Chapter 370 : This Is No Stranger~
“I’m ready, Ling Ning. Let’s go~”
Dressed and made up, Li Qian spoke cheerfully to Ling Ning, but not before casting a mocking glance at her sister. Today was her day to shine!
Seeing her sister’s smug face, Li Meng felt an overwhelming urge to punch her. For some reason, that face—especially with a provocative expression—always triggered her. Sure, they had identical faces, but hers was her face, and her sister’s was hers, so punching it was fair game.
“Make sure you rest well at home, little sister. And remember, if a stranger knocks, don’t open the door. If you end up being turned into a ‘hot weapon,’ I’d be terribly troubled as your older sister.”
“Likewise, dear sister, be careful not to get lured into a dark corner and turned into a ‘hot weapon’ yourself. I’d be troubled as your younger sister if that happened,” Li Meng retorted.
Ling Ning sighed helplessly as she watched the sisters bicker. Without a word, she grabbed Li Qian’s hand and dragged her toward the door.
“We’re off to the reunion~” Ling Ning called out to Li Meng over her shoulder.
“Take care,” Li Meng replied casually, though her tone was tinged with irritation.
Li Qian, on the other hand, was too distracted by the warmth of Ling Ning’s hand to muster any response. Her mind was flooded with thoughts like, Ling Ning’s hands are so soft, Her hands are so smooth, and Ling Ning is amazing.
Once they stepped outside, Ling Ning noticed Li Qian’s dazed expression. She waved a hand in front of her face, snapping her out of it.
Li Qian blinked, looking confused, and instinctively let go of Ling Ning’s hand. A small pang of disappointment filled her heart.
“What’s wrong, b***h? You’ve been zoning out ever since we left. Don’t tell me you’re still half-asleep.”
“N-No way! I’m wide awake!” Li Qian stammered, flustered. There was no way she’d admit to what she’d just been thinking. If Ling Ning found out, she’d never hear the end of it.
“Then why are you spacing out?”
“I was just thinking about stuff, okay?”
“Today’s b***h feels a little off. Don’t tell me you’ve found a new boyfriend? Introduce him to me, won’t you?”
“Boyfriend? Do I look like someone who would get a boyfriend?”
“No, you don’t look like it. You are it.”
Ling Ning’s deadpan response almost made Li Qian want to punch her, though she quickly regretted bringing up boyfriends. If Ling Ning did get one, what would happen to her?
No, if Ling Ning ever got a boyfriend, she’d make sure to steal him away. After all, she was called a b***h for a reason. It wasn’t wrong to NTR someone else’s partner, right?
“Alright, enough teasing. Want to grab some breakfast?” Ling Ning asked, changing the subject.
She had skipped breakfast to get to Li Qian’s place early, intending for them to eat together.
Checking the time on her phone, Li Qian realized it was nearly noon. If they stopped for breakfast now, they’d likely be late for the reunion.
“No need. The reunion’s at ‘Little Chef,’ and Zhang Hao’s treating. Let’s save our appetite for that,” she suggested.
Ling Ning’s eyes lit up at the mention of “Little Chef.” She eagerly nodded in agreement, her hunger suddenly even more acute. Still, waiting until lunch was manageable.
The reunion venue was a bit far, so they hailed a taxi to get there on time.
As they arrived in front of the grand “Little Chef” restaurant, Li Qian breathed a sigh of relief. They had barely avoided being late, thanks to her oversleeping.
After explaining their purpose to the hostess, they were led to a private room. The room was spacious, likely due to the divider between two adjoining rooms being removed to accommodate the large group.
Inside, Zhang Hao was regaling his old classmates with stories when the door opened. Seeing Li Qian step in, he lit up with excitement. He hadn’t been sure she’d come, considering she had only said she’d think about it. Now, here she was—and looking even more stunning than he remembered. Compared to his current girlfriend, Li Qian was leagues ahead.
Just as he was about to greet her, Zhang Hao spotted someone stepping in behind her—a beautiful young woman with a captivating figure, an angelic face, and a pair of mesmerizing long legs.
He was sure this woman wasn’t one of their classmates. If she had been, there was no way he’d have forgotten someone so striking. Yet, she seemed oddly familiar...
Adjusting his expression, Zhang Hao approached Li Qian with a smile. “It’s been ages, old classmate. You’re looking more beautiful than ever~”
Li Qian couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at his blatant flattery. Outwardly, she replied simply, “Long time no see.”
“And this is...?” Zhang Hao gestured toward Ling Ning, curiosity evident in his eyes.
Before Li Qian could respond, a sharp voice cut in.
“Li Qian, this is a reunion. Why would you bring someone unrelated? I don’t remember anyone like her being in our class,” sneered a woman standing nearby.
The speaker was Sun Ting, one of their old classmates—and Zhang Hao’s current girlfriend. Back in school, she had competed with Li Qian for the title of class beauty, only to lose.
Sun Ting had already been annoyed by how Zhang Hao’s attention had shifted to Li Qian the moment she arrived. Now, with someone even more beautiful stealing the spotlight, she was fuming. The boys who had been chatting with her moments ago were all gawking at the two women by the door.
This was supposed to be her moment to shine! She had arrived first, and this was her stage. Why did it have to turn out like this?!
Li Qian glanced at Sun Ting, her expression unreadable, before breaking into a sly smile. “Oh, this person is far from unrelated. Can’t you tell who she is?”
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Author’s Note:
Salted Fish is off to play mahjong tonight. Wish me luck!