She’s Just Too Hard to Win Over [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 12

The system ruffled its feathers and said,
[Technically, yes. But if you take it, it means betraying Jing Ling. And if she finds out…]

That was all it needed to say Ning Xue wasn’t stupid.

It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head. The cold sank straight into her bones, dragging her soaring heart down with it.

At this moment, she just wanted to dramatically shout to the heavens: It’s not me who’s wrong it’s the world!

Why give her hope, only to snatch it away again?

She had been just one step away from becoming a millionaire, and now she could only go back to being a dreamless salted fish.

When Gu Lan saw her silent, she forced herself to be patient.
“I know your family’s situation,” she said evenly. “Your mother’s had it hard. With this money, she could retire early and live comfortably.”

Ning Xue looked completely deflated. Her voice was weak when she answered,
“I refuse.”

Gu Lan was caught off guard. “Why?”

Good question! Ning Xue wanted to scream. I’d like to ask myself the same thing why did I pick such a crappy system?!

She took a deep breath to calm down and said solemnly,
“The fact that you can even ask that question means you’ve never had a real friend. True friendship can’t be measured with money. Especially not mine and Jing Ling’s. Thinking you can buy me off with this little money you’re underestimating me.”

Her tone was righteous and firm, but inside, her heart was bleeding.

If the system hadn’t warned her that taking the money would mess up her mission, she’d have pocketed that check already.

She wasn’t noble far from it. In an age where even heroes were crushed by poverty, a single check could lift her family out of hardship. Who wouldn’t take it?

She used to think having a system that gave her rewards for free was a blessing. Turns out, it was just a curse in disguise.

“I don’t want you anymore,” she muttered at the system.

The system went speechless. Is that even something humans say?

Gu Lan stared at her, momentarily stunned. Very few people ever dared speak to her like this. This girl wasn’t just ignorant she was fearless.

“Do you understand what happens when someone offends me?”

Ning Xue’s heart skipped a beat. Still, since she’d already gone this far, she had to keep up the act.

“I won’t sell out my friend for money,” she said boldly. “Even if you’re the head of some criminal organization, I won’t yield!”

Gu Lan blinked. Criminal organization? The girl’s imagination was wild. Despite herself, she chuckled softly.

“Alright,” Gu Lan said, waving her hand. “Go home. And if anyone else tries to buy you off like I did, you reject them the same way. Understand?”

Ning Xue nodded silently and turned to leave. Even if Gu Lan hadn’t said it, she would have done the same. It wasn’t like she could actually accept the money anyway.

Those checks she could see them, touch them, but never have them. It was torture like sending a eunuch to a brothel.

Watching her leave, Gu Lan murmured to herself, “Seems Little Ling’s taste isn’t that bad after all.”

Once Ning Xue had walked a good distance, the chill finally caught up with her. Only then did she realize how dangerous that had been. The woman clearly had underworld ties, and she’d just refused her to her face. What if she retaliated later?

And that woman’s concern for Jing Ling it wasn’t normal. They definitely knew each other. Ning Xue wanted to ask what their relationship was, but common sense told her not to.

The more you know, the less safe you are. Sometimes, survival meant playing dumb.

She glanced back once the Bentley was still parked where she’d left it. Her pace quickened. When she turned a corner, she bumped straight into someone.

Looking up, she met Jing Ling’s eyes cool and unreadable, her usual calm mask firmly in place.

Ning Xue’s heart skipped twice. For some reason, it felt like she’d been caught doing something wrong.

Then she reminded herself indignantly: Why should I feel guilty? I just turned down a million yuan for our friendship!

If that didn’t count as being a true friend, what did?

Forcing a smile, she said, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to pick up a few things,” Jing Ling replied, her eyes softening slightly.

Seeing her empty-handed, Ning Xue assumed she had just arrived and didn’t think much of it.

“My mom and Ningcheng disappeared somewhere. I was just about to look for them. Let’s go in together.”

Jing Ling nodded and turned. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the Bentley driving away. Through the half-open window, she saw a face she recognized and hated.

“What are you looking at?” Ning Xue asked, stopping to wait for her.

Jing Ling’s gaze locked onto her, emotions storming beneath the surface. She wanted to ask she needed to ask but for a moment, the words caught in her throat.

Ning Xue frowned slightly, concern flashing in her eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Maybe she’d caught a chill last night after rushing out right after her shower.

Jing Ling had planned to keep everything buried inside, but the pressure in her chest was unbearable.

“Are you hiding something from me?”

Just tell me the truth, she thought. If you do, I’ll believe you.

Ning Xue hesitated. Did she see what happened earlier? Should she tell her everything?

That woman Gu Lan was strange. She knew everything about Jing Ling, almost obsessively. And she clearly wasn’t someone to mess with. If Ning Xue told Jing Ling, wouldn’t that just put her in danger?

And most importantly if she said she’d just refused a million yuan for their friendship, would Jing Ling even believe her?

She hesitated too long.

Jing Ling waited, a faint hope flickering in her chest hoping Ning Xue would be honest, that their friendship still meant something.

Ning Xue forced a laugh. “Hide something? From you? We’re together almost every day. If something happened, wouldn’t you know?”

Then what was that just now? Jing Ling thought bitterly.

That secret meeting, in that secluded spot what else could it be if not about her?

