I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 68

“Is that so?”

To be honest, Lin Ruocheng didn’t have a clear impression of it.

Especially events from seven years ago, they were even hazier.

Back then, she had no idea what liking someone even meant.

But she did know the name Fu Yanxi.

Because right after her own speech, it was Fu Yanxi’s turn.

That was also the first time she ever heard the name Fu Yanxi.

As a child, she had been rather carefree.

Unless something was particularly important, she generally didn’t bother remembering it.

“Hmm… I became interested in you from that moment too. Every time I looked at you again after that, my heart would race uncontrollably…”

Fu Yanxi still remembered how Lin Ruocheng looked when she saw her again, radiant like the sun, always so joyful, so beautiful.

She was stunning.

One could say it was love at first sight.

But there were so many people around her, whether they were good-looking, academically talented, or smooth-talkers, if she wanted to be remembered, she had to find a different approach.

Lin Ruocheng leaned in and intertwined their fingers.

“So, does that count as puppy love?”

Who would have thought this well-behaved girl had such a side?

She truly hadn’t known.

Had she really turned Fu Yanxi so easily? Probably not. Maybe Fu Yanxi had always liked girls, or perhaps it was in her genes.

“More like unrequited love. Did we ever actually fall in love back then?”

“No, but I was a good kid, I didn’t do puppy love.”

Lin Ruocheng teased.

She had always been a late bloomer.

Especially in middle school, during her teenage years.

She didn’t even have a favorite celebrity, who else could she possibly like? And back then, she was always so tired, probably because her body was still growing.

Her rebellious phase might have been spent entirely in her dreams.

“Yes, you were the good kid, and I was the big troublemaker.”

Fu Yanxi chuckled lightly.

She reached out and gently booped Lin Ruocheng’s nose.

Lin Ruocheng had a strong magnetic charm, almost everyone around her wanted to be her friend. And she, in turn, was warm-hearted, enthusiastic, and full of energy.

On top of that, Lin Ruocheng had striking features, and by her teens, she had fully blossomed. Wherever she appeared, Fu Yanxi could see no one else.

She was dazzling.

“Now I finally understand… back then, whenever you saw me, you’d turn and run. The more I called your name, the faster you’d bolt. It wasn’t because you disliked me, it was because you liked me~”

Lin Ruocheng leaned close and whispered in her ear.

She loved seeing Fu Yanxi blush all the way to her ears. Of course, there was a bit of an ulterior motive in dating her too.

To add more interactivity to her game, from the very beginning when they pretended to be in a relationship until now, she never thought this romance would last forever.

In life, people experience many relationships.

Even though Fu Yanxi was the youngest authoritative voice actress in her favorite yuri audio dramas, that wasn’t what drew her in. Some people are just meant to be the untouchable moon.

As long as she enjoyed the relationship while it lasted, that was enough. After all, not everyone ends up with their first love forever, and the idea of staying together for a lifetime felt so distant.

“Yes, it was liking.”

Fu Yanxi didn’t deny it.

She had always liked Lin Ruocheng, that was an undeniable truth.

Whether it was the initial crush, the pretend relationship, or what they had now.

I’ve been extremely cautious myself.

I always feel like the progression of our relationship has been too smooth, so smooth that I can’t help but overthink. And it’s been rather fast too. From the time she became aware of me to now, it’s only been a little over a month. We haven’t even been dating for a full month yet, which often leaves me feeling a bit insecure.

Every time Fu Yanxi says things like this, she does so with such sincerity. Her earnest expression makes Lin Ruocheng feel as though she’s glimpsing her true heart, pure and untainted by any other thoughts.

It’s innocent, it’s pristine, and it’s all about her.

They strolled around the school.

As the class dismissal bell rang, the homeroom teacher stepped out.

“Shall we go? Are we eating in the cafeteria or heading out?”

“Let’s eat in the cafeteria, teacher. How about I treat you this time?”

Lin Ruocheng let go of Fu Yanxi and naturally linked arms with the teacher instead.

Swaying back and forth, she walked ahead in a playful, coquettish manner.

Fu Yanxi lowered her head, adjusted her glasses, and then followed along.

It felt like going back to childhood.

Just like back then, she was carefree and could easily befriend everyone around her.

Even the teachers adored her.

She excelled academically, was beautiful, and had high emotional intelligence.

No one could dislike her.

“I really never expected you to end up with Fu Yanxi. You know, when you both first started middle school, she could have easily been in the same class as you. But later, she apparently went to the principal herself and asked to be transferred to the neighboring class. At the time, I thought there might have been some conflict between the two of you.”

Back then, as a first-time homeroom teacher, I thought I’d encountered two top students who were also troublemakers.

But thankfully, they weren’t as mischievous or difficult as I’d imagined.

In fact, they were quite easy to handle.

Actually, every time there was a P.E. class, I’d see Fu Yanxi sitting on the steps.

Her gaze fixed on Lin Ruocheng, who stayed in the classroom solving problems.

Back then, the concept of homosexuality was rarely discussed.

And falling for Lin Ruocheng was actually quite simple.

All the teachers liked her, she spoke kindly, excelled in her studies, and was easy to guide with her high emotional intelligence.

Lin Ruocheng was that kind of student.

She knew every subject teacher’s birthday.

Whenever a teacher’s birthday came around, she’d buy a large bouquet of carnations or tulips.

Along with a handmade card.

She was like a gentle little sun, so much so that some teachers even wanted to introduce their sons to her.

“I really had no idea about that, teacher. I was very well-behaved back then and definitely not into early romance. If it weren’t for a certain coward confessing recently, I wouldn’t have even known she liked me.”

“After all, I used to receive way too many love letters back then.”

Lin Ruocheng boasted without a hint of modesty.

The homeroom teacher laughed, it was true.

Lin Ruocheng used to receive a stack of love letters almost every day, from both boys and girls. But she never read them. She’d always hand them over, and later, I sold them as scrap paper.

The money from that went into the class fund.

There was even a time when a boy brought his mother’s gold ring to school.

He wanted to give it to Lin Ruocheng.

But she reported him on the spot.

He ended up receiving a “parental tag-team scolding” as a result.

Fu Yanxi ate her meal, listening intently to stories about Lin Ruocheng’s childhood that she hadn’t known before.

She had a crush on her, but she wasn’t a stalker.

There were things about her that she didn’t know.

Always watching silently, from a corner she knew nothing about.

Observing Lin Ruocheng’s life.

What Lin Ruocheng didn’t know was that every time she came to the cafeteria to eat, I would be sitting two or three seats to her right, secretly gazing at her life, at everything about her.

Perhaps it was a habitual pursuit, a habitual listening for her name.

Over time, love slowly grew.

That’s why, as soon as I entered high school, I started getting involved in the field of radio drama voice acting.

She hoped to stand by Lin Ruocheng’s side.

To become her first love.

Until one day, she unintentionally heard that Lin Ruocheng liked girls.

She felt there might still be a chance.

Her gender allowed her to draw closer, step by step, closer still.

To make Lin Ruocheng fall for her.

To make her see her, with eyes only for her.