Friends

To everyone's surprise, Ronan shot him another glare. "Why are you shouting so loudly? Your big brother isn't deaf."

Su Jie flew into a rage!

"Go do whatever you're supposed to do. Your big brother and your sister have something to discuss."

Ronan said it casually. The next second, he nodded at Su Xiao and gave her a gentle smile.

Everyone present changed expression!

Was this guy provoking Li Nanbei?

Su Xiao was even more shocked, her mind thrown into complete chaos.

Inside the martial arts gym, the atmosphere was subtle. Although everyone still appeared to be sparring in pairs or small groups on the various equipment, their attention had unconsciously settled on one corner of the gym.

The man and woman in that corner seemed to be chatting happily.

To the nobles of Bo Ning District, this was simply unbelievable.

Not only was Su Xiao herself a proud girl, with more talented young men pursuing her than could be counted on two hands, yet none had ever managed to take things a step further; after Li Nanbei made his declaration, no one dared to openly oppose that genius anymore.

Ronan was the first.

Coupled with his Yi Lin Manor background, everyone could easily imagine that a storm was already brewing.

He was openly trying to steal someone else's fiancée!

What made the nobles even more eager for gossip was that Su Xiao's attitude seemed rather ambiguous!

Now this was interesting.

"I knew that guy was showing off because of Su Xiao."

Within the little group, Wei Wei distractedly fiddled with one of the gym's casual game machines, though her movements were somewhat rough. Whenever she recalled Ronan rejecting her earlier, the anger in her heart flared even hotter.

The excitement and gratitude that had just risen in her instantly vanished without a trace.

"Shouldn't this be exactly what you want?" Christine teased. "Ronan probably won't keep pestering you anymore. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Wei Wei was immediately speechless.

Wang Xiaoman looked curiously at Ronan and Su Xiao. "He's really bold. Is he seriously not afraid of the Li Family's young master?"

Wei Wei rolled her eyes and said bitterly, "He's blinded by lust. Aren't all men like that? Once Li Nanbei beats him into a pig's head, he'll probably disgrace Yi Lin Manor completely."

Christine rarely made a joke after hearing that. Instead, she hesitated before finally sighing. "Wei Wei, don't blame me for hiding this from you before—actually, Su Xiao was the one who asked me to get Ronan's phone number from you."

Wei Wei's eyes widened. "You mean—?"

Christine blinked.

Wang Xiaoman exclaimed in disbelief, "Su Xiao is pursuing Ronan?"

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, but someone nearby happened to overhear it. In an instant, an undercurrent began to stir among the upper circles of Bo Ning District!

The young man and woman on the sofa looked relaxed, exchanging a few words now and then. They appeared like a couple who had just started to like each other—at least, that was how they looked to outsiders.

Unfortunately, they could not hear Su Xiao and Ronan's conversation. Otherwise, these two blunt people would definitely have startled them.

"You're using me."

Su Xiao rolled her eyes at Ronan. Yet she was a beauty, so even that glare carried endless charm. Even someone as wooden as Ronan nearly stared blankly.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled something he had once read in an idle book at the library: when a girl was beautiful enough, even being unreasonable was wonderfully beautiful.

That saying was simply too fitting!

Before this moment, Ronan had never known that even an eye roll could look so beautiful.

Still, he looked directly at her feigned anger. "Sorry. I'll make it up to you."

Su Xiao narrowed her eyes. "For Wei Wei?"

Ronan thought for a moment. "Not entirely. A boring life needs a little fun."

Su Xiao sneered. "So all you men are the same. To you, girls like me are nothing more than tools for comparison and provocation."

Her words were blunt enough to cut to the heart. Ronan was pretending to be close to her entirely to vent Wei Wei's anger, to stand up for Yi Lin Manor, and to provoke Li Nanbei and the entire Li Family. The premise was that Su Xiao had not refused his invitation because of her friendship with Ronan.

So she said he was using her.

And judging from the outcome, that was indeed true.

Was this the sorrow of a bird in a cage?

