I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 12

“Chengzi, time to get up. If you don’t, we’ll be late.”

Song Wanqing climbed up to Lin Ruocheng’s bunk and called out softly.

Lin Ruocheng had a habit of sleeping with her head completely buried under the covers.

Especially like this.

Song Wanqing couldn’t tell which end was her head and which was her feet.

“Chengzi, Chengzi, wake up.”

She nudged the lump under the blanket again, and a hand emerged from the covers.

In its palm was a small orange.

After setting it down, the hand withdrew back under the blanket.

“I don’t want this orange, I’m looking for Lin Ruocheng…”

Song Wanqing stared awkwardly at the little orange. She was looking for a person, not fruit!

Lin Ruocheng had a bit of a temper upon waking, but it wasn’t too bad.

“Lin Ruocheng isn’t home right now…”

“What time is it?”

“It’s almost ten. Didn’t we agree to go see a movie this afternoon? I’ve already bought the tickets.”

Lin Ruocheng clearly didn’t believe her.

She glanced at her phone, it was only 5:30 a.m.

Furious, she laughed in disbelief.

“Song Wanqing, unless you want me to kick you straight off this bunk, you’d better back off. Today’s your date, not mine. I’m exhausted. Just look at the time, the school cafeteria isn’t even open yet. Why are you waking me up?”

Finally, it was Saturday, and all she wanted was a good sleep.

Besides, hadn’t they agreed to meet around three or four in the afternoon? It was 5:30 in the morning!

In the morning! For heaven’s sake!

She had never woken up this early in her life!

“Chengzi, um… I’m a little nervous…”

The thought of going on a date with her goddess made Song Wanqing too anxious to sleep.

She was excited, but also nervous.

Her mind was racing nonstop.

“Nervous? Go run a hundred laps around the track first. And here, take this, don’t bother me anymore, I’m begging you.”

Lin Ruocheng handed her a bag of Liuliu plums.

“Snack on these when you’re bored. Just eat some Liuliu plums when you have nothing to do.”

Having been dismissed, Song Wanqing finally climbed down.

Lin Ruocheng was utterly exhausted.

Not only had she been busy with her own work last night,

But, more importantly, several friends with relationship issues had come to her for advice.

She’d have been better off catching some extra sleep.

Right now, all she wanted was to rest.

Even when she met Song Wanqing at the cinema ticket counter in the mall that afternoon, she was still unbearably drowsy.

She couldn’t stop yawning.

“Chengzi… I feel like my heart is beating so fast…”

Song Wanqing was nervous.

This could be considered their first official date, right? Her outfit seemed fine.

Her makeup was okay too. Don’t be nervous, I am not nervous.

“If it’s beating, that’s good. If it weren’t, you’d be dead. Didn’t I give you earphones? Besides, I’ll be sitting right behind you. What’s there to be nervous about? I heard the other side’s strategist, the student council president, has something on today and probably won’t make it. So relax, handling a rookie should be a piece of cake.”

Lin Ruocheng bought a coffee from the counter to perk herself up.

Why couldn’t she wake up properly?

It wasn’t even hibernation season yet, was it?

“Don’t just stand there. Buy a caramel popcorn bucket. Remember, just one, a small one, not too big.”

“Why…”

“Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. Do you still want to win over your goddess or not?”

Song Wanqing decided to follow her best friend’s advice and bought a medium-sized popcorn bucket.

Before long, Yu Qiuli arrived.

He gently tapped Song Wanqing on the shoulder from behind.

When Song Wanqing turned around, she lowered her head with a shy smile.

Lin Ruocheng observed the scene and couldn’t help but think they actually looked quite compatible, their visuals matched well.

“Don’t back off now. Be open and confident. Remember, watching the movie isn’t the main point; it’s all about the atmosphere and that feeling of wanting to fall in love. Just don’t get too handsy, okay?”

Song Wanqing nodded.

Lin Ruocheng took a step back but accidentally stumbled into someone else’s arms.

Sure enough, it was Fu Yanxi again. Wait, that didn’t make sense.

Just last night, she had quickly gathered some intel and learned that the other strategist was supposed to be busy today!

So, why was she here?

Something was definitely up.

But Lin Ruocheng didn’t panic at all. Instead, she turned around and embraced Fu Yanxi fully.

She reached out and lightly pinched Fu Yanxi’s abdomen.

“I’ve heard for a long time that our president has abs. I hope you don’t mind me checking through your clothes?”

“Just through the clothes?”

Fu Yanxi had spotted Lin Ruocheng earlier and had intended to tease her a little.

That’s why she had positioned herself behind her.

But the other’s next move completely exceeded her expectations.

Still, it was nothing major.

Just a little flustered.

“Is there an option to go beyond the clothes? Our president is so generous!”

The two “AI” friends wearing earpieces: …

Why does it feel like the two strategists are about to start something themselves?

Will those two ever be saved?

After the tickets were checked, they found their screening room and successfully located their seats.

Lin Ruocheng also noticed that the seat next to hers was occupied by Fu Yanxi, who feigned surprise.

In reality, it was all part of her plan.

She had carefully chosen this seat.

Most importantly, this last row… was practically empty.

Fu Yanxi had also bought a medium-sized bucket of popcorn. With just one glance, Lin Ruocheng knew exactly what she was up to.

Probably for the sake of their “AI” friends.

She really went to great lengths.

“Offer her some popcorn.”

Lin Ruocheng spoke into her earpiece.

Song Wanqing, seated a few rows ahead, received the instruction and immediately handed the popcorn bucket over with both hands.

She looked a bit silly doing it.

“I bought the caramel flavor. You try some first.”

“Take a few pieces of popcorn and feed them to her. Then ask softly, ‘Is it sweet? Sweeter than me?'”

Yu Qiuli earnestly followed the strategist’s advice, grabbing a small handful of popcorn and stuffing it directly into Song Wanqing’s mouth, filling it completely.

Seeing that the other was still frozen, Yu Qiuli even helped move Song Wanqing’s jaw up and down.

Assisting her in eating the popcorn.

Then he asked, “Is it sweet? Sweeter than me?”

After struggling to finish the popcorn, Song Wanqing’s brain finally caught up.

But she still answered honestly.

“The popcorn is a bit too sweet. Sister, you’re just the right amount of sweet.”

The two strategists didn’t feel like saying anything, not a single word more.

What should have been an easy opportunity to get closer had turned into this?

It was like trying to carve a rotten piece of wood, utterly hopeless.

But Song Wanqing showed some promise. Without Lin Ruocheng’s guidance, she managed to break free from her “AI” mindset to some extent.

There was still a good chance she could win the beauty over.

“Watch the two of us. We’ll demonstrate for you.”

As soon as Lin Ruocheng’s voice came through, the two “AIs” turned to look back.

Lin Ruocheng shot Fu Yanxi a meaningful glance.

Their hands simultaneously and unintentionally reached into the popcorn bucket, after which Lin Ruocheng picked out a piece of popcorn.

She gently held it between her teeth, then leaned her body closer.

Like a cat that had slipped out from someone’s home.

Lazy and carefree.

Her voice was slightly muffled.

“Want a taste? It’s very sweet.”

“Is it the person who’s sweet, or the popcorn?”

“Why not try it and see? Only those who have tasted it can give the most honest answer, right?”