Shen Su and Ji Tong had been dating for nearly two years. During this time, Ji Tong had been unaware of Shen Su's relationship with Feng Feng.
Shen Su had never mentioned it, likely not wanting Ji Tong to know. However, today, on impulse, he had revealed it.
Feng Feng rubbed her temples. Seeing Ji Tong's pale face, she felt a pang of awkwardness. She had thought that once Ji Tong left, this matter would be buried forever.
She wasn't afraid of Ji Tong harboring animosity or disliking her because of this, but rather she didn't want to harm Ji Tong's sincerity.
Ji Tong took a few steps forward, her gaze sweeping over Feng Feng and Gu Song, her eyes filled with deep confusion and inquiry.
After a long pause, she finally found her voice and asked Gu Song, "What were you just saying?"
Gu Song felt a headache coming on, unsure how to answer. He gathered his thoughts, preparing to explain, when Feng Feng suddenly interrupted him.
"Gu Song, you should go first. I'll speak with Ji Tong alone."
Gu Song was even more surprised by Feng Feng's decision. "You..."
Feng Feng: "This is my business, and I'll handle it myself."
Gu Song tried a few times, after all, he was the one who had caused this trouble. But Feng Feng's attitude was firm, and she refused to let him get involved no matter what. Thus, Gu Song could only return to his female companion and observe from a distance.
Between Feng Feng and Ji Tong, there was no sign of the confrontation Gu Song had imagined.
After Gu Song left, Feng Feng said to Ji Tong, "Please, sit down."
Ji Tong nodded and sat down opposite Feng Feng. She still hadn't fully processed the news she had just received.
Since some things had already been revealed, Feng Feng had no intention of hiding anything further. She said to Ji Tong, "Don't worry, I didn't contact him privately while you and Shen Su were dating."
Ji Tong pursed her lips. "Did you... date before?"
She was genuinely surprised and hadn't seen any indication of it. She had only thought they were ordinary friends, especially since they had never shown much interaction in public.
Moreover, Feng Feng had attended many of the gatherings they had organized together...
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't fathom any intimacy between them.
Under Ji Tong's surprised expression, Feng Feng said to her, "We never dated. We were friends with benefits for a while."
Ji Tong: "..."
Ji Tong had only heard of such relationships before, but she had never seen anyone around her develop one.
Although she felt there was nothing wrong with such a consensual choice, she was still surprised that Feng Feng and Shen Su had such a connection.
Ji Tong remained silent for a long time, her expression growing increasingly unpleasant. Feng Feng knew she wouldn't feel good about it, so she said, "I'm sorry, I didn't intentionally hide it from you. It's all in the past."
"For how long...?" Ji Tong's voice was very low.
Feng Feng: "Almost two years."
Ji Tong clenched her palm. That duration... was almost as long as her own relationship.
Even if she didn't understand, she knew such a relationship couldn't last that long. They must have been dating around that time.
Ji Tong: "Why did you... break up?"
Feng Feng: "The person I liked before came back."
Ji Tong: "...Did you not like Shen Su?"
Feng Feng shook her head. "No."
Ji Tong pursed her lips, completely at a loss for words.
Should she blame Feng Feng? It seemed not. After learning about her relationship with Shen Su, Ji Tong felt more surprised than anything.
After a long while, Ji Tong managed to utter a sentence: "You... I really couldn't tell."
Feng Feng: "That was an agreement. Such relationships aren't meant to be seen."
Ji Tong took a breath. "Now I feel like my parents were very right. Breaking up with him was the correct choice."
Feng Feng heard the implication in Ji Tong's words. The breakup was initiated by her.
Feng Feng: "Did you break up because your parents disapproved?"
Ji Tong shook her head. "Not entirely."
She took a sip of water, moistening her dry throat. "My parents investigated him and insisted we weren't compatible. I didn't believe them at first, but later I realized... we might really not be the same type of people."
Ji Tong couldn't bring up the intimate details of their relationship. She simply said, "He didn't like me that much either. He just found me easier to control and more relaxed to be with."
Feng Feng: "He was very good to you."
Ji Tong gave a self-deprecating smile. "He's like that with everyone, isn't he?"
Feng Feng: "...I haven't seen him with others."
Ji Tong: "I always thought he was very gentle and considerate towards me. I thought that was the kind of relationship I wanted."
"Perhaps it's just that the honeymoon phase has passed. I suddenly realized recently that his gentleness and consideration were essentially for control, like raising a pet. As long as I was obedient and played the role he wanted, he could always be good to me. But I absolutely couldn't have my own ideas." Ji Tong blurted out her thoughts in one go.
Feng Feng listened with some surprise, not expecting Ji Tong's analysis of Shen Su to be so insightful.
And this thought perfectly aligned with her own.
In reality, there wasn't much "competition" between women, especially not for men. Feng Feng, while subconsciously comparing herself to Ji Tong, had never truly been jealous or wanted to compete with her.
She was very clear-headed, and Ji Tong was thinking the same way. In fact, both of them had the same view of Shen Su.
After saying this, Ji Tong suddenly realized and added, "No wonder you didn't develop a relationship with him either."
Feng Feng remained silent. In fact, she had told Shen Su at the time that what he wanted, she couldn't give. It wasn't just because she didn't like him; she couldn't even give him the kind of relationship dynamic he desired.
She had always known that Shen Su liked to be in the dominant position in a relationship, and there was nothing wrong with that, because she liked it too.
They were naturally contradictory in this regard and neither would back down. Being together would only lead to constant friction and conflict.
And she had no grand ambition to change a man for her. Such a thought was too naive and simply wouldn't appear in her world.
Even now, she didn't believe she and Shen Su were compatible. In any case, she wouldn't change.
After a moment of silence, Feng Feng said to Ji Tong, "A boyfriend should meet your needs. Emotional value is mutual. After one experience, you'll be more at ease in your next relationship."
Ji Tong strongly agreed with Feng Feng's words. "Yes, that's why I don't hate him. He was very good to me, we're just not the same kind of people."
If Shen Su could always find someone obedient, well-behaved, and without much self-awareness, he would be an exceptional boyfriend, provided he didn't change his mind.
Of course, all of this had nothing to do with her anymore. The dream had ended, and she wouldn't delude herself into thinking she had the ability to change him.
After chatting with Ji Tong for a few minutes, Feng Feng took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to Li Yue, asking him to come pick her up and take her home.