The Only Choice - 27

Zhou Fanfan was jolted awake the next morning by a solid slap to her back.

Her hair a mess, she scrambled up in bed and glanced over at Xu Xiaoqian, who was also just groggily coming to.

"Fanfan?"

Zhou Fanfan ran a hand through her tangled hair, her voice hoarse. "Your hand strength... I think you dented my spine."

Xu Xiaoqian sat up blearily, massaging her throbbing head. "Where are we?"

"Hotel."

"Hotel? Why am I here with you?"

Zhou Fanfan let out a wry laugh. "You should be grateful it's me you're with. Waking up from a blackout to find yourself with a guy would have been a much more... dramatic story."

That seemed to jog Xu Xiaoqian's memory about the previous night's events, and about... breaking up with Yang Cheng.

Seeing the shift in Xu Xiaoqian's expression, Zhou Fanfan knew she was thinking about him.

"Xiaoqian, it's over. Don't think about him. Think about yesterday instead. You had a great time yesterday."

Yesterday... she did have fun.

Xu Xiaoqian knew she'd been drunk, but her memories weren't a complete blank. She remembered drinking with a group of attractive people, and vaguely remembered dragging a man nearby onto the dance floor.

The dance floor... the man...

Xu Xiaoqian suddenly froze, an image surfacing in her mind of a particular face leaning close, a pair of slightly surprised eyes.

She touched her lips absently. "About the dancing last night... you didn't stop me?"

Zhou Fanfan rolled her eyes dramatically. "As if I could have held you back! You have no idea, I just turned my head to say one thing, and you and Song Li vanished onto the dance floor. It took me forever to find you."

"Song Li? That guy's name is Song Li?"

"Yeah, didn't I tell you last night? He's a friend of Guan Yuanbai's. We joined his group at his booth."

Xu Xiaoqian had no memory of this. "Oh no, no, no!"

"What's wrong?"

"I was so out of it last night, I thought he was a stranger. But he's someone you know?!"

Zhou Fanfan was puzzled. "So what?"

Xu Xiaoqian looked both horrified and deeply regretful."I... I think I... kissed him last night..."

Zhou Fanfan felt a pang in her chest. "You kissed him?!"

The journey back to campus from the hotel was unusually quiet.

One was stunned by her own drunken actions, the other was mortified remembering how she'd yelled at Song Li based on a complete misinterpretation.

Walking awkwardly to their dorm building, they found Yang Cheng waiting at the entrance.

Seeing them returning from outside, he was taken aback and hurried over. "Xiaoqian."

Xu Xiaoqian's face instantly became a mask. "What do you want?"

"Xiaoqian, I called you this morning. You didn't answer. Where were you?"

Xu Xiaoqian frowned. "We broke up. Why do you care where I was?"

Yang Cheng's brow furrowed. "That was just a heated comment the other day. We've both had a day to cool off. Let's talk this through properly."

"Heated comment? You were so adamant, saying you couldn't stand me anymore this time, that you wanted to break up. And now you're calling it a 'heated comment'?" Xu Xiaoqian's eyes reddened instantly. "What, did you think saying that would make me come crawling back like I did every other time? Yang Cheng, what exactly am I to you?"

Yang Cheng reached for her hand, but she shook him off immediately.

"But I really was just too angry the other day, I didn't mean—"

"Yes, you were too angry, and it's all my fault. My fault for interrupting your time with another girl. My fault for being too sensitive!"

Yang Cheng grew agitated. "Xiaoqian, why can't you understand? There's nothing between me and her. I like you. It's just that with her..."

"Because she's your professor's daughter, and you have to pamper and flatter her, right?"

Yang Cheng paused. "...You know I can't afford to offend her."

"Do you take me for an idiot?!" Xu Xiaoqian took a sharp breath. "You think I don't know you're flirting with her? Yang Cheng, let's be honest. If she said she wanted to be with you right now, you'd dump me without a second thought! Yes, she has money and connections. What do I have? Nothing. I can't add any splendor to your precious future."

