She’s Just Too Hard to Win Over [Quick Transmigration] (GL/Yuri) - Chapter 5

Ning Xue couldn’t make sense of what Jing Ling meant. She gave a soft “Ah?” of confusion, only to see Jing Ling curl her lips into a faint, cold smile that sent a chill down her spine.

To be honest,” Jing Ling said, her tone cutting, “your acting isn’t very good. So stop pretending.

Ning Xue blinked, puzzled. Could Jing Ling be reacting this way for a reason? Why was she so guarded toward everyone?

It wasn’t really Ning Xue’s problem to solve, but if she couldn’t help Jing Ling let go of her defenses, the mission probably wouldn’t progress at all.

Winning her favor was proving way harder than she’d imagined.

“So… you can’t trust anyone because of ‘them,’ is that it?” she tried asking tentatively.

Before she could even blink, her hand was yanked free. Jing Ling’s strength was so sudden and forceful that Ning Xue’s hand slammed against the edge of the desk, reddening the spot that had just started to heal.

“Don’t pry into my business,” Jing Ling snapped coldly. “And stop trying to get close to me. Keep pestering me and I won’t be so polite next time.”

She turned on her heel and strode off, quickly disappearing from view.

Her thin, solitary figure looked distant and lonely. Ning Xue didn’t feel angry, just… something she couldn’t quite name. Not exactly pity, but something close to it.

She was starting to understand her, at least a little.

Whatever Jing Ling had been through, it must have been something terrible to make a seventeen-year-old girl this cold.

Still, Ning Xue shook her head. Thinking too much wouldn’t help.

A few other girls in the classroom, who had witnessed the scene, huddled together and whispered behind their hands, their expressions full of mockery and scorn.

Ning Xue knew they were close to Chen Caihui, the kind of people who loved gossip more than studying. Not in the mood to be their next topic, she picked up her phone and headed downstairs. Just as she reached the flowerbeds, a message popped up from Lu Yue.

Lu Yue told her to wait at the garden pavilion while she went to buy lunch.

Ning Xue still didn’t have much of an appetite, but she didn’t want to stay in the classroom either. A quiet rest in the pavilion sounded fine.

After walking a few steps, she caught sight of Jing Ling ahead and, without thinking, followed. Before she realized it, they had entered the small grove beside the art building.

But luck wasn’t on her side, she lost sight of Jing Ling and instead ran into Chen Caihui and her two friends.

Ning Xue frowned. The last people she wanted to see. She turned to leave, but a mocking voice stopped her.

“Why the rush? Are we wolves or tigers now?”

Chen Caihui stood up and looked her over from head to toe before wrinkling her nose and covering it with disdain.

She had done that same gesture before. Ning Xue’s patience thinned, but she forced herself to stay calm no need to start trouble.

“I’m looking for someone,” Ning Xue said evenly. “Besides, you’re already taking up the pavilion. There’s no room for me anyway.”

Chen Caihui gave a contemptuous laugh, but before she could speak, Zhou Rui stepped in.

She grabbed a fistful of Ning Xue’s hair and snapped, “What do you mean by ‘taking up’? This pavilion belongs to Caihui. In fact, the whole art building was donated by her dad! And you a trash picker think you can just stroll into a place like this? Who gave you that kind of confidence?”

The sharp pain on her scalp made Ning Xue’s patience snap.

“Let go,” she said quietly, eyes darkening, “or you’ll regret it.”

Her voice was calm, but her gaze burned with fury.

Zhou Rui sneered, thinking Ning Xue was bluffing. “Oh yeah? Let’s see how exactly I’ll regret it.”

Ning Xue wasn’t one to pick fights but once someone crossed the line, she didn’t hold back.

Her hand shot out, seizing Zhou Rui’s wrist in a tight grip. A sharp twist, and Zhou Rui cried out, releasing her hold. Ning Xue used the opening to pin her arm behind her back and kicked her sharply in the knee. Zhou Rui fell forward, face-first into the dirt.

Chen Caihui, who had been smugly watching from the side, froze. The tables had turned so fast she couldn’t even react.

“You b1tch how dare you hit her!”

Her shrill voice grated on Ning Xue’s ears. She lifted a hand, aiming to slap Ning Xue, but Ning Xue sidestepped, caught her wrist, and returned two crisp slaps in quick succession.

I was going to let you off,” Ning Xue said coolly, “but your mouth is too filthy. I think I’ll help clean it before you choke everyone else with your stench.

Chen Caihui stared in disbelief, too stunned to even make a sound before a piercing scream escaped her throat.

You hit me?

Ning Xue calmly pulled out a packet of tissues, stuffed one into Chen Caihui’s mouth, and gave her two more sharp slaps.

The first two were for your mouth, she said. These are for stirring up trouble yesterday.

“Next time, watch what you say. If I hear you talking behind people’s backs again, it won’t just be two slaps. Got it?”

Chen Caihui, who had been pampered her whole life, burst into tears, mascara running down her cheeks. Ning Xue gave her a look of disdain, straightened her rumpled uniform, and turned to leave.

That was when a flat, detached voice sounded behind her.

“Hit someone and just walk away?”

Ning Xue turned. “So what do you want me to do?”

