Chapter 515 : Ah, So Nice~
“Ding-dong~”
Zhou Xiaoxiao, deep in a dream, was abruptly awakened by the sound of a doorbell echoing through the house. It rang again and again, without any sign of stopping.
“Who the heck is it, ringing nonstop so early? Yaaawn~”
Grumbling, Zhou Xiaoxiao opened her eyes reluctantly. It was supposed to be a good weekend, free from her café shifts—why couldn’t she just sleep in? Glancing at the clock, she saw it wasn’t even ten yet. Who on earth would show up this early?
As she debated whether or not to answer the door, a sudden realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. She had arranged for Ling Ning to come over today to help her with her studies—and the agreed time was 9:30!
Blinking rapidly, Zhou Xiaoxiao leapt out of bed and dashed out of her room, only to stop short, turn around, grab a jacket, and head out again. The forecast had mentioned a cold front, but this was freezing!
Opening the door, she found Ling Ning standing outside, looking blankly at her.
“Ah, isn’t this Ling Ning? You’re here so early!” Zhou Xiaoxiao exclaimed awkwardly.
“Oh, really? I’ve been standing out here for nearly half an hour. The feeling of cold wind brushing past me—truly wonderful.”
One glance at Zhou Xiaoxiao’s groggy face and pajama-clad appearance told Ling Ning everything she needed to know. This girl had either overslept or forgotten entirely that she was supposed to come.
Sighing, Ling Ning thought to herself that it wasn’t a big deal. Oversleeping happened—it was human nature. Especially in winter, when the bed seemed to generate an almost magnetic force, it was hard to break free.
“Well, let’s talk inside. I’ll turn on the heater,” Zhou Xiaoxiao said sheepishly.
“Ah, so nice~ A house with heating, how luxurious.”
Ling Ning commented as she followed Zhou Xiaoxiao inside. She wondered when she might be able to afford a house like this. How she wished to join the ranks of the filthy rich.
Taking the hot water Zhou Xiaoxiao handed her, Ling Ning took a small sip, letting the warmth spread through her and chase away the chill.
“Sorry about this. Last night... um, I stayed up too late reading. That’s why I overslept. My bad!” Zhou Xiaoxiao blinked innocently. After all, novels counted as reading too, right?
Ling Ning gave her a sidelong glance. “When you say ‘reading,’ you mean novels, don’t you?”
“W-What? No way! I’m a senior in high school—I don’t have time for novels. You’re so funny, Ling Ning! Anyway, I’ll go freshen up!”
As Zhou Xiaoxiao disappeared into the bathroom, Ling Ning raised an eyebrow. Judging by her panicked tone, it seemed she had hit the nail on the head. But Zhou Xiaoxiao really was too laid-back, lacking any sense of urgency.
While Zhou Xiaoxiao washed up, the living room gradually warmed. Ling Ning casually removed her jacket, hanging it on the coat rack. Beneath, she wore a form-fitting sweater that accentuated her figure.
Feeling restless, Ling Ning wandered into the kitchen and opened the fridge. She was surprised to find it well-stocked with fresh ingredients, likely prepared by a housekeeper.
After a moment’s thought, she decided to make noodles for Zhou Xiaoxiao. It was simple, quick, and wouldn’t take much effort. Besides, Ling Ning had already eaten breakfast on her way over.
When Zhou Xiaoxiao returned to the living room, dressed and refreshed, the enticing aroma of food greeted her. She instinctively turned toward the kitchen, where Ling Ning emerged with a bowl of soup noodles, wearing an apron.
“Here’s your breakfast. Come and eat~”
“Huh? You made this just for me?”
“Of course. Now hurry up and eat. We’ll start studying after this.”
Zhou Xiaoxiao’s face froze. She had been looking forward to a relaxed morning, but here Ling Ning was, mentioning studying right off the bat. Oh well—she’d invited her over for this purpose, after all.
Sitting at the table, Zhou Xiaoxiao took a bite of the noodles. Though simple, they were as delicious as ever. As expected of Ling Ning!
Meanwhile, Ling Ning returned to the kitchen to start prepping lunch. That way, more time could be dedicated to studying later. The thought of such efficiency gave her a sense of satisfaction.
However, Zhou Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but shiver as she ate. The living room wasn’t cold—why did she suddenly feel a chill?
When breakfast was over, the study session officially began.
Ling Ning quickly noticed that Zhou Xiaoxiao had a solid foundation in most subjects. She grasped concepts quickly, though her weak point was English. Unfortunately, there was no shortcut for that—it would require consistent practice.
“By the way, Xiaoxiao, don’t you think it’s getting a bit warm in here?”
Ling Ning said as she removed her sweater. In the process, her inner layer got slightly pulled up, briefly revealing her toned, flat stomach.
Zhou Xiaoxiao’s gaze zeroed in, her eyes wide.
“C-Could I lower the temperature a bit for you?”
“No need. This is fine now.”
Ling Ning replied, now in just a light undershirt.
“Um... Teacher Ling, we’ve been studying for quite a while. Can we take a break?” Zhou Xiaoxiao asked timidly.
“A break? We haven’t been at it that long. But fine, let’s take ten minutes.”
“Only ten minutes?!”
“Do you have a problem, Miss Zhou?”
“No! None whatsoever!”
Both tried to keep straight faces but ended up bursting into laughter simultaneously.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Ling Ning blinked, wondering if Zhou Xiaoxiao’s parents had returned.
Seeing her expression, Zhou Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. “Do you really think my parents would ring the doorbell? They’d just walk right in!”
“Good point. Then who could it be?”
“I’ll go check.”
Zhou Xiaoxiao got up and walked to the door.
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Author’s Note:
Haha!