My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 28

The moment this sentence was uttered, the entire family…

The moment this sentence was uttered, the eyes of the whole family fixed on her, some teasing, some curious, all exuding gentle goodwill.

Liu Xinyu raised an eyebrow and quipped, “Puppy love? We finally have a romantic in the family.”

Isn’t that the truth?

Grandma’s marriage was arranged; her relationship with Grandpa was barely one of mutual respect. Zuo Zhimi hadn’t dated much; her interest in work far surpassed her interest in romance. As for Zuo Zhifan, she had been single for forty years purely through her own abilities.

Grandma chuckled, “Campus romance is a very pure feeling. I don’t object, but you must be mindful of boundaries.”

Zuo Zhifan held the opposing view, “I object. This is the time for studying, and dating is not necessary.”

Zuo Zhimi, who knew Zuo Xian best, waved her hand, “Her? Dating? Impossible. She sticks with Taoran every day. Where would she find the time to date?”

Zuo Xian smiled, “I’m not dating. I’m just checking if Ranran replied to my message.”

Everyone paused, then thought about it and felt it was perfectly reasonable for Zuo Xian, so they stopped dwelling on it and moved on to other topics, using campus romance as a springboard.

Only Liu Xinyu’s clear gaze remained on Zuo Xian, keenly sensing that something was amiss.

A while later, Zuo Xian saw that Tao Ran had replied. She unconsciously curled her lips, got up, and walked outside.

The others looked over again, and Zuo Zhimi explained, “She went to call Taoran. These two kids are so clingy, they’re used to it.”

Li Yugui and Zuo Zhifan looked enlightened, and then there was no more fuss; they very smoothly accepted the situation.

Liu Xinyu’s mouth twitched. That’s not right. Is this something you can just get used to and completely ignore?

It clearly exceeds the normal social distance between friends.

The night wind outside was a bit strong. Fortunately, Zuo Xian had put on a down jacket before coming out. She put up her hood and sat on the long bench by the door.

“I’m home. Have you eaten?”

“I have. Ranran, you don’t seem as busy lately, do you?” Zuo Xian’s voice was sweet, as if dripping honey.

“I’m a bit less busy lately.” Tao Ran paused, adding more, “I’ve settled some things with a business partner. Her help has made things easier.”

Business partner?

Zuo Xian immediately became wary, and the feet she had been swinging stopped. “Who is it? Someone so capable.”

It was Tao Ningxue.

But Tao Ran didn’t want Zuo Xian to know about the messy family situation with her father.

After a moment of silence, she said, “Her name is Ningxue. She’s two or three years older than me and is also Chinese.”

“Then you must quite like her, since she’s helped you so much,” Zuo Xian said, brimming with little thoughts. “I can’t even help you.”

Tao Ran chuckled softly, “She’s just a business partner motivated by profit.”

“A Xian, you can be more direct next time you’re jealous,” Tao Ran advised, almost coaxing her. “Tell me you’re unhappy, question me about who I truly love the most. That’s what jealousy is.”

The hood prevented heat dissipation, and Zuo Xian’s whole head felt warm. She immediately stopped thinking, her mind filled with Tao Ran’s words.

Her lips trembled for a moment, moist with a slight mist, and she softly asked, “Then who do you love the most?”

“I love A Xian.”

She didn’t say “the most,” which meant… she only loved A Xian.

Zuo Xian was blushing again.

When she got shy, she wanted to hide. After just a few sentences, she made an excuse and hung up the phone.

The subtle sounds of nature only heard in the countryside at night filled her ears. Zuo Xian sat blankly on the long bench, her mind in a jumble.

The study materials Xue Shuangxi gave her—she had read them all. She had worked so hard for them, even going to the effort of using a VPN.

Why was it that just a few casual words from Tao Ran made her unable to handle it? This wasn’t right!

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

While Zuo Xian was still in a daze, analyzing the situation, she heard a few ‘tsk’ sounds and a teasing remark from behind her.

“Still claiming you’re not dating?”

Zuo Xian turned around in fright. Liu Xinyu was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, her eyes full of knowing amusement.

She said, “Zuo Xian, you’ve got ‘hiding in plain sight’ and ‘eating where you sleep’ going on. No wonder the emotional idiots in our family couldn’t tell.”

Not only emotional idiots, but hopelessly straight women, too.

“You… what nonsense are you talking about?” Zuo Xian hurriedly explained, “I was just making a phone call to Ranran.”

Liu Xinyu flashed a smile, a very wicked one, and immediately began to imitate, “‘I can’t even help you~ Who do you love the most~'”

“…Okay, shut up.”

“Confess honestly.”

Zuo Xian pursed her lips, “We really aren’t dating.”

