Shi Hai quickly calmed himself completely.
If he panicked now, the likelihood of misunderstanding happening would increase.
However, he couldn't think of a reasonable explanation for pulling out a blue and white striped item.
He couldn't just grit his teeth and claim that this triangular piece of cloth with two holes was a handkerchief, could he?
If he tried to cover it up now, it might lead to more trouble later on.
Especially if he mentioned Jian Sichun's name, the misunderstanding would only worsen.
So, Shi Hai decided not to explain.
Yes, he would pretend he hadn't realized this and just muddle through.
The worst-case scenario would be Zhu Lingjie distancing herself from him…
But then again, the distance between him and this childhood friend was already not close.
How much further could it go?
At worst, they would return to being strangers.
However, Zhu Lingjie didn't overlook it.
Instead, she said understandingly,
"It's okay… no need to explain… I understand."
What do you understand?! Shi Hai was stunned.
Jian Sichun's train of thought was already bizarre enough, and now Zhu Lingjie seemed to have the same tendency.
But Zhu Lingjie did understand.
She knew Shi Hai's preferences very well, down to the specific details of what he liked.
She knew Shi Hai didn't have a fetish.
Shi Hai did like socks and girls, but what he specifically liked wasn't the 'thing' itself, but the 'person wearing the thing.'
And she didn't think there was anything perverted about it.
On the contrary, she was happy that Shi Hai showed interest in her.
Women always want to look good for those who appreciate them.
Being admired has always been a pleasant thing.
Moreover, the fact that he was interested in her various outfits and wanted to see her in different looks and poses was proof of his love, wasn't it?
If her husband was no longer interested in her, that would be a real problem!
In other words, the item itself was just to increase her charm.
If the item had never been worn by anyone and was brand new, it had no value.
In other words, what he was holding now was probably something someone had worn.
From the feel of it against her face, it was still half-damp...
It was indeed that girl named Jian Sichun's, wasn't it...
But if Jian Sichun was his girlfriend from university and they still seemed to have good feelings, why did they break up?
With this question in mind, Zhu Lingjie said,
"It was your girlfriend… who gave it to you, right…?"
"No."
"Eh? Not your girlfriend's…?"
Then, then who…
Could it be that Shi Hai really has a fetish?
Shi Hai realized he couldn't avoid explaining anymore.
He rubbed his temples and said,
"What I mean is, she's not my girlfriend."
"… Eh?"
"You mean Jian Sichun, right."
"Yeah…"
"Jian Sichun is my friend. Didn't she also say she was my friend earlier? If she really was my girlfriend, she wouldn't have needed to say she was my friend just now."
"Ah…"
That's true.
She remembered when she first started dating Shi Hai.
She wanted the whole world to know that Shi Hai was her boyfriend.
Though she only thought about it and would be shy if someone pointed it out.
But even if she was shy, she would never deny it.
"Really… just friends?"
"Yes, just friends."
"Friends… who even give this…"
"Something happened today. She took it off temporarily to wash it, then she forgot to dry it and just threw it to me. I was going to dry it at home, but I ran into you fainting and forgot about it."
Every word was true; there wasn't a single lie.
He just left out some details, like how Jian Sichun actually lent it to him.
But if he said that, even he wouldn't believe the 'friend' explanation.
So they were really just friends…
Zhu Lingjie didn't doubt him.
She trusted every word Shi Hai said unconditionally.
Because she knew Shi Hai wouldn't lie.
He had a bit of a "big man" attitude, willing to take responsibility.
But actually, it was just because Shi Hai found lying too troublesome.
Rather than making up a lot of explanations afterward, he preferred to admit it upfront.
"If you don't believe me, you can ask her yourself tomorrow."
"She's coming… tomorrow?"
"She's moving in with me starting tomorrow."
"Eh… she's… moving in with you?"
"Yes, she doesn't get along with her roommate, so she asked my mom if she could stay at our place. Since we have a spare room, my mom agreed."
"I see…"
Actually, the reasons didn't matter anymore.
Zhu Lingjie's mind was only filled with two pieces of information.
First, Jian Sichun and Shi Hai were friends.
Second, they would be living together starting tomorrow.
At this moment, she felt both joy and worry.
Joy because despite their apparent closeness, they weren't in a romantic relationship.
Worry because even though they weren't in a romantic relationship, they were close enough to easily stay at each other's places.
This certainly wasn't an ordinary friendship.
No wonder Jian Sichun called him her 'best friend.'
More than friends, but not quite lovers…
Zhu Lingjie keenly grasped Jian Sichun's position, which was precisely where Jian Sichun wanted to stay.
However, she didn't feel completely at ease.
Since she had returned to the past and contacted Shi Hai earlier, the future might already be different.
Should she wait until they graduated from university and joined the company he went to so they can get closer?
No way!
The thing she regretted most was not getting close to Shi Hai sooner.
Although her being reincarnated into the past took away the happiness she had in her grasp, now that she had another chance, she should at least make up for the regrets, right?
She even thought, why not just send her back to elementary school?
That way, she could be a true childhood friend, wake him up every day, eat with him, go to school with him…
Not giving any other woman a chance to get close.
Holding his hand tightly.
Now, Zhu Lingjie was very grateful that she had decided to move back.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have known about this.
And there was still a chance now.
Jian Sichun wasn't his girlfriend yet.
Which meant she could completely catch up and take the 'first love' position.
Dating from university and getting married after graduation would be much better than the love marathon of her previous life.
Yes, she had to cheer up!
Zhu Lingjie encouraged herself and wiped away her tears.
Seeing her emotions stabilize, Shi Hai asked with concern,
"Feeling better?"
"Yes… much better… thank you."
"Can you stand up?"
"A bit difficult…"
Her legs were still weak.
She hadn't expected her reaction to be so intense.
But the feeling of 'losing him' really scared her.
"Do you mind if I help you up?"
"No… I don't mind."
"Okay."
She extended her hand, but Shi Hai didn't take it directly.
Since he had already taken out the blue and white striped triangular cloth, he might as well use it as a mat here.
Shi Hai thought her intense reaction was likely due to her male phobia, and not wanting to be ignored by someone familiar.
The struggle between instinct and reason led to her emotional breakdown, causing her to cry.
So, he tried to avoid direct contact with her as much as possible.
"It's clean. It should be better than touching me directly."
"Actually… it's okay…"
She meant that direct contact was fine, but Shi Hai thought she was asking if using the cloth was okay.
"It's fine. She threw it to me anyway."
With that, Shi Hai took Zhu Lingjie's wrist and pulled her up from the ground.
He didn't expect to use it in such a way… was this considered 'used'?
Moreover, Shi Hai handed the blue and white striped triangular cloth to Zhu Lingjie.
This man had no qualms.
"Can you dry this for me?"
"Okay… I'll wait for you at home…"
This time, she didn't resist the 'order' and obediently took Jian Sichun's second-to-last line of defense back to Shi Hai's house.
Then she hung it on the drying rack in front of Liu Zhenshan.
Shi Hai Mom was completely stunned.
These two kids… in such a short time, had they progressed this far?