Chapter 42 - A Rift

Four of them looked back simultaneously and saw Li Chunhua run over with a smile on her face. Li Caiyi had a bad feeling about this.

"Lan Lan, there you are!" Li Chunhua intimately hugged Chen Ruolan's arm. "Didn't you say last time you want to visit that film exhibition in the next city? Guess what? I managed to secure tickets for us!"

Chen Ruolan was surprised at first, but after she heard that, her face became ecstatic. "Really? That's awesome!"

"Hehe, and our other friends will come with us as well!"

Chen Ruolan's smile stiffened. Li Chunhua continued, "It would be so much fun spending a day with people who truly understand your hobby. Isn't that what you said last time? So I took it upon myself and invited everyone!"

The surrounding air became heavier after she said that. Chen Ruolan laughed dryly, feeling the awkwardness in the air. She did not dare to look at her friends' faces.

Li Chunhua shifted her gaze to Li Caiyi. "Xiaoyi! I still have a spare ticket for you. Do you want to come as well?"

Feng Nian warned her before, but even now, she still could not fully believe that Li Chunhua was deliberately trying to keep her friends away from her. However, after discovering how her sister had been looking for Shen Qiang secretly behind her back, she could not say that with certainty anymore.

"No, I think I'm good," Li Caiyi answered.

"What a bummer. Xiaoyi, you have to at least try to understand your friend's hobby and passion. That's what friends are for, right? If you don't, then you are being rude to your friend. Don't worry, I will explain everything to you if you don't understand what is what, so come with us!"

Li Caiyi did not miss the double meaning behind Li Chunhua's words this time. She glanced at Zhou Ya and Feng Nian worriedly, and their expressions were not that good, especially Feng Nian.

"Xiaoyi, are you worried about Zhou Ya and Feng Nian?" Li Chunhua shifted her gaze to both of them. "Unfortunately, I only have one spare ticket left, and that's for Xiaoyi. I'm very sorry I can't save more tickets. You won't blame me, right? I'll do better next time."

The way Li Chunhua talked was as if Zhou Ya and Feng Nian forced her to procure tickets for them, while the truth was they were just hearing about this now.

Zhou Ya had a forced smile on her face, while Feng Nian looked ready to beat someone up.

"Xiaohua, what are you saying? Don't talk to them like that!" Li Caiyi reprimanded her sister.

Li Chunhua tilted her head in confusion. "What's wrong, Xiaoyi? Did I say something wrong? You said I should apologize if I put your friend in a difficult position. I already did my best, so why are you blaming me again?"

"Why you—" Feng Nian was ready to hurl cursing words, but Zhou Ya blocked her mouth and restrained her movement. Feng Nian tried to struggle, but her petite frame was no match for Zhou Ya's, who was used to labor work in her family's shop.

"Uhm, it's okay if you guys go. We don't mind at all." Zhou Ya said with a smile, but the wrinkle in the corner of her eyes told Li Caiyi she was uncomfortable with this situation.

On the other hand, Chen Ruolan was confused with this development. Even she could tell that the atmosphere was terrible. She tugged on Li Chunhua's shirt. "Let's just go."

"Yes. Xiaoyi, let's go. Both of them said it's fine, so you don't have to feel bad about them." Li Chunhua held Li Caiyi's hand, but the latter refused to move. Li Chunhua looked up in confusion. "Xiaoyi?"

"No, I won't go with you." Li Caiyi pulled her hand from hers. A look of disappointment flashed across her face. "Xiaohua, why are you doing this?"

Li Chunhua's smile stiffened, and a dangerous glint flashed across her eyes. It happened in a split second before she reverted to her usual innocent expression. Li Caiyi would not believe it if she did not see it for herself.

"I don't understand. What did I do wrong this time? You were angry at me when I wanted to hang out with you and your friends, and now you hate me for not having enough tickets for your friends." Li Chunhua looked down with moist eyes. "Do you hate me now? You have new friends now; is that why you don't need me anymore?"

Li Caiyi was speechless. What was this drama unfolding before her eyes? Did Li Chunhua always have this character in her all this time?

Feng Nian could not hold it anymore. She roughly pushed Zhou Ya's hand and scolded, "Save your white lotus act for people who are stupid enough to believe it! Why are you suddenly appearing and spitting out nonsense? Who wants your stupid tickets?!"

Li Chunhua looked hurt and took a step back. "How cruel… Even though I tried so hard..."

Her voice garnered the attention of onlookers. Li Caiyi felt this development was similar to the other day.

The onlookers glared at Feng Nian with dissatisfaction. They did not understand why Feng Nian could be so harsh with a girl as sweet as Li Chunhua.

It did not take Feng Nian a long time to finally realize what Li Chunhua was planning. "Y-you…."

"Oh my, how scary!" Li Chunhua quickly hid behind Chen Ruolan, looking like a frightened squirrel. The more pitiful she looked, the more Feng Nian received the look of displeasure from the public.

Feng Nian stood there with a trembling fist while glaring at Li Chunhua, while Zhou Ya tried hard to hold her back.

Watching all this happen before her, Li Caiyi felt like the trust she had for her sister crumbled.

Chen Ruolan fidgeted in her place awkwardly. She did not understand why Feng Nian would suddenly lash out like that, but outrightly defending Li Chunhua did not feel right, either. She felt conflicted.

Feng Nian scoffed. "Why are you still standing here? Just go away and never come back again!"

At a glance, it looked like Feng Nian was talking to Li Chunhua, but Chen Ruolan knew Feng Nian's words were directed at her.

Chen Ruolan could not understand why Feng Nian was so childish. She was just hanging out with new friends; was it necessary to treat her like a traitor? On top of that, Feng Nian had the gall to chase her away, so she couldn't help but reply spitefully, either.

"You don't have to tell us. We are leaving now. I never knew you were such a rude person."

Feng Nian looked at Chen Ruolan incredulously. She was so angry she could not utter words.

Chen Ruolan did not care and pulled on Li Chunhua instead. "Let's just go, or our mood will be ruined."

Li Chunhua nodded reluctantly. "I'm sorry. It is all my fault for not doing well enough."

"What are you saying! It's not your fault!" Chen Ruolan encouraged her. She gave a last cold look towards Feng Nian before she walked away. Li Chunhua followed closely behind her with a triumphant smirk that Li Caiyi had never seen before from her.

The onlooker dispersed one by one when the fun show was finished, but not before giving Feng Nian a last dirty look.

Feng Nian was trembling in anger while muttering under her breath. "That bitch!"

For once, Li Caiyi did not try to speak in favor of her sister.. Her mind was blown off. What was all that?