I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 45

Fu Yanxi took small bites of her mini ice cream, finishing it in just a few mouthfuls.

Lin Ruocheng tasted both ice creams and found them quite delicious. They were really good.

“By the way, what rides did you two try today?” she asked.

“We tried a lot,” Song Wanqing replied. Indeed, they had experienced many attractions, but intimate moments were almost nonexistent.

So far, the closest they had gotten was a kiss on the cheek and that had only happened once before. This time at the amusement park, they hadn’t even held hands, mainly because they were too nervous.

Even though they had been together for over nine months, any form of intimacy felt almost like sacrilege to her goddess. Even though she was already with the one she admired, just standing beside her felt like being part of a beautiful scene.

Moreover, her admired one didn’t seem to expect anything more. Wasn’t dating just about eating, drinking, and having fun? Did it necessarily involve kissing and holding hands? She wasn’t sure.

With Yu Qiuli, they had only started holding hands after six months of dating. This was her first relationship, and she had ended up with the one she admired. She had no idea how to navigate romance, she was a complete novice.

The moment Song Wanqing spoke, Lin Ruocheng could tell that the two had maintained a respectful distance all day, with no intention of taking things further. But she couldn’t bring it up herself, it would make her feel like a matchmaker pushing them together.

“How about the haunted house then?” Lin Ruocheng suggested. The haunted house was the perfect place for closeness. If one acted even a little scared, it would be perfectly reasonable to seek comfort in the other’s arms, without raising any suspicion.

“The haunted house? Sounds good,” Fu Yanxi chimed in.

The way these two echoed each other felt a bit suspicious.

Fu Yanxi and Yu Qiuli went to pay for the tickets. On the way, Yu Qiuli couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Are you and Lin Ruocheng together?” she asked.

“What makes you say that?” Fu Yanxi replied, pulling out her phone to show the payment QR code.

“The hair ties on your wrists, isn’t that proof enough?” Yu Qiuli said with a look that said, “You can’t hide anything from my sharp eyes.”

Fu Yanxi didn’t try to deny it. She admitted openly, “Yes, we’re together.”

“So soon?” Yu Qiuli was surprised. It had only been a month since they started their pretend relationship. Were things moving this fast?

Then again, when she thought about it, Fu Yanxi had been secretly in love with Lin Ruocheng for seven whole years. That kind of dedication wasn’t something to take lightly. To finally win over the one she admired at the age of 20, that was quite an achievement.

After all, not everyone gets to be with the person they’ve had a crush on for so long. She was lucky.

“Once we’re inside the haunted house,” Yu Qiuli advised, “I know you’re not scared, but you should act a little frightened and snuggle into her arms. That way, you’ll have more chances to get close. I really don’t understand, you’re a couple now, so why is there still no intimacy? Do you really need someone to teach you this?”

“It’s my first relationship. It’s normal not to know what to do,” Yu Qiuli said, her tone defensive yet confident.

She used to think that dating was just about holding hands, going shopping together, remembering each other’s birthdays and menstrual cycles, and showing a little extra care. She had never considered that there might be more to intimacy.

The problem was, she didn’t know how. She had no idea how to kiss, and her technique was probably as clumsy as gnawing on a duck neck.

They’d definitely look down on me, right?

So, forget it.

On the other side.

Song Wanqing was so nervous she didn’t know where to put her hands.

Lin Ruocheng glanced at her.

“Seriously, sis, what are you so nervous about? She’s not just your crush, she’s your girlfriend. You’ve been together for over nine months, almost ten. Your relationship shouldn’t still be like this, right? What’s there to be nervous about? You see each other at school every day, even eat meals together.”

She’s already your girlfriend, so why the nerves?

Shouldn’t you be kissing and hugging?

Just relax like a normal couple.

Lin Ruocheng tossed the empty ice cream wrapper and wiped her hands with a wet wipe.

“Even though you say that, does romance have to involve getting so close so quickly? Isn’t that a bit much? And isn’t it too fast? Don’t you think the pace is a little rushed?”

Song Wanqing spoke earnestly.

As if she weren’t discussing getting close with her girlfriend, but rather a complex, hard-to-understand math problem.

Lin Ruocheng: “…”

Who was it who had zero sense of boundaries as a kid?

Wanted to be good friends with me.

But didn’t just come out and say it.

Instead resorted to stalking. She was never the type to slowly ease her way in.

She was the type to stand right in front of my desk and boldly declare she wanted to be my best friend.

Then activated “follow mode.”

Wherever I went, she went.

I only agreed after getting annoyed by her persistence.

Honestly, back in elementary school, both our moms shipped me and Song Wanqing.

The main evidence was how she kept asking me questions.

Not only that, she’d frequently come over to my house to play, even Lin Shuyi knew her.

My little sister even called her “sister-in-law” once.

Then I gave her a good beating.

And the title changed.

“Yeah, it’s too fast. Why don’t you wait until she gets a new girlfriend before trying to get close? What do you think? What ‘too fast’? Weren’t you the one who insisted on sticking to me when we were kids? Where’s that energy now? Just bring that spirit back. Also, once we get into the haunted house, act scared. Even if you’re not scared, pretend to be.”

“Why?”

Shouldn’t going into a haunted house be about showing how fearless you are to win their affection?

Even when getting close, there should be a sense of security.

“Let me ask you, will you listen to me?”

“Yes.”

After all, you should listen to your strategist, especially when it’s your best friend’s advice.

“Just listen to me and do as I say.”

This is one of the reasons why Lin Ruocheng didn’t want to be Song Wanqing’s strategist.

Too wooden, too robotic.

When will she ever catch on?!

It’s not like I’d ever do anything to hurt her, seriously.

After Fu Yanxi and Yu Qiuli returned, the four of them entered the haunted house together.

Inside, it was pitch black.

Lin Ruocheng really wasn’t scared of haunted houses, after all, these things were fake.

Even if the haunted house was immersive enough.

It still didn’t seem to have much effect.

Just as she was about to act scared, she felt a small head nestle into her arms.

Could Fu Yanxi be scared too?

A scared Fu Yanxi was also adorable.

“Qiuli, I’m scared.”

The person in her arms called out, and Lin Ruocheng immediately knew it was Song Wanqing.

She grabbed her arm and pulled her up.

“Hold on a second. I told you to stick to Yu Qiuli, why are you clinging to me?”

Can’t this girl check before sticking it on?

“Huh? Chengzi? Didn’t I stick it on my own girlfriend?”

Fu Yanxi, standing nearby, was also stuck by Yu Qiuli.

Lin Ruocheng & Fu Yanxi: “…”

Just destroy everything, let it all be destroyed!!!