FKDMLR – Chapter 11

For Chi Shuo, the business trip had been a relatively successful endeavor. She hadn’t exerted much brainpower or physical effort, essentially getting a free tour of Beijing.

They arrived back in Yun Cheng around 5 PM on Friday afternoon. Her supervisor informed them they didn’t need to return to the company and could just start work again on Monday.

After parting ways with her colleagues, Chi Shuo happily wheeled her suitcase home, much to the envy of Xia Zhou and the others who were still diligently working.

She hadn’t “returned” Shen Qu’s autograph to He Lindi. Chi Shuo brought it back to Yun Cheng and, after careful consideration, tucked it inside a book on her shelf that she would never read.

Out of sight, out of mind, truly.

However, while browsing her bookshelf, she encountered a small surprise—a notebook she had forgotten putting there.

The notebook looked aged, and about a dozen words were written on the cover in highlighter. Chi Shuo frowned at them, then placed the notebook back in its original spot.

No need to panic, no one will see it here.

Her work week had essentially amounted to just two days. The thought made Chi Shuo feel a bit dangerously content; she actually caught herself wondering when the next business trip might be. Who wouldn’t like an easy and enjoyable task, especially when the salary wasn’t any less?

But the ringing of her phone nearby quickly shattered her pleasant daydream. Chi Shuo frowned, looking at the caller ID.

It was her mother. Chi Shuo’s eyelid twitched. Hadn’t she just transferred money over recently? Her mother shouldn’t be coming to “kidnap” her again so soon.

The sky hadn’t darkened yet. Chi Shuo braced herself and answered the phone.

“Chi Shuo.” Her mother’s voice seemed devoid of warmth. Every time Chi Shuo heard her mother say her name, she felt like she’d been shoved into a freezer.

Chi Shuo lowered her head slightly, her other hand picking at the throw pillow she held. “Mom, what’s up?”

“Xiao Tong got his college entrance exam results. He did really well.”

“Mm.”

“Once he picks his major and gets accepted, remember to send him a red envelope.”

Xiao Tong was the son of their neighbors. Before moving out, Chi Shuo’s family had been on good terms with their neighbors.

Chi Shuo’s fingers stopped picking at the pillow. She hummed an “Mm” through her nose. “Okay, I know.” She added, “I’ll send it to him now, it’s the same thing.”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Almost every call from her mother revolved around the topic of “money.”

This time was no different, except the money wasn’t for her mother, which felt a bit strange to Chi Shuo.

Her mother didn’t waste any words and hung up quickly. Chi Shuo stared at her phone screen, stunned for several seconds.

She opened WeChat, sent Xiao Tong a red envelope and a congratulatory message, then tossed her phone aside.

Chi Shuo couldn’t help but recall her own college entrance exam results. She had studied liberal arts but always struggled with the supplementary subjects. Yet, she had performed exceptionally well on the actual exam, scoring several dozen points higher than her usual practice tests.

But her mother had maintained a tense expression, responding stiffly to the neighbors’ congratulations, as if Chi Shuo’s good performance made her particularly unhappy.

Chi Shuo still couldn’t figure out the reason, and she didn’t bother dwelling on it anymore, because it was almost time to meet Xia Zhou and the others for their shopping trip.

The next two days were the weekend, but unusually, none of them felt like going out this week because the forecast predicted heavy rain. So, they decided on a Friday night outing for the trio.

They had dinner first, then went into a shopping mall.

“I really didn’t argue with He Lindi.” Facing Zeng Guai’s disbelief, Chi Shuo felt helpless but couldn’t suppress a laugh. “What could I possibly argue about with her, a sick person?”

Xia Zhou had already gone into the fitting room. Zeng Guai stood waiting outside with her, but as they stood there, Zeng Guai started questioning Chi Shuo about her and He Lindi.

Zeng Guai looked unconvinced. “But I heard you two started fighting in the group chat?” She added, “It’s not easy for me, shouldering the mission of developing your friendship.”

Chi Shuo paused. “I’ve been meaning to ask, why are you always gossiping about me and He Lindi? What could possibly be going on between us?”

Zeng Guai touched her chin and smiled slyly. “Hmph, I can tell anyway. Your reason for disliking He Lindi isn’t simple.”

Someone passed by them. Chi Shuo caught Xia Zhou’s pointed glance and felt her brow twitch. “Did you guess something?”

“What could I possibly guess?”

Chi Shuo didn’t answer, slowly turning to browse the clothes herself. But Zeng Guai didn’t let her off, following behind her, saying as she walked, “Shuo Shuo, just tell me.”

“…” Chi Shuo couldn’t stand her pleading tone and stopped walking.

Zeng Guai blinked, putting on an innocent expression. “Tell me?”

Chi Shuo sighed, mentally preparing herself. But recalling her past with He Lindi, she decided against telling the full story, perhaps just a snippet.

Just then, Xia Zhou came out holding clothes, checking herself in the mirror nearby. “I feel like the two pounds I lost before were completely useless.”

“Go get another wisdom tooth pulled, and you’ll lose more,” Chi Shuo suggested.

Xia Zhou glared at her, feigning anger. “You skinny thing, get lost.”

Although Xia Zhou complained she couldn’t wear it, she ultimately bought the outfit, leaving the store happily carrying the bag.

Zeng Guai, however, hadn’t forgotten her question and brought it up again as they walked. “Shuo Shuo, you have to tell me tonight.”

“…” Chi Shuo scratched her head. Unable to bear it any longer, she replied, “Because she used to be my love rival.”

Zeng Guai: “…?”

Xia Zhou: “What?”

Chi Shuo didn’t give them a chance to probe further and walked ahead. By the time they caught up, she firmly refused to answer any more questions about He Lindi.

But Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai were like cicadas under the hot sun, their chirping loud and incessant. Chi Shuo, the neighbor, felt completely overwhelmed by the noise.

“Holy crap! Love rivals!”

“Does that mean you liked the same guy back then? You two fought over him all the time?”

“Shuo Shuo, I can understand why you dislike her so much now. If she were my love rival, I wouldn’t like her either.”

“It’s so infuriating! How can a rival be so outstanding—gorgeous, great figure, amazing photographer…”

Chi Shuo remained silent throughout: “…”

At 10 PM, Chi Shuo returned home exhausted. She wished she hadn’t gone out; it would have been better than suffering through that evening.

Love rival? Was that right? Chi Shuo didn’t know the answer. She silently walked over to the bookshelf and stood there.

The notebook rested there, the cover’s contents hidden from view now.

Under the light, Chi Shuo’s lips were pressed tightly together. After an internal struggle, she reached out and took the notebook down.

The words she had written on the cover once again made her heart skip a beat— “How to Make He Lindi My Girlfriend”

Signed: Chi Shuo.