I'm Interested In Your Friend - Chapter 39
39
Turning Off the Lights
Chi Qinxue’s face looked like it had been brushed with a layer of ketchup.
That was not something she should’ve heard.
Stuffing away her curiosity, Chi Qinxue slinked back to Li Qianman’s side.
Li Qianman’s face flushed from the alcohol. Hugging a plum-colored bottle, she reeked of wine and asked, “What’s wrong? Why is your face so red?”
“I…” Chi Qinxue wanted to lean in, but remembered what Yu Lili had said just now and instinctively took a step back. “Nothing.”
Li Qianman sat up straight and reached out with her slender white hand to scratch Chi Qinxue’s chin. “Little girl, now that you’ve got a new sister, you’re getting distant with me. Keeping secrets and all.”
“I said it’s nothing.” Chi Qinxue shifted uncomfortably under the ticklish sensation of the delicate fingers on her chin and dodged backward.
She didn’t expect that even after returning to Li Qianman’s side, she’d still be wrapped up in embarrassment.
Li Qianman noticed her reaction and muttered, “Little brat,” then slung one pale arm over the wooden table and laid her head down.
…
On the other side.
“Why did you say that just now?” Yu Lili was picking at the flowers painted on the wall.
“Hmm…” Tan Suran thought for a moment. “Just playing along with your need to perform.”
“I—I wasn’t! I really wasn’t!” As expected, Tan Suran had misunderstood her, thinking she was gossiping behind her back. Yu Lili hurriedly tried to explain. A scandalous accusation like that—it was enough to make anyone freak out.
Yu Lili wanted to split her chest open and let Tan Suran see her heart—she was a proper person: “How could I say something like that? About a minor no less! I’m not some creep…”
Tan Suran nodded thoughtfully.
Just as Yu Lili thought she believed her—
“Mm, if you say so,” Tan Suran added coolly.
…Seriously?
Yu Lili wanted to cry.
If you believe me, then believe me. Why add “if”?
Was that belief or not?
“Tan Suran, we’ve known each other for so long,” Yu Lili puffed up her chest with righteous indignation. “Do I look like the kind of person who’d do that?”
Tan Suran crossed her arms and propped her chin up, scanning Yu Lili from top to bottom: “Hmm… actually…”
Yu Lili breathed a sigh of relief.
“You kinda do.”
Yu Lili: …
She opened her mouth to argue but couldn’t even get a word out.
Then came a rich, bitter citrus scent. Tan Suran’s features drew close—Yu Lili blinked, dazed.
Her lips brushed against Yu Lili’s ear. She bit out three words, neither heavy nor light:
“Little. Liar.”
One word at a time.
Lingering, mysterious.
Her cool voice suddenly turned ambiguous, like a blue flame that could melt Yu Lili’s heart.
That nickname instantly pulled Yu Lili back to the time when she still had to pretend to be Anna around Tan Suran.
Lying here, hiding there.
Just when had Tan Suran found out about her real identity?
“Tan Suran…” Yu Lili’s soft voice trembled slightly.
Because ever since she had whispered in her ear, Tan Suran hadn’t moved away.
Warm breath fluttered over her pale ear, sending electric sparks down her spine.
“Hmm?” Tan Suran opened her red lips. Her voice was lazy, like a sleepy cat—teasing and soft.
“You…”
Bzzz bzzz bzzz…
The ringtone cut through the lingering tension.
The hazy mood evaporated in an instant.
Tan Suran straightened up, glanced at the caller ID, and swiped to answer.
“Yu Mu reached out, said it was urgent.”
Tan Suran rubbed the black phone case in her hand, eyelids lowered. “Do I still have to teach you how to do your job?”
Assistant Lin’s heart skipped a beat. That meant Tan always no longer wanted anything to do with Yu Mu: “Understood, President Tan.”
Because Tan Suran hadn’t held the phone close, Yu Lili had overheard the name “Yu Mu” clearly.
Even though she tried not to care…
She still couldn’t help but listen closely.
She wanted to hear how Tan Suran would handle it.
Tan Suran’s frown eased a bit when she noticed someone eavesdropping, so she actually elaborated a little for once: “Yu Mu? I don’t want to see her again.”
