Chapter 29: Han Ning Attacks! Can’t We Just Be Good Friends Like Before?
Su Qinghe was once again left feeling both awkward and shy from Wang Zibo’s repeated calls of "Sister-in-law."
Even though she had explained many times that she wasn’t!
But Wang Zibo would just nod in agreement each time, only to start calling her "Sister-in-law" again a moment later.
This left her feeling utterly helpless.
She stole a few glances at Gu Yifan and saw that he wasn’t reacting or saying anything, so she decided to follow his lead and not bother explaining anymore.
’It’s exhausting!’
’Just let him be!’
"Brother Fan and I have been brothers since we were kids—the kind of close where we could share the same pair of pants!"
"Sister-in-law, let me tell you, Brother Fan was actually afraid of the dark when he was little. Whenever his parents went on a business trip, he’d ask me to come over and sleep at his house!"
"Oh, and Brother Fan is afraid of dogs, did you know? The reason he’s scared of them is that he got bitten by one on the way home from school with me back in the third grade!"
"Hahaha~"
...
Gu Yifan: "..."
In the gazebo, Wang Zibo chattered on, telling Su Qinghe one embarrassing story after another from Gu Yifan’s childhood.
This caused Su Qinghe to periodically shoot Gu Yifan glances filled with a mix of confusion, surprise, and bewilderment.
Noticing Su Qinghe’s complicated looks, even someone as thick-skinned as Gu Yifan couldn’t help but feel his face flush slightly. ’Damn it!’
’Inviting this bastard over today was a mistake!’
’If I’d known, I would’ve fed that food to a dog instead of him!’
Gu Yifan cursed inwardly.
"Sister-in-law Qinghe, also, when Brother Fan was a kid, he actually..."
Seeing Wang Zibo continuing to spill his embarrassing childhood secrets,
Gu Yifan couldn’t take it anymore and cut him off, trying to kick him out. "Zibo, are you done eating yet?! If you’re done, get the hell out!"
"*Hic...*"
Interrupted mid-spell, Wang Zibo suddenly realized he might have said a little too much.
Uh... (⊙o⊙)
’Wait, did I just expose all of Brother Fan’s embarrassing childhood secrets?’
’And with that thing about Han Ning... Brother Fan already wanted to beat me up earlier!’
’Now he probably wants to kill me...’
’I’m done for!’
’This is it, I’m totally screwed!’
’Maybe I should...’
’...make a run for it first?’
Wang Zibo thought to himself.
No sooner said than done!
"Ahem~"
He faked a couple of coughs, then rubbed the tip of his nose sheepishly and said, "Brother Fan, Sister-in-law Qinghe, well, um, I just remembered I have plans to play games at the internet cafe with someone, so I’ll get going. You two take your time!"
Without waiting for Gu Yifan or Su Qinghe to respond, he turned and fled in a flash, his big belly jiggling as he went.
Leaving the two of them standing there, dumbfounded.
After a long moment, Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe looked at each other, and the atmosphere instantly became a bit awkward.
"Ahem~"
"So, uh, should we get going too?"
Gu Yifan said.
"Oh, oh... okay!"
Su Qinghe nodded.
The two of them then gathered up their trash and left the gazebo.
......
Just as they threw the trash into a can near the park exit and were about to leave,
a figure suddenly appeared in their line of sight.
"Han Ning?"
Gu Yifan froze for a second.
’How did she end up here?!’
he wondered in confusion.
*DING DING~*
Just then, his phone chimed with a text message notification.
Gu Yifan pulled out his phone to look and saw it was from that guy, Wang Zibo.
Wang Zibo: Brother Fan, Princess Ning said you blocked her and asked me where you are now. I couldn’t hold out, so I told her. You know what Princess Ning’s temper is like. Your bro had no choice, so please don’t blame me!
"..."
After reading the message, Gu Yifan was speechless.
"Damn it!"
"Eats my food, drinks my drinks, and then sells me out!"
"That damn Zibo, you’ve really done it now!"
Gu Yifan said, his face dark as he gritted his teeth.
"Is she... here for you?"
Just then, Su Qinghe, who was standing beside him, pointed toward Han Ning in the distance and asked softly.
Hearing her voice, Gu Yifan turned to look at her, then nodded helplessly. "Yeah. Wait here for me, I’ll be right back."
"Oh, oh..."
Su Qinghe nodded lightly and said nothing.
Seeing this, Gu Yifan didn’t say anything more and walked straight toward Han Ning.
A moment later, they met.
"You were looking for me?"
Gu Yifan spoke first, before Han Ning could open her mouth.
Han Ning first gave him a complicated look, then glanced at Su Qinghe, who was standing quietly in the distance.
She bit her lower lip gently, then said, "Yeah... This is your bank card. I just noticed it when I was paying for something. I’m returning it to you!"
Gu Yifan froze for a moment, looking at the bank card Han Ning was holding out.
’I was just wondering how I was going to ask her for the card back, but I never expected her to deliver it to me herself.’
’This works out well!’
’Saves me a trip!’
"Okay!"
Gu Yifan nodded and reached out to take the bank card from Han Ning’s hand.
Just as he was about to pull his hand back, he realized Han Ning hadn’t let go of her end of the card.
"Hm?"
He paused for a second, then frowned and asked, "Is there something else?"
"Why did you block me?"
Han Ning asked, biting her lip, her voice tinged with grievance.
"Uh..."
Gu Yifan hadn’t expected her to ask about that.
’I can’t just say I blocked you because you were too loud and annoying, right?’
Silence...
After some thought, Gu Yifan decided it would be better to use this opportunity to draw a clear line.
So he looked at Han Ning and said, "There’s no reason. I just think this might be better for both of us."
Hearing Gu Yifan’s ambiguous answer, the look on Han Ning’s face became even more aggrieved.
She lowered her head, biting her lip, unable to speak for a moment.
"Alright, thanks for bringing my bank card over. If there’s nothing else, I’m going to go."
"You should head home early too, so your mom doesn’t worry."
Gu Yifan said.
With that, he turned and started walking back toward Su Qinghe.
"Gu Yifan! Stop right there!"
Han Ning suddenly lifted her head and shouted at Gu Yifan’s back, her voice choked with tears.
Hearing the tearful quiver in Han Ning’s voice, Gu Yifan’s heart skipped a beat, and he paused in his tracks.
He turned his head to look at Han Ning and asked, "What is it?"
"Gu Yifan! Why are you doing this...?"
Han Ning’s lips trembled uncontrollably. She spoke, her voice thick with tears, "Why did you block me? Is it just because I rejected you? Is that why you have to treat me like this?"
"But rejecting you is my right!"
"Can’t we just be good friends like we were before?"
Gu Yifan was stunned by Han Ning’s barrage of questions.
"..."
After a long silence, he almost felt like laughing.
"That’s right! Rejecting me is your right, but isn’t blocking you my right, too?"
"As for just being good friends like before..."
"My answer is, we can be friends, but like before?—No!"