"Jiang Yuan just pretended not to see and acted all high and mighty, waiting for Chi Xu to come to her on his own," one voice sneered.
"I think she's just being pretentious. Chi Xu has done so much for Jiang Yuan, yet she's still so cold and aloof. And Chi Xu, he's so smitten with her. He's completely wrapped around her finger," another voice chimed in.
The faint sneers filtered through the crowd and reached Song Xiangyi's ears. She stopped in her tracks and followed the sound. She saw two strange girls with their backs turned to them.
"Jiang Yuan, do you know them?" Song Xiangyi asked.
Jiang Yuan was used to Zhou Xiangmeng's occasional jibes and simply replied indifferently.
Zhou Xiangmeng was such a gossiping and mean - mouthed person.
Jiang Yuan never expected to run into her when she was out for a meal with Song Xiangyi.
Jiang Yuan lowered her eyes and was about to tell Song Xiangyi not to mind, but when she slightly raised her eyes, she found that Song Xiangyi was no longer in front of her. She turned her head and saw Song Xiangyi charging towards those girls menacingly.
"What are you two gossiping about? Is the food here not good enough to shut your mouths?" Song Xiangyi's eyes blazed with anger. She slapped the table hard and stood fearlessly in front of them.
She, Song Xiangyi, was not afraid of causing trouble. Today, she had finally caught them.
Startled by this strange and sudden appearance, Zhou Xiangmeng first froze, then looked behind Song Xiangyi. When she saw Jiang Yuan, a contemptuous smile crept onto her face.
"Oh, so you're here to defend Jiang Yuan? Why doesn't she come over herself?"
Song Xiangyi spread her arms to block Zhou Xiangmeng and her friend's view. She said sarcastically, "Another beauty lusting after my Brother Chi Xu. Stop daydreaming. Brother Chi Xu belongs to Sister Jiang Yuan!"
Jiang Yuan, who had just walked over, thought, "?! What? When did she and Song Xiangyi get so close that she started calling her sister? And if she remembered correctly, Song Xiangyi was a few months older than her."
"Who are you? Jiang Yuan did those things herself. Is she too scared to let people talk about them?" Zhou Xiangmeng's friend sneered. Her words were extremely unpleasant. "It's not you who's been hit where it hurts. Even a cornered dog will bite. Are you her dog?"
Song Xiangyi was trembling with anger. But having been well - brought up, she rarely used dirty words. She was desperately searching her mind for the right words to curse her out.
"Splash!"
A glass of water was thrown over. Zhou Xiangmeng's friend was drenched in tea and let out a scream. Zhou Xiangmeng was startled. The next second, another glass of water was thrown at her.
Jiang Yuan calmly put down the two disposable cups. Her eyes were as cold as ice. "I suggest you two go to the hospital and get your mouths checked."
"Why?" Song Xiangyi blinked her eyes curiously.
Jiang Yuan gave her a calm look and said, "You're spouting feces. Your upper and lower orifices are in the wrong places."
Immediately, Song Xiangyi burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Zhou Xiangmeng roared in a fit of rage, "Jiang Yuan, we just said a few words. Do you have to throw water at us?"
"Of course I do." Jiang Yuan twitched the corner of her mouth, a faint smile appearing. "Zhou Xiangmeng, when will you ever learn to control your mouth?"
"Exactly! I've never seen someone so gossipy. Since you can't get Brother Chi Xu, you like to make up rumors everywhere," Song Xiangyi stuck out her tongue at them. Then she clapped her hands to attract the attention of the other diners.
"Everyone, remember her. Avoid her in the future. Be careful she'll spread rumors about you. For example, since she can't catch up with my brother, she starts spreading rumors about the girl my brother likes. How cheap!"
It was just around mealtime, and the restaurant was near the university. Most of the customers were students from Jing University.
Zhou Xiangmeng quickly covered her face with her hands. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Jiang Yuan, you just wait and see!"
With that, she dragged her friend away in a hurry, leaving their meal unfinished.
"Song Xiangyi, there's really no need to pick a fight with them. Just ignore them," Jiang Yuan advised.
Song Xiangyi didn't care about that. She rolled her eyes in the direction the two girls had left and angrily pulled Jiang Yuan back to their seats.
She plopped down and said, "I can't help it. If they bully you, they're bullying me. I've never suffered any grievances since I was a kid."
"Sister Jiang Yuan, if they bully you again next time, tell me. I'll come with weapons and wipe them out."
Jiang Yuan was amused by Song Xiangyi's words. Her eyes crinkled into a smile.
After getting to know Song Xiangyi better, Jiang Yuan found that she was different from what she had imagined.
She was more straightforward and open - hearted.
"Let's not talk about them anymore, Sister Jiang Yuan. I haven't properly apologized yet. It's all their fault," Song Xiangyi murmured softly. She scratched her head, and her eyes sparkled, reflecting Jiang Yuan's figure.
"Sister Jiang Yuan, I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
"I promise that from now on, I'll be the cheerleader for your and Brother Chi Xu's love," Song Xiangyi raised her right hand and held it by her ear. Her words were firm.
"Brother Chi Xu and I aren't even together yet. How can you be so sure?" Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow and retorted.
"You and Brother Chi Xu clearly like each other. It's just天理难容 (unjust) that you're not together yet," Song Xiangyi pouted.
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something and shouted, "Hey, Sister Jiang Yuan, don't change the subject. Have you forgiven me? Please forgive me!"
"Okay, I forgive you," Jiang Yuan said softly.
The restaurant was bustling with people. The rich aroma of the food wafted out of the restaurant, attracting passers - by.
Just as Jiang Yuan and Song Xiangyi were about to finish their meal, Chi Xu rushed over, stepping on the melting snow.
Seeing Jiang Yuan getting along well with Song Xiangyi, the tense string in his heart finally relaxed.
"What? Brother Chi Xu, are you so afraid that I'll bully Sister Jiang Yuan?" Song Xiangyi's voice rose at the end. There was a hint of cunning and pride in her eyebrows.
Chi Xu quickly caught the key point. "Sister Jiang Yuan?"
"Yeah, yeah," Song Xiangyi stood up, walked around the long table, and wrapped her arm around Jiang Yuan's. She shook it.
"Sister Jiang Yuan has forgiven me. She's so nice to me. Brother Chi Xu, you'd better not bully me in the future. I have Sister Jiang Yuan as my backer now."
Jiang Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She turned her head to push away Song Xiangyi's fidgety fingers, but Song Xiangyi held on tightly. Jiang Yuan had no choice but to give up.
Chi Xu's eyes darted back and forth between Jiang Yuan and Song Xiangyi. Still not放心 (at ease), he asked again, "Yuanyuan, did Song Xiangyi... really not bully you?"
This question made Song Xiangyi explode. She immediately let go of Jiang Yuan's arm, put her hands on her hips, and shouted angrily, "Do you not trust me? Sister Jiang Yuan, quickly prove me right!"
Jiang Yuan pursed her lips and smiled. She said calmly, "Yes, what Song Xiangyi said is true."
Only then did Chi Xu breathe a sigh of relief. Seeing the finished meal in front of them, he turned around to pay the bill.
"Sister Jiang Yuan, you must torture Brother Chi Xu mercilessly. The easier something is to get, the less one will cherish it," Song Xiangyi whispered, sharing her experience. "This is the conclusion I've drawn from dating more than a dozen boyfriends."
Jiang Yuan: "..."