“Understood?”
Assistant Lin clutched the phone. “Yes, yes.”
Tan Suran kept her voice deliberately loud as she walked toward Yu Lili: “Why? Because she messed with someone she shouldn’t have.”
On the other end, Assistant Lin blinked in confusion: Huh? I didn’t ask why. I wouldn’t dare.
“And from now on, I won’t let anyone hurt her.”
Even after the call ended, Assistant Lin was still confused. Who was President Tan talking to at the end?
Whatever.
Got it.
Yu Mu’s done for.
Yu Lili drummed her fingers rhythmically against the wall. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but once she started, her brain just naturally kicked into analysis mode.
From what she could tell…
Tan Suran was going to deal with Yu Mu. And that line—“someone she shouldn’t have messed with”—was that referring to her?
Her heart felt a little sweet.
And “I won’t let anyone hurt her”?
Was that also about her?
Was she overthinking?
Yu Lili bit her finger, lost in thought as she returned to the table.
A cool breeze blew.
“Achoo!” Chi Qinxue turned and sneezed.
Li Qianman looked up and kicked her lightly. “Told you to wear more. You never listen.”
She scolded with her mouth, but her body went inside to grab a coat.
Chi Qinxue hunched over, rubbing her arms.
Yu Lili saw and took off her own jacket, holding it out: “Here, wear mine.”
Chi Qinxue glanced hesitantly at Tan Suran and didn’t dare accept.
Tan Suran raised her brow: “Or do you want mine?”
Chi Qinxue shook her head like a rattle drum.
Yu Lili and Tan Suran exchanged a look—what was up with this kid? Must be a generational gap.
Li Qianman came back with a coat and became Chi Qinxue’s savior. The girl obediently said, “Thank you, Sister Man.”
Li Qianman flicked her forehead. “Next time, be careful. Don’t expect me to save you again.”
Chi Qinxue nodded meekly.
After a while, Tan Suran got another call and walked off to the grape trellis to answer it.
The front desk needed the boss—Li Qianman went to handle that.
The table was left with just Yu Lili and Chi Qinxue.
With the tigers gone, the kittens played.
Chi Qinxue sneakily poured herself some wine and offered the bottle to Yu Lili: “Here, have some.”
Yu Lili instinctively accepted it, then glanced toward the trellis where Tan Suran stood.
She was still here.
Might even be staying the night.
Forget it. Better not drink.
“Why not drinking?”
“Quitting,” Yu Lili replied. “You shouldn’t drink too much either.”
Chi Qinxue: “This isn’t even alcohol.”
“Then what is it?”
“Plum wine.”
“Plum wine isn’t alcohol?”
“Not really. White, red, foreign wines—those count.”
Yu Lili lazily teased: “Talking big, aren’t we?”
“I’ve been drinking with my dad since elementary school.”
Yu Lili laughed, pointing to the rustling leaves: “See that?”
“What? Leaves?”
“Yeah, cow dung flying in the sky, and you’re blowing it from the ground.”
Chi Qinxue: “I’m not lying.”
Yu Lili: “Mm hmm hmm.” Her eyes again drifted to Tan Suran.
What kind of call lasted that long? Could it be Yu Mu pestering her again?
Chi Qinxue noticed her gaze and followed it, then looked around. No one else was nearby, so she leaned in and cleared her throat like she had a big secret: “Sister Lili, Sister Lili.”
Yu Lili was chewing skewers: “What?”
“You two… are you like, y’know… together?”
Yu Lili nearly choked. The word “together” had her PTSD flaring.
“Speak clearly. And I told you before—when adults do something wrong, others might gossip, politely or not. But it’s not what you’re thinking!”
Kids could be bolder than adults sometimes.
Chi Qinxue made an “oh” face, but frowned: “So you’re not a couple? I thought you slept together?”
“She was talking nonsense. And two girls sharing a bed is normal, okay? Haven’t you ever shared a bed with a friend? That makes you a couple?”
Chi Qinxue shook her head: “No, I mean… if it’s normal, you wouldn’t bring it up like that. Making a big deal of it—sounds kinda gay… And I just feel like you two are more than friends.”
