Not Just Friends

Synopsis: 

Bai Muxi had liked Shen Zhong ever since she was in her teens.

Back then, the two of them were very close—so close that it was easy for people to mistake it for mutual love. A young person’s feelings were so hard to hide. She hid hers clumsily, fumbling and failing until almost everyone knew. Finally, on the night before Shen Zhong’s college graduation, she gathered every bit of courage she had and said it to the person herself.

“I really, really like you.”

Then, on that beautiful face Bai Muxi had admired for so many years, clear confusion appeared. She heard Shen Zhong’s evasive tone, full of avoidance.

“…If you mean as a friend, then I really like you too.”

There was no need for any more words. They were both adults. For the first time in her life, Bai Muxi fled from Shen Zhong’s side, breaking free from that humiliating first love.

Fine, then they would be friends. After running away for several years, Bai Muxi thought that. There had to be a way to let go eventually. After all, they had known each other for so long. Being friends still seemed better than cutting each other off completely until death.

Years later, the idol singer who had returned from studying abroad was cornered in a backstage lounge by the nation’s beloved actress. Bai Muxi’s heart was more or less dead by then, and even her words were polite.

“…Teacher Shen, if there’s something between us friends, we can just talk it over calmly…”

Then she saw Shen Zhong—who, in her memory, had always been as gentle and cool as the moon—turn pale. Her voice trembled terribly, yet she repeated with stubborn insistence again and again:

“You said you liked me. Does that not count anymore?”

….

One-Sentence Synopsis: As expected, there is no way I can be only your friend.

Theme: Fate is in your own hands.