Chapter 5: Love Rival

ᰔ Why did it have to be Jiang Shiluo? ᰔ

Yu Ran had been very busy lately, so busy that she couldn’t make it to the café on time.

Recently, she had to prepare for an academic lecture at Zhangshan Medical University, and in her leisure time, she was also working on materials and PPT presentations.

Before she knew it, it was Jiang Shiluo’s birthday, and today she had to make time to go home, even though it had been three days since she’d seen Shen Suhui.

These past few days, even working in the outpatient clinic and leaving on time had been nearly impossible. She had to complete all the checkups and follow-up consultations today.

As she stepped out, she saw Jian Ming, who looked exhausted, just finishing her shift.

“Have you not had any rest these past few days?”

Jian Ming shook her head. “The workload’s been huge lately, don’t you think?”

“There’s been a lot of patients recently, but I don’t think that’s the whole reason you look like this.”

Jian Ming didn’t respond. “Do you want to go to the convenience store? I’ll buy you some rice balls.”

Yu Ran smiled. “I’m heading home for dinner.”

“Stay with me for a while?”

“Sure.”

They sat at a convenience store across from the hospital. The place was crowded with office workers and patients. Jian Ming bought two rice balls and some spaghetti with Italian meat sauce.

“What happened?”

Jian Ming lowered her head and finished her noodles, slamming her chopsticks on the table. “Damn it.” She had always been gentle and composed, but now she cursed openly.

“Last night, I worked overtime, and that bastard was drunk and was beating Wawan at home. I confronted him, and he slapped me right across the face…”

“What happened after that?”

“I grabbed a bottle of wine and smashed it over his head.”

“How did that happen?” Yu Ran asked seriously. “Didn’t you know what he was like before marriage?”

Jian Ming shook her head. “I never really had much of a concept of love or marriage. I got married to him just because my family arranged it. I thought he was nice during the blind date, and we settled things quickly. But not long after marriage, his true colors started to show.”

She raised her head and drank some beer, cursing again. “Men are all the same, not a single good one.”

“…Aren’t you getting a divorce?”

“I’ve been too busy, but I’ll think it through carefully.” Jian Ming paused, as if remembering something. “By the way, you’re not too young now. Has your family pressured you about marriage?”

“My family is pretty open-minded about these things. They know that it’s all about fate, and you can’t force it.”

“That’s the kind of family I expect from highly educated people.” Jian Ming said. “I was going to warn you that blind dates aren’t reliable, but it seems like I was worrying for nothing.”

“Where are you staying tonight?” Yu Ran asked.

“Temporarily staying in a hotel.”

“Where’s the hotel? You had some drinks just now, let me drive you.”

Jian Ming shook her head. “No need, I called a ride service.”

Yu Ran drove home, answering calls along the way—calls from her leaders, patients, and family.

“Xiao Ran, do you remember what day it is today? Didn’t you say you’d hurry home?” Zhong Wanli’s voice came through the phone. She spoke softly, but there was an obvious urgency in her tone.

“I saw a few extra patients while working overtime. I’m just leaving now. It’ll take about 30 to 40 minutes to get home. Mom, you guys can start eating first.”

“Okay, I’ll tell Luoluo. You’re really something, not calling ahead. Luoluo even brought a very important friend, you should meet him too.”

“An important friend?” Yu Ran’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “Boyfriend?”

Zhong Wanli replied, “No, it’s a girl.”

“Oh~~”

“Then I’ll save some food for you.”

“No need, Mom. I’ve already eaten; you don’t have to save anything.”

—-

After hanging up, Yu Ran stepped on the gas to speed up. Honestly, she had been back for a year but hadn’t had a chance to meet Jiang Shiluo. Now she was late for her birthday, and she felt like Jiang Shiluo would probably scold her harshly.

The SUV pulled into the reserved parking space at the Yu family villa, which was packed with luxury cars worth tens of millions. This SUV was the oldest and most inconspicuous one.

The three-story mansion was brightly lit, and laughter could be heard from outside. Yu Ran hurried inside, quickly changing her shoes and clothes, not even having time to glance around.

When she finished and turned around, she immediately spotted a figure sitting next to Jiang Shiluo—someone who made her heart skip a beat.

Yu Ran wondered if she was imagining things because of her obsession with Shen Suhui…

“Yu Ran!” Jiang Shiluo stood up. “You’re finally back! It’s been so long.”

She said these words through gritted teeth, and it was very clear.

“Long time no see.”

Yu Ran walked closer, her gaze direct and unflinching as she looked at Shen Suhui. Shen Suhui glanced at her and immediately lowered her head.

“This is my very good female friend, Shen Suhui. She went to the same high school as us.”

“This is Yu Ran, the one I often mention,” Jiang Shiluo’s tone softened considerably. “Come on, greet each other and say hello.”

They locked eyes, and Shen Suhui shyly smiled at Yu Ran. “Hello.”

Yu Ran paused for a moment, nodded, and replied politely, “Hello.” She then greeted the elders at the table.

Tang Yumei said, “Xiao Ran, you must be tired from work. We haven’t finished eating, come join us.”

“No need, she told me she’s already eaten, don’t worry about it…”

“I suddenly feel hungry again, maybe I’ll eat something.”

Before Zhong Wanli could finish, Yu Ran interrupted and sat down across from Shen Suhui.

“At least you’re giving me face…”

Jiang Shiluo muttered softly, and Tang Yumei quietly warned her from the side, “Xiaoran came back late because there were a lot of patients today. Haven’t you missed her after a year? Don’t be temperamental.”

