Chapter 47 - 46: A Wicked Idea

Chapter 47: Chapter 46: A Wicked Idea

"Alright, cut the flattery," Uncle Zhang said with a smile. He clasped his hands behind his back and went over to organize the books on the shelves.

Xiao Ran smiled as he watched Uncle Zhang’s retreating figure, then lowered his head. He took out his laptop, placed it on the desk, and started writing.

He laid out his notes as he always did and got down to business. He had already published over twenty thousand words of his new book. At this rate, he would be up for a promotional feature in just a few more days.

’He couldn’t afford to slack off.’

Time always flew by when he was writing. Before he knew it, it was time for the lunch break.

After saying goodbye, Old Zhang headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

Xiao Ran shut down his computer first, then took out his phone to message Yan Xici.

Xiao Ran: Are you coming home for lunch?

He knew Yan Xici didn’t have classes that afternoon and was planning for them to go home for lunch together, then spend the afternoon packing for their move. After all, she was a girl; it wouldn’t be right for him to pack her things.

At that moment, the troubled girl was sitting with her best friend in a malatang shop just outside the campus gates.

Seeing the message from Xiao Ran, her already gloomy face fell even further.

She hesitated for a long time, typing and deleting before finally sending a reply: I’m not coming back for lunch. I have class this afternoon.

Only then did she put her phone down on the table.

In truth, she didn’t have any classes that afternoon. It was just that the reserved young woman, having discovered the secret little thoughts hidden in her heart, suddenly had no idea how to face Xiao Ran.

She even felt a sense of shame.

’He’s so good to me, but I’m having these improper thoughts about him.’

’It’s practically an insult to him.’

Seeing this, Si Yingying, who was sitting across from her sipping a milk tea, looked at her with concern. "What’s wrong with you today?"

She had noticed something was off the moment they met that morning. The usually diligent student had spaced out countless times all morning. She seemed completely distracted; it was obvious something had happened.

The girl sniffled, her voice muffled. "It’s nothing."

’How could she possibly talk about something like this?’

She reached out a small, fair hand, picked up her chopsticks, and distractedly put a piece of sliced sausage into her mouth.

’It’s strange. I used to love the malatang from this shop, but today, I can’t taste a thing.’

’This is awful.’

Seeing this, Si Yingying sighed, leaned forward on her hands, and looked at her seriously. "Hey, don’t you dare hide it from me. Don’t I know you? Something definitely happened!"

They’d been best friends for three years; she knew her inside and out.

The girl kept her head down and mumbled, "Really, it’s nothing..."

Her voice was dejected, and she sounded very unhappy.

Seeing her best friend like this, Si Yingying was both worried and anxious. Her expression darkened as she put on an angry face and stared at the girl across from her.

"Listen here, I’ve always considered you my best friend. If you hide things from me, I’ll be genuinely hurt!"

Hearing this, the conflicted girl sighed. "It’s really nothing..."

"Yeah, right! I’m your best friend, you think I can’t tell something’s off?" Si Yingying said with a scoff. "Is there something you can’t tell me? Don’t forget, we’re besties!"

There was a hint of displeasure in her tone.

After all, she never kept any secrets from Yan Xici.

Friendships between girls weren’t like those between boys. A secret one of them didn’t know about was a very dangerous thing.

Seeing her best friend was getting angry, the girl pouted, her expression hesitant. "I think I might like someone, but I’m not sure if I really do..."

Hearing this, the girl opposite her instantly widened her eyes.

’No need to ask. This girl has definitely fallen for her own brother-in-law!’

’What does she mean "not sure if she does"? She totally does!’

’Why am I so sure? Because besides Teacher Xiao, there are no other men in her life!’

’This is so juicy!’

Just the thought of it made the girl, who spent all her time reading romance novels, tingle with excitement from head to toe.

"You, you, you..."

Seeing her reaction, the girl’s pupils contracted in horror. She shot up and reached out to cover her best friend’s mouth. "Hey, don’t say it!"

’I don’t even have to think, I know what she’s about to say just from her expression!’

’I haven’t even said anything yet!’

’If anyone else heard, I would just die!’

Only when she saw the girl across from her nod in understanding did she let go.

Si Yingying took a deep breath. "Oh my god, you almost suffocated me."

Yan Xici rolled her eyes at her. "Well, who told you to spout nonsense!"

She was a reserved and gentle girl. If she was ever rude to someone, there was no doubt about it—it was completely intentional!

"This is so juicy!" Si Yingying felt like she had just stumbled upon a world-shaking secret. She was so excited she lost all interest in her favorite malatang.

"What’s so juicy? I was just asking, don’t get so worked up!"

’With a best friend like this, what did I do to deserve her?’

’I’m completely speechless.’

"Okay, being in love with someone means you get butterflies in your stomach. When he’s happy, you’re happy. When he’s sad, you want to cheer him up. You want to stick to him whenever you can, and even when you’re busy, you’re still thinking about him!" Si Yingying said, dead serious.

As a seasoned veteran of romance, Si Yingying had more than enough experience in this department.

After she finished speaking, she gave the girl a knowing smile, looking as if she had it all figured out.

"So this is why you’ve been so down, right? You’ve fallen for Teacher Xiao?"

It was a known fact that Xiao Ran was very popular with the female students because he was handsome and the youngest teacher in the library.

’Just the thought of dating a hottie like that is so exciting.’

Hearing this, the girl shot her a fierce glare. "Teacher Xiao, my foot! What is wrong with you!"

Her upbringing had taught Yan Xici not to curse, but her eyes betrayed her.

The girl across from her clearly felt the murderous intent in her gaze and looked at her, completely baffled.

"Wait, it’s just a secret crush. What are you so worked up about?"

’A secret crush means you like someone without them even knowing. And that’s enough to make her this miserable??’

’Isn’t this a classic case of torturing yourself over a one-sided crush?’

The girl lowered her head, her voice full of guilt and shame as she spoke. "The thing is, I don’t think I *should* feel this way..."

The more she thought about it, the more she blamed herself. This feeling, of course, was also fueled by her mother’s phone calls.

’Most importantly, my brother-in-law treats me like his sister, but I’m having thoughts of taking *my* sister’s place...’

’Damn it, this is so twisted!!!’