Chapter 246 - A Former Classmate (1/2)

“What happened to you, Shiyan? I heard you were injured. How are you now? Where were you hurt? Let me see it!” Lu Shengnan pelted a flurry of questions at me before I could say anything. “How did you know I was hurt?” I almost laughed out loud and she chuckled. “Humph. What makes you think you can keep secrets from us?”

Smiling weakly to myself, I shook my head. A rascal that should have been born a boy instead of a girl. She must have heard from somewhere that I was injured although something told me that she was not here only for a simple visit. Lu Shengnan was never known to be fastidious about manners with me and me her as well. “So, what brings you here?” I asked directly. She plopped into the couch opposite mine and lighted herself a cigarette. “I hope I can rely on you to remember most of our classmates in university?”

I shook my head and I was serious. Aside from Lu Shengnan, I had almost forgotten everyone else from my class. I was usually distant and aloof and kept mostly to myself during the four years in university. That was why I had hardly remained in contact with anyone from school since my graduation. For the past two years since leaving university, the incident involving the cursed zither and Lu Shengnan’s reunion at the restaurant was the only few times I encountered anyone from my class.

But Lu Shengnan looked neither dismayed nor disheartened. She knew already that I would forget everyone else from class. She was about to reveal the purpose of her visit when Edelweiss’ voice came from behind, “I didn’t know we have a guest.” Lu Shengnan spun and saw her. She then waved to her and broke into a cheerful smile. “Yo, hi there! We meet again, Sister!” Edelweiss threw her a suspicious look before she stared at me, failing to recognize her.

Naturally, Lu Shengnan knew who she was. In fact, they had met the first time Edelweiss came to Wu Zhong. With not many associates to boast of all thanks to her eccentric attitude, Lu Shengnan has but only a handful of people she could call friend and should remember. And for that very reason, Lu Shengnan found it easy to remember people she saw.

Noticing the awkwardness, I hastily made the introductions. “This so-called sister of mine, whose attitude is no different from a boy, is the Lu Shengnan I told you about. I believe you’ve met before.”

At that, Edelweiss finally knew who she was and the two girls began exchanging courtesies warmly. But the conversations lasted barely minutes. Despite being a former outlaw, Edelweiss was still very much a lass in disposition and behavior. “If only we’d been able to meet earlier, Shengnan,” she said, “I’ve heard so much about you from Shiyan. I have you to thank for being a friend to him during his university years…” Like a dutiful wife, she spoke in the same manner that any wife would to her husband’s friend.

Whereas Lu Shengnan, in her usually boorish inclination, slapped on Edelweiss’ shoulder, “You have a strong body, Sister! No wonder you’re able to snag a weirdo such as Shiyan! Good!”

Her remark left both Edelweiss and I stunned beyond words. Lu Shengnan’s greatest weakness, the cause of her inability to make friends, was beginning to show: her inability to make conversation.

On the other hand, Edelweiss curled her hands around my arm, looking more suspicious with Lu Shengnan here today. She might be a former outlaw, but she was still a woman nonetheless. And having a woman in the same room must have made her jealous as she squirmed uneasily beside me, readying herself to listen to what we were going to talk about. I adjusted my sitting position and asked, “So why are you here today?”

But the clumsy Lu Shengnan did not seem to notice Edelweiss’ unfriendly gaze. She threw a knowing look at me, as if asking for my permission to speak openly in front of Edelweiss and me being able to pick up her tacit signal seemed to do justice to our four-year-old friendship in university. I grinned and said, “Speak freely. There’s nothing I would keep from Edelweiss.”

As soon as the words left my lips, I felt Edelweiss’ grip on my arm loosen and so did my heart!