Yu Lili
picked out a grilled tofu stick. “Well, you are observant.”
Chi Qinxue grabbed a skewer too, quietly chewing. Then she couldn’t hold back: “So are you… gay?”
“Yes,” Yu Lili said calmly, like she was just drinking water.
That attitude caught Chi Qinxue off guard.
“Shocked?” Yu Lili glanced at her.
“Ah. A bit. You’re so brave, Sister Lili.”
Yu Lili tossed her empty skewer into the trash and clapped her hands. “What’s brave about it? It’s like you choosing to take a gap year instead of going to school. Traditional people might think that’s weird, but there’s nothing wrong with it. Nobody said you have to be in school at seventeen. Just like nobody said girls have to like boys. People are free. Souls are free. Love… is free.”
Yu Lili finished her mini speech and glanced at the still-dazed Chi Qinxue, then leaned back: “If you don’t get it, never mind. To put it simply—I love girls. And you can love girls too.”
In the courtyard, insects chirped, and the cool breeze brushed past.
The scent of flowers lingered.
Light flowers bloomed on the grape vines.
Yu Lili’s gaze instinctively drifted toward Tan Suran.
The moon hung right above her head.
Stars shimmered faintly.
Under the moonlight, the woman in black stood tall and elegant.
The wrist holding the phone was pale as snow.
Her long legs smooth and slender.
Feeling Yu Lili’s gaze, Tan Suran looked up and gave her a faint smile.
And just like that, the moon lost its glow.
Yu Lili shyly turned her head, tapping her fingers on the table.
Chi Qinxue still seemed deep in thought, drinking cup after cup.
“Wanna hear a secret?”
“Huh?” Chi Qinxue was a little drunk—her reaction sluggish.
Which made Yu Lili more eager to spill it, knowing she probably wouldn’t remember tomorrow.
Her heart pounded as she said it:
“I… like her.”
Chi Qinxue didn’t react much. She already assumed they had a thing and a complicated relationship.
She just lazily nodded, half-asleep: “So… does she like you back?”
Damn.
That one question shut Yu Lili up completely.
Ouch.
She really didn’t know the answer to that.
She’d sworn not to drink—but Yu Lili picked up her glass.
In this kind of frustration, a sip felt justified.
When Tan Suran and Li Qianman returned—
They were greeted by two drunks.
Chi Qinxue was a crying drunk, hugging Li Qianman and bawling about her family not caring, no one taking care of her, only Sister Man being nice.
Yu Lili, on the other hand, was much more behaved.
No noise, no fuss.
Just red cheeks and a dazed gaze locked on Tan Suran.
And silly grins.
The moon wobbled in the water.
The green leaves rustled.
Li Qianman helped Chi Qinxue to her room.
Stone paths stretched silently into the distance.
Only Yu Lili and Tan Suran remained.
Yu Lili tilted her head and cutely waved at Tan Suran.
Tan Suran bent down.
Leaning close in front of her.
Their breaths mingled.
Tan Suran wore Yu Lili’s clothes—
A black-and-white knit tee and denim shorts.
Her pale irises shimmered faintly.
Moonlight shimmered.
The sheer black fabric at her thighs fluttered.
When she leaned down, her soft curves peeked out, fair and alluring.
Her cat-like eyes curled slightly as she teased the drunken Yu Lili: “That little girl was crying. Aren’t you going to comfort her?”
Because of her posture, her shirt lifted slightly—revealing a pale, smooth waistline.
Long, fair legs.
Yu Lili stared at the fine fuzz on Tan Suran’s face and her trembling eyelashes, and obediently shook her head.
“No.”
“No what?”
“I don’t want to comfort the little girl. I only want to comfort you, big sister.”
“Oh?” Tan Suran’s cool fingers traced Yu Lili’s chin, eyes lingering. “Sounds like you’ve got a sweet mouth.”
“If it’s sweet… why don’t you taste and see?”
Her heart pounded wildly.
Tan Suran didn’t reply.
Red lips curled seductively.
Yu Lili licked her lips, looking straight at her.
How could just one smile from Tan Suran make her whole world spin?
“Big sister…”
“Wanna give it a try?”