150: Chapter 150 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 28

That afternoon, Nan Li and Lin Xi were resting in a café when Lin Xi's phone suddenly rang.

It was Zhou Yanqing calling.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Lin Xi finish the call, Nan Li took a sip of coffee and asked casually.

"It was Zhou Yanqing," Lin Xi said, curling her lip.

"He said he heard you were back in Jinling. He was originally planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam, but he suddenly changed his mind a few days ago and decided to study abroad. Before he leaves, he wants to invite everyone to get together for a meal."

Saying this, Lin Xi looked at Nan Li. "He's clearly doing this for you. It'll just annoy you. How about I decline for you, and we just don't go?"

"How did he know I was back in Jinling?"

"Maybe one of our classmates saw us while we were out and about."

Hearing this, Nan Li gently set down her spoon and pondered for a moment.

"Let's go," she said with a bitter smile. "Zhou Yanqing did save me that night during the competition. Even though Courtesy Name said he had already sent a generous gift as a token of gratitude, I only thanked him verbally at the time and didn't even treat him to a meal. Since he's going abroad and personally invited us, I really can't refuse."

Seeing that Nan Li had made up her mind, Lin Xi didn't try to persuade her further and nodded in agreement.

Besides, with her watching over things, nothing would happen.

Thus, the next evening, the dinner was set at an open-air barbecue restaurant near the university town.

The air was thick with the scent of smoke and food, and a group of classmates sat together, the atmosphere quite lively.

During the meal, Nan Li picked up her beer, looked at Zhou Yanqing, and sincerely offered a toast.

"Senior, thank you so much for saving me last time. I'd like to propose a toast to you. I wish you all the best with your studies abroad and a bright future."

Looking at Nan Li, who was stunning in her white dress, a flash of heartache crossed Zhou Yanqing's eyes, and he quickly downed his drink.

Seeing this, the surrounding classmates immediately began to tease them.

"Oh my, the talented Zhou saved Nan Li?"

"A hero saving the beauty! How romantic!"

"Exactly, exactly. Nan Li, are you really willing to let our talented Zhou go abroad?"

Listening to these jokes, Nan Li's brows furrowed imperceptibly, but she quickly clarified with a calm expression.

"Everyone, please stop joking. We're all classmates, and it's normal for us to go our separate ways. I'll miss every single one of you."

"Exactly. What about me, Li Li?"

Lin Xi quickly interjected, knowing that Nan Li did not like Zhou Yanqing.

"Of course you're the one I'll miss the most."

Unlike her polite and distant demeanor earlier, Nan Li cupped Lin Xi's face and smiled happily.

From beginning to end, Nan Li never mentioned adding Zhou Yanqing on any contact platforms.

The light in Zhou Yanqing's eyes dimmed again.

He could only force a smile and kept glancing at Nan Li from time to time.

Lin Xi took all of this in from the side.

She leaned closer to Nan Li, deciding to take this opportunity to teach her stubborn best friend a lesson.

Did Nan Li think that just because she didn't want to marry Meng Zhu, she could just marry someone else?

Oh, you silly young lady, marrying someone you don't love is not that simple.

"Li Li."

Lin Xi lowered her voice to a volume only the two of them could hear.

"I remember you saying before that you could accept marrying anyone in the world?"

Nan Li was taken aback and turned to look at her, confused.

Lin Xi pursed her lips in the direction of Zhou Yanqing, her tone carrying a strange emotion.

"Then why don't you just accept Zhou Yanqing? Look, he's good-looking, his character is decent, and most importantly, he likes you so much. Since you're going to marry someone you don't love anyway, wouldn't it be better to find someone who loves you?"

This sentence was like a scalpel, slicing through the facade of Nan Li's self-deception.

She thought she could accept spending the rest of her life with just anyone, but when it actually came down to a specific person, it wasn't as simple as just saying it.

She froze in her seat.

Following Lin Xi's words, she tried to imagine marrying Zhou Yanqing in her mind.

Sorry, she really couldn't do it.

Just the thought of it brought up a wave of intense resistance and suffocation.

It was only at this moment that she realized that spending the rest of her life with someone she didn't love wasn't something one could just endure and get past.

While it didn't compare to being separated from Meng Zhu, it was still just as painful.

Nan Li suddenly fell silent.

She stopped speaking and simply picked up the alcohol on the table, downing glass after glass.

Watching her drown her sorrows in alcohol, Lin Xi didn't stop her.

She just glanced at her phone to confirm that she had sent their location to Meng Zhu.

After who knows how many glasses, Nan Li's cheeks flushed with a rosy tint, and she was already slightly tipsy.

She suddenly stood up, looking apologetic.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I'm a little drunk, so I need to head home first. Please, enjoy the rest of your meal."

With that, she grabbed her bag, pulled Lin Xi along, and walked out of the barbecue restaurant.

Seeing her leave, Zhou Yanqing ultimately couldn't help himself; he left everyone behind and chased after her.

However, he had only taken a few steps outside when he froze in his tracks.

In the distance, by the roadside, the night wind blew.

A figure in a black trench coat stood there.

Nan Li, who had just left, was now in that man's arms.

Lin Xi very tactfully let go of the hand she was using to steady Nan Li, handing her over to Meng Zhu.

Turning around, she happened to lock eyes with the awkward and dejected Zhou Yanqing.

Lin Xi rolled her eyes, blocked Zhou Yanqing's line of sight, and said with a smile, "Oh, the talented Zhou? Are you done eating too? Since you're already out, if you don't mind, how about giving me a ride back to school?"

Zhou Yanqing did need a way out, so he could only nod bitterly.

"Alright, let's go."

After the two of them left, only Meng Zhu and Nan Li remained by the roadside.

In fact, Nan Li wasn't that drunk.

At the very least, she was still rational.

But the moment she crashed into that embrace and smelled that familiar scent, she didn't want to let go.

This embrace was too warm, too comfortable.

Ever since she started struggling with her relationship with Meng Zhu, she hadn't been this close to him for a long time.

A wave of inexplicable grievances and longing welled up in her heart.

She simply closed her eyes, clung to Meng Zhu's waist like an octopus, buried her face deep in his chest, and began to play dead.

Every now and then, she would secretly open one eye to peek at Meng Zhu's expression.

Even without the comments, Meng Zhu could tell she was faking it, but he couldn't help but let a look of indulgent amusement tug at the corners of his mouth.

He didn't expose her; instead, he scooped her up in his arms and walked toward the car parked not far away.

Two days ago, Meng Zhu told Lin Xi that he would come to pick up Nan Li in a few days.

When Lin Xi received the message, she thought about today's dinner, so she quickly explained the situation to Meng Zhu last night and suggested that he come to pick her up today.

It must be said, the money spent on Lin Xi was truly worth it.

She really gets things done.

Just like his thoughts, the audience in the comments was also busy praising Lin Xi profusely at this moment.