You didn’t stop it when it started, she thought, and now you speak up? Clearly this Jiang Rong has her own axe to grind with them.

Interesting.

“Nothing much,” Jiang Rong said, her tone neutral, her long bangs shadowing her eyes. “Just think you should apologize.”

Just an apology? So she wasn’t looking for a fight probably just pretending to for appearances’ sake.

Seeing Jiang Rong speak up for them, Chen Caihui and Zhou Rui immediately perked up.

“What are you waiting for? Hit her!”

“Yeah, Jiang Rong you’re good at fighting, right? Teach her a lesson!”

Their excitement contrasted sharply with Jiang Rong’s apathy. Ning Xue gave them a cold sidelong glance, and they both flinched, half-hiding behind Jiang Rong.

She didn’t mind fighting again, but it was clear Jiang Rong wasn’t going to make a move.

When Zhou Rui suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Ning Xue’s arm, Chen Caihui followed, clutching the other. For a moment, Ning Xue seemed cornered.

But Jiang Rong just stood there, unmoving her expression so cold and detached it was like she was watching weeds grow.

Ning Xue gave a small, incredulous laugh, then drove her elbow hard into Zhou Rui’s stomach. Zhou Rui gasped, doubling over, and Ning Xue caught her wrist again only to be interrupted by a sharp voice.

“What are you doing?!”

All four girls turned. Jing Ling was walking toward them, her expression unreadable but her eyes glacial with anger.

Ning Xue immediately released Zhou Rui and put on a pitiful expression, her voice trembling just a little.

“Jing Ling, help me they were trying to hit me.”

Her eyes shimmered, the corners reddened, her whole demeanor fragile and aggrieved—an image that stirred something soft and protective.

Jing Ling hadn’t even reached them yet, but the weight of her presence was already enough to make the others freeze.

“Let go,” she said, voice calm but dangerous.

Chen Caihui jerked back, releasing Ning Xue. Jiang Rong also took two steps away, putting some distance between them.

Seeing that Ning Xue wasn’t hurt, Jing Ling stopped walking.

She had come out here to clear her head but the sight of Ning Xue being surrounded had startled her into acting without thinking. And despite herself, she’d come closer just to make sure Ning Xue was really okay.

Why was she even worried about her? Since when did she and that girl have such a close relationship?

Jing Ling froze at her own thoughts. Her expression, already cold, darkened even further. After a few seconds of silence, she turned and walked away.

Jing Ling, don’t forget she’s one of them. Don’t lower your guard just because she said a few strange things and tried to be nice to you a couple of times.

Everything she does is calculated to win your trust.

You don’t need something as useless as “friends.”

Reminding herself of this, the ripples in her heart gradually stilled, replaced once more by suspicion and disgust.

Yes. She still hated her.

Jing Ling pressed her lips together, her face blank as always.

Ning Xue hadn’t even finished her “performance,” and her audience had already left. She quickly dropped her pitiful expression and jogged after her.

“Thank you for helping me back there,” she said earnestly. “If it weren’t for you, they really would’ve hit me.”

Jing Ling stopped and replied coolly, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’d have stepped in no matter who it was.”

“Really? Are you that kind-hearted?” Ning Xue’s round eyes blinked up at her, full of disbelief.

Jing Ling caught her own reflection in those dark pupils and, inexplicably, her heart gave a faint tremor.

She quickly looked away and quickened her pace.

“Hey, don’t be mad,” Ning Xue called, hurrying to keep up. “I was just teasing. In my heart, you’re the kindest person I know a beautiful little fairy, inside and out.”

Jing Ling’s patience finally snapped. Her voice rose, sharper than before. “Why do you have to keep following me?!”

“Do you really hate it that much when I do?” Ning Xue suddenly asked, her tone softening, a trace of hurt flickering in her eyes.

Jing Ling’s hands clenched into fists. “Yes. I do hate it.”

Ning Xue lowered her head, her expression full of quiet grievance.

“Then promise me one thing,” she said softly. “If you agree, I’ll stop bothering you.”

Jing Ling frowned. “What is it?”

Ning Xue’s head shot up, her sorrow vanishing completely, replaced by a bright, cunning smile.

“Be my friend. As long as you agree to be my friend, I swear I’ll stop pestering you.”

Jing Ling: 

Scheming woman.

She was already this annoying now. If they actually became friends, would she ever know peace again?

Watching Jing Ling’s expression twist with irritation before she turned to storm off, Ning Xue couldn’t help but grin wider.

At first, Jing Ling’s face had been nothing but ice toward everyone. But now… There was something else mixed in with the disgust. Wasn’t that progress?

Yes. Definitely progress.

Giving herself an invisible pat on the back, Ning Xue ran after her again.

Hey, Jing! Think about it, okay? I really think this is a win–win deal.

You probably don’t even know my name yet, huh? Let me introduce myself. I’m Fang Ning Xue but you can call me Ning Xue, or Xue’er, whichever you like.

Hey, don’t walk so fast wait up! My legs aren’t as long as yours.

【Ding! Target’s favorability increased by 1 point.】

The system chime rang unexpectedly.

Ning Xue paused, looking at the slender figure walking ahead. Her eyes curved into a soft, pleased smile.