Chapter Fifty-Five: The Bosom Friend of Zhaosi

Instinctively, Chao Xu, fiercely protective of her food, raised her hand high. As a result, the person trying to snatch the candy lunged into empty air. Her petite figure swayed unsteadily before she managed, in a rather sorry state, to regain her balance.

Chao Xu cast her a glance, her porcelain-white face immediately scrunching up in displeasure.

Why is it her again?

Shen Lu, who had somehow appeared nearby, bit her lower lip and blinked her large eyes at Chao Xu, looking somewhat aggrieved.

“Why does this girl take my candy without permission, then act as if I’ve bullied her?” Chao Xu was baffled.

Mao Tuan twitched at the corner of his mouth, speechless and offering no reply.

At that moment, Shen Lu whimpered softly, “I’m sorry, you look so much like a good friend I once had. She used to give me things all the time, so I just instinctively thought the candy was for me.”

Having long known that Chao Si and the youth before her shared a close bond, Shen Lu began to lay her trap, hoping to pry open the youth’s heart.

She lifted her head and gazed at him, her eyes brimming with unspoken emotion. Her delicate, rosy fingertips brushed away the tear tracks at the corner of her eye as she sobbed, “Her name was Chao Si. Your name sounds so much like hers, and you look so much alike. That’s why I was so excited when I saw you…”

She choked up, as if lost in memories of her old friend, while conveniently finding an excuse for her lack of composure upon meeting the youth for the first time.

At this moment, aside from herself, it seemed no one else in the class knew of the connection between Chao Si and the youth. If Shen Lu could seize this opportunity, using her identity as Chao Si’s close friend to break through Chao Xu’s defenses, the benefits would be immeasurable.

While Shen Lu was busy scheming, Chao Xu, standing off to the side, frowned in wordless exasperation.

How could this girl be so shameless?

If her memory served her right, the first time this girl met her, she mistook her for the original owner and bullied her.

A good friend? Hah, a woman’s words are nothing but lies.

“Oh? And what does that have to do with me?” Chao Xu cast a cold glance at the pitiful Shen Lu. “It’s not my fault you mistook me for someone else. That’s no reason to try and take my candy.”

The youthful boy snorted haughtily, clutching his candy even tighter, his wary gaze as if guarding against Shen Lu lunging forward to snatch it from him.

In that moment, Shen Lu, still feigning vulnerability, was utterly stunned.

Her pearly teeth bit hard into her lip as her heart nearly crumbled.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!

She had made it so obvious, even saying she was close with Chao Si, so why was he still acting like this? When he first arrived, he called Chao Si “sister” so affectionately, clearly caring about her deeply.

So why, upon meeting the person closest to Chao Si, did he look so guarded?

Her gaze fell on the candy the youth was desperately protecting. With her innately proud nature, Shen Lu’s expression turned as sour as if she’d swallowed something foul.

Could it be…he really thinks I’m trying to steal his candy?

A surge of anger stuck in her chest, Shen Lu gripped her collar tightly, suffocating with frustration.

She never imagined that the strikingly handsome youth before her could be so dense!

Her delicate face growing darker by the second, Shen Lu gritted her teeth and forced herself to say, “Don’t worry, I just mistook you for someone else. I have no interest in your things—none now, and none ever!”

Hmph, it’s only a worthless piece of candy. Who cares!

Shen Lu turned to leave, but just as she was about to go, her wrist fell into a cool palm, gently but firmly held.