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“Xiao Xuanzi and I have been close friends since childhood. She even fell once while trying to help me. We went to climb the iron ladder outside the only two-story building in the county town. When I was about to come down, I fell, and she helped break my fall, spraining her ankle in the process.”

Xiao Qian nodded, thinking that climbing a ladder was indeed something Shi Touyu would do.

The two of them arrived at Room 13 during their chat. Xiao Qian looked up at the number: 13, the devil’s number. The karaoke place had just opened not long ago; probably trying to create a gimmick with this room. There was even a devil’s relief on the door, very characteristic.

“Xiao Xuanzi!”

“Xiao Yu!”

Shi Touyu hugged her long-lost friend. Xiao Qian took the opportunity to observe her.

She was quite short, a head shorter than Shi Touyu. Her appearance was average, and though her clothes seemed to be made of ordinary materials, the style was quite fashionable. She was wearing makeup, with long fake eyelashes that made her eyes look big. At a glance, Xiao Qian deduced that Xiao Yu’s childhood family was likely ordinary, but she was vain. The ring on her hand was a knockoff diamond ring, and the boots she wore were imitations of some designer winter collection.

In this era, women’s pursuit of material things and brands hadn’t reached the heights of the following decade. To have such mentality could only mean the girl was a bit vain. But it’s not too strange for girls to be a little vain.

Shi Yu was excited to see her friend and introduced her to Xiao Qian. Upon seeing Xiao Xuanzi’s face, Xiao Qian immediately confirmed her thoughts.

This person was somewhat like Yu Minglang in some ways and different in others. As for Xiao Qian, there were similarities yet differences too.

Just thinking about separating from him, yet inadvertently wanting to associate him with a stranger met by chance.

“Chen Xiaoqian.” Xiaoqian extended her hand.

“Zeng Xiaoxuan.” Xiao Xuanzi hesitated for a moment before touching Xiao Qian’s hand with her own, then quickly withdrew it.

The movement was subtle, and Shi Tou didn’t notice it, but Xiao Qian’s mouth curled into a slight smile.

Just as she had thought.

Xiao Xuanzi had a cleanliness obsession. Although all her clothes were knockoffs, they were excessively neat. Her fingers had some cracked skin, similar to Xiao Qian’s – definitely someone who washed her hands very carefully.

As for why Xiao Xuanzi was similar to Xiao Qian and Yu Minglang, it was because Xiao Qian’s OCD and cleanliness obsession were both forms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, though the causes of their conditions were different. It could be because of stimulation or strict upbringing in childhood. The reason for seeing similarities with Yu Minglang was because his obsession with cleanliness was psychological. Mental cleanliness obsession was even scarier than physical cleanliness obsession. When he loved, he did so intensely, and when he hated, he did so thoroughly. If he loved, he could tear his heart out for someone, and if he hated, one extra glance would be nauseating.

So such a person could maintain his belief in a relationship for so many years without dating anyone before meeting Xiao Qian. It was not because he didn’t have time, but because he felt no other women were good enough for him. A perfectionist man.

But now, after what she had done, that perfectionist man might not love her anymore. Perhaps he already hated her.

The heartache connected with the imminent arrival of her period made her whole body ache.

“Aiya, I need to go to the bathroom. I’ve been holding it in all the way. Xiao Xuanzi, wait for me!” Shi Touyu interrupted Xiao Qian’s thoughts. Xiao Qian didn’t want to be with someone with a cleanliness obsession, so she followed Shi Touyu to the bathroom.

At this time, the place had just opened for business, and most of the rooms were empty. Shi Touyu opened the bathroom door and protested discontentedly.

“Who’s that? Not flushing after using the bathroom is so disgusting!”

Xiao Qian was outside washing her hands and said, “Your friend.”

“Hey, don’t badmouth my friend! She’s really clean and neat. You should see her room; it’s spotless. How could she not flush after using the bathroom?” “If you’re hanging out with a group of people, and someone doesn’t flush the toilet, it’s usually the cleanest person. And please don’t argue this with a psychologist.”

Shi Touyu came out after flushing and washed her hands with Xiao Qian. “Why is that?”

“She thinks the toilet flush button is dirty, so dirty that she doesn’t want to touch it. Although I, as a doctor, should maintain an objective view, but my personal opinion is that most people with cleanliness obsession are selfish. If you live with her, you will find that she only cleans her part of the living space. She won’t touch the shared trash can even if it’s overflowing because it’s dirty.” As long as she thinks herself clean, it doesn’t matter how others are. This kind of person is actually quite common. Some people press the elevator button with their feet because they think everyone else in the world is dirty, except themselves.

Being clean and having a cleanliness obsession are two different things. Clean people will make sure their surroundings are clean as well, such as helping to wash dirty bed sheets. But people with extreme cleanliness obsession tend to be more self-centered.

Xiao Qian guessed that after shaking hands with herself, Xiao Xuanzi would definitely wipe her hand with a wet tissue.

“Shi Touyu.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you really like this friend of yours?”

“Of course, we grew up together. She’s my best friend.”

Xiao Qian swallowed her words. She wanted to say that this friend most likely didn’t feel the same way about Shi Tou as Shi Tou felt about her. But seeing Shi Tou so happy, Xiao Qian didn’t say anything.

“You know what your problem is? It’s maladjustment. When you were young, you had a great friendship, but after changing environments, you couldn’t find anyone to replace her. So you keep searching for new friends. In other words, the child inside you hasn’t grown up. If I had met you a few years earlier, I could have corrected this for you. But even now, it’s not too late.”

After saying that, Xiao Qian patted Shi Touyu, indicating for her to enter the room.

As Xiao Qian had expected, Xiao Yu’s friend was more thoughtful than her, speaking less and mostly listening to Shi Tou excitedly reminiscing about their childhood. This friend was too important to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Qian picked up the microphone, thought of Yu Minglang’s face, and sang a song.

“Hold Me Tight” had beautiful lyrics and melody, but Xiao Qian sang it brokenly. The childhood friends behind her continued to reminisce about their past while Xiao Qian thought about her past life with Yu Minglang as the melody played.

I dare not look back

For it’s a mirage

I cannot speak out

Fearing it will slip away

Why is the most beautiful dream hidden in my heart

Why are the deepest feelings drifting in the clouds

Please hold me, my love

Don’t be in such a hurry

Please hold me tight even if you don’t understand my sorrow…

By the end, she was almost reciting the lyrics, with tears streaming down her face when Shi Tou nudged her.

“What are you doing? Let’s sing something more lively. Our dormitory’s theme song, let’s sing that!”

“You two have a really good relationship,” Xiao Xuanzi said to Xiao Yu, who had an arm around Xiao Qian. “She’s our dormitory boss, we all listen to her.”

Xiao Xuanzi forced a smile, “You guys go ahead and sing, I’m going out for a bit..”