Chapter 38 The sponsor will also take revenge on you...

Looking at Fang Ling with tears in her eyes, Zhao Manzhi felt a chill on her spine.

She never thought that Chen Muchuan would become a barrier between them. She

never thought that her self-righteous kindness would sow the seeds of resentment in Fang Ling's heart.

Sometimes people only see what they want to see, just as she thought that she and Fang Ling were good friends who could talk about anything. If she took more care of Fang Ling, Fang Ling would become generous and calm, no longer confined to the embarrassment of her family and so timid in doing everything.

So it was not wrong for Fang Ling to think that Chen Muchuan was good. Zhao Manzhi could not say how deep her ability to judge people was, but she saw Chen Muchuan's nature earlier than her, and realized earlier that he was not a good person.

But these words could not be said to Fang Ling. No matter how hard she tried, it would seem like showing off.

Yes, showing off.

Zhao Manzhi had never thought that this word could be used in their friendship. It turned out that no matter how empathetic a person is, they cannot truly put themselves in someone else's shoes. Her care for Fang Ling over the years would eventually become a knife stabbing at herself.

In the deadly silent air, there was only the humming of the refrigerator and Fang Ling's quiet sobbing. It

's not like she had never cried before. When she cried because of unsatisfactory grades, failed interviews, or her family asked for money again, Zhao Manzhi would always comfort her or help her find ways to solve the problem. But this time, she kept her head down, and Zhao Manzhi didn't come forward to hug her shoulders again.

At the moment, she was trying to reflect on Fang Ling's words rationally, trying to think from her perspective, and consider her own right and wrong. But no matter how calm she was, the surging emotions in her heart could not deceive anyone. Zhao Manzhi knew very well that she did all this because she really regarded Fang Ling as a friend. She was not wrong, so she felt particularly wronged.

Zhao Manzhi buried her head in her elbows and took deep breaths to ease the pain in her heart, but during this period, she realized more and more clearly that maybe she and Fang Ling were not the same kind of people.

If what Fang Ling said was true, then Zhao Manzhi's existence was a mistake. Her presence would make Fang Ling feel unequal, so no matter what she did, it would only intensify the conflict.

Losing a friend is painful, but in comparison, letting two people fall into a relationship that is only superficially harmonious seems more forced.

After thinking it over again and again, she sorted out her thoughts, raised her head, and said in a light voice, "Xiao Ling, I don't know how long you have been holding these words in your heart. It is indeed my fault as a friend that you feel so unhappy and haven't noticed it. But at the same time, please don't doubt my sincerity towards you at any moment in the past. No matter what, we can be friends, which is an equal relationship. There is no superiority or inferiority. I hope you believe in yourself. You have advantages and the charm to attract people to make friends, instead of just being someone's foil."

She paused, "As for Chen Muchuan, my original intention of reminding you was that I was afraid that you didn't know him well enough, but now that things have come to this, I can't control whether you like him or he likes you. There is nothing wrong in liking anyone, but you have to walk your own path. When you make a choice, just be prepared not to regret it in the future."

Fang Ling was a little surprised by Zhao Manzhi's calmness. She even forgot to sob and asked blankly, "What do you mean..."

"People with different ideals cannot work together. I will care about people I have a good relationship with and will nag and meddle in other people's affairs. This is my personality and it is difficult to change. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, it will be good for both of us to keep a distance."

"...Do you want to break up with me?"

"It's not that childish. It's just that we're going from good friends to not-so-good friends."

Fang Ling had never expected that Zhao Manzhi, who took every relationship seriously, would let go so easily. She suddenly felt lost, but she was unwilling to admit it. She bit her lower lip tightly for a long time before asking again, "Is it because of Chen Muchuan?"

"This is a problem between us. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Of course, I will also distance myself from Chen Muchuan. Don't worry."

Zhao Manzhi breathed a sigh of relief.

Today's words were as tragic as a hero cutting off his arm, but if she hadn't made up her mind like this, Fang Ling's dissatisfaction with her would only increase over time. Rather than waiting until the day when the conflict broke out and the relationship was torn apart, it would be better to end it in a decent way.

"I know."

Fang Ling wiped her face and opened the door to go out. The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous she felt. Maybe it was because of the alcohol that she was so overconfident that she wanted to talk about equality with Zhao Manzhi.

Zhao Manzhi had so many friends, one more or one less was nothing, but she was not.

She seemed to have lost something very important, but she was unwilling to turn back.

What else can she do? That's it.

*

The flight was very smooth, but Zhuang Youkai didn't sleep much. He read the information of this merger and acquisition in full. When Lu Qianning got off the plane, he was still a little sleepy due to jet lag, but he was in good spirits.

Jeffery came to pick him up at the airport and reported the itinerary. He had worked with Zhuang Youlin before, and was familiar with handling such affairs. It took seven days in total, and he worked from day to night every day. Only on the last day of the return trip could he breathe a sigh of relief.

This was still a streamlined schedule. He had filtered out all the people who didn't need to meet or shouldn't meet, and he had just the right sense of proportion.

Even so, Jeffery was still a little nervous when he started working as an administrative secretary again after a long absence. When the other party checked, he carefully looked at the expression of the heir of the group.

