chen linong, also known as nongnong, is ji meizhen's bestfriend at her previous university. he's one of her childhood friends along with chengcheng. they had the same major so they were classmates most of the time.

fun fact. he's also meizhen's secret crush.

when they met, linong was ecstatic that he tried to hug her, then he remembered meizhen doesn't do stuffs like that, so they just high fived each other. meizhen was also happy and reflected his smile. they went to a nearby cafe to talk comfortably.

"we haven't seen each other since the last semester ended. i missed you! and you didn't tell me a lot of things! am i still your friend?" he laughed after his fake cry.

"o- of course! you're the only friend i have... there." she got flustered, avoiding his eyes, when he said he missed her. she shook the butterflies and turned serious. "why are you even here? the university's in the other city."

"i transferred to an apartment my mom bought nearby. it's pretty funny. i'm the only one there who isn't a student of the national university."

"i actually study there now. and i guess you heard about me and-" she explained everything to linong but was cut off by him.

"fan chengcheng?"

"yes, it's him. but we're-"

he cut her off once again. "no, i mean, your boyfriend's there! look!" he pointed behind meizhen.

it was indeed fan chengcheng who just entered the cafe. his eyes roamed the cafe in search for meizhen. as soon as he found her sitting on a table for two with linong, he walked directly and pulled a chair to sit in front of them.

"why are you here?"

"why are you here?"

the couple raised their brow and asked each other at the same time. linong was between them and confused. chengcheng turned to linong and asked the same question.

"hey! answer me first, fan chengcheng." meizhen snapped.

"you left without me! i texted you to wait for my class to finish." he whined while meizhen rolled her eyes. "and you, who are you and why are you with my girlfriend?" he turned to linong.

"i'm chen linong, nongnong. me and meizhen are friends. it's nice meeting you again!" linong smiled to him and offered a handshake. chengcheng raised a brow and hesitated before accepting it.

the truth is, meizhen, chengcheng, and linong have once been friends at kindergarten. chengcheng doesn't seem to remember him, probably because he was stuck to meizhen until highschool.

other than linong's friendly nature, he and meizhen got close when they met again at college because they knew each other before. it's not that she doesn't mind being a loner (she could focus more on studying, she debates), but meizhen felt a little better to have a little company during college.

"meizhen, i'm tired. let's go home." chengcheng said to meizhen while holding her arm and secretly checking linong's reaction from the side of his eye.

"what? but me and nongnong just got here and we barely talked!" meizhen argued and took her arm from his grasp.

chengcheng and meizhen's eyes became their way of speaking in their silent argument. hers was full of rage and fury. in reality, it just looks like a staring contest. and again, linong was confused between them.

"uh, meizhen and chengcheng," the two darted their attention to linong, still wearing those scary eyes. "it's okay! i don't mind if you two go now. besides, meizhen, we'll see each other again soon since i live close here."

his bright smile made her eyes soften and awkwardly smile back. the two friends bid goodbyes while chengcheng went out first to ready his car. meizhen followed after a few minutes.

the car ride was quiet, in an awkward manner. this happens sometimes, but they felt comfortable and had good or neutral feelings.

meizhen's brows twitched when she noticed the atmosphere. from her peripheral view, she discreetly checked his reaction if he noticed it too, but chengcheng was serious and almost had no expression.

"you're awfully quiet today." she regretted how she couldn't help herself asking, and tried to save it. "did something bad happen or what?"

realization hit her immediately after asking that. meizhen knows him too much to know the reason. guilt followed, and mentally scolded herself for being insensitive to her boyfriend.

chengcheng didn't answer. he didn't even bother looking at her since she entered the car. he kind of feels bad for being disappointed, but hiding his feelings is just not something he's good at.

meizhen looked around the car and the streets, trying to think of another topic that isn't awkward. and she hasn't mustered up the courage yet to swallow her pride and apologize.

the clock in the car caught her attention. "oh, it's only 4:20 pm. doesn't your class end at 5:00?" it wasn't a random question. she meant to ask it, frowning at him.

chengcheng sighed, feeling bad for not answering earlier. "i skipped it when i learned you left the campus without me."

"how did you know i left the campus?" she probed, turning suspicious.

it might look like it was a slip of the tongue, but chengcheng was too upset to care about that. the disappointment still lingered in his mind until now, and he should really shake that thought off.

"hey! are you stalking me or what?" she got angrier because he didn't reply.

"meizhen, i can't believe you're naive to this. it's normal for me to be monitored all the time. you, too, had bodyguards when you were young. they work secretly so we can be comfortable. and now that you're my girlfriend, you're being monitored too for safety."

"wow, that actually made me more uncomfortable. do they see me inside my apartment too?" she slumped back on her seat, still frowning.

"just when you're gone out like this, the outside of your apartment building, and there's a group of men ready to save you in case you get murdered when i'm not around." the corner of his lips rose at his joke for the first time since what happened earier.

she groaned and crossed her arms. "i hate this! i have no privacy! and i also hate that my conscience is hunting me for not texting you earlier! i know it's entirely my fault! stop being upset anymore! you know-" then she ranted on and on about everything that irritated her.

meizhen's sudden apology, squeezed between her rant about the bodyguard thing, made chengcheng snort and he found her cute. it didn't sound like she was apologizing, more like she was scolding at him.

a little weight of worry was gone because of it, but that's not the entire reason why he's upset. chengcheng still appreciated her courage, as meizhen isn't the type to easily say sorry.