She’s Just Too Hard to Win Over [Quick Transmigration] (GL/Yuri) - Chapter 3

Ning Xue had felt a little guilty at first after all, it was partly her fault that Li Tao had targeted her.
But the look and tone Jing Ling gave her made that guilt vanish in an instant, replaced by irritation.

“I don’t see it that way. You don’t have to assume things about others. If you don’t want it, then take it back.”

She snatched the ointment from Jing Ling’s hand and turned to leave, her back straight and proud.

Jing Ling leaned back slightly, the cold mask on her face cracking a little. Her thin eyelids lowered, concealing the emotions in her eyes.

Quite the temper.

Looks like things won’t be boring from now on.

Should she thank them for sending her such an entertaining plaything?

Her lips curved slightly into a faint, mocking smile.

Back at her seat, Ning Xue couldn’t stop regretting it. The ointment tube in her hand was squeezed out of shape.

Getting mocked a couple of times wouldn’t have killed her. Why did she have to lose her temper?

She was supposed to approach Jing Ling with a purpose. If she wanted to activate the system, shouldn’t she swallow her pride and cling to her like a piece of sticky candy?

She sighed.
Ning Xue, you really are hopeless.

Compared to Jing Ling’s disdain, the constant poverty at home was a much bigger problem.

She should be shameless. As the saying goes, persistence breaks resistance. If she showed up in front of Jing Ling every day, there was no way she’d remain unaffected.

Of course… There was also the risk of getting beaten up. Li Tao was a living example of that.

Jing Ling wasn’t someone to mess with.

Nothing worked not force, not flattery. So how was she supposed to complete this mission?

She almost missed the apocalyptic worlds she used to travel through. Fighting zombies was easier all brawn, no brain.

Thinking of that, she silently raised her middle finger at the ceiling.

If it weren’t for that woman tricking her, she’d be living a life of luxury by now, not tiptoeing around a high schooler’s moods.

After getting scammed so many times, how had she still not learned?
When she’d been offered this so-called “free system,” she should have rejected it outright.
It had “trap” written all over it.

Ning Xue, you’ve really lived for nothing.

Two dull classes later, it was finally lunchtime. The lack of mission progress had killed her appetite.

Most of the students had already left when a girl walked into the classroom heading straight toward her.

“Xue’er, what do you want for lunch?”

The girl had sleek, dark hair and a small, gentle face with bright eyes full of warmth.

Her pure, obedient appearance, paired with neat bangs, made her look even softer.
If Ning Xue had met her on the street instead of in class, she would’ve thought she was a middle schooler.

As Ning Xue studied her, the original host’s memories surfaced.

Lu Yue. Her only friend.
They’d sat together for three years in middle school and were now in neighboring classes.
Their relationship had always been good.

The flood of memories made Ning Xue feel a natural affection toward her, as if they really had known each other for years.

“Not really hungry. What about you?”

Lu Yue fished a piece of bread out of her uniform pocket and handed it to her.
“I knew you’d say that. Here, take this.”

Cranberry bread   Ning Xue had once mentioned liking it, and Lu Yue had remembered ever since.

Ning Xue shifted to make room for her, and the two sat together, chatting idly. Ning Xue rested her chin on Lu Yue’s arm, looking utterly deflated.

“What happened? Why do you look so down?” Lu Yue asked softly, running her fingers through Ning Xue’s hair in a soothing gesture.

“Nothing.”

She didn’t know how to explain.
What could she say that her family was so poor she might not even be able to stay in school?

Senior year was coming soon. Tuition, books, miscellaneous fees all added up, it’d be no small sum.
Her mother scavenged trash to make ends meet; how could she possibly afford that?
And there were still so many mouths to feed at home.

Fang Ningchen’s grades were better than hers. If only one child could keep studying, it’d be him.

Her future? Factory work? Screwing bolts on an assembly line?

That wasn’t the carefree life she’d imagined for herself at all.

