He meant that the ambiguous relationship between them—above friendship but not quite love—could end, and after it ended, they would still be friends.
Visiting an art exhibition, having a meal—a very dignified, amicable parting.
Just being friends... that was acceptable.
But she knew Song Lian's true nature, and she couldn't believe he would give up so willingly.
Even though Song Lian put on this shattered act of willingly letting go for the happiness of the one he loved, she still maintained a sliver of caution toward him.
"Well... I agreed to you before because Si Yanjing and I were just classmates. As for now, you also know that people at school have been talking about us. They're watching our every move. I always feel..."
Su Zhiyi spoke evasively, trying to stall Song Lian.
She was just about to find an excuse to decline the invitation she had casually agreed to earlier and keep her distance from Song Lian from now on.
"Zhiyi."
Song Lian, who was always gentle and attentive, rarely interrupted Su Zhiyi.
He sighed softly and shook his head. "I just said, I don't want us to grow apart because of someone else. I just want to spend a day with you, just the two of us, as friends."
His gentle, watery eyes showed no aggression. His eyelashes drooped downward, and his usually relaxed brows were now slightly furrowed. The color of his lips faded a bit.
He pressed his thin lips together, and his lip trembled slightly.
The rims of his eyes reddened in that instant, as if a teardrop was about to fall from the corner of his eye.
He looked exactly like a heartbroken, melancholic, broken, gentle man, impossible not to elicit sympathy.
"Is it because of him that we're going to end things so hastily and never see each other again?"
His voice choked, with barely suppressed reluctance.
Su Zhiyi was speechless. Her snow-white cheeks flushed with a thin layer of shy red.
"..."
Damn, this bastard really knew how to do it.
How did Song Lian put his strengths to such good use?
Was he acting or not? If it was acting, he was doing it too well!
Wait... Song Lian's words had put her in a position where she couldn't refuse.
It seemed she couldn't refuse even if she wanted to.
"Um..." After an internal struggle, Su Zhiyi finally relaxed her brows and gave Song Lian a restrained, sweet smile. "I didn't mean it that way."
"If it's just visiting an art exhibition and having dinner, of course that's fine."
Just visiting an art exhibition and having dinner.
Su Qinghuai was restricted by the Su family. She had used Su Qinghuai to stabilize the Su family and prevent them from exposing the fact that she wasn't the eldest Miss Su.
Now the Su family was forced to acknowledge her as the eldest Miss Su. Everyone agreed she was the eldest Miss Su. As long as the Su family didn't flip, her identity wouldn't be exposed.
And the reason the Su family acknowledged her identity was that the Si family had given them too much; they couldn't refuse.
She and the Su family were now linked by interests, and interests were the most reliable bond.
Song Lian was the heir of the Song family, with power and influence. She could use Song Lian's power to maintain the outward glory of the eldest Miss Su.
The Si family also had power and influence. Even if Si Yanjing wasn't the heir of the Si family, he could still provide her with power through his connection to the Si family.
Both Su Qinghuai and Song Lian now had no use value.
It was better to cut ties cleanly and early, so she wouldn't have to worry all day, afraid of flipping the script.
And besides...
What if Song Lian really had thought it through and wanted to be friends with her?
When Song Lian heard Su Zhiyi's light agreement, the melancholy on his face dissipated like fog, finally revealing a ray of sunshine from behind the clouds.
His voice was as gentle as ever, flowing like a clear stream.
"Thank you, Zhiyi."
After Song Lian said "thank you" to Su Zhiyi, he didn't bring up such sensitive topics again.
Su Zhiyi truly just strolled through the art gallery of St. Desmond Academy with Song Lian, admiring the paintings.
Song Lian was humble and polite in every word and action, seemingly harmless, gently introducing the paintings in the gallery to her. He didn't say a single word out of line, always keeping a safe distance from her.
She gradually let her guard down and interacted with Song Lian in her most natural manner.
No wonder Song Lian wanted to talk to her alone; Si Yanjing definitely wouldn't be able to hear these words.
Mm... but she still didn't dare tell Si Yanjing about going to the art exhibition with Song Lian.
If she told him, Si Yanjing would get all bristly like a puppy whose territory was being invaded, clinging to her and making her cancel the invitation.
To reassure Si Yanjing, she would have to coax him, which would take more effort.
Spoiling a man would bring bad luck for life!
To avoid trouble, it was better not to say anything.
So Su Zhiyi quietly kept it from Si Yanjing.
Anyway, Si Yanjing was the easiest to fool.