A Friend I've Loved for a Long Time - Chapter 9

“I was looking at the scenery. Did you know there’s a bamboo forest over there?” Yu Mingxia gestured calmly toward the area outside the temple walls.

Yun Zhi followed her gaze and nodded. “Yes, there is a bamboo forest.”

Yu Mingxia’s meaning was clear: she was here for the bamboo.

“I’m finished shooting this area. Shall we check out the inner hall and then head to the forest?”

“Sure.”

Having agreed on the plan, the two prepared to move on. However, they were suddenly stopped by a little girl.

“Big sister, big sister, can you help us take a photo?” The little girl didn’t even reach Yun Zhi’s waist. She had two braided pigtails decorated with many colorful clips and looked very cute.

A short distance away, a couple stood under a large tree; catching Yun Zhi’s eye, they waved a greeting.

Understanding the situation, Yun Zhi crouched down to eye level with the girl. “Of course. Wait a moment for me.”

After speaking with the girl, she turned to Yu Mingxia. “Wait for me here?”

“I’ll go with you,” Yu Mingxia replied.

As Yun Zhi approached, the parents explained that they had asked for her help because they saw her carrying a professional camera. Yun Zhi didn’t mind at all. She took their camera, found a good angle, and took several photos of the family.

As they left, the little girl was still sweetly saying thank you.

After walking a few steps, Yun Zhi glanced at Yu Mingxia and saw her staring down at her shoes, deep in thought. Yun Zhi looked back and saw that the family hadn’t gone far yet.

Since they were out for fun, they should have a group photo too.

“Follow me.” Yun Zhi suddenly grabbed Yu Mingxia’s wrist. Though she didn’t know what Yun Zhi was up to, Yu Mingxia followed without the slightest resistance.

She heard Yun Zhi call out to the family from before.

“Could you help us take a photo?” Yun Zhi asked. The couple didn’t refuse and nodded in agreement.

Since they had brought their own camera, someone in the family clearly knew how to use one. Yun Zhi adjusted the settings on her camera and handed it to the woman.

Yu Mingxia was still a bit dazed, looking at Yun Zhi standing beside her, until she heard a reminder to smile for the camera.

That exact moment of her looking at Yun Zhi was captured.

Yu Mingxia snapped out of it, smiled for the lens, and after a few more shots, the woman returned the camera to Yun Zhi.

“Tsk, you were peeking at me.” Yun Zhi showed her the photo, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile.

Yu Mingxia could hear the tone—it wasn’t anger or confusion, just lighthearted teasing. She played along, letting out a soft “Ah” of realization. “I’ve been caught.”

Yun Zhi smiled and tucked the camera away, looking elsewhere. “Let’s go see the inner hall.”

By the end of the day, Yu Mingxia and Yun Zhi had explored every corner of Yunsan Temple. Yun Zhi had captured everything she wanted to.

While they were in the bamboo forest, Yu Mingxia encountered Yu Chuxue and Qu Lan again. As if playing a prank, Yu Chuxue ran over to chat with her the moment Yun Zhi stepped away briefly.

Yu Chuxue [Message]: I don’t understand. As your own sister, do I not deserve an introduction?

When Yu Mingxia received this resentful message, she and Yun Zhi were hiding in a gazebo to enjoy the view before heading back down. Yu Chuxue, the sender, was currently hiding in the neighboring gazebo observing them.

She was genuinely curious why that girl looked so familiar, and why Yu Mingxia cared about her so much.

While Yun Zhi was busy photographing the scenery, Yu Mingxia looked down and replied:

Not yet.

If she sees you today, I might lose the inspiration for that design you wanted.

Yu Chuxue: Are you threatening me?

“Let’s head down,” Yun Zhi said, putting away her camera and standing up from the gazebo bench. Yu Mingxia also put her phone away and didn’t reply further.

It was near dusk as they descended. A red glow painted the horizon, the temperature had dropped, and the breeze was gentle and pleasant.

After the two parted ways, Yu Mingxia sat on a roadside bench, eyes closed, waiting for her ride. Soon, a white car pulled up. The driver’s window rolled down, revealing the “threatened” Yu Chuxue.

