Chapter 166: They Were Once Friends

The sound of knocking echoed, and Chi Qingya slowly opened the door, bringing the delivery inside.

“Thank you.”

She spoke softly, then closed the Room door.

The memory of ordering takeout with her Younger Sister that day, of fetching the delivery together, flashed through her mind.

She gazed at the empty Room, standing at the doorway, lost in thought for a long time.

She didn’t know why, but the loneliness she felt now seemed exactly the same as back then.

But why?

Clearly, the house had been lively at that time.

She had been together with a Friend.

Chi Qingya couldn’t figure it out.

When she ordered takeout today, she specifically bought a lot of Water.

She didn’t want to feel that parched dryness in her mouth again.

Moving slowly, Chi Qingya opened the takeout, dazing at the food before her.

After tasting a bite, she set the spoon aside.

She found herself wanting to eat the Congee Su Li had cooked for her, craving the Meal Su Li had prepared.

Even if the flavor hadn’t been perfect.

She still wanted to eat it.

She felt that if she could have it now, maybe she’d be able to sleep, and the Burning Up would subside just like before.

But the Friend Request she sent to Su Li back then still hadn’t received a reply.

She clearly already wanted to apologize…

Hadn’t she already apologized to Su Li?

Chi Qingya felt her mind growing hazy, unable to recall these things.

But she remembered she’d done a lot for Su Li.

Yet Su Li still paid her no mind.

Maybe Su Li could also become a good Friend to her?

Feeling the emptiness of the Room, Chi Qingya suddenly thought of this.

Even though the two had known each other for so long, it seemed she and Su Li never truly became Friends.

Or had they once been Friends,

only to drift apart over time?

Chi Qingya couldn’t make sense of it.

She tried hard to recall, so hard that she even forgot about her own hunger, simply searching through her memories for every moment she had with Su Li.

Back when the two of them were together, things had been so happy at first.

When had things slowly changed into what they were now?

Chi Qingya couldn’t figure it out.

She remembered once treating Su Li as a very good Friend.

She’d even been happy just to have made such a close Friend.

She remembered sharing her daily life with Su Li, complaining about things that happened at School together.

And then—

Why had things turned out this way between them?

They had spent even more time together than anyone else.

Logically, they should have become even better Friends.

So why did things end up the complete opposite?

Was it that she just wasn’t good at making Friends after all?

Otherwise, why, after growing up so much, did everyone else have Friends,

while she didn’t?

Even when she thought she was Friends with someone, no one cared about her, and no one visited her.

She had treated her Younger Sister and others by the standards of a Friend,

yet somehow, she still couldn’t fit into their circle.

Was it because she hadn’t been able to stay by their side for a long time?

Chi Qingya stared at the steaming Congee before her, thinking this to herself.

But even without being able to spend time with her Younger Sister, she couldn’t become their Friend.

She spent every day by Su Li’s side, yet still couldn’t become Su Li’s Friend.

She just couldn’t figure out why.

Maybe it was because she was Burning Up, unable to think clearly about it.

Chi Qingya decided to wait until her fever went away, until she had the energy to think, and then she would really consider these questions.

She took out her Cell Phone, but there were still no messages from anyone who cared.

It wasn’t until she was drifting in and out of consciousness that her Cell Phone rang again.

Her heart filled with hope.

As long as it wasn’t a telemarketer, anyone would do…

“Hello.”

A rather cool and distant voice came from the other end of the line, but upon hearing it, Chi Qingya felt her nose tingle with the urge to cry.

“Hello.”

When there was no response for a while, the voice became a little impatient.

“I-I’m here.”

Chi Qingya’s voice trembled as she spoke, trying to control her emotions, but still feeling wronged and upset.

“Sis, who bullied you again? Why are you crying?”

Hearing the sob in Chi Qingya’s voice, the other side of the call fell silent for a moment, then sounded a bit annoyed.

“No one.”

“Don’t say no one. I watched you cry growing up—do you think I can’t tell? Who bullied you? I’ll teach them a lesson.”

Chi Qingya shook her head, but then remembered her Younger Sister couldn’t see her, so she wiped her tears, steadied her mood a bit, and said,

“No one bullied Sister.”

She hurried to explain.

“Oh, Sis, I ran out of Money. I have a Friend who got sick and is in the hospital—needs 648 yuan.”

Only upon hearing her Younger Sister ask for help did Chi Qingya realize the reason for her call.

Even if her Younger Sister just wanted Money,

she still felt happy.

After all, her Younger Sister really did care about her.

Although she knew this Friend was just an excuse and, in the end, the Money would all be spent on the Game.

But Chi Qingya didn’t hesitate.

Looking at the transfer notification before her, Chi Qingyao was stunned for a long while.

“Sis, why did you send me so much?”

She’d only asked for 648 yuan, but Chi Qingya had sent her 6,480 yuan.

Chi Qingyao thought her Sister was acting strange.

So she sent 3,240 yuan back to Chi Qingya.

“It’s nothing, Yaoyao. If you need more Money, just ask me.”

“Sis, are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

Chi Qingyao felt something off—she knew her Sister had Money.

And their parents never agreed to her spending on the Game.

A few months ago, when she was still underage, they even got her hard-earned account refunded because she was a minor.

So she still chose to ask her favorite Sister for help.

But 6,480 yuan was still way too much for a third-year high school student.

Besides, even though Chi Qingyao knew her Sis was good at making Money, she was afraid she might send over her whole living expenses on impulse, so she sent some back.

Usually, when her Sister gave her extra, she’d get a long lecture, but today there were so few words.

“Sis?”

When there was still no reply, Chi Qingyao asked doubtfully.

Only after a long time did Chi Qingya slowly say, “I’m here, Yaoyao.”

“Sis, you’re really okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Chi Qingya answered slowly, feeling her head spinning again.

She’d been drinking so much Water, she’d forgotten to take her Medicine.

“Sis, if anything happens, just call me, okay?”

“Oh, and this weekend, I’ll come over to hang out at your place!”