I Deduce the Female Lead Likes Me [Transmigration into a book] - Chapter 3: Stating One's Position
Kou Shuang wasn’t sure about Lu Renjia.
But what she could confirm was that Lu Renjia was interested in her.
For an “old auntie” like Kou Shuang, reaching this conclusion wasn’t difficult. Even though she had never been in a relationship, hormones were still hormones.
After the party began, Lu Renjia led Kou Shuang to the seat with the best view, under the guise of “makeup artist perks.” He spent the entire party chatting with Kou Shuang, his language witty and humorous, but his desire to please was undeniable. Occasionally, the stage manager would come to find him, and after a brief departure, he’d return with a smile, sit next to Kou Shuang, and nonchalantly continue their conversation.
Kou Shuang saw through it but didn’t expose him, merely responding indifferently.
Because of Lu Renjia’s advances, Kou Shuang didn’t truly enjoy the party; she hadn’t even paid close attention.
Only occasionally, after booming applause, she’d look towards the stage and always see Song Muxue in a red dress, announcing acts with grace and poise.
She couldn’t help but think: Song Muxue is so beautiful! Her total stage time is less than half an hour, yet she’s like the main character, captivating everyone’s attention.
Oh, she was the main character.
Lu Renjia noticed Kou Shuang’s gaze, glanced at Song Muxue, and said: “I saw a quote on Weibo a few days ago, and now I finally understand what it means.”
“What quote?”
“A beautiful girl’s friend must also be beautiful.” Lu Renjia smiled and said: “Ordinary girls can’t be Song Muxue’s friends at all; you’re the first.”
Kou Shuang was somewhat puzzled. She turned to look at Lu Renjia and said: “What’s wrong with Song Muxue? Is she not popular?”
She had assumed Song Muxue should be popular everywhere.
Lu Renjia smiled and changed the subject: “After the party ends, we’re having a private celebration party. Do you want to come along?”
Kou Shuang hesitated, trying to formulate a refusal, when she heard Lu Renjia say: “I also invited Song Muxue.”
For some unknown reason, Kou Shuang, hearing this, inexplicably agreed: “Okay.”
••••
After the party, Kou Shuang went backstage to wait for Song Muxue. She didn’t know where her dorm was and needed Song Muxue to take her there after the celebration party.
But when Lu Renjia mentioned the celebration party, Song Muxue was very surprised and said: “I said I wouldn’t go when we did the group survey earlier.”
Lu Renjia carefully looked at Kou Shuang and said: “Kou Shuang is going, so just come along to keep your friend company! Don’t worry about the budget; I’ll pay for both your meals. Just consider it giving me a chance.”
Kou Shuang looked at Lu Renjia in surprise. Only then did she realize what he meant.
But Lu Renjia said to her: “When I asked for your help with makeup, I promised to treat you to milk tea. If you’re not coming to the celebration, then shall we make another time to meet?”
Kou Shuang thought for a moment, then shut her mouth.
She had no intention of developing a relationship, but Lu Renjia did. To make him give up, it was best not to give him opportunities for alone time.
Song Muxue stared at Kou Shuang for a while. Seeing that she didn’t refuse, she could only frown and say: “Alright then, but only for half an hour. I have something else to do later.”
Lu Renjia nodded in agreement, then quietly said to Kou Shuang: “Sorry, I just wanted to thank you for your help.”
Kou Shuang pretended not to understand his meaning and nodded.
Everyone went to a restaurant near the school. When they sat down, Kou Shuang instinctively sat close to Song Muxue, and Lu Renjia didn’t presumptuously sit next to her, which made her sigh in relief.
It was Song Muxue who looked a bit unnatural, asking her: “Why are you coming to the celebration party?”
Kou Shuang looked at Song Muxue and felt very wronged: “I was tricked into coming. Lu Renjia said you were coming too.”
Song Muxue was silent for a while, perhaps weighing the truth of that statement.
Kou Shuang understood something from Song Muxue’s attitude.
In the original novel, the female lead had a calm and resilient personality, but she deeply loved Zheng Fenglin. She was meticulous in solving cases and steadfast in her love. Both the male and female leads deeply loved each other, which was one of the most important selling points of “Snow and Wind’s Gift to Me.”
Song Muxue… must be worried that she had some bad intentions, right? Especially since she had a past record.
Kou Shuang awkwardly took a sip of tea and said: “Uh, I wanted to ask you a favor. I want to… find a boyfriend. Could you introduce me to someone?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Kou Shuang wanted to slap herself twice. What was she even saying?!
Actually, she wanted to clarify to Song Muxue that she didn’t like Zheng Fenglin and wouldn’t cause trouble between them, not just now, but also three years in the future. She absolutely didn’t want to become the vicious female supporting character just to assist Song Muxue and Zheng Fenglin, a couple who would never be broken up. But saying that directly was too embarrassing, so she chose a more subtle approach.
