She’s Just Too Hard to Win Over [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26

Jing Ling saved the video on her phone and swept her gaze across the people waiting for her to speak. The disgust she felt reached its peak.

There had never been a moment when she wanted to escape the Gu family’s swamp more than now.

Meanwhile, Ning Xue had only invited Lu Yue, but when Lin Xiaoxiao and another first-year heard about it, they wanted to come too. She couldn’t bring herself to refuse, so she let them tag along.

After dinner, the group decided to go sing karaoke. Fang Ningcheng acted as their bodyguard sitting in the corner, monopolizing the mic, and somehow managing to chime in on every song.

“Fang Ningcheng, stop stealing people’s songs! If you want to sing, just pick one yourself!”

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously.

He’d already hijacked several songs and it wasn’t just that. The man couldn’t carry a tune to save his life. Every time he sang, she completely lost her pitch.

Fang Ningcheng stood up, cleared his throat, and with great confidence said, “Alright, then I’ll let you all hear my heavenly voice. Consider yourselves lucky!”

Ning Xue twitched at the corners of her mouth, resisting the urge to snatch the mic away. She knew all too well what his “heavenly voice” sounded like after all, that’s what woke her up every lazy weekend morning.

“We still have… what between us…”

When the song finally ended, everyone exhaled in relief.

He raised an eyebrow. “Well? How was that?”

Lin Xiaoxiao and her friend stayed silent. Lu Yue’s gaze was fixed entirely on Ning Xue, who calmly replied,
“Like hearing celestial music… my ears are temporarily deaf.”

He glared. “You just don’t appreciate talent!”

Lu Yue drank quite a bit that night. Ning Xue hadn’t known she could hold her liquor so well 

Lin Xiaoxiao and the other girl had already passed out, while she still seemed perfectly sober.

“Xue’er, I want to get some air.”

Seeing her a little unsteady, Ning Xue helped her out of the room. The moment they stepped into the hallway, Lu Yue suddenly pressed her back against the wall.

Lu Yue looked down at her, emotions swirling in her eyes that Ning Xue couldn’t read.

“Xue’er, actually…” Lu Yue took a deep breath, fiddled nervously with a ring in her hand, and gathered her courage. “I”

Her phone rang, sharp and loud.

Seeing Jing Ling’s name on the screen, Ning Xue said quickly, “Yueyue, wait a second. Let me take this call.”

Lu Yue had seen the name too. Her fingers clenched so tightly that the veins on the back of her hand bulged.

Why was it always her? Why couldn’t that woman just disappear?!

Jing Ling’s first words were, “Where are you?” After Ning Xue told her the location, she simply said, “I’ll be there in ten minutes,” and hung up.

When Ning Xue turned back, Lu Yue was gone. Panicking, she searched around until she saw her sitting with Lin Xiaoxiao. Only then did she relax and go back inside.

Fang Ningcheng was still battling his own voice, oblivious to everyone’s suffering. Somehow, though, his off-key singing no longer sounded so bad to her.

Since he’d be driving everyone home, Ning Xue had been drinking for him whenever he lost a game. Luckily, his luck was decent he’d only lost a couple of rounds.

Lying back on the couch, she listened to his singing until he came over and offered her a slice of watermelon.

“Tired? Want to head home?”

She took a bite and said, “I’m waiting for a friend.”

“Jing Ling, right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

He had wondered why she hadn’t shown up earlier—turns out, it just wasn’t possible for Ning Xue to celebrate without her.

Outside, Ning Xue stood beneath the trees, the night wind teasing at her silk blouse and lifting the hem of her coat, revealing her slender waist.

She’d mostly sobered up, and the designated driver had arrived. Just as she was about to get in the car, a girl stopped her.

The face looked familiar one of her classmates, maybe.

“Jing Ling, let’s make a deal.”

Jing Ling recognized her then Chen Caihui’s little lackey. Funny enough, she’d even seen Chen Caihui earlier today, uninvited at Ning Xue’s birthday dinner. The nerve.

“A deal? With you?”

These girls had bullied Ning Xue before. The fact that Jing Ling hadn’t already retaliated was mercy enough. And now they wanted to negotiate with her?

Jiang Rong stayed calm and handed over her phone. On the screen was a photo of Jing Ling and Ning Xue kissing behind the school building.

