Chapter 347: Whispers of the Heart

Fang Meng hesitated for a second, then tucked away the mechanical pencil too. “Not every girl in the world will like Lin Zheng Ran, no matter how outstanding he is.”

Lily glanced back at Fang Meng. “Of course I know that, but you’re still dodging my question directly. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Jiang Qian. I just want the truth from you.”

Fang Meng fell silent.

Lily pursed her lips, her brow furrowing slightly. “Not answering means you’re admitting it. I never noticed before that you liked him too, but if you didn’t, you wouldn’t have shown that hint of jealousy when we confirmed Zheng Ran was starting a harem.”

Fang Meng looked up, puzzled. “Was I jealous just now?”

“Yeah, you hid it well and didn’t want anyone to see, but I caught it. Back then, I might have thought I was mistaken, but after dealing with that fox incident, I’m pretty good at reading people now.”

Lily’s eyes sharpened, a cold glint flashing in them.

Fang Meng’s fingers slowly clenched into a fist. “Please don’t tell Qian Qian about this, okay?”

Lily smiled. “Sure, I can do that. Since you promised to keep our secrets, I’ll keep yours. But as for dating Zheng Ran, you and Jiang Qian should forget about it. Four is already a lot, and we four have no plans to let him add two more.”

Though earlier they had mentioned he could maybe add two more.

“Thanks.”

Lily asked, “Can I ask when you started liking him? You don’t seem like the type to fall for someone just based on looks.”

Fang Meng looked at Lily:

“It’s not about personality. I started feeling something for him back in high school, after Lin Zheng Ran took me to karaoke. But you, Heqing, Han Wenwen, and the Eldest Miss—each of you has your own unique vibe. As for me, I can’t even figure out my own personality. I’m just an ordinary girl.”

“Why the sudden honesty?” Lily lifted her chin, acting proud as she squinted one eye like she was uncovering the truth:

“Are you trying to say you think you’re too ordinary to win Zheng Ran, so you’re just content with a secret crush? But from what I saw, your eyes on him didn’t look like you’d given up at all.”

Fang Meng’s pupils widened slightly as she stared at the usually carefree Lily.

She never expected her to be so observant.

Of course, Fang Meng had no idea that Lily’s last comment was just offhand. She could only tell which girls liked Lin Zheng Ran, nothing more.

Lily added casually:

“Actually, we’re all just ordinary girls, no real differences. We’re lucky Zheng Ran protects us so well, letting us keep our childhood personalities. Let me share a secret with you—

Before I met Zheng Ran, I had no friends. Back then, I loved being the class monitor, and everyone in class hated me.”

She told Fang Meng, “If I hadn’t met Zheng Ran, people probably would have seen me as that quiet, boring type who never says much.”

With that, Lily headed back to Heqing.

Fang Meng watched Lily’s lively steps, her golden twin tails bouncing with each move.

A slow smile spread across her lips as she felt relieved. “It seems Lin Zheng Ran really has saved a lot of girls’ lives.”

Lily returned to Heqing’s desk.

Heqing was playing on her phone and looked up curiously when she arrived. “Lily, did buying a drink take you a whole year? You’re back so late, and where’s your drink?”

“I finished it.” Lily leaned in and whispered in Heqing’s ear, “I ran into Fang Meng, which held me up a bit.”

“Fang Meng?” She glanced back and spotted Fang Meng in the distance.

Lily nodded, sat down, and kept whispering, “She found out about Zheng Ran’s harem and asked me some odd questions.”

“Huh? What do we do? We have to make sure she doesn’t spill it!”

Lily waved confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ve got leverage on her, so she won’t tell anyone our secret.”

“Leverage? Is it reliable?!”

Lily smirked wickedly. “Oh, it’s very reliable. Big time leverage.”

Heqing blinked. “Lily, your expression is so evil—it makes you look like a villain.”

“Uh…”

“But it does seem solid. And you said she asked you questions? What exactly?”

Lily answered honestly. “Stuff like what I like to eat, what I like to do, what time I go to bed. No idea what she was up to.”

Heqing frowned. “That sounds kind of creepy. She isn’t into you, is she?”

“No way!” Lily pouted, embarrassed. “That’s what I thought at first, so I asked, but clearly she doesn’t feel that way about me.”

“Then why ask about that stuff?” Heqing still didn’t get it.

Before she could say more, Fang Meng appeared beside them.

Fang Meng held a notebook and said seriously, “Hello.”

Lily and Heqing both jumped in surprise.

Lily said, “What are you doing back here?”

Fang Meng turned to Heqing. “I’m not here for Lily this time. I want to talk to you.”

Heqing pointed at herself. “Me? Talk about what? I don’t know anything!” She waved her hands quickly.

“I haven’t even asked yet.” Fang Meng replied.

Heqing panicked and covered her eyes. “Whatever you ask, I won’t say a word about Lin Zheng Ran! And I don’t like girls!”

Fang Meng: “.”

Fang Meng clarified, “What’s with that last part? Don’t worry, it’s not about Lin Zheng Ran. I already covered that with Lily.”

Lily groaned, “Hey, that makes it sound like I spilled everything. Are you trying to stir up trouble for me? You found out on your own, remember?”

Fang Meng looked at Lily and suddenly threw her a flirty wink.

Lily clenched her fists and shut her eyes. “Why are you winking at me? That just makes me look like the snitch! I’m not on your side!”

Fang Meng coughed and got serious. “Alright, no joking. It really was me who figured it out. Lily kept everything under wraps.”

Lily shot her a disdainful look.

Heqing kept her eyes covered, her voice soft. “Even if you’re trying to cause trouble, it won’t work. Lily and I are best friends. I’d believe her over you any day, even if we’re friends too.”

Lily felt a surge of emotion, their sisterly bond strong.

Fang Meng said to Heqing:

“So, can I ask you a few questions? They’re just about you, not Lin Zheng Ran. As a reward, I’ll give you some rare photos of Lin Zheng Ran from high school in our class—super exclusive ones that only Qian Qian and I have.”

Heqing peeked through her fingers at Fang Meng.

“Really? Okay, sure!”