Kou Shuang added: “Not Zheng Fenglin, someone else.”
That should clear up any misunderstanding, right?
After saying this, Kou Shuang took a sip of tea, thinking that Song Muxue wouldn’t actually introduce her to a boyfriend anyway, so this statement was enough to express her stance. Someone as smart as Song Muxue would surely grasp the meaning.
Who knew that after hearing this, Song Muxue glanced at Kou Shuang.
Kou Shuang lowered her head to drink tea, unaware of how she appeared in Song Muxue’s eyes at that moment.
She was looking down, appearing somewhat wronged, and the steam from her tea curled up, making it seem as if she was crying.
Song Muxue was startled and then remembered Kou Shuang’s various peculiarities since the afternoon, feeling a little surprised.
Kou Shuang… was she disappointed in love, and no longer interested in Zheng Fenglin?
Before meeting Zheng Fenglin, Kou Shuang was actually a very good girl. At that time, Song Muxue’s parents had just had an accident, and Kou Deqin took Song Muxue to live in their home. Kou Shuang pitied her, sharing half of her bed and dolls, and they were good sisters for a long time.
Because of that bit of warmth, even later, when Kou Shuang caused all sorts of trouble and drama due to Zheng Fenglin, Song Muxue was able to tolerate it and tried her best to look after her.
But now, the Kou Shuang who was madly in love, had she repented? And cried?
For the first time, Song Muxue felt a pang of remorse for something she hadn’t done wrong. Her peripheral vision caught Lu Renjia skillfully toasting around the room, and a sudden inspiration struck her.
“You’re not thinking of Lu Renjia, are you?” Song Muxue said.
Kou Shuang looked up, her eyes a little confused: “I wasn’t planning on him.”
Looking at Kou Shuang’s still somewhat bright eyes, Song Muxue inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking: Good, she didn’t cry.
Just as Song Muxue was about to say something, her phone rang. She glanced at Kou Shuang and, almost imperceptibly, turned the screen towards herself.
But Kou Shuang had already seen the caller ID: It was Zheng Fenglin.
Song Muxue stood up, turned to Kou Shuang, and said: “I need to take a call. You eat here. If Lu Renjia invites you to anything, just refuse directly. People like him aren’t suitable boyfriends.”
Kou Shuang nodded and said: “You go ahead.”
Kou Shuang watched Song Muxue hastily push open the private room door and thought: Song Muxue really does like Zheng Fenglin. It’s rare to find novels where childhood sweethearts stay together for life.
Kou Shuang was lost in thought, trying to remember “what literary works feature childhood sweethearts ending up together,” when she suddenly realized there really weren’t any. In her surprise, someone sat down in the seat next to her.
Lu Renjia said: “Kou Shuang, why aren’t you talking or eating much? Are you too restrained?”
Kou Shuang snapped out of her daze, barely maintaining the demeanor of an art department goddess, and said: “I’m on a diet recently, can’t eat much—when Song Muxue leaves early later, I’ll go with her.”
“Hey, we’re going to sing Karaoke later, are you coming? Even without Song Muxue, you might be a little scared, but they’re all definitely good people!” Lu Renjia eagerly invited.
“No need,” Kou Shuang glanced at him and said: “I helped with the party makeup, and you treated me to a meal. We’re even. There’s no need for any further contact.”
“Can you really not come—” Lu Renjia’s words hadn’t finished when the private room door was pushed open. Song Muxue entered, her face anxious, striding to her seat. She paused when she saw Lu Renjia.
She reached for her bag, which was hanging on the back of her chair, seemingly about to leave. Kou Shuang asked: “What’s wrong?”
Lu Renjia said: “Song Muxue, do you have something to do? I was just inviting Kou Shuang to go singing later; help me persuade her.”
Song Muxue looked at Lu Renjia, hesitating to speak. She then saw Kou Shuang’s worried expression, sitting a little far from Lu Renjia, with half her body suspended, clearly unwilling to stay with him any longer.
She hesitated for a moment, then turned to Kou Shuang and said: “The hospital called. Zheng Fenglin was stabbed by a thief while acting bravely, and he’s having surgery at the hospital now. Do you want to go see him together?”
In the past, she would never have extended such an invitation. Because she knew Kou Shuang’s intentions, and going would likely cause trouble. While she wouldn’t deliberately harm Kou Shuang, she wasn’t foolish enough to put someone she knew meant no good in front of Zheng Fenglin.
But today’s Kou Shuang seemed different… not unreasonable, but rather calm and graceful.
Besides, if she didn’t help out, Lu Renjia might actually keep Kou Shuang here.
After a brief decision, Song Muxue gave Kou Shuang the information, then watched Kou Shuang quickly stand up and say: “Then let’s go quickly.”
Not a moment of hesitation.
Kou Shuang really did like Zheng Fenglin… For some reason, Song Muxue’s heart sank.