Chapter 412 - 307: Praise a Smart Girl to Death

Gu Muxue gasped for breath. Her worst fears had come true.

She’d thought that with so much overlap between Lin Ruoxi’s and Xue Rui’s social circles, it would be fine for them all to just be friends after coming to Chang’an. Getting together occasionally would have been nice.

But Lin Ruoxi was too beautiful, and she liked Xue Rui. Gu Muxue knew the saying about how a woman pursuing a man is only separated by a thin veil. She feared their relationship would grow closer and closer, eventually transcending friendship...

’What did Xue Rui just say? Pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend?’

’He called it an act, but a vague relationship like this would make someone gradually lower their guard. All it would take is one of them to take a single step forward to cross the line.’

’Of course she knew. Things like this almost always turned real.’

"Xiaorui, are you even aware of the situation?" Gu Muxue turned, wiping her tears on her shoulder as she stared intently into Xue Rui’s eyes.

Xue Rui’s heart jumped into his throat. Truth be told, there had been plenty of rumors about him and Lin Ruoxi back in high school, but at the time, she had been genuinely afraid of him, and they had never made things official.

So no matter how much gossip there was, it didn’t matter. Gu Muxue was very mature and would have just dismissed it as childish games.

’But now, Gu Muxue was asking him if he knew about Lin Ruoxi’s feelings...’

’Of course he knew. In fact, he’d made things official with both of them at almost the exact same time...’

’He had been the one to confess his feelings to Gu Muxue. As for Lin Ruoxi... well, that was because he just couldn’t bear to see her sad...’

’If he had been forced to choose between them back then, he would have most likely chosen Gu Muxue.’

The unrequited love of your youth becomes a lifelong regret.

Gu Muxue was his first love, the only person he had ever truly loved, and the one who had hurt him the most deeply.

In the ten years without Gu Muxue, it felt as if he’d lost the ability to love. He’d even forgotten what she looked like when they were young and couldn’t even bring himself to look at their graduation photos...

’After his rebirth, he’d thought about running away, ignoring her, feigning indifference...’

’But in the end, he was no match for Gu Muxue’s sincerity.’

’As for Lin Ruoxi, he felt like he’d simply lucked into their relationship. Back in high school, he’d rarely treated her well. But over time, Xue Rui was gradually moved by her gentleness and consideration.’

’Besides, he knew one thing for certain: he was all Lin Ruoxi had in her life. He couldn’t imagine what would become of her if he left.’

Lin Ruoxi seemed strong-willed, but that was only because she was shouldering a great responsibility. Any sense of the world’s beauty she had, she got from him.

Her grandmother was getting old. Once her grandmother was gone, that responsibility on Lin Ruoxi’s shoulders would disappear too.

If he left, she would lose all hope for the future.

He hadn’t forgotten the month he was away from her during summer vacation. Yu Minlan had told him Lin Ruoxi was like a soulless husk.

’If an emotionally fragile girl like her lost all her responsibilities and everything she looked forward to, would she have any reason to keep living?’

Xue Rui was terrified that Lin Ruoxi would repeat the tragic fate of her past life.

"Xiaorui, you don’t have to say anything," Gu Muxue said, her voice filled with an unconcealable weariness.

’Xue Rui’s silence was, in itself, an admission.’

’She didn’t know what to say to him. She was in so much pain. Oh, how she wished Xue Rui would just say, "It’s all a joke." Even if it was just a lie.’

’But she knew that eventually, she would have to face reality.’

’What was Xue Rui planning to do?’

Xue Rui looked down. Teardrops on Gu Muxue’s long lashes glistened in the setting sun. Her eyes held a glimmer of hope, yet also an undeniable despair that was truly heartbreaking to see...

’Gu Muxue already had her answer. If he denied it now, the consequences would be predictable.’

’But admitting it aloud would only hurt her more. Silence was the best option.’

Xue Rui sighed. "Muxue, this was actually my idea."

Xue Rui took the blame. Gu Muxue was a woman of action—she often acted first and asked for permission later. If he didn’t take the fall for this, Lin Ruoxi would have to bear the full brunt of Gu Muxue’s pressure...

For example, that clingy pest Chen Tingting only dared to send him a couple of messages on weekends lately. She was far more restrained than before, as if a sword were hanging over her head.

He knew Gu Muxue was behind it.

If Gu Muxue could corner Chen Tingting like that without even being in Hedong, how could Lin Ruoxi possibly withstand that kind of pressure?

Even he got nervous in front of Gu Muxue sometimes. It felt like some kind of primal suppression...

"Xiaorui, you were the one who initiated it?"

Gu Muxue tried to get off him, but Xue Rui held her hands and legs fast.

Xue Rui gripped her slender wrists tightly. Her hands, and even her shoulders, were trembling.

’He knew she was shaking with anger at him.’

Xue Rui’s face was etched with guilt. "Muxue, I wasn’t thinking straight at the time. But there really wasn’t a better way. Lin Ruoxi... she has social anxiety."

"Basically, no matter what my role is, as long as the ’boyfriend’ slot in her life is empty, there will always be trouble."

"I should have discussed it with you first. Acting on my own was my mistake."

Gu Muxue bit her lip, her vision blurring. ’Xue Rui is apologizing to me?’

’What’s done is done. What’s the point of an apology instead of a solution?’

"Muxue, you know I’m not the best at figuring these things out," Xue Rui said with a sincere expression. "What should I do next? I’ll do whatever you say."

’Anyway, he had just taken the blame for Lin Ruoxi. Gu Muxue wouldn’t put too much pressure on her now.’

’By handing the power over to her now, he could show he was admitting his mistake while also avoiding the dreaded question: "So, do you like her?"’