Ming Xue turned back to look at Su Qingqing’s delicate, beautiful face and replied seriously, “Susu, don’t tell me you’re trying to flirt with me.”
“What would I flirt with you for? I was just asking.” Su Qingqing was taken aback, not expecting Ming Xue to take it that way.
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with flirting. Want to give it a try?” Ming Xue suddenly stepped forward, pressing her whole body against Su Qingqing’s. Even through layers of clothing, Su Qingqing could feel the soft pressure of those ample curves. Ming Xue’s face moved in close too.
Their noses were only a few centimeters apart. In the sweltering air with barely a trace of breeze, Su Qingqing could feel the warm breath hitting her face, smell the faint fragrance in Ming Xue’s hair—and even began to imagine she could hear the rapid thudding of a heartbeat.
No—she quickly realized it wasn’t Ming Xue’s heartbeat she was hearing. It was her own.
“Just kidding.” Ming Xue giggled and bounced back a step, hands clasped behind her back as she bent forward with curiosity and gave Su Qingqing a few more lingering glances. “I already like someone.”
Su Qingqing nodded. “Me too.”
But what Su Qingqing didn’t realize was that her words had planted a Pandora’s box inside Ming Xue’s heart. For the first time, Ming Xue became aware that she had never felt even a hint of affection for any guy. Even the celebrities she liked were all female. Her mind felt dazed, baked by the summer heat, and a sudden thought struck her: Could it be that I… actually like girls?
She glanced at Su Qingqing beside her, lips slightly parted. “No way…”
“No way what?” Su Qingqing noticed her murmuring and asked, a bit puzzled.
“Ah, nothing.”
That single thought made Ming Xue fall quiet, her energy draining like a deflating balloon. Every few steps, she snuck a glance at Su Qingqing, and each glance brought a deeper flush to her cheeks.
With girls… sometimes, expectations burst forth like a broken dam, impossible to contain.
It was tough for Su Qingqing. She suddenly stopped, grabbed Ming Xue’s strong wrist, and said helplessly, “Ming-jiejie, don’t overthink it. I was just joking. Can’t you be a little more normal?”
“Hey! You were the one who flirted first! Now you want to bail?” Ming Xue huffed, puffing up her cheeks adorably.
Su Qingqing rolled her eyes. “You psycho, that counts as flirting?”
Who knew that one jab would rile Ming Xue up even more. She pouted. “Say that again if you dare!”
Su Qingqing almost did—then suddenly remembered that this big-sister type actually liked being scolded. She might even be waiting for it.
She gave a dry laugh and let go of Ming Xue’s smooth wrist. “Not letting you get what you want. Seriously, how did a nice girl end up with such a kink?”
Ming Xue just pouted again.
It didn’t take long for them to reach the shop Ming Xue had picked out on campus. “We’ll make do with something basic for now. There aren’t any fancy brands here anyway. I’ll help you buy a few good ones later.”
She saw Su Qingqing’s confused expression and got serious. “Susu, underwear is right next to your most private parts—you can’t just brush it off! Like those band-aids you’re wearing… honestly…”
She trailed off, unsure how to finish that sentence. So Su Qingqing helpfully added, “A fine steed deserves a fine saddle.”
Ming Xue’s eyes lit up. She glanced pointedly at Su Qingqing’s chest. “So you think your steed’s worth the saddle?”
Su Qingqing gave a proud little push. “This has to count as a ‘Jade Night Lion’ at least.”
“What’s that?”
“Same level as your ‘Red Hare,’ of course.”
At the mention of Red Hare, Ming Xue instantly got it. Her face reddened, and she gave a soft huff through her nose before clutching her sizable chest and stepping into the lingerie shop.
Once her figure was hidden behind rows of bras and hangers, Su Qingqing finally exhaled.
But then, a crackling, distorted voice whispered in her ear—Pan’s voice, as if dragged through a phone line: “Classmate Su Qingqing, how’s it going?”
“You again? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“Hey, hey—I’m your boss. Show a little respect.”
“Why aren’t you calling this time?”
Actually, Su Qingqing’s complaint earlier had reminded Pan that calling wasn’t necessary. But of course, she wouldn’t admit that. Instead, she giggled mischievously. “Didn’t feel like it.”
Su Qingqing raised her phone and pretended to be on a call. Pan could whisper out of nowhere—she couldn’t, or she’d be sent to a mental ward.
“Pan, are you one of those devils from legend? The kind who make deals with humans?”
Pan gave a sly laugh. “Ever heard of a devil that gives people money? I’m actually an angel of salvation~”
Su Qingqing was about to retort when her phone actually rang.
She looked at the screen, surprised. It was a call she had never expected. She picked up, tried to speak, but found her hands trembling.
“Hello, are you listening?”
Su Qingqing didn’t respond. Her breathing quickened with the voice on the other end.
The person on the other side fell silent for several seconds, then spoke again: “I know you’re listening, Su Qin. Send me your current address. I’ll have someone bring you a bank card with a hundred-thousand limit.”
Su Qingqing clenched the phone so hard her knuckles turned white in the sunlight.
Only now did she realize—after an entire year of dating, Yu Zhongmeng didn’t even know where she lived. She could’ve just asked once. Or done the tiniest bit of digging.
The sourness in her chest gave way to bitterness, flooding every corner of her heart. Her expression grew blank with disappointment.
Inside the shop, Ming Xue noticed Su Qingqing hadn’t followed and waved from the door. “Susu! What are you doing just standing there? Come in!”
“Susu? Is that you?” Yu Zhongmeng’s voice on the phone suddenly grew louder.
Su Qingqing finally snapped out of it. She quickly hung up, smiled, and walked toward Ming Xue. She opened WeChat and, before deleting and blocking Yu Zhongmeng, sent one final message:
“No need for that hundred thousand. I’ll be disappearing forever—just like the necklace you lost.”
“What’s wrong? Isn’t it hot standing out here?” Ming Xue asked, a bit reproachfully.
“Just got a scam call.”
“Why even answer it? Should’ve just hung up.”
“Well, how was I supposed to know it was a scam?” Su Qingqing’s mood had been low—but one look at all the lingerie inside, and she perked up. Her mind began to drift. “My God, I’m really allowed to look at all this?”
“Of course! You’re not just looking—you’re going to wear them!” Ming Xue said with a laugh, amused by Su Qingqing’s reaction.
———
Back in the dorm, what had been a cool space now felt hot and stifling.
Yu Zhongmeng set her phone on the desk, pushed open the glass door, and walked to the window. The sun blazed overhead. Just standing there for a few seconds made every pore scream—sweat broke out across her forehead instantly.
She was someone who respected others’ choices. So after seeing Su Qin’s WeChat message, she decided not to send the card. They both had their principles. She did. And so did Su Qin.
But for some reason, the distorted “Susu” kept echoing in her mind. She grew more and more restless. Slamming the window shut, she turned on the AC and went back to sorting her endless luggage.
As the chilly wind from the Gree unit blew at 18°C, she finally realized how irrational she’d been. She steadied herself and raised the temperature to 24.
But the heat never really left her.
And the sound of that distorted “Susu” refused to be driven out.
So she lowered it back to 18°C again.
(End of Chapter)