“Get in.” Yu Chuxue still remembered the threat, so her tone was a bit sharp.

Yu Mingxia opened her eyes with a faint smile, opened the passenger door, and leaned in. “Thanks. I have inspiration now.”

Yu Chuxue: “…”

Qu Lan was sitting in the back seat and asked, “Mingxia, who was that girl just now?”

“A friend,” Yu Mingxia said succinctly.

“You actually have a friend Chuxue doesn’t know?” Qu Lan found this fascinating. “Then why didn’t you introduce us?” Qu Lan was an investor from the company’s early days and was close with Yu Chuxue; she was blunt and spoke her mind.

Yu Chuxue glanced at her, still thinking of the threat. “Were you threatening me just now?”

Yu Mingxia buckled her seatbelt. “You misheard.”

Yu Chuxue didn’t feel like arguing. She started the car, planning to have a real talk with Yu Mingxia after dropping Qu Lan home.

Half an hour later, only the sisters were left in the car.

“Tell me what’s going on,” Yu Chuxue demanded.

“You’ll know in a few days.” Yu Mingxia leaned back and closed her eyes, unwilling to say more.

“Have I met her? Why does she look so familiar?” Yu Chuxue had an obsessive personality; she needed to know the answer to feel at peace.

“It just goes to show you don’t pay attention to anything I say,” Yu Mingxia opened her eyes and let out a light tsk. “What kind of sister are you?”

Yu Chuxue, suddenly ridiculed: “?”

“You mentioned her to me?”

Yu Mingxia didn’t answer, only saying leisurely, “I hope next time no one tells me you have a ‘sister complex’ anymore.”

Yu Mingxia rarely spoke like this. She was usually quiet and reserved. Occasionally they clashed over work, but she never used such a sarcastic tone. The only explanation Yu Chuxue could find was that Yu Mingxia was very upset she had forgotten about this girl.

Yu Chuxue fell into deep thought and didn’t respond. At a crossroad, the light turned from green to red. Yu Chuxue looked at the person beside her and asked:

“So, how was your mood today?”

After a long pause, she heard Yu Mingxia’s answer, which held a hidden smile:

“Very happy.”

Yun Zhi didn’t turn on her phone—which had been on silent—until she got into a taxi. It was flooded with missed calls and messages.

The most frequent name was Nan Qiao, interspersed with messages from Jiang Yan’an and Zhu Qingmeng.

Jiang Yan’an: Zhizhi, why aren’t you answering? I just found out Nan Qiao stood you up again. I’m never believing her again, ugh, I’m so sorry.

Jiang Yan’an: Are you alone? Let me come find you, it’s all my fault.

Yun Zhi opened Jiang Yan’an’s messages first, which were full of apologies.

Yun Zhi: It’s not your fault, don’t worry about it. I’m on my way back now.

Bored in the taxi, Yun Zhi spent her time looking at the photos in her camera and replying to Jiang Yan’an. As for Nan Qiao… she didn’t want her mood disturbed right now.

She didn’t answer Nan Qiao’s call until she arrived at the entrance of her neighborhood.

“Zhizhi, dear Zhizhi, where are you?” Nan Qiao’s voice was full of coyness.

It was strange. Yun Zhi thought she would be furious when she answered, but the expected anger wasn’t there. She couldn’t explain why, so she credited it to Yu Mingxia; thanks to her company, this trip to Yunsan Temple had actually been very pleasant.

“Almost home. What is it?”

Yun Zhi’s tone was flat—no anger, no sadness. Logically, Nan Qiao should have been relieved, but instead, she felt a sense of wrongness.

“I’m waiting downstairs at your place,” Nan Qiao said softly. “To apologize and make amends.”

Yun Zhi didn’t answer and hung up.

As the dial tone hummed in her ear, Nan Qiao looked up and saw Yun Zhi walking toward her. The neighborhood was well-landscaped, with green lawns lining the paths. Yun Zhi was undeniably beautiful; even with minimal makeup, she had a clean, warm aura.

