I'm Interested In Your Friend - Chapter 38
38
The dress strap was slowly peeled away.
Slender, pale shoulders.
A smooth, jade-like back.
Tan Suran’s movements were extremely slow.
Lingering bubbles of desire spread through the confined space.
Certain unspoken fantasies ran wild like the wind across an open field—reckless and unrestrained.
In the hotel room.
By the bed.
The person she liked was half-undressed.
Yu Lili swallowed hard.
For a moment, an absurd thought surfaced.
She hadn’t invited Tan Suran to sit on her bed to check her wounds or apply medicine.
Nor to watch her undress.
But to step forward, hold her slender waist, strip off—or perhaps more violently, tear off—her clothes.
Grip her waist, her chest.
Peel away her calm, noble facade.
Make her cry, listen to her gasp.
Yu Lili clenched her fingers.
This line of thinking made her feel utterly shameless.
She swore that initially, she had only been concerned about her injuries.
But reaching this point in her imagination was purely due to underestimating her own animalistic instincts.
Underestimating the primal urges of love, desire, and lust.
The dress trembled as it slipped away.
The beautiful, cold-white butterfly bones stood out.
Unable to control herself, Yu Lili reached out—Tan Suran’s movements were just too slow.
She had to help her.
She needed to help her.
“Hiss.”
A soft sound escaped Tan Suran’s lips as Yu Lili’s hand nearly touched her back.
The lifted dress brushed against the wound, drawing out a faint moan.
And the injury on her back was fully exposed to Yu Lili’s gaze.
That single glance.
Was like a bucket of cold water, dousing Yu Lili’s wild fantasies.
In the center of Tan Suran’s jade-like back.
There was a horrifying wound.
A deep, violent bruise.
As if the arm of a chair had struck her squarely.
Just looking at it was painful.
Yu Lili’s eyes filled with cautious concern as she hovered her hand over the wound. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s nothing,” Tan Suran said lightly.
Yu Lili’s expression darkened with heartache.
She took out a bruise-relief gel from the first-aid kit.
Unscrewing the cap, she coated her fingers with the cool, transparent gel.
Tan Suran sat on the bed, half-undressed.
Yu Lili knelt behind her.
Moving slowly and gently, she applied the gel to the wound on her back.
As she spread it, she blew softly on the area.
She didn’t know the science behind it, but it seemed like blowing on a wound soothed the pain—just like comforting a child.
The stinging pain subsided under the gel’s numbing effect.
But in its place, the light, feathery breaths against her bare skin sent tingles down her spine.
Tan Suran gripped her knees, her knuckles whitening.
The cool gel spread over her exposed wound.
The minty breeze tangled with the chaotic atmosphere of the room.
“Done.”
A voice, icy and composed, shattered the moment.
Yu Lili snapped out of her daze with a soft “Hmm,” assuming Tan Suran didn’t want to remain exposed in front of her.
She grabbed a brand-new nightgown from the wardrobe and tossed it onto the bed. “It’s new. Wear it if you don’t mind.”
Then she pushed the door open and walked out without another word.
…
The mountain air was fresh and wild, the sky a vast expanse of blue, filled with the chirping of cicadas and birds.
In the backyard, Li Qianman was nowhere to be seen. The wooden table was strewn with messy test papers and a few brightly colored pens lying haphazardly.
Their owner, a seventeen-year-old high school girl, squatted gloomily in front of the doghouse, chatting with the wiggly corgi inside.
“Xiao Chi, slacking off again?” Yu Lili picked up a pen and lightly tapped the girl’s head.
Chi Qinxue, seeing it wasn’t Li Qianman, showed no sign of guilt. Propping her chin on her hands, she sighed like a world-weary philosopher. “Slacking is the natural state of life.”
Yu Lili scooped the corgi out of the doghouse, leash in hand, and sighed. “Alright, Miss Slacker, let’s walk the dog.”
Chi Qinxue was a distant relative of Li Qianman’s. At first glance, she seemed like a sweet, innocent girl, but in reality, she was a rebellious teenager who despised school. Both her parents were highly educated, yet she clashed with the education system.
She’d once stolen her ID and run off to a small town she’d never been to, claiming she needed to “reflect on life.”
After her parents tracked her down, they sent her to Li Qianman as a last resort.
She’d been here for over a month.
Her parents’ reasoning was: Fine, let her work odd jobs if she wants.
At least she’s with someone we know.
And who knows? Maybe the mountains and rivers will work some magic.
Maybe they’ll cleanse her heart and rekindle her love for learning.
Yu Lili found the girl’s slow, slightly offbeat demeanor endearing. Spending time with her was relaxing, and listening to her faux-mature ramblings was amusing.
“So, have you figured life out yet?” Yu Lili asked casually as they strolled with the dog.
Chi Qinxue stuck out her tongue and shook her head.
Yu Lili chuckled.
Everyone went through a phase where they felt out of sync with the world—angry, resentful, powerless, and lost.
She and the world were like two gears that didn’t fit, their rhythms and shapes completely mismatched. Or like a Type-C cable trying to charge an iPhone—futile and frustrating.