“I haven’t, I don’t miss her,” Jiang Shiluo replied awkwardly, her face flushing deeply. She quickly changed the subject. “But, Yu Ran, since you’re back from the U.S., you’re not leaving again, right?”

“I’m not leaving.”

Yu Ran ate her meal without changing expression, but her foot mischievously tapped the tip of Shen Suihuai’s foot. Shen Suihuai was clearly startled and shivered, pulling her foot back.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Shiluo asked.

Shen Suihuai shook her head. “Nothing.”

Zhong Wanli smiled gently. “Little Shen, take whatever you want, don’t be polite. You’re Luoluo’s good friend, so feel at home.”

“You should have asked her what she likes to eat. We only prepared food that Luoluo likes,” Yu Haowei sighed.

“Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. I’m not picky, I like everything,” Shen Suihuai said, putting down her chopsticks. She had already eaten enough.

Jiang Shiluo also put down her chopsticks, scanning the people at the table seriously.

“Since we’re all here, I need to tell everyone something.”

Jiang Shiluo glanced at Shen Suihuai. When Yu Ran noticed the atmosphere between the two, her heart skipped a beat.

Everyone at the table noticed the sudden change in atmosphere and stopped eating, putting down their chopsticks.

“…”

This sudden shift in atmosphere made Shen Suihuai uneasy. She quickly sensed something was happening and subconsciously looked at the others. Yu Ran was staring at her seriously, her expression thoughtful, as if she was considering something.

Clearly, Yu Ran sensed something as well.

“Jiang Shiluo…” Shen Suihuai tugged at her sleeve, silently warning her not to act impulsively.

“Don’t worry,” Jiang Shiluo reassured her. “I’ve thought this through. I won’t put you in an awkward position.”

Yu Ran narrowed her eyes, scanning the two of them, her finger lightly tapping the table. Her posture seemed casual, as if she was a bystander watching the drama unfold, though her heart was burning with anxiety.

“Actually, I…”

“Actually, you should consider your friend’s feelings. She clearly doesn’t want you to make things so tense. I think we should let it go this time,” Yu Ran calmly interrupted.

“You don’t understand her,” Jiang Shiluo said. “She’s introverted and timid, and I’m teaching her to be brave.”

“…”

Jiang Shiluo had always been stubborn. Once she decided on something, she would do it. She lifted her head and poured herself a glass of champagne to steady her nerves.

“Today, I want to introduce to my mom and dad that Miss Shen Suhui isn’t just my friend, but also the person I’m pursuing.”

“!!!”

Shen Suhui, the coward, lowered her head and couldn’t bring herself to look up. She clutched her pants and thought, “It’s over, it’s really over…”

“I’ve liked her for many years. From now on, I will work very hard to pursue her, and I hope you’ll support me.”

Jiang Shiluo said this with determination, though her voice trembled. Afterward, she poured herself another glass of champagne and sat down.

She couldn’t bear to look at Shen Suhui, as if announcing this had drained all her energy and courage.

“…”

The atmosphere at the table was very awkward.

Shen Suhui felt extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable. She wanted to gauge Yu Ran’s reaction but couldn’t muster the courage.

“Hahaha, this is a good thing, having someone you like,” Yu Haowei was the first to break the silence. “But Luoluo, your courage really deserves praise. If you like someone, you should be brave and open about it. Only then can you have a story. When I was chasing your mother, I was just as impulsive…”

“Little Shen is indeed a good person…” Tang Yumei sighed. “They’ve been good friends since high school. I remember one autumn, when I had a serious viral flu, Luoluo took care of me at home, and it was Shen Suihuai who braved the rain to buy medicine for me…”

“Which time?” Yu Ran caught on to the key part. “I remember there was one autumn when you had a really bad flu, and I brought you medicine…”

“…”

Shen Suhui clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

“That time. But when you came, Shen Suhui was out buying medicine, and you left before she came back. You should have missed each other.”

“Right…” Jiang Shiluo sighed. “It’s a pity. Otherwise, Yu Ran, you would’ve met Shen Suhui that day.”

“…”

Yu Ran didn’t say anything more. She simply gave Shen Suhui a deep look.

Jiang Shiluo wasn’t wrong. Shen Suhui was a coward, and even now, she still didn’t dare to look at her.

“If Luoluo really manages to win Shen Suihuai’s heart, it’ll be our Luoluo’s good fortune,” Tang Yumei said seriously.

“I think these two kids are a good match,” Zhong Wanli said, putting her arm around her best friend’s shoulder, gazing at Shen Suihuai with a smile. “When I saw her for the first time, I thought she was kind-hearted and very likeable. Luoluo, you really have to try your best…”

“…”

Yu Ran silently sipped her champagne. In that moment, she experienced an emotion she had never felt before—jealousy.

After living for twenty-eight years, nothing had ever made her feel jealous.

She was jealous that Jiang Shiluo and Shen Suhui had been together for over ten years.

She was jealous that Jiang Shiluo could openly declare at a birthday party, “I like her, and I’m going to pursue her.”

But jealousy was useless. It was because she had been blinded by someone else during her golden youth that she had missed Shen Suhui’s entire adolescence.

Yu Ran also wanted to stand up and announce to everyone, “I like Shen Suhui too. I want to compete fairly with Jiang Shiluo.”

But it’s not possible.

She couldn’t let her emotions control her.

Because this person was Jiang Shiluo.

From childhood to now, her parents had always taught her to accommodate Jiang Shiluo. Whatever Jiang Shiluo liked, she had to graciously give up.

Snacks, toys, books, clothes…

Everyone had the right to like Shen Suhui, and Yu Ran was willing to compete with her rival for the chance to be “Shen Suhui’s lover.”

But why did it have to be Jiang Shiluo?