Su Bin awkwardly muttered, “Uh,” trying to force Chen Xiaotian to turn around?
This time, he defended himself, “Yu Wen, I can honestly say that I’ve never forced Chen Xiaotian to do anything she didn’t want to do.” Even during their second pursuit two years ago, he had put in three months of effort, going to great lengths to impress Chen Xiaotian, trying to win her over with elaborate gestures he considered to be the most romantic. “If you’re talking about the confession, I always thought Chen Xiaotian agreed willingly. Although I realized recently that she might not have wanted to back then, no one ever told me.”
If Su Bin had been in China when Chen Xiaotian brought up breaking up, he might have cried and begged her not to leave him, but he wouldn’t have resorted to using dropping out as a way to manipulate her. How would that be any different from acting like a scoundrel?
“On this point, I can vouch for him,” Jin Fei couldn’t resist chiming in to Yu Wen, “Do you know that this idiot has been dating your roommate for three years and is still a virgin? Hahaha! What normal guy could resist that? When you think about it, your roommate has been through a lot, too…”
Su Bin: “…” Damn, I can’t stand this fly anymore! (╯‵□′）╯︵┻━┻
Lina couldn’t help but laugh and whispered to Su Bin, “Any woman wouldn’t be able to resist~”
Su Bin: “…”
Yu Wen blushed and said, “Well, to be honest, I feel like Chen Xiaotian never really saw you as a boyfriend. She treated you more like a younger brother. She always said you were too clingy, right? I believe you genuinely like her, you treat her really well, but Su Bin, have you ever heard the saying that sometimes you bring a whole world of apples in front of someone, but all they want is a pear? You’re just not right for her; she likes a different type of guy. We always thought that eventually, you’d realize that Chen Xiaotian wasn’t that into you, and she might propose a breakup. We just didn’t expect you to take it so seriously and to be so persistent.”
Su Bin fell silent. Yu Wen had a point, but her pep talk didn’t hit the mark.
If Chen Xiaotian had once been interested in him, Su Bin could console himself with apple and pear metaphors, but if Chen Xiaotian had never been interested in him from the start, then why did she treat him like an apple when she wanted a pear? Was it because she couldn’t get the pear, so she settled for the apple? And now others were suggesting that he try to offer himself up as a solution, only for Chen Xiaotian to reveal that she preferred pears all along.
Yu Wen continued, “You going on that international exchange was also suggested by another girl in our dormitory. She thought that being apart for a while might help cool off your feelings for Chen Xiaotian. But we never thought that Chen Xiaotian would propose a breakup so soon… and get together with your friend so quickly.”
She looked at Su Bin apologetically, “But seeing you now, we feel relieved.”
Su Bin: “…”
Gold Fei sneered, “We, we, we… Do you guys have any shame left? You’re the ones who messed up the match, you’re the ones who thought up the clever breakup scheme, huh? Isn’t it easy to feel unbothered when the problem doesn’t concern you?” Jin Fei had held back for so long but couldn’t any longer. He played with the lighter in his hand as he spoke, “Do you know how much hurt your self-righteous ideas have caused others?”
Yu Wen anxiously said, “We know…”
Jin Fei cursed, “You know what? You don’t know a damn thing! Do you know what it feels like to be in a long-distance relationship? Should I separate your boyfriend and see how he does in Africa for a year?”
Zhang Qi: “…”
Jin Fei continued, “Do you know that Su Bin bought an engagement ring for your roommate, went dumpster diving, worked as a dishwashing black laborer in a Chinese restaurant, did grunt work moving beer kegs? He suffered for a hundred days before realizing that his sincere feelings were being wasted?”
Su Bin grew anxious and interrupted Jin Fei, “Fly, I…”
Jin Fei glared at him, “You dumbass, shut up!”
Zhang Qi exclaimed in shock, “Buying a ring is true? Damn…”
Su Bin: “…”
He was about to lose all his dignity, oh no… (╥_╥)
Zhang Qi reproached Yu Wen, “I told you from the start not to keep it from us!”
Yu Wen lowered her gaze and said, “We feel guilty about it too…”
Jin Fei chuckled, “Guilty? I think you guys are just selfish! To think that you even have the nerve to say that seeing Su Bin doing well makes you feel relieved? Isn’t that just the most common criminal mentality? You want to kill someone but don’t want to go to jail for it, so you stab them while secretly hoping they don’t die. That’s really malicious!”
Yu Wen: “It’s not like that, we’re not…”
“Don’t try to justify yourselves!” Jin Fei cut her off, “I haven’t even analyzed the criminal motive yet, envy? Jealousy? Think about it, your roommate must be quite pretty, right? She’s not lacking in intelligence or looks, and she even has a great boyfriend. Oh, didn’t expect her love life to be quite rocky, huh? And you guys must have felt secretly satisfied watching all that, right? Yeah! How can one person have so many good things? So, you might as well just enjoy the show, and if you’d spoken up earlier, there wouldn’t have been a show to enjoy…”
Jin Fei unabashedly magnified and presented the darkest aspects of human nature right in front of Yu Wen. She couldn’t defend against it, and by now, she was close to tears.
Zhang Qi was also feeling embarrassed, but he wisely chose not to defend his girlfriend because he had always thought the girls were in the wrong in this matter.