“Well, take your time. You’re still young.”
At this, Chi Qinxue gave her a strange look.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Chi Qinxue waved her hand weakly. “Everyone else tells me to hurry up and figure it out. You’re different.”
“Want the truth or a lie?”
“The truth, obviously.”
“You’re not my kid, so why would I rush you?”
Chi Qinxue’s face stiffened, and she fell silent.
Yu Lili didn’t press further and kept walking.
But then—
Plop. Plop.
Drops of water darkened the stone path.
Yu Lili noticed the wet spots on the ground.
Her lips twitched.
Oh no.
She’d forgotten the most defining trait of teenagers—their fragile hearts.
She quickly glanced around. Thankfully, Li Qianman wasn’t nearby. If she found out Yu Lili had made the kid cry, she’d never hear the end of it.
“Just kidding, just kidding!”
Chi Qinxue didn’t respond, tears still falling.
The corgi, “Little Flower,” barked at Yu Lili as if scolding her for bullying its young owner.
Yu Lili had an idea. “Hey, hey, you ungrateful Little Flower! Where’s the loyalty? Who fed you meat bite by bite back in the day?”
She glanced at Chi Qinxue. “Seriously, forgive me. Stop crying, or Little Flower might bite me.”
Chi Qinxue: “Who’s crying?”
If Du Tanyu were here, she’d have smoothly retorted, “The dog is.”
But alas, Du Tanyu wasn’t around.
Yu Lili turned serious. “Really, I was joking earlier. This is the truth.”
Chi Qinxue was curious but not ready to forgive just yet.
She muttered stiffly, “What?”
Yu Lili sat on a bench in a nearby pavilion and patted the spot beside her, inviting Chi Qinxue to join.
“People live their whole lives, not just thirty years. If you want to run into walls now, it’s better than waiting until you’re forty or fifty to ‘reflect on life.’ Let me recommend a book—The Moon and Sixpence. The mountain signal’s terrible, so read more when you’re bored.”
After a pause, Chi Qinxue let out a slow, drawn-out “Oh.”
Yu Lili lifted Little Flower. “Enough moping. I’ll have Little Flower sing for you.”
“How?”
Yu Lili held the corgi in front of her face and began singing, “Don’t mind that I’m just a dog~~~”
It was slightly off-key and utterly ridiculous.
Chi Qinxue burst out laughing.
But then her laughter died when she noticed the person behind Yu Lili.
Why did this sister change clothes?
Did they… just… take a nap together?
Her mind flooded with scandalous thoughts, and Chi Qinxue’s face turned red as she ran off.
Yu Lili was baffled.
Had her singing scared the kid away?
Was she that bad?
Doubting her life, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
She turned.
Tan Suran stood at the edge of the pavilion, tall and poised, wearing her clothes.
The realization made Yu Lili’s ears burn.
“Why’d you come out?” Yu Lili asked, leading Little Flower over.
Tan Suran arched a brow. “The little dog ran off without saying goodbye. I came to find her.”
Yu Lili glanced between the corgi and herself.
The “dog” Tan Suran was referring to…
Was probably her.
Remembering how she’d left Tan Suran alone in the room, Yu Lili felt a twinge of guilt.
She’d initially stepped out for fresh air, but her conversation with Chi Qinxue had carried her farther away.
Tan Suran spoke again. “The environment here is nice.”
Yu Lili nodded.
“It’s given me some new insights.”
“What insights?” Yu Lili wondered if Tan Suran was planning to invest in a mountain resort.
Typical business mindset—always looking for opportunities.
Tan Suran’s eyes glinted with an unreadable emotion. “You’re quite good at making little girls happy.”
“…”
That’s a strong whiff of jealousy.
Someone’s vinegar jar tipped over.
…
By evening, the sun hung low as Li Qianman set up a barbecue grill and invited Yu Lili to join.
Yu Lili had assumed Tan Suran, with her busy schedule, would leave after a short stay.
But by dinnertime, she was still there, quiet and unassuming, with no mention of departure.
“Is that little girl coming too?” Tan Suran asked without looking up, reclining against the headboard as she typed on her phone, seemingly handling work.
“Ah…” Why does Tan Suran keep bringing up Chi Qinxue? “Yeah, she is.”
Tan Suran put her phone away, adjusted her thin shawl, and said, “Then I’ll go.”
“Wait…”
Yu Lili stopped in her tracks.
Tan Suran took another jacket from the wardrobe—a matching white one—and draped it over Yu Lili’s shoulders.
Her fingertips brushed Yu Lili’s skin, scalding yet fleeting.
…
When they arrived at Li Qianman’s courtyard.
“You two are…” Chi Qinxue blurted out upon seeing them, “wearing couple outfits?”
Li Qianman: “Focus on your skewers.”
Yu Lili hadn’t thought about it when putting it on, but now that it was pointed out, she felt like taking it off—though that would be too deliberate.
No need.
The aroma of sizzling meat filled the air.
Li Qianman brought out two bottles of plum wine—one for herself and one for Tan Suran.
