The Eldest Lady always wants to have a double O Relationship with her old enemy - Chapter 25

Who would?

Those brief three words brushed past Tang Yanzhao’s ear. She patted the water droplets on her hands and replied in a calm tone:

“I don’t know.”

Even though she had already guessed that would be the answer, disappointment was inevitable.

With a bit of sulky defiance, Shen Jianxi asked,
“Then am I the only one now?”

A vague concept—if Tang answered “yes,” then she would count it as her own victory.

Tang Yanzhao paused for two seconds to think. Among the people close to her, besides her mother, there was only “Shen Jianxi.” So she nodded decisively:

“Yes.”

At those words, the last trace of Shen Jianxi’s anger instantly melted away. Unwittingly, Tang Yanzhao had coaxed her into good spirits.

Still, debts had to be settled later.

After all, according to Jiang Lan’s tone, it had been Shen Jianxi who wanted to get even with an old rival—but she had concealed the fact that the other person liked Tang Yanzhao.

So…

“When Jiang Lan wins the game, we must properly slaughter her with a big meal.”

Laughter rippled in Tang Yanzhao’s eyes, carrying a tenderness neither of them noticed.

“Alright.”

Shen Jianxi propped her chin on her hand and gazed at Tang Yanzhao.
“Suddenly, I regret it a little.”

“Hm?” Tang Yanzhao let out a soft sound of puzzlement.

“If only I could hide you away.”

That way, no one else would discover Tang Yanzhao’s goodness. Then she would be the only one who liked her.

But the moment she said it, Shen Jianxi immediately straightened and shook her head.
“No, no, that’s not right.”

Someone as wonderful as Yanzhao should stand in the sunlight and be loved by everyone.

The contradiction left her sulking and jealous again.

Tang Yanzhao, bewildered by Shen Jianxi’s sudden emotional swings, asked her about it—only to get back a “nothing’s wrong.”

After all, when you’re in a jealous mood, isn’t being asked “what’s wrong” like pouring fuel on the fire? A proper young lady would never admit to jealousy.

So it was impossible for Shen Jianxi to swagger back into the stadium with Tang Yanzhao in tow.

She simply couldn’t stand seeing that face she utterly detested.

Instead, she pulled Tang Yanzhao outside, and the two watched the live stream of the match. Tang Yanzhao, as always, went along with her, without a single complaint.

The second half remained just as tense and thrilling. From the little exclamations popping out of Shen Jianxi’s mouth, one could tell how the game was going.

In the end, the match didn’t disappoint—Jiang Lan clinched the victory for her team with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, securing their qualification for the national tournament.

Because of the celebration banquet with her team after the match, Jiang Lan postponed the promised meal she owed Shen Jianxi and Tang Yanzhao.

Life then went on as usual. Between classes, the two of them buried themselves in the rehearsal hall.

But Shen Jianxi underestimated how persistent “the long-armed ape” was.

Ever since the basketball game, nearly every day Tang Yanzhao found breakfast on her desk. Even though she never touched it, those eyesore offerings were still piercing to Shen Jianxi.

And what could she do? A powerful family background didn’t mean she could control everything. As long as the other girl played by the rules, Shen Jianxi couldn’t do a thing.

Besides, no matter how angry she was, she had her own principles and bottom line—everything was fine as long as Tang Yanzhao wasn’t hurt.

The long-armed ape hadn’t done anything immoral. It was just normal pursuit. Tang Yanzhao refused everything, but that still didn’t calm the sour jealousy gnawing at Shen Jianxi’s chest.

And then things started to get out of hand.

More and more people began sending Tang Yanzhao gifts. At first, they were anonymous. Then came signatures. Eventually, people started handing them over in person.

Even though Tang Yanzhao turned them all down, Shen Jianxi’s emotions were constantly being pulled around. It felt like she was burning through a lifetime’s worth of anger all at once.

Sure enough, after one run-through of their play, Shen Jianxi was sitting at the edge of the stage resting when a round-faced beta girl timidly walked up.

“Um…”

Hearing her, Shen Jianxi lifted her gaze from her phone. Her expression was indifferent, but when her eyes swept over the tightly gripped letter in the girl’s hands, she immediately understood.

“No need. I don’t like it.”

“But I still want to try. Could you give me a chance?” The girl was so nervous her calves were trembling.

Shen Jianxi frowned impatiently.
“You’re just wasting your time. Have you ever seen anyone succeed?”

“But some people’s love letters were accepted.”

“Accepted doesn’t mean agreed to. They all end up in the trash. You people don’t know that.” Shen Jianxi didn’t bother with politeness—she bluntly and cruelly dissected the truth.

“But to someone who truly likes her, that doesn’t matter. What matters isn’t the letter’s end—it’s that we never expect anything in return.” The girl’s voice trembled with a faint sob.

“Then what is important?”

Shen Jianxi couldn’t wrap her head around their logic. To her, liking someone had to lead somewhere—whether good or bad.

“The process. The act of expressing my feelings. I don’t want my love to rot away in some dark, hidden corner.”

