My Ex Told Me She’s Still In Love With Me - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Childhood Friend vs. Fate’s Arrival

Meng Qingwu’s eyes sharpened. “What do you mean by that?”

Cheng Yi looked extremely nervous. Her hands, hanging at her sides, gripped the fabric of her trousers tightly, her face growing increasingly pale.

“If the ‘me’ you knew back then wasn’t the real me, would you still have liked me?”

After asking this, she looked at Meng Qingwu with trepidation, as if waiting for a final judgment.

However, Meng Qingwu remained silent.

A long, heavy quiet brewed between them as the minutes ticked away. Cheng Yi seemed unable to support herself any longer and slumped down onto the rug, her head bowed, not daring to look up.

“Do you have… a split personality?” Meng Qingwu finally spoke.

Cheng Yi shook her head. “No.”

“Since you don’t, how can you say it wasn’t the real you?” Meng Qingwu scoffed. “Or are you saying your feelings for me back then were all an act?”

The smile on Meng Qingwu’s face faded. She couldn’t understand: if Cheng Yi had been lying to her, what was there to gain?

Back then, she had truly felt loved. Could that level of sincerity be faked or imagined?

“No! I liked you… I—I love you.” A flush crept over Cheng Yi’s pale face, and her speech became hesitant.

“So, what is this ‘deception’ you’re talking about?” Meng Qingwu was in no mood for riddles.

“I… I…” Cheng Yi started, but she couldn’t go on. The words were stuck in her throat; she wanted to speak, but she lacked the courage.

Meng Qingwu waited for a moment. Seeing that the other woman still wouldn’t speak, she lost her patience. She stood up abruptly, told her to “get out,” and went upstairs.

In any case, four years had passed and they had already broken up. Was there even a point in seeking the “truth” of the past anymore?

Cheng Yi sat on the rug for a long time. Finally, as if unable to bear it, she bent over and curled herself into a ball.

Upstairs, Meng Qingwu wanted to go straight to sleep, but she tossed and turned. Her mind was filled with the image of one person.

She opened her eyes, her expression turning grim. Was the decision to make Cheng Yi her “paramour” a mistake?

Since entering this arrangement, their lives had become increasingly entangled. Cheng Yi had slowly begun to occupy a space in this house again. It was like a “boiling frog” situation—she was being numbed.

If she wanted a lover, why did it have to be Cheng Yi?

…

The next morning, Meng Qingwu headed out for work as usual and ran into Bi Xinglan, who was clearly waiting for her.

Bi Xinglan had returned to her usual style: a small camisole that traced her shapely figure and ultra-short denim shorts. She was dressed even more boldly and “coolly” than the heat-averse Meng Qingwu.

“Miss Meng, do you have any more meetings today?” she asked.

Meng Qingwu looked her up and down and laughed. “No.”

Looking at her airy outfit, Meng Qingwu felt a vicarious sense of relief from the heat.

“Since you don’t, how about I buy you an iced milk tea?” Bi Xinglan winked.

Meng Qingwu’s smile deepened. “Sure!”

The conversation was quick and straightforward. Meng Qingwu got into the flamboyant sports car and they headed to the milk tea shop Bi Xinglan chose.

At the shop, Bi Xinglan ordered with practiced ease before looking up. “What do you want to drink?”

Meng Qingwu: “A simple pearl milk tea, thirty percent sugar.”

“OK. And a Matcha Uji milk tea for me.”

After ordering, Bi Xinglan looked at Meng Qingwu, a flash of admiration in her eyes. “You are so much more beautiful than you were before!”

She was pretty back then too—the vibrant beauty of youth—but Bi Xinglan preferred the current Meng Qingwu. Her aura had settled; she possessed a charm that was both seductive and tranquil. These were contradictory qualities, yet Meng Qingwu blended them perfectly. Her fully matured features allowed her to carry the look effortlessly.

Meng Qingwu brushed a stray hair from her forehead and smiled. “I think you look better than before too.”

Bi Xinglan blinked. “Is this just mutual flattery?”

“No, it’s the truth.”

Bi Xinglan gave a genuine laugh. “I believe you.”

Meng Qingwu watched her. Her smile was as pure and clean as ever, but she lacked the spoiled arrogance of a “rich miss” from years ago. She seemed more like a sweet younger sister—the kind of girl you’d want to give a piece of candy to just for passing by.

“So, you didn’t call me here today just to hear me praise you, did you?”

The milk tea arrived. Meng Qingwu took hers, poked the straw in, and took a satisfying sip. Honestly, it had been a long time since she’d had milk tea. Since she started working, she felt such drinks were a bit too “childish” for her.

“Of course not~” Bi Xinglan narrowed her eyes and smiled like a clever little fox. “I just wanted to ask: why did you and Cheng Yi break up?”

Meng Qingwu’s movement paused. She looked up at her. “You don’t know why?”

Bi Xinglan threw up her hands. “Cheng Yi isn’t the type to go around badmouthing an ex after a breakup. If she doesn’t talk, how would anyone know the reason?”

Meng Qingwu: “…”

“Why do you want to know?”

“To use the past as a reference, of course~” Bi Xinglan made no effort to hide her motives.