“Stubborn. I’ve figured it out, why are you still hiding it?”

“We really aren’t dating, but… but I like Tao Ran, a secret crush. She doesn’t know,” Zuo Xian looked up at Liu Xinyu. “She’s straight.”

Liu Xinyu: “I don’t believe it. I’ve never heard a straight girl chat like that.”

“It’s true.” The topic of the straight girl made Zuo Xian gloomy. She patted the seat next to her on the bench, motioning for Liu Xinyu to sit down.

She sighed and started telling the whole story, beginning with the pink box.

On the balcony on the second floor of the small Western-style house, three adults stood watching the two children, their eyes full of relief.

Li Yugui: “The affection between these two sisters is truly good. They have endless things to talk about as soon as they get back.”

Zuo Zhifan nodded, “Xinyu usually doesn’t like to socialize much with her peers. I didn’t expect her to get along so well with Xianzai.”

Zuo Zhimi stroked her chin, contemplating whether Zuo Xian was more clingy with Tao Ran or with Liu Xinyu.

Why is she so clingy with her peers but not so much with her mother? Has a generation gap finally appeared?

Downstairs, after listening to the whole story, Liu Xinyu fell into contemplation.

She patted Zuo Xian’s shoulder and comforted her, “I’ve heard about this for a long time. Every lesbian’s life has a ‘Straight Girl Tribulation.'”

Zuo Xian: “What if she bends for me?”

“Every lesbian who meets a straight girl thinks the same way. Take care of yourself.”

Zuo Xian was speechless but unconvinced.

The Spring Festival was approaching, and the atmosphere of New Year’s was gradually thickening in the house. Various New Year’s goods were placed at home, and baskets of Shatang mandarins were moved into the house.

While helping with the household chores, Zuo Xian couldn’t help but start thinking about whether Tao Ran would return for the New Year.

After all, Aunt Jiang was still in the country.

If she could return to China, Zuo Xian hoped they could meet.

Zuo Xian missed her too much.

Wait a minute, Zuo Xian suddenly thought, if Tao Ran couldn’t return to China, she could go abroad!

Finally, one night during a phone call, Zuo Xian excitedly brought up the idea, only to be met with Tao Ran’s refusal.

“Don’t come to me.”

“Why?” Zuo Xian was confused and anxiously said, “I have a holiday now, I have time. I can go see you. I’m sixteen now; I can go abroad by myself.”

“No, A Xian. You can go abroad for fun, but you can’t come to me,” Tao Ran pursed her lips.

Tao Yizhang is a very dangerous person. If he were to see Zuo Xian and sense anything, Zuo Xian would surely be in danger.

Tao Ran currently couldn’t stand up to Tao Yizhang and had no ability to protect Zuo Xian, so it was best if Zuo Xian didn’t even appear in front of him.

“Why…” Zuo Xian was being treated with such a serious attitude by Tao Ran for the first time, and since she hadn’t done anything wrong, she inevitably felt full of grievance.

“A Xian, it’s very dangerous. Can you wait for me to return to China? Just wait for me,” Tao Ran softened her voice but was constrained by necessity and couldn’t explain too clearly.

She didn’t want Zuo Xian to know too much about the filth of the Tao family; it would only contaminate her ears and cause her worry.

Yet, she was also unwilling to lie to Zuo Xian, so she could only vaguely say it was dangerous.

But this only amplified Zuo Xian’s existing grievance, and without an explanation, the mixture of grievance and annoyance intensified.

“I don’t want to,” Zuo Xian said stubbornly, in a low voice, “If you don’t want me to see you, then I don’t want to see you either.”

“What danger? It’s all an excuse, Tao Ran, I’m really angry!”

Zuo Xian hung up the phone after saying this, leaving Tao Ran stunned.

After a long while, she put down her phone, rubbed her aching nose bridge, leaned back in her office chair, and gently tapped the armrest with her index finger, indicating her inner restlessness.

The daylight from the floor-to-ceiling window shone into the office, quite blinding. Tao Ran stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the people the size of ants below, her brows tightly furrowed, a solitary shadow cast on the floor.

What should I do? How can I get back sooner?

And Zuo Xian, who had just hung up on Tao Ran, regretted it as soon as she put down the phone.

She shouldn’t have lost her temper at Tao Ran.

Zuo Xian sighed heavily, covering her face, beginning a silent lament.

After cooling down for a while, Zuo Xian put down her hand, glanced at the phone tossed on the bed, but ultimately chose not to call Tao Ran back.

Even though Zuo Xian regretted losing her temper at her, Taoran didn’t even give a plausible reason, which truly made Zuo Xian unable to let it go.

