She’s Just Too Hard to Win Over [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 22
Lu Yue was waiting at the classroom door. When she saw Ning Xue, she handed over a small box.
“White peach hard candies. I remember it’s your favorite flavor.”
Ning Xue smiled. “Yeah, it is. Thanks, Yueyue.”
Lu Yue’s eyes flicked past her shoulder to where Jing Ling stood, and she added meaningfully, No need to thank me. We’ve been friends for so many years no one knows you better than I do.
Ning Xue blinked, not sure why she suddenly brought that up, but technically… she wasn’t wrong.
They’d known each other for years long enough to understand each other’s likes and dislikes better than family.
“Yeah,” Ning Xue said with a small laugh.
Hearing that, Lu Yue’s expression softened. “Then I’ll get back to class. Don’t forget about tomorrow.”
As she passed Jing Ling, she gave a cold snort, the corners of her lips curling into a smug, mocking smile.
No one could come between her and Ning Xue.
Jing Ling ignored the provocation. She wasn’t about to play petty jealousy games. Still, that box of peach candies in Ning Xue’s hand irritated her more than she’d like to admit.
“Something going on tomorrow?” she asked casually.
“Uh…” Ning Xue hesitated. “I promised a junior I’d help her cosplay two characters for the school anniversary. Tomorrow we’re trying on the costumes.”
“Cosplay?” Jing Ling froze.
That was completely outside her area of expertise she had no idea what that even involved, much less how to ask.
Ning Xue nodded. “This year’s culture festival is focused on traditional culture, so we’re doing characters from Chinese animations. The roles aren’t too difficult, just…”
The outfits were a bit on the revealing side.
After all, one was a demonic enchantress and the other a foreign temptress both had to look alluring. The makeup alone wasn’t enough; the costumes had to match the part.
But she didn’t dare say that out loud.
She had a strong feeling that if she told Jing Ling, the other girl would definitely stop her or at least be upset.
And she didn’t want to upset Jing Ling.
When had she started caring so much about Jing Ling’s moods?
Sigh… looks like I’m too far gone.
After a moment’s thought, Jing Ling said, “I’ll go with you.”
“No!” Ning Xue refused on instinct.
She had planned to sneak there quietly. Why did Lu Yue have to bring it up in the first place?
Jing Ling frowned. “Why not?”
Ning Xue’s eyes darted around, and she improvised, “Because it’s a special program for the anime club. My junior said it has to stay confidential.”
“Oh? And Lu Yue’s allowed to go?” Jing Ling’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Ning Xue swallowed hard but forced herself to sound calm.
Lu Yue’s the vice president of the student council. She has to review all the performances before they’re approved.
“So she can, but I can’t?”
“Oh come on, you’re missing the point!”
Jing Ling had caught the point because the point was all she cared about.
The class bell cut their conversation short. Sitting at her desk later, Ning Xue thought about Jing Ling’s question. Maybe she should just tell her the truth. It wasn’t like it was that big of a deal… right?
After school, Jing Ling didn’t bring it up again, but her expression was dark, and she stayed silent the whole way home.
At the door, Ning Xue hesitated. “Then… I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jing Ling’s gaze darkened. She reached out and shut the door.
Do you have to do that event?
She’d looked it up during class. Cosplayers often wore the exact same outfits as the characters and the pictures she found online were… well, a lot.
She knew it was just performance art, but still what if Ning Xue’s costume was one of those? Standing there while strangers stared at her?
Ning Xue’s voice softened. “The junior begged me in person. I couldn’t say no.”
Jing Ling sighed and pulled her into her arms, resting her chin on Ning Xue’s shoulder.
“Why can’t you just behave?” she murmured.
She wanted to tell her not to go but she also didn’t want to be selfish. If this was something Ning Xue liked, how could she stop her?
Ning Xue, on the other hand, thought she was being very well-behaved. Anyone else who tried to hold her like that and would have been flipped to the floor already.
Neither said another word. The silence stretched between them, warm and slow, filled only by the sound of their quiet breaths.