There was anger and unwillingness in the girl's eyes, but even more than that, there was a resigned, lifeless gloom. She had not refused Ronan only because she did not want to be completely trapped in Li Nanbei's cage, and because Ronan carried an air of dependability. Yet even so, the cruel reality and her clever mind both left her feeling hopeless.

Ronan and Li Nanbei did not seem all that different. That was why she had given up on herself and spoken those heart-piercing words.

Yet Ronan did not seem to mind. He looked at Su Xiao seriously. "Whether you believe it or not, it really isn't that complicated."

"My principles are simple. It all comes down to whether I like something or not."

"I don't like seeing a little girl like Wei Wei being probed and tested from all sides. I don't like seeing you lose the freedom to choose your own life. And I especially don't like those boring people, their boring opinions, and their decisions. So I had no choice but to step forward."

"This has nothing to do with using you. I simply don't like it."

Su Xiao's gaze was equally complicated.

To be honest, reason told her that Ronan's words were completely unbelievable, but the sincerity in his eyes moved her.

"The reason I'm sitting beside you now is just as simple. I don't like talking to other people. In this entire gym, you seem to be the only person I can talk to."

Ronan gave a bitter smile. "I can't figure out Wei Wei's temper, and I don't know anyone else at all. But you're different. I think you're a good person."

"Because of my background, it does look like I used you and turned you into a tool for provoking the Li Family. All I can say about that is sorry. But you didn't refuse either, did you?"

Su Xiao said with amusement, "I didn't refuse because I was giving you face..."

"Why give me face?" Ronan asked directly.

Su Xiao froze.

She had not expected Ronan, who had always seemed so dull, to see through that so directly.

That was right. She was the Li Family's chosen daughter-in-law. The Li Family and Yi Lin Manor were bitter enemies, and her younger brother had just been taught a lesson by Ronan. Why should she give him face?

The girl's heart pounded wildly as an unbelievable thought leaped into her mind.

She did not even dare look into Ronan's eyes.

Then she heard him say:

"I think you probably see me as a friend. Actually, I feel the same way."

A friend—so, only a friend?

Su Xiao paused, and some life returned to her expression.

She looked up and saw Ronan's sincere expression. She did not know whether joy or disappointment filled more of her heart.

"You're the first friend I've made on this planet." Ronan solemnly extended his hand and smiled. "I'm truly sorry about your brother. But I really do see you as a friend. I never meant to use you."

Su Xiao instinctively extended her hand, and their hands touched.

Ronan only felt that her fair little hand was unbelievably soft, as though it would go limp with the slightest pressure, making him feel a little pity and tenderness; meanwhile, Su Xiao felt heat spread through her body. Ronan's hand was broad and solid, carrying a warmth that soothed the heart.

Unfortunately, the feeling did not last long.

Ronan released her hand and said seriously, "So whether it's for Yi Lin Manor, for Wei Wei and the Earl's dignity, or for the sake of our friendship, I have to do this today."

Su Xiao was somewhat startled. She did not understand what Ronan meant.

At that moment, she suddenly realized something and followed Ronan's gaze to the side.

Near the railing not far away, Su Jie was glaring resentfully at them. He was still clutching a phone and speaking rapidly into it!

"I have to go!" Su Xiao reacted quickly.

At that moment, she forgot Ronan's supposed "use" of her earlier.

Because when Ronan extended that hand, she had already become certain that Ronan truly regarded her as a friend.

She had taught him how to eat Rock Cake and spared him the embarrassment at the banquet; he had stopped Xiang Feihu for her and temporarily driven away the shadow hanging over her; during that autumn night's phone call, even after hanging up twice, they had still met again the next day; over their long conversation at the café, a man and woman with entirely unrelated backgrounds had still been able to talk so happily.

For a boy and a girl to admire one another, confide in each other, and enter each other's hearts had always been a simple thing.

As for friends, that was something even more mysterious and elusive. Su Xiao did not know.

She only knew that she had to leave. She did not want Ronan to bring more trouble upon himself.

Even though he had brought all this upon himself.

Yet just as she stood up, that tall figure had already charged in from outside the gym!

Su Jie shouted excitedly:

"Big Brother Xiang! You're finally here!"

Everyone perked up, sensing that tonight's spectacle seemed far from over!