"You have a grudge against the two of them, and now they are ganging up together. I feel uneasy about their intentions. You need to be careful," Zhao Yi kindly reminded.
"Thanks," Ren Ran replied.
"We're classmates. No need to be so polite," Zhao Yi said breezily with a smile.
After class, Xu Li blocked Ren Ran's way.
"Ran Ran," she called.
"Yes?" Ren Ran looked at her coldly.
"I have something to tell you."
"I don't have time for this," Ren Ran dismissed and walked away.
Xu Li looked anxious. She quickly stepped forward, trying to grab Ren Ran, but was avoided.
"Ran Ran, for the sake of our years of friendship, can you spare me a few minutes?" Xu Li pleaded with reddened eyes.
Ren Ran just stood there with her arms crossed, silently.
Xu Li grew more impatient, her voice tinged with sobs. "Ran Ran," she pleaded pitifully.
In the past, whenever Xu Li showed such an expression, Ren Ran would give in. After all, they were good friends, and Ren Ran would pamper and indulge her a little without any harm. But some people mistake kindness for weakness and take it for granted completely.
Ren Ran started walking towards the rooftop. Seeing this, Xu Li was overjoyed. She quickly caught up.
"Speak," Ren Ran said, leaning against the door once they reached the rooftop. Her cold eyes looked at Xu Li.
Xu Li gritted her teeth. "Ran Ran, I was in the wrong yesterday. I shouldn't have said those things about you. I was bewitched by Pei Ming. He told me you seduced him and hinted at him, which made him bold enough to confess to you."
"I just confronted him and he let it slip. Only then did I realize he had lied to me. I'm such a fool to have believed his nonsense."
"My dear angel Ran Ran, please forgive your foolish friend, can you?"
With tears brimming in her eyes, she pleaded pitifully.
Her weak and delicate appearance did look pitiful and heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, Ren Ran felt no sympathy. If anything, she felt disgusted.
She remained silent, just watching Xu Li.
Xu Li grew uneasy under her gaze. Not daring to meet her eyes, she lowered her head subconsciously.
"Ran Ran, hit me, scold me. I absolutely won't fight back or retaliate," Xu Li said.
Ren Ran still didn't move.
Seeing no reaction from her, Xu Li became more anxious. "Ran Ran, don't you believe me? I'll call Pei Ming right now and confront him."
She frantically looked for her phone. "I left my phone in the classroom. Can I borrow your phone to call him? You're my best friend. I don't want a man to come between us."
Hearing the word "phone", Ren Ran understood their intentions.
"For old times' sake, I'll believe you one more time," Ren Ran took out her phone, thoughtfully unlocked it and dialed Pei Ming's number before handing it to Xu Li.
Xu Li suppressed her excitement and took the phone from Ren Ran's hand.
"Pei Ming, come to the rooftop right now!"
"If you're a man, come here now!"
"Don't be a coward. Don't make me despise you. Do you dare repeat what you told me before?" Xu Li grew more agitated, slowly edging towards the roof's edge.
Ren Ran leaned against the door, just watching Xu Li's performance silently.
Suddenly, Xu Li let out a cry. The phone slipped from her hand and fell downwards.
The corner of Ren Ran's mouth curved up mockingly, a flash of disdain in her eyes.
Xu Li was flustered and afraid, but also apologetic. "Ran Ran, I'm sorry. I didn't grip the phone just now and dropped it."
Her gaze was fixed on Ren Ran's face, waiting for the anticipated anger, but she remained calm, making Xu Li feel uneasy.
Ren Ran straightened up. "It's dropped, so it's dropped," she said dismissively.
Xu Li breathed a sigh of relief. She knew Ran Ran would still see her as a friend if she acted meek.
But the next second, her uptilted lips froze.
"That phone was the latest model from Pineapple. Not yet released in China. My uncle brought it for me from overseas. It cost 12,000 yuan. Just remember to pay me back."
Xu Li stared blankly at Ren Ran's departing back, cursing under her breath after a long pause, "Bitch, don't act so arrogant."
When Ren Ran arrived downstairs, the phone that should have been smashed to pieces was nowhere to be seen. It was obvious someone had disposed of it already.
She shrugged indifferently, touching the other phone in her pocket.
Who doesn't have one or two spare phones!
She hummed a tune, looking forward to their next act and went home in a good mood.
She didn't have to wait long for their grand drama. At lunchtime the next day, Pei Ming blocked her way at the cafeteria entrance.
This was the liveliest area in school at this time, without a doubt.
"Ren Ran," Pei Ming stepped forward, blocking her path.
"Good dogs don't block the road," Ren Ran said.
But he didn't move.
"Didn't you hear me? Good dogs don't block the road," Zhao Yi spoke up.
Pei Ming glared at Zhao Yi, frightening her into silence. Then he looked at Ren Ran again, his eyes now miserable, resentful - the very image of a man deceived by his girlfriend.
"Ren Ran, I just want to clear this up. If you don't like me, why did you look for me every day, bring me delicious food and gifts?! Were you just playing with me? Was that fun?"
He roared out the last sentence.
The cafeteria entrance was always crowded. Now with his yelling, those who hadn't noticed them before looked over curiously.
News of Pei Ming's bold confession being rejected and him receiving punishment had already spread across school.
Seeing the two involved in another spat sparked people's interest. Everyone wanted to watch the drama and be part of the peanut gallery.
More and more people gathered to watch. Many didn't even eat, rushing over just for the gossip.
Some were even more shameless, directly bringing their trays over to eat while enjoying the show.
Seeing the growing crowd, Zhao Yi grew worried. She carefully tugged at Ren Ran's sleeve.
Ren Ran shook her head at Zhao Yi, indicating it was fine.
In the previous life, Pei Ming had pushed all the blame onto her in front of the entire school at the podium.
This life, he chose to replay it in the school cafeteria.
More people meant it was easier to clear his name, but sometimes it could also easily drown him instead.
Hearing his words, girls who admired Pei Ming easily took his side.
"He's right. If she didn't like Pei Ming, with his looks and family background, he wouldn't have dared to confess so boldly."
"Could Pei Ming have been tricked by Ren Ran?"
"Maybe Ren Ran knew the Head of Discipline was coming and said that on purpose to avoid being implicated."
"If that's the case, she's too ungrateful. This is like roasting Pei Ming over a fire. How despicable."
......
"Hilarious. Since when do confessions mean reciprocated feelings? Following your logic, confessions would always succeed. Does that mean I can confess to Pei Ming and if he rejects me, he must be playing with me?"
"After so many years of schooling, how can you all not have any brains?"
