TMLSG -Chapter 142 If We Really Break Up

Tang Zhen leaned closer and asked, “Ren Yanjing, what are you thinking about?”

111 immediately acted like it knew everything, 【Zhen, look at the male lead—he’s definitely thinking about something not very proper.】

“For example?”

【For example, Zhen, have you ever tried stir-fried veal? The essence is in the stir-frying.】

Tang Zhen: …

Even Santiao has gone bad!

Tang Zhen had thought that during her “clingy Zhen-Zhen” phase, she had already been very clingy. She hadn’t expected that now, she and Ren Yanjing had completely reversed roles.

The clingy mission had long been completed, so she no longer needed to stick to Ren Yanjing. Now, it was Ren Yanjing who constantly clung to her.

However, the next thing was a school-organized practical activity, which required her to stay in another city for a few days.

Although it was called a “practical activity,” it was basically helping with farm work, sightseeing a little, and buying some local specialties.

Tang Zhen had told Ren Yanjing about it a few days in advance. Although he was reluctant, he didn’t interfere with her daily campus life.

On the day of departure, Tang Zhen rode in Ren Yanjing’s car to school. Just before getting out, she kissed him lightly and cheerfully said, “A-Jing, see you in three days.”

As she was about to step out, Ren Yanjing instinctively grabbed her arm. “Wife.”

Tang Zhen looked back, eyes wide. “What?”

Ren Yanjing exhaled, suppressing the unwillingness in his heart. “Nothing. I’ll call you often—make sure you pick up.”

“Okay.”

111 sharply remarked, 【What happened to clingy Zhen-Zhen? Now it’s clingy Yanjing instead? Tsk tsk.】

Tang Zhen had thought this would be an ordinary practical activity, but as usual, plans couldn’t keep up with reality.

Not long after she arrived, she had just hung up the phone with Ren Yanjing when she heard that a flash flood had occurred nearby.

Whether before or after crossing into this story, she had never encountered a flash flood. And now, on the very first day of the activity, she did.

The teachers organized them to move to safer locations on the mountain. Tang Zhen could only follow along passively with the teachers and classmates.

When she took out her phone to send Ren Yanjing a message about the situation, she realized there was no signal.

111 explained, 【Here’s the thing, Zhen—during flash floods, power and internet are often cut off. It might take a few days to restore.】

Tang Zhen held her phone, feeling a little dazed.

Before, when she had internet, she could contact Ren Yanjing anytime and didn’t think much of it. Now, suddenly cut off, she felt lost and uneasy; a rush of emotions surged in her heart.

She realized she kind of missed Ren Yanjing.

111 comforted her, 【It’s okay, Zhen. I’m always here.】

When the male lead is present, the system is always there; when he’s absent, the system is still there! At crucial moments, it really is Santiao she can rely on!

Tang Zhen’s eyes sparkled. “Santiao, you’ll always be my best friend!”

【Of course, Zhen!】

For the next period, Tang Zhen stayed with her new friend, Wenwen.

Sitting on the ground together, holding warm water in her hands, a thought suddenly came to her mind.

That thought was—

If she and Ren Yanjing had really broken up back then, and he hadn’t come looking for her—or hadn’t found her—would her daily life have turned out like it is now?

She would be in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by new friends… but he would never be there again.

They would each shine brightly in their own worlds, but would no longer cross paths.

Realizing this, Tang Zhen found that she wasn’t as indifferent as she had imagined. In fact, the thought of “he’s no longer here by my side” made her feel a little heavy-hearted.

Wenwen immediately noticed the change in her mood.

“Zhen-Zhen, what’s wrong?”

Tang Zhen pinched her cheeks to pull herself together and said, “It’s nothing… it’s just weird without power or internet, a bit uncomfortable.”

Wenwen sighed. “I don’t like it either. I miss home… and my dog. And suddenly, if we can’t contact our families, they’d probably be worried, right?”

That was certain.

Tang Zhen said softly, “They’ve probably already heard about the flash flood here.”

Wenwen frowned. “And once they know, they’ll be even more worried. Flash floods are so dangerous.”

But now, all they could do was wait.

During the first night without power or internet, Tang Zhen slept only four hours, half-asleep, with the nearby commotion constantly going on. Some classmates with weaker nerves kept crying. The teachers were busy checking news, caring for students, and completely swamped.

Tang Zhen took out her phone but saw no messages from Ren Yanjing, which felt strangely unsettling.

Without a signal, she couldn’t receive any updates, and she had no idea what Ren Yanjing was doing at that moment.

After hastily finishing breakfast, there was nothing else to do. The group of students didn’t need help; they only needed to stay safe and take care of themselves.

Tang Zhen suddenly had a lot of free time.

She decided to take out her pen and paper and continue drawing comics.

This time, she drew events that had happened at the national robotics competition semifinals. Each scene was so clear, it felt as if it had happened yesterday.

That day, Robert performed a figure-skating routine and won first place. Ren Yanjing had gotten drunk at the post-competition banquet, couldn’t recognize her, yet still said he liked her so much—he liked her the moment he saw her…

The mission to give him a “stinky face” had still never been completed.

Whenever she got tired from drawing, she would pause and chat with 111.

Tang Zhen rested her chin in her hands and said, “Santiao, if after the breakup, the obedient Zhen didn’t find me, every day from then on would be like now, right?”

They would have only limited memories left.

But no new memories would form.

111 asked, 【Zhen, would you be happy living a life without the male lead?】

Tang Zhen bit her lip. “I don’t think I’d be as happy as I imagined.”

Even during the time they had originally been apart, she would occasionally see updates about Ren Yanjing everywhere.

For example, he won first place in the calculus competition organized by B University, beating the female lead.

Or, many B University alumni praised how handsome he had become on some app.

Or, alumni were discussing when he would go abroad for exchange.

He was the center of attention, always in the spotlight.

But after losing internet, Ren Yanjing seemed to vanish completely from her world.

She could no longer see his latest updates.

She couldn’t know how he was, or whether he was doing well recently.

Her previous indifference had only existed because she could still see him anytime.

Once she could no longer see him, it was as if they truly became strangers.

Tang Zhen slowly understood that the current blackout and loss of connection were actually the most accurate representation of what it would feel like after the female supporting character and the male lead had broken up.

They would no longer cross paths, never meet again.

But from a certain moment, the story… seemed to have already begun to change.