Chapter 87: A Difficult Choice

This was...

Zhang Shen could hardly believe his ears. He hurriedly pulled aside Wang Ying and Ye Qiong, who were standing in front of him, and before him appeared a clever, well-behaved young girl and a career woman dressed like a polished professional.

“Little Cloud!”

“My divine doctor, you can’t come see me because you have classes. Does that mean I can’t come see you?”

With that, Jiang Muyun gave a light huff, turned her head away, and no longer paid Zhang Shen any mind.

Zhang Shen knew this was Jiang Muyun’s little prank. After all, the young lady had traveled such a long way to see him; what did a little grievance amount to? So he shifted his gaze to Mu Qiao beside her.

“Miss Mu, your outfit is far too professional.”

“Since I’m the young lady’s personal assistant, isn’t that exactly how I should dress?”

Zhang Shen discovered that the saying “birds of a feather flock together” was indeed true. During the time Mu Qiao had spent with Jiang Muyun, her brain cells had probably already been “cleansed” by this Miss Jiang. Now even her speech had taken on the same rhythm.

Seeing there was no chance of gaining any advantage, Zhang Shen asked, “Miss Mu, why did you come too?”

“The young lady said she wanted to see how you were living, and I...”

Before Mu Qiao could finish, Jiang Muyun cut her off.

“Sister Mu, stop talking. Did you forget our promise before we came?”

Before coming to the school, Jiang Muyun had told Mu Qiao that she was beginning to miss the days she had spent with Zhang Shen. But now he had classes to attend. Since he couldn’t come see her, she might as well come find him instead.

However, that feeling could absolutely not let Zhang Shen know. Otherwise, he would be forever showing off in front of her. Yet Mu Qiao had gone and let it slip.

“Haha, so Little Cloud missed me after all!”

As Zhang Shen said that, he even reached out and gave her a gentle pat on the head.

“Come here. Let me introduce you to everyone.”

He led Jiang Muyun and Mu Qiao over to Wang Ying and the others, introducing them one by one.

At that moment, Meng Ran came over from the side and said to Zhang Shen, “Brother Zhang, your luck with girls is unbelievable! What ages do you have here? I’m impressed, truly impressed!”

Hearing this, Zhang Shen felt that Meng Ran was practically a traitor on his own team. These were all just ordinary friends—how had they become a boyfriend-and-girlfriend affair in his eyes?

“What are you two muttering about over there? Are we going or not?” Ye Qiong asked, a little impatiently.

Then Meng Ran poked Zhang Shen in the arm and said, “Brother Zhang, I’m hungry too. Let’s hurry up and go!”

If Ye Qiong’s words could still be understood, then Meng Ran had clearly come for food, not for Wang Ying.

Unfortunately, Jiang Muyun’s sudden arrival had disrupted the original travel plans.

“There are six of us now. One car definitely won’t be enough,” Zhang Shen said inwardly as he saw that none of the others were speaking.

“Then I’ll go with Little Cloud and Miss Mu in one car; Meng Ran can ride with Ye Qiong and Wang Ying. Wouldn’t that work?”

“Brother Zhang, I want to sit with you.”

The instant Meng Ran spoke, Zhang Shen wanted nothing more than to slap this fat fellow. He had gone to such trouble creating an opportunity for him, and now Meng Ran wanted to ride in the same car with him. Was this not a joke at his expense?

“I think Meng Ran’s right. Let him go with you. I’ll ride with Xiaoying,” Ye Qiong said from the side, joining in the commotion.

Now Zhang Shen was somewhat irritated. After all, he had practically tied two red threads of fate, and yet every time he came here, some new complication would arise.

Thinking of this, Zhang Shen simply shoved Meng Ran forward, then walked over to Ye Qiong, pulled her over to Mu Qiao’s side, and turned back to say to Meng Ran, “Take good care of Wang Ying. See you at the dumpling shop.”

With that, Mu Qiao drove off toward the dumpling shop, leaving only Meng Ran and Wang Ying there, breathing in the exhaust fumes.

“Wang... Ying, then let’s go.”

Wang Ying did not dislike Meng Ran, but if she had to choose between this fat man and Zhang Shen, she would choose Zhang Shen without the slightest hesitation.

At that moment, Wang Ying seemed to understand the questions Zhang Shen had asked her that morning. So they had all been arranged in advance, and even tonight’s meal had been deliberately planned with Meng Ran in it.

She felt a little helpless. Why was it that Zhang Shen could never seem to feel the goodwill she had toward him? Faced with being alone with Meng Ran, she was visibly unaccustomed to it. All she wanted was to get to the dumpling shop as quickly as possible; at the very least, there would be her parents there to look after her.

Soon, Wang Ying hailed a taxi. But she chose the front passenger seat, which made it difficult for Meng Ran, even if he wanted to, to draw any closer to her.

The taxi soon arrived at the dumpling shop. After getting out, Wang Ying still did not choose to walk with Meng Ran. Instead, she headed straight for the shop on her own.

While Zhang Shen was speaking with the others, he noticed the displeasure on Wang Ying’s face, as well as Meng Ran not far behind her. He understood then that the chance he had given them to be alone together had not gone over very well.

When Wang Ying came over, she said to Zhang Shen, “Zhang Shen, come out for a moment. I have something to tell you.”

This was the first time Zhang Shen had felt unmistakable dissatisfaction in Wang Ying’s words.

When the two stepped aside, Zhang Shen took the initiative and asked, “What’s wrong, Xiaoying?”

“Don’t call me Xiaoying. From now on, you may only call me by my name.”

Zhang Shen had not expected this matter to cause such a stir.

“Is it because of Meng Ran?”

He could only ask cautiously.

“Otherwise, what do you think could make me so unsettled? Do you know, ever since that time when I was having dinner with Ye Qiong and you helped me drive off that bully, I developed a good feeling toward you. What I never expected was that later you helped set my bones, and in the end, we were placed in the same class and even sat together. All these things happening have made me refuse to believe it was merely coincidence. I believe this is a fate decreed by heaven. But I don’t understand why you keep avoiding me?”

In truth, Zhang Shen naturally could feel Wang Ying’s care for him in everyday life. But he had not yet reached the point of speaking of love, so when faced with Wang Ying’s affection, he could only remain silent and avoid it. Still, tonight’s situation was something he truly had not anticipated.

“This...”

Facing Wang Ying’s relentless pressure, Zhang Shen had not expected that she would pour out her heart to him like this.

“Do you really feel nothing at all?”

Wang Ying asked him once more.

“Actually, I think we’re still only friends. It’s not the kind of relationship you’re imagining. So what you’ve said... I’m afraid I still can’t quite accept it.”