I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 59

“Are you tired? Should I drive for a while?”

Lin Ruocheng stretched her limbs, listening to the crisp cracking sounds from her joints.

The air in the rest area was quite pleasant, though it couldn’t quite compare to the island’s atmosphere.

Yu Qiuli had dragged Song Wanqing off to the restroom.

Lin Shuyi had gone to raid the small shop in the rest area.

Only the two of them remained by the car.

Though she often teased Song Wanqing about her approach to relationships, Lin Ruocheng realized she wasn’t much better herself.

Back in the hotel room on the island, while they had shared a round bed, their progress had only been slightly more advanced than Song Wanqing’s situation, they had at least kissed.

But nothing more intimate had happened.

Amusingly enough, they spent nearly every evening busy with their respective careers, never disturbing each other.

They claimed to be on vacation, but as future successors to their companies, when did they ever truly have time to rest?

Their workloads were overwhelming, not just company matters, but personal projects and even student council responsibilities.

With such hectic schedules, where would they find time to take things further?

Most importantly, whenever Lin Ruocheng deliberately teased her, Fu Yanxi’s reactions were always subdued.

She’d even begun to wonder if the woman was asexual.

Weren’t earth signs supposed to be more passionate?

Fu Yanxi didn’t seem to fit that description at all.

Was she not a true earth sign?

Or was she just being reserved?

Too respectful? Lin Ruocheng knew what the other was thinking.

But these things couldn’t be scheduled.

When the mood was right, as long as both parties were willing and in love, that was all that mattered.

“No need, it’s just this last stretch. I can manage on my own,” Fu Yanxi adjusted her nosepiece.

Her eyes behind the glasses looked weary, with tiny red veins visible upon closer inspection.

She was accustomed to traveling this road alone.

These past few days, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to…

But their relationship was still so new. If she started getting hands-on now, it might give the impression that she was only in it for physical intimacy.

That wouldn’t be good. She wanted their relationship to last longer.

So, she hoped to reveal her true nature gradually.

That way, if Lin Ruocheng ever came to dislike her, she might still remember the times she had loved her, right?

Her temper was fairly good.

But she dreaded hearing those two words from Lin Ruocheng.

Even if they were inevitable someday, she hoped that day would come slowly, ever so slowly…

“You don’t look well. If you’re tired, you can tell me. I want to listen, and I want to help you.”

Lin Ruocheng noticed her fatigue.

What Stream-sensei superstar? What future successor to the Fu conglomerate? What student council president?

She was just an ordinary person.

There was no need to put on such a strong front, it was exhausting.

Life was already exhausting enough.

Fu Yanxi rubbed her eyes.

Meeting the other’s sparkling gaze,

she stopped being stubborn and reluctantly nodded.

“I might need… your help.”

Lin Ruocheng smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

A reward.

For the stubborn one who finally spoke her mind.

Earth signs tended to be complicated and sensitive.

Prone to overthinking, even when everything seemed fine on the surface.

Their minds were often in turmoil.

They preferred silence, but their execution and observation skills were exceptional, remarkably attentive.

She would always do more than she would ever say.

“You’re so well-behaved. Some needs should be spoken out loud. Don’t worry about troubling me, I don’t mind.”

“Aren’t we each other’s girlfriends?”

Lin Ruocheng rummaged in her pocket for a while and pulled out an orange-flavored lollipop.

She unwrapped it and waved it in front of the other person.

“Want some? It’s orange-flavored.”

“Mhm.”

“You have to say, ‘I really want to eat it.'”

“I really want to eat it.”

Lin Ruocheng handed the lollipop over.

Fu Yanxi obediently leaned in and took it into her mouth.

In an instant, the refreshing sweetness of orange filled her mouth.

It made Fu Yanxi involuntarily recall every moment she had kissed Lin Ruocheng.

It always seemed to taste like this.

Addictive, impossible to shake off.

“I’ll drive later. You rest for a bit, you barely slept last night, right? Our poor little Xixi has had it rough.”

As she spoke, she gently pinched Fu Yanxi’s cheek.

Fu Yanxi got out of the car as well.

She stretched her slightly stiff limbs.

Lin Ruocheng glanced at her.

How could someone be so beautiful?

Not only was she gorgeous, but her voice was lovely too.

She looked so proper and serious.

Like a true gentleman.

Who would have thought that the one secretly asking for kisses these past few days was her?

The contrast was just too striking.

“Aren’t you going to hug me? I think I just heard a certain voice actress breathing angrily.”

Lin Ruocheng couldn’t resist calling out the other’s jealousy.

It was only after getting together with Fu Yanxi that she finally realized just how prone to jealousy this person was.

The type who wanted to get jealous over everything.

Even if the little Taurus didn’t say anything and kept it all bottled up inside, pretending to be magnanimous, Lin Ruocheng could still sense it.

Especially since Fu Yanxi’s typical reaction when angry was to put on a stern expression, or more accurately, a deliberately cold and expressionless face.

Then she’d keep it all inside without saying a word.

Waiting for the other person to notice. Only if Lin Ruocheng truly didn’t catch on would she finally speak up directly.

A classic vinegar jar.

Even if it was her own biological younger sister, she’d still get a little jealous, though not too much.

“Are you jealous?”

“No.”

“Really? If not, then I’ll keep being affectionate with her later.”

“Lin Ruocheng.”

Fu Yanxi glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then softly called her full name.

She didn’t dare speak too loudly. Lin Ruocheng could tell from her tone that she was clearly jealous.

Yet she still pretended not to be.

“Mhm, if you’re jealous, you need to tell me right away. Just keep it simple, express it directly and explain why you’re jealous. If you want me, or need me to do something to make you feel better, you have to say it out loud. Some things require being straightforward, it helps avoid misunderstandings.”

“But I don’t expect you to learn it all at once. I’ll teach you slowly, and you can learn bit by bit, okay?”

“Mhm, okay.”

“Since you’re jealous now, how do you want me to comfort you?”

Lin Ruocheng looked at her.

Fu Yanxi might appear dazzling and radiant on the outside, but only those close to her knew.

She was exhausted. She looked utterly worn out.

As if she could barely catch her breath. In the past, Lin Ruocheng had admired her unflappable demeanor.

She never seemed to get angry, her expression always calm.

As if she could handle everything on her own, bearing all the pressure alone.

It’s too much, Lin Ruocheng thought.

Fu Yanxi probably had some psychological issues.

But it’s not serious, just say what you want.

Take your time.

“I want you to kiss me…”

Fu Yanxi said this with utmost seriousness, which ironically made her seem a bit improper.

“Here?”

“No, in the car.”

If anyone said Fu Yanxi didn’t know how, she absolutely wouldn’t believe it.