You Chose Your Male Best Friend, So Why Are You Crying After I Let Go? - Chapter 13:

Chapter 13: I Believe in Gu Zhe!

Gu Zhe looked at Lin Nuo’er, who was proudly swaying her head with a smug look on her face, and an indescribable emotion rose in his heart. Bright eyes, white teeth, full of life—she really was beautiful, like someone who had stepped out of a painting. Why hadn’t he noticed before how pretty she was?

Perhaps sensing Gu Zhe’s gaze becoming warmer, and noticing the occasional passing classmates nearby, Lin Nuo’er grew a little embarrassed and quickly changed the topic, “Ahem, since you won’t take money for the food, how about we have a meal together this weekend?”

“A meal? You’re treating me?”

“Of course!” Lin Nuo’er said confidently. “Xiao Zhezi, you’ve been bringing me food for so long. It’s only right that I treat you in return.”

Gu Zhe nodded and said thoughtfully, “In that case, we’ll be even.”

For some reason, Lin Nuo’er, who had been laughing and joking with Gu Zhe the whole time, suddenly felt a wave of gloom when she heard those words.

Even… just like that?

Scenes from last year quickly filled Lin Nuo’er’s mind. Gu Zhe had always given everything to Song Yihan without reservation. For others, he neither wanted to owe favors nor be owed. It was as if, besides Song Yihan, he was afraid of forming any connection with anyone else.

“I don’t want it to just end like this…” Lin Nuo’er muttered. It sounded like she was speaking to Gu Zhe, but also to herself.

Seeing her mood drop, Gu Zhe quickly smiled and said, “Alright, alright, we’re not even.”

“You treat me next time, I treat you the time after that, then you treat again, and we’ll keep going in circles. That way, we’ll have endless meals together!”

“Pfft!” Lin Nuo’er couldn’t help but laugh at his deliberately silly words.

After chatting for a while, Gu Zhe left first. Lin Nuo’er stood by the dormitory gate, watching his figure turn a corner, then went up to the balcony and looked down until he completely disappeared from view. Only then did she reluctantly go back inside to eat.

Thinking about what Gu Zhe said earlier—about going in an “endless cycle” with her—Lin Nuo’er couldn’t suppress her happiness. It was like remembering something joyful that made her smile uncontrollably.

The three dormmates exchanged worried glances when they saw Lin Nuo’er’s infatuated expression. This situation… didn’t look too optimistic.

In the end, it was Shu Ya who stepped up to play the villain. “Nuo’er, are you… in love?”

Startled, Lin Nuo’er turned red like a frightened rabbit. “Ah? Xiao Ya, what are you saying! Gu Zhe and I are just ordinary friends!”

Shu Ya rolled her eyes in exasperation, “Do you even believe yourself when you say that? Nuo’er, have you already forgotten what happened in our first year?”

Shu Ya was Lin Nuo’er’s close friend. She only brought this up out of concern, not wanting to see her hurt.

A flicker of confusion flashed in Lin Nuo’er’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced with determination. “Xiao Zhezi told me himself that he’s going to cut ties with that woman. And he already broke up with her face-to-face.”

“I believe in Xiao Zhezi!”

Her words were firm and full of conviction, like a proud declaration to stand against the world for someone she loved.

Seeing Lin Nuo’er so stubborn, Shu Ya grew anxious. “Lin Nuo’er! Everyone in our year knows how Gu Zhe treated Song Yihan. Isn’t it strange how he suddenly changed so drastically? Have you never wondered why?”

Lin Nuo’er’s heart skipped a beat.

Yes.

Gu Zhe’s recent attitude, the way he treated her, she liked it, enjoyed it, and indulged in it. So much so that she had ignored the odd behavior behind it all.

Can someone really just let go of someone they’ve liked for so long so easily?

Probably not… right?

After all, she herself was the clearest example.

Seeing Lin Nuo’er’s dazed expression, Shu Ya sighed and pulled out a screenshot of her chat with the counselor confirming the project’s candidate, showing it to her.

“This hasn’t been officially announced yet. But since the Computer Science Department submitted Gu Zhe’s name, he must’ve known already. But has he mentioned any of this to you these past few days?”

Lin Nuo’er held the phone and read the messages, her heart in turmoil.

No.

Not at all.

Gu Zhe had acted like he had no clue about any of this during their time together these days.

Lin Nuo’er’s reaction already said it all.

The other two roommates also spoke up, filled with righteous anger, “Seriously? Gu Zhe is such a faker! Does he think we don’t know about this? Is he deliberately trying to score points with us before the news breaks?”

“Then when the news comes out, he’ll act like it’s a coincidence! He’s just afraid we’ll oppose him joining the project and mess up his chances!”

“This level of scheming… it’s scary!”

From their point of view, Gu Zhe’s sudden change in attitude was clearly just a tactic to win a spot on the project.

It wasn’t entirely unreasonable for Shu Ya and the others to think this way.

Swish.

Lin Nuo’er couldn’t listen anymore. She stood up abruptly from her seat.

“Enough!”

“Stop saying that!”

“I’ve known Xiao Zhezi for so many years. I know exactly what kind of person he is. He would never, ever do something like that!”

Seeing her upset expression, Shu Ya quickly stepped forward, gently holding her best friend’s shoulder and guiding her back to sit down.

“Nuo’er, we understand how you feel. It’s hard to stay calm after suddenly finding out something like this.”

“If he really is a good guy, of course we’ll give you our blessings.”

“But Gu Zhe… he used to be head over heels for Song Yihan, and now he’s suddenly all concerned about you.”

“What if—and I mean what if—he really has some bad intentions? Nuo’er, we’ll always have your back!”

Lin Nuo’er looked at Shu Ya, then at the other two close roommates in the dorm.

In the end, they were just worried about her getting hurt.

She handed Shu Ya back her phone and said firmly, “Thank you for telling me all this.”

“But my thoughts are still the same.”

“Gu Zhe told me himself that it’s over between him and Song Yihan.”

“I believe in Gu Zhe!”

“There must be some misunderstanding in all this!”