Chapter 96: The Crooked Tree

“Hello?” Xu Xiaole’s voice came through the phone.

Lin Huiran answered softly. Xu Xiaole seemed to catch the drop in her tone and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Xiaole, he rejected me...”

“Huh? You confessed to him? That suddenly? Wait, didn’t I tell you to show up around him more often first so he’d remember you, and then take it slow step by step?” Xu Xiaole was completely thrown by the word rejected.

“No, I didn’t confess.”

“Then what kind of rejection is that...”

“He just rejected me...” Lin Huiran slowly crouched down, a faint sob in her voice. “At noon today I came to find him like you said, right? Then I asked him what class he was in, said maybe we could go out together sometime if he had time, and he just said he wasn’t free. Then he said that since we weren’t even at the same school there was no chance of seeing each other anyway, so why was I asking so much? And then he left with the girl he likes.”

Xu Xiaole: “This...”

“And then I couldn’t give up, so I chased after him and asked whether we could at least grab lunch together or something. He said they’d already finished eating, and told me that if I was interested in the cafeteria at First High School I should help myself. Anyway, it was pretty hurtful. Do I really annoy him that much? So many boys like me, and I set my pride aside to take the initiative and talk to him, and he doesn’t even appreciate it. He’s so cold, so arrogant. Am I just not good enough? But that can’t be it, right? So why is it? I can’t figure it out. I really can’t...”

After listening to her long complaint, Xu Xiaole fell silent.

After organizing her words in her head, she said, “No, that’s not it. You’re great, you’re absolutely worth it. Like you said, so many boys like you. There’s no need for you to hang yourself on one crooked tree, right?”

Lin Huiran sniffled. “No, he’s not a crooked tree. He alone is worth an entire forest.”

Xu Xiaole sweated in exasperation. “Girl, you’ve only known him for how long? Seen him how many times? How much do you really know about him, and you’re already saying he’s the best? Did he feed you some kind of love potion? Got you so spellbound that no matter how badly you’re hurt, you still can’t let go? What if he looks all shiny and perfect on the outside, but in reality he’s just some greasy loser who scratches his feet all day?”

“...Shut up. Don’t slander his image in my heart...”

“???”

Xu Xiaole sighed. “So it really has to be him?”

“...Mm.” Lin Huiran’s voice was dull and muffled.

“...”

Xu Xiaole suddenly said, “I really want to see what this Xie Xu looks like, the one who’s got you so completely under his spell.”

“I don’t have a photo of him. When I have time, I’ll look through their school’s forum and see if there are any posts or pictures about him. If I find something, I’ll show you.”

“Okay.” Xu Xiaole couldn’t help adding, “But since you’ve made up your mind, I support you. Still, I suggest you get a full physical exam first.”

“What do you mean?”

Xu Xiaole said solemnly, “I’m worried Xie Xu will anger you into a heart attack.”

After all, someone in fragile health wouldn’t be able to take that kind of ruthless blow.

Lin Huiran: “...”

Xu Xiaole: “I’m joking. Hurry back. I’m waiting to eat with you.”

“Okay.”

...

The two who had successfully met up were now sitting at the dining table.

Lin Huiran held her chopsticks in her right hand, using them to shovel food into her mouth, while her left hand held her phone as she searched for something.

Suddenly, she set down her chopsticks. “I found it!”

Xu Xiaole looked over at her. “Found what?”