Chapter 379 : Just a Casual Shopping Trip
“Xiaoxiao, do you think this dress suits me? Or is it too simple? Should I change into another one?”
Xu Qing stood in front of her younger sister, wearing a white dress. She looked visibly uneasy, fidgeting as she sought reassurance.
Xu Xiaoxiao gave her sister an exasperated look. “This one’s fine! You’ve already tried on several dresses. If you don’t start doing your makeup now, you’re going to be late. Being late for a date is a big no-no.”
“Eh?!”
Xu Qing froze, then glanced at the clock. It was already past 8:00, and she’d agreed to meet Ling Ning at 9:00. If she kept dawdling, she really would be late.
“It’s not a date! It’s just a casual shopping trip, that’s all!” Xu Qing stammered before dashing into her room to start her makeup routine.
Watching her sister rush off, Xu Xiaoxiao sighed helplessly. She didn’t understand why her sister had spent the entire previous night picking out clothes, only to still be so indecisive this morning. Actually, it wasn’t that Xu Qing hadn’t decided—it was just that she kept second-guessing herself.
“Oh well, it’s not my problem,” Xu Xiaoxiao muttered, ruffling her hair in frustration. She had her own plans today and couldn’t afford to spend any more time on her sister. She needed to change and get ready too.
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“Made it!”
Xu Qing arrived at the designated meeting spot, glancing at her watch. She still had ten minutes before she’d be late. Surprisingly, Ling Ning wasn’t there yet. That was unusual—Ling Ning was typically very punctual.
Just as Xu Qing was wondering, a familiar scent wafted past her, and she felt a pair of hands gently cover her eyes from behind.
She wasn’t startled at all. That scent was unmistakable.
“Guess who~”
Hearing the voice, Xu Qing couldn’t help but smile. “Ling Ning, I know it’s you.”
“Huh?!”
Ling Ning pulled her hands back, looking at Xu Qing in surprise. “How did you know it was me? I even changed my voice!”
Xu Qing giggled. “That’s a secret~”
As Ling Ning’s seatmate, Xu Qing had memorized her distinct fragrance. It was so uniquely hers that Xu Qing couldn’t possibly forget it.
“Come on, tell me!”
Ling Ning latched onto Xu Qing’s arm, deploying her rarely-used “cuteness attack.”
Xu Qing, who prided herself on her composure, felt her resolve crumble instantly. Ling Ning’s “cuteness attack” was too much—there was no way she could resist.
“F-Fine, I’ll tell you! It was your scent. The fragrance gave you away,” Xu Qing confessed with a sigh.
“My scent?”
Ling Ning tilted her head in confusion. She sniffed her arm lightly but couldn’t detect anything distinct. Giving up after a moment, she smiled and said, “By the way, you let your hair down today, didn’t you?”
Xu Qing’s usual ponytail was absent, and her long hair cascaded down her shoulders. At first glance, Ling Ning hadn’t even recognized her.
“H-How does it look?” Xu Qing asked shyly.
“It looks great! It suits you perfectly,” Ling Ning said, her tone sincere as she studied Xu Qing closely.
Xu Qing had also applied light makeup, which gave her a refined and slightly stunning appearance. The white dress she wore further emphasized her pure and elegant vibe, while her white high-heeled sandals added a touch of sophistication.
The entire ensemble gave Ling Ning the impression that Xu Qing looked... like she was going on a date.
“By the way, Xiao Qing Qing, you don’t usually like wearing high heels, do you?” Ling Ning asked, eyeing the shoes.
“W-Well, I saw these while browsing an online shop and impulsively bought them. I thought they’d go well with this dress, so I decided to try them out. Do they look weird?” Xu Qing stammered.
Ling Ning shook her head gently. “Not at all. You look beautiful~”
Blushing at the compliment, Xu Qing quickly changed the subject. “Let’s grab some breakfast first.”
“Sure.”
As they walked, Ling Ning noticed the abundance of couples strolling along the street. It seemed like there were more than usual today.
Sensing Ling Ning’s confusion, Xu Qing hesitated before explaining softly, “I-It’s probably because today is Qixi Festival.”
“Qixi?!”
Hearing the familiar yet distant term, Ling Ning froze. She suddenly remembered that today was indeed Qixi Festival—the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day. And after Qixi, there were only a few days left before the start of the school year. Time was flying by too fast.
Noticing that Ling Ning didn’t have any particular reaction, Xu Qing felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment.
As they passed a couple holding hands, Xu Qing found her gaze drawn to Ling Ning’s hand. Before she realized it, her own hand had reached out and grasped Ling Ning’s.
Startled, Ling Ning glanced at her in confusion.
“T-The street’s really crowded today, so I thought we should hold hands to avoid getting separated,” Xu Qing stammered, her face burning.
What kind of excuse was that?! Even I don’t believe it!
“Oh, I see.”
Ling Ning nodded lightly. She tightened her grip on Xu Qing’s hand and said with a smile, “Let’s not let go, then.”
“Huh?! Oh... right. I won’t let go.”
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Author’s Note:
The salted fish suddenly thought about pigeons... Wait, I mean, pigeons are adorable. What do you think?