How I Accidentally Bent My Best Friend - Chapter 56

The message was sent, the time frozen at midnight.

What?! Am I seeing things?

Lu Wei stared in disbelief at the words on her phone screen, sitting up abruptly. Her heart raced uncontrollably. She swallowed dryly, her hands trembling as she held the phone, typing shakily with excitement.

She was so nervous that she kept mistyping pinyin, deleting and retyping, wasting a lot of time.

Are you serious? Actually, I like you too. I’ve liked you for a long time, but just a few days ago.

Before she could finish, Chen Yushu sent another message.

[What? Scared you?]

[You really are a fool.]

[I was joking. How could you not tell?]

Lu Wei’s fingers paused, and she stared blankly at the stream of messages. It felt as if a huge hole had been torn in her heart all her joy and excitement instantly drained away, replaced by a chilling emptiness that left her shivering all over.

She had forgotten again. It was April Fool’s Day. She’d already been tricked once, why hadn’t she learned her lesson?

Lu Wei blinked back the stinging sensation in her eyes and let out a soft sigh. Slowly, she pressed the delete key, erasing the words in the chat box one by one.

Thank goodness, thank goodness Chen Yushu hadn’t seen it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to face the night.

Lu Wei forced a smile, trying to comfort herself. But only she knew how stiff her facial muscles were the smile was uglier than crying.

Chen Yushu: [Why aren’t you saying anything?]

Lu Wei started typing again, this time with none of the earlier panic, only a strange calm. [I just went to the bathroom, hahahaha, I knew it was something like that. Let’s sleep, good night.]

After sending the message, Lu Wei lay down, flipped her phone over on the bed, turned around, and buried her face in the pillow.

How could Chen Yushu do this? Overwhelming grievance surged up her nose. Lu Wei clenched the blanket tightly, her heart constricting. She fought back the sour sting in her eyes, refusing to let her emotions spill over, but the immense disappointment still threw her off balance.

How could she trick her like that? She had almost almost believed it.

Sadness continued to spread. Lu Wei bit her lip, trying hard not to cry aloud. Before long, her nose was stuffed up, making her terribly uncomfortable. She quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe it.

Just then, her phone vibrated. Lu Wei paused mid-sob, hesitated for a moment, then opened her phone.

The lock screen was filled with several notifications. Scrolling down, she found Chen Yushu’s message, sent a few minutes past midnight just a single word: “Okay.”

Lu Wei, unwilling to give up, tapped to check, only to find it was indeed just that. Her lips quivered, and she lost control again.

She would never believe Chen Yushu again! Liar! Chen Yushu was a liar!

It was too much. She didn’t want to see her anymore!

Early the next morning.

“Breakfast, for you.” Lu Wei quickly shoved the breakfast into Chen Yushu’s hands and turned to leave.

“Wait.” Chen Yushu looked strangely at her retreating back and hurriedly called out to stop her.

Lu Wei halted, fuming as she stood in place.

“What’s wrong with you today?” Chen Yushu tugged at her arm, shaking it lightly, and peered curiously at her profile. “Didn’t sleep last night?”

Lu Wei didn’t move her hand, turning her head away with a muffled grunt. “No.”

Several classmates passed by, rushing to their 8 a.m. class. Chen Yushu pulled her aside, leaning in for a closer look. “Why are your eyes so swollen?”

Lu Wei leaned back uncomfortably, yet her eyes couldn’t help stealing glances at Chen Yushu. Internally, she grumbled, How dare you ask! You wicked woman!

“Nothing much,” Lu Wei replied awkwardly, not daring to actually ignore her. “Probably didn’t sleep well last night.”

“What were you up to?” Chen Yushu asked while peeling a boiled egg. “Here, hold this against your face. I’m heading out now.”

Lu Wei let out a noncommittal “Oh” and reluctantly took the egg, inwardly fuming, You’re the one who got me into this state! Forget comforting me would it kill you to help me apply it?

The only response was Chen Yushu’s hurried retreating back.

Heartless!

Over the next few days, Lu Wei remained resentful but didn’t dare show it openly. She stewed in silent frustration until she finally had to admit one undeniable truth Chen Yushu really didn’t like her.

Hmph! So what if she doesn’t like me now? Lu Wei thought, resigning herself to the situation. It doesn’t matter! One day, we’ll both feel the same way about each other!

With that thought, she felt a little better and decided to continue testing the waters.

“What’s this?”

During the Qingming Festival holiday, Chen Yushu woke up naturally and checked her phone, only to find that Lu Wei had sent her a strange document.

