Chapter 3

Blake's timing was perfect. I affectionately linked my arm through his and introduced him.

"This is Blake. My male best friend. We were born on the same day, same month, same year."

"He's a friend too. I invited him to hike with us. You guys don't mind, right?"

Ethan pushed Jennifer aside and pulled me over.

"Natalie! How can you link arms with another guy!?"

I blinked and smiled: "Blake isn't just anyone. He's family."

"You're not jealous of my male best friend, are you? Don't be so petty."

"I don't see him as a man at all."

As I spoke, I broke free from Ethan's grip and patted Blake's muscular shoulder with a smile.

"Natalie, come back here!" Ethan's face turned completely dark.

After all, Blake was exceptionally good-looking, even somewhat overshadowing him.

No matter how you looked at it, he was definitely a man.

Blake held my hand, revealing the silver ring on his pinky finger.

"Don't misunderstand. We grew up sleeping in the same bed. If I liked Natalie, what chance would you have?"

His voice was pleasant, though emotionless.

But the provocative intent was clear.

Ethan's face turned bright red. He glared at Blake hatefully.

"Natalie has a boyfriend now. Can you keep your distance!?"

Before Blake could respond, I smiled: "Ethan, how can you be so selfish?"

"I can't just abandon my best friend because I have a boyfriend."

Ethan clenched both fists: "He's a man!"

I waved my hand: "I don't see him as a man. Jennifer, talk some sense into Ethan."

"Why is he being such a jealous little man!?"

Jennifer stood behind Ethan, as if just coming to her senses.

She stood on her tiptoes, draped her arms around Ethan's neck, and laughed awkwardly: "Come on, let's go hiking."

"Ethan, you can't make all of us childhood friends wait here."

Unfortunately, Ethan was too angry right now. He wasn't buying it.

He suddenly rushed over, pointing at the ring on Blake's hand: "Why is your ring on his hand?"

I patted my head: "Oh my, he said he liked it last time."

"It's fine to lend it to him for a couple days."

Blake picked up where I left off: "We've shared everything since childhood. What's mine is hers."

Ethan was so angry he nearly stamped his feet. He shouted: "That's our couple's ring!"

"Natalie, this is cheating!"

His eyes were bloodshot, as if he was about to cry.

I dropped my smile and lifted my chin: "Then what is Jennifer wearing around her neck?"

Ethan turned to look, then yanked the ring from Jennifer's neck.

"When did you take my ring!?"

Jennifer's neck was pulled red, her eyes tearing up from the pain: "Ethan, that hurts."

"It's just a stupid ring. Why are you so angry?"

The two guys behind Jennifer also came over to defend her: "Ethan, now you've gone too far."

"Back in the day we even shared socks!"

I licked my lips and smiled: "Do you share girlfriends too?"

The two guys fell silent, their faces flushed with anger.

Ethan quickly put the ring back on: "Natalie, look. I got mine back."

"Put yours back on too. Don't be angry anymore."

Seeing Ethan's sincerity, I decided to give him a little reward.

I put the couple's ring back on. Ethan breathed a sigh of relief.

During the hike, Ethan carried my bag and handed me fruit.

He stayed by my side, attentive like when he first pursued me.

Jennifer tried to chat him up several times, but Ethan ignored her.

She clenched her fists in anger, glaring at me as if she wanted to tear me apart.

"Natalie, I know you're bothered by my relationship with Jennifer, so you deliberately found someone to upset me."

"Making you jealous was my fault. I'll definitely keep my distance from her from now on."

I glanced at him but didn't respond.

Ethan quickly repeated: "How much did you pay this actor? I'll cover it."

"Don't let him show up again!"

With that, Ethan transferred five thousand dollars to my account on SnapChat, noting it as a voluntary gift.

I looked at my phone and threw myself into Ethan's arms, glancing at Jennifer.

"Why did you transfer so much money to me?"

Jennifer walked over, somewhat sourly asking: "How much did he transfer?"

"Natalie doesn't know—Ethan used to transfer me thirty, fifty thousand at a time."

She tried to peek at my phone screen, then turned to Ethan: "Hey, don't forget your buddy."

"Why didn't you transfer any to me?"

Ethan looked at my face and said impatiently: "Jennifer, settle down. Can't you see Natalie's unhappy?"

Jennifer's face went pale. She plopped down on the ground, saying her ankle was sprained.

"Ethan, carry me up the mountain." Her voice carried a crying tone. "It hurts so much I can't walk."

I looked up. Those two guys had somehow already walked to the very front.

Jennifer shot me a provocative look.

"Ethan, have you forgotten how I brought you home when you got lost in the mountains?"

"We're pure friends. Natalie won't mind if I'm hurt."

Ethan, who had been so assertive just moments ago, immediately caved when he saw Jennifer cry. He looked at me: "Natalie..."

"Jennifer is my friend, after all."

Jennifer: "Natalie wouldn't just leave me to suffer, would she?"

I smiled sweetly: "Of course not."

I beckoned to Blake, and he crouched in front of me.

"I'm tired too. See you at the summit."

I climbed onto Blake's back, my view suddenly rising.

"We're all friends. I understand. You guys are definitely pure friendship!"

Blake carried me forward. Ethan left Jennifer behind and chased after me.

"Natalie! Didn't we agree no more actors?"

My voice was troubled: "Ethan, Blake is my male best friend. Why won't you believe me?"

By the time we reached the summit, Ethan had completely settled down.

He didn't even glance at Jennifer.

When everyone went to get their lunch boxes, Jennifer sidled up to me with a dark expression.

"I really underestimated you."

"You think finding someone to provoke Ethan will make him give up our relationship? Dream on!"

I also dropped my smile and asked her: "You like Ethan?"

Jennifer sneered, confident of victory: "If you know what's good for you, you'll back out. The only woman for Ethan is me."

I shook my head.

Jennifer threatened: "You know Emma, right? If you don't wise up, you'll end up just like her!"

Emma was Ethan's ex-girlfriend. They'd only dated two months before she jumped off a building.

Her explicit photos had been posted all over campus.

I trembled and stepped back half a step. Jennifer thought I was scared.

As she flashed me a triumphant smile, I suddenly raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.