Chapter 519 : A Small Price
“It’s so cold. I just want to curl up inside the kotatsu at home~”
Ling Ning sat in the campus cafeteria with Xia You, looking utterly dejected. She was back to the familiar grind of school life, and her day had started with a “life chat” with Bai Jie. Thankfully, her coursework wasn’t an issue, a perk of being a reincarnated soul with prior knowledge.
Xia You glanced at Ling Ning with admiration. After only attending a handful of classes over the past month, Ling Ning had still managed to stay on top of her studies. Xia You even suspected that Ling Ning might have already mastered all the material required for university.
“Ling Ning, you should eat before your food gets cold,” Xia You reminded softly.
“Hmm? How about you feed me, Xia You?”
Ling Ning teased, though she knew it was unrealistic. With a sigh, she pulled her hands from her pockets and began eating her lunch.
If Ling Ning were willing to pay a “small price,” Xia You might have indulged her. And what would that price entail? Heh heh heh...
“Hey, Xia You, do you want this chicken leg?”
Xia You glanced at Ling Ning’s plate. The chicken leg had a small bite taken out of it. Having spent so much time with Ling Ning, Xia You knew her dining habits well—she always saved the best for last.
However, Ling Ning’s appetite was often small, so Xia You frequently ended up enjoying those “best bits” herself, complete with Ling Ning’s faint flavor.
After lunch, they stepped outside, the chilly wind prompting Ling Ning to tighten her coat. “Xia You, let’s visit the clubroom. It feels like ages since we’ve been there,” she suggested.
Xia You nodded. Wherever Ling Ning went, she would follow.
In the manga club room, Lin Xi and Luo Xiaoyu were locked in a heated debate over an incredibly serious issue, while Su Ya stood to the side, looking like she was on the verge of tears. Mediate or not, nothing seemed to help.
“I’m telling you, how can anyone eat salty tofu pudding?” Luo Xiaoyu argued coldly.
“Oh, yeah? Well, in my opinion, sweet tofu pudding is the real abomination!” Lin Xi retorted with equal venom.
Su Ya sighed deeply. How had it come to this? They had started discussing magical girls, yet somehow it had devolved into a battle over tofu pudding. How did magical girls even lead to tofu pudding?
As Su Ya considered sneaking out for some fresh air, both debaters suddenly turned to her. “You! Which is better: sweet or salty tofu pudding?”
Caught off guard, Su Ya blinked and answered hesitantly, “Uh… I prefer it plain.”
“Heretic!” they shouted in unison.
Before the argument could escalate further, the clubroom door swung open, revealing Ling Ning. Hearing the commotion outside, she had been curious but hadn’t caught much of the discussion.
“Ling Ning, you’re here!”
Su Ya exclaimed in relief. Surely Ling Ning’s arrival would end this endless debate.
To Su Ya’s dismay, Lin Xi and Luo Xiaoyu immediately pounced on Ling Ning with their question. “Ling Ning, do you prefer sweet or salty tofu pudding?”
Tilting her head, Ling Ning assumed the dispute was over something trivial like East-Southeast Sprite. The intensity of their argument made her realize it was a battle of tastes.
“I’ll say just one thing: tofu itself has no flavor; sweetness or saltiness is a personal choice.”
“But what about your preference?” Luo Xiaoyu pressed.
“Oh, sweet.”
Luo Xiaoyu grinned triumphantly, casting a smug glance at Lin Xi.
“Tch.”
Lin Xi, though clearly displeased, decided it wasn’t worth continuing the debate.
“So, Ling Ning, what brings you here? Haven’t you been busy lately?” Lin Xi asked, changing the subject.
“Well, now that I’ve finished everything, I figured I’d stop by. But seriously, is there no heating in this clubroom?”
Lin Xi rolled her eyes. “Heating? Keep dreaming. Heating’s a myth, like special effects in movies.”
“Really? That’s disappointing...” Ling Ning muttered. She had hoped the clubroom could be a warm retreat where she could nap during lunch. Apparently, that wasn’t happening.
“By the way, Ling Ning, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Lin Xi grabbed a magazine from the table and showed Ling Ning the cover. “If I wore this outfit, would it look good on me?”
Ling Ning glanced at the cover. It featured a photo of her from a recent shoot. “Oh, this issue’s already out?”
“It’d look okay, I guess,” Ling Ning said thoughtfully. “But honestly, you shouldn’t wear it. Your legs aren’t long enough. You wouldn’t pull it off.”
“Couldn’t you sugarcoat that a little?” Lin Xi huffed. “We get it—you’ve got two-meter-long legs.”
She glanced at her own short legs, then at Ling Ning’s long, stocking-clad ones. A wave of self-pity washed over her. Why had she even thought to compare herself to Ling Ning?
“They’re saying this winter’s going to be especially cold, so I suggest skipping fashionable outfits like this. Just wrap yourself up like a dumpling,” Ling Ning advised.
As far as she was concerned, once winter hit, she’d sacrifice style for warmth without hesitation. Who cared about appearances when staying cozy was an option?
“Speaking of which, doesn’t the club have any activities planned?”
“Of course, but you missed them, ghost member.”
“Oh? What kind of activities?”
Before Lin Xi could answer, a knock sounded at the door.
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Author’s Note:
I’m really starting to embrace my salty fish lifestyle~