Chapter 108: Chapter 108
He looked her up and down with a blank expression, dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, his hair ruffled and a shadow of stubble he never normally had. His manner serious and flat and then brushed past her with zero verbals as though she was nothing important. Not giving her the time of day as she gawped after him.
“Where’s YuZhi? Is he in your car downstairs? Out there in the hall?” TangShi followed him desperately, pleading like a child and ZhengLi threw a side eye look at Linlin with a frown. Waving TangShi’s way airily.
“Tell her he’s not here and I’m collecting clothes and his files for work. She should pack up and go back to the Leng house by tomorrow, so it doesn’t disrupt YuZhi’s work schedule this week. We have a lot of important meetings this week that we can’t afford to fuck up.” ZhengLi’s tone was tight, his manner grim and he walked off towards the bedroom to start looking for YuZhi’s suitcase. Seemingly dismissive of them both and in a bad mood.
“What the hell is your problem?” Linlin snapped at his back as he disappeared into the next room. “Tell her yourself, she’s standing right here, you ignorant bastard!” Linlin was angered by how he just treated her best friend and stalked after him, leaving TangShi looking bewildered in the center of the living room, her heart sinking because she knew she deserved his coldness. Linlin enraged at the utter disrespect for someone so important to her.
“I’m not here to talk to her. I’m here to make sure my best friend has everything he needs. He’s my priority.” ZhengLi shrugged, ignoring Linlin’s temper flaring and carried on pulling out two cases and flipping them open on the bed. He was used to his hellcat’s fire and her being mad at him didn’t bother him at all over this. He had more important matters to attend to.
“You’re mad at TangShi, without even knowing the truth?” Linlin grabbed his arm and yanked him, so he was forced to look at her and he sighed. Tired after their early morning flight home and now he was dealing with this hellish drama.
“I don’t know, a hotel room that looked like the aftermath of a porn session. His girlfriend in sexy underwear standing in a room with a mostly naked dude who had been pursing her for weeks after a drunken night of shenanigans. Yeah, seems like there’s not much to misinterpret there. Do you mind? I’m in a hurry.” ZhengLi shook Linlin off, his own mood simmering, and he was trying to keep his need to go off at TangShi under wraps. Disappointed in someone he rooted for. Emotionally invested in YuZhi’s wellbeing and hating on anyone who hurt him.
Of all the people in the world, YuZhi was the one that mattered the most to him, even amongst family. So dealing with the broken mess who rolled into his apartment after they got home and knowing TangShi caused this, she wasn’t high on his favorite person list right now. In his head she had betrayed his buddy, and she didn’t deserve his time or consideration. Nor his conversation.
“You really think she’s capable of that? You’ve hung around her for months and got to know her better than that! Look at the mess of her. Why would she be like this if she truly wanted to destroy her relationship?” Linlin was in awe at how thickheaded and near sighted ZhengLi could be given his vast experience in the world of partying, sex and drugs.
“Its called regret. And yeah, you never really know anyone and what they’re capable of until they do something like this to you. Even you could do this to me… people suck. That’s not a groundbreaking new discovery.” ZhengLi shrugged, going back to pacing back and forth from the walk-in closet as he collected YuZhi’s suits and clothes, packing them neatly as he did so. Undeterred by her hovering around him. Linlin following him like a bear with a sore head and snarling his way as each step angered her further.
“Stop it. She wouldn’t do this and that Rong Cai motherfucker is a skeezy letch who has done something to make this look this way. I thought you would be on her side in this, with an ability to think beyond what he saw.” Linlin snapped, full on anger as she stomped after him once more to a third trip to the cupboard, then walked into his back with a thud as he stopped dead and snorted. The ZhengLi she knew and adored was wise and levelheaded and could often see things other’s couldn’t. It seemed not this time.
“Why did she get so drunk with him if he was someone so untrustworthy? Why go out for dinner in the first place? Why did she still appear to be walking around in her underwear when YuZhi showed up, and not hightailing it out the door if she was so innocently set up? She seemed pretty happy half naked around with him while he showered.” ZhengLi just couldn’t believe anyone would go to those lengths and hope the other party would conveniently forget. He had figured the memory issue was a lie because TangShi was ashamed to admit the truth, knowing it ended everything.
“So you’re tarring her as guilty even if I tell you she’s not. That I don’t believe it.” Linlin spat at him, outraged and deadly serious. Losing her adoration for ZhengLi by the minute and disappointed in him for thinking this way.
“That’s your prerogative as her friend and your biased opinion.” ZhengLi slammed the first full case closed and met a thunderous glare as she focused her eyes.
“You should trust me to know her well enough and listen to what I’m saying. I know her better than anyone.” She fumed, angered that somehow this was also putting a wedge between them because her loyalty would never allow ZhengLi to slander TangShi. This was a hill she was willing to die on. Even against him.
“If I need to pick a side between you and YuZhi on this, it’s always him. He’s my best friend, been there my whole life, and he’s the one who’s hurt. It’s that simple. Don’t make this about us, Linlin. I’m not in the mood and it won’t go how you think it would, no matter how I feel about you.” He warned with an edge to his tone.
“Well, I choose her. Because she’s hurt in this too, and I believe she’s innocent. And I can’t believe you of all people would be this way towards her or make this kind of statement. No matter how I feel about you, I won’t forgive you being a Schmuck over this!”
“Stop it, both of you.” TangShi interjected, having made her way to the bedroom door and heard them arguing. Unable to bear it any longer and not wanting this to affect Linlin’s first real relationship. She liked ZhengLi and could understand his loyalty and anger in this. Even TangShi was ashamed and hated herself for doing this to YuZhi so she could imagine how he felt and didn’t blame him. “I need to talk to him, ZhengLi. Please, I just want to see him.” TangShi begged, brushing aside their bickering.