Chapter 487 : The Usual Rule No Going Higher
“Ling Ning, thank you for helping me today~”
After setting down her things, Bai Jie turned her head and smiled warmly at Ling Ning.
“It’s nothing. I didn’t have anything to do this afternoon anyway. Besides, I couldn’t just stand by and watch you carry all that stuff on your own, could I?” Ling Ning said as she shook out her shirt lightly. The air conditioning in the storage room had been broken, which made the experience all the more unpleasant.
After moving so many things in such hot weather, Ling Ning felt drenched in sweat and sticky all over—utterly uncomfortable.
“In any case, thank you. Next time, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
“Then I’d like to eat something you cook yourself, Sister~”
Hearing Ling Ning’s request, Bai Jie smiled. “Alright, alright. Whatever you want to eat, I’ll cook it for you next time. Just come over to my place, and I’ll make it.”
Seeing Bai Jie’s pleased expression, Ling Ning couldn’t help but smile. Bai Yiyue had once told her that Bai Jie loved being praised for her cooking. It seemed that was indeed the case.
“Do you have anything else to take care of, Sister?”
“No, I’m all done. You can go rest now.”
“Okay, then I’ll get going.”
After bidding farewell to Bai Jie, Ling Ning headed toward Ye Xuan’s dormitory. She was desperate for a shower. Going all the way home didn’t seem practical, so Ye Xuan’s dorm—with its conveniently available bathroom—was the perfect alternative. As for clothes, she could just borrow Ye Xuan’s. Ling Ning figured Ye Xuan wouldn’t mind.
At worst, she could let Ye Xuan touch her legs a bit as payment. No big deal.
To avoid arriving when Ye Xuan wasn’t there, Ling Ning called ahead to confirm. Once assured that Ye Xuan was in her dorm, she made her way over.
“Ding dong~”
Hardly a few seconds after pressing the doorbell, the door opened. Ling Ning raised an eyebrow. Was Ye Xuan standing right by the door? How else could she open it so quickly?
Stepping into the room, Ling Ning immediately felt the cool air from the AC. She stretched contentedly. This was the ideal summer environment—a world of air conditioning.
“Why are you so sweaty?”
“I was helping someone move stuff. It wasn’t that tiring, but it was way too hot,” Ling Ning replied, visibly annoyed.
“Oh~”
When Ye Xuan’s wandering hands started to make their move, Ling Ning swatted them away. “Hey, don’t start grabbing me the moment you see me! Mind if I use your shower?”
“Go ahead.”
“By the way, can you lend me some clothes? Mine are completely soaked through.”
“Sure, just head to the shower. I’ll bring you something to wear.”
“Ye Xuan, you’re the best!”
Ling Ning cheered as she headed straight for the bathroom, while Ye Xuan went to her room to pick out a change of clothes for her.
Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, Ye Xuan found herself swallowing nervously. Ling Ning taking a shower… She really wanted to see that.
Walking up to the bathroom door, Ye Xuan instinctively reached for the handle. To her surprise, it wasn’t locked. Turning it, she opened the door and was met with the sight of Ling Ning staring at her in shock.
Ye Xuan blinked. Although a layer of frosted glass separated them, it didn’t obscure much. Taking advantage of Ling Ning’s stunned silence, Ye Xuan said nonchalantly, “You forgot to close the door. Also, here’s your change of clothes. I’ll leave them here.”
With that, she exited the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Inside, Ling Ning stared blankly at the closed door. She must have been so excited earlier that she forgot to close it. How careless. Thankfully, Ye Xuan was a girl. If Ye Xuan had been a guy, Ling Ning wouldn’t have even come here to shower.
Shaking her head lightly, she started humming a tune, enjoying the warm water as it washed away the sweat and discomfort.
Unlike Ling Ning, Ye Xuan, now sitting in the living room, wasn’t nearly as composed. On the surface, she appeared calm, but her mind was racing through her mental “educational materials.” It had been a while since she last indulged in them. Perhaps it was time to revisit and catch up.
As Ye Xuan was lost in her thoughts, the bathroom door opened. Ling Ning emerged, her shower finished. She hadn’t washed her hair, so this bath had been quicker than usual.
“Ah~ That feels much better~”
Ling Ning said as she walked over and plopped herself down beside Ye Xuan. She sprawled lazily on the sofa, her long legs resting on Ye Xuan’s lap. With some time left before her afternoon class, she could relax for a bit.
“Ling Ning, what kind of job do you want after you graduate from college?”
Hearing Ye Xuan’s question, Ling Ning shrugged. “Graduation is still years away. I’ll figure it out when the time comes. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll probably stick with modeling. Or maybe I’ll become a teacher—teaching seems like a decent choice. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just curious.”
“I’m not exactly ambitious. If it weren’t for Ye Ye, I wouldn’t even be working this hard. Without her, I’d probably just be lazing around.” Ling Ning chuckled softly.
“…I see.” Ye Xuan nodded thoughtfully, her hand absently caressing Ling Ning’s long legs. In this world where everything seemed to be either yuri or yaoi, at least these legs were real and warm.
“The usual rule: no going higher. Wake me up when it’s time for class—I’m going to nap for a bit.”
“Alright.”
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“Ling Ning, Ling Ning.”
Someone was gently shaking her. Ling Ning slowly opened her eyes to see Ye Xuan’s pretty face inches from her own.
Blinking, she asked groggily, “Is it time already?”
“Yes, it’s time.”
“Time flies so fast…” Ling Ning muttered reluctantly as she sat up. “Well, I’m off. I’ll return your clothes next time.”
“No worries. I still have some of your clothes here too, don’t I?”
Hearing this, Ling Ning raised an eyebrow but then reminded herself that Ye Xuan wasn’t her overly affectionate childhood friend. There was no need to worry about her doing anything strange with the clothes.
“Alright, I’ll come get them next time.”
“Okay.”
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Author’s Note:
Azur Lane really eats up oil. Just a few runs for Poi, and I’m out of oil~