It had no title just over a dozen questions and answers. Was it some kind of survey?

Chen Yushu skimmed through it from top to bottom, her brows gradually furrowing. What in the world is all this? It felt like some kind of test.

Unable to make sense of it, she simply asked Lu Wei.

Lu Wei: It’s a super accurate online test. Do it first, and I’ll give you the results afterward.

After sending the message, Lu Wei hugged her phone, unable to contain her glee. I’m so clever! How did I even come up with this!

Soon, Chen Yushu finished and sent the document back. Rubbing her hands in anticipation, Lu Wei nervously opened it and clicked the corresponding options in the video based on the answers.

After answering the last question, Lu Wei stared unblinkingly at her phone screen and cautiously tapped to view the results.

Just then, the campus network suddenly lagged, and the data took a while to load.

Lu Wei clicked her tongue impatiently and switched to her mobile data. In an instant, the results popped up.

Caught off guard, Lu Wei froze for a second before tilting her head in confusion.

Wait, what the hell is “asexual”?

Sure, Chen Yushu had a perpetually aloof face and a somewhat reserved personality, but that didn’t mean she was asexual, right!

The more Lu Wei thought about it, the less it made sense. She pinched the philtrum above her lip in frustration. Out of all the possibilities she’d considered, she never expected this.

Hold on! Maybe the test is inaccurate! Yeah, that’s definitely it!

Lu Wei exited the interface, opened the document, and grinned triumphantly at the remaining tests. Good thing I came prepared.

Just then, Chen Yushu messaged her, asking about the test results.

Not having fabricated an excuse yet, Lu Wei changed the subject: Time to eat. I’ll tell you on the way.

As she was about to leave, An Nan, who had just returned from outside, reminded her, “It’s raining. Don’t forget your umbrella.”

“Okay.” Lu Wei picked it up and initially planned to remind Chen Yushu as well, but then an idea struck her. She put down her phone and hurried to wait under Chen Yushu’s dorm building.

“How did it suddenly start raining?” Chen Yushu only realized it was raining when she reached the dormitory building. Hesitating for a moment, she was about to go back to get an umbrella when she saw Lu Wei beckoning to her. As she approached, Lu Wei pulled her under the umbrella. “Let’s go, we can share mine.”

“Alright.” Chen Yushu moved closer to Lu Wei. “Let’s go to the nearest restaurant.”

Lu Wei hummed in agreement, feeling the warmth of Chen Yushu’s arm against hers nervous yet content, a unique kind of joy bursting within her.

As they walked further, the rain began to pour harder, droplets splashing one after another on the ground. Chen Yushu shrank her body and wrapped her arm around Lu Wei’s hand holding the umbrella. “If I’d known, I would’ve gone back to get an umbrella.”

“It’s fine.” Lu Wei tilted her head to look at Chen Yushu’s face, her voice slightly hoarse, and subtly tilted the umbrella more toward Chen Yushu. “We’ll be there soon.”

Bean-sized raindrops drummed against the umbrella, the sound of heavy rain filling the space between heaven and earth. Lu Wei felt Chen Yushu’s hand tightening around hers, and her heart gradually swelled with an indescribable fullness.

Boom!

A loud clap of thunder suddenly echoed across the sky. Lu Wei’s body trembled uncontrollably, and the next second, she felt Chen Yushu withdraw her hand and wrap her arms around her. “It’s okay, don’t be afraid.”

Snapping out of her brief panic, Lu Wei stared at Chen Yushu’s face so close to hers, her eyes fixed and unmoving. She stared blankly, forgetting to breathe, then felt her mouth go dry and couldn’t resist licking her lips.

Just then, another clap of thunder roared.

Lu Wei was genuinely frightened this time and immediately buried herself in Chen Yushu’s embrace.

“You’re like a little bun.” Chen Yushu took the umbrella and gently patted her back, quickening her pace. “Is it really that scary?”

Lu Wei whimpered pitifully.

“You really.” Chen Yushu sighed helplessly and covered one of Lu Wei’s ears. “Is that better?”

Lu Wei tilted her head to look at Chen Yushu, all her emotions pouring through her gaze, as if she wished she could voice them aloud right then.

But, clinging to the comfort and beauty of the moment and fearing the heavy consequences, she grew timid again. Burying her head, she reined everything in, yet couldn’t resist seizing the opportunity to make a demand. “It’s a little better. But you have to stay with me from now on, or I’ll be scared.”

Hearing this, Chen Yushu’s heart softened. Not wanting to overthink it, she followed her heart and silently agreed. Yet, when the words reached her lips, she couldn’t help teasing deliberately, “I don’t want to. Whoever wants to accompany you can do it. You have plenty of friends anyway.”