Zhuang Youkai had no objection to the tight schedule, but only mentioned that he would visit the Lausanne school director on the last day.

Jeffery quickly brainstormed, "Is it Miss Peiyi who wants to enroll?"

"No."

What could it be that would bother him to come in person? Jeffery was puzzled, but he knew that the assistant's job was to obey, no matter what the order was, he just had to do it.

"Understood, I'll arrange it."

On the way to the hotel, Zhuang Youkai glanced at his private mobile phone. The chat record with Zhao Manzhi was still stuck at the last time. A day had passed and she hadn't sent any messages.

Did she have too much fun in Shenzhen?

On his left wrist, the hands of Patek Philippe moved to one o'clock in the afternoon. It was seven o'clock in the evening in the eighth district in the east, which was indeed a time for playing.

Zhuang Youkai repeatedly locked and unlocked the screen of his mobile phone, clicked into the message box and exited it. If you didn't know, you would think he was waiting for some important information. He

was entangled like this all the way, until he was about to enter the meeting room, he looked to the distant east and sent the edited message.

Zhao Manzhi went through customs to get her phone card back, and WhatsApp messages popped up all at once. In addition to a few group project groups, there was a greeting from Mr. Zhuang: "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."

She did not reply immediately, but when she asked the group members to arrive at the East Rail Line platform to wait for the train, she had time to look up at the full moon above her head and took a photo, "You too, thousands of miles apart, we can share the beauty of the moon."

The message was delivered, but the other party did not check it, probably because he was busy.

Zhao Manzhi waited for a while, put away her phone, and joined the conversation.

When getting off the bus, Li Ke pulled her and said to Chen Muchuan and the others, "You go back first, I have something to say to Manman, and I will come back later."

"Okay, then be careful." Chen Muchuan reminded her indifferently, and his eyes swept over Zhao Manzhi, but did not stop.

Zhao Manzhi was led to 7-11 by Li Ke without knowing what was going on. Seeing Li Ke pick up two cans of beer from the shelf, she asked her with amusement, "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly asking me to drink?"

She got straight to the point, "Did you have a conflict with Fang Ling?"

Zhao Manzhi took the beer can, "You know all this?"

"No one can tell from the state you two are in. But although you and her are in a stalemate, she and Chen Muchuan seem to be much more familiar with each other."

Li Ke pulled her to the back door, with Tolo Harbor in the twilight beside them, "Tell me, what happened? Don't tell me that you turned against each other because of a man? That's too vulgar."

"No, that's not the case." Zhao Manzhi smiled, "How should I put it? People will have conflicts when they get along for a long time. It can only be said that when the relationship is just established, they will tolerate each other out of politeness. After a long time, everything is exposed, and it is inevitable that they feel a little unacceptable."

"Is it that she can't accept it, or you can't accept it?"

"Both, we have different ideas in essence. She can't change me, and I can't change her, so why not keep our distance?"

Li Ke nodded, "Yes, the friendship between gentlemen is as light as water, but losing a friend is no different from losing love. Usually you are always emotional, but you think clearly now."

In fact, she didn't think clearly, but she made a decision and had to be prepared to pay the price.

Last night, Zhao Manzhi hardly slept. Hearing Fang Ling tossing and turning, she knew that she didn't sleep well either.

What should I do? It would be embarrassing to bow my head again after saying this. She spent a whole night convincing herself, but when she found Fang Ling deliberately avoiding her intersection during the day today, she gave up again.

Zhao Manzhi took a sip of beer, and the faint aroma of wheat mixed with the aroma of pineapple fermented between her lips and teeth, "It's better to suffer a short pain than a long pain."

"I really admire your unrestrained spirit."

The two clinked their glasses and watched the full moon of Tolo Harbor reflected on the sea. The waves rolled gently and lapped on the shore. Li Ke frowned, put his arms on his knees, and slowly shook the can in his hand, "But I have to say it, you and Fang Ling do not look like the same kind of people. You think you are taking care of her, and she thinks she is accommodating you."

Zhao Manzhi was surprised, "You can see that?"

"Huh, don't you look at who I am?" Li Ke raised his eyebrows proudly, "She is introverted and thoughtful. She looks like she has no idea, but she actually has a lot of ideas. You make the decisions all day long, and she is embarrassed to refute you. The long-standing grievances between you have erupted, but it's good this way. You are thick-skinned, and sometimes you speak and act without measure. It's much easier to get along with people with the same thick-skinned people."

"Nonsense, how do you know I'm not thoughtful? Stereotype."

"It's not my turn as a friend to be considerate. Just find an understanding boyfriend."

As she spoke, Zhao Manzhi's mobile phone message alert sounded. Li Ke pointed and said, "Hey, who cares? Which male guest is trying to show his affection again?"

"You're talking nonsense all day long." She picked up the phone and stuffed it in front of Li Ke, "It's not the male guest, it's our sponsor."

Li Ke turned his head away angrily, but soon, he took her phone away with great interest and raised his voice, "No, the sponsor also has to report his itinerary to you? You've grown up, Zhao Manzhi!"