Qu Jiaran was extremely persistent and showed no trace of a spoiled young lady. She continued to plead humbly, "Normally, Linyuan rarely meets others or makes friends."
Rarely makes friends?
Nan Yu couldn't help but think of the slovenly man she saw in front of the meditation room that day.
She didn't bring it up but simply said slowly, "I don't have much contact with him either."
"How can you say that? Nan Yu, you're lying to me again."
Qu Jiaran looked skeptical. "I've inquired about it. You go to Changuang Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha every Sunday. I can go with you under the pretext of accompanying you."
So she knew everything.
Nan Yu found it rather amusing at this moment.
Her tone remained flat, without any fluctuations. "Anyone can go to the temple. You don't have to accompany me."
Qu Jiaran was insistent. "I can't. My parents are very strict with me and don't allow me to go out casually."
This time, she wasn't lying. "I have to report to my parents wherever I go. Even when I go out for a stroll, I'm followed by several bodyguards. Even when I teach Niannian to play the violin, it was Linyuan who pleaded with my parents on my behalf."
Considering Qu Jiaran's previous serious illness, Nan Yu could roughly understand why her parents would do everything in their power to protect her.
For someone who had come back from the brink of death, surviving was already a rare miracle. As parents, they naturally cherished their daughter.
Qu Jiaran sighed regretfully. "I thought I could see Linyuan often when I went to teach Niannian, but he rarely showed up."
"Taking violin lessons is really boring. Niannian doesn't understand anything and can't even hold the violin steadily. I have to repeat the same content many times before she can remember it. I've never seen such a stupid child."
She didn't care at all that Nan Yu was still there and complained as if there was no one else around. "I don't know what excuse to use to decline now. If only Nan Yu could play the violin too, then we could teach it together."
At this moment, Nan Yu finally understood why Niannian said she was afraid of Qu Jiaran.
Because Qu Jiaran didn't really want to teach Niannian, nor did she like children. Everything was just an excuse to meet Tan Linyuan at Niannian's house.
After spending a whole day with her and getting to know her thoroughly, Nan Yu wasn't surprised to learn this truth.
What Qu Jiaran meant was that she only wanted to do things related to Tan Linyuan.
"Do you know, Nan Yu?" Qu Jiaran said seriously, "I've been in poor health since I was a child and don't have many friends. Everyone is afraid that I might suddenly die, so they don't play with me."
Her tone was very sincere. "You're the only good friend who has seen through me and learned from my own mouth that I like Linyuan."
... Nan Yu wanted to say that she couldn't help but know. After all, she was neither blind nor deaf.
"I've never had such an experience! Just like it's written in the book, 'Seeing her is like seeing a bosom friend for life.' That's exactly how I feel about you."
Nan Yu didn't say a word.
She had a premonition that if she continued to get along with Qu Jiaran, this sticky candy would cling to her tightly and be impossible to shake off.
Qu Jiaran got a bit excited and couldn't help but hug Nan Yu. Her voice was soft. "Nan Yu, maybe you don't want to believe it, but I've already confirmed in my heart that you'll be my lifelong good friend."
"I swear that from now on, you'll always be number one in my heart, and Linyuan can only be number two."
Nan Yu: "..."
It was really hasty.
It was even more hasty than when she had slept with Tan Linyuan on a whim.
"I just need an excuse to accompany you to the temple to deal with my family. Otherwise, my parents will definitely send a lot of people to guard at the temple gate, which will affect more pilgrims and you too."
Qu Jiaran said seriously, "As long as I can enter Changuang Temple smoothly, I won't need Nan Yu's help with anything related to courting Linyuan in the future."
Although it didn't sound like a difficult task, Nan Yu still didn't want to have anything to do with her. "Otherwise, you can ask Tan Linyuan to plead with your parents..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Qu Jiaran lowered her head and looked at the gauze wrapped around the back of her right hand. She exclaimed, "Blood... the blood is seeping out!"
Nan Yu naturally saw the large patch of red blood and also noticed Qu Jiaran's obviously pale face. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine..." Qu Jiaran shook her head. Her lips began to turn pale, and her body trembled slightly. "I'm just a bit squeamish. I'll be fine if I don't look at it. Nan Yu, don't feel sorry for me."
... Nan Yu didn't feel sorry for her but had a headache.
She regarded it as repaying Qu Jiaran for the cat scratch and still said, "I agree to go to the temple with you every weekend."
Qu Jiaran's eyes immediately lit up.
"However," Nan Yu paused, "I won't help you with anything else. Then we won't owe each other any favors."
"Nan Yu, you're so cold." Qu Jiaran pouted, but a smile bloomed on her face. "But I can see through you. You're tough on the outside but soft on the inside. You still can't let me go."
... Sometimes Nan Yu really wanted to get into Qu Jiaran's head to see what this princess was thinking all day long.
After dinner, the three of them walked out of the restaurant.
Qu Jiaran tightly grabbed Tan Linyuan's arm and said that she was a bit dizzy from the sight of blood and couldn't stand steadily. Tan Linyuan didn't refuse and let her hold on.
Nan Yu didn't have the mood to watch them flirting. She wanted to hail a passing taxi on the roadside and go back directly.
"Get in the car. I'll take you two back." His voice was calm, and his tone was as compassionate and gentle as usual.
It was similar to his expression when he chanted scriptures and prayed for the pilgrims in Changuang Temple. His eyes were equally calm and serene.
Qu Jiaran winked and smiled playfully. "Does Nan Yu still need you to take her? She can ask her fiancé to pick her up!"
Tan Linyuan stood under the light. His eyes passed over Nan Yu and stared into her eyes for a few seconds before he withdrew his gaze. His tone was emotionless. "That's okay too."
That's okay too? Who asked for his okay? Who did he speak for?
Nan Yu couldn't help but curse Tan Linyuan in her heart, but on the surface, she remained calm. "It's so late. It's not good to ask him to come. I'd better take a taxi back by myself. I won't trouble you two."
"What's wrong with that?"
Qu Jiaran said with a beaming smile, "You two are childhood sweethearts, and your relationship is so deep. Moreover, you're about to get married. It's his obligation to pick up his fiancée."
Hearing this, Tan Linyuan's eyes darkened a bit.
Nan Yu pursed her lips and remained silent.
Firstly, she didn't want to call Shen Yanche. Secondly, she didn't think Shen Yanche would really come to take her home.
But if Shen Yanche really didn't come, the lie she told Qu Jiaran at the dinner table would be exposed.
"Nan Yu, why aren't you making the call? Are you shy?"