Yu Lili and Chi Qinxue drank AD a milk-based drink.
Chi Qinxue drank it because she was underage.
Yu Lili drank it purely because of her terrible alcohol tolerance.
Despite her protests, Li Qianman kept the alcohol out of reach. “I’m doing this for Little Flower’s sake.”
Yu Lili clicked her tongue.
Chi Qinxue leaned toward Tan Suran and explained, “Last time Sis Lili got drunk, she dug a hole, sat in it with Little Flower, and swore to become sisters for three lifetimes.”
Chi Qinxue dodged Yu Lili’s attempts to cover her mouth and spilled the entire story.
Tan Suran’s lips curved slightly. “How adorable.”
Chi Qinxue’s face froze: I think I smell the stench of love.
Yu Lili’s fingers crept across the table, trying to sneak the wine bottle while Li Qianman wasn’t looking.
Whack! Li Qianman smacked her hand with chopsticks. “No stealing!”
“Look, even little Chi Qinxue is well-behaved drinking AD Calcium Milk with you. Shouldn’t you set an example?”
“Yeah, yeah!” Chi Qinxue smiled sweetly but secretly downed the wine in Li Qianman’s cup when she went to fetch more skewers.
This happened three times.
Finally, Li Qianman noticed something was off.
She scanned the area.
And zeroed in on the culprit: “Yu Lili, no stealing!”
Yu Lili widened her eyes. “Me? I didn’t…”
She turned to Tan Suran. “Back me up here!”
Tan Suran affectionately ruffled Yu Lili’s hair and slid her own glass toward her. “Here, drink mine if you want.”
Humiliation!
Who’s stealing wine?
Yu Lili sulked and stuffed her face with meat.
A noble person doesn’t accept wine offered out of pity!
…
While Yu Lili and Chi Qinxue grilled meat together.
Chi Qinxue stuck out her tongue apologetically. “Sorry, Sis Lili. If Sis Qianman finds out, my butt’s toast.”
Yu Lili: “Tsk tsk, hitting butts? Li Qianman is so perverted!”
Then she quickly remembered the girl’s age and zipped her lips.
She steered the conversation toward more child-friendly topics. “Ahem, we don’t do that. No butt-hitting.”
Chi Qinxue pursed her lips. “Then what do you do?”
Do?
Yu Lili raised an eyebrow.
Am I the one with a dirty mind?
Stay pure, stay pure.
Chi Qinxue was probably asking what they do when someone misbehaves.
“We don’t really resort to physical stuff. At most, it’s just talking.”
“J-just talking?”
“What kind of question is that? Are you trying to reform Li Qianman?”
“Huh?” Chi Qinxue’s face turned crimson. “N-no! I-I didn’t mean… that.”
…
“What are those two talking about? They’ve got little Chi blushing.” Li Qianman chuckled as she watched them. “Lili always knows how to tease Xiao Chi.”
Tan Suran subtly checked her watch.
Fifteen minutes.
Logically, grilling a batch of meat should only take ten.
Why had it exceeded the expected time by half?
“Never mind, let’s eat.” Li Qianman turned back, only to find the seat across from her empty.
Tan Suran was already walking toward Yu Lili and Chi Qinxue.
Her footsteps seemed to carry a “Warning! Warning!” siren.
Li Qianman rubbed her temples.
Must be the alcohol.
Otherwise, why would she think—
Tan Suran was marching over like she was busting an affair.
…
Yu Lili stared at Chi Qinxue’s flustered, denial-ridden face.
She was utterly baffled. She held up a hand. “Hold on, hold on. What do you think I’m talking about?”
“That thing…” Chi Qinxue mumbled incoherently.
“What thing? Don’t tell me you mean that thing.” The charcoal fire burned hot, drying the air. Yu Lili grabbed a bottle of water and gulped it down.
So she missed the way Chi Qinxue’s face turned several shades redder.
Biting her lip, the girl struggled to say, “How you… how you… do it. Have s3x.”
Do? What?
What the hell are you saying?!
“Pfft—” Yu Lili spat out her water.
I want to die.
And as if on cue—
Just as she wished for death—
She looked up.
And met Tan Suran’s amused gaze, having arrived just in time to hear every word.
Yu Lili: “…”
The person in question is…
Now even more desperate to die.
Chi Qinxue’s embarrassed reaction only confirmed the truth behind her words.
Yu Lili was speechless.
She swallowed hard and weakly defended herself:
“I didn’t… I really didn’t…”
I absolutely did not fabricate steamy rumors behind your back!
Wahhh.
Tan Suran looks so cold.
Is she going to sue me for slander?
“Tsk.” Tan Suran stepped forward, cutting her off with a scoff.
Listen to that tone.
She’s definitely about to blow up.
Yu Lili opened her mouth to explain, “It’s a misunderstanding, you know it can’t be true—”
“You… really tell everything, don’t you?”
Tan Suran’s lips curled into a smirk, her voice laced with a hint of breathless amusement.
She effortlessly adopted an utterly flirtatious look and demeanor.
Yu Lili’s eyes widened: Huh? Huh? Huh?