112: Male best friend

Hearing this, Jiang Ye clicked his tongue, knowing this 'little trouble' should be resolved soon.

He pulled his mask down a bit, pretending to be just passing by, and sauntered over with a look of 'surprise,' ready to receive his own 'moment of thanks':

"Huh? Coach Lin? Mr. Zhang? What a coincidence? Are you two... out for a night run?"

"..."

Zhang Wenhai had been exposed by Lin Wanxing to his face, his expression alternating between flushed and pale.

He had originally wanted to say a few placating words, but as soon as he saw Jiang Ye, a surge of irrational anger shot up. He yelled at Lin Wanxing:

"I'm stalking you? Then what about him? Why is he always by your side? Lin Wanxing, tell me the truth, have you already gotten together with him? Is that why you're so determined to break up?"

Lin Wanxing was so angered by his shameless speculation that her face turned pale: "Zhang Wenhai, your dirty mind sees everything as dirty! How should I know why he's here? Can't he just be passing by?"

"Passing by? Every single time?" Zhang Wenhai didn't believe it at all, his face filled with suspicion and jealousy.

"Do I need to explain anything to you?"

Lin Wanxing completely lost her patience: "Zhang Wenhai, I'll say this one last time, we've already broken up, there's no relationship between us anymore! Your behavior has caused me serious distress! Out of consideration for our past feelings, I've been trying to spare your dignity, but do you really have to be this shameless?"

"Shameless?"

Zhang Wenhai seemed stung by that word. His expression changed, and his tone suddenly softened:

"Wanxing, I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. I just... I just can't let you go. Weren't those few months we spent together good? I respected you so much, I didn't even hold your hand... Over such a trivial matter, do you really have to be so heartless? Won't you even give me a chance to change?"

"Respect? A trivial matter?"

Looking at him like this, Lin Wanxing felt not a shred of wavering in her heart, only deeper sorrow:

"Zhang Wenhai, do you really think I know nothing? Guess why I went to the bar looking for you that night?"

"..."

That sentence was like a needle, instantly puncturing the forced display of deep affection and grievance Zhang Wenhai had been putting on.

Looking at his speechless expression, Lin Wanxing sneered: "Your so-called 'respect' means saying you'll wait for me while sleeping with the company intern? And checking into hotels with a married woman? Did you really think I knew nothing? Zhang Wenhai, you disgust me."

"Wanxing, I..." Zhang Wenhai still wanted to defend himself.

"Enough!"

Lin Wanxing sharply cut him off: "This is the final warning today. If you dare harass me again, I will formally report it to the police and apply for a personal protection order! I mean what I say!"

Zhang Wenhai's face darkened completely. He glanced at the resolute Lin Wanxing, then shot a look at Jiang Ye, who was standing by watching the show with his arms crossed. Clenching his teeth, he squeezed out a few words:

"Fine! Lin Wanxing, you're tough! I'm leaving!"

After saying that, he snorted heavily, turned around, and strode away quickly, his figure soon disappearing into the dim street corner.

Jiang Ye looked in the direction Zhang Wenhai had disappeared, stroked his chin, and clicked his tongue:

"Your ex-boyfriend is like a sticky plaster, isn't he? Really shameless! Despicable!"

Lin Wanxing: "..."

She glanced at the down jacket Jiang Ye was wearing, helplessly held her forehead, feeling her inner exasperation had reached its peak at this moment.

"Mr. Jiang, so... the one loitering outside the gym all day today was you?"

"Uh... hey! I was planning to sign up for a membership, but as soon as I got to the door, I saw that guy acting suspiciously..."

Jiang Ye kept a straight face and didn't even blink, making a lighthearted remark: "I was just worried he might do something extreme, concerned for your safety, so I did the honorable thing and silently protected you all day! Oh right... this isn't part of my duties, so you owe me a favor."

"..."

Lin Wanxing's mouth twitched as she listened. She directly ignored the second half of his sentence: "He came in the morning?"

"Yes! Extremely perverted!"

Jiang Ye nodded emphatically, his tone firm: "I spotted him in the morning, followed him the whole day! Caught red-handed, with irrefutable evidence!"

Lin Wanxing turned her head to look in the direction Zhang Wenhai had left, rubbed her temples, and let out a heavy sigh.

"But I don't think this matter is over yet. He seems a bit obsessed. You should keep that in mind, be more careful about your safety."

This time, Lin Wanxing didn't argue. She nodded seriously, no longer feeling indifferent as she had when Ye Cheng reminded her last time.

That Zhang Wenhai was capable of staking out all day and following her after work truly surprised her, even making her a bit fearful in hindsight.

She looked up at Jiang Ye, her tone more sincere: "Today... thank you, Mr. Jiang."

[Ding! Monthly Mission 'hand of emergency aid' completed!]

[Please choose your reward: A. [Emergency Contact] (single-use item) B. 0.03 yuan in cash]

A pleasant system notification sounded in his mind. Jiang Ye immediately smiled, eyes crinkling, waved his hand, putting on a nonchalant expression:

"No problem, it was just a little... ahem, remember you owe me a favor."

He decisively chose option A. Seeing a phone icon appear in his item inventory made him feel even more at ease.

"A favor..."

Lin Wanxing always felt that owing this guy a favor would lead to some strange development. However, he had indeed helped her. After hesitating a moment, she nodded:

"Alright... I owe you a favor."

Seeing a lingering shadow still clouding her brow, Jiang Ye chuckled softly: "What? You don't seem in a good mood? Did that idiot get you down?"

"Mm, a bit... My first relationship ever, and I run into someone like this. It feels... my judgment is really poor, quite a failure."

"Indeed, that day outside the Police Station you even rejected my confession. Your judgment is a bit off."

"..."

Lin Wanxing couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth quirk up slightly.

Although this guy's behavior was bizarre, scummy, and narcissistic, he always managed to make her laugh in some inexplicable way, even having a somewhat comforting effect.

Before this thought had fully formed, she heard Jiang Ye abruptly change the subject, considerately suggesting:

"If you ask me, you should just let go completely right now, have a good vent! Get rid of all that unhappiness! So, how about it, want to come to my place for a couple of drinks? ...Ahem, don't look at me like that! Absolutely no other meaning! Just think of me as your male best friend! Chat companion, drinking buddy, mood-lifter — a three-in-one service, professional and caring!"

Lin Wanxing: "..."

Looking at Jiang Ye's face full of 'pure and innocent' expression, she was utterly torn between laughter and tears. She directly gave him a big eye-roll, not even bothering to retort.

She turned and walked straight towards the direction of the Gemdale Peak Residential Area.

After a few steps, noticing Jiang Ye hadn't followed, Lin Wanxing stopped, turned her head, and said irritably: "Aren't you coming?"

Jiang Ye was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed!

Huh? This works? The 'male best friend' trick is really effective?

Then later, after a few drinks and getting slightly tipsy, he could confide in his 'best friend' that he's lived over 20 years without ever touching a girl, feeling very inferior, lonely, and helpless. Surely his kind-hearted, loyal, and righteous best friend would be willing to help him out of this predicament, right?

He quickly hurried a few steps to catch up, walking side-by-side with Lin Wanxing towards the residential area:

"Wait for me a moment when we pass the supermarket, okay? My gear got confiscated, I need to buy some again... Mm, and also buy some drinks. We'll have a good chat!"