My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 35.1

“Tao Ran?” Teacher Su was stunned for a moment, …

“Tao Ran?” Teacher Su was stunned, looking at Tao Ran, frowning with a slight headache. “You should leave first. Be careful not to let the other students know about this matter.”

In Teacher Su’s eyes, a student’s privacy and mental health were far more important than school rules, but she didn’t expect Tao Ran to remain standing there after she spoke.

“Teacher, I consider myself family to Zuo Xian. If this matter is very important, I’d like to stay.”

“Family?” The Director of Studies’ suspicious gaze shifted between Tao Ran and Zuo Xian. “I recognize you, Tao Ran. Are you and Zuo Xian relatives?”

“No, but we grew up together.”

The Director of Studies chuckled. “Childhood sweethearts, perhaps? Zuo Xian, you have quite a charm.”

Zuo Xian lowered her head, seemingly nervous or for some other reason.

Xue Shuangxi was distraught, crying and saying, “Teachers, it’s truly a misunderstanding! How could we possibly be dating? We wouldn’t date even if we were the last two people on earth! Please don’t call my parents, teachers, I beg you!”

“Be quiet,” the Director of Studies glared at her.

Teacher Su interjected, “Director, Zuo Xian and Tao Ran have a special family situation. Both students live alone, occupying the upper and lower floors, and they look out for each other. I spoke with Zuo Xian’s mother before, and the two students are practically like sisters.”

“Oh, so they are indeed family. No wonder she looked so flustered when she saw her.” The Director of Studies still wouldn’t budge. “But she is still just a student. How can she act as another student’s guardian?”

Teacher Su persuaded, “The matter of puppy love hasn’t been confirmed yet. Tao Ran and Zuo Xian spend a lot of time together, so having her present as a witness will help us confirm things.”

The Director of Studies hesitated for a while, pushing up his glasses. “Fine. Tao Ran… Zuo Xian’s older sister, we need to talk about your sister’s situation.”

Zuo Xian whispered, “I’m the older sister.”

Xue Shuangxi nudged Zuo Xian with her elbow. “Stop talking! Let Tao Ran do the talking!”

Teacher Su: “…Both of you stand still and be honest. We’ll question Tao Ran first.”

Tao Ran walked towards Zuo Xian, stood by her side, glanced at her, and then gracefully looked away.

“Tao Ran, do you know if Zuo Xian is in a relationship?” Teacher Su asked.

“She’s not,” Tao Ran looked at Teacher Su with clear eyes. “I can vouch for her; she doesn’t have the time to date Xue Shuangxi.”

Director of Studies: “This morning, I caught them in that corner. In my ten-plus years here, I don’t know how many couples I’ve caught dating in that spot. I heard them clearly. They were talking about almost missing out on puppy love, about liking, about loving…”

At this point, the Director of Studies pointed at Xue Shuangxi. “You finally said, ‘Definitely love it, absolutely adore it.’ I heard it clearly.”

“How could the pronouns not be heard… Hiss!”

Zuo Xian slowly moved her foot, which had been resting on Xue Shuangxi’s shoe. She calmly said, “Sorry, I accidentally stepped on you.”

“Conspiring right in front of me!” The Director of Studies slammed the table, startling Teacher Su. “Xue Shuangxi, say it again. What did you just say?”

How could Xue Shuangxi betray her friend? Her previous murmur was intentionally quiet and vague.

She straightened her chest and declared, “I said, you didn’t hear wrong, but it’s truly a misunderstanding! We were talking about a novel, not dating! We are being wrongly accused, Teacher! I’m innocent!”

“Be quiet. I told you to say it again, not to keep talking.” The Director of Studies adjusted his glasses.

Zuo Xian secretly snickered on the side. Tao Ran looked at her helplessly, then addressed the Director of Studies: “Teacher, I believe they are just friends. It’s normal for girls to be close. Perhaps you misunderstood?”

