Chapter 446 : To Calm the Nerves
“Huh? Out of mosquito coils again?”
Jiang Xue scratched her leg absentmindedly. No wonder she had felt a mosquito biting her—it turned out the mosquito coil had burned out.
She reached for the box of coils nearby, only to find it empty. The one that had just burned out had been the last one in the house.
“Ah, just my luck.”
Jiang Xue glanced at the clock. It was already past ten o’clock, meaning the nearby small stores were likely closed. If she wanted to buy more coils, she would have to walk to a farther shop.
Sighing in resignation, she got up and started getting dressed to go out.
There wasn’t much choice. At this time of year, mosquitoes were still a nuisance. Without coils, she’d wake up the next morning covered in bites.
“I’ll just treat it as a stroll for inspiration,” she muttered to herself.
Stepping outside, Jiang Xue felt the evening breeze, though it barely eased the lingering heat. She considered using part of next month’s paycheck to buy an air conditioner.
But then again, it was already October. With autumn just around the corner, buying an air conditioner seemed unnecessary. Instead, she could save the money to commission another figurine of her Master—definitely a better investment.
Speaking of which, the custom figurine she’d recently ordered should be arriving soon. The thought made her giddy. If only her Master could strike that exact pose in real life… Surely, she’d be brimming with creative inspiration!
Shaking her head to dispel those unrealistic thoughts, Jiang Xue decided to take the main road to the convenience store. It was safer for a girl to avoid side streets at night.
The convenience store wasn’t too far. After about ten minutes, she successfully bought mosquito coils. On her way back, she noticed two girls arguing loudly by the roadside.
As she got closer, she realized they were actually a teacher and a student.
The student seemed to be confessing her feelings to the Teacher. Though Jiang Xue only caught a few words in passing, it was clear the Teacher already had a girlfriend.
Jiang Xue didn’t linger to eavesdrop further, but she couldn’t help but admire the student’s courage. To boldly confess to her mentor, even knowing they were taken—what bravery.
She wished she had that kind of courage. But what if she were rejected? She would lose everything.
Before she knew it, Jiang Xue had returned home. Her mind was filled with thoughts of her Master—every smile, every expression replayed in her mind like a vivid memory.
Unable to bear it, she grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. It was airing an episode of The Return of the Condor Heroes, showing Little Dragon Girl and the one-handed protagonist being affectionate.
Jiang Xue rolled her eyes and changed the channel. The next program was a drama titled What Should I Do If I Fall for My Master?.
What the heck?
Was teacher-student romance suddenly trending?
With a conflicted sigh, Jiang Xue turned off the TV. She decided to distract herself by reading some manga—or if that didn’t work, drawing a few sketches of her Master to calm her nerves.
Wait, why draw her Master? Why was she always thinking about her Master? How had things come to this?
Frustrated, Jiang Xue ruffled her hair, turning her previously smooth locks into a chaotic mess. Somehow, the disheveled look only added to her beauty.
Just then, her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was her Master calling.
“H-Hello, Master. Is something wrong?”
Though her voice sounded calm, Jiang Xue was inwardly panicking. Why was her Master calling this late? Could it be…?
“Disciple, did I leave my bag at your place?”
Jiang Xue froze, glancing around. Sure enough, there was a bag hanging on the wall—it must be her Master’s.
“Yes, it’s here.”
“Phew, as long as it’s there. I didn’t realize I’d left it behind until just now. I’ll come by to pick it up tomorrow—or better yet, why don’t you come to my place instead? I’ll treat you to a free lunch~”
The truth was, Ling Ning didn’t feel like going out tomorrow. With a rare day off, she preferred to sleep in and relax at home. Inviting Jiang Xue over also seemed like a good way to make up for falling asleep at her place earlier.
Hearing her Master’s invitation, Jiang Xue agreed without hesitation. After all, it was her Master’s home—how could she not go? Who knew what might happen…
“Alright then. No need to come too early. Just whenever is convenient.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Alright, that’s all. I’m off to bed. Sleep early too. Goodnight~”
“G-Goodnight.”
After hanging up, Jiang Xue jumped up in excitement. If there weren’t a ceiling, she might have spiraled into the sky. She was going to her Master’s house tomorrow—how wonderful! Would it be just the two of them?
If it were, that would be amazing!
Right, she needed to wear something nice for the occasion!
With that thought, Jiang Xue opened her wardrobe, only for a large body pillow to tumble out. She set it aside and carefully placed a figurine back on her desk before rummaging through her clothes.
The room, which she had cleaned just that morning, was soon cluttered again with outfits strewn everywhere.
“Oh, right, should I bring something? Maybe some snacks or fruit? Spicy snacks like Teacher’s?”
She immediately dismissed the idea. Ling Ning wasn’t Teacher; spicy snacks wouldn’t do. Maybe groceries? Or some nice fruit?
Time ticked by as Jiang Xue agonized over the decision. For her, it was destined to be a sleepless night.
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Author’s Note:
A salted fish consumed by gaming—no energy left…