“Jing Ling, let me go,” Ning Xue whispered.
Her heart was pounding. Jing Ling’s lips were dangerously close—if anyone walked in right now…
Jing Ling finally released her, her face calm and expressionless, as if nothing had happened.
That night was unusually quiet. Jing Ling didn’t message her, didn’t come up with an excuse to drag her over. Nothing.
Ning Xue sighed. She’d tried so hard not to upset her, yet somehow Jing Ling was still upset.
The next morning dawned bright and clear—a perfect day to go out.
Lu Yue came to pick her up. The silver luxury car parked at the entrance of her run-down neighborhood looked completely out of place.
Once Ning Xue got in, Lu Yue handed her an ice cream cone.
“Can we eat in the car?”
The car was spotless too expensive-looking to risk staining. Ning Xue froze with the ice cream halfway to her mouth.
“Go ahead. If it gets dirty, I’ll just have it cleaned,” Lu Yue said with a smile.
She’d pinned up her bangs today, her hair tied into a ponytail just like Ning Xue’s. Without the fringe, her smooth forehead and neat hairline were fully visible.
Two tiny pimples sat near her temple, but they hardly mattered. Without her bangs, her delicate features stood out even more bright almond eyes that seemed to hold the warmth of early spring.
“You look really good like this,” Ning Xue said honestly. “You should keep your hair up.”
Lu Yue’s smile deepened. She leaned closer. “Do you like me like this?”
Her gaze was steady, open, and filled with something fiery that made Ning Xue’s heartbeat quicken.
Caught off guard, Ning Xue ducked her head and took a quick bite of her ice cream. “It’s really good!”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Lu Yue’s eyes, but she quickly brushed it away with another smile.
Ning Xue was just hopelessly oblivious. No matter how many hints Lu Yue had dropped showing her clips from lesbian movies, sending her scenes from girls’ love novels she’d never caught on. She’d simply admired the actresses’ beauty and moved on.
Still, it didn’t matter. She’d already waited this long. She could wait a little longer.
The costume they were trying today was for Xie Yue, the demon concubine—a wildly popular villainess from a hit animated series last year. Fans loved her so much that after her “death,” the director was pressured to revive her.
It was a role people held in almost sacred regard. If Ning Xue’s cosplay didn’t live up to expectations, the backlash would be brutal.
She stared at the handful of sheer fabric pieces in front of her and swallowed hard. “Do I really have to wear it exactly like in the anime?”
Lin Xiaoxiao, the junior in charge, said cheerfully, “Just try it on first. If something doesn’t fit, we can adjust it. The fabric looks thin, but it’s not see-through at all!”
Ning Xue reluctantly changed. To her surprise, it was opaque technically but still… far too skimpy.
The short, gauzy top hung loosely off her shoulders, exposing more skin than she was comfortable with. The neckline was wide, the hem barely reached her waist, and the long red skirt had slits up both sides that went scandalously high.
Ning Xue: …
She’d definitely been tricked.
“Senior, are you done?” Lin Xiaoxiao called, full of anticipation.
No, Ning Xue thought darkly. Ask again and I might actually die of embarrassment.
She cracked open the door just a little. “I don’t think this outfit works.”
But Lin Xiaoxiao had already peeked through the small gap and seen enough to be stunned. Despite her excitement, she tried to act professional.
“Senior, you have to come out so I can see how it fits. Otherwise, how can I make adjustments?”
Reluctantly, Ning Xue stepped out.
The wide neckline framed her graceful collarbones, the thin layers of gauze crisscrossed over her chest, and her slim, pale waist gleamed under the light. The red skirt swayed with her movements, revealing flashes of her long legs.
She looked ethereal and seductive all at once every bit the demon concubine brought to life.
Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes sparkled. She was too stunned to even speak.
Ning Xue fidgeted, tugging at the hem of her top awkwardly. Before she could take a step toward the mirror, a strong hand yanked her backward and a familiar figure loomed over her.