“I don’t want them!” Lu Wei blurted out anxiously, lifting her head and meeting Chen Yushu’s eyes directly. “I only want you!”

The intensity of her emotions slipped out unintentionally, and the atmosphere around them shifted abruptly. Gazing into Lu Wei’s pupils, Chen Yushu inexplicably detected a hint of something deeper in her eyes, but it vanished in an instant so fleeting it felt like an illusion.

Like being lightly dampened by a drizzle, it silently blended into everything around them, never to be found again.

Did I make it too obvious? Lu Wei panicked, hurriedly covering up, “What I mean is, you’re just different from them.”

“Oh, because I’m your best friend,” Chen Yushu said. “So you’re just latching onto me?”

Lu Wei pouted, not really wanting to admit it but afraid of raising suspicion, so she could only let out a stifled grunt of frustration.

Just then, the sound of the rain grew softer.

“Let’s go.” Chen Yushu released her, holding the umbrella as she walked ahead. “By the way, what was the result of that test I just took?”

“Uh, this.” Lu Wei’s mind raced as she opened her phone and pretended to look at it. “Got it. The result is, you’re someone who likes staying at home.”

“What?” Chen Yushu leaned in, puzzled, and saw that the answer to the last test question was indeed “staying at home.” “This is the result you’re talking about?”

“Mm-hmm, that’s why I said it’s super accurate!” Lu Wei gave her a confident look.

Chen Yushu looked up at the sky speechlessly. “Don’t send me these kinds of tests in the future!”

No way! This one wasn’t accurate she still had several more lined up. Lu Wei thought to herself.

After the meal, the rain outside had stopped.

Lu Wei wiped her mouth slowly, pondering how to get Chen Yushu to finish the remaining test questions.

“Why are you staring at me?” Chen Yushu frowned slightly. “If you don’t hurry up, I’m leaving on my own.”

“Wait a sec, let me ask you a question.” Lu Wei glanced at her phone. “If you were in an unfamiliar environment, would you prefer talking to someone of the same gender or the opposite gender?”

Chen Yushu: “Same gender.”

“OK.” Lu Wei smiled slightly and continued, “If two of your married friends had affairs, would you.”

“What kind of questions are these?” Chen Yushu looked utterly confused. “What are you trying to do?”

“Come on, just answer it.”

Chen Yushu: “The third one.”

“Good.” Lu Wei noted it down and was about to ask more when she saw Chen Yushu already getting up with her tray. She quickly chased after her, planning to ask a few more questions on the way.

Once outside the cafeteria, Chen Yushu didn’t head back to the dorm. “I’m going to get a haircut. I’ll go ahead.”

“No.” Lu Wei instinctively refused, then slowly added, “My hair color has faded. I might as well get it fixed too.”

Chen Yushu gave her a skeptical look. “Fine.”

“Why did you suddenly decide to get a haircut?” Lu Wei asked.

“My hair’s gotten long, and the ends are split. It falls out every time I comb it.” Chen Yushu complained, “It’s annoying. I don’t have much hair to begin with.”

“Really?” Lu Wei suppressed a laugh, hooking a strand of Chen Yushu’s hair with her finger and examining it closely.

Suddenly, the memory of that night when she had lightly sniffed the ends of her hair flashed through her mind the captivating scent seemed as vivid as yesterday, but the heartbeat now felt even more intense than before.

Lu Wei froze, then let go of the strand as if electrocuted. Her gaze scattered, unnaturally scanning the surroundings, deliberately avoiding Chen Yushu.

They soon arrived at the school’s hair salon, only to find it packed. Since they were already there, they decided to wait a little longer.

On the way, Lu Wei intermittently asked several more questions and filled in the answers. She covered her phone screen, secretly checking the results.

Heterosexual? Inaccurate! Chen Yushu was just like her she didn’t enjoy hanging out with guys! Absolutely inaccurate!

She moved on to the next test.

What? How did it turn out as asexual this time? This one definitely wasn’t accurate either!

Frustrated, Lu Wei deleted both tests, took a deep breath, and opened the fourth one.

Before checking the result, she silently vowed that if this one wasn’t accurate either, she would never trust these tests again!

She tapped the screen and immediately closed her eyes, only peeking through a slit a moment later. When she saw the result displayed as “homosexual,” she nearly jumped with excitement.

But remembering Chen Yushu was beside her, she quickly suppressed it and quietly gave a thumbs-up.

Indeed, this test was the accurate one!