Chapter 290: Avoidant Personality

As the sun set, the red glow filled the entire sky, like a sign of a divine presence.

Zhang Zhiyin, who had always been successful in her career, found herself stumbling in her love life.

“So, you’re about to get back together with her, right?”

Her soft question and disappointed gaze made Fang Zhou’s heart ache.

“Let’s not speculate about things that haven’t been decided yet.”

Fang Zhou wasn’t sure himself, so he couldn’t give her an answer.

Some might call him a coward, some might say he’s weak.

But making a decision to be with a girl on a whim, driven by hormones, would truly do her a disservice.

Though Fang Zhou had many girlfriends in the past, he always thought seriously before starting any relationship.

“Zhiyin, don’t overthink. How about we go for a walk?”

He called softly, inviting Zhang Zhiyin to walk with him along the lakeside path near the base.

In the early evening, people were already out for post-dinner strolls, and some young teens were cycling by, racing past like a gust of wind.

Watching them, Fang Zhou mused, “Time flies. It’s almost been ten years since our high school days.”

“Yeah, their school uniforms look a lot like ours,” Zhang Zhiyin replied, trying to suppress her sadness with a forced smile.

The black-and-white uniforms were large, almost like costumes, as if they could contain all of their youth.

“Do you remember the joke we made when we got our uniforms?”

Fang Zhou laughed as he recounted the past.

Zhang Zhiyin, still a bit dazed, moved her gaze to the lake and said softly, “Tell me, I might not remember.”

“It was our first semester of high school. The winter uniforms were really big, and the boys’ sizes were larger than the girls’.”

“But back then, Li Siming hadn’t fully grown yet and looked like a small girl. The teacher gave him a girl’s uniform, and he almost cried in front of her.”

Fang Zhou’s words brought back memories for Zhang Zhiyin.

“I remember now! The teacher gave him a boy’s uniform later, and he looked like he was in a play! Even the class leader took a photo!”

Those once blurry memories became clearer as they reminisced together.

“Yeah, from then on, Li Siming started working out like crazy. By the time we graduated, he was almost as tall as me. It was a blessing in disguise.”

Fang Zhou laughed, teasing his good friend.

“To this day, Li Siming still says, ‘If it weren’t for that uniform incident, I might have given up on myself.'”

Zhang Zhiyin chuckled lightly. Li Siming had always been a glue in their friendship.

He lived like a walking joke, his life filled with all sorts of amusing mishaps.

Yet, he remained optimistic and positive, overcoming even the greatest of challenges.

“So, when something happens, we don’t always have to see it from a current perspective. Maybe in the future, it will become a crucial part of turning things around.”

Fang Zhou’s voice was steady and strong, like a late-night radio host’s voice that invigorates listeners.

Zhang Zhiyin paused, looking thoughtful as she gazed at him.

“If you have something to say, just say it. No need for all these roundabout stories.”

She was ready for Fang Zhou to reject her again.

After all, repeated rejection had made her somewhat numb.

“I want to say, you’ve always wondered why I can’t date you.”

Fang Zhou stopped with her, looking at her with gentle eyes that seemed to hold endless words.

This was indeed something Zhang Zhiyin wanted to know.

Why could he date Chu Xinran, Qiao Sisi, and others, but not her?

Talking about feelings and appearance seemed like lies. She had seen Fang Zhou blush in front of her.

Teenagers can’t hide their feelings, and ambiguity isn’t one-sided.

“So, why is that?”

“Because you’re too much like me, almost like another version of myself in the world.”

In terms of values, worldview, and personality, Zhang Zhiyin was a female version of Fang Zhou.

He had known this half a year after meeting her in high school.

From then on, he knew they could be best friends but not lovers.

He knew all her strengths and flaws but couldn’t make her change; he couldn’t fully accept it either.

More importantly, another version of himself in the world was as rare and precious as some protected species.

So, instead of letting a love that could go sour destroy this rarity, it was better to keep it in the form of friendship.

At least now, he could stand here and chat with Zhang Zhiyin peacefully.

There were no entanglements like with his ex-girlfriends, and he didn’t have to avoid her.

Nor did he have to worry about his actions hurting her later on.

This was Fang Zhou’s answer.

After he finished, they both fell silent, their gazes turning to the lake.

The setting sun reflected on the water, creating ripples that mirrored a line from an ancient poem about the light dancing on the water and the shadows sinking into the depths.

“Do you have so little confidence in yourself? Are you so sure we wouldn’t make it? What if we grow old together?”

Zhang Zhiyin still felt unwilling to accept it and voiced her thoughts.

“A long time ago, I got checked out. I belong to the type that experiences unrequited love.”

Fang Zhou revealed a personal issue he had never talked about before.

This was the highest level of treatment for a friend like Zhang Zhiyin.

“To put it simply, if you like me, I won’t like you back. This is also called avoidant attachment personality.”

“To avoid the high likelihood of failure, I chose to skip the test.”

A girlfriend can’t be as lasting as a good friend.

This had always been Fang Zhou’s belief and the best choice he could make for Zhang Zhiyin.