My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 4

It was a rest day, and Zuo Xian slept in…

It was a rest day, and Zuo Xian slept her fill. At noon, the golden sunshine timidly crept into the corners through the gaps in the thick curtains.

The phone rang again and again. Zuo Xian rolled over, fumbling under the pillow for her phone. She answered before even seeing who it was.

“Hello.” Her voice was low and slightly soft, typical of someone just woken up.

“Xian, are you still sleeping? Did I wake you up?” Zuo Zhimì’s gentle, smiling voice was especially soothing.

Zuo Xian put the phone in front of her face and lay on her side, looking like she might fall asleep again at any second. “No…”

“Are you free tonight? Mom has something to tell you.”

“I am, Mom.” Zuo Xian yawned, forcing herself to sit up and clear her head.

“Here’s the thing: your Aunt Jiang invited us out for dinner tonight. Sweetheart, will you come with Mom?”

Aunt Jiang. Tao Ran’s mother.

Zuo Xian’s half-closed eyes immediately snapped open. She quickly pressed for more details, “Just the three of us?”

“Ranran came back from overseas a while ago, so it will be four of us. You and Ranran haven’t seen each other in a long time, so you can catch up tonight,” Zuo Zhimì said cheerfully.

“After you transferred schools, I think this is the first time the two pairs of mothers and daughters have all gotten together. Every time we’ve tried to arrange dinner, either you were busy or Ranran couldn’t spare the time. It really is quite a coincidence.”

There was no such thing as so many coincidences; every one was orchestrated by Zuo Xian.

But since she had just said she was free this time, it was inconvenient to back out.

Should I just go back to my old trick and tell Mom later that something urgent came up at work?

“Sweetheart? Did you fall asleep?” Zuo Zhimì asked, sounding puzzled, while Zuo Xian was brainstorming.

“No, I just got up,” Zuo Xian mumbled. “I am free tonight, but…”

“If you’re free, just come to dinner. Aunt Jiang hasn’t seen you in a year or two and says she misses you terribly.”

Zuo Xian grimaced and thought for a long time, scratching her bird’s-nest-like hair. “…Fine.”

It’s just dinner.

The two mothers had arranged to meet at a famous Hui Cuisine restaurant in Lushi. Zuo Xian had been there many times and was familiar with the route.

Close to the agreed-upon time, she changed into a presentable outfit, casually put on a pair of sunglasses, and drove out in her pink sports car.

As dusk approached, she hit rush hour traffic and was slightly delayed, arriving at the restaurant about ten minutes late.

Her flashy sports car parked right in front of the establishment. The valet rushed over to assist. Zuo Xian casually handed him the keys and caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.

She pretended not to notice and strode into the restaurant.

“A Xian.” Tao Ran’s voice came from behind her. Zuo Xian paused her steps, secretly took a deep breath to adjust her expression.

Then she flashed a brilliant smile, turned around, and said, “Miss Tao, long time no see.”

Tao Ran walked up to her and gently reminded her, “We saw each other just a few days ago.”

“Oh, I forgot.” Zuo Xian twitched her lips, her eyes behind the sunglasses scanning Tao Ran.

Miracle Ranran was a new look today: gentle and generous, highly approachable—exactly the type to be popular with elders.

However, Zuo Xian couldn’t bring herself to smile at Tao Ran whenever she recalled the conversation, she had overheard by accident that day. Her gaze fell on Tao Ran’s hands.

The left hand still wore that wristwatch, and the right hung by her side. The pad of her index finger seemed to have a small, unhealed wound.

Zuo Xian averted her eyes, giving a slight “tsk.” “Let’s go in. Don’t keep them waiting.”

Zuo Xian was much colder than their last meeting. Tao Ran was slightly stunned, unsure how to react, and could only nod silently and follow behind.

Entering the lobby with its ancient, elegant decor, Tao Ran quickly walked beside Zuo Xian and pointed the way. “This way.”

They walked side-by-side for a couple of steps. Tao Ran cautiously glanced at Zuo Xian and tried to speak again, “A Xian, you…”

“Can we talk after dinner?” Zuo Xian removed her sunglasses, her clear, bright gaze fixed on Tao Ran. “Can we just have a peaceful meal with them first?”

The apology on the tip of Tao Ran’s tongue was swallowed again. Her smile was tinged with bitterness. “Of course.”

They quickly arrived at the private room door. Zuo Xian pushed it open and entered, a natural smile on her face.

Inside the room sat two middle-aged women, similar in age but vastly different in style.

One was wearing a dark brown, somewhat casual women’s suit, with shoulder-length hair. Her eyebrows and eyes bore a five or six-tenths resemblance to Zuo Xian’s. She didn’t have many wrinkles, only noticeable laugh lines at the corners of her eyes, and she always wore a smile.

The other was dressed like a typical wealthy lady, with an elegant shawl draped over her elbow. Every gesture seemed restrained, gentle yet slightly distant, making it undeniable that she and Tao Ran were mother and daughter.

