"By the way, Teacher Su, are you thirsty? I have some water here."
"Not thirsty."
"Teacher Su, it's been a while since I've heard you talk to me, finally you're responding."
Just as Xu Lin finished speaking, Su Qingwan turned her head away, pretending it wasn't her who had spoken.
"Ignore her. She isn't my best friend. She is here to interrupt my date."
"Qin Yunhe, you took my boyfriend away, can't I at least bother you a bit?"
"Isn't your fake boyfriend? Right, Xu Lin?"
"Uh... you two, don't argue."
"Don't be a fence-sitter." Qin Yunhe glared at him, and Xu Lin shut his mouth.
"Qin Yunhe, I just saw your dad."
"What about it?"
"If my dad and your dad meet, won't everything fall apart?"
Su Qingwan hadn't expected her best friend to stab her in the back like this. By then, she would become fake, even though she was fake to begin with.
"I didn't, Xu Lin came to see my dad voluntarily."
"I..." Xu Lin was at a loss for words, giving Su Qingwan an apologetic look.
In fact, he had proactively said he would help Su Qingwan. If her parents found out he was fake, they might put more pressure on her.
"Don't worry, there's no problem on your end. Besides, didn't you say you would break up with Xu Lin after meeting your parents?"
"Now you can say you broke up with him due to irreconcilable differences so there is nothing wrong with him being with me."
Hearing Qin Yunhe say this, Su Qingwan regretted spilling everything to her best friend.
But it's also my own problem. What I told Xu Lin at that time was that you help me deal with my parents and we can find a reason to separate later.
"But didn't you say we could have a fair competition?"
"I did, a fair competition with Miss Chu and the others, not with me."
"Even best friends need clear boundaries!"
Xu Lin, listening from the side, was somewhat pleased. It sounded like they were discussing cooperation and competition.
Though he didn't want major conflicts within their group of twelve, competition was a stabilizing force.
But unlike Ji Yun, Chu Qingchan, and Chu Fengyi, who were united, these two best friends seemed to be bickering. Yet as they argued, their conversation quickly shifted from him to why they were going to Nine Dragom Relic Pagoda, then to what to eat for lunch, complaining about the expensive and unappetizing food nearby.
Xu Lin gradually realized this wasn't infighting but their way of interacting as friends. He felt a bit out of touch.
"Last time I went to the pagoda, I wrote on my wish card for Jia Qing to get lost and true love to arrive. Did you wish to become stronger?"
Su Qingwan, looking out of the city, recalled the scene from two years ago when she and Qin Yunhe came here.
"Yeah."
"But I didn't find love. Instead, you got both a job and love, and became stronger? You turned into a cute girl."
Su Qingwan had noticed her best friend dressed so girlishly today. She always said that androgynous clothes were stylish and practical.
But now, wearing high-heeled boots and a floral date coat, luckily without makeup, she would outshine her.
After all, Qin Yunhe has long legs, which makes her look better than her. However, whether her figure is good or not is up to Xu Lin.
I'm so envious. I haven't even taken a bath with my Qin Yunhe! Wait, I haven't even cuddled with Qin Yunhe!
"Xu Lin, I really hate you."
"Huh? I haven't even said a word in the last ten minutes."
"Yeah, I haven't even touched my Qin Yunhe's lips!"
"What are you talking about?!" Qin Yunhe shouted, wondering what was going on in her best friend's mind.
Xu Lin, however, laughed and looked smugly at Su Qingwan, "Teacher Su, I've won."
"Get lost! Double your English homework!"
"I don't have to do homework."
"You must do English!"
"I can't handle English homework..."
"If you get second place in the class like you did in Chinese, you don't have to do it."
"I'll definitely get second place in the November exams."
"Alright, I'll let you off then."
"Thank you, Teacher Su."
"How are you going to thank me?"
"What kind of thanks do you want?" Xu Lin realized Su Qingwan had something she wanted him to do.
"Come to my house again soon."
"Why..."
"Because of last time."
Su Qingwan remembered that after she got excited, her parents kept thinking she had broken up with Xu Lin.
She felt a bit uncomfortable seeing Xu Lin and Qin Yunhe together, so she didn't say anything to contradict them.
But eventually, she realized she couldn't let herself be stifled and had to look forward.
Since Qin Yunhe had said they could compete fairly, she gathered her courage to come over today, not expecting them to be going out.
Impulsively, she insisted on getting in the car, planning to make up with Xu Lin.
But she didn't want to seem like she was giving in on purpose, so she took a long way around to bring up the topic.
"What do I have to do?"
"They think we had a fight and broke up."
"Can't you just tell them?"
"It's more convincing if you go in person."
Hearing this, Xu Lin looked over at Qin Yunhe. He had come out with her today, so he couldn't completely ignore her opinion.
"For my best friend's peace of mind, let Xu Lin help you."
"Why does it feel like I'm begging you?"
"If my husband has something to do, he should discuss it with me. I'm very magnanimous."
"Qin Yunhe, don't be cocky. I'll defect!"
"Go ahead."
"Xu Lin, will you agree?"
"Yes, I will. When should I go?"
"How about tonight?"
"Not tonight, I have to go with Qin Yunhe."
"I'm not in a hurry, go with her. I just remembered, I have to work tonight."
Xu Lin was surprised. Qin Yunhe had said on WeChat she was free tonight after working 11 days straight and having a two-day break.
It seemed Miss Qin, despite always putting down Su Qingwan, had a soft heart.
"Alright, then I'll go."
"Really."
"Don't worry, I'm not going to be a third wheel. I'm here to repay a favor. Even if love hasn't worked out, at least Jia Qing is gone. I should give thanks."
"Yeah, I thought the same. I was planning to go to Qinglong Lake."
"Qinglong Lake, that's almost in the next city. But the scenery there is really nice."
Xu Lin recalled that Qinglong Lake was a natural spring lake, located far from the city, more like the outskirts of the suburbs.
It hadn't been specially protected for decades, nor had people gone there, allowing a very beautiful, unpolluted large natural wetland to form naturally. Later, the city developed it into a scenic area, but since it was a small place with forests and water, the visitors were mainly locals and nearby residents.
So, it remained a good spot with nice scenery and no crowds, although it took more than an hour by car for a round trip.
"Should we go?"
"Do you guys want to go?"
"I want to go. I haven't been there in a long time, and I heard they've recently developed a hot spring project."
The words "hot spring" instantly struck a chord in Xu Lin's brain. He was open to going before, but now he really wanted to go.
"Then let's go. We don't have any other plans anyway."
"Alright, we'll visit the relic pagoda first to fulfill our vows, then head to Qinglong Lake since it's on the way."