Damn it where had everything gone wrong?

Lu Yue had a vague idea of what she was worried about.
Ever since her father’s accident, Ning Xue had been anxious and distracted, her grades dropping drastically like she’d turned into a different person.

But Lu Yue didn’t want to embarrass her by offering help outright.
For all her easygoing attitude, Ning Xue had a strong sense of pride.
Pity would only hurt their friendship.

So they sat in silence, sharing a quiet understanding.

Jing Ling, who disliked crowds, had never eaten in the cafeteria.
She returned with a takeout box of fried rice only to see Ning Xue leaning close to Lu Yue, their faces almost touching.

Did they really need to sit that close?
From the wrong angle, it looked like they were about to kiss.

Her face remained expressionless as she passed by, but she didn’t open her lunch.

Suddenly, she wasn’t hungry.

If you’re going to flirt, at least do it in private. This was a classroom, not a lovers’ corner.

A wave of irritation rose in her chest inexplicable but insistent. She decided it must just be her growing dislike for Ning Xue.

Yes, she was annoying. Always attracting attention, no matter who it was boys or girls.

Jing Ling stabbed her spoon into the rice, stirring it with sharp, grating sounds.

From the corner of her eye, Ning Xue noticed her.
That’s right this was the person who could decide her fate.

Forget pride. What she needed was a solution to her family’s financial crisis.

Her gaze fell on Jing Ling’s hand the knuckles still red and swollen and she had an idea.

“Yueyue, wait here. I need to give something to a classmate.”

She took out the crumpled ointment tube and walked straight toward Jing Ling.

Before the other girl could react, Ning Xue grabbed her hand and spread the cool, transparent salve over her knuckles.

The movement was so sudden that Jing Ling’s spoon clattered to the floor.
By the time she pulled her hand back, the ointment had already been applied.

“What are you doing?!”

A faint medicinal scent lingered in the air  slightly bitter, but not unpleasant.

Ning Xue screwed the cap shut and set the tube on her desk.

“Call it a random act of kindness.”

Then she turned and went back to her seat, laying her head once again on Lu Yue’s arm.
Lu Yue wanted to ask, but seeing the fatigue on her face, swallowed her words.

When did Xue’er become familiar with her? How had she not noticed?

She bit her thumb, gnawing at the nail until it frayed.

The scent of medicine clung to Jing Ling’s hand.
She picked up the spoon again, but the thought of eating made her stomach turn.

She shut the lunchbox and rested her chin on one hand, her gaze fixed on Ning Xue’s back.

So that was it. The people on that side must’ve given her new orders.
Otherwise, why the sudden change in attitude?

How flexible she was able to bend and stretch as needed.

Her eyes dropped to her hand, the skin faintly glistening under the light.

During the afternoon study, the test results came out. Ning Xue ranked somewhere beyond three hundred far from the cutoff for a university.

There was still a year left, but at this rate, the outcome wouldn’t change.

She’d once been a decent student. After her family’s troubles, her grades had plummeted.
Part of it was on purpose but the decline was real.

Three hundred years of living, and her greatest nemesis was still… studying.
Books were scarier than monsters.

She hadn’t even won over Jing Ling yet, and now she had to study?
Great  challenge after challenge.

They ended up taking the same bus home again.
No coincidence  Ning Xue had planned it.
She hid behind the bus stop sign and dashed aboard right after Jing Ling, startling even the driver.

There were no seats, so they stood side by side by the back door. Jing Ling’s hand, though less swollen, still looked delicate.

Ning Xue leaned closer, smiling. “Looks like my ointment worked pretty well, huh?”

Jing Ling glanced at her, said nothing, and switched hands on the pole.

They rode in silence until the stop near home.

Jing Ling got off first, and Ning Xue hurried after her, catching up in a few quick steps.

Let’s be friends, okay? We can go to and from school together.

Jing Ling didn’t answer, only quickened her pace.

Ning Xue pouted and muttered under her breath, 

You’re not mute, are you? Saying one word won’t kill you.

