Chapter 293 : Sorry, But... I Already Like Someone Else!
"Should I say yes?"
"Or should I say no?"
Xu Qing silently looked at Wang Pengfei, standing before her, waiting for an answer. In the past, she would have been overjoyed if her longtime crush had confessed his feelings to her.
But why was she hesitating now? As Wang Pengfei smiled at her, she couldn’t help but think of Ling Ning and the unexpected kiss they’d shared earlier.
Xu Qing remembered the first time she’d met Ling Ning, nearly three years ago, after her family had just moved to this city. They had met at a bubble tea shop near her house, where Ling Ning had been working.
Back then, Xu Qing had noticed a deep sadness in Ling Ning’s eyes. Even though they were the same age, Ling Ning had a haunted look, like a still pond without a ripple.
Driven by curiosity, Xu Qing had tried striking up conversations with her.
At first, Ling Ning was wary, refusing Xu Qing’s friendly advances no matter how hard she tried. But after some persistence, Xu Qing finally managed to get her name.
One day, Xu Qing had spotted Ling Ning on a nearby shopping street with a cute little girl, who she assumed was Ling Ning’s younger sister. It was then that she saw Ling Ning smile for the first time—a smile so beautiful that it left her breathless.
When the new school year started, Xu Qing discovered that Ling Ning was in her class. For Xu Qing, still adjusting to an unfamiliar school, seeing a familiar face had made her genuinely happy. She chose to sit next to Ling Ning and was relieved when the teacher didn’t separate them during the seating shuffle.
Though she desperately wanted to connect with Ling Ning, her aloof attitude left Xu Qing hurt and discouraged. Over time, however, she noticed that Ling Ning’s distant behavior wasn’t directed solely at her—she treated everyone that way. It was as if there was an invisible barrier around her, making her seem unreachable.
One day, as Xu Qing was heading home, she realized she’d left her umbrella in the classroom. Thinking she still had time, she returned to find Ling Ning being bullied by a group of girls from their class.
Until that moment, Xu Qing had thought bullying was something that only happened in stories, not in real life. But seeing Ling Ning in distress, she hadn’t hesitated to step in and stand up for her. She could still remember the look of surprise in Ling Ning’s eyes, as if silently asking, Why are you standing up for me?
Wasn’t it only natural to help someone in trouble?
It had been their luck that a teacher showed up just as the girls were about to retaliate, taking them away and sparing Ling Ning and Xu Qing from further harm.
"Why?"
That was the first word Ling Ning had ever spoken to her.
After that day, when Xu Qing would chatter away by Ling Ning’s side, she’d sometimes get an occasional response—an "Mm," an "Oh," or an "Ah." It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Encouraged by her progress, Xu Qing tried even harder to break through Ling Ning’s walls. Eventually, her efforts paid off, and she became Ling Ning’s first—and at that time, only—friend.
Over time, Xu Qing came to understand the challenges Ling Ning faced at home, which only deepened her sympathy and fondness for her. Every weekend, Xu Qing would make a point to visit the bubble tea shop where Ling Ning worked, even though she wasn’t a big fan of bubble tea herself. Just seeing her there was enough.
Then, during the summer of their sophomore year, Xu Qing returned to find that Ling Ning was no longer working at the shop. Concerned, she asked the shop owner, who told her that Ling Ning had stopped showing up a few days before summer break. Though worried, Xu Qing had no way of finding her—she didn’t know her home address, and Ling Ning didn’t have a cell phone.
To her relief, Xu Qing saw Ling Ning again shortly after the school year started. But this time, Ling Ning seemed like a completely different person, exuding confidence in her maid uniform. She looked like she’d stepped out of her old world, transformed almost beyond recognition.
Xu Qing even secretly watched Ling Ning at work, noticing she’d made new friends and formed a new circle. She wanted to be happy for her, but her heart was tangled in a strange feeling of loss.
Ling Ning’s best friend was no longer just her.
Shortly before the school year started, Xu Qing met Ling Ning again by chance while out shopping. She helped Ling Ning and her younger sister carry their bags home and was surprised to see that she lived in such a small space. She was also astonished to find out that Ling Ning could cook—and quite well at that.
Once the new school term began, Xu Qing couldn’t help but be amazed by Ling Ning’s transformation. Whether in academics or other areas, Ling Ning seemed to excel in everything she did, as if their roles had reversed. Xu Qing had always thought she’d be the one looking out for Ling Ning, but now she found herself captivated by her every move.
But Ling Ning’s social circle had expanded. Now, it wasn’t just Xu Qing by her side—there were also Xia You, Li Qian, and many other classmates. Watching Ling Ning flourish with new friends, Xu Qing felt as if they were drifting apart, despite being so close. She couldn’t understand why it hurt so much. She was supposed to be happy for her friend, wasn’t she?
Up until now, Xu Qing had convinced herself that Ling Ning was simply her best friend. But the accidental kiss earlier had shattered that illusion. She realized that her feelings for Ling Ning went beyond friendship.
If possible, she wanted to take it a step further…
When had Ling Ning started to fill her every thought?
Xu Qing gave Wang Pengfei a gentle smile, one that left him slightly dazed. He had always liked her cheerful smile—that was what had first drawn him to her.
"I’m sorry, but… I already like someone else."
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Author’s Note:
Four updates complete! This salted fish finally owes no more chapters—I'm free (for now)!