Chapter 182: Mending Broken Bonds

That day in the car, I didn’t mean to stop you from going abroad for school. I only said those things because I heard Uncle and Aunt mention a year ago that your dream was Tsinghua.” Jiang Qian looked at Fang Meng.

Ever since elementary school, Fang Meng hadn’t really had a heart-to-heart with Jiang Qian. Over the years, Jiang Qian’s icy demeanor meant she didn’t open up to anyone either.

Until today, Fang Meng smiled and said, “What Tsinghua? I must have told my parents that when I was little. By middle school, I’d changed my mind—I always wanted to be with you.”

Jiang Qian smiled.

Fang Meng continued, “And that day in the car, I was just lashing out in anger. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I know you see me as a friend, but”

All the words they wanted to say suddenly vanished, leaving both unsure of what to express.

Fang Meng looked down and said, “I think our recent fight goes back to that incident from years ago, Qian Qian. Can we talk about it properly?”

“Yeah, let’s be honest today. Back when I was fighting and asked you that question, you didn’t answer, and it made me so angry.”

Fang Meng’s eyes widened.

Jiang Qian recalled the past, staring straight ahead: “Though I’ve never brought it up these years and told myself not to care anymore, because your hesitation didn’t mean much, I still feel hurt whenever I think about it. Back then…”

Jiang Qian’s voice suddenly shifted, her brow furrowing as it grew hoarse:

“Why didn’t you answer me? Even if you’d just nodded, I’d have felt that what I did as a kid wasn’t so ridiculous. I always saw you as my best friend. They might hesitate, but I thought you wouldn’t. But”

Fang Meng gently clutched Jiang Qian’s clothes, tears welling in her eyes:

“Qian Qian, I’m sorry… really sorry. I’ve regretted my hesitation so many times over the years. I always wanted to tell you that if I could go back, I’d say I’d help you.

I didn’t even process it at the time. Later, I tried countless times to talk to you about it, but no matter what I said…”

Tears streamed down her face, her voice trembling, and the hand gripping Jiang Qian’s clothes shook:

“Every time I wanted to bring it up, I saw that look of dislike and doubt in your eyes. I know nothing I say now can make you believe me, but I really have always seen you as my best friend. How could I not help you?”

Jiang Qian’s eyes turned red as she looked at Fang Meng, tears falling too.

Outside the sports warehouse, Lin Zheng Ran watched from afar as students on the playground horsed around after their mock physical tests.

He had to admit, having enhanced senses wasn’t all good—sometimes he didn’t want to overhear things.

But if he focused a little, he could hear everything inside clearly.

Still, no matter what, the rift between these two best friends was finally settling today.

A while later, in the corner of the sports warehouse, Fang Meng pulled some tissues from her torn pocket to wipe Jiang Qian’s tears. She broke into a smile through her sobs: “It’s been ages since I saw you cry, Qian Qian. You feel a bit like the old you right now.”

The two friends sat there, hands clasped.

Jiang Qian said, “Over these years, I knew you did a lot for me. My sister told me—you practiced martial arts during breaks to protect me if anyone fought me, and you studied medicine because of that time I took you to the clinic.”

Fang Meng blushed and looked down: “Yeah, the Eldest Miss sometimes asks about these things. I don’t want to spill, but secrets don’t stay hidden around her.”

Jiang Qian let out a light laugh and sighed before suggesting:

“How about coming back as my assistant, Xiao Meng? Things haven’t been going right without you. I can’t sleep well, study well—forget surpassing Lin Zheng Ran, I can’t even top my old self.”

Fang Meng nodded with a smile: “Sure, but Qian Qian, are you still trying to find Lin Zheng Ran’s weaknesses? I’d say let it go. He’s really something special.

From what I’ve observed over the past year, he’s not like anyone else. If he wanted fame, he’d be number one at everything. He can even think while sleeping.” She laughed in relief: “Though I know getting you to back down is impossible.”

Jiang Qian thought of Lin Zheng Ran, her cheeks flushing slightly:

“Actually, after our fight, I realized my curiosity about Lin Zheng Ran has changed. I used to just want to compete and beat him,

but since he taught me piano that time and we talked the other day about you, I have to admit that more than his strength, I’m interested in him as a person.”

Jiang Qian’s voice softened:

“He feels so familiar, like me from before, but even better. I don’t know what I feel for him now—it’s just that I’m curious about everything about him and want to know it all. Yesterday, he even confessed to me, though he took it back.”

Fang Meng was listening intently until one word surprised her: “Wait, confessed? What confession?”

Jiang Qian explained:

“Well, yesterday when I wanted to talk to him, I let him make a request. He suddenly said anything but sleeping with me—I thought he meant asking me to be his girlfriend, and I figured I could try, so I agreed. But then he said that wasn’t it.”

Fang Meng stared at Jiang Qian in a daze. Hearing about Lin Zheng Ran’s confession stirred an odd discomfort in her.

It left her feeling empty.

Jiang Qian asked:

“By the way, Xiao Meng, I have something to ask you. Why are you so familiar with Lin Zheng Ran? Last week, you went singing alone with him? And if I heard right,

you said you’ve been observing him for over a year? And that he thinks while sleeping? Does that mean you were with him when he slept? Were you around him during your breaks from me?”

Fang Meng saw Jiang Qian’s intense curiosity and chuckled: “That’s a long story. Actually, we’re childhood betrothed.”

Jiang Qian’s eyes widened: “What?! You’re betrothed to him too? How many does he have?”

Fang Meng answered, but quickly asked her own question:

“Just two—one’s me, one’s the Eldest Miss. It’s complicated, I’ll explain tonight. But we’re not done with the earlier topic.

Why did Lin Zheng Ran bring up sleeping together with you? Why did you think it was a confession? And most importantly, why did you agree?”

Fang Meng said word by word: “You’ve really fallen for Lin Zheng Ran, haven’t you?”

Jiang Qian froze: “I”

She looked at the ground, shyly saying: “I don’t know what liking someone means. I guess it’s not that.”

Jiang Qian turned back to Fang Meng: “Though lately, everyone’s saying you’re his girlfriend, and he told me you’re not. Xiao Meng, you don’t like him, right?”

Fang Meng waved her hands quickly: “Of course I don’t li—” She stopped, the word caught in her throat.

Scenes of her alone with Lin Zheng Ran flooded her mind.

For a moment, she couldn’t finish the sentence, unsure of her feelings.

Luckily, Jiang Qian’s phone rang—it was the Driver calling.

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t listen anymore from outside; the conversation had taken a weird turn. He walked in: “What are you two going on about?”