Jing Ling suddenly stopped, her expression as unreadable as ever.

Stay away from me. I don’t need friends, and I’ll never be yours.

Ning Xue didn’t even flinch.
After everything she’d been through, that kind of rejection was nothing.

She simply followed again.

Why not? We’re not just classmates, we’re neighbors too. Isn’t that fate.

Jing Ling stopped at the apartment entrance and gave her a cutting look.

Fate? You mean the kind that’s been deliberately arranged?
How cheap.

Ning Xue’s heart skipped a beat.
Did she… see through her?

Had she overdone it?

Seeing her silence, Jing Ling gave a cold laugh, pushed open the door, and disappeared inside.

Yeah. The guilty always go quiet.

When Ning Xue finally went home, her mother was sorting through cardboard and plastic bottles, clearing enough space to walk.

“Mom, I’ll help you.”

She dropped her bag and joined in the sorting.

“When things get better, I’ll rent a little place just for these,” her mother said, her voice tinged with apology. After a pause, she added softly, “Your birthday’s coming up. I’ll sell this batch and buy you a cake.”

Ning Xue’s chest tightened. “You don’t have to. Two boiled eggs, like before, are fine.”

That won’t do. You’re a big girl now can’t just make do with anything. I might be useless.

 But I can at least get you a small cake.

Ning Xue had no words. She just kept tying up the stacks of cardboard.

Then the front door burst open, followed by her brother’s irritated voice.

“Damn it, lost again!”

He always made himself known before even appearing no doubt another failed lottery ticket.

Their mother, Chen Jing, smacked him twice on the back.

Didn’t eat lunch again, did you? Waste money one more time, and you’re out of this house.

Fang Ningchen didn’t dare talk back. He dropped his bag and went straight to the kitchen.
He’d been cooking since middle school now, and his skills rivaled a restaurant chef’s.

Soon, three dishes and a soup were ready.
Ning Xue looked at the glossy braised ribs and thought of Jing Ling.

She’d brought her lunch home earlier. Was she planning to eat leftovers?

Probably.
And somehow, that thought made Ning Xue want to check.

“Mom, our new neighbor is my classmate. She lives alone. Can I take her some ribs?”

Her mother, ever warm-hearted, smiled. “Why don’t you invite her to eat here?”

The image of Jing Ling’s frosty face flashed in her mind. Ning Xue smiled faintly. 

She’s shy. Maybe next time.

“Alright then. Take her a few big pieces, and some rice and vegetables too.”

Ning Xue did as told, then went next door and knocked.

Jing Ling opened the door, her face immediately darkening.

“What?”

Ning Xue held out the food. “For you. My brother made these   they’re really good.”

Jing Ling’s throat moved slightly, but she didn’t take it.

“I don’t want it.”

She started to close the door, but Ning Xue stuck a foot in and looked up at her pitifully.

“Come on, just try it. You didn’t eat lunch, did you? Aren’t you hungry?”

Jing Ling crossed her arms. “How would you know I.”

Before she could finish, Ning Xue stuffed a rib into her mouth, smiling brightly.
“Well? Isn’t it good?”

Jing Ling almost spat it out, but Ning Xue pressed her hand over her mouth.
“Don’t waste food. Every grain counts.”

Jing Ling froze, then slowly took the rib in hand.
“Fine, I’ve eaten it. Now leave.”

Ning Xue set the rest of the food in her hands and stepped back.

“As the saying goes, when you eat someone’s food, you can’t stay mad at them.
Since you ate my ribs, that means we’re friends now!
See you tomorrow morning, I’ll come pick you up.”

She waved and skipped away, cheerful as ever.

Jing Ling looked down at the food, then licked her lips unconsciously.

It was good.

Her lips lifted slightly   then fell again.

Did she really have to go this far?
Just what kind of reward had they promised her?

The warmth in her eyes faded, replaced by cold suspicion once more.