Chapter 5: We Are Best Friends

Yang Fan could sense that everyone’s spirits had improved a great deal. As the saying goes, life is just about getting by—such is the reality for most people. Yet a few among them still wore anxious expressions, especially Aunt Liu. After thanking Yang Fan briefly, she grabbed two boxed meals and hurried off to the hospital.

“Xiao Fan, we’re managing alright. We can muddle through these days, but your Aunt Chen, her son is gravely ill. She’s spent everything she has trying to cure him, and now this trouble has come out of nowhere.”

“If anything happens to her son, I fear Chen herself won’t survive it. It’s two lives lost in one blow!”

“It’s truly a terrible misfortune. If you ask me, those thieves deserve to be caught and locked up for a few years.”

...

Yang Fan and Xu Zihan sighed alongside them, while Ai Xiaomei played happily with a few children nearby. But Yang Fan felt powerless; the only solution was to catch those thieves as soon as possible.

“I hope the Eye of the SkyNet really works,” Yang Fan sighed heavily. After eating, the three of them returned upstairs.

Ai Xiaomei and Xu Zihan went to chat at Xu Zixuan’s home, while Yang Fan headed back to his own apartment. Because of Aunt Chen’s troubles, he no longer had the heart to work on his graduation thesis. He stood on the balcony, his mind completely blank.

He glanced absentmindedly at the fish tank, and nearly jumped in shock. This morning, he’d been so busy with thesis work that he’d forgotten he’d fed the goldfish some Marrow Cleansing Pill last night. Now, the goldfish’s scales gleamed with golden light, and in just one night its body had grown by half, with fangs protruding from its mouth, looking unusually fierce.

“It really worked?” Yang Fan murmured to himself.

“If the Marrow Cleansing Pill is effective, what about the Healing Pill on the lottery wheel? Would it be as miraculous as described—curing even the most difficult illnesses with a single dose?”

“If it’s truly that powerful, Aunt Chen’s son could be saved!” Yang Fan pondered. Still, he decided to ask Ai Xiaomei about it first—he needed to fully understand these pills, for medicine is not a matter to be taken lightly.

That afternoon, as Yang Fan received a call from Zhang Chen to assemble, Ai Xiaomei and Xu Zihan chatted cheerfully as they went out.

“Brother, are we going out for a feast?” Ai Xiaomei asked.

Yang Fan glared at her; this girl acted as if she’d never eaten anything fancy before. Too lazy to respond, he ignored Ai Xiaomei’s delighted grin and instead asked Xu Zihan:

“Zihan, are you ready to go?”

“Yes, it’s already four in the afternoon. Are you heading out too?”

“Yeah, my buddies insisted I go now. Oh, I forgot to tell you—one of my best friends is your fan.”

“Really?”

“Sister Zihan, I’m your fan too!” Ai Xiaomei chimed in, stealing the spotlight. Yang Fan rolled his eyes—what’s it got to do with you!

Xu Zihan smiled sweetly, linking arms with Ai Xiaomei.

“That’s absolutely true! You don’t know—our dorm has your photos posted everywhere!”

“I’m just a minor actress...”

The three chatted as they left. At four, everyone was out and about, and upon meeting, Yang Fan mentioned he had plans that evening.

“That Xiao Fan, and Zihan—they really make a pair.”

“I think so too.”

...

Yang Fan nearly stumbled—he and Xu Zihan were just close friends, not lovers! As they stepped out, it seemed Xu Zihan was pressed for time, so Yang Fan generously hailed a taxi, and—yes, the fare was cleverly charged to Ai Xiaomei. After dropping off Xu Zihan, he and Ai Xiaomei made their way to Night Blaze Hotel.

Night Blaze was one of the better gathering spots in Tianning, and this time, the party was supposedly organized by that rich second-generation, Liu Haoyu. Yang Fan paid it little mind.

Rich heirs love to show off—it’s only natural. He’d already decided: eat more, talk less. After all, once they graduated, everything would boil down to interests.

There were plenty who wanted to cozy up to Liu Haoyu, but Yang Fan had no intention of joining his father’s company, no matter the invitation.

It was still early. When Yang Fan reached the hotel entrance, only a handful of people were coming and going.

Xu Tao, Zhang Chen, and Wang Jie were among them, standing out amid the obvious couples. Yang Fan curled his lips; he remembered back in the dorm, those three were always scheming to chase girls, but after four years of college, single they remained.

