CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 68: THE YUNTING GROUP OFFICIALLY DISBANDS

Yu Yun’s expression was just too comical.

Even Pan Ge, who initially wasn’t curious, was intrigued enough to lift her head.

It’s over, I’m doomed...

How am I supposed to explain this?!

For a moment, Xi Luting’s brain was in complete disarray; only her toes were still capable of movement.

They wiggled and curled.

Still baffled and suddenly confronted by Yu Yun’s question, she instinctively responded, going with the flow quite naturally, "Uh, we’re sisters, no need to be so formal..."

"No, no, no!"

Yu Yun was startled, waving her hands in terror. "I think... Fang Feifei is quite good too... Why don’t you ask her?"

Xi Luting was baffled. What does she mean?

Why are you dragging Fang Feifei into this?

Pan Ge and Tofu didn’t understand a single word and just found it incredibly strange.

She was a clever girl. Although she had never witnessed it firsthand, she must have heard of such peculiar quirks.

There are all kinds of people in the world, so it wasn’t worth getting too surprised.

Only, she had never imagined that Xi Luting not only had this proclivity but had even set her sights on her best friend, Yu Yun!

Utterly shocked, an exclamation of amazement escaped her lips.

"Xi Luting, you’re incredible!"

Pan Ge was sincere.

For the first time in her life, she admired a girl her age so much.

So brave!

When Pan Ge shouted, Xi Luting also realized what was happening.

Flustered, she slammed the lid on the box and began to stammer out an explanation.

"No! I... I mean... I didn’t plan to do anything to Yu Yun... No, that’s not right, I didn’t plan to do anything myself... That’s not mine... Darn it!"

The lies she had told earlier now became shackles.

At that moment, Xi Luting couldn’t clarify anything. Her entire face flushed as red as a ripe tomato.

Half with shame, half with rage.

In the end, she simply slammed the table and swore.

Good Lord, who will save me?!

Instinctively, she cast a hopeful look at her good friend Yu Yun, hoping to salvage her reputation.

"Yun Yun, you know me, it truly isn’t..."

Before she could finish, Yu Yun suddenly recoiled, terror in her eyes, and tremulously interrupted her.

"Ting... I mean, Sister Xi, I really respect you, but I genuinely like Han Lie..."

Xi Luting was about to go insane.

What does your liking that jerk have to do with my explanation?!

Huh?

Actually, it really does seem to have something to do with it, doesn’t it?!

Understanding the logic, Xi Luting was so angry she felt like exploding.

I really didn’t...

I really haven’t...

I swear!

At the crucial moment, Pan Ge got excited again.

Her delicate, jade-like face showed half admiration and half a look of saintly righteousness as she offered warm encouragement with utmost seriousness.

"It’s okay. As long as you don’t hurt others, everyone’s preferences should be respected.

Xi Luting, you don’t need to explain to anyone!

Those who understand you won’t blame you. As for those who don’t, you don’t need to pay them any mind...

Ah, Sister Tingting, do you have any private photos to share?

Just between us. I promise I won’t share them..."

Xi Luting was completely numb.

Forget it.

I’m tired.

Whatever, let it all go to hell!

As she wallowed in despair, a sudden burst of raucous laughter erupted nearby, completely out of place.

"BWAHAHAHAHA!"

The four girls turned around...

Well, I’ll be!

Han Lie was slumped in his chair, desperately covering his mouth, nearly laughing himself into a split.

Tofu had been in shock throughout and hadn’t had a chance to get a word in. When she noticed Han Lie, her mind went blank, and she suddenly sought an opinion—

"Brother Lie, care to chime in?"

Han Lie blinked. Then, clutching his stomach, his eyes brimmed with tears from laughter...

"What are you laughing at?!"

BANG!

Xi Luting was furious. Her rationality vanished in her mortification and anger, and she slapped the jerk on the back.

The impact made her own hand sting with pain.

Then, a wave of sadness washed over her. The more she thought about it, the more upset and wronged she felt.

How embarrassing... I’ve completely lost face!

"SOB SOB... WAH!"

She was genuinely crying, not faking it in the slightest.

Even a third-grader with a modicum of self-respect wouldn’t cry like she did.

Tofu and Pan Ge looked at each other. Tofu was still bewildered, but a glint of cunning flashed in Pan Ge’s eyes.

She was no innocent, harmless child; not at all.

She particularly disliked being targeted, for any reason whatsoever.

Yu Yun looked at Xi Luting, who was sprawled on the desk, and a faint smile touched the corners of her lips.

Keeping the prize within the group is certainly satisfying.

But keeping the prize all to oneself, sharing with no one, is even more satisfying.

The Yun-Ting duo is officially disbanded! Xi Luting, we’re through!

Yu Yun, feeling a pride she couldn’t share with anyone, looked toward Han Lie.

Han Lie, would you still like such a strange woman?

Huh?!

Yu Yun, looking at Han Lie’s profile, suddenly froze.

Han Lie was no longer laughing loudly, but a faint smile still adorned his lips. He silently watched Xi Luting lying on the desk, his gaze deep, harboring a pool of calm gentleness.

Yu Yun was completely dumbfounded; an unbelievable sense of absurdity washed over her.

Why?!

Haven’t you seen clearly what kind of person she is?!

In her daze, she saw Han Lie gently patting Xi Luting’s back, soothing the usually domineering Xi Luting like one would comfort a child.

"There, there, don’t cry. It’s just a small incident, nothing serious. I’ll go buy you an ice cream. Once you’ve eaten it, no more crying, okay?"

Yu Yun was extremely jealous.

Han Lie, you’ve never treated me this way!

Why, exactly?

Don’t you usually despise Xi Luting’s bossiness and willfulness the most?!

In her grief and indignation, Yu Yun then saw Han Lie stand up straight and head towards the drink counter, taking out his rarely seen wallet.

After a moment of trance, Yu Yun shivered all over. She had an epiphany.

Han Lie just didn’t like Xi Luting’s personality, but he had never said he didn’t like Xi Luting herself!

It was just that, under normal circumstances, Xi Luting was too hard to approach.

Her indiscriminate bossiness and arrogance were hurtful to everyone, making a normal loving relationship with her impossible.

Yu Yun, who was with her every day, was all too aware of this.

Xi Luting would find it hard to be a good girlfriend.

She was picky, willful, bossy, obsessed with saving face, and ruthless enough to see things through...

No matter how passionate someone was, pursuing her would only lead to a disastrous and painful outcome.

She didn’t even do it on purpose; it was just her nature.

Unless... her pride was thoroughly crushed!

Yu Yun found it ever more preposterous.

What the hell did I just do?

I fiercely took down my love rival, only to end up giving the man I like a perfect assist?!

Wrong, all wrong...

So, it turns out all of us were just unknowingly helping that jerk out for free?!

Yu Yun finally understood everything. She felt icy cold inside, yet she couldn’t control her admiration for Han Lie, her body trembling slightly.

You damn jerk, you’re really something else!

She too started cursing that jerk, but from the bottom of her heart, she admired his profoundness, astuteness, and savviness.

He had forcibly seized the most unlikely of opportunities.

For the first time, Yu Yun felt that she might really not be able to hold on to him.

"Sigh..."

A sigh buried all the happiness she had just experienced.

And at that moment, that jerk was reveling in double the happiness.

After paying two yuan and fifty cents and receiving the ice cream cone, the system popped up again.

He really had only spent two-fifty.

[Others play the villain, while you give out ice cream. Such shameless opportunism deserves a reward.]

[You have obtained a new complimentary item — Sweet Milk Candy.]