Chapter 409 : No Going Up There!
“Huh? Isn’t that Su Ya?”
Ling Ning had planned to drop by Ye Xuan’s dorm for some air conditioning after lunch, but as she stepped out of the cafeteria, she spotted Su Ya nearby. Judging by the absent figure of her “almost boyfriend,” Xie Zeyu, she seemed to be alone—which wasn’t a bad thing.
Curious, Ling Ning approached with a smile. “Hey, Xiao Ya.”
Hearing Ling Ning’s voice, Su Ya instinctively turned around. Her previously annoyed expression brightened into a dazzling smile. “Ling Ning!”
“Where’s your ‘almost boyfriend’? I don’t see him.”
“Him?” Su Ya’s mood soured again at the mention of Xie Zeyu. “Don’t get me started! He didn’t call me last night, which was bad enough, but today we were supposed to have lunch together. I waited and waited, and when I finally called him, he told me he was at the internet café with his roommates playing Overwatch!”
“Seriously, is Overwatch more important than your girlfriend?” Su Ya huffed, visibly annoyed.
Ling Ning tilted her head. “I’ve played that game before—it’s pretty engaging. But personally, I think girlfriends are far more important. Actually, there’s no comparison.”
Though she spoke lightly, Ling Ning felt a twinge of regret. In her past life, there had been a period when she was obsessed with Overwatch, to the point where Su Ya often had to drag her out of the house. Looking back now, she wished she had spent more of that time with Su Ya instead.
“See? Even you agree!”
Seeing Su Ya’s puffed-up cheeks, Ling Ning couldn’t help but laugh softly. It had been a while since she’d seen Su Ya like this. On impulse, she reached out to rub Su Ya’s cheeks. They were soft and warm—a pleasant sensation.
FeeLing Ning Ning’s hand on her face, Su Ya stared at her in shock, as if to ask, What are you doing?
Realizing what she had done, Ling Ning quickly withdrew her hand and gave an awkward laugh. “I couldn’t help myself. You looked so cute when you were angry. Want to rub my face in return?”
Hearing this, Su Ya subconsciously glanced at Ling Ning’s flawless, porcelain-like face. She could already imagine how smooth and soft it would feel. However, she restrained herself. Touching Ling Ning’s face seemed too forward.
“What are your plans for lunch?”
“I’m planning to head back to the dorm for a nap. I stayed up too late last night.”
“I see. You know, girls shouldn’t stay up too late—it’s bad for your skin.”
Su Ya rolled her eyes. The very person who had kept her up late chatting dared to lecture her about staying up? If it weren’t for Ling Ning, she wouldn’t have been sleep-deprived in the first place.
But then again, it was the first time she’d stayed up so late chatting with someone. Even with Xie Zeyu, their conversations never lasted more than thirty minutes before fizzling out.
"Go get some rest then. I need to find a place to catch up on sleep too."
Su Ya had stayed up late last night, and Ling Ning hadn't gone to bed much earlier either. After their chat, she had even stayed up to write a chapter of her new book before finally going to sleep.
After saying goodbye to Su Ya, Ling Ning went straight to Ye Xuan's dorm room. Just as she was about to knock, Ye Xuan unexpectedly opened the door. Seeing the garbage bag in her hand, Ling Ning figured she was probably going to take out the trash.
When Ye Xuan saw Ling Ning, she showed a slightly surprised expression, but quickly composed herself and asked casually, "Have you had lunch?"
"Yes, I have."
“Then come in and take a seat. I’ll be right back after throwing this out.”
Inside Ye Xuan’s room, Ling Ning immediately flopped onto the sofa, sprawled out lazily. With over an hour left before her next class, she figured it was the perfect opportunity for a nap.
Shortly after, Ye Xuan returned. Seeing Ling Ning lying on the sofa, seemingly asleep, she hesitated briefly before squeezing into the narrow space beside her. Gently, she rested her hands on Ling Ning’s long legs.
To her surprise, Ling Ning didn’t stop her. Encouraged, Ye Xuan boldly stroked Ling Ning’s legs. She had half-expected to be pushed away, but when that didn’t happen, she was pleasantly surprised.
“Just don’t go any higher.”
Ling Ning murmured softly. She didn’t bother saying much else—after all, no matter how she tried to stop Ye Xuan, the latter always managed to find a way to touch her legs.
At least it was better here in the privacy of a room than in public.
“Ling Ning, is something bothering you lately?”
“Why do you ask?”
Ye Xuan lightly touched the crease between Ling Ning’s brows. The answer was evident.
With a sigh, Ling Ning shifted slightly, draping her long legs over Ye Xuan’s lap. It was surprisingly comfortable.
“It’s just some annoying stuff... nothing serious.”
“I see.”
Ye Xuan didn’t press further. Sometimes, silence was more comforting than words. She simply gazed at Ling Ning, quietly offering her presence.
After a while, as Ling Ning was on the verge of falling asleep, Ye Xuan spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. “Ling Ning... are you still hesitating?”
“Hesitating? Am I... still hesitating?”
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“Ling Ning, wake up!”
Still half-asleep, Ling Ning felt someone shaking her. Opening her drowsy eyes, she found herself staring at Ye Xuan’s calm yet strikingly beautiful face.
“Let me sleep for a hundred more years...”
Ye Xuan sighed. Without another word, she placed her hand on Ling Ning’s leg. At first, Ling Ning didn’t react. But as Ye Xuan’s hand ventured farther, Ling Ning finally bolted upright, glaring at her.
“Hey! I told you not to go any higher!”
“I had no choice—I was trying to wake you up,” Ye Xuan replied matter-of-factly. Still, she felt a pang of disappointment. If Ling Ning hadn’t reacted, she might have...
“You could’ve used another method!”
“I tried, but you didn’t wake up.”
Ye Xuan replied, her expression as stoic as ever. Exasperated, Ling Ning checked the time on her phone. If she didn’t leave soon, she’d be late for her afternoon class.
“Want me to walk you there?”
“No need—I can manage. See you later!”
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Author’s Note:
Drafts... Oh, the tragedy of running out of drafts! (Tears everywhere)