I'm Interested In Your Friend - Chapter 11
11
Her head feels like it’s splitting open.
Her eyelids are so heavy she can’t lift them.
Yu Lili struggles to open her eyes.
She stares at the white ceiling above her.
Her consciousness is hazy and sluggish.
Did I drink too much again?
This headache and blurred vision feel like something I experienced not long ago.
Her eyelashes flutter as Yu Lili turns over, shifting to another position to rest.
Two seconds later, she snaps her eyes open in shock and horror.
She stares at the person lying beside her.
Snowy skin, fragrant shoulders, soft brown hair slightly curled.
Yu Lili gulps.
Holy…
It’s exactly the same as last time.
How did they end up sleeping together again?
Yu Lili knocks her head lightly with her fist.
Memories from last night slowly surface.
Last night…
Yesterday…
The recollections play back bit by bit.
She had boldly declared in front of everyone that Tan Suran wanted to sleep with her…
Yu Lili starts clawing at the bedsheets with her toes.
And then there was Tan Suran’s line: “Want to do what we did when we first met?”
What had she replied?
What had she said?
She actually said, “Okay?”!
And then…
Yu Lili bites the blanket, desperately trying to recall.
Her steps were unsteady, practically clinging to Tan Suran as she was helped into the room.
When Tan Suran tried to leave, she even grabbed her sleeve, eyes red, and asked, “Where are you going?”
Tan Suran raised the corner of her eye: “What, don’t want me to leave?”
Yu Lili closes her eyes. What had she said last night?
Surely it was, “Go, just leave already. Who wants to stay with you?”
Right?
It had to be that, right?
Yu Lili covers her mouth.
Though she doesn’t want to admit it, her brain replays her actual reaction from last night.
Last night’s Yu Lili pouted, tugged at Tan Suran’s arm, and shook it gently, obediently saying, “Jiejie, weren’t you going to stay with me?”
“Stay with you to do what?”
“To… to…” Yu Lili curls her toes, her entire body flushing red. “You know… that.”
Tan Suran stopped teasing her, pried Yu Lili’s hand off, and walked toward the door.
Under Yu Lili’s dejected gaze, she smiled faintly and said, “I’m going to ask the front desk for something. I’ll be right back.”
“What thing?”
Tan Suran raised a brow, lips curving as she stared at Yu Lili for a moment before saying evasively, “You’ll find out soon.”
Yu Lili’s already red face burned even hotter. Silently, she burrowed under the blankets, wrapping herself into a little cocoon.
After a moment’s thought, Yu Lili started taking off her clothes, then slipped under the covers, her heart pounding wildly.
Not long after, the door beeped open, followed by light footsteps.
Her heartbeat grew even more frantic.
Yu Lili hid her face under the blanket, peeking out with just her large, bright almond eyes.
Her fair skin, now flushed, made her look entirely pink.
When Tan Suran caught sight of her like this, her lips curved meaningfully.
Then, step by step, she approached.
An indescribable warmth and fragrance filled the air, mingling into an intoxicating haze.
Yu Lili’s palms grew sweaty as she clutched the blanket.
The bed dipped beside her as Tan Suran sat down.
Her mind was dizzy, floating between drunkenness and a primal yearning.
“Ready?” In this setting, even Tan Suran’s cool voice carried a faint, seductive lilt.
Yu Lili, face still half-buried, let out a muffled “Mm.”
A soft rustling sound followed.
Her heartbeat grew louder and louder.
“Let’s go.” Just two simple words, yet they struck her heart like a starting pistol.
Under the influence of alcohol, she paused, then slowly turned over.
And then she saw…
Tan Suran leisurely extending a hand—and a nail clipper.
Even in her less-than-sober state, Yu Lili froze.
What did this mean?
“Forgot? Last time, you kept pestering me to let you trim my nails.”
Huh?
Yu Lili glared at Tan Suran, torn between indignation and the urge to cry.
Tan Suran’s face was also tinged with the flush of alcohol. She glanced at Yu Lili, her expression seeming to say, “What else did you think was going to happen?”
And then…
Yu Lili fell asleep until now.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
So last night, the one with a mind full of dirty thoughts was her, while the epitome of restraint was Tan Suran?
Yu Lili bites her hand.
So…
They’ve just been lying under the covers purely chatting and clipping nails this whole time? Nothing actually happened…
Yu Lili buries her face in her hands, full of regret.
What a huge misunderstanding!
“What are you thinking about?” Tan Suran’s lazy voice sounds beside her.
Yu Lili presses her lips together tightly, refusing to speak.
“Anna, didn’t get enough last night?” Tan Suran opens her phoenix eyes, smirking faintly.
Listen. Just listen to her.
Talking like this.
Anyone would misunderstand.
If Yu Lili had blacked out again last night, she’d be blaming herself today for being shameless.
How could she lose control again?
Yu Lili glares at Tan Suran indignantly.
Tan Suran slowly regains her composure: “You remember what happened last night, right?”
Yu Lili glares again, silent.
