Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Death by a Thousand Cuts
"What’s so scary about this? If you’re feeling uneasy, just lay it out with Zhou Junren and talk it through.
If he’s really just playing around, sooner or later the knife will stab your heart anyway.
If he’s not playing around, but you’re overthinking it, aren’t you just making trouble for yourself?
Over time, when you can’t suppress your overthinking, you’ll likely explode, and by then it might hurt both of your feelings.
Just like today, as soon as the crazy woman mentioned Zhou Junren, your expression changed. This shows that you’ve been holding yourself back and it’s quite tiring."
Xiao Wenjing fell silent at these words because Xiao Li was right. She was uneasy at first, but not as uneasy as she is now; she’s overthinking more and more.
Sometimes when she calls Zhou Junren and he doesn’t pick up, she starts imagining things, torturing her heart until it’s in tatters.
By the time Zhou Junren calls her back, she’s already in a bad mood.
Xiao Li held Xiao Wenjing’s hand, "Wenjing, the worst thing for two people together is suspicion. Just say what you have to say, even if Zhou Junren really tells you he’s just playing around.
Then at least you two can have an early end to it, can’t you?"
Feng Qing chimed in, "Exactly! Better to end it early than be cut slowly by a dull knife; it grinds you down slice by slice. Better to have it over with one clear cut!"
Xiao Li gave Feng Qing a cold glance, "You say you prefer one clear cut, but Huo Zhi has already given you one, and yet you still hang on, letting him stab you again and again!"
Among the group of friends, things were the most stagnant for Feng Qing’s romantic progress.
Calling Huo Zhi? He doesn’t pick up!
Adding him on WeChat? He doesn’t accept!
Last time during the pandemic, Huo Zhi came to B City on a plane with a confirmed case and got infected, ending up in the first hospital where Feng Qing was on duty.
This made Feng Qing extremely happy, and she took meticulous care of Huo Zhi, but when he was discharged, he spoke to her with hurtful words.
He told Feng Qing not to waste her time on him!
Feng Qing had been rejected time and time again but remained undeterred, persistently calling and adding him as a friend.
Every time she failed, she’d report back to the group. By yesterday, she had reported her 1,305th failure in calling or adding him!
Being called out by Xiao Li, Feng Qing didn’t dare to speak up because, in matters of love, she was quite the rookie!
Xiao Li scolding Feng Qing was her way of caring. Despite Feng Qing always appearing the most carefree like a tomboy,
In truth, she was the most earnest and had the most sensitive emotions.
Despite always jokingly announcing her failures in the group, inside she must be hurting a lot.
How strong must you be to endure over a thousand failures!
Lost in thought, Feng Qing weakly said, "Xiao Lili, you’re right. I can’t keep stabbing my own heart like this.
I haven’t made today’s two calls yet. If I call tonight and he still doesn’t pick up, then I’ll...
...I’ll... I’ll..."
Xiao Li prompted, "You’ll what?"
Feng Qing bit her lip and slapped the table, "I’ll stop calling, just give up completely!"
Xiao Li nodded, "Alright, you mean what you say, right?"
Feng Qing patted her chest, "Of course! When have my words ever not counted?"
But now I kind of want to take back what I just said!
Ugh...
Why did I give myself only one last day?
I should have said a few more days!
So regretful!
While they were talking, Qin Xiao and Zhou Junren arrived, prompting Xiao Li and Feng Qing to stand up as soon as they saw them.
Xiao Li walked over to Zhou Junren, "Have a good talk with Wenjing."
With that, Xiao Li linked arms with Qin Xiao and walked away, with Feng Qing following behind.
Zhou Junren, looking bewildered at their retreating backs, finally sat down across from Xiao Wenjing, "Wenjing, sis asked me to chat with you. About what?"
In front of the dessert shop, Xiao Li initially wanted Qin Xiao to drive Feng Qing, but Feng Qing said it was just a few steps and she had other shopping to do, so she let Xiao Li and the others leave without her.
On the way home, Qin Xiao asked, "What’s up with Zhou Junren?"
Xiao Li shook her head, "Nothing much, it’s just that Wenjing has too many uncertainties in her mind. They’re just having a proper talk.
Uncle, are we heading straight back to the old house?"
Qin Xiao chuckled, "Yeah, we can still make it to the shooting class."
Hearing this, Xiao Li glanced at him, "Uncle, you’re really a dedicated teacher!"
Qin Xiao nodded, "Yes, though you’re my only student, if I’m going to be a monk for a day, I must strike the bell for a day.
Being responsible is the very least!"
With that, Xiao Li scoffed lightly, choosing to ignore him further!
The car slowly made its way to the outskirts of the city, with Feng Ye’s car following at a moderate distance...
Just out of the city, Xiao Li’s phone rang. Upon checking, she saw a message from Xiao Wenjing in the group chat reading: [I broke up with Zhou Junren.]
Seeing the message, Xiao Li pondered on how to respond?
Just then, a message from Feng Qing came in.
Feng Ye Piaopiao: [Wenjing, was Zhou Junren really just playing around?]
Upon seeing the message, Xiao Li immediately covered her eyes, not wanting to see it. Why ask that now!
Isn’t this just rubbing salt into Wenjing’s wound!
While she covered her eyes, Wenjing responded.
Vanishing Wenjing: [He didn’t say, I just expressed my thoughts, and he stayed silent. Seeing him like that, I just said let’s break up.
He didn’t say much, and I left.]
After reading Wenjing’s message, Xiao Li responded with, [Wenjing, breakups are what they are. Sometimes, not cutting it off leads to chaos!
You were so entangled before, better to cut the mess quickly like this!]
After sending out her message, Feng Qing’s follow-up arrived.
Feng Ye Piaopiao: [Wenjing, don’t be upset!
Ending it sooner is better, come back quickly, I bought loads of snacks, we’ll have a snack party for your heartbreak tonight!]
Vanishing Wenjing: [Get lost... I’m heartbroken, you were just in a one-sided crush!
Can’t compare!]
Xiao Li also sent a message to stab Feng Qing’s heart, [Crazy woman, Wenjing’s really going through a heartbreak, she’s got a wounded heart. Yours is just self-torture, a consequence of your own choices! Can’t be compared!]
Feng Ye Piaopiao: [You... do you guys have no sympathy for me?]
Xiao Li: [Do you need sympathy?]
Vanishing Wenjing: [Do you need sympathy?]
Feng Ye Piaopiao: [No need...]
Xiao Li and Feng Qing messed around in the group chat trying to divert Xiao Wenjing’s attention.
Dai Zihan hadn’t replied to messages, probably resting and hasn’t seen them!