I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 60

“Let’s talk about it when we get back.”

“Mm.”

Lin Ruocheng didn’t agree immediately. Although she felt a burning passion for the person she liked, she wasn’t about to bring bedroom matters into the car. That would hardly be different from having a secret affair. Besides, the place was surrounded by people. She didn’t crave that kind of thrill, even if the other person was already her partner.

“Is this enough to make you happy?”

“Mm.”

Fu Yanxi’s ears flushed red with embarrassment. For her, mustering the courage to make such a request face-to-face was already a monumental effort.

Lin Ruocheng sighed. This person was truly easy to please, yet also genuinely prim and proper.

This shy, flustered version of Fu Yanxi was probably something only she got to see.

At school, Fu Yanxi was known for being meticulous, cold-faced, and old-fashioned, carrying a maturity that didn’t match her age.

But in reality, she was incredibly obedient and highly efficient, even if she wasn’t much of a talker.

But what did that matter? Lin Ruocheng could do the talking for both of them.

“Sis, do you guys want some fruit tea? I just saw a fruit tea shop in the rest area. It looks like it just opened, so I’m not sure how it tastes, but I bought a few. Take your pick. Oh, and I also got some snacks. If you want any, I can share. I even bought some oranges in case you get carsick, I’ll give you the orange peels later. And also…”

Lin Shuyi untied the bag of fruit tea and handed it to her sister. But for some reason, the atmosphere between the two of them felt a bit off. A woman’s intuition told her something wasn’t quite right, though she couldn’t pinpoint what. Never mind, food comes first. After distributing the fruit tea, Lin Shuyi found a seat in the car and started munching away.

Lin Ruocheng inserted a straw into her cup. “Are you really going to be jealous of my foodie sister?”

Lin Shuyi’s mind was solely occupied with eating. Though they were both Cancers, their personalities and appearances were completely different.

“Mm, I am.”

Although Fu Yanxi sometimes felt that getting jealous over her partner’s family members was a bit childish, she couldn’t help it. Perhaps it was because she cared too much. Or maybe it was because Lin Ruocheng was just too wonderful, everyone around her seemed like a potential rival.

“Fu Yanxi, I’ve figured out your nickname.”

“What is it?”

“Little Vinegar Jar.”

Fu Yanxi didn’t think of herself as particularly jealous. Instead, she saw it as possessiveness, a natural reaction after finally having Lin Ruocheng.

Though, to be honest, it wasn’t exactly “having.”

They were just girlfriends, after all. Being in a relationship with Lin Ruocheng left her feeling uncertain, unsure how long it would last.

But she hoped it would be long, even longer, long enough for this beam of sunlight to linger by her side a little more.

It seemed like from the very beginning, ever since elementary school, the name “Lin Ruocheng” was the one she heard most often.

She had been curious about her since childhood. Then, after that chance encounter in elementary school, her life was forcefully occupied by those three characters: Lin Ruocheng. Of course, it was all of her own volition. The latter had no idea that, not far behind her, Fu Yanxi had been watching her happy life like a little mouse, stealing glances.

Perhaps it was because her father was gay that her mother had always held such high expectations for her.

No excessive emotional expression is allowed; crying is forbidden when facing difficulties.

Find a way to solve problems on your own.

To put it bluntly, she didn’t have much sense of security.

She was accustomed to carrying everything alone.

She had been walking this path by herself for a long time.

She didn’t want to trouble anyone, not even her girlfriend.

She was very good at hiding her emotions.

Even her feelings for Lin Ruocheng, if she hadn’t spoken up, not even Yu Qiuli would have known.

She was a very qualified secret admirer.

Since childhood, she wasn’t allowed to engage in unnecessary gestures with other girls, not even something as simple as linking arms.

All to prevent herself from being a lesbian.

Most of her childhood was spent playing with boys. Later, perhaps out of fear of early romance, she chose Yu Qiuli as her companion. Yu Qiuli was her only female friend, her circle of friends was very small.

Yu Qiuli was essentially the only one.

Of course, she understood her mother’s well-intentioned efforts and didn’t resent her.

Her mother was also a woman who had been hurt.

“Mm, I’m a little vinegar jar.”

Her mother still hadn’t spoken to her, not even sending a single message.

Lately, even at home, she hadn’t seen her.

Lin Ruocheng kissed her on the cheek.

She explained with a smile, “Buy one, get one free. I’ll give you the rest of the kisses when we get back.”

Fu Yanxi hadn’t yet processed it, her fingertips still touching the spot where Lin Ruocheng had just kissed her cheek.

It was soft, and there was a faint trace of lipstick.

Lin Ruocheng rarely wore lipstick.

Mostly, it was just lip balm, and even that was orange-flavored.

Somehow, without her realizing, Lin Ruocheng had become the source of her sense of security.

“Mm.”

Lin Shuyi had no idea what had happened between the two of them. Instead, she was happily munching on sunflower seeds and shipping them.

She had become a true spectator, enjoying the show.

Why ship fictional couples?

It was much better to ship real-life couples right beside her.

Although she was single and had no partner, it felt like everyone around her was in a relationship.

She shipped casually, of course, but only her sister and her sister’s girlfriend.

As for Song Wanqing’s couple, it wasn’t that they weren’t worth shipping, it was just that human-AI relationships had a subtle comedic feel to them.

Their humor was something you’d never expect.

Not only were they funny, but they also thought they were perfectly normal.

She glanced over, chewing away.

Then she looked toward the human-AI couple emerging from the restroom not far away.

She continued chewing.

After all, since she wasn’t in a relationship, all these snacks were hers alone.

There was nothing wrong with that.

Yu Qiuli was clutching her stomach, her face looking even paler than before.

“Is it that time of the month?”

Yu Qiuli nodded, and Song Wanqing helped her into the car.

Lin Shuyi quickly moved aside to make a more convenient window seat available, taking the very back seat for herself.

She carried the snacks she had bought.

“I have ginger sugar tea and heating pads in my bag. Wanqing, give me her water bottle. I’ll check at the service area, there should be hot water there. I’ll brew the ginger sugar tea for her; it might help. And here are two heating pads, put them on her first.”

“Then, place them on the lower back. It’ll help more.”

Lin Ruocheng calmly and methodically gave instructions while taking the water bottle handed to her to fetch hot water.

She then poured all the ginger sugar tea into the cup.

Put the lid on and shook it a couple of times.

Then he handed it over.

“You can place the cup on your lower abdomen, but make sure to keep it over your clothes. The hot water is still too scalding, if the temperature is too high, you won’t be able to stand it.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Fu Yanxi watched as the other person busied themselves, occasionally reaching out to help from the side.

Love someone who is inherently good.

And Lin Ruocheng was that person.

She was inherently good.

Whether before or after they started dating, she had always been a good person.

Kind-hearted, with strong moral principles, emotionally stable, and calm in the face of challenges.

These were the foundations of Lin Ruocheng’s character.

And one of the reasons why she had secretly admired her for so many years without ever wavering.