Tan Suran leisurely lifts the blanket, revealing a pale pink silk nightgown. She tosses a robe to Yu Lili: “New, never worn.”
Yu Lili puts it on and stares at Tan Suran’s back for a long moment before speaking: “So… we’re just nail-clipping buddies?”
Tan Suran chuckles: “You sound disappointed?”
Yu Lili’s ears turn red. “Y-you—you’re the one who’s disappointed!”
Tan Suran doesn’t answer. Instead, she turns and looks Yu Lili up and down. Yu Lili grips the blanket, puffing up: “What are you looking at?”
Tan Suran snaps her fingers, resting her chin on her hand: “You were better as a mute.”
Mute… mute… mute…
The word hits Yu Lili like a hammer.
She suddenly remembers—ever since getting drunk, she’s been chattering nonstop.
Would Tan Suran recognize her voice?
Yu Lili immediately clamps her mouth shut, as if glued tight.
Tan Suran watches her thoughtfully: “Why pretend to be mute? Unless…”
Yu Lili’s heart leaps into her throat.
Tan Suran rubs her slender fingers together: “We’ve met somewhere else before?”
Yu Lili feels like she’s plunged into an abyss.
She shakes her head stiffly, slowly, hoping to ease Tan Suran’s suspicions.
But Tan Suran leans in, pinching Yu Lili’s chin, examining her face from every angle.
Yu Lili’s heart pounds—thump, thump, thump—as she stares back, not daring to blink.
After a long moment, Tan Suran suddenly lets go and steps back: “Wash off your makeup.”
Yu Lili flees into the bathroom, pressing her back against the cold wall.
She exhales sharply at her smudged reflection in the mirror.
Wash off her makeup? Never in this lifetime.
She removes the remnants of her makeup and carefully reapplies a fresh layer.
By the time she steps out, Tan Suran is already gone.
Yu Lili grabs her phone. Ignoring the flood of messages, she immediately calls Du Tanyu.
As soon as the call connects: “Du Du, I sent you a location on WeChat. Come pick me up, or if you know anyone nearby, have them bring me back to the city.”
Du Tanyu agrees briskly. She wants to ask how last night went but hesitates because of the person beside her, so she hangs up without another word.
While on the phone, Du Tanyu was about to make breakfast porridge. She tosses her phone to Qi Luo in the living room: “Old Qi, Lili sent me an address on WeChat. Post on my Moments and ask if anyone’s nearby to bring her back. If no one is, I’ll drive over.”
White rice bubbles in the pot, filling the air with its fragrance.
Meanwhile…
Tan Suran returns with a bowl of porridge and sets it on the table.
“Eat up, then I’ll take you home?” she asks.
Yu Lili, curled up on the bed, shakes her head.
Tan Suran doesn’t insist. She picks up the bowl to leave but can’t—Yu Lili’s finger is hooked around it.
Yu Lili taps the bowl, then points at herself.
Got it.
Going home? No.
Food? Yes.
As Yu Lili eats, Tan Suran stays, scrolling through her phone on the sofa.
Yu Lili’s phone buzzes with a message from Du Tanyu’s account:
[Found someone. Time, location, and what you’re wearing?]
The tone is clearly not Du Tanyu’s.
Yu Lili tests: [Old Qi?]
The reply is a terse [.]
Yu Lili obediently provides the details.
[9:50.]
[Club entrance.]
[Girl in a pink dress.]
[Got it.]
After finishing the porridge, Yu Lili hesitates over whether to keep pretending to be mute.
In the end, she types on her phone and shows it to Tan Suran:
[My friend is picking me up. Bye.]
“Friend?” Tan Suran’s voice lilts upward.
Yu Lili frowns.
[Problem?]
Tan Suran smirks, brushing past her: “Nothing. The dress looks nice.”
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Du Tanyu hears Qi Luo say someone replied to her Moments post.
“Which friend?”
Qi Luo, multitasking between replying to her secretary, glances at the sender’s name.
Without looking up, she says: “Your note for them is ‘Dan Dan Dan! Suran.’”
Silence.
Then—
A loud crash as the pot hits the floor, followed by Du Tanyu’s shriek: “WHO?!”
Yu Lili waits at the club entrance.
Soon, a familiar gray Bentley pulls up.
The rear taillight is slightly damaged.
The window rolls down, revealing the same aloof woman from earlier, now wearing sunglasses.
Yu Lili waves her off.
[Really, no need. My friend is on the way.]
Tan Suran’s pale wrist rests on the steering wheel, fingers tapping lightly before she says coolly: “Pink dress?”
Yu Lili frowns.
“9:50?”
“Club entrance?”
Tan Suran looks at her and delivers the final blow: “Du Tanyu?”
Yu Lili’s face twists in confusion.
Tan Suran explains breezily: “If there’s no mistake, I’m the friend here to take you home.”
Yu Lili’s expression shifts from bewilderment to utter innocence, but inside, she’s screaming:
Du Tanyu!
I really love you!
If you’re not in next year’s Top 10 Most Touching Best Friends list, I’ll riot!