Yang Cheng's face paled. "No, that's not true... I wouldn't, Xiaoqian."

"Whatever. I don't care if you would or not. I'm sick of living in constant doubt and suspicion. I'm sick of fighting about this with you every single time. I am truly fed up!"

Xu Xiaoqian refused to look at him any longer. "Be with her if you want. You don't have to worry about me anymore. We're done, Yang Cheng."

With that, Xu Xiaoqian took Zhou Fanfan's arm and walked into the dorm building.

Zhou Fanfan followed quietly behind. She had never seen Xu Xiaoqian so cold towards Yang Cheng before. Even in past arguments, there had always been love in her eyes.

No, maybe it was still there even now. She just didn't want it anymore, and had buried it.

Back in their room, Xu Xiaoqian broke down into another fit of sobs.

Zhou Fanfan stayed with her at school to comfort her, which meant she had to ‘ask for time off’ from her duties with Guan Yuanbai. Fortunately, when he learned it was about her friend, he didn't press for details.

A few days later, winter break began.

Xu Xiaoqian's family lived in a neighboring city. After repeatedly assuring Zhou Fanfan she was truly fine, she packed her bags and went home.

Seeing that her friend didn't seem as heartbroken as those first few days, Zhou Fanfan finally felt a sense of relief. 

On the first day of break, Zhou Fanfan went to Guan Yuanbai's apartment. It had been many days since her last visit.

When she arrived, Guan Yuanbai wasn't even home yet. She put the groceries she'd bought in advance into the fridge and prepared to deal with the live fish she'd brought.

While she enjoyed cooking, she rarely handled live fish, mainly because she wasn't very good at preparing them. But after seeing a video blogger teach a method for fish soup the day before, she'd been eager to try it.

The key to this particular soup was using a live fish, so Zhou Fanfan had brought one home.

She took off her jacket, rolled up her sleeves, and grabbed the fish from the bucket. But it was incredibly lively. After several attempts, getting sprayed with water each time, she finally managed to dump it into the sink.

"Sorry about this, but I'm determined to eat you today."

"Yikes... stop squirming! You're so slippery!"

"My apologies, my apologies."

Thud—

Splash—

"Take this!"

When Guan Yuanbai entered from the foyer, he heard a series of clattering noises coming from the kitchen, accompanied by someone's exaggerated muttering.

"A one-finger golden beam! Tsk... you're really putting up a fight."

Guan Yuanbai's eyebrow twitched slightly. He put down his coat and walked toward the kitchen.

He moved quietly, the person inside didn't notice him. When he reached the kitchen doorway, he saw a chaotic scene: the counter was a mess, guts were strewn about, and the person attempting to gut the fish was filthy and disheveled.

Guan Yuanbai: "..."

"Should've known better than to pick you. So much trouble," Zhou Fanfan grumbled under her breath.

"Knowing it's trouble, why did you buy a live one to deal with yourself?"

"Ah—!"

Guan Yuanbai's sudden voice genuinely startled her, especially given her current murderous activity.

Seeing her frightened expression, Guan Yuanbai was amused. "What? Practicing your secret kung fu moves in private?"

Zhou Fanfan let out a breath, feeling embarrassed. He'd heard all her nonsense.

"You walk too quietly."

"You were just too focused."

"...Because the fish is hard to kill."

As Guan Yuanbai moved closer, the mess became even clearer. It was a disaster.

Especially her. Her clothes were covered in water and unidentifiable grime, and she smelled distinctly fishy.

"Put it down."

"It's not done yet."

"Put it down first."

Reluctantly, Zhou Fanfan set the knife aside and turned. "What is it?"

Guan Yuanbai pinched a clean part of her shoulder fabric and pulled her aside. "Haven't you seen the state you're in? If you don't know how to gut a fish, don't."

