I'm Interested In Your Friend - Chapter 52

52

Yu Lili knocked and entered.

Tan Suran had already changed into a set of casual, light-white loungewear.

She was sitting on a wicker chair by the floor-to-ceiling window, a tablet resting on her lap.

A pair of silver-framed glasses perched on her nose.

She seemed to be handling work.

When she saw Yu Lili come in, she instinctively flipped the tablet over on the table.

Yu Lili didn’t pay it any mind.

She subtly yet straightforwardly explained how she had accidentally spilled water on the bedsheet earlier.

The key point was—

“I don’t have a place to sleep now.”

Tan Suran raised an eyebrow and went with her to her room.

Yu Lili puffed out her cheeks, casually shifting her gaze.

Hey.

Her slippers and Tan Suran’s had the exact same pattern.

Just different colors.

One pink, one white.

Undeniably a couple’s set.

Yu Lili started acting mischievous, slowly nudging her foot. She tapped the side of Tan Suran’s slipper.

Two dull thuds.

A silent request for closeness.

Then she quickly pulled back.

Like a child sneaking snacks in class—stuffing a bite into her mouth, sitting up straight to look at the blackboard, then stuffing another bite.

As she kept nudging, she suddenly noticed the gaze from beside her.

Yu Lili looked up, blinking her long lashes a few times.

Tan Suran rested a hand on her waist, pointing at the bed with an amused yet exasperated expression.

“Lili, can you tell me how you managed this?”

From the bedsheet to the pillow to the blanket.

Even the mattress.

Everything was soaked.

This was far from the “accidentally spilled water while drinking” she had described earlier.

Even if every faucet in the villa had exploded simultaneously, it would’ve been hard to achieve this effect.

Yu Lili lowered her head, innocently poking her fingers together. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Seeing Yu Lili’s pitiful expression, Tan Suran softened, pinching her cheeks gently. “I’m not blaming you.”

“Come with me.”

The moment Tan Suran turned around, the teary-eyed Yu Lili instantly changed.

Her eyes curved into crescents as she grabbed the kitten plushie she’d deliberately left dry by the bed.

Pattering eagerly after Tan Suran.

Silently cheering.

Off to sleep with the wife!

The two walked toward the room Tan Suran had been in earlier.

…

But in the most literal sense.

They passed by the door of that room without stopping, continuing forward instead.

Soon, they stopped in front of a previously unvisited room.

Tan Suran opened the door, extending an arm in invitation.

Yu Lili pointed in disbelief. “I’m sleeping here?”

Tan Suran nodded.

Yu Lili blinked.

Tan Suran blinked back.

Yu Lili took a deep breath.

Barely maintaining her last shred of pride.

She truly hadn’t expected Tan Suran’s home to have so many spare rooms.

“I’ll head back first. Sleep early.” Tan Suran ruffled her hair.

Yu Lili could only quiver her lips, watching her leave.

Then she trudged dejectedly into the room.

This room was completely different from her previous bedroom and the villa’s overall decor.

Pink and soft.

Actually, it was quite similar to her own home.

But as Yu Lili scanned the room, all she could read was one word—loneliness.

Yu Lili sighed again.

Closing her eyes, she spread her arms like a skydiver and flopped onto the soft bed.

Frustrated, she ruffled her hair.

Why is sleeping with the wife so hard…

Pouting, she kicked her legs rapidly like a frenzied rabbit, venting her displeasure.

Perhaps the exhaustion from performing at full intensity all day had caught up to her.

Yu Lili didn’t even know when she fell asleep.

All she knew was that when she woke up, it was already bright daylight the next morning.

Bleary-eyed, she propped herself up halfway.

A pale pink note sat on the nightstand.

Yu Lili stretched out a slender arm to grab it.

[Gone to work. Breakfast is in the kitchen.]

Signed neatly in the bottom corner:

[Tan Suran]

Adorably formal.

Yu Lili pinched the note between her fingers, flicking it twice with her other hand.

At least she has some conscience.

She knows to leave a note when she leaves.

Yu Lili stretched and got up to wash up and eat breakfast.

She hadn’t looked closely when she arrived last night, but now she wandered around the living room, taking it all in. Tan Suran’s style could be summed up in one word—ascetic.

Cold gray curtains, industrial black walls.

Preferring empty spaciousness over unnecessary clutter.

Even the sleek white smart home devices were neatly hidden in storage cabinets.

After a full circle, Yu Lili returned to her room.

Hand on the doorknob, she suddenly realized something was off.

…

The most off thing was right beneath her feet.

The fact that a room like this existed in Tan Suran’s home was the strangest part.

She pursed her lips, scrutinizing it.

Doll cabinets, bookshelves, pink-white gauze curtains, and an organza canopy over the bed.

Was this the hidden youthful feminity beneath her icy exterior?

Yu Lili shook her head, unable to figure it out.

Returning to the nightstand, she saw the note again.

Leaning down, she stared at it for a long moment.

Suddenly, her lips curved, and she skipped over to the desk with the note, grabbing a pen to commit her mischief.

…

That evening, when Tan Suran returned from work, she had just unlocked the front door with her fingerprint when a bright, drawn-out “You’re back!” greeted her.

Followed by the pattering of footsteps running toward her.

A second later, Yu Lili appeared before her in a cotton nightgown.

Eyes sparkling.

Beaming.

The usually cold temperature and cold space now carried a warmth and liveliness that didn’t belong here.

Tan Suran froze for a second.

Then she lifted her face, smiling as she said, “Mn, I’m back.”

Yu Lili hid her hands behind her back, waiting until Tan Suran had taken off her coat and changed her slippers before speaking.

“You left me a note this morning?”

Tan Suran walked to the water bar, pouring herself a glass. “Mn, did you see it?”

Yu Lili wiggled her hands behind her back, making a playful face. “Ah, I really didn’t see it.”

Tan Suran set down her glass. “See what?”

“See your feelings for me.” With that, Yu Lili pulled out the note from behind her back, holding it up in front of Tan Suran with both hands.

She shook it triumphantly.

The note was the same one from the morning, but with a slight alteration.

The original simple signature now had an extra flourish.

[Tan Suran]

Now preceded by three words written in pink ink:

[Love, Tan Suran]

The latter three words were written in strong, elegant strokes, while the first three were round and soft.

Clearly not written by the same person.

Even more obvious was Yu Lili’s smug grin and the triumphant look on her face, like a little bear who’d stolen honey.

The mastermind behind this needed no investigation.

Even a blind guess would hit 100% accuracy.

Tan Suran chuckled softly.

Setting down her glass, she sat on a nearby stool, watching Yu Lili.

Her arms were slender and pale.

Her hair was messily tied into a bun.

Very fresh and youthful.

She was gleefully clutching the note as if it were some treasure.

Tan Suran propped her chin on one hand, her lips also curving upward as she swirled her water glass.

Turns out, life becomes candy when you’re with someone like this.

Yu Lili walked over to her.

Tapping the tip of her slipper against Tan Suran’s.

Like a greeting.

Or perhaps a prelude to something.

Then she lifted her face, gazing at her intently as she said, word by word, “Tan Suran, I’ve told you I like you, right?”

Tan Suran’s hand holding the glass paused for a second before she slowly replied, “Mn.”

Yu Lili leaned in closer, her eyes dark and bright.

Her long lashes thick and curled.

Her small face soft and fair.

But her bright eyes held a hint of nervousness and shyness.

“Then… do you like me?”