Chapter 11: Li Liu and Zhi Yan’s relationship mystery

Black’s appearance reminded something to Lin Fang and he shook his head, picking it up with a grin. “That’s right. My priorities should be focusing on steadily improving sales and reputation. Everything else should be thrown aside. And even if I want a girl, I would rather get back together with Li Liu than woo a rich girl like Zhi Yan.” As if he were reminding himself, he swiftly corrected his words. “Well… not exactly getting back with her because in this timeline, we are just nothing more than strangers. We aren’t supposed to meet for another 1 year, after all.”

His heartbeat rose quite a lot as soon as he thought about the girl, who was just standing not far away from him. “It doesn’t matter. Now, we are just living under the same roof. I know everything about her. I still remember everything about her likes and dislikes. Well, if it is the same girl I knew from 2017, that means if there wasn’t any particular incident that was originally going to happen in her life during the following year, I have a chance of getting her back, and this time, I will not let her go. Whether she is straight or a Bi, if she loves me, that should be enough. Go to hell with society’s perception.”

The dinner had drawn to a close, and everyone had settled into a relaxed mood. The table was cleared, and the clatter of dishes ceased, leaving only the hum of quiet chatter. Lin Fang, standing up from his seat, stretched slightly, before his eyes scanned the room, landing on the fridge.

“Hey, is there any ice cream?” he asked, his voice becoming casual after the conversations with his housemates since noon.

Hao Bin, who had been busy clearing the food debris with a toothpick, didn’t even glance up from his phone. “Nope,” he said instinctively, without a hint of hesitation.

Lin Fang nodded, as if that was the answer he expected. “Alright, I’ll head out and grab some. Anyone need anything?”

“Hmm?” As Hao Bin subtly raised his head to glance at Lin Fang, the latter spoke while secretly glancing at Li Liu. “I have this habit of eating ice cream after dinner. I know it’s kind of weird, especially after home-cooked meals, but it’s just my thing. Well, except when I’m drinking.”

There was a brief moment of silence as everyone paused, blinking in slight surprise at his admission.

“Wait, what?” Zhi Yan chuckled, her eyes flicking to the others. “You have the same habit as Li Liu,” she added, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “She does the same thing.”

“Eh?” Lin Fang froze. Well, he acted like he was frozen in surprise. His eyes flicked toward Li Liu this time directly, who hung her head in a bit of embarrassment, her fingers fiddling with her sleeves. Her cheeks were tinged with the softest shade of pink.

“Really?” Lin Fang asked, as if hearing it for the first time. But deep down, he already knew. In fact, he had been purposefully trying to make that connection, something to bridge the gap between them. Something that could help him get closer to her.

Li Liu shyly nodded, her face avoiding his gaze. Lin Fang smiled at the coincidence, trying to keep his composure, though his heart raced just a bit faster.

“Quite the coincidence,” he mused aloud, his smile couldn’t help but widen. “Well, what flavor should I get you?”

Li Liu opened her mouth, about to decline the offer, but before she could speak, Zhi Yan interjected in a playful voice. “Liu Liu, how about you go with him? He’s also new to the neighborhood, might lose his way, or go to the wrong convenience store.”

Lin Fang’s heart gave a sudden, erratic beat. He only wanted to make an impression on Li Liu, but Zhi Yan’s intervention felt like a swift push in the right direction, and Lin Fang could almost feel the tension crackling in the air.

Li Liu looked caught off guard but didn’t protest. Lin Fang, on the other hand, felt his chest tighten in anticipation.

“Uh, sure. That sounds good,” Lin Fang said with a nod. They both stood up, and as the door clicked shut behind them, they stepped out into the night air.

Watching them together, Zhi Yan crossed her arms with a smirk.

The street was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, their shadows stretching long across the pavement. For a while, neither of them spoke. Or rather, Lin Fang didn’t find any opportunity to speak.