Disappointment hit her like a cold wind, hollowing her out.

“Really nothing?” she asked, her tone still calm but strained.

One last chance.

Jing Ling clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms but she barely felt it. Her whole focus was on Ning Xue.

Ning Xue noticed the tension but didn’t understand it. Jing Ling looked desperate to confirm something almost frightened. Inside, Ning Xue was torn. One voice told her to tell the truth; another screamed not to.

Finally, she stuck with silence.

“Really nothing. Don’t you trust me?” she said, trying to sound confident.

But her fake composure was so transparent that Jing Ling saw right through it.

Jing Ling relaxed her hand, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I was just asking. Of course, I trust you.”

Ning Xue’s smile brightened. “Then let’s go.”

Jing Ling nodded, walking beside her.

The moment you decided to hide things from me, she thought, our trust was already gone.

So that’s how it is?

Fine. If you approached me with an agenda, then don’t blame me for playing the same game. Let’s see who deceives whom first.

Still, the thought left her hollow.

The first time she’d given her heart to someone, it ended in betrayal. How pathetic.

The bitterness festered inside her, begging for release. She suddenly grabbed Ning Xue’s wrist. Before Ning Xue could react, Jing Ling leaned forward and bit her on the cheek.

“ouch! What the hell are you doing? Let go!”

Ning Xue yelped, sucking in air from the pain, but Jing Ling didn’t move. Her teeth only sank deeper.

“It really hurts, please, let go!” she whimpered, her voice trembling.

The girl was like a rabid dog once she latched on, she refused to release. Ning Xue didn’t dare fight back, so she just played pitiful.

It really did hurt though. Why was she biting so hard was she venting anger on her? What had she even done wrong?

Before she could bleed, Jing Ling finally let go. A round bite mark bloomed on her cheek, reddened and swollen. Jing Ling looked at it, her mood strangely lighter.

A mark, she thought. Proof that you’re mine. And until I get tired of you, you’re not allowed to run.

Tears welled up in Ning Xue’s eyes. She looked at Jing Ling with pitiful indignation. Jing Ling reached out, brushing her thumb over the mark, her expression unreadable.

“Sorry,” she murmured softly. “Guess I bit too hard. Did it hurt?”

The apology sounded anything but sincere.

Ning Xue glared, grabbed Jing Ling’s arm, and bit her back hard.

“Why don’t you find out for yourself if it hurts!”

Jing Ling glanced at the teeth marks on her arm, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “So, are you not mad anymore?”

“Not yet,” Ning Xue huffed. “Unless you buy me ice cream.”

Jing Ling stared at her pouting face, a storm swirling quietly in her eyes.

Even if I mark you, it won’t change anything. In the end, you’ll still betray me.

This game was rigged from the start.

The moment she started worrying about Ning Xue and let her stay close, she had already lost completely.

Jing Ling bit her lip and turned toward the mall. “Come on, I’ll buy you ice cream.”

Ning Xue hurried after her, cheerful again, as if nothing had happened. Jing Ling glanced at the bruise on her face already turning green and the crack in her heart widened further.

Inside the mall, they ran into Fang Ningcheng. He gave them both a complicated look.

“What’s with you now?” Ning Xue asked, uncomfortable under his stare.

Fang Ningcheng’s eyes flicked to Jing Ling before pulling Ning Xue aside. He whispered, “Did she hurt you?”

“No… why would you think” Ning Xue stopped mid-sentence.

Right. The huge bite mark on her face wasn’t exactly helping her case.

Fang Ningcheng frowned, his tone unusually serious.

“It was an accident, okay? Don’t worry about it. Where’s Mom?”

Fang Ningcheng clicked his tongue. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I might’ve believed that lie.

What kind of ‘accident’ leaves a bite mark like that? She did that on purpose.

He’d been happy that Ning Xue had finally made a new friend but clearly, he’d been happy too soon.

Jing Ling’s possessiveness didn’t look like simple friendship.

He hadn’t thought much of it before, but now he realized maybe Jing Ling’s feelings for Ning Xue had long since changed.

And this idiot of a sister had no clue, running toward her with open arms, completely oblivious to what kind of person she was dealing with.

Fang Ningcheng stepped forward, placing himself between them. “Let’s talk,” he said to Jing Ling.

Jing Ling stared at him silently. She didn’t see the point what was there to talk about?

Ning Xue peeked from behind him. “What do you want to talk about with Jing Ling?”

Fang Ningcheng pushed her back. “Adult stuff. Stay out of it.”

Ning Xue glared. You’re one year older than me don’t act like my dad!

Jing Ling’s tone was cool. “What is it you want to say?”

“Let’s talk alone.”

Ning Xue immediately protested, “Why alone? She’s my friend, not yours! Fang Ningcheng, don’t you dare mess with her!”

Jing Ling’s expression softened at that, a faint warmth flickering in her eyes.

“Alright,” she said.

For Ning Xue’s sake, she’d humor him.

“You wanted ice cream, right? Go get some.” Jing Ling handed her a red banknote, ruffling her hair like a cat being soothed.

Ning Xue immediately melted. “Fine, but don’t take too long.”

Both of them nodded.

They sat facing each other, tension hanging thick in the air.

Fang Ningcheng didn’t bother with pretense. His voice was firm when he asked.

Do you like Ning Xue.