She’s Just Too Hard to Win Over [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 13

Jing Ling’s fingertips curled slightly, her heart skipping a beat. Her gaze toward Fang Ningcheng grew colder.

“This is what you wanted to tell me?”

From her expression, Fang Ningcheng couldn’t read anything at all, and for a moment, he began to doubt himself.
Had he just overthought the whole thing?

Not far away, Ning Xue was holding an ice cream cone, licking it once with the tip of her tongue. Her face softened into a smile of pure satisfaction.

For a brief second, Jing Ling’s breath stalled. Something unfamiliar rippled through her chest like boiling water, bubbling up and spreading faster and faster.

Like…

What a strange word.

She only saw Ning Xue as a friend there couldn’t possibly be anything beyond that.
How could she ever like someone who was just using her?

Forcing down the sudden turmoil inside her, Jing Ling said flatly, “If you called me here just to talk nonsense like this, then don’t waste my time.”

Fang Ningcheng still felt something was off, but since she’d said that, there was no point pressing further otherwise, she might really think he was trying to force Ning Xue onto her.

Of course, in his mind, no one in the world was good enough for his sister anyway.

Ning Xue bit into her ice cream, sneaking glances at them from time to time. When she saw the two stand up, she quickly looked away, pretending not to care.

“So fast? You’re done talking already?

Fang Ningcheng flicked her forehead lightly. “Didn’t you just tell us to hurry?”

Still, that was too fast barely two minutes had passed.

Ning Xue chomped another bite off her ice cream, looking every bit like an adorable child.

Jing Ling glanced at the siblings. The distaste she felt toward Fang Ningcheng eased a little.
He might speak in a strange way, but at least his care for Ning Xue was genuine—a passable older brother, she supposed.

“She’s a simple, kind-hearted girl,” Fang Ningcheng had said earlier. “She treats you as a real friend. I hope you’ll be sincere with her too don’t hurt her.”

That sentence lingered in Jing Ling’s mind. When she looked at Ning Xue again, her emotions grew complicated.

I want to treat you sincerely, she thought, but you won’t give me the chance.

Even knowing why Ning Xue had approached her in the first place, she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to believe in her.

It left her more conflicted than ever.

When Fang Ningcheng went off to find their mother, Ning Xue asked, “Are you buying something? Want me to come with you?”

Jing Ling had just opened her mouth when her phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, her brows furrowed sharply, and a flicker of cold irritation flashed in her eyes.

“You should answer that first,” Ning Xue said softly. “I’ll wait for you.”

Jing Ling gave her a cool look. “You can go ahead.”

Ning Xue bit her lip. “Alright then.”

Jing Ling walked off to take the call. Ning Xue, meanwhile, went to meet her family again.

As they walked, Fang Ningcheng said, “Do you have to be friends with her? I don’t think your personalities really match.”

Jing Ling was deep, guarded, impossible to read. Ning Xue, this naive little fool, wasn’t her match in any sense.

Ning Xue took another bite of ice cream, unfazed. “Opposites attract, right? Perfectly matched personalities are boring.”

“…Opposites, huh? How are you going to balance out the intelligence gap?”

Realizing he was teasing her, Ning Xue smacked him on the arm.

Fang Ningcheng just sighed silently. There wasn’t much more he could do.
He could only hope this foolish girl wouldn’t get hurt.

Ning Xue wasn’t stupid she was just too kind. That made her easy to take advantage of.
Still, at least her kindness seemed to be reserved for Jing Ling alone.

“Let’s hope your foolishness brings you some luck,” he muttered with the weariness of an old father.

Ning Xue’s response was to twist his arm hard enough to leave a red mark.

Meanwhile, Jing Ling’s voice was icy over the phone.
“I told you not to call me again.”

Gu Lan paused, her tone turning pitiful. “I think about you every day, and all you do is snap at me. Do you know how heartbreaking that is?”

Jing Ling almost hung up, but something made her stop.

“Whether it’s you or anyone from your Gu family, stay away from me.”

She wanted to ask Gu Lan what Ning Xue had promised her but she didn’t dare.

She’d already decided to keep Ning Xue close, to play along. Did it even matter anymore?

Gu Lan, used to being hung up on, waited for the dial tone but it never came.

“That little classmate of yours seems interesting,” she said slyly.

Jing Ling’s expression darkened, her throat tightening before she spat out coldly, “I said stay away from me. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Gu Lan flinched at the chill in her tone. “I already handled those people bothering you. You should be left alone now, right?”

Then what about your people?

Jing Ling’s grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles went white.
The image of Ning Xue’s earnest smile flashed in her mind she ended the call abruptly.

Gu Lan sighed, rubbing her temples. “When will you ever be gentle with me, you heartless thing?”

By the time Jing Ling looked up again, Ning Xue was gone.

If it’s money you want, I can give you that, she thought bitterly. Can’t you just stay by my side?

She must have gone crazy. Completely and utterly crazy.
Otherwise, how could she have such absurd thoughts?

The endless doubt and frustration were wearing her down, leaving her exhausted—body and soul.

Just then, a hand appeared before her, holding out an ice cream cone. The fingers were slender and pale, soft skin stretched over delicate bones.

Jing Ling lifted her gaze and was met with a bright, sunny smile.

“Didn’t you leave?” she asked.

Ning Xue nudged the cone toward her. “It’s boring shopping alone. Let me tag along, yeah?”

Jing Ling didn’t take it. She didn’t like overly sweet things.

“There’s no need for that. You must have your own stuff to do.”

Ning Xue thought for a moment. “Hmm… not really. If I go home, I’ll just get nagged to study. Might as well hang out with you.”

Maybe if I keep her happy, her affection level will go up, she thought. A little progress is still progress.

“You really don’t want the ice cream?” she asked.

Jing Ling shook her head, a faint glimmer of something unreadable in her eyes.
What was she scheming now? Should she play along?

Ning Xue tore off the wrapper and took a big bite. “Mmm! It’s good! You’re missing out.”

Jing Ling’s gaze lingered on the smear of cream on her lips, and something inside her chest itched soft, faint, but impossible to ignore.
Before she could stop herself, she leaned down and took a bite.

Ning Xue froze, stunned their noses almost touched.

“I thought you didn’t want any?” she managed to say.

“Changed my mind,” Jing Ling murmured. “Didn’t want to miss out.”

“…Then you can have it.”

But Jing Ling didn’t take it. The artificial sweetness had already filled her mouth—it wasn’t pleasant at all.

“You just wanted a taste,” Ning Xue muttered, taking another bite with mock irritation.

They continued shopping, picking up tissues, trash bags, instant noodles—Ning Xue complained they were unhealthy but still grabbed a few packs.

As they left, bags in hand, a kid on a hoverboard came speeding around the corner. Ning Xue couldn’t dodge in time she was knocked over, her things spilling everywhere.

The boy’s parents rushed to apologize. Ning Xue waved them off, saying it was fine.
After they left, she sat on the ground and extended her hand lazily. “Help me up.”

Jing Ling looked down at her, unmoved.

“I fell because I was helping you carry all this stuff,” Ning Xue complained. “You have to take responsibility.”

Jing Ling sighed softly and reached out her hand.

The moment their fingers touched, Ning Xue suddenly yanked her down. Jing Ling lost her balance and fell right on top of her.

Their eyes met both wide with shock, frozen in place.

“Mommy, look,” a little voice piped up nearby. “Those two big sisters are kissing!”