Chapter 256 - 240: Strangers to Each Other
At this moment, Gu Qili was calm as still water. She gave a bitter smile, her gaze drifting towards the window: "I didn’t tell you about my relationship with Mu Shuoqian because I didn’t want our interactions to become overly cautious due to my identity; I didn’t tell you about being a top student at Australian University because you’ve always felt inferior about your education; As for the bidding incident, that was unexpected for me too, and I was just as baffled, so how could I talk to you about it? I didn’t tell you about the money and the oranges because I didn’t want to hurt your pride. Actually, you’re not really blaming me for not telling you many things; it’s your jealousy that has been stoked by listening to too much gossip, and of course, Luan Yi’s manipulation played a part."
Zhu Ping pursed her lips, her emotions at the bottom of her eyes complex and thick.
"Gossip is called gossip because it’s a mix of truth and lies, but the listeners do not distinguish between the two, and most people take it as truth. Over time, your mental scale has also tilted, right? You claim to resent me, but in reality, it’s your own jealousy that’s haunting you. Zhu Ping, you say I don’t tell you many things, but what about you?"
After speaking, Gu Qili didn’t look at Zhu Ping’s regretful and ashen face; she picked up her bag and prepared to leave.
"Qili." Zhu Ping suddenly ran over and grabbed her, crying as she spoke: "I’m sorry, Qili, I misunderstood you. It turns out all this was Luan Yi’s doing; she deliberately made me misunderstand you. She spoke ill of you so much in front of me, I was really bewitched to believe her. Qili, I was wrong, I really was wrong. I didn’t realize she could be so malicious, even putting a snake in your locker."
Gu Qili looked down at her tightly gripping her arm, her gaze indifferent as if looking at a stranger.
She shook off her hand vigorously, her voice carrying a hint of self-mockery and desolation: "Thanks to you, I think I won’t have friends anymore."
Having been deeply hurt by Hu Jiaojiao before, and now having Zhu Ping rub salt into her wounds, Gu Qili began to doubt whether she was simply blind in choosing friends or if in this materialistic society, people’s hearts change too easily.
"Qili, Qili, listen to me, I really made a mistake, please forgive me this one time." Zhu Ping cried louder, her tears filled with regret. Perhaps she didn’t realize yet that she had lost a truly invaluable friend, a rare confidante on the path of life, a foolish girl who was willing to help her selflessly without leaving a name.
"Qili, my father is still in the hospital, I can’t go to jail." Zhu Ping grabbed her hand again, her tears falling on the back of her hand, as painful as sulfuric acid corrosion.
Gu Qili paused in her steps and amidst Zhu Ping’s hopeful gaze said: "I will take care of your father’s illness, but you should also take responsibility for your mistakes. Zhu Ping, from now on, we are strangers to each other."
This time, she shook off her hand even more forcefully, leaving without a hint of reluctance.