Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 170: Inner Troubles

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Inner Troubles

It was late into the night, and Gu Fan sat alone on the balcony, drinking in solitude. His eyes betrayed a hint of melancholy. He didn’t know what was wrong, but he felt an emptiness in his heart. It had nothing to do with Leng Le’s departure, or longing for the taste she left.

"It’s different, feeling completely different from being with Lin Xi." Gu Fan tried to figure out the reason, but after a long ponder, he still couldn’t understand and decided to let it go.

At this moment, Su Hui came over and handed Gu Fan a bottle of beer. "You look troubled. It’s not the expression one should have after the start of a new relationship. What’s on your mind?"

In response, Gu Fan took a swig of his beer, looked at the dim lights around him, and smiled bitterly. "I don’t know why, it just feels like something went wrong."

Su Hui took this in, then offered her own interpretation, "When did you and she start seeing each other?"

"Just a few days after school started. I didn’t expect to find myself in a relationship so quickly, there was no stopping it." Gu Fan might’ve said this, but his facial expression didn’t reveal any sign of happiness.

Su Hui noticed this, "Are you still attached to Lin Xi? Have you not forgotten her?"

"Forgetting her is really hard. It’s not just because she was my first love. For a while, she was everything in my life. I would’ve done anything for her. It’s just that I never expected that in the end... she turned into a different person, a stranger." Gu Fan sighed, his mind in turmoil.

Su Hui added, "Perhaps the transformed Lin Xi isn’t as different as we imagined. Maybe she hasn’t changed that much. After all, we haven’t had any real interaction with her."

His friend’s words made sense, but Gu Fan shook his head and responded with a bitter smile: "Do you know how many calls I’ve made, how many messages I’ve sent? Every morning when I wake up, I immediately check my phone, hoping for a reply, even a single word from her, just to know that all my efforts are not meaningless. But she hasn’t replied to even one."

"Maybe she’s encountered some kind of trouble?" Su Hui tried to reason, even though she felt it to be far-fetched. It was hard to imagine that the current Lin Xi would face any problem.

Gu Fan nodded, "At first, I also thought that Lin Xi didn’t answer my messages because she was in trouble. But then I realized that this reason was just self-deception. So, I decided to stop making calls, stop sending messages. If the transformed Lin Xi wanted to end our relationship, at least I could keep some dignity."

Suddenly, Gu Fan asked, "Sister Su, have you ever experienced something like this? The person you love the most hides so many things from you, and when you finally discover his true self, that heart-wrenching feeling."

Hearing this, Su Hui’s face changed slightly, the question had touched the turbulent past buried deep within her heart, making Gu Fan realize that he had asked something inappropriate.

"It looks like, we’re in the same boat." Su Hui attempted to break the awkward silence, forcing a casual laugh.

Gu Fan also nodded stiffly, "Indeed, maybe it’s fate that we live under the same roof." He clanged his beer can against hers, a gesture reciprocated by Su Hui.

Su Hui chuckled and took a swig, "Your current girl is also quite lovely. You’ve lucked out. The question is, do you like her?" Su Hui’s query left Gu Fan bemused, it was a question he himself struggled with.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Su Hui continued, "Did you start this relationship because it’s a normal progression after ending a past relationship or because Lin Xi betrayed you? Do you need this relationship to mend your heart?"

"I don’t know!" Gu Fan’s eyes narrowed, showing a hint of coldness that told Su Hui it was best to avoid probing further.

"Alright, I’m going to get some sleep now. You should also not stay out too late. The night wind is chilling." After saying her piece, Su Hui turned to leave. Gu Fan didn’t bother turning around to watch her go. His brows remained knitted, as if he was troubled by something.

Despite everything, Su Hui couldn’t help but turn back to glance at Gu Fan one last time. Seeing him alone, she sensed a profound feeling of desolation that didn’t fit someone in love.

Gu Fan gazed at the night sky, reminiscing about the old Lin Xi, and found himself smiling at this thought. Perhaps this wasn’t fair to Leng Le, but he knew the one he truly loved was the old Lin Xi.

Gu Fan loved Lin Xi deeply and wanted to protect her. He had never considered anything more intimate. Despite repeated suggestions from Lu Yi, Gu Fan had hardly entertained such thoughts.

But as for Leng Le, yes, the feeling of being together was great, and Gu Fan cherished this feeling, but for Leng Le, his first instinct was more like possessing rather than protecting.

