I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 43

Lin Ruocheng wore a faint, ambiguous smile as she ordered two French set meals.

Fu Yanxi felt a turmoil of emotions, unsure whether Lin was toying with her or genuinely hoping to deepen their relationship.

Seven years, she had carried this secret crush for seven long years.

She had never intruded too much into the other’s life, keeping her affection carefully hidden in the depths of her heart.

A secret love had always been a solitary battlefield. Lin Ruocheng probably had no idea Fu Yanxi had liked her for so many years.

“Are you…serious?”

Fu Yanxi hoped it was real, not a dream. Yet it felt so much like one of her fantasies, too good to be true.

“What do you think?”

Truthfully, Lin Ruocheng had never been in a relationship either. Her so-called “dating skills” were cobbled together from others’ experiences, sprinkled with a bit of playful interaction for her own amusement. She was essentially feeling her way forward, taking things one step at a time, figuring it out as she went.

She had also observed how others dated, but it always felt like something was missing. Even when role-playing a relationship with Fu Yanxi, she couldn’t quite immerse herself.

Did she need to experience a real relationship to understand? More importantly, she was genuinely intrigued by Fu Yanxi, attractive, tall, and exactly her type visually. She had a bit of a weakness for good looks, especially those sculpted features.

And then there was Fu Yanxi’s unshakable calmness, Lin Ruocheng couldn’t help but wonder: Was it really possible for someone to be so emotionally steady?

She certainly couldn’t manage it herself.

Like a capybara, Fu Yanxi’s composure was impressively stable. Lin Ruocheng had never even seen her angry.

“I hope it’s real.”

After a long hesitation, Fu Yanxi finally spoke the words she had kept buried in her heart for seven years.

How many seven-year spans does a person get in a lifetime?

She had breathed a sigh of relief when she learned Lin Ruocheng liked women, at least she had the advantage in terms of gender.

From then on, she focused on becoming the ideal type Lin Ruocheng might want.

She started by filling Lin Ruocheng’s surroundings with her voice, opening any video app, and the introductory voice would be hers. She took part in movies and TV series, hoping Lin Ruocheng would notice her. That was all she asked for.

“Hope it’s real? Why just hope? Why not be more certain?”

Lin Ruocheng teased Fu Yanxi, coaxing her to take the initiative and confess.

After all, the idea of a pretend relationship had been Lin Ruocheng’s suggestion. If they were to date for real, she wanted to test the waters first, to make sure the other person liked her back, that it wasn’t just one-sided infatuation.

Maybe the pretend relationship had been an impulsive move at first, just a playful experiment to teach two socially awkward people how to date.

But now? Setting aside the role-play, she was genuinely interested in Fu Yanxi, whose face was still slightly flushed.

Lin Ruocheng, however, still felt a little hesitant.

Her interest in Fu Yanxi was real, and Fu’s preference for women was real too.

But wouldn’t this be too cruel to Fu’s mother? She probably wouldn’t be able to accept it, right?

“I was just teasing you… Maybe we should end our pretend relationship here.”

In an instant, Fu Yanxi understood what she was thinking.

She knew that if she didn’t speak her mind now, she might never get another chance.

“Lin Ruocheng, I like you. I really, really like you. I’ve had a crush on you for seven whole years. Honestly, sometimes just pretending to be in a relationship with you feels like a blessing I earned in a past life. I never imagined it could become reality. Sometimes I wake up at night in a panic, afraid this might all be a dream.”

“As for my mother, don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it myself. She’s not unreasonable; she’ll come to understand. I’ve already sent her the recording of that blind date earlier. Forcing someone isn’t the only way to make a child ‘normal.’ Liking girls is perfectly healthy.”

These were words she had long wanted to say.

She just didn’t know when the right time would be to confess to the other person.

The perfect moment never seemed to come.

Lin Ruocheng liked girls, but she didn’t know what kind of girl the other would be attracted to.

Even if she tried to mold herself into Lin Ruocheng’s ideal type, she doubted she could ever win her heart.

Their first meeting was during a cicada-filled summer.

It was at the city’s Olympic Mathematics Competition for elementary and middle school students.

As usual, she took first place.

She showed no particular expression or reaction. That day, her mother was too busy to pick her up.

Standing below her in second place was Lin Ruocheng.

The very person whose name had haunted her throughout all six years of elementary school.

She had heard endless gossip about Lin Ruocheng, even in her own prestigious private elementary school, several boys in class would often discuss her beauty.

She had always wondered just how beautiful this girl really was.

It wasn’t just her classmates who talked about her; even her own mother mentioned Lin Ruocheng.

The name “Lin Ruocheng” had been etched in her mind since she was very young.

She glanced sideways at Lin Ruocheng, who was beaming with a radiant, infectious smile.

After the award ceremony, she stood under a large tree near the venue entrance, waiting for her mother to pick her up.

A small hand tapped her on the back.

“Here, why aren’t you happy about winning first place? This is a special prize for the champion, awarded personally by the runner-up. This brooch isn’t expensive, but I really like the Sailor Moon design on it. Consider it a memento. Now, can you at least try to look a little happier?”

Lin Ruocheng wasn’t very tall back then.

She was a full head shorter.

But she seemed completely carefree.

And she laughed often.

“Come on, smile… You’re so pretty, why always wear such a serious face? Did someone owe you money? It wasn’t me, was it?”

Her appreciation for beauty started right then.

The Sailor Moon brooch looked a bit out of place pinned to her custom-tailored school uniform.

“No, please stay away from me.”

Fu Yanxi deliberately moved to another spot, but Lin Ruocheng persistently followed and closed the distance again.

After being followed twice, Fu Yanxi finally gave in and “reluctantly” allowed herself to be drawn closer.

A fresh, sweet orange scent filled her nostrils.

It was the first time she realized how wonderful the smell of oranges could be.

“My mom’s calling me. Here, this orange is for you. I have to go.”

After being handed a large orange, the other girl left.

Later, their second encounter happened when she intentionally lowered her scores to enroll in an ordinary public middle school.

She knew Lin Ruocheng was also attending that school.

She didn’t end up in the same class as Lin Ruocheng but chose the one right next door.

Her rumors continued to circulate.

Each time, I only caught a distant glimpse of her, standing even farther away than the crowd of admirers trailing behind her.

As for why I turned and walked away the moment I saw her, it was because I didn’t know what to say to her.

So, I chose to escape.

I was only suited to gaze at the sun from afar, never imagining that one day I might actually embrace it.

Even now, that hasn’t changed.

I don’t know how to feign being in love.

It was my first time embracing the sun, having it all to myself.

And I still haven’t quite gotten used to it.