She’s Just Too Hard to Win Over [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 31

Ning Xue turned her head   Gu Lan was standing behind her.

Thinking back on the past, Ning Xue couldn’t bring herself to like this woman. But since Gu Lan had taken the initiative to speak, she couldn’t just ignore her.

After all, she did want to see whether Gu Lan had changed after all these years — whether she was still the same as before: proud, arrogant, looking down on everyone.
Annoying, as always.

They didn’t go anywhere else, just stood in the small garden behind the hospital — two tall figures that drew the attention of anyone passing by.

“It’s been five years,” Gu Lan said, her tone mild. “You’ve become even more beautiful.”

Ning Xue hadn’t expected that. Under this tense, almost hostile air, she thought Gu Lan would come straight to the point like before. Instead, the first thing out of her mouth was a compliment.

But she’d heard that plenty of times before, and it stirred nothing in her heart.

“You, on the other hand,” Ning Xue replied coolly, “look like time has caught up to you.”

Gu Lan’s brow twitched  she’d walked right into that one. Perhaps she should’ve praised her for having a sharper tongue now.

It really had been a long time. The soft, timid girl from back then could now throw barbed words with ease.

“Miss Fang,” Gu Lan said, her tone calm, “you should already know what I’m here to talk about.”

“You haven’t said it yet,” Ning Xue answered. “How would I know what you’re thinking? It’s not like we share a brainwave.”

Gu Lan let out a quiet laugh. Clearly, this young woman still held a grudge.

But given the situation back then, she had done what she thought was right   and she still believed it. Jing Ling was meant to conquer the business world; what she needed was not a lover, but a strategic partner.

Ning Xue was wonderful   but she wasn’t suitable for Jing Ling.

“I want you to leave her,” Gu Lan said at last. “Don’t appear in front of Jing Ling again. Whether you go to another city or abroad, I can arrange it. Money is not a problem   I’ll meet any condition you name.”

Ning Xue almost laughed. And she didn’t bother suppressing it   her laughter was cold, carrying clear ridicule.

“So Miss Gu is here to buy your sister’s love again? How much this time? Five million? That’s not enough. How about five hundred million?”

Gu Lan’s face hardened. “Do you know how unreasonable you sound? Even if we care about Jing Ling, we won’t throw away five hundred million for you.”

Because they didn’t need to   they had other ways to make Ning Xue disappear from this city.

Ning Xue’s smile faded. Her tone turned sharp and cold.
“And do you realize how unreasonable you sound? We love each other   what’s wrong with that? You’ve tried to separate us over and over again, even using money to humiliate me. I’ve been polite not to hit you.”

“I told you back then, and I’ll say it again   Jing Ling is priceless to me. Even if you offered me fifty billion, five hundred billion, I would never sell our love!”

Before she could finish, Ning Xue suddenly found herself wrapped in a familiar embrace.

The scent of disinfectant filled her nose   but it didn’t bother her. It even made her feel at peace.

Her first thought was: She’s gotten so thin.

Jing Ling had always been slender, but never this fragile. She used to carry herself with quiet strength, a graceful confidence. Now, she looked worn down, almost self-destructive.

“Have you not been eating properly?” Ning Xue asked softly.

Jing Ling had imagined countless scenarios for this reunion  anger, tears, cold rejection   but not this. Not gentle concern.

Just that simple question made her want to cry. She held Ning Xue tighter, as if afraid she would vanish again.

Ning Xue could barely breathe, but she didn’t push her away. She hugged her back.

When she had seen Jing Ling lying lifeless on the ground earlier, she finally understood  there was no point in clinging to the past or to pride. Whatever had happened back then didn’t matter anymore.

This woman, frail and hurting, had never stopped loving her. That love burned bright enough to melt through years of silence and misunderstanding.

“Answer me,” Ning Xue murmured. “You haven’t been eating, have you?”

Jing Ling smiled faintly. “I have. My stomach just… disagrees sometimes.”

That earned a quiet sigh from Ning Xue. “And the scar on your wrist?”

When she had helped Jing Ling earlier, she’d noticed the raised scar  old, deep, and ugly against her pale skin.

“Don’t tell me it’s nothing,” Ning Xue said. “What happened to you in those five years?”

Before Jing Ling could answer, Gu Lan snapped, “That’s exactly why I told you to leave her! You’ll be the death of her!”

Ning Xue froze. Her breath caught. So this scar… is because of me?

Jing Ling turned to Gu Lan, eyes cold as ice. “Didn’t I tell you to stay out of my life? Do my words mean nothing to you?”

“I was protecting you!” Gu Lan’s voice wavered. “Can’t you see that?”

Jing Ling’s gaze sharpened. “All my life, you’ve forced your version of ‘protection’ on me. Have I ever asked for it?”

Gu Lan’s expression shifted again and again before she finally said in a low voice, “So now you’re blaming me for her?”

“I’m not blaming you,” Jing Ling said evenly. “I’m just telling the truth.”

She pulled Ning Xue closer, shielding her from Gu Lan’s stare. “Don’t interfere again. If you do, I won’t care about ‘sisterly ties’ anymore.”

Bl00d was still seeping from the back of Jing Ling’s hand where she’d ripped the IV out to chase after Ning Xue.

Ning Xue took off her scarf and wrapped the wound tightly. “You’re bleeding. Stop struggling.”

Jing Ling held onto her, whispering, “Sorry… I stained your scarf.”

Ning Xue sighed softly. “Come on, let’s go back first. We’ll talk after you rest.”

They turned to leave.

Behind them, Gu Lan shouted, “Jing Ling! Think carefully! Is she really worth all this?”

Jing Ling’s lips curved faintly. She didn’t even slow her steps.

“She’s worth everything.”

Ning Xue’s heart trembled. She glanced sideways  and when she saw the expression on Jing Ling’s face, her eyes softened too.

Yes, she thought, nothing is more worth it than this.

No matter what had happened before, no matter what they had lost, she was ready to bet everything on this love again.