“Tao Ran, have you considered that they might be dating without telling you?”

The Director of Studies turned back to Xue Shuangxi. “Talking about a novel? That’s such a lame excuse. Then tell me, what is the plot of the novel you were reading? What is its name?”

“The plot…” Xue Shuangxi bit her lip, closed her eyes, and prepared to take a stand for her friend, going all out!

“Two female childhood sweethearts had a mutual crush in high school. When the first girl decided to confess, the second girl went abroad. But fortunately, true lovers eventually reunite. After a year of long-distance, the second girl returned on the first girl’s eighteenth birthday. The two exchanged heartfelt feelings under the moonlight, and then unwrapped a gift… Ouch!”

Zuo Xian fiercely stepped on Xue Shuangxi’s foot again for her reckless talk.

Xue Shuangxi gritted her teeth, trying hard to finish the rest of her sentence.

“It’s a fanfiction I wrote. I wrote fanfiction about Zuo Xian and Tao Ran! I told Zuo Xian about it today, and she was very angry, so she pulled me into the corner to warn me that puppy love is wrong, and that her relationship with Tao Ran is purely innocent, telling me not to ship them.”

“I said no way, I like to ship them. Absolutely love it, adore it.”

The four people present reacted differently. Teacher Su realized the truth, the Director of Studies was half-skeptical, Tao Ran slightly curved her lips, and Zuo Xian closed her eyes in resignation.

“I’m sorry, Teacher. I promise to study hard from now on and not do things unrelated to my studies,” Xue Shuangxi clasped her hands together. “Teacher, please, since this is my first offense, can you please not call my parents?”

The Director of Studies was still suspicious. “Since you say it’s fanfiction, bring the manuscript out and let us see.”

“There’s no manuscript,” Zuo Xian spoke for the first time, gritting her teeth. “I tore it up and flushed it down the toilet right then and there. Teacher, I am truly innocent.”

Perhaps it was her embarrassed expression, the wish to instantly drill a hole in the ground, that perfectly matched the persona of someone whose friend wrote fanfiction about her and her childhood friend. Or perhaps it was the heartless way she stomped on Xue Shuangxi’s foot twice.

The Director of Studies’ gaze softened. He pondered for a moment. “Since it was a misunderstanding, then I apologize to you all. However, Xue Shuangxi, when you go back, you must sincerely apologize to Zuo Xian and earn her forgiveness.”

Xue Shuangxi gave a wry smile. “Understood, Teacher.”

“If there’s nothing else, go back to class. Read fewer novels and focus your attention on your studies.”

The Director of Studies looked at the three of them, gave a few more words of instruction, and then allowed the three to return to class.

The three filed out. As soon as they stepped out of the office door, Xue Shuangxi dropped the other two and ran away, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

If she ran any slower, Zuo Xian would have had the chance to deal with her.

The class bell had long since rung, and the corridor was empty. Zuo Xian and Tao Ran walked side by side, their side profiles tightly strained, their eyes evasive.

“That… thing…” Zuo Xian cleared her throat twice. “Don’t take it to heart. Xue Shuangxi ships things randomly.”

“I don’t mind,” Tao Ran chuckled softly. “On the contrary, I’d really like to see how she wrote it, and I’m even more curious about the follow-up… for us in her writing.”

Like fireworks blooming brilliantly in her heart, Zuo Xian heard the echo of her own heartbeat. She turned to look at Tao Ran.

The girl was bathed in sunlight, smiling gently. Her school uniform was always clean and tidy, almost without a single crease, and the zipper was pulled up to the perfect position.

But it was this model student, amidst the mixed sounds of reading aloud, at the door of the teacher’s office, who spoke such enticing words.

Zuo Xian originally thought she had developed tolerance from being flirted with by Tao Ran so often, but looking at her clear, smiling eyes, her face still felt hot.

Zuo Xian pursed her lips, her mind blank, unsure how to reply. “I’m going to class now.”

