Chapter 188 : Growing Again
"Sigh… when can we finally get a break?"
Ling Ning stared dejectedly at the mountain of worksheets piling up in front of her, muttering to herself in frustration.
Despite just returning from a short holiday, she was already craving another. After all, everyone has those "thirty-something days a month" when they just don't feel like going to class, right?
With Bai Yiyue’s concert over, the two-day break they’d had for the month was also over, and she and her classmates were back in the endless grind of exam prep. Bai Yiyue had left on a flight the day after her concert, promising she’d return to visit soon—a claim Ling Ning was skeptical about.
As the college entrance exam drew closer, the pressure mounted, and assignments turned into endless stacks of test sheets. Even the normally laid-back students were now poring over their books. With only one semester left, they knew that failing the exams meant heading to trade schools or joining the workforce right out of high school.
When the bell rang for a break, Ling Ning stuffed her half-finished test sheet into her desk drawer and stretched, her graceful curves drawing attention from several male classmates who couldn’t help but look her way.
Mid-stretch, she frowned slightly. Her chest felt tight again—had her bust grown even more? She’d just bought new bras recently, but it seemed she might catch up to Li Si at this rate.
"Ugh…" she sighed, resigning herself to the reality. Why couldn’t it just grow to its full size all at once instead of these spurts? Bras weren’t cheap, after all!
Seeing the sunny day outside, Ling Ning nodded to herself, deciding it was time for some sunbathing. Lately, she’d been enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin, and the thought of raising her arms and making a "praise the sun" pose almost crossed her mind. But, considering she was at school, she thought better of it—doing so would probably shatter her "goddess" image in her classmates’ eyes.
As she stepped outside, she spotted Li Si also basking in the sunlight. Curious, she approached her friend. “Xiao Sisi, what’s got you zoning out here?”
Hearing the familiar nickname, Li Si knew exactly who it was. Ling Ning was the only one at school who knew her true nature.
“Nothing much, just getting some air,” Li Si replied with a smile.
“Really? You know, I feel like I haven’t seen you around much lately.”
Now that she thought about it, she really hadn’t seen Li Si as often. They used to walk home together at least eight times out of ten, but now it was more like once or twice.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Li Si sighed. “Ever since my glasses slipped off last semester, people have been paying me way too much attention. Even those three guys who used to pick fights with me—the so-called ‘Posh Trio’—are acting strange around me now.”
One day after school, the leader of the Posh Trio, Green-Haired Guy, had even approached her. She’d braced herself, thinking he was there to pick a fight. Instead, he’d asked if she had a boyfriend.
Excuse me? She was literally going for a “boyish” look at school, dressed as one of the guys. Could he at least go after an actual girl?
Li Si hadn’t held back, giving him a sound beating. But even remembering his pleading cries of “hit me again!” sent a shiver down her spine. Had boys become this strange?
Aside from the guys, she’d even received a few confessions from girls. One of them, a girl named Zheng Yun, just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Every time Li Si turned her down, Zheng Yun would show up the next day with a new, elaborate confession.
In Li Si’s mind, it was all because she’d once saved Zheng Yun from some troublemakers. But was that enough reason to become so obsessed?
To make matters worse, Zheng Yun’s father owned the security company where her brother worked. Li Si suspected the whole “mugging” incident had been staged. Who in their right mind would mess with the daughter of the head of “Luba Security,” a company with a notorious reputation from its past?
Zheng Yun also kept a close eye on anyone who tried to get close to Li Si, using various tactics to drive them away.
If it were just that, Li Si wouldn’t mind so much—after all, it helped keep unwanted attention at bay. But since Zheng Yun lived nearby, she would follow her to and from school, making it impossible for Li Si to even get a moment to chat with Ling Ning.
"Ugh…" Li Si sighed again, giving Ling Ning a brief summary of her situation in the hope her friend might have a solution.
Ling Ning listened, her mind racing through memories of gal games she’d played in her past life.
After a moment, she spoke up. “I have an idea, but I’m not sure if it’ll work.”
Li Si’s eyes lit up. “Tell me!”
“First, you need to find out what Zheng Yun likes and dislikes.”
“And why do I need to know that?” Li Si asked, puzzled.
Rolling her eyes, Ling Ning continued, “Once you know her preferences, start doing the opposite of what she likes. For instance, if she likes Character A, say you like Character B. If she hates a certain food, make it your favorite.”
“She might put up with it at first, but over time her feelings for you should cool off. Eventually, she’ll stop pestering you.”
After hearing this, Li Si smacked her forehead. Such a simple solution! How had she not thought of it?
“Thanks, Ling Ning! I’ll go find out her preferences right away!” she said, rushing off.
“Hey! Don’t leave so fast—I wasn’t done talking!”
Watching her friend hurry back to the classroom, Ling Ning considered calling her back, but then the bell rang, and she had to return to class as well.
“I just hope she realizes… doing the opposite can sometimes have the opposite effect.”