Li Liu was walking a step behind him with her head slightly lowered, her footsteps just a fraction too hesitant. Every time Lin Fang tried to slow his pace, she would subtly match his steps, but always kept a small distance between them.

He wanted to speak, to ask her about herself, to cement their friendship, but the words felt heavy on his tongue. He held back, afraid that if he spoke too soon or brought up personal topics, it might push her away instead of bringing them closer.

Minutes passed, and the silence lingered. Lin Fang’s thoughts swirled around his mind. He couldn’t afford to mess this up. He couldn’t afford to make the same mistakes again, not when they were just beginning to form a new bond.

But how could he break the silence? Lin Fang struggled for a while.

Eventually, he took a deep breath, halting his steps. As she did the same and looked at him in wonder, he turned his head slightly, looking at her. “If you don’t mind me asking,” he began cautiously, “how long have you and Zhi Yan known each other? I mean, are you both from the same college or…”

Li Liu’s voice, soft and almost hesitant, responded. “No, we were childhood friends. We grew up together.”

“Huh?” Lin Fang blinked in surprise. The very first question completely threw him off.

In his past life, he had been in a relationship with Li Liu for two years, and he had never heard of Zhi Yan. The fact that she had never mentioned her made him curious.

And now, hearing that Zhi Yan had been a childhood friend only added to the puzzle in Lin Fang’s mind. Could it be that there was more to their relationship than what appeared on the surface?

For a moment, Lin Fang couldn’t help but wonder whether Li Liu had feelings for Zhi Yan. Or did they end on bad terms?

The possibility lingered in the air like a shadow, too close to ignore.

He quickly tried to brush away the thought. But he couldn’t help but think of the reasons to believe his assumption. After all, in the past, Li Liu told him that she was a Bi and suppressed it, not that she recently discovered it. If she had known about it all along and was still sharing the same room, same shower, and toilet with another girl, even when she was earning well enough, there must be something indeed going on.

“But what could it be? Does Li Liu like Zhi Yan, or are they just as close and inseparable as sisters? Which one is it?” The thought ate his mind like a leech sucking his blood, turning into a mess.

But the conversation must go on because he started it. In the end, suppressing the tension in his head, Lin Fang continued after a beat, trying to sound casual. “I see…”

As they continued to walk, he focused more on her profession this time, evading the personal questions. Li Liu didn’t ask anything about him. It was just him asking everything.

Soon after, they reached the convenience store before Lin Fang ran out of topics.

He went straight for the freezer, pulling out a classic chocolate cone for himself before automatically reaching for a black raspberry chip for her.

Li Liu’s eyes widened in surprise, and a small frown tugged at her lips. “How do you know I like this flavor?” she asked, taking the initiative to question for the first time since they left the house. “Did Zhi Yan tell you?”

Lin Fang froze for a second, caught off guard by his own reflex. How had he known? It was just a habit, a reflex from their past life. He hadn’t meant to make it seem so deliberate.

Scratching his cheek, he gave a small, apologetic laugh. “Sorry, it’s just… my ex’s preference. I guess I just did it out of habit. What flavor do you prefer?”

Li Liu’s expression softened, though she didn’t say anything further. Before he put it back, she snatched it from him. “I like this.” She quietly said, but quickly looked away.

After a while, at the counter, Lin Fang added a classic vanilla-flavored ice cream to his basket along with a few packs of instant noodles. Li Liu reached for her wallet, but Lin Fang stopped her.

“It’s fine,” he said, giving her a small smile. “I’ve got it.”

Just as he signaled the part-timer to process the payment, the air around them shifted. The atmosphere became tense, thick with an electric charge.

Suddenly, all three of their phones buzzed at the same time.

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

A red alert flashed on all of their screens.

*A Grade-3 Instant Dungeon has been discovered.*

*A Grade-3 Instant Dungeon has been discovered.*

*A Grade-3 Instant Dungeon has been discovered.*

Meranwhile, a 90-second timer has started on their phones.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep