang Yuran had been dating a girl, or the heartbreaking betrayal she’d just witnessed.

In the sudden silence, only Jiang Yuran’s sobs remained, raw and wrenching enough to make anyone’s heart ache.

“Get out! Just get the hell out of my sight! Go be with your boyfriend forever! Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!”

The outburst startled Chen Yushu. Footsteps followed, and before she could react, she found herself face-to-face with one of the people involved.

The girl presumably the other party in the argument, seemed stunned to see someone else there. After a brief pause, she hurried away without a word.

The dim lighting made it impossible for Chen Yushu to see her face clearly. Instead, she turned her worried gaze toward where Jiang Yuran stood, deciding to wait until she left before making her own exit and vowing to bury what she’d heard.

But to her surprise, Jiang Yuran didn’t leave. Instead, she sank to the ground, crying uncontrollably with no sign of stopping.

A glance at her phone told Chen Yushu that curfew was fast approaching. If she didn’t leave soon, she’d be locked out. Torn between staying and going, she hesitated.

Then, the glow of her phone screen caught Jiang Yuran’s attention.

“Who’s there?” Jiang Yuran’s voice cracked as she looked up.

Chen Yushu’s heart nearly stopped. She froze, utterly unprepared for this kind of confrontation.

As Jiang Yuran started to rise, clearly about to approach her, Chen Yushu panicked and blurted out, “I’m sorry, I was just passing by. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was about to leave”

Jiang Yuran stared at her, tears still streaming, hiccuping between sobs. “Oh, it’s you. Whatever. It’s not like I’m the one who should be embarrassed.”

Chen Yushu nodded quickly, fishing a pack of tissues from her pocket and handing them over. Her gaze softened with sympathy, but words of comfort eluded her.

Just a few days ago, Jiang Yuran had been happily going on dates. How had things fallen apart so fast?

“Thanks.” Jiang Yuran took the tissue, her voice muffled and thick with nasal congestion. She wiped her face while forcing a lighthearted tone. “I was supposed to have the day off today, planned to surprise her. Hahaha, who knew it’d turn into such a massive shock instead.”

Chen Yushu thought for a moment and said, “In a way, it’s good. You saw her true colors sooner.”

“Exactly.” Jiang Yuran’s voice trembled as she spoke. “That scumbag lied to me for so long, got everything she wanted. Pah! Well, I won’t let her have her way. Hahaha, today marks my rebirth, okay?”

“Mhm, you’ll definitely find someone better!” Chen Yushu said firmly, giving her shoulder a gentle pat.

For some reason, this made Jiang Yuran burst into laughter. She sniffled, her voice still shaky. “Right, I’ll find someone prettier, more amazing just to spite her! Isn’t curfew soon? Let’s head back.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“It’s just one woman, there are plenty out there. I’m not gonna let her ” Mid-sentence, Jiang Yuran paused, as if on the verge of tears again, and quickly pressed another tissue to her face.

Chen Yushu sighed inwardly. Love really was torturous! And women could be so cruel, to other women.

They made it back to the dorm just in time. Jiang Yuran kept wiping away fresh tears as they climbed the stairs in silence.

At the dorm door, Jiang Yuran pulled out a compact mirror, carefully dabbing at the tear stains on her face before dusting powder under her eyes and nose. She turned to Chen Yushu. “Do I look better now?”

“Yeah, just a bit red around the eyes, but otherwise fine.”

Jiang Yuran cleared her throat and suddenly stepped aside. “You go in first.”

“Okay.” Chen Yushu understood immediately. She pushed the door open, shielding Jiang Yuran as she slipped in and sat with her back to the room. Only then did Chen Yushu close the door behind them.

“Where’d you two go? Why are you back so late?” Ye Chiwan poked her head out from her bed, drawing Xia Ke’s curious glance as well.

Chen Yushu replied, “I went for a walk on the field and ran into her, so we came back together.”

Ye Chiwan gave an indifferent “Oh” and said, “Hurry up and wash up. The water’s about to be cut off.”

Chen Yushu nodded. “Mhm.”

Jiang Yuran tore open a face mask and applied it, tilting her head back to cover her eyes.

Ye Chiwan gave her a strange look. “What’s up with you? Not saying a word since you came in.”

Jiang Yuran snapped back, “Hmph, none of your business.”

“Tch, ungrateful brat.”

By the time they finished showering, it was lights-out. Exhausted, everyone climbed into bed without another word.

Chen Yushu held her phone, hesitating over Jiang Yuran’s chat window. Should she send something to comfort her? But it felt unnecessary.

Just then, she noticed a message from Lu Wei.

[Why did you come back with Jiang Yuran? Where’d you two go so late?]

Chen Yushu frowned. [How’d you know?]

Lu Wei sent a sneaky, lurking-in-the-shadows emoji. [I saw you from the window while washing up. How dare you cheat on me with someone else! And a married woman, no less!]

[Hmph! Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?]

[Justice always prevails! Confess where’d you two sneak off to? What did you do?]

Chen Yushu stared at the suggestive words, exhaling wearily before typing a simple reply: [We just ran into each other on the way back.]

“Oh, so you didn’t go with her? Then who did you go with? Why didn’t you take me? Hmph!”

Chen Yushu’s fingers paused, that familiar dense ache welling up again, a lump forming in her throat.

She slowly typed back: Didn’t you tell me to make more friends?

[Loud crying jpg.]

“You’ve really run off with someone else!”

“You’ve got another woman now, you don’t want me anymore? [pouting pitifully jpg.]”