148: Chapter 148 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 26

Golden Autumn, October.

Just as Nan Li stepped through the gates of Jinling University, Lin Xi rushed over like a gust of wind, giving her a solid bear hug.

"Li Li, I've missed you to death!"

Lin Xi hugged Nan Li, rubbing excitedly against her shoulder.

Nan Li was pushed back half a step by the impact, but a smile appeared on her face as she hugged her friend back.

"Xi Xi, I've missed you too."

After laughing and playing for a while, Lin Xi let go and glanced around behind Nan Li, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"What's this? Did the sun rise in the west today? How come Brother Courtesy Name didn't drop you off himself?"

Hearing that name, the smile on Nan Li's lips stiffened, and her eyes dimmed slightly.

"No, Brother Courtesy Name has been very busy lately and didn't have the time."

She lowered her eyes, her expression filled with unconcealable dejection.

How sharp was Lin Xi? She saw that something was wrong at a glance.

Lin Xi didn't believe the excuse that Meng Zhu was busy for a second.

In her opinion, no matter how busy that guy was, he definitely should have dropped Nan Li off.

She grabbed Nan Li's wrist, staring at her with burning eyes.

"Confess, what on earth happened? Why did you suddenly run back to school? I don't believe it's because you missed me."

Nan Li opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to brush it off.

"It's just... I've been feeling a bit off lately. I couldn't stand life in Qinghe Garden anymore, and staying there every day was just so boring..."

"Cut the crap!" Lin Xi exposed her without hesitation.

"You used to be so happy living in Qinghe Garden, Li Li. You might be able to fool others, but you can't fool me."

Under her friend's persistent questioning and scrutiny, Nan Li's tense shoulders finally slumped.

She took a deep breath, her voice as quiet as a mosquito's hum. "Xi Xi, I... I think I might have fallen for someone."

She thought this would be earth-shattering news, but to her surprise, Lin Xi didn't show even a hint of shock.

She just crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, unfazed. "It's that Brother Courtesy Name of yours, isn't it?"

Nan Li looked up, stunned, then nodded helplessly like a deflated balloon.

"Good, you admitted it. Isn't that a wonderful thing?"

Lin Xi reached out and pinched her soft cheek, saying in frustration, "Falling in love is addictive. How could you be bored? And what's the point of running back to school to hide?"

Nan Li swatted her hand away, her expression becoming conflicted. "Xi Xi, you don't understand. Love is a deadly poison."

She looked at the dappled tree shadows on the ground. "It drives people crazy. It can turn two people with no blood relation into the closest people in the world, but... it just can't last forever."

Seeing her timid appearance, Lin Xi set aside her joking attitude, sighed, and held her cool hand.

"Li Li, I know what you're afraid of. But you can't completely lose the ability to love just because of your parents. You have to believe in the power of true love. There are many couples in this world who live in harmony and stay together for a lifetime."

This earnest persuasion was completely useless to Nan Li at this moment. She shook her head stubbornly.

"I admit that my father's infidelity is part of it, but you have to admit that friendships can last forever, and family bonds can be enduring. But love? Just look it up online, and you'll see what the reputation of love is like."

Watching her best friend try to suppress her emotions with logic, Lin Xi was so exasperated she laughed.

"Well, there's nothing I can do then, my dear princess." Lin Xi spread her hands, speaking earnestly. "Who told you not to accept him as your brother in the past? Love is inherently unreasonable. When it comes, it comes. As the saying goes, life is not always under our control."

The two walked slowly along the campus tree-lined path. Nan Li felt a bit helpless.

"Brother Courtesy Name is the most important person to me in this world. When Grandma mentioned adding me to the family register before, I didn't agree."

"That's because I already owe the Meng Family too much. When my parents had their accident, they took me in and cherished me. I really felt too embarrassed to take such a huge advantage of the Meng Family."

"If I entered the family register, according to the Meng Family's rules, I would automatically gain inheritance rights and would take half of Brother Courtesy Name's assets for nothing. I couldn't bring myself to do that."

Speaking of this, Nan Li gave a bitter smile, her eyes full of conflict. "But now, I don't want to enter the family register because I can no longer deceive myself. I can't truly look at him as a real brother anymore."

She stopped and looked at her friend helplessly. "Xi Xi, what do you think I should do?"

Looking at her reddened eyes, Lin Xi's heart softened completely. She stepped forward, wrapped her arm around her shoulder, and comforted her softly.

"Since you can't deceive yourself, then don't. Li Li, it's best to follow your heart. Although love has risks, you should also have a little more faith in your other half."

Nan Li, however, was like a frightened ostrich, shaking her head repeatedly. "No! Besides, I don't even know if Brother Courtesy Name has any feelings like that for me. What if he only sees me as a younger sister? If I expose it, I won't even have the qualification to stay by his side anymore."

"Don't worry!" Lin Xi laughed and patted her back, her tone confident. "Our Li Li is so beautiful and cute, who wouldn't like her? You're just a classic case of not seeing the forest for the trees."

Seeing that Nan Li was still hesitant, Lin Xi rolled her eyes and came up with a plan.

"It just so happens that a friend of mine is getting married in a few days. I'll take you to the wedding, and you can see what happiness looks like for yourself. Maybe it will change your prejudice against love."

Nan Li was stunned for a moment, and an image of her and Meng Zhu getting married involuntarily appeared in her mind, causing her face to turn bright red.

But she had to admit, the idea of attending a wedding was tempting, so she couldn't help but nod.

[What did I say? She's in love, right?]

[She admitted it herself. No doubt about it, Meng Zhu's conquest is a huge success.]

[So she was just jealous a while ago. She couldn't even handle a few photos. Nan Li is such a little loser.]

[You guys are celebrating way too early. It's just a small goal achieved.]

[Exactly. It's still going to be hard to marry Nan Li. She doesn't even believe in love.]

[So what's next? Surely we can't rely on Lin Xi to convince her, right?]

[Unlikely. Let's keep watching, maybe Meng Zhu has a plan.]

[By the way, is everything going smoothly with Meng Zhu's company? I didn't understand it, so I just skipped it.]

[I watched it. It's not going well. Lu Yu has absolutely no bottom line. Meng Zhu still has the ability, but there isn't enough time.]

[I disagree with your opinion. I always feel like Meng Zhu is fishing.]

[Yes, yes, yes. I always feel like he's physically tired, but not mentally. In other words, he's not panicking at all.]