138: Chapter 138 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 16

Strategy Operation Plan. Step Five. Complaining.

If you have never complained about your lover, then it is not love.

Getting along without any complaints can only mean hiding estrangement and politeness.

Zero negative emotions can only be a disguise.

Love is knowing all your imperfections, yet still choosing to accept you.

...

Backstage at the Donghu Auditorium.

Nan Li held the fragrant bouquet of magnolias, preparing to go to the dressing room to change out of her performance outfit.

However, at the corner of the hallway, her path was blocked by a figure.

It was Zhou Yanqing.

As the recognized musical genius of the Jinling University Conservatory of Music, he naturally participated in this competition.

However, although his piano performance tonight was technically brilliant, he ultimately lost to Nan Li's 'Water Lily' and only took second place.

At this moment, this usually spirited and confident genius could not hide the disappointment in his expression.

"Senior?"

Nan Li stopped and looked at him with some surprise.

Zhou Yanqing looked at the bright and moving girl before him, his gaze complex.

He had planned for a long time, intending to use a championship trophy as his foundation to express his feelings to her once again.

But now, not only was the championship gone, but he had even been outperformed by the person he liked.

This caused the last bit of hope in his heart to become shaky.

Still, he did not want to give up.

He took a deep breath, his voice somewhat dry.

"Junior Nan Li, congratulations. Your performance tonight was well-deserved."

"Thank you, Senior."

Nan Li responded politely.

A brief silence fell between the two.

Zhou Yanqing wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately unable to suppress the question in his heart.

He stared intently into Nan Li's eyes and asked softly.

"I heard... Junior, you have a boyfriend?"

Nan Li was slightly stunned.

"Ah? Senior, that... he..."

She subconsciously wanted to deny it.

The words "He is not my boyfriend" were already on the tip of her tongue.

But for some reason, the gentleness Meng Zhu had shown in recent days flashed through her mind—his inadvertently opened shirt, the emotional highs and lows before the performance, and the magnolias and blessing card she held in her arms at this moment.

If Meng Zhu was not her boyfriend, then what exactly were they to each other?

Nan Li couldn't figure it out for a moment.

She didn't like Zhou Yanqing anyway; perhaps it would be better to let him give up completely.

At this moment, she just wanted to admit it and use Meng Zhu as a shield, which would save a lot of trouble.

Or perhaps there were other reasons, but she didn't want to think about them too carefully.

So, in a flash of thought, Nan Li swallowed the explanation she had originally intended to give.

She lowered her eyes slightly and said softly:

"I'm sorry, Senior."

This "I'm sorry," falling into Zhou Yanqing's ears, was undoubtedly a disguised admission and rejection.

His face instantly turned pale, and a flash of pain crossed his eyes.

[Holy crap! Nan Li admitted it?]

[Oh please, it was obvious she was planning to deny it at first, she's still far from it.]

[Actually, Zhou Yanqing isn't bad. I remember in the original work he was a devoted male supporting character who didn't turn evil.]

[I feel bad for Senior Zhou for a second, but it can't be helped.]

[Yeah, sorry Senior Zhou, we choose Meng Zhu!]

Zhou Yanqing smiled bitterly, forcing down the discomfort in his heart, and feigned nonchalance.

"No need to say sorry. Matters of the heart cannot be forced. I truly like you, so... I also hope you are happy."

He paused, his tone becoming incredibly serious.

"If he treats you poorly, or if you are wronged, you can turn back at any time. I will always be behind you."

This affectionate confession made Nan Li feel even more guilty.

Last time, Lin Xi had embarrassed Zhou Yanqing so much, and yet he still hadn't given up.

Nan Li was the type of person who softened to gentle persuasion but resisted force. Faced with such sincere feelings from someone else, she really couldn't be as cold and ruthless as Lin Xi.

She had intended to offer a few words of comfort, like 'look forward' or 'you can find someone better,' but the incident with Lin Xi's translation surfaced from her memory, leaving her speechless for a moment.

Unexpectedly, in the silence, Zhou Yanqing took out his phone again.

"Junior Nan Li, then this time, can we add each other on WeChat? At least... let's start as ordinary friends."

There was a hint of pleading in Zhou Yanqing's eyes.

Nan Li hesitated for a moment. Feeling that refusing again would be unreasonable, she somewhat sheepishly took out her phone, preparing to open WeChat.

"Student Nan Li! Where is Student Nan Li?"

Just then, anxious shouts from a staff member came from not far away.

"The judges are looking for you, there are still a few procedures to confirm, come over quickly!"

Nan Li felt as if she had been granted amnesty. She quickly put away her phone and looked at Zhou Yanqing apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Senior, I have to go first. That... contact information... how about next time? Definitely next time!"

After saying this, she lifted her skirt and hurried away like a startled little deer.

She didn't realize that if Zhou Yanqing didn't like her, they would have exchanged contact information long ago.

After all, it wasn't as if Nan Li didn't have male friends.

Among the boys at gatherings who had crushes on Nan Li, she was aware of some of them.

Something had truly changed. It was just that some people hadn't realized it yet.

Watching her fleeing back, a light flickered in Zhou Yanqing's eyes.

He whispered "Definitely next time," a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

He had genuinely taken Nan Li's polite words as a promised commitment.

[Sigh, this poor kid is about to have his heart broken.]

[Are you talking about the upcoming plot?]

[Yeah, next Meng Zhu is going to play the hero saving the beauty, but Zhou Yanqing will be just a tiny bit too slow.]

[And then he'll see Meng Zhu and Nan Li hugging, and he'll shatter into glass shards.]

[Can't be helped, that's the plot. The hero saving the beauty is exclusive to the male and female leads.]

[Come to think of it, the hero saving the beauty is really such a cliché.]

[But it's very effective, isn't it? Nan Li is already on the verge of falling for him. With tonight's hero saving the beauty, it should be pretty much guaranteed.]

[Meng Zhu, this old fox, his schemes are too deep. And he's the male lead, so the plot helps him too.]

[No way, with that tone, are you guys still shipping Zhou Yanqing? Please, they've only met a few times, and Nan Li doesn't even like him.]

[Exactly, the main couple is best. Looking forward to Meng Zhu's hero saving the beauty.]

At this moment, Meng Zhu was reviewing his next moves while watching the comments.

Hero saving the beauty?

Honestly, it was indeed very cliché.

And if one were to talk about the original host who had been with Nan Li for so many years, the number of times he had saved her was far too many.

So, one more time wouldn't hurt.

Thinking of this, Meng Zhu's eyes deepened, and a faint smile played on his lips.

A long while later.

Nan Li finally finished everything, changed into her own clothes, and prepared to go home.

It was already midnight, so she sent a message to Meng Zhu.

She said she was currently near the North Gate and would leave from there.

However, as she was about to leave, Meng Zhu's messages remained unread.

Frowning slightly, Nan Li didn't mind.

She simply exited the North Gate and walked around the school, preparing to walk from the North Gate to the East Gate where Meng Zhu had parked.

She did not notice, however, that this stretch of road was sparsely populated and somewhat secluded.