“How about now? Do I have your attention?”

“You think you can threaten me with a few photos? You’re more naïve than I thought.”

Jiang Rong’s tone didn’t change. Her eyes, dark as ink, merged with the night.

“It’s not a threat. If it were, I wouldn’t have come alone. Those photos were taken by Chen Caihui. She’s planning to anonymously post them on the school forum soon to ruin both your reputations. Especially Ning Xue’s.”

She paused, then added softly, “Maybe you don’t care. But what about her?”

Jing Ling’s expression hardened. “What do you want?”

“I can help you get rid of the photos—but you’ll owe me a favor.” Jiang Rong’s voice carried deep resentment. “Your Gu Corporation is expanding its supply chain, right? I just want that process… accelerated a little.”

Jing Ling had already guessed as much.

“Fine. I agree.”

Jiang Rong deleted the photos in front of her. “I’ll take care of Chen Caihui.”

Watching her fade into the shadows, Jing Ling’s lips curved faintly.

Interesting.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Still no sign of her. Ning Xue grew restless and went to wait by the door only to bump into a familiar, cool embrace.

She looked up, frowning slightly. “What took you so long?”

Jing Ling’s arm wrapped around her. “Something came up on the way. Sorry.”

Only then did Ning Xue notice she was dressed differently than usual: a white silk blouse tucked into black straight-cut trousers, elegant and refined, her tall frame exuding a quiet maturity.

And was that makeup? Jing Ling never wore any.

“You look… really beautiful today,” Ning Xue said honestly.

Jing Ling’s throat tightened as she met those bright, starlit eyes. She half-embraced her and led her into the room.

Even though they didn’t always get along, she greeted Fang Ningcheng politely before sitting beside Ning Xue.

Lu Yue walked in full of confidence, but froze when she saw Jing Ling holding Ning Xue’s hand, sitting close, like they were in their own world.

Lin Xiaoxiao peeked from behind her and muttered, “Uh… senior, you might’ve come a bit late.”

Lu Yue moved to Ning Xue’s other side and leaned in with deliberate intimacy.

“Xue’er, if you’re drunk, I’ll take you home.”

Jing Ling pulled Ning Xue slightly into her arms, her tone even. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll take her.”

Fang Ningcheng glanced at them, amused, and set his mic aside to watch the show.

Jing Ling didn’t give Lu Yue another chance she simply took Ning Xue and left.

Lu Yue tried to follow, but Fang Ningcheng blocked her. “Let her go. It’s on their way anyway.”

“On their way?” she repeated, tense.

“Yeah. Jing Ling lives next door to us.”

Since when?!

Lu Yue almost crushed the ring in her hand.

Ning Xue wasn’t actually that drunk. She’d let Jing Ling take her just because she wanted some alone time.

What a genius I am, she thought smugly.

Jing Ling brought her straight home and then, the reckoning began.

She pulled out her phone, opened a video, and said with a faint smile, “You’re quite the campus celebrity now.”

Ning Xue felt a twinge of guilt, avoiding her gaze. Jing Ling caught her chin, forcing her to look at her.

“You wore that while I wasn’t around?”

“You didn’t come. It’s not like I stopped you from seeing it.”

Jing Ling reached for a small bag by the bed and shook it lightly. “I don’t want to share it with anyone else. I want to enjoy it alone.”

She pulled out something red when she unfurled it, it was the same Xie Yue cosplay costume, only this one used even less fabric. The skirt barely covered anything and was slit high on both sides.

“That’s not the one I wore. I refuse.”

Ning Xue’s face burned crimson. She didn’t even dare to look directly at it.

Jing Ling braced her hands on either side of her and tilted her head, eyes soft like a puppy’s.

“Actually… today’s my birthday too.”

Ning Xue blinked, startled. “Really? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I didn’t even get you a gift.”

“I don’t want a gift,” Jing Ling said gently. “I just want to see you wear this.”

Her gaze was pleading, her voice low and coaxing, the way a big, gentle dog might beg for affection. Ning Xue’s heart fluttered and she gave in.

“O-okay then…”

She took the outfit in her hands, lowering her gaze, the shy curve of her lips soft and sweet.

And in that moment, Jing Ling realized she already had the best birthday present she could ask for.

After all, today marked her coming of age and it was time to do what adults do.