Chapter 219

Chapter 219: I Also Have a Friend

The four golden flowers inside the tent chatted until late into the night before they gradually stopped talking. The day’s fatigue quickly sent everyone into sweet dreams, except for Liu Xiaoyu who tossed and turned.

Ever since she faced unjust treatment in middle school for “meddling,” Liu Xiaoyu had lived in a lonely world of self-reliance. Her interactions with Xia Yuan, Lin Youxi, and Mei Fang allowed her to rediscover friendship.

Over the past half year, she had silently watched as Mei Fang’s relationship with Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi progressed, from which she felt both envy and pride at being part of the Ximilu Studio.

Stability among three people could make their bond unbreakable, but now that one couple had disrupted the original balance, everything seemed uncertain.

Mei Fang and Lin Youxi’s hidden love would eventually be discovered, and no matter when that day came, it would mark the end of their childhood romance.

But this was inevitable in growing up.

Mei Fang might choose someone other than Lin Youxi to avoid making a choice, but wouldn’t that also harm another person?

Sigh…

Liu Xiaoyu realized she was facing an unsolvable dilemma.

She regretted taking those extra steps to admire the scenery by Tianchi Lake. Now all she could think about were the dynamics between the three of them and the passionate kiss between Mei Fang and Lin Youxi…

Liu Xiaoyu slept lightly, with uneasy memories plaguing her dreams. She heard Yuan Yuan’s voice from the other side of the tent.

“Hello, is anyone awake?”

“What’s wrong?”

Liu Xiaoyu asked softly.

“I woke up, Xiaoyu. I… need to use the restroom. Can you keep me company?”

“Sure… I’ll go with you.”

Liu Xiaoyu and Xia Yuan put on their outerwear and quietly made their way to the restroom at the top of the mountain. Even though it was deep into the night, some shops still shone brightly at the summit, providing them with a sense of security.

They didn’t say much as they went, but on the way back, Xia Yuan suddenly started chatting with Liu Xiaoyu.

“Speaking of last night, we talked so much, but I didn’t hear you talk about your ideal boyfriend.”

“As for me… honestly, I haven’t really thought about dating.”

Liu Xiaoyu said gently, “To me, it feels like a very luxurious and distant thing.”

“There’s nothing luxurious or distant about it. We’re already this age, right? It’s fine to think about it.”

Xia Yuan, worried that Liu Xiaoyu might feel uncomfortable, decided to share something obvious.

“Take me, for example… I can only think of our little childhood friend. So I don’t know if that counts as normal… um…”

The more shy Xia Yuan became while talking about Mei Fang, the more Liu Xiaoyu felt heartache for her.

What a good girl…

She even felt guilty for so long because she handed over the family hotel to us.

“As for me… I prefer a partner who supports each other.”

“He doesn’t have to be handsome or outstanding, but I hope we can support each other, understand each other, make up for each other’s shortcomings, and achieve common goals. That feels great.”

Liu Xiaoyu thought for a moment, “Maybe this sounds abstract… but basically, I’m quite insecure. I even hope the person I like isn’t too outstanding, so he won’t get involved in too many disputes, and I don’t want to get involved either. I just want a quiet relationship.”

“But that doesn’t mean I want someone useless… I just want him to have ambition, treat me well, and always support me. That’s enough for me.”

“I understand that feeling. You don’t crave a dramatic love story; you just want a peaceful relationship, right?”

Liu Xiaoyu smiled slightly, “While tumultuous stories are touching, the daily grind of life is what truly matters.”

“Yes, yes!” Xia Yuan nodded with a smile, “For example, even though I hope my Afang will shine on stage, seeing so many girls interested in him makes me feel a bit tired. I can only become better myself to discourage others.”

“But I wonder if Afang thinks the same way. So we both keep pushing forward.”

“Dumb Yuan Yuan… What did you say?”

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“No, nothing.”

“Speaking of which… Xiaoyu… do your friends usually call you that? It sounds a bit like ‘Little Fish.'”

“My parents used to call me Yu’er directly, but now it sounds a bit… eccentric.”

“How is it eccentric? I think it sounds nice.” Xia Yuan patted Liu Xiaoyu’s shoulder with a smile, “Yu’er… it sounds very gentle.”

“If you like it, Yuan Yuan, you can call me anything.”

Liu Xiaoyu gave Xia Yuan a slight smile, looking at the faint light of dawn in the distance, “It seems like dawn is approaching, and people are starting to wake up. Shall we not rush back?”

“Okay, let’s walk around first.”

Xia Yuan and Liu Xiaoyu held hands and strolled along the shores of Tianchi Lake. As they walked, Liu Xiaoyu suddenly turned to look at Xia Yuan, who was looking back at her. They both spoke at the same time:

“That—”

“Do you want to speak first?” they said together again.

Liu Xiaoyu smiled, “If you’re in a hurry, Yuan Yuan, you can go ahead.”

“That… I was moved by your story last night. Because I… also have a friend who experienced something similar.”

“Specifically, what kind of thing?”

“The story I tell has no villains; everyone is a good friend. My friend also has two other friends, and you can compare their relationships to ours, but they are three girls, close friends.”

Liu Xiaoyu nodded, “I’m listening.”

“Right, they are very close friends, deeply bonded, never distinguishing who comes first, and never forming smaller groups.”

“What’s the problem?”

“The problem is, Girl A developed feelings for Girl C, and she wants to be with Girl C forever. Not just casual affection, but real romantic love.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Liu Xiaoyu nodded, clearly understanding that Girl A was Yuan Yuan and Girl C was Mei Fang.

Xia Yuan softened the genders to make Liu Xiaoyu feel their experiences were too similar.

“Then, she has a good relationship with Girl B, and she knows Girl B probably likes Girl C too, but they both keep it under wraps, you understand what I mean?”

“Um… I get it.” Liu Xiaoyu nodded, thinking it was the three of them.

“Originally, everyone got along harmoniously until one day, Girl A couldn’t hold back her feelings for Girl C and did something beyond just being friends. I can’t say exactly what happened, but…”

Xia Yuan felt extremely embarrassed, shocking Liu Xiaoyu profoundly.

Girl A was actually Lin Youxi, wasn’t she?

Yuan Yuan was Girl B?

So, she really knew about the kiss between Youxi and Mei Fang!

“Does Girl B know about this?”

“Let’s not worry about whether she knows or not. If you were Girl B, how would you react?”

“I’d be angry, first of all.”

Liu Xiaoyu said gently, “Since everyone kept things under wraps, why cross boundaries?”

“Yeah… you’re right.”

Xia Yuan wiped her sweat, “Yes, very angry. But getting angry won’t solve anything. Do you think she would cut ties with them?”

Yuan Yuan would cut ties with Mei Fang and Youxi? No, that wouldn’t work… I can’t persuade Yuan Yuan to do such a thing.

“I think… probably not? Given how long they’ve been friends, casually cutting ties would be regrettable for a lifetime.”

“I agree, ha, ha…”

Xia Yuan scratched her head, “What I’m more curious about is, given that this has happened, how do you think they should mend their relationship?”

Persist in being proud and say it’s irreparable?

Then the only way left is to cut ties!

Liu Xiaoyu didn’t want to see the trio fall apart.

But if she had to insist on mending—

This chapter is an update from yesterday’s underworld, I need to go to bed early tonight.

End of Chapter