Chapter 402 : I Have Plenty of Budget Left!
“Sorry, did I keep you waiting?”
Su Ya immediately spotted Ling Ning, standing quietly near the school gate. Despite the bustling crowd, Ling Ning stood out effortlessly—especially those perfect long legs, which made her impossible to miss.
Ling Ning smiled faintly when she saw Su Ya. “Not at all. I just got here myself.”
“Hmm? Did you not sleep well last night?”
Su Ya asked as she got closer. She noticed faint dark circles under Ling Ning’s eyes, barely concealed by makeup. There was also a subtle exhaustion about her face.
Ling Ning chuckled softly. “Just stayed up too late, that’s all. Nothing serious.”
In truth, she hadn’t really slept. Thoughts had kept her tossing and turning until nearly six in the morning. By the time she managed to doze off, her alarm went off shortly after. It was no wonder she looked a little worn out.
“Are you sure I’m not bothering you by asking you out today?” Su Ya asked cautiously.
“You’re not bothering me. In fact, it’s the other way around—I’m the one who asked you out.”
Ling Ning replied, giving Su Ya a deep, affectionate look. Suppressing the urge to pull her into a hug, she handed Su Ya a small bag. “Here, I don’t suppose you’ve had breakfast yet?”
Su Ya blinked in surprise before taking the bag with a sweet “Thank you.” She had indeed slept in until the last possible moment and barely had time to get ready, let alone eat. She hadn’t expected Ling Ning to prepare breakfast for her—what a pleasant surprise!
As Su Ya nibbled on her steamed bun, Ling Ning watched with a soft smile. Memories from her past life came flooding back, and her gaze grew increasingly tender.
Noticing the warmth in Ling Ning’s eyes, Su Ya hesitated and glanced down at herself. “Is something wrong?” she asked, puzzled.
“It’s nothing,” Ling Ning said gently. “You just reminded me of my younger sister.”
“Wait, you have a sister?” Su Ya exclaimed, her curiosity piqued.
“Yep. I’ll introduce you sometime,” Ling Ning replied with a chuckle. Seeing that Su Ya had finished her breakfast, she added, “Shall we get going? Is there anywhere you’d like to visit?”
“Could we shop for clothes first?” Su Ya asked, looking up at her with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Have you already gotten all your essentials and supplies?”
“Yep! I went shopping with my roommates last night, so everything’s sorted,” Su Ya said with excitement. She wasn’t about to waste this rare opportunity to go out with Ling Ning by doing something as mundane as buying necessities.
Ling Ning nodded approvingly. “Alright. There’s a shopping district nearby. We can walk there.”
“Sounds good!”
Su Ya agreed eagerly. She was unfamiliar with the city, having only visited once for a convention, so she happily let Ling Ning lead the way.
From a discreet corner, Xia You emerged just in time to see the pair walking away. She stared thoughtfully at their retreating figures. If it weren’t for her own school registration to attend to, she might have followed them to observe their dynamic more closely.
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Strolling leisurely along the streets, Ling Ning savored the moment. How long had it been since she last walked side-by-side with Su Ya like this? Even after being reincarnated, she never imagined such a day would come again.
“Ling Ning, do I look like someone you know?” Su Ya asked suddenly, breaking the silence. Her tone was hesitant, as if she had been holding back the question.
Startled, Ling Ning quickly realized Su Ya was referring to their conversation from the previous day. She thought for a moment before nodding. “Yes, you remind me a lot of her. That’s why I mistook you for her at first.”
“And… where is this friend of yours now?”
“She went far away,” Ling Ning replied softly.
Hearing this, Su Ya hesitated, unsure if she had overstepped by asking. She opened her mouth to say something but ended up muttering a simple, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s all in the past,” Ling Ning reassured her with a gentle smile. Silently, she added to herself, Because now we’ve met again.
The two continued their conversation, exchanging lighthearted remarks, as they arrived at their destination—a bustling shopping district. Su Ya’s eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of the vibrant stores. Shopping for clothes was her favorite pastime.
Ling Ning glanced around. She wasn’t particularly familiar with this shopping area, having rarely visited before.
“How about we check out that store first?” Su Ya suggested.
“Sure.”
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“Wow! Ling Ning, your taste is incredible—it’s so much better than Zeyu’s!” Su Ya exclaimed as they walked down the street, her face beaming with delight.
Ling Ning chuckled lightly. In truth, Su Ya’s own sense of style wasn’t bad—she simply lacked confidence. By combining Su Ya’s preferences with her own insights, Ling Ning could easily pick out clothes that suited her perfectly.
“Wait a second.”
“Huh? What’s wrong?” Su Ya turned around, puzzled.
Ling Ning stepped closer and reached out toward Su Ya’s face. Startled, Su Ya froze, unsure how to react.
“Your collar was a bit crooked,” Ling Ning explained with a smile.
“Oh, I see. Let’s check out the next store!”
Su Ya said, blushing slightly. She had jumped to conclusions, wondering for a moment if Ling Ning was about to do something unexpected. Of course, that was silly—girls didn’t do things like that to each other!
Ling Ning chuckled. “We’ve already been to five stores. Are you sure you’re staying within budget?”
Su Ya’s shopping habits hadn’t changed from her past life—once she got started, she tended to lose track of her spending. Ling Ning had always kept an eye on her budget back then to avoid emptying her wallet.
“No worries! I still have plenty of budget left!” Su Ya replied nonchalantly.
“...Ah.”
Ling Ning suddenly remembered: in her past life, Su Ya had been a rich kid until graduation, when her parents cut off her allowance to encourage independence. For now, money wasn’t a concern for her.
“Well then, as long as you’re having fun, I’ll keep you company for as long as you want.”
Though her words carried a slightly flirtatious tone, Su Ya—completely engrossed in her shopping—didn’t notice. Grabbing Ling Ning’s hand, she eagerly dragged her toward the next store.
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Author’s Note:
Time for another wholesome friend plug! This time, it’s The Days I Spent as a Pet in the Infinite Squad/我在无限小队里当宠物的日子 by “Building Joy on the Foundation of Pain.” Here’s the synopsis:
On a deserted island, he used his claws to remind beasts who the real predator was.
In a post-apocalyptic world, he used his mind to show survivors that even monsters could be cunning.
And in a society ruled by violence, he studied under a ruthless priestess and mastered the Eight Maidens technique.
He even tricked a serpent goddess into debating interspecies reproduction.
In a magical realm teeming with legends and demigods, he proved his dignity through countless battles.
This is the story of a crafty and cunning Behemoth in the Lord God’s domain, slowly rising to legendary status.
Check it out if you’re interested!