Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

"Right, right, with Xiao Fan going, there definitely won't be any problem. We were just talking about crow's feet..."

Zhang Yiyi stared reproachfully at her mom, absolutely certain that the previous conversation had been a set-up between her bad brother and bad mom.

However, it was just as her mom said, "With brother going, Ning doesn't need to worry anymore."

The sudden departure of the two people from their seats did not attract much attention; in the living room, those who were drinking continued to drink, and those who were gossiping continued to gossip, but the four girls had lost all patience to sit down.

"Yu!" Xia Xiaoxiao's sudden outburst startled Wu Lingyu.

"What... what is it?" Wu Lingyu timidly replied.

"We agreed to go upstairs and play games after dinner, right? Let's go." Without another word, Xia Xiaoxiao grabbed Yu's left hand.

"Yeah, let's go back to the room to play games!" Zhang Yiyi also stood up and seized her right hand.

One on each side, they dragged the quail-sized Yu upstairs, followed by Xiao Ruawen, who had eaten her fill.

"What game are we playing? Did you guys decide on one? Why don't I know anything about it?"

A moment later, the four of them arrived in Wu Lingyu's room.

"Speak candidly and you will be treated leniently."

"Resist and face strict consequences!"

No sooner had Xia Xiaoxiao finished speaking than Zhang Yiyi immediately followed up with a serious tone.

"What's this, what's this, are we role-playing a court trial? In that case, I want to be Bao Zheng, court in session!" Xiao Ruawen declared, then slapped her small hand on the mattress, making barely any sound.

Xia Xiaoxiao was too exhausted to retort to the sole member of the little faction, and simply continued to look coldly at Yu, "Are you going to tell us, or should I ask?"

"I... I'm sorry," Wu Lingyu guiltily lowered her head.

"The more I listen, the more confused I get. Why are you apologizing, Yu?" Xiao Ruawen blinked, perplexed.

Fortunately, Wu Lingyu spoke up without needing Xia Xiaoxiao to reply: "Brother Fan came to see me when he got up this morning. He said... he said..."

"That's outrageous!" After hearing the whole story, Xiao Ruawen slammed her thigh in anger, startling the three girls in the room.

"I knew no one discussed it with me, I thought it was arranged in the group chat and I just missed it!"

Xia Xiaoxiao and Zhang Yiyi exchanged a glance, helpless.

Playing both good cop and bad cop, they covered her mouth with their hands, and Xia Xiaoxiao asked, "Did he tell you why he wants everyone to split up in high school? Did he give a reason?"

Xia Xiaoxiao was worried it because of the kissing incident last time, and Zhang Yiyi was concerned that her plan with Ning had been exposed; both anxiously looked at Yu.

Wu Lingyu nodded but then shook her head: "Brother Fan just said that splitting up would help make new friends, and... and mentioned that we'll be separated into arts and sciences in senior year anyway, and that was it."

Although Wu Lingyu had just betrayed them, her inability to lie was well known, so both of them chose to believe her, deep in thought.

"And... and furthermore,"

"Hmm?"

Amidst the focused stares from the three, Wu Lingyu continued, "Moreover, Brother Fan originally wanted everyone to board. I asked if we could not board because I'm a bit scared to share a dorm with strangers, and only then did Brother Fan suggest that we could commute instead."

Wu Lingyu felt that although she had backstabbed her close friends, she had also contributed, as without her intervention, they might all have ended up boarding, which could have meant not seeing Brother Fan at all for the whole day!

"I was too hasty just now, sorry Yu." Xia Xiaoxiao's eyes softened, as she hugged the squishy Yu and apologized.

"Sorry, Yu, it's all my brother's fault, Yu is great!" Zhang Yiyi also joined in the comforting hug.

"Of course, Brother Fan is... just like Hong Shixian, not a true word in his mouth!"

"Exactly!"

...