Zuo Xian decided to be angry at Tao Ran for the next few days until she apologized.

As soon as Tao Ran apologized, she would forgive her.

However, several days passed, and Tao Ran showed no sign of apologizing. She still sent messages and made calls as usual, just without apologizing.

Now Zuo Xian was genuinely angry. She could accept Tao Ran not giving a reason, as long as she apologized, but she could not accept Tao Ran acting as if nothing had happened.

So, for the past few days, Zuo Xian hadn’t proactively messaged Tao Ran and was depressed all the time.

Even the Zuo family noticed the abnormality and prepared to send Liu Xinyu to find out if something was wrong.

But Liu Xinyu waved her hand, saying something about Zuo Xian’s fluctuating moods being normal in this situation, using terms like “fishing” and “lesbian flirting” that the three Zuo elders completely failed to understand.

But none of them wanted to appear too outdated, so they all pretended to understand and nodded in agreement.

Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, tomorrow was New Year’s Eve.

Compared to Lushi, while Nanding’s urbanization process was slow, and it lagged behind in various resource sectors and infrastructure, this backwardness also helped preserve ancient customs and human warmth.

The streets and alleys were filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year, a sight not seen in Lushi.

The Zuo family elders couldn’t stand the children staying indoors all day. Zuo Zhimi waved her hand, giving each of them five thousand to go out and have fun.

Liu Xinyu originally didn’t want to go. She was naturally a quiet person, but seeing Zuo Xian’s melancholy expression, she felt she should do something.

So, even though Zuo Xian was reluctant, she forcefully dragged her out the door.

But where were the places for young people to play in this town? The two cousins stood on the street corner, clutching five thousand yuan, shivering in the cold wind, not knowing where to go.

Honestly, the town severely lacked entertainment options.

There was only one cinema in town, and the hygiene conditions were worrying.

The only milk tea shops were self-operated ones near the middle school gate. They bought a cup each to try as they passed by. The powder hadn’t even been fully mixed, and it had the cheap taste of artificial flavoring.

A shopping mall was out of the question; they hadn’t even seen a shadow of one.

Liu Xinyu had thought about buying clothes or something, but the styles in the town’s clothing stores were too old and outdated, completely unsuitable for the two of them.

Zuo Xian and Liu Xinyu—one had lived for many years in Lushi, known as the fashion capital, and the other’s hometown, Yuzhou City, was at least a Tier 1 city.

They truly couldn’t bring themselves to be insincere and ask the shop owner to take down and buy the clothes in the store.

Just as the two were troubled, a group of children ran past, each holding a box of firecrackers, giggling and tossing them along the way.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Liu Xinyu’s gaze followed them, and she suddenly turned to Zuo Xian, “How about we go set off firecrackers?”

Zuo Xian was rubbing her hands together for warmth, and frowned upon hearing this, “Us? Setting off firecrackers?”

They were both past the age of playing with firecrackers. Zuo Xian found it really hard to imagine herself and Liu Xinyu, each with a box of firecrackers, running around like those little kids to blow up… well, things.

The image was too beautiful. She imagined it and immediately shook her head.

“No.”

“Then fireworks?”

Zuo Xian: “It’s broad daylight. No.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?” Liu Xinyu spread her hands. “If we go back now, we’ll probably be chased out again. Besides firecrackers, what other entertainment is there here?”

Zuo Xian buried her face in her raised collar, lowered her eyes, and was not very interested, “I don’t know.”

Liu Xinyu suppressed the urge to violently strike her cousin.

Zuo Xian looked around and then pulled out her phone to check the time. “Let’s go back. We’ll just shamelessly stay at home. They can’t possibly really kick us out, right?”

Liu Xinyu thought for a moment and strongly agreed.

They had been out for less than half an hour, and the two were back again.

Zuo Zhimi and Zuo Zhifan were sitting on the long bench in front of the door, chatting. They were both surprised to see the two return.

Zuo Zhimi: “Why are you back so soon?”

Without waiting for the two kids to speak, she looked down at her phone, transferred another five thousand yuan to each of them, and looked up, saying, “Go out and play again.”

Zuo Xian looked at the extra five thousand yuan on her phone and exchanged glances with the equally astonished Liu Xinyu.

“Let’s go.”

She resolutely pulled Liu Xinyu out the door, but just as Zuo Zhimi raised her hand to wave goodbye, she saw Zuo Xian pull Liu Xinyu back into the house again.

She stood in front of Zuo Zhimi, held out her phone, and urged her with her eyes.

Hurry up, give me the money.

Liu Xinyu raised both hands, signaling that she was innocent.

Zuo Zhimi: “…Xianzai, you shouldn’t fleece your mother like that.”