Chapter 53: The Scales of Friendship

I have very few friends.

This has been the label that followed Jiang Cheng for the past ten years. 

Even the friends she did make in different phases never lasted as long as other people’s.

Only later did she realize that what she had were merely classmates she could talk to.

When exactly had she been distanced? Jiang Cheng only had a very vague memory of it.

That was why, when Chen Ting and Zhou Qingying first approached her, she had been a little bewildered.

Before she knew it, she was getting along with them, as if she had slipped into the world of girls with surprising ease.

The shift in identity and gender let her taste feelings she had never experienced before.

“Is it really normal…? But I keep thinking this kind of feeling is strange. Friendship shouldn’t be exclusive.”

“Jiang Jiang, are you afraid of something?”

Wang Ziyue’s voice pulled Jiang Cheng back to reality. 

Her words were like a barbed spear piercing straight into Jiang Cheng’s heart.

It dragged out a dull ache.

She seemed to care even more than she had thought.

“I can’t quite explain it… It just feels like I’m… jealous? It’s obviously wrong, but I can’t really control the thought.”

Jiang Cheng used a word she almost never said out loud.

Wang Ziyue spun around in her chair. 

The cold austerity of the office was softened by the girl’s soft, sweet voice—a cute contrast to her usual demeanor.

“Jealous of friends…” 

She savored Jiang Cheng’s words.

“Something like that.” 

The moment Jiang Cheng said it, she clearly felt the knot in her chest loosen.

As expected, talking to Wang Ziyue was the right choice. Jiang Cheng thought.

“I’ve never seen you get jealous over me.”

“I—”

“Hm? Something wrong?” 

Wang Ziyue’s smile grew wider, as if she had just thought of something.

“I feel like we’re not the kind of relationship where jealousy happens.”

“Oh? Then what kind of relationship does get jealous… Aren’t we fri~ends?”

A succubus-like whisper.

“That’s different… Weren’t we talking about me?!”

Jiang Cheng’s exhaled breath carried a wave of heat.

The taste of summer traveled through the phone into Wang Ziyue’s ear.

“Exactly.” 

Wang Ziyue stood up, took a bottle of mineral water from the mini fridge in the corner, and spun it in her hand without opening it.

Changing the subject, “Jiang Jiang, every relationship in the world is built on an emotional foundation.”

“I know.”

“Mhm. For example, your mom loves you unconditionally—that’s decided by blood. But friends, classmates, colleagues… those relationships are born from social interaction. How deep they are depends on time and emotional investment.”

“Mhm…”

“Non-blood relationships are the ones most concerned with balance. If one side invests less, the other side will feel the difference very clearly. But that also proves how much you value friendship. Feeling upset doesn’t mean your thoughts are wrong.”

“Jiang Jiang, you yourself said your friends aren’t excluding you—you’ve already figured it out; you just needed to vent a little. Besides, you’re not really fighting. It’s just a tiny bit of ‘jealousy.’ It’s harmless. After pouring all these worries out to Big Sis, don’t you feel much lighter?”

Wang Ziyue twisted open the bottle and took a sip to moisten her throat.

The girl on the other end of the line was silent, as if thinking over Wang Ziyue’s words.

“Big Sis… I think I kind of get it now…”

Wang Ziyue had noticed long ago that when it came to emotional exchange, the girl always seemed a little passive. 

When others showed her kindness, her responses were often lukewarm.

But now her school friends seemed to be changing her personality little by little? 

Wang Ziyue felt a touch of melancholy. Then why can’t she be a bit more proactive with me…

But then she thought again—when something made her unhappy with her friends, the first person she turned to for advice was herself. 

Didn’t that mean Jiang Jiang relied on her quite a bit?

Wang Ziyue shivered, shocked at her own self-delusion.

What was even scarier was that she was actually proud of this “initiative.”

Heh, the first person she thought of was me. Does that mean I’m special?

She was no different from a lovestruck pursuer constantly painting the goddess in a better light. 

Wang Ziyue realized she was thoroughly enjoying it.

Masochism really was part of human base code.

“Thank you, Big Sis.”

“There’s nothing to thank me for.”

Wang Ziyue’s lips curved into a smile. 

If Secretary Fang were here, she would definitely describe it as “bathed in spring breeze.”

“It’s just… anyway, thank you. You’re a really, really good person.”

“Am I? I don’t think so…” Wang Ziyue laughed at herself.

“Jiang Jiang, I’m very purposeful.”

“Oh…”

“I’m pouring so much into our emotional scale right now—someday I’ll collect interest from you.”

“I don’t have any money…”

Then pay with your body. Wang Ziyue only dared to think it; on the surface she remained perfectly proper.

“The interest can be a nice sentence.” Wang Ziyue guided gently.

“What do you want me to say?” 

Jiang Cheng pressed her lips together. 

“It can’t be anything weird.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry.” Wang Ziyue’s breathing quickened a few degrees. 

