“So you want me to apologize to them?” Cao Mingliang asked.
Lü Yanran nodded, then shook her head. “Forget it, I don’t plan on getting along with them anymore. We can just go our separate ways from now on. It’s just that Qin Tian was very angry when he pulled Xia Nuannuan away and said some harsh things to me. I’m worried he’ll make up some baseless accusations to make you misunderstand me.”
“What do you mean?” Cao Mingliang pressed, looking confused.
“It’s… how do I put it? For example, he might say that Liang Yu and I are involved in something. I’m afraid you’ll believe him,” Lü Yanran stated seriously.
Cao Mingliang blinked, his gaze on her becoming complicated.
“I swear, everything I just said is true. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Senior Liang Yu,” Lü Yanran said with a solemn expression.
“You’re overthinking it. Brother Tian isn’t the kind of person you think he is.”
“You only know someone’s face, not their heart. You’ve only known each other for a little over a month, and he’s so good to Xia Nuannuan. For Xia Nuannuan, he might do anything to get back at me.”
“It’s not that serious. I’ll invite them for dinner tonight and apologize for you. As for the future… alas, we’ll just let nature take its course!” Cao Mingliang said, rubbing his temples as if he had a headache.
After this incident, he no longer expected Lü Yanran to integrate into their circle. As Lü Yanran herself said, they would only go their separate ways from now on.
“Really, the look in Qin Tian’s eyes when he left was terrifying. He won’t forgive me. He might say things to break us up…” Lü Yanran continued to preemptively caution Cao Mingliang.
“Enough.” Cao Mingliang impatiently cut her off and turned to leave. “I’m going back to the dorm. See if Brother Tian is back, and you should go back quickly too. What is all this?”
“Darling, you must believe me. Don’t believe him,” Lü Yanran shouted.
“Stop talking!” Cao Mingliang glared at her before quickening his pace.
Lü Yanran said no more, standing in place and watching him walk into the campus, her eyes flickering with an unreadable expression.
***
Inside dorm 208, Qin Tian, who was too lazy to be bothered by Lü Yanran, opened his computer. He studied the stock market trends and data while teaching Chen Zhuang some experience.
Before long, Cao Mingliang entered the dorm.
Upon hearing footsteps, Qin Tian and Chen Zhuang looked towards the dorm entrance. Seeing Cao Mingliang walk in, Chen Zhuang snorted coldly with a look of disdain, though his eyes held a hint of pity.
Seeing Chen Zhuang’s expression, Cao Mingliang’s belief in Lü Yanran’s words intensified.
“Brother Tian, I apologize to you and Xia Nuannuan on behalf of Lü Yanran,” he said sincerely.
Qin Tian was momentarily stunned. He raised a finger and pointed at himself. “You’re apologizing to me?”
“Yes, truly sorry. She shouldn’t have spoken ill of Xia Nuannuan behind her back,” Cao Mingliang nodded.
Qin Tian and Chen Zhuang exchanged glances, both looking quite bewildered.
“What exactly did she tell you?” Chen Zhuang asked.
Cao Mingliang’s face showed a hint of confusion as he briefly recounted what Lü Yanran had told him.
After listening quietly, Qin Tian and Chen Zhuang’s expressions turned quite odd.
“Heh, Brother Tian, she’s quite the character. She’s really playing Cao Zi for a fool, and Cao Zi actually believes her?” Chen Zhuang couldn’t help but sneer.
Qin Tian was speechless. He had to admit that Lü Yanran’s skill in being a “green tea” wasn’t low at all. In such a short time, she had fabricated a lie grounded in truth, completely fooling Cao Mingliang. Cao Mingliang wasn’t stupid. In fact, due to his family background, he had met and dealt with many people and situations, making him much more sharp-witted than others his age. It could only be said that Lü Yanran’s lie was indeed crafted skillfully, coupled with the fog of being too close to the situation, Cao Mingliang was being played like a fiddle.
“Chen Zhuang, what do you mean by that? Who the hell are you calling a fool?” Cao Mingliang, already annoyed, flew into a rage upon hearing this and glared at Chen Zhuang.
“You! Who else if not you?” Chen Zhuang retorted fearlessly, shouting, “Lü Yanran played you, you know? Everything she said was just to trick you.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? How did she trick me?” Cao Mingliang instinctively disbelieved him and turned to Qin Tian for an explanation.
Qin Tian organized his thoughts and said calmly, “Old Cao, let me be direct. Nuannuan and I did run into her on walking street.” He paused, then changed tack. “But it wasn’t as she said, that we overheard her badmouthing Nuannuan to someone else. The girl she mentioned shopping with Liang Yu simply didn’t exist. When Nuannuan and I saw her, she was coming down from the second floor with Liang Yu, chatting and laughing.”
Hearing this, Cao Mingliang’s eyes widened in disbelief. He was completely dumbfounded.
“So, you don’t need to apologize to me. This has nothing to do with Nuannuan and me. She should be the one apologizing to you,” Qin Tian continued.
“No, that’s impossible! It’s completely different from what she said!” Cao Mingliang was shocked, his mind in disarray.
“That’s why I said she’s playing you for a fool. Break up with her quickly, you can’t keep this woman!” Chen Zhuang said with a tone of exasperated disappointment.
Cao Mingliang glanced at him, then at Qin Tian, his expression shifting. He didn’t know who to believe.
“Lü Yanran’s lie is indeed quite well-crafted. I don’t care who you choose to believe, but I just want to say one thing, Old Cao, you shouldn’t be this foolish!” Qin Tian said with a calm expression.
Cao Mingliang trembled, his face turning grim. He already had an answer in his heart, but he was unwilling to admit it for the moment. After all, even if his feelings weren’t completely genuine, he had treated Lü Yanran well during this time, and for her to betray him so quickly was something his proud nature couldn't accept.
“If you don’t believe me, I can call Nuannuan over to tell you herself. If you don’t believe both of us, then I really have no other options,” Qin Tian said, shrugging.
“Brother Tian, there’s no need for all that trouble. There’s a simpler way,” Chen Zhuang suddenly interjected.
“What way?” Qin Tian asked curiously.
“Find that Liang Yu and give him a good beating. If he doesn’t tell the truth, keep beating him. There’s no way we’re letting him off the hook this time anyway. It’s killing two birds with one stone,” Chen Zhuang replied.
Qin Tian was taken aback, saying with a wry smile, “You’re truly a crude martial artist, but this is indeed a good idea. However, we need to think carefully. We can’t make a move on campus.”
“I’ll think of a way!” Cao Mingliang’s eyes flashed with ruthlessness, gritting his teeth.