"Youjie, do you remember our agreement to go to the swimming pool tomorrow? - Yuan Muxi" After returning from An Lisi's place, I spent the whole day feeling bored until I suddenly received a message from Yuan Muxi in the evening. It was quite unexpected to receive a message from her. I wondered when she had taken note of my phone number.

"I remember..." I replied with a message.

"Alright, let's meet at ten tomorrow at the usual place," she quickly replied.

"Understood," the conversation ended there. The last time I went to the swimming pool was not a great experience, but this time, Yuan Muxi kindly offered to teach me how to swim. She is truly a kind-hearted girl. Since she was willing to teach me, I couldn't let her down. I would work hard to bid farewell to being a non-swimmer.

As I was about to lock my phone screen and go to sleep, I suddenly received a notification for an email.

"Yougege, are you asleep?" An Lisi sent me a message.

"Not yet. Is everything okay?" I replied.

"...I'm fine. Yougege, you don't have to worry," she responded.

"That's good..."

"Well... I wanted to take a rest tomorrow... Do you have time, Yougege?"

"Rest? If you're tired, take a day off. As for me, I have plenty of free time," I replied.

"Then... can you accompany me tomorrow?"

"Um... "

"Is it not possible?"

Of course, it's not possible. Absolutely not. But I couldn't say it out loud.

"Well, it's not that it's not possible, but I suddenly remembered that I have an appointment tomorrow," I explained.

"What kind of appointment?"

"To go to the swimming pool."

"The swimming pool? Yougege, do you go there for fun?"

"More or less... but the main purpose is to learn how to swim."

"Really? I can't swim either. So, Yougege is going there alone?"

"Not alone... I will also be accompanied by a female classmate," I unintentionally let it slip, and before I could take it back, I had already sent the message. This is troublesome. While there wasn't really a problem originally, this kind of ambiguous relationship is fatal.

My heart started pounding nervously.

"In that case, can I come with you, Yougege? (smiling)" Seeing this question, I felt like I was on the edge of a bottomless abyss.

"As long as An Lisi doesn't mind," I replied. I wasn't sure if it would be alright for An Lisi to come along. I had no confidence. I am in a dilemma, unable to refuse either side.

On one hand, I didn't want to be a flake. On the other hand, I had to continue the lie I had woven. Although the lie would eventually be exposed, before that happened, I wanted An Lisi to have a positive outlook on life and move away from the darkness and unhappiness of the past. Her suicidal behavior has truly scared me.

I had no choice but to tell this lie, but I didn't expect it to have such consequences.

I am now in great distress, but I don't have the courage to come clean. I fear that the reality after confessing would be cruel and unbearable. So I don't know what to do.

"I really want to go to the swimming pool, especially with Yougege. I wonder if the swimsuit store is still open at this time?" An Lisi was silent for a long time after I replied with this message.

"An Lisi..." It was still the same after half an hour. Could it be that she really went to buy a swimsuit? I was amazed. An hour passed and I still didn't see a reply from An Lisi. While waiting, I accidentally fell asleep and woke up to a dimly lit sky. I picked up my phone and found that I had received many messages.

"I went to buy a swimsuit because I didn't have one."

"Yuan-ge, are you asleep?"

"What time and where should we meet tomorrow?"

"Let's meet at the school at 9 o'clock."

"Okay..."

She replied instantly. Was An Lisi waiting for my response all this time?

At nine o'clock, I arrived at the school on time. It seemed like An Lisi had arrived earlier, carrying a bag.

"Good morning, An Lisi."

"Good morning, Yuan-ge."

An Lisi was wearing casual clothes and had her waist-length golden hair tied into two ponytails, looking quite cute.

"Yuan-ge, is there something on my hair?" An Lisi looked puzzled.

"No...no..." I averted my gaze.

"Really?" An Lisi touched her hair, still somewhat unsure.

"Let's go then." To divert her attention, I said.

"Okay..." An Lisi smiled and nodded.

Because An Lisi joined us, I had to inform Yuan Muxi so that she wouldn't be confused.

"Is it okay if I bring someone with us, Muxi?"

"It's fine...Has Youjie left yet?" Yuan Muxi replied instantly as well.

"We're about to arrive at the square."

"We're almost there too. If Youjie is there first, then wait for us."

"Okay..."

Wait, "we"? Did Yuan Muxi also invite someone else? Then it shouldn't be a problem on my end.

Thinking this, we arrived at the agreed meeting place. There were quite a few people, and I was a bit worried that Yuan Muxi wouldn't see me.

"Yuan-ge, where are you?"

But instead of worrying about Yuan Muxi not seeing us, I should pay more attention to An Lisi. It wouldn't be good if we got separated.

"Over here..." I gestured with my hand.

An Lisi saw and ran over: "Yuan-ge."

"Don't run around now. Just stand here."

"Okay..." An Lisi smiled and nodded. After a few minutes, I spotted Yuan Muxi in my line of sight.

"Youjie, " Yuan Muxi also immediately spotted me.

...

But at the moment our paths crossed, something happened that made my legs go numb.

I stared in disbelief at the person beside Yuan Muxi. It was indeed someone she brought along, but this person turned out to be...

"Yuan-ge..."

"Yuan-ge!?"

It was Su Yuqian.