Chapter 4

The commotion here was too loud. Several guys quickly walked over.

I crashed into Ethan's arms, crying piteously.

"Ethan, Jennifer bullied me."

Jennifer took two steps toward me, covering her face and shouting: "You slapped me! Who's bullying who!?"

"Ethan, you can't play favorites."

"Jennifer is the victim here."

Ethan's face turned iron-blue as he asked what happened. Jennifer suddenly pushed me aside and grabbed Ethan's hand, making him touch her face.

"Ethan, my face is swollen and you're still not going to get justice for me!?"

Ethan frowned at me: "Natalie, how could you hit her? That's too much!"

I wiped my tears: "But Jennifer said I should watch out for Emma's ghost coming to my bedside at night."

As soon as I finished speaking, not only Ethan froze, but the other two guys' faces also turned ashen.

For them, Emma's suicide was the result of their "jokes" going too far.

Ethan suddenly pushed Jennifer: "You're crazy. We're never associating again."

Ethan grabbed my hand and left.

Behind us came the complaints of the two guys: "Didn't we agree never to mention that name again?"

"Jennifer, what's wrong with your brain?"

None of that mattered. What mattered was that Ethan promised me he'd never have anything to do with Jennifer again.

After Ethan left, I vigorously wiped my hands with a wet wipe.

Blake stood at the door smoking. I asked him: "How's Emma?"

He exhaled smoke, his expression grim.

I nodded and took a deep breath.

Three days later, it was Ethan's birthday.

The birthday party was held at his family's villa.

It was the same familiar group of friends, except this time Jennifer wasn't there.

Ethan warmly held my hand: "Natalie, I really love you so much."

"Let's get engaged in a couple days, okay?"

Before cutting the cake, his buddies insisted on giving gifts first.

So a huge pink cardboard box was wheeled in, tied with a pink bow.

Ethan was urged by everyone to open the gift.

When the lid opened, Jennifer suddenly stood up from the box wearing a camisole minidress.

"Happy birthday!"

Jennifer pushed her chest together and struck a sexy pose.

Everyone screamed. The men's eyes went straight, calling her sexy.

After all, a buddy turning into a goddess was quite sensational.

I watched calmly as Ethan took Jennifer's hand and asked: "Didn't we say we'd cut off contact?"

Ethan opened his mouth: "Natalie, Jennifer is my buddy after all."

"I ignored her for three whole days. That's punishment enough. She knows she was wrong."

"Don't be so petty. Jennifer already told me that Blake is from the theater department at school."

"You deliberately hired a male actor. This really embarrassed me."

"How could you be so intimate with a strange man!"

I looked at him expressionlessly: "So what does Jennifer tying herself up with ribbons and presenting herself as a gift mean?"

"Should I get you guys a bed?"

Jennifer's eyes reddened again as she loudly protested: "How can you insult my pure relationship with Ethan like this!"

"He used to jerk off while I helped him, and we never had sex."

"Natalie, stop being so jealous all the time."

Ethan looked at me matter-of-factly: "Yeah, Natalie, be reasonable. I won't have feelings for her."

I smiled and asked: "How long does he last?"

Jennifer answered boldly: "Over twenty minutes! Natalie, don't pry into our business between men."

I pretended to be shocked and exclaimed: "What? That short? My male best friend lasts forty to fifty minutes."

"Looks like the gift he picked for me is quite appropriate."

I handed over the smallest size condom.

The atmosphere turned awkward again.

The smile on Ethan's face immediately vanished: "Natalie, I already told you."

"Stop hiring actors to upset me. I won't believe it."

I spread my hands and smiled: "Why won't you believe me? Blake and I have been classmates since kindergarten."

"Ask anyone."

"Be a bigger man. Don't keep getting triggered. I won't discriminate against you just because you can't match his performance."

Ethan suddenly grabbed my hand: "Natalie! Even if he's your male best friend, how can you two be so filthy!"

I pointed at Jennifer.

"What's the problem? We're childhood friends. How can you defile our pure relationship?"

"Unless you think Jennifer is filthy too?"

Ethan froze. His face flushed as he stammered without getting anywhere.

Finally, he seemed to compromise, grabbing my sleeve: "Natalie, stop seeing that Blake."

"We're getting engaged."

I asked in confusion: "What about your female friends?"

Ethan suddenly kicked Jennifer out: "What are you doing here!? So embarrassing."

"Jennifer, don't appear in front of me again!"

Jennifer angrily cursed outside: "Ethan, don't you want your daddy anymore!? Got some wings now!"

"Don't forget how I used to help you fall asleep!"

"When you rested your head on my chest, you didn't think I was embarrassing!"

I pushed Ethan aside and smiled at Jennifer: "Jennifer, why are you making such a fuss?"

"Aren't you good buddies?"

Jennifer glared: "You relationship-wrecking homewrecker! Just you wait."

With that, she left in anger.

I turned to Ethan understandingly: "I'm not forcing you to cut ties. Talk things through with her properly."

"After so many years of friendship, can you sort it out in a week?"

Ethan emotionally pulled me into his arms: "Natalie, you're so understanding."

As soon as I left Ethan's villa, I took off my jacket and threw it in the trash, then got in Blake's car.

"Bastard and his mistress."

I couldn't help venting to Blake.

Blake smiled and patted my head: "Thanks for your hard work."

Jennifer's threats weren't a joke. That very night, a post appeared on the campus confession page.

Titled: My twenty-year buddy's girlfriend is domineering and insists we cut ties.

The post went viral. Countless people replied, and it was quickly pinned to the top.