Meng Qingwu smiled. “I didn’t expect you to still be in love with her.”

“Mm-hmm. I told you: if she’s not married, I’ll keep chasing. Later she talked me out of that, so I changed it to: as long as she’s single, I’ll keep chasing!”

Meng Qingwu was amused by her bluntness. She couldn’t help but ask curiously, “But we broke up four years ago. Why didn’t you chase her then?”

At this, Bi Xinglan grew annoyed. “I was sent abroad! The academic pressure was huge, and I wasn’t allowed to return. I tried to sneak back several times, but I’d be caught and sent right back. How was I supposed to chase her in that situation?”

Meng Qingwu’s mouth opened slightly. She hadn’t realized this young lady was so wild. “How many times did you run away?”

Bi Xinglan pouted. “I lost count. Regardless, I never managed to see Cheng Yi even once.”

“You…”

“Oh, what’s the use of talking about that! You haven’t answered me yet—why did you break up?” The young lady was getting impatient.

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you.” Meng Qingwu felt a bit helpless. She looked at Bi Xinglan’s face; she looked very young and tender. “She said she liked younger girls. There was nothing to be done, so we broke up,” she said in a teasing tone.

Bi Xinglan: “…Are you serious?”

“We’ve already broken up. Why would I lie to you?”

“…”

“Impossible! You were young and beautiful back then!” Bi Xinglan shook her head. It made no sense. Meng Qingwu was only twenty-one at the time, in the prime of her youth. If she wasn’t “young,” then how young did someone have to be?

Hearing this, Meng Qingwu felt even more amused. “Exactly. I was young and beautiful, but that was the reason she gave me for the breakup~”

“Wait!” Bi Xinglan realized something and her eyes widened. “Cheng Yi was the one who broke up with you?!”

Meng Qingwu blinked. “You didn’t even know that?”

Bi Xinglan: “…I thought you were the one who dumped her.”

Which is why she’s been unable to forget you all these years.

“Ha…” Meng Qingwu let out a cold laugh. So in their eyes, she was the heartbreaker? Cheng Yi had certainly managed her image well.

Bi Xinglan shook her head, still unwilling to believe it. “Cheng Yi isn’t that kind of person.”

Meng Qingwu shrugged. “But that was her reason.”

Bi Xinglan’s expression slowly darkened. She thought for a moment, her gaze toward Meng Qingwu turning hesitant. “Do… do you know about her…”

Mid-sentence, she seemed unsure how to continue and frustratedly ruffled her hair. “If she’s really that kind of person, why didn’t she find someone else after breaking up with you? It doesn’t make sense!”

Maybe…

Bi Xinglan thought of something, and the hesitation on her face deepened. Perhaps throughout all these years, Cheng Yi was hiding something very deep?

Meng Qingwu fell silent. She stopped drinking her tea and looked at Bi Xinglan, her gaze losing focus. It truly didn’t make sense.

Seeing her like this, Bi Xinglan asked cautiously, “So… is there still a chance for you and Cheng Yi now?”

Meng Qingwu snapped out of it. The low AC in the shop made her feel a bit chilled. She rubbed her arms and looked down at her half-finished tea.

“Regardless of her reasons, the fact is that she abandoned me.”

She had her own pride. How could she accept someone who had discarded her once before?

Hearing this answer, Bi Xinglan let out a breath of relief and gave a very relaxed smile.

“Then I can pursue her boldly and without worry!”

Meng Qingwu: “…Do you even know what our current relationship is?”

This girl’s attitude made Meng Qingwu doubt just how much she actually knew.

“Hmph, I know!” Bi Xinglan crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “It’s just a ‘lover’ (paramour) relationship! You haven’t hidden it; who doesn’t know by now? But what does it matter? A lover relationship is just about mutual need. It’s not a real partnership. Once we are together, she naturally won’t need you anymore!”

Meng Qingwu: “…”

She had to marvel at the girl’s unique logic. She was even starting to admire her; it took a lot of effort to stay so committed to one goal.

Meng Qingwu relaxed into her chair and propped her head on her hand. “By the way, aren’t you childhood friends? Genuine lifelong companions. If it were possible, wouldn’t you have been together long ago?”

At this, Bi Xinglan puffed out her cheeks in frustration.

“Cheng Yi has always been excellent. Even as her childhood friend, it was hard to keep up with her. She ran too fast, and I couldn’t catch up. How could we be together? Besides…” She glanced at Meng Qingwu and said somewhat reluctantly, “There’s a saying: ‘Childhood friends are no match for fate’s arrival’ (Fate’s arrival/the new person wins).”

Clearly, Meng Qingwu was the “Fate’s arrival.”

Meng Qingwu chuckled softly and said, “Actually, I think a childhood friend is better than a newcomer.”

Childhood friends grow up together; they are the ones who spend the most time together outside of family and know each other best. They see the most authentic side of one another.

She thought of what Cheng Yi said last night. Not the real her.

What was the “real” her like, then?

“Bullshit!”

Bi Xinglan rolled her eyes. Yet, even with such crude words and ungraceful behavior, she seemed so frank and sincere that it was impossible to dislike her.

“You have no idea how she hurt me, her childhood friend, all for the sake of you—the one fate sent her!”