Bang. Bang.

"Congratulations on your discharge!"

"Huh? Was it really necessary to make such a big fuss?" Jiang Xiaoyao was clearly unaccustomed to this sudden welcome ceremony, her face slightly flushed with embarrassment.

"Hehe, well, celebrating makes it feel more ceremonial, right?" Xinyu grinned, standing in the hospital room with a fruit basket.

Jiang Xiaoyao smiled awkwardly, stammering for words.

This girl. Could this be her first time ever being welcomed by friends? Chen Yuzhe leaned against the doorframe, finding it quietly amusing.

All test results were in. After confirming Jiang Xiaoyao’s pneumothorax wouldn’t recur, she was finally discharged Wednesday afternoon.

Of course, this welcome still gave her a small surprise.

Besides Chen Yuzhe, Xinyu, Gu Chengjin, and Han Cheng had all come. Even Yang Wenjin—who wasn’t usually close to her—brought gifts to visit.

For a moment, Jiang Xiaoyao felt her eyes welling up.

"Everyone… thank you."

Gu Chengjin smiled. "What are you saying, Senior Jiang? No need to thank us. We’re friends. Visiting you is only natural."

Friends.

Jiang Xiaoyao felt slightly dazed hearing those words.

For some reason, it sounded so distant.

"Are we… friends?"

"Of course," Han Cheng chuckled. "We’ve shared drinks and chats. How can we not be friends? Or are you, President Jiang, looking down on us ordinary students?"

"No, no, I—" Jiang Xiaoyao hurriedly explained, making everyone laugh.

"Enough. Can’t you tell we’re joking?" Chen Yuzhe shot her an exasperated look.

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Jiang Xiaoyao’s anger flared. She crossed her arms and huffed, "Hey! How dare you mock me? Everyone else brought gifts for my discharge. You came empty-handed and act like it’s none of your business… you jerk, do you have a conscience?"

What "none of my business"? This had nothing to do with him anyway.

Chen Yuzhe couldn’t be bothered arguing. Reasoning with girls was a death wish. He raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, sorry, my bad, Miss Jiang. I’ll make up for your gift later. Don’t be mad."

Seeing his obedient act, Jiang Xiaoyao felt a bit better. She wrinkled her nose and huffed softly, "Hmph. You know what’s good for you."

Actually, he had prepared a discharge gift.

But not for her.

"Alright, Jiang Xiaoyao," Yang Wenjin teased, "acting spoiled with so many watching? Save the flirting with your boyfriend for later. Pack your things and let’s go."

Chen Yuzhe froze instantly.

Han Cheng froze instantly.

Jiang Xiaoyao froze instantly.

Gu Chengjin and Xinyu were stunned too.

That sentence hit a pause button on time, plunging the room into deathly silence.

"Huh?" Yang Wenjin tilted her head. "What’s wrong?"

Oh no.

He’d been too busy to tell Jiang Xiaoyao about pretending to be her boyfriend.

She was still completely unaware of what happened that afternoon at the party house.

"Uh…" Jiang Xiaoyao’s face turned awkward. "Yang Wenjin, what nonsense? I don’t have a boyfriend."

"Huh? But earlier, Chen Yu—"

"We broke up," Chen Yuzhe said flatly. "I’m not her boyfriend anymore."

"What? When?"

"Just now."

"Huh?"

Seeing Yang Wenjin’s odd look, Han Cheng stepped in smoothly. "Ah, that’s a shame. Love has no right or wrong. After a breakup, you can still be friends. No need for awkwardness, right?"

"Since we’ve split, next time we meet, we’ll wish each other well—finding someone more suitable to spend a lifetime with."

Huh? Why so smooth? Yang Wenjin’s gaze at Han Cheng turned strange.

Gu Chengjin scanned them blankly, his eyes briefly meeting Chen Yuzhe’s before looking away.

Xinyu lowered her head thoughtfully, lost in thought.

"Wait…" Jiang Xiaoyao finally snapped. "Can someone explain what’s going on? Why don’t I, the person involved, know anything?"

"Nothing much. We dated before. I was your boyfriend, so I stood up for you that afternoon. Now we’ve broken up. Just friends. Any problem?"

Though clear, Jiang Xiaoyao took a moment to process it.

"Hmm… so that means—" she frowned hard.

"—You dumped me?"

Is that your focus, sister!

Chen Yuzhe covered his face, speechless for ages before snapping out of it. He couldn’t help but update his impression of her again.

"Alright, alright," Gu Chengjin clapped with a smile. "I know Senior Jiang has questions. Why not grab a meal together?"

"We’ll talk everything over dinner."