I'm Interested In Your Friend - Chapter 23

23

Yuan Lili always felt that Tan Suran’s words were somewhat ambiguous, as if they held some deeper meaning.

No matter what, she decided to take it as a compliment—after all, it did imply that she was outstanding.

“Seems like I’m quite excellent in your eyes too,” Yuan Lili said.

Tan Suran didn’t respond.

The air fell silent for two or three seconds.

Yuan Lili assumed their conversation had ended and turned her head to look out the car window.

The window was half-lowered, and the streetlights and shop lights outside formed a continuous glow. The winter night streets weren’t entirely desolate—pedestrians’ hurried footsteps and conversations rose and fell, while the mechanical “Welcome” greetings from store entrances remained steady and monotonous.

Amidst this chaotic blend of sounds, Tan Suran’s clear, elegant voice stood out distinctly.

“It’s not ‘seems like,’ and it’s not just ‘in my eyes.’ You are objectively outstanding.”

This statement, devoid of any extra emotion, instead came across like an impartial verdict.

Yuan Lili initially wanted to press further—to ask where exactly Tan Suran thought she excelled.

But the two of them had only met a handful of times. Most likely, this was just a tacitly understood pleasantry.

Still, even if it was just a pleasantry, it was one that had come from Tan Suran’s lips. And that alone made Yuan Lili’s heart flutter a little.

This flutter emboldened her: “When you’re free, let me treat you to a meal.”

“‘When I’m free’—when would that be?” Tan Suran tilted her head slightly, her tone indifferent. “I need to confirm my schedule in advance.”

Yuan Lili nodded in understanding. A busy CEO’s schedule was undoubtedly packed. She mentally reviewed her own upcoming plans—Olivia had mentioned she might be sent on a business trip on Wednesday. After some quick calculations, the only feasible time seemed to be: “Tomorrow, then.”

Tan Suran raised a brow, her voice carrying a trace of audible surprise. “Tomorrow?”

Only after speaking did Yuan Lili realize—they hadn’t even parted ways tonight, and she was already suggesting they meet again the next day.

Didn’t that make her seem too eager?

Too… calculating?

She awkwardly backtracked: “Or… some other time is fine too.”

Tan Suran gave a soft “Mm,” her expression unreadable, then flicked on the right turn signal as the car veered onto the next street.

Yuan Lili felt a pang of disappointment. Watching the reflections of light on the window, her mood sank.

She found her own gloom inexplicable. For a fleeting moment, an absurd sense of anticipation flashed through her mind—a hope that Tan Suran would give her a firm response, something like, “No, tomorrow works.”

Instead, all she got was an “Mm.”

Something flickered at the edge of her vision. Yuan Lili glanced over and saw Tan Suran tap her Bluetooth earpiece—likely answering or making a call.

“Yes… Mm… Clear my dinner plans for tomorrow… Personal arrangements… Reservations? Wait a moment—”

Tan Suran turned her head slightly. “Where would you like to go tomorrow night? Should I make the booking?”

“No need. I’ll pick a place and let you know.” Yuan Lili’s voice was quiet.

It had to be quiet—to suppress the inexplicable excitement bubbling up inside her, excitement whose origin she couldn’t even pinpoint.

“We’re here. You can drop me off at the curb. Today… thank you.”

“Your home is a convenience store?” Tan Suran glanced at the brightly lit Lawson convenience store by the roadside.

“I need to buy something. It’s just ahead—I can walk back.”

Tan Suran lifted her thin eyelids. “Go ahead. I’ll wait.”

“It’s really not necess—”

Tan Suran cut her off, her tone leaving no room for argument. “I just prefer to see things through.”

Fine.

Yuan Lili bought some snacks, consciously picking enough for two. The convenience store’s TV played the evening news, and the cashier, a young girl, looked drowsy.

The financial segment reported:

[Recently, the smart AI developed by the renowned Huanyu Group in our city has achieved breakthrough progress. A limited beta test is expected to launch in the second half of the year. Our reporter had the privilege of interviewing the deputy director of Huanyu Research…]

Yuan Lili blinked, a little disappointed. She’d hoped to catch a glimpse of Tan Suran on TV, though she knew Tan Suran rarely—if ever—gave interviews.

The deputy director on screen rambled about the project’s breakthroughs, calling it a world-first innovation.

So “Yaya” was actually that impressive, Yuan Lili mused.

The cashier bagged her items, and Yuan Lili paid by scanning her face at the self-checkout.

As she took the two bags of snacks, her gaze idly drifted back to the small TV—just as a tall, slender figure passed by in the background behind the deputy director.

Black blazer and pencil skirt, lightly curled brown hair, a coldly beautiful face, and an aura of unapproachability.

A secretary followed her, clutching a folder as they exchanged a few words.

The woman responded briefly, then strode past the camera without expression, leaving behind a fleeting but stunning side profile—blurry, yet breathtaking.

Yuan Lili jogged back to the car, eager to mention spotting her on TV, only to find Tan Suran had already turned off the engine and was leaning back in her seat, eyes closed.

As if asleep.

Of course—it was late, she’d been busy all day, and then she’d gone out of her way to drive Yuan Lili around.

Yuan Lili moved quietly.

She settled into the passenger seat, licked her lips, and glanced outside. The streets were empty, not even a shadow in sight.

Which meant what she was about to do wouldn’t be seen by anyone.

Her heart pounded nervously.

She slowly turned her head, stealing a glance at Tan Suran—just one second—before quickly looking away, pretending nothing had happened, pretending she hadn’t done a thing.

Bad people usually became bad little by little.

So her habit of stealing glances at Tan Suran also grew bolder incrementally.

From one glance to two, then to openly—yet cautiously—studying her features once she was sure Tan Suran wouldn’t open her eyes.

The TV footage had been too blurry. Their encounters in passing had been too fleeting. Even when they’d locked eyes before, she’d either been indifferent or too flustered to really look.

As for why she wanted to look at Tan Suran properly…

Yuan Lili wasn’t exactly a rationalist. She leaned more toward romanticism.

If she wanted to look, then she’d look. Did there need to be a reason?

Fair complexion, delicate features.

The curve of her closed eyelids softened her otherwise sharp demeanor. Her nose was straight and elegant.

Her lips were full, a deep red like freshly washed cherries—probably sweet.

The smoky-colored innerwear revealed a glimpse of pale collarbones, and further down…

Was the full, alluring curve of her chest—something Yuan Lili had seen before.

Yuan Lili suddenly felt a little too warm and averted her gaze.

Only to meet a pair of beautiful, wide-open eyes.

She’d been so engrossed that she hadn’t even noticed when Tan Suran had opened them.

“What are you looking at?” Tan Suran’s voice was slightly hoarse, her eyes still hazy with sleep.

“N-Nothing.” Yuan Lili turned away guiltily, staring straight ahead. “I-I wasn’t looking at anything.”

“Heh.” Tan Suran let out a soft laugh.

The rest of the ride passed in silence as Yuan Lili resolved to be a dutiful navigation machine: “Turn right at the next intersection—”

Tan Suran: “You’re red.”

Red?

What was red?

Instinct told her this wasn’t a good sign, so Yuan Lili decided to play dumb: “About two hundred meters ahead, just pull over—”

“Mm.” Tan Suran nodded knowingly before coolly adding, “Your ears are red.”

Boom.

Heat rushed to her face.

From her earlobes to her cheeks, a flush spread uncontrollably.

So annoying.

So, so annoying.

Tan Suran was way too annoying.