Lan Ningâs fingers were constantly picking at her own clothes, a small action she took when she was troubled by a problem.
âIâ¦â Lan Ning was almost crying in urgency, âI donât want to lose you guys as friends. You have been very kind to me, and I want to be good friends with you all my life. I know your families are all very well off, and itâs my honor to be friends with you, so Iâve always wanted to maintain this friendship, butâ¦â
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, âI feel a bit sorry for Li Li. She has been so good to me, yet I am trying to take the person she likes.â
âWhat?â Tan Rou was also surprised, as if she had heard something shocking, âYouâre trying to take her boyfriend?â
Lan Ning pursed her lips, âI didnât mean to steal her boyfriend, but Senior Wu Hao somehow got my contact information, and then he kept texting me to go out and hang out, and even gave me gifts alone.â
Tan Rouâs mind was overloaded. Li Li liked Wu Hao, and while Wu Hao was giving gifts to Lan Ning, Lan Ning and Li Li were good friends; wasnât this a love triangle? Or perhaps not, depending on whether Lan Ning liked Wu Hao or not. If Lan Ning liked Wu Hao too, this whole thing would probably get very complicated.
âNing Ning, do you have feelings for Senior Wu Hao?â Tan Rou brought Lan Ning to a nearby chair to rest, âLetâs sit down and rest for a bit, and then later we can go find Li Li and the others.â
âI donât like Senior Wu Hao,â Lan Ning said directly. âRight now, all Iâm thinking about is studying hard, finding a suitable job after graduation, and then bringing my younger sister to the Capital for her studies.â
âMmm, I know your plan.â Tan Rou, concerned that Lan Ning couldnât differentiate between love and sisterly affection, asked, âSo what do you feel about Senior Wu Hao?â
Lan Ning honestly said, âI donât feel anything for him. If it werenât for Li Li liking him, I wouldnât even contact him. Last time he got injured, Li Li went to see him, and I tagged along because I couldnât go empty-handed, so I bought a fruit basket. After that, he kept contacting me, saying he wanted to invite me for a meal. When I didnât agree, he just said heâd ask again another time.â
âDoes Li Li know?â Tan Rou asked.
âShe probably doesnât know,â Lan Ning said sadly. âI donât dare tell her. If I did, she definitely wouldnât talk to me anymore.â
Tan Rou smiled a bit, âIf Li Li stops being your friend over this, then thereâs no need for you guys to continue being friends.â
Lan Ning immediately shook her head, âNo, I donât want that!â
Tan Rou held Lan Ningâs hand and said, âWhat I mean is that your relationship shouldnât change just because of a guy, especially since itâs the senior who likes you, not you deliberately trying to steal the guy Li Li likes. So Li Li definitely wouldnât blame you after finding out.â
Lan Ning still didnât dare to say, because she knew Li Li genuinely liked Wu Hao. If she admitted Wu Hao liked her, Li Li would definitely get angry, and once angry, Lan Ning would be left without friends.
As far as Lan Ning was concerned, Li Li, Tan Rou, and the others were already close; they had known each other since high school, and if she and Li Li had a falling out, Tan Rou and the others would definitely side with Li Li.
She didnât want to be friends with them just because they were wealthy, but because they had helped her. In Lan Ningâs heart, she felt she must repay them to maintain their lifelong friendship.
âLan Ning, this isnât your fault, and you donât need to dwell on it anymore,â Tan Rou said. âHeâs your suitor. If you donât like him, just reject him outrightly and demand that he never appears in front of you again.â
Lan Ning had told Wu Hao as much, but Wu Hao simply wouldnât listen, insisted on sending her gifts, and even threatened that if she didnât accept, he would tell others.
Who that âothersâ might be, Lan Ning could guess without a doubt.
Upon hearing this, Tan Rou frowned deeply, âSo, he has been threatening you?â
Lan Ning was startled, âIs that considered a threat?â
âOf course, it is!â said Tan Rou very confidently, âHe must have realized you are easy to talk to, which is why he keeps threatening you. If it were Li Li, she probably would have thrown the gift back in his face already.â
Lan Ning laughed, moved by her words, âLi Li would indeed do that.â
âWhere did you put his gifts, then?â Tan Rou asked.
Lan Ning said, âI didnât dare keep them and later returned them to his roommate.â