Yang Fan always thought their lack of resolve was to blame. He himself had pursued Bai Tiantian for four years with determination—though yesterday he finally saw her true colors.

Still, his persistence was something to be proud of. Feeling cheerful, Yang Fan waved vigorously at them.

Ai Xiaomei had somehow procured a bottle of milk tea, happily sipping away by herself.

“Boss, what took you so long? I called you at four, and you show up at five!” Xu Tao complained, greeting Xiaomei as well.

“Yeah, Yang Fan, this isn’t like you. You, a delivery guy, have no sense of time!”

“I ran into a little issue—had to drop off my best friend,” Yang Fan replied.

“Best friend? You have a best friend?” Zhang Chen asked in disbelief.

“Of course! My brother and my best friend—yep, Sister Xu Zihan,” Ai Xiaomei said proudly, sucking on her milk tea straw.

“Who? Xu Zihan? Listen to your brother bragging—he’s not afraid of bursting his own bubble,” Zhang Chen teased.

“Don’t believe me?” Yang Fan asked, looking at Zhang Chen, who shook his head vigorously.

“You two don’t believe either?” Xu Tao and Wang Jie shook their heads as well.

“Fine, don’t regret it. Xiaomei, show them the photo of you and your Sister Zihan!” Yang Fan said calmly. Last night, it wasn’t just Ai Xiaomei and Xu Zihan who took a photo together—they all did.

Ai Xiaomei nodded enthusiastically, pulled out her phone, and punched in the password that always made Yang Fan’s stomach ache.

“Yang Fan is a big bad guy!”

Yes, those were the initials, as she flashed the phone in front of Zhang Chen and the others.

“Wow, it really is Xu Zihan!” Zhang Chen was so excited he nearly snatched Ai Xiaomei’s phone, but she was quicker, stashing it back in her pocket.

“How did you meet her?” Zhang Chen was about to lose it.

“That’s a secret,” Ai Xiaomei replied, blinking mischievously.

This was exactly the effect Yang Fan wanted—letting Ai Xiaomei trick Zhang Chen was simply perfect.

“Can you still contact her?” Zhang Chen asked, nearly frantic.

“Isn’t that obvious? Otherwise, how could she be my best friend?” Yang Fan chimed in, doubting Zhang Chen’s logic.

“Her phone number? If not, her social media?”

“Ahem!” Yang Fan coughed, and Ai Xiaomei stepped forward...

“Do you really want to know?”

Zhang Chen nodded eagerly.

“Then go buy me some snacks first!”

Eyes lighting up, Zhang Chen dragged Ai Xiaomei off to the nearby supermarket. Ai Xiaomei was quite satisfied.

“I’m telling you, the photo is expensive, and her social media even more so.”

Yang Fan shook his head, smiling at Xu Tao and Wang Jie, who dared not comment.

“It really is Xu Zihan!”

“Of course it is,” Yang Fan said.

“So you and Xu Zihan...”

“What are you thinking? We’re best friends,” Yang Fan shot them a glare. The whole female lead business had nothing to do with him.

Being best friends was more reliable, and who knows—maybe he could introduce Xu Zihan to one of these single guys.

Half an hour later, Zhang Chen emerged from the supermarket with a big bag of snacks, Ai Xiaomei leading the way. Now, Ai Xiaomei held the power over whether Zhang Chen would meet his idol!

“Xiaomei, can you introduce me to my idol now?” Zhang Chen asked, ingratiatingly.

“What’s the rush? Here, go buy me some fried chicken wings!”

Zhang Chen went off helplessly, but he was still happy.

“Xiaomei, don’t push it too far!” Yang Fan couldn’t help but say.

“I’m being very restrained.”

“You? Restrained?” Yang Fan scoffed—how could she say that so confidently?

Zhang Chen came back, and when he learned Yang Fan meant to take him to meet Xu Zihan that evening, he was overjoyed.

Time slipped by as Zhang Chen basked in his own anticipation. By eight, classmates began arriving one after another.

The five of them stood at the entrance. Glancing up, Yang Fan saw Liu Haoyu and Bai Tiantian stepping out of a limousine together.

For a moment, their eyes met...

Liu Haoyu shot Wang Yu a resentful look, but Wang Yu ignored him completely—the trump card was in hand, the world was his!

Ai Xiaomei covered her eyes as she watched Liu Haoyu and Bai Tiantian.

“Not suitable for children!”