Shen Jianxi frowned.
“So?”

The girl’s lips quivered, eyes shimmering. Her fingers clutched the paper so tightly they turned white. Then she suddenly thrust it forward, holding it out to Shen Jianxi.

“Please take it.”

Expressionless, Shen Jianxi hesitated, then “mercifully” reached out to accept it.

Just as her fingertip brushed the paper, the girl’s mood brightened and she said,

“Thank you for passing this on to Tang Yanzhao.”

“…”

The look in Shen Jianxi’s eyes froze on the letter. Her chin even twitched twice uncontrollably.

“What do you mean?”

“I like Tang Yanzhao. So thank you for delivering this to her.”

Shen Jianxi had been ready to throw it away, but the situation had gone off script. Rising to her feet, she stared down at the girl, who was half a head shorter.

“Deliver it? It’s not for me?” Shen Jianxi’s disbelief slipped out before she could stop it.

The girl shook her head.
“No, no. I like Tang Yanzhao. This was written for her.”

“Then why give it to me?”

The girl answered honestly:
“Because when people give her things, she never even looks at them. But if it’s something from you, she will—and she’ll take it seriously.”

Shen Jianxi loathed the intent behind the words, but she couldn’t deny they struck a chord.

She dangled the letter by one corner, smiling faintly.
“So you’re using me?”

“Not using, no!” The girl frantically shook her head. “Please don’t misunderstand, Jianxi. I just wanted your opinion. I only hope my feelings can be seen by Tang Yanzhao.”

“Didn’t you say the outcome doesn’t matter?” Shen Jianxi’s tone dripped with mockery.

“I don’t care about the outcome. But I want her to see me—even if just this once. Please, Jianxi, help me.”

Shen Jianxi lowered her hand, pressing the letter against her leg.
“Only this once.”

The girl nearly bowed in gratitude.

“Yanzhao’s here.” Shen Jianxi said coolly.

At once, the girl bolted, leaving only her back for Tang Yanzhao to see.

Tang Yanzhao came over with a cup of milk tea, already unwrapped and with a straw poked in, and handed it to Shen Jianxi. She didn’t ask about the odd scene she’d just walked in on.

Shen Jianxi sat back down, patted the space beside her. Tang Yanzhao obediently sat, their skirts brushing together, inseparable.

“Here, for you.” Shen Jianxi handed the girl’s letter over.

“What’s this?” Tang Yanzhao asked, taking it with suspicion.

“A love letter.”

“Whose?”

“If I said it was mine, written for you—would you believe me?” Shen Jianxi deliberately kept her words vague, watching Tang Yanzhao’s expression.

But Tang Yanzhao just looked at her.
“From that girl earlier, right?”

Exposed in an instant. Absolutely no dramatic tension. Shen Jianxi forced a smile.
“Mm. From her.”

Tang Yanzhao set it aside carelessly, without any intention of opening it.

Shen Jianxi arched an eyebrow.
“Not going to read it? That girl wrote it sincerely. She knew you wouldn’t look, so she begged me to give it to you.”

“No need. It’s meaningless.”

Shen Jianxi couldn’t help but laugh.
“And if it really were from me? Would you read it then?”

“You wouldn’t.” Tang Yanzhao’s ink-black eyes met hers, her voice firm and certain.

Shen Jianxi narrowed her eyes.
“Why not?”

“Because you don’t write love letters.”

Suddenly, Shen Jianxi bristled.
“My grades aren’t as good as yours, but I’m still top ten in the year. You’re saying I can’t write a love letter? Are you looking down on me? Do you want me to grab a pen right now and write one?”

Caught off guard by the outburst, Tang Yanzhao blinked, stunned for a moment before answering.
“No, I mean… your personality isn’t the type to write love letters.”

“…”

Shen Jianxi fell silent, frozen in place.

Her reaction was too much like a reflex.

After all, she’d grown up showered with affection, never needing to lower herself to win anyone’s heart. How could such a proud princess be the sort to bite her pen, agonize over words, and anxiously scribble out a confession letter?

But reality didn’t always follow expectations—just now, she had almost blurted out that she would write one for Tang Yanzhao.

If that got out, people would think Tang Yanzhao’s popularity had gone to her head, making her delusional enough to imagine herself a queen.

Suddenly, Shen Jianxi’s phone rang in her pocket, breaking the awkward tension. She fumbled around clumsily, unable to pull it free.

Tang Yanzhao finally reached in to help. Her cool, slender fingers brushed against Shen Jianxi’s warm ones, deftly undoing the tangle of clothes and retrieving the phone just before the call could cut off.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Shen Jianxi took it and answered.
“Hello.”

“Jianxi, what shady business are you up to? Took you long enough to pick up.”

Though nothing was happening, Shen Jianxi instinctively darted a glance at Tang Yanzhao, then quickly turned away, legs swinging off the stage edge.
“What do you want?”

Jiang Lan’s cheerful voice came through the receiver.
“To make amends, of course.”

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