I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 40

“Have you not eaten yet? Aren’t you hot wearing a mask? Here’s this spray for you, it reduces swelling. Were you badly beaten? Let me take a look. I’m really worried about you. I didn’t sleep well last night, look, my dark circles are all covered up, but you can still see them a bit.”

Last night, she had been wondering whether Mrs. Fu had hit Fu Yanxi because of her.

If that were the case, she would go straight to Fu Yanxi’s mother.

After all, this was her fault, the fake relationship had been her idea from the start.

If anyone should be beaten, it should be her.

Not Fu Yanxi.

She was just passive in this, while she herself was the active one.

From the very beginning.

“Yeah, I haven’t eaten yet. I wanted to eat with you.”

Fu Yanxi’s gaze softened unconsciously as she looked at Lin Ruocheng, and Lin Ruocheng could hear the grievance in her voice.

Like a little dog pretending to be strong after being hurt.

No, not a little dog, a big dog.

“Let’s go then. I haven’t eaten either, so we can have breakfast in the office. No one’s there.”

“Okay, whatever you say.”

The two walked straight into the student council’s exclusive office.

Lin Ruocheng placed the breakfast she had bought on the table.

“Why don’t you take off your mask first? Let me see your injuries.”

“It might look a bit unsightly…”

Fu Yanxi’s voice carried a touch of warmth and caution.

She was always confident, sunny, and bold with everyone, whether in her voice acting hobby or other work. But only around Lin Ruocheng did she feel she might not be good enough.

She would inexplicably feel very nervous.

Just being with her, even without doing anything, made her feel her heartbeat quickening.

Liking Lin Ruocheng was a secret she had hidden in her heart for years.

At first, she was just curious about what kind of girl she was.

Then she met her, and it was just as expected.

She deserved to be liked.

Even just standing there, she attracted attention.

She was the most vibrant rose, but this rose had no thorns.

“What’s the big deal? How about this, I’ll show you some privately kept embarrassing photos of myself, and you show me your face. That way, we’ll both have something on each other. And, Xiao Xixi, is there something you haven’t told me? Class 3 monitor?”

Fu Yanxi froze, surprised she had found out so quickly.

She was the monitor of the class next to hers.

In middle school, they hadn’t been in the same class.

But they had the same homeroom teacher.

They often saw each other, and every time she saw her, she would avoid her.

“I still remember how you would walk awkwardly and turn away as soon as you saw me. Do I look that bad? You ran off like a rabbit?”

Lin Ruocheng suddenly recalled some memories from middle school.

Her impressions of Fu Yanxi weren’t many.

After all, back then, this person never spoke to her and didn’t even give her a friendly look.

She never liked forcing herself where she wasn’t welcome.

So, their interactions had been minimal.

“Look, this is my embarrassing childhood photo. See, my sister was quite the troublemaker when she was little, but this tree-climbing bird-nesting idea was mine, she just carried it out. Then we both got an equal share of our parents’ ‘tag-team spanking’ it hurt so much, and neither of us got one more or one less hit. Even the force was pretty much the same.”

“Absolutely fair.”

“Now can I take a look?”

Fu Yanxi removed her hat and face mask.

Her face was still slightly swollen, though it looked much better than before.

There was still some redness, and a faint medicinal scent wafted over when she leaned closer.

She must have seen a doctor and applied ointment.

“It’s fine, you didn’t turn into the pig-headed mess I imagined. You still look quite pretty. Did you come out?”

Fu Yanxi looked at her in surprise.

How did she know so clearly?

She hadn’t expected the other person to understand her so thoroughly.

“How did you know?”

“I guessed. Not everyone can accept homosexuality, it’s still a minority orientation. Even though there are many among young people, in the eyes of the older generation, we’re wrong, going against public order and morals. Last year when I worked as a matchmaker, I didn’t just set up men and women, I also matched a couple of lesbian pairs.”

“Coming out… honestly, it’s really hard.”

“Mhm, let’s eat breakfast first. Do you have any plans for this afternoon?”

“This afternoon… I have a blind date arranged by my mother… I’m just going to take a look and make things clear to that person. Don’t misunderstand, it’ll be over quickly, and nothing will come of it…”

Fu Yanxi hurriedly explained, afraid the other might misunderstand.

Having just tentatively found her own sunshine, even if it was just a fake relationship, she didn’t want that sunshine to drift away from her.

“I won’t misunderstand. You go ahead, we’re just pretending to be in love, it’s not real. Those two went to the amusement park, I sent them to spend time together and strengthen their bond. Oh, and since it’s almost October now, the school festival planning document is nearly finished. All that’s left is the program list… Let’s find time to go over it together.”

Lin Ruocheng adopted a strictly businesslike attitude, her distant tone piercing Fu Yanxi’s heart.

Of course, their relationship was just pretend, there was no reason for her to be jealous or to accompany her.

Lin Ruocheng noticed the other’s mood.

She inserted a straw into a soy milk carton and handed it over.

“So? Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?”

“Like what?”

“Well, for example… asking your fake girlfriend to go with you? Or having me help you pick today’s outfit? Thinking about how to drive the other person away? Even though we’re just pretending, I still feel a little jealous. What should I do? After all, you’re Stream-sensei! Who could possibly be worthy of marrying you? Right?”

She didn’t really know why she felt jealous either.

This jealousy had come out of nowhere.

She could tell this person wanted to ask her to come along.

If she wanted her to go, she should just say it.

It wasn’t like she would refuse.

Lin Ruocheng leaned forward, staring at her, and Fu Yanxi met her gaze.

Lin Ruocheng’s eyes gradually drifted downward, focusing on her slightly pursed thin lips. For some reason, she suddenly felt a strong urge to kiss them.

Her breathing grew slightly rapid.

“Can I…?”

Fu Yanxi instinctively closed her eyes.

Her hands nervously clutched the hem of her clothes.

Lin Ruocheng tilted her head slightly and leaned in, gently brushing her lips against hers.

“Mmm, very sweet.”

“Consider this my reward for accompanying you to the blind date.”

Fu Yanxi opened her eyes.

She lightly licked her lips, still carrying a faint hint of orange fragrance.