Just Friends

(The story opens with a breakup. Feel-good fiction, with a new love interest.)

He Zhun fell in love at first sight with Lin Ren, the most handsome guy in his department, during his junior year. After pursuing him for a month, he won him over.

Lin Ren came from a wealthy family, but was arrogant and cold, with a sharp tongue.

He Zhun had thought he could have a passionate romance in his youth.

But Lin Ren was impossible to warm up.

They dated for three or four years, from college into working life. Lin Ren never said he liked him and never expressed his love.

Only when passion took over in bed would he hold He Zhun tight and keep murmuring his name.

After graduation, He Zhun was busy, and his romanticism gave way to pragmatism.

He no longer had time to guess at the unspoken meanings behind Lin Ren's awkward words, nor did he want affection that could only be noticed through careful observation.

So, on an ordinary rainy night, He Zhun looked at Lin Ren, who had just returned from work in a crisp suit.

He stood up and said calmly, "Let's break up."

-

Lin Ren got blackout drunk, trying to figure out what he'd done wrong.

His stepmother had become his father's mistress and then taken his mother's place using these very tactics.

She was alternately hot and cold, keeping his father at arm's length and reeling him in until he was completely under her thumb. His father had even thrown out his own son without a second thought.

So Lin Ren copied her, thinking this was the secret to keeping love alive.

He never told He Zhun that he'd noticed him from the first day of school and had a crush on him. Even when others asked about their relationship, he'd secretly watch He Zhun's expression and deliberately say, "We're just friends."

Later, He Zhun got a new boyfriend.

He warned Lin Ren to stop picking the lock on his door.

But Lin Ren kept picking it, even choosing times when He Zhun's new boyfriend was there.

The new boyfriend asked He Zhun who he was.

He Zhun slammed the door shut.

"Just a friend."

Does your boyfriend know you sleep with your friends?

I'm becoming someone I despise. Can I be the other man?

Content warning:

A pure new-love-interest feel-good story. The protagonist is not a virgin and will have multiple relationships. The love interest suffers.

Theme: Exploring the meaning of love