Jin Fei glanced at her, “You were capable of doing it back then, so don’t play innocent now. Human nature has its weaknesses; laziness is at the top. I’m that kind of person, and I don’t hide it. You see… oh well, talking so much is tiring!” He turned his head and called, “Babe~”
Lina laughed carefreely and leaned in, sweetly giving Jin Fei a kiss, “Mwah~”
Su Bin looked at Zhang Qi and Yu Wen, who were both awkward, and finally had a chance to speak, “Um, I think what I wanted to say and what I didn’t want to say have all been said by my friends. I’ll reserve my opinion… Yu Wen, don’t take it too hard, and to my senior, well, about this matter with Chen Xiaotian, I have to thank you for the early warning. If it wasn’t for you telling me, Chen Xiaotian wouldn’t have broken up so soon, and I wouldn’t have been able to move on this quickly.”
Zhang Qi sighed, “Your friends have said quite a bit of truth, Su Bin. I always thought you were a kind and sincere person, maybe a bit immature before, but you’ve matured a lot now… You’ll meet even better friends.”
Su Bin thanked him and then asked, “Since that’s the case, shall we call it a day?”
Jin Fei eagerly pulled Lina up, “We haven’t even had lunch, and our stomachs are full of nausea from that mocha… Let’s find a place to eat.”
Allen also stood up, holding Su Bin’s waist affectionately in front of Zhang Qi and Yu Wen, whispering by his ear, “I’m hungry too.”
Those two: “…”
Su Bin: “… What’s the deal with talking and then whispering in my ear? o////o”
As they reached the doorway, Zhang Qi stopped Su Bin and asked, “Where’s your friend staying now? How about I treat you both to dinner tonight, as a gesture?”
Su Bin replied, “You mean Jin Fei? He’s staying at the Wanghu Hotel. Dinner… uh, senior, you don’t have to spend on us.”
Jin Fei, who was walking ahead, overheard and turned back, “Tonight, Lina and I plan to move to the Hyatt to keep you company. It’ll be more convenient for tomorrow’s journey.”
Zhang Qi was astonished, “You’re staying at the Hyatt?” He’s really wealthy. I guess I shouldn’t treat them then…
Su Bin: “Yeah…”
Zhang Qi asked, “Are you on your Christmas break now? When are you returning to Country B? I could come see you off.”
Su Bin politely declined, “We’re probably leaving around New Year’s. We’ll be departing from Shanghai then. I know you guys will be busy with your final exams, so no need to bother.”
Jin Fei chimed in, “You’re not going to Beijing with Gege? Cheng Ge is there too, and you can all depart from Beijing together.”
When Su Bin heard that Cheng Ge was in Beijing, his eyes lit up. He glanced at Allen, and she reached out and gently pinched his neck, softly agreeing.
“Well then, senior, goodbye!” Su Bin was in a good mood and waved his hand towards Zhang Qi.
Zhang Qi watched their retreating figures and couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. He also felt a sense of melancholy—birds of a feather flock together, and people separate into groups. No wonder Su Bin chose to drop out and leave Provincial University; he no longer belonged to this world.
The group found a relatively upscale tea restaurant for dinner. Su Bin remembered Jin Fei’s words earlier and greatly admired him (except for the parts about being a virgin and dumpster diving): “Jin Fei, I really respect you!”
Jin Fei boasted, “Call me Big Bro~”
Su Bin shamelessly flattered, “You’re my true big bro!”
Jin Fei reveled in it, “Eh~”
—In this day and age, it’s not scary to have money; what’s scary is having money and culture, along with the ability to argue like a hooligan!
Just thinking about Jin Fei’s eloquent metaphors, which were leagues above Yu Wen’s clichéd “apple and pear” excuses, made Su Bin feel incredibly satisfied. It even improved his appetite.
Su Bin wondered why he didn’t possess Jin Fei’s excAllent argumentative skills. He didn’t have Allen’s attitude of disregarding everything and saying, “Go to hell.” Upon this reflection, he suddenly felt weak.
“Ah, I need to work hard!” Su Bin clenched his fist while holding a piece of spareribs with fermented black bean sauce.
Jin Fei asked with a grin, “Work hard at what?”
Su Bin replied, “Study like you guys!”
Jin Fei laughed heartily, “Study what? Bedroom skills?”
Su Bin retorted, “Get lost…” (╯‵□′）╯︵┻━┻
“I mean your eloquence!” Su Bin said irritably.
Jin Fei chuckled, “Hehehe, by the way, what about those two traitorous dogs? When are you going to introduce them to Brother?”
Su Bin said, “Don’t jinx it! I really don’t want to see them… It’s nauseating, truth be told.”
Jin Fei said confidently, “What are you afraid of? With Big Bro around, are you scared they’ll eat you? When the time comes, let Lina lend a hand, and in front of them, have an intense bed scene. I guarantee they’ll both spit blood, a ten-level internal injury.”
Lina threw Su Bin a seductive look and cooperated, “Your little brother is so adorable; I’ve been wanting to have a taste~”
Jin Fei pinched her waist and smirked, “You thirsty little devil!”
Su Bin: “…………” Allen, help me QAQ~
However, Su Bin didn’t expect Jin Fei’s jinx to actually come true. In the evening, the four of them were returning to the Hyatt, and right at the hotel’s main entrance, they ran into the three people Su Bin least wanted to see!