“Okay.”

Zuo Xian walked quickly ahead, her cheeks alarmingly hot. After returning to the classroom, she stared at her textbook, her mind still replaying Tao Ran’s words.

The necklace resting on her chest seemed to be burning, scorching the vigorously beating heart in her chest.

No, this is too passive.

She was clearly the one who had opened up first. Xue Shuangxi said she needed to be more proactive.

But how should she be proactive?

After class, Zuo Xian was still lost in thought at her desk when the sports committee stood on the podium, loudly recruiting participants.

“Come on, come on! Sports Day is next week. Track and field, long jump, shot put, high jump, rope skipping, relay race—sign up, everyone!” The committee knew no one liked to participate, but fortunately, they had one final trump card.

“Teacher Su said everyone should try to participate. Those who don’t participate must submit two broadcast scripts each and also be responsible for the logistics of the athletes.”

The crowd surged forward instantly. Zuo Xian still felt lazy, thinking she’d rather write the broadcast scripts.

But suddenly, a thought flashed in her mind: if she participated in the Sports Day, she could use her status as an athlete to interact more with Tao Ran. Otherwise, she’d be confined to the class camp writing broadcast scripts.

And then, she could let Tao Ran see her valiant figure on the field!

“I want to sign up too!”

The crowd dispersed. The sports committee looked at Zuo Xian, then at the registration form, and smiled. “That’s great! I specially saved a spot for you.”

“Really?” Zuo Xian smiled. “Thank you. I want to sign up for the long jump or the relay race.”

“But only the Women’s 1500-meter long-distance run is left. I’ve put your name down,” the committee gave her a thumbs-up. “Zuo Xian, the whole class will thank you.”

The committee quickly ran off, completely ignoring Zuo Xian’s loud protests behind him.

Xue Shuangxi also leaned in. “Impressive! 1500-meter long run. Are you preparing to show off?”

“I’m preparing for my funeral,” Zuo Xian slumped, shaking her head. “No way. I have to find Teacher Su and have my name removed, or I’ll actually die.”

Saying this, she was about to get up but was stopped by Xue Shuangxi, who said, “Don’t! What a great opportunity to stand out. If you perform well, won’t Tao Ran be completely mesmerized? If you can’t surpass her in grades, let her look up to you on the sports field.”

Enlightened by Xue Shuangxi, Zuo Xian suddenly realized, “That makes sense.”

1500-meters it is! Is it possible that she can’t handle a small 1500-meter run?

After making up her mind, she finally endured until lunchtime dismissal. Not long after the dismissal bell rang, Zuo Xian appeared at the entrance of Tao Ran’s classroom.

Tao Ran was still talking to her deskmate. She looked up and saw Zuo Xian at the door. After a quick farewell to her classmate, she swiftly exited the classroom.

“Why are you so fast today?” Tao Ran was surprised. Usually, Zuo Xian would casually pack her things in the classroom and wait for Tao Ran to come and find her.

“The teacher didn’t hold us late today,” Zuo Xian unceremoniously shifted the blame onto Tao Ran.

“Then let’s go back,” Tao Ran nodded.

The two got into the car. As they passed a sports stadium, Zuo Xian, who usually had no interest in sports, looked out the car window.

She asked Tao Ran, “Ranran, do you like athletes?”

“Huh?” Tao Ran thought she misheard, following the direction Zuo Xian was pointing.

That was the largest sports stadium near the school. The school’s girls’ basketball team was training there today. They were all tall, with healthy and beautiful tanned skin, their muscle lines visible with every movement.

It was a beauty full of vitality.

Tao Ran, however, wasn’t in the mood to admire. She stared at Zuo Xian, who didn’t dare to turn her head, worried that Tao Ran would realize she was testing her.

“I think people who are good at sports are quite charming. Look at the girls on the track. The way they stride—so powerful.”

Tao Ran glanced over. “Mm, charming.”