Having been so focused before, his reminder made her notice her clothes weren't just wet, but covered in fish slime.

It was a bit smelly...

"I just thought freshly killed would be more... fresh."

Guan Yuanbai sighed in mild exasperation."Unnecessary. 'Fresh enough' is fine."

"Okay..."Zhou Fanfan glanced back at the fish on the cutting board. "But it's half done."

"I'll finish it."

"You?"

Guan Yuanbai ushered her out of the kitchen."Yes, me. You reek. Go change your clothes."

Once out of the kitchen, Zhou Fanfan also found the smell on her clothes unbearable.

Guan Yuanbai took her upstairs to a guest bedroom. A little while later, he brought her a long sweatshirt.

"It's new. Put this on."

Zhou Fanfan: "Okay..."

After Guan Yuanbai closed the door and went downstairs, Zhou Fanfan changed out of her dirty clothes and into the sweatshirt he'd provided.

Once changed, she left the room, still feeling a bit concerned, and headed back to the kitchen.

To her surprise, Guan Yuanbai was actually dealing with the fish. He had put on an apron, rolled his shirt sleeves up to his elbows, and was focused intently on the task.

Hearing her footsteps, he glanced over. His gaze lingered for a moment.

Zhou Fanfan was wearing his clothes. The white sweatshirt was clearly too big for her, swallowing her slender frame.

"Need any help?" Zhou Fanfan asked, walking over to him.

Guan Yuanbai's eyes moved from the sweatshirt to her face. "No, it's almost done. I'm just cleaning up."

Zhou Fanfan peeked at the fish. "You know how to do this too? I thought you never set foot in the kitchen."

"I'm usually busy. I used to cook occasionally when I was a student."

"When you were a student...Did you cook for Zhiyi then?" Zhou Fanfan's curiosity suddenly spiked. "What's her favorite dish usually? Is her taste similar to yours?"

Guan Yuanbai shot her a chilly look.

Zhou Fanfan took a subtle step back. "I was just... asking."

"Wait for me outside. Don't get your clothes dirty again."

"Oh..."

Ding-dong!

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Zhou Fanfan looked towards the entrance, her eyes lighting up. "Is that Zhiyi? Ouch!"

Her forehead was suddenly tapped. It felt wet.

Unable to control her disgust, Zhou Fanfan was horrified. "What was that for?!"

Guan Yuanbai wiped his hand leisurely. "Reel your drool back in."

"I wasn't drooling..."Zhou Fanfan muttered.

Guan Yuanbai snorted. "Go answer the door."

Grumbling, Zhou Fanfan walked out of the kitchen, grabbing a tissue on the way to wipe her forehead. He was just handling the fish! How could he tap me with that hand? So gross!!!!

Feeling a bit resentful but also growing excited as she approached the door, she thought, I'm going to see Yiyi again~

Usually, the only people who rang Guan Yuanbai's doorbell were delivery drivers, property management, Guan Zhiyi, or Qi Chengyan. So she held onto a sliver of hope that it would be Guan Zhiyi.

But when she opened the door, she was met with completely unexpected visitors.

The anticipation froze on Zhou Fanfan's face, instantly replaced by flustered panic.

"Fanfan? What are you..." Standing outside were none other than Guan Yuanbai's grandmother, Cui Mingzhu, and his second cousin, Guan Ziyu.

"G-Grandma Cui..."

"Ah, I just came by to see Yuanbai. I didn't expect to find you here, Fanfan."

Guan Ziyu stood beside Cui Mingzhu, supporting her arm. His eyes swept over Zhou Fanfan, and he noted keenly, "Fanfan, that's... Yuanbai's sweatshirt, isn't it?"

"..."

His words were a wake-up call.

Cui Mingzhu's eyes widened instantly. "What? You're wearing Yuanbai's clothes... Wait, are you two living together?"

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Author's Note:

Fanfan: I have the following six points to make . . . . . .

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