"Then let's find someone from another class."
Zhang Zhaomu waved his hand. "However, this kind of thing can't be kept a secret forever. After all, there are no secrets that never come out. Since your mother has already started to suspect, it's too easy for a non-existent best friend to be exposed."
"Once you get through this, you'd better find a chance to make your mom think you've broken off all ties with this non-existent best friend, to prevent future trouble."
"This is so annoying." Chen Zhenzhen said, a little annoyed, "Why aren't you a woman?!"
"Are you being polite?" Zhang Zhaomu rolled her eyes. "The auntie initially mistook me for your best friend because you were the one stirring things up behind the scenes, right?"
"If I don't say it this way, my mom certainly won't agree to me staying out all night. Then for the next few years, you'll be spending all your time alone, pulling all-nighters!" Chen Zhenzhen glared at him. "So, you're also responsible. Don't try to walk away from it!"
"I never said I was going to stay out of it," Zhang Zhaomu sighed.
"Then I'll leave the task of finding someone to eat at my house in your place to you." Chen Zhenzhen colors were revealed. "I'll be responsible for keeping my mom calm."
Zhang Zhaomu: "..."
"Tell me first, what kind of character is Zhang Zaowan that you made up for your mother?"
Chen Zhenzhen recalled for a moment, "Well, first of all, her grades were very good--"
"Hmm?" Zhang Zhaomu raised an eyebrow. "What's your reasoning for saying I have good grades?"
"If your grades were bad, would my mom still let me play with you?" Chen Zhenzhen said matter-of-factly, "Don't forget that many times we made up excuses about studying together!"
"... That makes sense." Zhang Zhaomu accepted this arrangement. "Anything else?"
"Wenjing," Chen Zhenzhen counted on her fingers, "Sometimes my mom gets curious why she doesn't hear us talking much on the phone, and I just casually tell her you're not talkative..."
"That's acceptable." Zhang Zhaomu nodded. "Anything else?"
Chen Zhenzhen racked her brains. "There doesn't seem to be anything else. I try to avoid talking about you at home. Oh, right, once when my mom measured my height, I accidentally let slip that Zhang Zaowan is much taller than me... But she probably won't hold it against me, right?"
"What do you think?" Zhang Zhaomu said irritably, "So, besides these, have we talked about physical characteristics? For example, are you good-looking or not? Long hair or short hair?"
"Absolutely not!" Chen Zhenzhen said firmly.
"Alright," Zhang Zhaomu concluded, "So, I need to find a girl who seems academically gifted, quiet, and much taller than you."
Chen Zhenzhen lowered her head, a little guilty. "It seems a bit difficult... How about we recruit online?"
"You don't think your mom can't tell the difference between a working professional and a high school student, do you?"
"What can we do?" Chen Zhenzhen said, somewhat resignedly, "We've been using this excuse since junior high, who knew my mom would suddenly start to suspect something!"
"If we can't find it, so be it. At most, I'll make up an excuse that you're too busy. Let her suspect if she wants; as long as we don't have any evidence, there's nothing she can do."
Zhang Zhaomu seemed thoughtful. "It's not that I can't find anyone at all. In fact, I happen to know someone who perfectly matches the conditions you mentioned."
"Who?!" Chen Zhenzhen's eyes lit up immediately.
"You've met him." Zhang Zhaomu shrugged. "My deskmate."
" Xiang Qing?" Chen Zhenzhen was taken aback. "Does she... fit the bill?"
"I'm not entirely sure about her academic performance, but she's usually quite diligent in her studies. She's the kind of student anyone would immediately recognize as a good student," Zhang Zhaomu said. "Furthermore, she's not just quiet; she's practically socially awkward, speaking very little, which matches the description you and your mother gave her."
"Most importantly, she's much taller than you; she's almost 1.8 meters tall even in flat shoes."
"Furthermore, her social circle is very narrow, and she spends most of her time studying. Unless your mother comes to our class to investigate, there is basically no risk of exposure. You can have plenty of time to gradually fade out your relationship with ' Zhang Zaowan ' from your mother's eyes."
Chen Zhenzhen nodded. "What you're saying does seem to fit, but she's a bit too beautiful..."
"Didn't you say you never told your mom whether Zhang Zaowan is pretty or not?" Zhang Zhaomu said.
"No, what I mean is..." Chen Zhenzhen said, "She's so beautiful, she seems a bit unapproachable. Rumor has it that she's aloof and never even looks people in the eye. Could someone like that really agree to do something so pointless for us?"
Zhang Zhaomu's expression was somewhat subtle.
Have the rumors about Xiang Qing at school become like this?
She ignores everyone and never looks people in the eye? Well, that certainly seems to be the case. At least, that was Zhang Zhaomu's impression of her before—she was a master of passive-aggressive behavior.
Although I only now realize that she was simply socially awkward.
"I'm not sure if she'll agree," Zhang Zhaomu thought for a moment, then said, "I'll ask her tomorrow."
He waved his hand. "Alright, it's done now, there's no point in worrying."
"Get ready for battle! Let's fight to our hearts' content tonight!"
Chen Zhenzhen nodded, looked down at her clothes, and said, "I feel like this outfit is a bit too conspicuous for an internet cafe. Zhang Zaowan, give me one of your T-shirts."
Zhang Zhaomu pulled a black T-shirt from the closet and handed it to him casually, saying, "It's probably a bit big for you."
"Bigger is better."
Chen Zhenzhen took the clothes. "Make sure they're loose-fitting."
After changing her clothes in the bathroom, Chen Zhenzhen came out looking completely different. Her original cream-white blouse had been replaced with an oversized T-shirt, the hem of which even covered most of her skirt, making her look a bit short.
Her bun was loosened, and because she had tied it up all day, her short hair had a slight curl.
Instead of the disastrous helmet-shaped bowl cut she once had, Zhang Zhaomu had carefully styled her hair, and now she looked more like a pure and casual girl next door.
So Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help but step forward and pat the other person's head.
Chen Zhenzhen breathed directly at him. "Don't touch me like that!"
"I'm fixing your hair," Zhang Zhaomu said seriously.
"How about I fix your hair too?" Chen Zhenzhen raised her hand, wanting to mess up Zhang Zhaomu's hairstyle.
Zhang Zhaomu leaned back, using his height advantage to dodge. "That won't work, you don't have my skills."
"You forced me to do this!" Chen Zhenzhen jumped up, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws. Zhang Zhaomu was about to dodge when he felt a strange sensation on his chest, and his whole body stiffened instantly.
What kind of move is that?
Referee, she charged!
However, it is indeed very elastic...