Shaking his head, Gu Fan was reluctant to admit his feelings towards Leng Le were more possession than love. Perhaps because he missed Lin Xi, he especially wanted to cherish and hold onto Leng Le.

Emotions are difficult to explain clearly, so Gu Fan didn’t want to think about it anymore. However, one thing was clear: he was serious about Leng Le, and this was enough.

Just when Gu Fan thought he could convince himself and then go to sleep peacefully, the words Su Hui had spoken earlier suddenly echoed in his ears. Was Leng Le just a replacement to fill the emotional void in his heart?

"So annoying, so annoying!" Gu Fan rubbed his head, hating that instead of fully investing in his new relationship, he was thinking about these messy things. Didn’t he feel good being with Leng Le? Weren’t they happy together? Isn’t happiness the most important thing when being together?

Finally, Gu Fan decided not to overthink and went to bed. However, seeing that the light was still on in Su Hui’s room, he suddenly thought of the last time Su Hui had seen him in a disheveled state, the situation was awkward.

At the same time, Gu Fan considered another scenario. Even if Leng Le came in the future, they couldn’t be over intimate at home. After all, Su Hui, who could return at any time, was still living there. This was going to be a problem.

Gu Fan wondered if it would be more convenient to ask Su Hui to move out, but wouldn’t that be favoring love over friendship? Who knows if Su Hui would get angry and tear down the old house in response.

Or wait for the right time when Su Hui had a late-night shift and then invite Leng Le home. But given Su Hui’s alertness, if Gu Fan kept inquiring about the night shift, Su Hui would surely figure out Gu Fan’s intentions.

Gu Fan thought, perhaps Su Hui would take the initiative to move out if she found a better place. Wouldn’t everything be great then?

"Please, God, let Su Hui take the initiative to move out." Gu Fan pleaded silently, then thought about it and felt that he was indeed favoring love over friendship, which was unacceptable behavior.

So Gu Fan thought that he could spend a bit more money to get a hotel room with Leng Le. However, the cost of a hotel was high, so he should raise Su Hui’s rent.

"Strange, how come no matter how much I think, I still want to be with Leng Le... Do I really possess more than love?" Gu Fan scratched his head, deciding it’s best not to bother thinking about this and just focus on this relationship, then be happy.

Just as Gu Fan had this realization, elsewhere, Leng Le sneezed without reason, feeling something was not right. She was a bit scared to face Gu Fan now, fearing the recurrence of their past behavior.

Leng Le admitted it felt good and wanted to experience it again, but she was more afraid that if it happened a few more times, she would completely fall for him. She didn’t believe that rationality could completely overcome emotion.

Currently, Leng Le was listening to the report from her subordinates. Those who had disappeared last time were still missing without any trace. The last known contact location turned up no clues, and the others left no trace.

"If you’re here, stand up and fight properly. What’s the point of hiding in the dark?" Leng Le had just finished speaking when Hai, standing by her side, added, "Seems like we also operate in the dark."

After hearing this, Leng Le made an embarrassed face. To diffuse the awkwardness, she deliberately rolled her eyes at Hai, as if to say, "You can talk a person to death."

Hai realized his mistake, chuckled awkwardly and immediately changed the subject, "We took care of the three people you wanted us to get rid of last time. We threw them all into the sea."

"That’s good, I’ve always trusted you." Leng Le was naturally referring to the people she and Gu Fan had bumped into at the amusement park last time. To avoid further trouble and to continue protecting her interests, Leng Le wanted those people to disappear.

Leng Le added, "Gu Fan is very sharp. If something similar happens again when I’m with him, he will definitely be suspicious of me. Next, tell all the people below to keep their mouths shut and don’t speak to outsiders, don’t cause me any trouble."

To this, Hai nodded, "I’ve already instructed them. Five people in one group, if one person leaks any information, the other four people will also be punished. Also, I found out who the person who clashed with you at the amusement park last time was. His brother indeed worked for us, but he has already been buried in the desert."

"I hope this incident makes everyone understand the rules here. If they leak anything, their loved ones will not be spared." Leng Le was again cold, her strict management proved effective as nothing else happened that could possibly expose her identity. But she never expected that one of the people she wanted to silence had survived.

Right now, Leng Le’s main focus was on one thing: finding Lin Xi. Her idea was simple. Given their current passionate relationship, and after what they had done, Gu Fan must be eager to see her. If Gu Fan didn’t contact her in three days, it would indicate that something was amiss on his side, probably because Lin Xi was back.