Chapter 193 : Ling Ning's Bath Portrait
“You’re Ling Ning and Xia You from the next class, right? My name is Zheng Yun. Although Li Si hasn’t agreed yet, I’m destined to become his wife.”
Zheng Yun’s opening line was bold, sending shockwaves through her audience.
Ling Ning raised an eyebrow. She could hardly believe that people like this actually existed outside of anime or novels. Bold proclamations like this were typically reserved for fictional characters, after all.
“Zheng Yun, I already told you I like someone else. Please stop clinging to me,” Li Si replied, looking utterly defeated. If Zheng Yun were a guy, she’d have punched him by now, like that green-haired punk. But since Zheng Yun was a girl, she was at a loss.
“No! Li Si, I believe that as long as I keep trying, one day my love will reach you,” Zheng Yun declared, gazing at Li Si with deep affection.
Standing nearby, Ling Ning and Xia You couldn’t help but shudder at the scene, and Li Si looked even more disturbed.
“Uh, can I ask, Zheng Yun… what exactly made you fall for Li Si?” Ling Ning cautiously inquired.
The moment Ling Ning spoke, Zheng Yun’s expression turned sharp, and she eyed Ling Ning with suspicion. “Why are you asking? Do I need a reason to love someone? Or are you digging for information to find my weaknesses and keep me from pursuing him? You evil woman!”
“N-no, not at all…” Ling Ning chuckled awkwardly. Zheng Yun’s instincts were shockingly on point, and her guardedness was… intense, to say the least.
Xia You glanced between Li Si and Zheng Yun, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
“Well then, Li Si, it’s getting late. Let’s go home together!” Zheng Yun announced, emphasizing the words “go home together” as if she wanted to make sure Ling Ning and Xia You heard every syllable.
“Alright, then. Guess we’ll part ways here,” Ling Ning said cheerfully, waving at Li Si. “Feel free to message me if you have any study questions!”
For a second, Li Si was confused—she didn’t actually have any study questions. But she quickly caught on to Ling Ning’s subtle suggestion.
“Yes, of course. I’ll reach out if I need any help.”
As Ling Ning and Xia You walked away, Zheng Yun pouted and clung to Li Si’s arm. “Li Si, my grades are pretty good, too! Why would you need help from a student in another class?”
“Oh, uh… you’re a bit weak in geography, aren’t you? Ling Ning’s great at it, so I was just asking her a few things.” Li Si’s excuse wasn’t a lie—she’d done her homework on Zheng Yun’s academic weaknesses.
“Hm!” Zheng Yun pouted, considering the idea of improving her geography just so Li Si wouldn’t have any reason to talk to “that girl.” It seemed like a reasonable plan.
“Oh, Li Si! I know a great bubble tea shop nearby. Why don’t we go get some?” Zheng Yun suggested eagerly.
Li Si gave her a blank stare. “Didn’t you just say it was getting late, and you wanted to go home?”
“Huh? Did I say that? I don’t think so?”
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That night…
Ling Ning had just finished her bath when her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID—it was Li Si.
“Hey, Li Si. What’s up?” Ling Ning answered as she dried off.
“Ling Ning, it’s me, Li Si. Do you have a minute? I’d like to talk about what happened this afternoon.”
“Sure! I just got out of the bath. Give me a sec to get dressed.”
Setting the phone down, she quickly began putting on clothes. Meanwhile, on the other end, Li Si’s mind involuntarily conjured an image of “Ling Ning’s Bath Portrait,” causing her cheeks to flush. She tried to stop herself, but it was a lost cause.
After dressing, Ling Ning picked up the phone. “Hey, you still there, Li Si?”
It took a moment before Li Si replied, stammering a little.
Ling Ning chuckled, moving to the balcony for privacy, glancing at her daughter typing away on her laptop in the living room. Ling Ye watched her mother from the corner of her eye, puzzled. Usually, her mom was frugal with phone time, so chatting this long seemed unusual.
“What do you think I should do, Ling Ning?”
“Why not just give in and go out with her?” Ling Ning teased.
“Don’t joke around! You know my true identity; there’s no way I can accept her feelings…” Li Si replied, exasperated.
Suddenly, Ling Ning grew curious. “Li Si, earlier, you mentioned having someone you liked. Was that just to get Zheng Yun to back off?”
“Uh… yeah, it was just an excuse. I don’t really like anyone…” Li Si trailed off.
“Aw, here I thought you had a secret crush! Why not just tell her you’re actually a girl? That should put an end to her advances.”
“Is there no other way?” Li Si sighed, clearly reluctant to reveal her secret before graduation.
“Well, if you really want to avoid that, maybe you should find yourself a girlfriend or boyfriend to distract her.”
At that suggestion, Li Si wondered if seeking advice from Ling Ning had been a mistake.
Unbeknownst to them, Xia You was eavesdropping from her own balcony, separated from Ling Ning’s only by a wall. A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she listened.
“So… Li Si is actually a girl? How interesting…”
Leaning against the wall, Xia You’s grin grew wider, hints of intrigue dancing in her eyes.
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Author’s Note:
This is the tenth chapter! My stockpile is dwindling… Does no one want to tip this hardworking author?