“Just say, ‘Big Sis, you’re so good. I really like you.’”

“…”

“It’s just one sentence. Not hard, right?”

“…Big Sis, you—”

“Chengcheng, how’s the call going? Should we head out now?” 

Chen Ting poked her head out again.

“Ah, okay—help me grab my bag.” 

Jiang Cheng frantically hung up and guiltily hid the phone behind her back.

Luckily Chen Ting didn’t notice her discomfort.

“Let’s go then.” 

When Chen Ting came out, she was carrying both bags and handed one to Jiang Cheng.

“Mhm…”

President Wang, abruptly hung up on, stared helplessly at the darkened screen. 

She set the phone aside and began looking through the files Secretary Fang had brought—

“Why did your call take so long?” 

Chen Ting asked casually, holding a vocabulary booklet and silently reciting.

“Oh, I talked a bit more with Mom.”

“I see… abandon, abandon…”

“Tingting, I suddenly need the bathroom.”

“Want me to come with you?”

“No need… just hold my bag for me.” 

Jiang Cheng seemed to remember something and pulled her foot back.

“Okay~” Chen Ting smiled and took the bag that had only left her hands a minute ago.

Watching Jiang Cheng hurry toward the restroom, Chen Ting narrowed her eyes slightly.

Chengcheng could be a little strange sometimes.

When Jiang Cheng came out, water droplets clung to her face and bangs.

“You washed your face?”

Chen Ting handed her a pack of tissues. Jiang Cheng pulled one out and wiped her face.

“Mhm, it was hot.”

“Yeah, summer bathrooms are stuffy.”

Chen Ting had no idea what they were even talking about.

“Chengcheng, are you hiding something from me?”

“I… guess.”

“You guess? Then it must be something shady~” Chen Ting’s eyes lit up behind her glasses, her smile turning mischievous.

“What! Even if I had a secret, I wouldn’t tell you right now.”

“Ah… sorry.” 

Chen Ting, standing at the stairwell, had been about to link arms with her and now froze mid-motion.

Jiang Cheng saw her uneasy expression, froze for a second, then hurriedly explained.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just not the right time to tell you guys yet.”

“And… about this morning, I was only a tiny bit bothered. I was a little jealous of you two.”

“Hehe, Yingying and I have years of bestie history after all. Chengcheng, if you want to join us, neither Yingying nor I would mind~ The three of us living well together is more important than anything.”

“There you go spouting nonsense again.”

Jiang Cheng knew Chen Ting read yuri novels—ones with heavy drama and intense relationships.

“But… Chengcheng, you’re not actually mad at us, right?”

“I already said I was just a tiny bit jealous. Just this much.” 

Jiang Cheng pinched her thumb and forefinger together.

“But making a great beauty unhappy means I’m guilty.” 

Chen Ting put her hands together in sincere apology. 

“I’ll treat you to ice cream from the shop by the gate—this time just you, as atonement.”

“We’ve already sneaked ice cream behind Yingying’s back several times. That’s not sincere at all.”

“Chengcheng, that phrasing is ambiguous.” 

Chen Ting’s imagination ran wild, dragging Jiang Cheng along with it. 

Only after a beat did Jiang Cheng’s face flush red.

Speechless, she started down the stairs first. 

Chen Ting hurriedly followed.

As they left the school gate, Chen Ting suddenly said, “Chengcheng, I think if you ask Yingying directly, she’ll tell you.”

“Mhm, I know.” Jiang Cheng tilted her head. “Hurry up and buy the ice cream. Who knows what time we’ll get to Yingying’s.”

“Okay.”

In the end, Chen Ting bought three ice creams. Jiang Cheng bought a bag of fruit to carry. 

The two stood by the roadside waiting for their ride, Chen Ting occasionally checking the driver’s distance on the app.

“Is Yingying home alone right now?”

“When I asked Uncle, he hadn’t left yet. Not sure now…”

“Mhm…”

The sky gradually darkened. 

Still in her office, Wang Ziyue stretched, stacked the signed documents neatly, and casually picked up her phone. 

The moment the screen lit up, she saw an unread message.

The little girl had sent it at some unknown time…

“Big Sis… you’re so good… I… really li…ke you.”

The hesitant, broken sentence was recorded in a ten-second voice message.

Wang Ziyue saved it, then played it again.

Played it again. Ten seconds later, she pressed play once more.

The entire office was filled with Jiang Cheng’s voice. 

Wang Ziyue listened, utterly enchanted, not even noticing Secretary Fang knocking.

“President Wang?” 

Secretary Fang, unable to wait any longer, gently pushed the door open and saw Wang Ziyue cradling her phone with a foolish smile.

Had there been some sound just now?

“What is it?”

Wang Ziyue instantly resumed her usual stern expression. 

Her drifting gaze made Secretary Fang’s heart tighten.

Maybe she shouldn’t have come looking for the boss at this hour.