The dim lights of the bar illuminated Wen Yanqing's face, concealing the melancholy in his eyes. "But this way, at least I still have a little chance."
Shi Jun felt that it wasn't worth it for him. "You've taken ninety-nine steps for her in this relationship, but she won't take a single step for you. What have you been hoping for all these years?"
Wen Yanqing fell silent and then smiled, his tone carrying a hint of sadness. "It's alright. I'm willing to take the last step."
"Leave some dignity for yourself," Shi Jun reminded him repeatedly, but he also knew that Wen Yanqing could be stubborn and wouldn't listen.
Wen Yanqing had not asked him out for a drink during his return to the country. It seemed that he had not seen him hurt recently. Shi Jun could not help but ask, "What's the situation now? When you saved Lin Gantang at Qinghe Manor the other day, did she say anything?"
"Not much," Wen Yanqing replied.
Just as Shi Jun was about to mock Lin Gantang for being heartless, he saw his best friend smile tenderly. "But now, she's willing to reply to my messages, watch a movie with me, and even invited me over for dinner."
Shi Jun felt like he had heard a fairy tale, unable to believe his ears.
"Don't let her play with your feelings," he calmly warned.
"Since she's doing well now, go confess and get a clear answer." Shi Jun didn't want him to get entangled in this relationship.
"We're just trying to improve our relationship," Wen Yanqing said.
"If she wants to be with you, she will consider it. If not, I advise you to leave as soon as possible."
Shi Jun dialed Lin Gantang's number directly.
Wen Yanqing's gaze darkened, and he tried to end the call, but Shi Jun firmly held his arm.
The phone rang for several seconds before someone answered, "Hello?"
"It's me, Shi Jun," he said.
"I know, I have your number saved. Is there something you need at this late hour?"
"Wen Yanqing is here and wants to confess to you."
As Lin Gantang was blow-drying her hair, she paused and suddenly recalled the time she had a hotpot with Ye Qiuqiu.
Was this how friends behaved these days?
"Why did he use your phone to confess?" the other party's voice sounded casual. In Shi Jun's eyes, she was just trying to change the subject.
Shi Jun's expression stiffened, "I'm asking you, do you like Wen Yanqing?"
"I don't dislike him. He's quite nice."
Wen Yanqing's eyelids twitched.
Shi Jun wasn't satisfied with this answer. "So you haven't said that you like him, right? Since you don't like him, please stop these ambiguous actions and don't lead him on!"
"Don't you know that he likes you?"
"If you don't like Wen Yanqing, then why did you reply to his messages?"
"If you don't like Wen Yanqing, then why did you watch a movie with him?"
"If you don't like Wen Yanqing, then why did you have dinner with him?"
"Are you trying to flirt with him?"
"Are you treating Wen Yanqing as a backup plan?"
Shi Jun fired one question after another like firecrackers. "Lin Gantang, I never knew you were such a scumbag, disgusting!"
"Do you want to be with him or not? Say it with one word, do you want to be Wen Yanqing's girlfriend?" Shi Jun grew angrier as he spoke.
Neither of them expected the answer.
"Sure." The response came from the other end of the phone.
Shi Jun's scolding words got stuck halfway.
After a few seconds of silence, he abruptly ended the call as if he had seen a ghost.
In her bedroom, Lin Gantang heard the beep and looked at the call log in a daze.
After some thought, she opened Ye Qiuqiu's WeChat.
Lin Gantang said, "I was scolded by Wen Yanqing's good friend. He said I treated Wen Yanqing as a backup plan."
Her phone vibrated, and she checked the message.
Ye Qiuqiu replied, "Huh? Isn't that true?"
Lin Gantang was speechless.
Alright, she understood where the problem lay.