Both mothers looked toward the door. Zuo Xian and Tao Ran greeted them.

“Xianzai and Ranran are here, come sit, sit, sit.” Zuo Zhimì hurriedly waved, inviting the two children to take a seat.

She turned her head to her friend and said, “How long has it been since we gathered? Must be over half a year.”

Jiang Ningxiu smiled, her gentle gaze resting on Zuo Xian. “It has been a long time. Xianzai, come here and let Auntie see if you’ve lost any weight.”

Jiang Ningxiu had watched Zuo Xian grow up, and the pet’s name she used was the one she had used since Zuo Xian was a child.

However, now that Zuo Xian was older, it was acceptable for her mother to use the name, but having Aunt Jiang call her that made her blush a little.

Jiang Ningxiu held Zuo Xian’s hand, examining her from head to toe. “Xianzai has truly grown more and more beautiful.”

Zuo Xian couldn’t help but smile, squinting her eyes like a ragdoll cat that had been happily petted. Seeing this, Tao Ran also unconsciously curved her lips into a smile.

“Alright, alright, everyone please sit down.” Zuo Zhimì smoothly pulled Tao Ran to sit next to her.

“Come, little Ranran, sit next to Auntie Zuo. Let the two ‘mother and daughter’ catch up. How about Ranran becomes Auntie’s daughter from now on?”

Jiang Ningxiu couldn’t help but laugh, giving Zuo Zhimì a playful glare. “You’ve been playing this trick for so many years, aren’t you tired of it yet?”

The two mothers chatted back and forth. Zuo Xian and Tao Ran found it hard to interject. Although neither mother was particularly talkative individually, once they were together, no one else could get a word in.

Even Zuo Xian and Tao Ran were relegated to being the mothers’ “playthings.”

Faced with a table full of delicacies, Zuo Xian focused on eating, not even wanting to lift her head.

—Because Tao Ran was sitting directly across from her.

After eating her fill, Zuo Xian stood up, saying she needed to go to the restroom. As soon as she stood up, Tao Ran, sitting opposite, followed suit.

“I’ll go with you.” She stood up a bit too quickly, knocking over the glass in front of the table. Fortunately, it was empty.

Zuo Zhimì glanced at the two of them and teased, “It was one thing to be inseparable when you were little, but even grown up, you two still stick together even for a trip to the restroom. Go on, go on.”

Jiang Ningxiu also gave a helpless smile but added a word of caution to Tao Ran, “Be careful next time. Don’t be so clumsy.”

“I know,” Tao Ran said, though her steps toward Zuo Xian didn’t slow down at all. She smiled at Zuo Xian. “Let’s go.”

“Mhm.”

Outside the private room, only the two of them were in the hallway. Zuo Xian turned her head to look at Tao Ran and saw her smiling back with extreme gentleness.

A gentleness that seemed almost submissive.

What exactly is she trying to do?

The Tao Ran in front of her, the Tao Ran in her memory, and the Tao Ran she had seen a few days ago.

They seemed like three completely different people, unsettling Zuo Xian’s thoughts.

Zuo Xian stopped walking, frustration clouding her brows. She decided to get straight to the point. “Tao Ran, what exactly do you want?”

“I… A-Xian, please don’t be angry.” Tao Ran clearly panicked at Zuo Xian’s sudden outburst. “I didn’t mean to do anything, I just…”

Her words were cut off by Zuo Xian. She stepped closer to Tao Ran, instantly closing the distance between them. Tao Ran couldn’t help but hold her breath, lost in the sight of the beautiful face magnified before her.

“You’re here to get revenge on me, aren’t you?” Zuo Xian extended her hand, her index finger unceremoniously poking Tao Ran’s chest.

“Is it because I confessed my feelings to you ten years ago, shattered your image of ‘pure’ friendship, and destroyed your friendship, that you’re coming back now to torment me?”

“‘A gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years.’ Is that what you mean?”

“No, no it’s not.” Tao Ran shook her head, her eyes seeming to well up with tears. She looked at Zuo Xian and whispered, “I want to apologize to you.”

“Apologize?”

“I’m sorry for saying such harsh things to you back then.” Tao Ran’s voice was very soft, yet every word struck Zuo Xian’s heart.

The pounding made it hard for Zuo Xian to breathe, and her nose felt a little sore. She quickly took a deep breath, licked her lips, and pretended not to care.

She smiled and said, “No need to apologize. I forgot about it a long time ago.”

Tao Ran froze, disbelief etched on her face. “You… forgot?”

Zuo Xian smiled even more brightly. “Yes, I forgot. Tao Ran, I’m past the age where I’d hold a grudge over something small. Have you forgotten how long we’ve been estranged?”

Tao Ran said blankly, “Ten years…”

“Ten years. That’s enough time to forget almost anything.”

Zuo Xian quietly observed Tao Ran’s expression, narrowing her eyes.

I’m lying to you.

I hate you to death.

From ten years ago until now, every minute and every second, I have hated you.