Nan Qiao remembered their school days, and how everyone was envious that she was best friends with Yun Zhi. They envied how good Yun Zhi was to her. Everyone who wanted to get close to Yun Zhi would try to get on Nan Qiao’s good side first. Because of Yun Zhi, her life had become special.

“Zhizhi,” Nan Qiao called out as she reached her.

“Mm,” Yun Zhi stopped. “No need to apologize.”

Interrupted, Nan Qiao bit her lip and pulled a gift box from her pocket, opening it to reveal a crystal bracelet. “I happened to pass by and saw this today. I thought it suited you.”

“Happened to pass by,” Yun Zhi murmured, then asked, “So you went to the mall today.”

Nan Qiao bit her lip. “I was just passing through.”

Only Nan Qiao knew how much truth was in those words. Now, Yun Zhi couldn’t guess her thoughts either. Seeing no response, Nan Qiao reached out to touch her wrist, wanting to help her put on the bracelet, but she saw the red ribbon tied there.

Nan Qiao froze. She sensitively realized where that feeling of “wrongness” came from.

“I’m sorry I had a last-minute emergency today and let you go to Yunsan Temple alone.”

Even though Yun Zhi said there was no need, Nan Qiao apologized anyway. Yun Zhi looked down at her and said after a pause, “I wasn’t alone. I met a friend.”

As soon as she said this, she felt the red ribbon on her wrist suddenly loosen. She quickly grabbed it so Nan Qiao couldn’t untie it.

“Just put on the bracelet, this one is much prettier,” Nan Qiao pleaded, dangling the crystal bracelet. “Just wear it, please.” She was acting spoiled, insisting on it.

“No thanks.”

Watch on the left, red ribbon on the right—she didn’t want to remove either. Normally, she might have given in, but she was tired today and didn’t want to deal with Nan Qiao. Experience told her that if things continued like this, the day would end poorly, only serving to inflame unresolved conflicts.

Yun Zhi’s retreat made Nan Qiao feel that something was different. She cared about this red ribbon. It wasn’t hard to guess it was a gift from that “friend.”

“You said you met a friend? Who? I know all your friends.”

“I have many friends. You don’t necessarily know them all,” Yun Zhi replied with a smile.

Nan Qiao bit her lip. Today’s Yun Zhi was more distant than ever; she was drawing boundaries. “Are you angry?” That was the only explanation Nan Qiao could find. Normally, Yun Zhi would never say “mine” and “yours” or hide things from her.

“I’m not angry,” Yun Zhi said. “It’s my problem. I knew the risk of being stood up but chose to believe you anyway.”

“Zhizhi.” Nan Qiao grabbed her arm, unable to believe such words were coming from her mouth.

“Every action has a consequence. If you choose to believe, you have to be prepared to be betrayed or stood up. Just as I like you—I have to be prepared to be rejected. Occasionally I might feel a bit aggrieved, but what can I do? It’s my own choice. I don’t think I’m pathetic; at least I am brave and open, pursuing what I want in my heart. What about you? Are you open?”

Occasionally, Yun Zhi did feel angry, but it never lasted long. Not because Nan Qiao was good at coaxing, but because she understood it was her own choice.

Under Yun Zhi’s questioning, Nan Qiao instinctively let go of her arm, merely whispering her name. Yun Zhi sighed. She didn’t want to go on a crusade against her. After a few seconds, she added: “So, I’m really not angry. Forget the bracelet. I’m going home.”

Nan Qiao wanted to say more, but Yun Zhi’s question echoed in her ears: What about you? Are you open?

As Yun Zhi walked to the building entrance, she remembered Nan Qiao’s look and felt a pang of guilt. She looked back and saw her standing there, looking lonely. A football flew from a distance and landed at Nan Qiao’s feet. Some children shouted for her to kick it back.

Nan Qiao raised her foot. It reminded Yun Zhi of when they played in the school gym together. Back then, she felt Nan Qiao should always smile brightly and freely.

Yun Zhi turned away and left before the childhood memories could fully resurface.