Chapter 36: I Fight in My Best Friend’s Place

Tongyan Jiang Shuyao placed the guitar on her fair, slender thighs, nestled just under her ample curves. The “blissful” guitar fit perfectly in that space. As she strummed the strings, a sweet voice sang out the tune of “Loving You.”

Her friend’s bestie had a rounded, melodic voice—a pleasure to the ears.

When the song ended, Lin Ran applauded enthusiastically.

“That was amazing, absolutely amazing!”

Jiang Shuyao shot him a look. “Can you try to be a little more polite?”

“Sing another one.”

Jiang Shuyao considered. “I could, but only if you help me peel the garlic.”

Lin Ran gave her an OK, then went to the kitchen, tied on an apron, and began peeling garlic.

Jiang Shuyao chuckled to herself, recalling how Lin Ran’s video impersonating “Ji Bochang” buying a Bentley had stirred things up online that morning. All the Bentley staff had bowed to him as Ji Bochang, looking aloof as he sampled the snacks on the side. The comment section was flooded with girls swooning over Ji Bochang, the cold and wealthy heir.

Now, looking at Lin Ran in the kitchen—shorts, T-shirt, flip-flops, peeling garlic—where was the aloofness? Just a moment ago, he’d been clinging to her thigh, pleading for her to sing.

Jiang Shuyao felt a surge of happiness. Lin Ran only put on the cool persona for outsiders. The more time she spent with him, the more she enjoyed his company. In private, he was easygoing.

“Hey, sing!”

“All right, all right.”

It was summer in Emerald City. The living room was cool with the gentle flow of air from the AC. Jiang Shuyao’s hair, tied in a bun, danced in the breeze as she sat cross-legged on the sofa, cradling her guitar. With a sweep of the strings, she began to sing again.

In the kitchen, Lin Ran peeled garlic to the backdrop of her lovely music.

Two days ago, Lin Ran’s parents had met Jian Weian at their home; a meal together was only fitting. Since Jian Weian and Jiang Shuyao were living in the second phase of Emerald City, why not invite them over? They could have booked a restaurant, but after seeing Jian Weian’s posts showing off her cooking, the desire to taste her dishes was irresistible.

Jian Weian was outgoing. Her boyfriend wanted to eat her food, and she didn’t mind at all. “I cooked for you in front of your parents; after giving him my first kiss, why would I be afraid to cook?”

Outside, sparrows chattered on the wires.

The scent of first love returned to us like this
That warm sunshine, like freshly picked strawberries...

Jiang Shuyao gazed at his back, singing “Common Jasmine Orange,” her voice growing more heartfelt with every note.

This summer after graduation, meeting Lin Ran felt like a stroke of luck.

Lu Man and the others envied Jian Weian’s destiny—finding someone like Lin Ran in her life. But Jiang Shuyao didn’t envy her. Why should she? She and Jian Weian were bound together by fate. As long as Lin Ran was in Jian Weian’s life, he was also part of hers.

Write “I’ll love you forever” into the poem...this!

Just as she sang this line, the sound of the door opening startled Jiang Shuyao. She dropped the guitar and leapt off the sofa.

“Where are my shoes? Where are my shoes, Lin Ran, where are my shoes?”

She spun around anxiously.

At that moment, the door opened.

Not wasting a second, Jiang Shuyao darted into the kitchen, shoved Lin Ran aside, yanked off his apron, and slipped it on.

Lin Ran blinked. “What’s going on?”

“Your parents are back! I need to make a good impression.”

He looked puzzled. “Why?”

“If I don’t, I’ll ruin the good image Weian has in your parents’ eyes. She’ll kill me.”

“So you’re here in advance, earning her brownie points?”

“Exactly! I’m helping her now, and when I get a boyfriend, she’ll do the same for me.”

Lin Ran couldn’t help but laugh. True soulmates.

Creak—the door opened.

Jiang Shuyao instantly transformed into the model of a gentle, capable cook and began peeling garlic.

Lin Ran’s parents came in, grocery bags in hand, changing their shoes.

“You’re back early,” Lin Ran called.

His mother replied, “You said your girlfriend was coming for dinner, so we came home early.”

As she spoke, the couple noticed a girl in the kitchen peeling garlic.

“Stop, stop, Xiaojian, you don’t have to do that! Auntie will take over.”

Lin Ran’s mother rushed over.

Wait—this wasn’t Jian Weian.

She stared at her son in shock.

A new girlfriend?

He’d just started making money from gaming, and already he was bringing a different girl home every three days? Would she have to prepare another red envelope?

Lin Ran’s father paused at the kitchen door, equally bewildered.

The two exchanged glances with their son—what was happening?

Lin Ran quickly explained, “This is Jiang Shuyao, Jian Weian’s best friend. They live together in the second phase. She bought groceries and came early.”

So it was his girlfriend’s best friend.

“Hello, Uncle, Auntie, my name is Jiang Shuyao. I’m very glad to meet you,” she greeted them politely, worried that if they didn’t like her, it might affect Jian Weian’s lifelong happiness.

Lin Ran’s mother beamed. “Shuyao, you’re so lovely.”

Jiang Shuyao blushed. “Thank you for your compliment, Auntie.”

Then Lin Ran’s mother noticed Shuyao’s bare feet and shot Lin Ran a glare. “What are you doing? Go get her some slippers!”

“Where are your slippers? Let me look.” Lin Ran searched the living room.

It turned out the dogs, Erha and Baibai, had dragged the slippers off to their bed, so he fetched a fresh pair for Shuyao.

“Son, take Shuyao to the living room to rest. Your father and I can handle things here,” his mother suggested.

“No, no, Auntie, you and Uncle must be tired after a long day at work. You should rest—I can do this,” Shuyao insisted.

His mother protested, “We can’t let our guest cook.”

“It’s fine. We planned to cook today. Next time, when I come again, I’ll taste your cooking.”

Shuyao’s sweet smile was utterly disarming.

Lin Ran’s mother thought—what an adorable girl.

“Go on, you two,” Lin Ran said, ushering his parents out. “We’ll handle this.”

“Are you sure?” his mother hesitated.

“Of course, just relax.”

He shooed her out and closed the sliding door.

She smiled and let them be.

Whew!

Jiang Shuyao breathed a sigh of relief. “Did I embarrass you and Weian?”

Lin Ran grinned, “You were perfect. Bonus points.”

“Good. I’ll do my best until Weian gets back.”

She was standing in for her best friend. Once her task was done, she’d step aside.

A true friend.

Lin Ran’s parents sat in the living room, the TV on, but their eyes were on the kitchen where their son and his girlfriend’s best friend stood side by side at the stove.

Lin Ran washed vegetables, and water splashed into Jiang Shuyao’s eye.

“It got in my eye. Do you have a tissue?”

“Right away.”

With garlic on her hands, she couldn’t wipe her eyes herself.

Lin Ran took a tissue, leaned in, and gently dabbed the water from her eye.

Warmth filled the kitchen.

On the sofa, his parents watched this scene and wondered if they should admit—it was kind of beautiful.