Chapter 475 : Sacrificing Others to Save Oneself
“So… that’s how it is.”
After hearing Ling Ning’s explanation, Ye Xuan chuckled lightly. She hadn’t expected Lin Hai, known as a veteran player, to take an interest in Chu Feng. The turn of events was almost fantastical. Even Ye Xuan was curious about Lin Hai’s reaction once he found out Chu Feng’s true identity.
“Don’t you feel a little guilty setting up little brother Chu Feng like this?”
“Not at all, Big Milk! I believe little brother Chu Feng is a man of principles and ambition. There’s no way Lin Hai can win him over! Next time I go to the café, I’ll treat him to some cream cake to make up for it,” Ling Ning said righteously.
“Isn’t this the classic case of ‘better him than me’?”
“Haha, why call it what it is?”
Without Lin Hai hovering around like a pesky fly, Ling Ning felt like she had just hit a jackpot in a game, pulling a rare SSR on a single draw. Well, not that SSRs were particularly rare for her. Whatever—she was happy.
“Ling Ning, let me see your leg now!”
“Huh!? I told you it’s fine~”
Despite her protest, Ling Ning lifted her leg onto Ye Xuan’s lap. She figured there was no stopping Ye Xuan from checking anyway, so she might as well comply. At most, Ye Xuan would give her leg a couple of pats—something she’d long since gotten used to.
Wait! Getting used to this sort of thing didn’t sound good. Being used to being touched? That didn’t sit right, but Ling Ning decided not to dwell on it. Besides, Ye Xuan’s touch felt… oddly comforting.
Ye Xuan inspected Ling Ning’s fair, delicate foot, quickly noticing the injury on her right foot. It didn’t look serious, but even so, Ye Xuan felt a pang of heartache.
Ling Ning’s long legs were practically a national treasure. Any damage to them was a loss for the world, let alone for her.
“Ouch! Don’t press there! It might look fine, but pressing it still hurts, okay?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
Ling Ning sighed at Ye Xuan’s calm expression. Oh well, she thought, closing her eyes to take a nap. It had been a while since she last had an afternoon nap.
Glancing at Ling Ning’s relaxed demeanor, a faint smile played on Ye Xuan’s lips. This was what she wanted—watching Ling Ning transition from resistance to acceptance, and eventually to enjoyment. Step by step, Ling Ning was falling into her hands.
After all, the “study materials” never lied. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before Ye Xuan could take things further with Ling Ning. A flash of intensity passed through Ye Xuan’s eyes.
Completely unaware of this, Ling Ning lay with her eyes closed.
Ye Xuan, tempted, started to move her hand higher up Ling Ning’s leg. But before she could, Ling Ning grabbed her hand and opened her eyes with a resigned look.
“Didn’t I say not to go higher~”
“Oops, slipped.”
Ling Ning rolled her eyes. “Slipped” her foot! Ye Xuan clearly wanted to take advantage of her while she was “asleep.” She couldn’t understand why someone as composed as Ye Xuan acted like a lecherous old man.
And Ye Xuan’s poker-faced approach to mischief left Ling Ning speechless.
“Can’t sleep. Turn on the TV, would you?”
“Got it~”
Ye Xuan picked up the remote and turned on the TV, switching to a movie channel. It was showing an old film about a playboy juggling relationships with multiple boyfriends. The story climaxed with the protagonist getting exposed and punished.
Watching the movie, Ling Ning felt an odd sense of déjà vu and a sudden pang of unease.
“This guy is such a scumbag, juggling multiple relationships under the guise of spreading happiness.”
“Exactly! People like that should be locked in a basement and, you know, dealt with—turned into human weapons!” Ling Ning quickly agreed.
“Hmm, not a bad idea~”
“Haha…” Ling Ning laughed awkwardly, unsure what to say. Then again, if becoming a “human weapon” let someone build a harem, that didn’t sound too bad.
“What if someone you liked was that kind of scumbag?” Ling Ning asked playfully, though she felt a bit nervous.
“Not sure.”
“Huh!?”
Ye Xuan’s cryptic answer left Ling Ning baffled. She gave Ye Xuan a confused look but decided not to overthink it. She focused on the movie instead. After all, she figured everything would work out—or sink—eventually.
The movie wasn’t long, but there wasn’t enough time to finish it. With about 30 minutes left on the progress bar, Ling Ning sighed and stood up, stretching lazily.
“It’s about time. I have to get back to class. See you later~”
“Mm, be careful on your way.”
Walking out of the teacher’s dormitory, Ling Ning was hit by the oppressive heat. She sighed dramatically. Weather like this made her feel like she couldn’t survive without air conditioning.
She opened her umbrella to block the sun’s rays.
Thankfully, the classroom wasn’t far from the dormitory. In less than ten minutes, she was at the base of the teaching building when her phone buzzed with a message from Xia You, warning her about the time—she was cutting it close.
Distracted by her phone, Ling Ning didn’t notice someone in front of her and bumped into them. Thankfully, neither of them fell or got hurt.
“Sorry.”
Ling Ning instinctively looked up to see a glamorous woman with striking makeup. Ling Ning paused, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.
“No problem. Just pay attention while walking—don’t use your phone,” the woman said before leaving.
Ling Ning watched her retreating figure and shook her head lightly. It must have been her imagination. How many familiar faces could there be at this school?
“Oh no, I’m late!”
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Author’s Note:
Why does life suddenly feel so exhausting?