She Is So Hard To Get - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Holding Hands

The topic of being even was brought up again by Ming You. Yan Ningxi felt a sense of being checkmated. The more she tried to equalize the financial debt with Ming You, the more she would inadvertently cause some “accidents” that made their relationship complicated and entangled.

Seeing Yan Ningxi’s difficulty, Ming You continued: “I dropped the phone myself. It’s entirely my fault and has nothing to do with you, Sister Yan. If you feel uneasy about it, you can be my strategist and help me decide which brand of phone to get. I know very little about that, and I can’t stand the sales pitches from the staff. Help me choose one, and I’ll buy it right away so I can go back tonight and figure out the data transfer.”

Yan Ningxi didn’t explicitly agree or disagree.

In this situation, Ming You took it as tacit consent. She rarely met someone who spoke less than her. Yan Ningxi’s economy of words was comparable to her own in high school.

“Will it inconvenience you?”

“No.” Yan Ningxi’s own phone was nearly two years old, but her last research on phones wasn’t that long ago.

“That’s good then.”

Ming You took a sip of lemon water, lowered her head, and turned the cup, considering how to gain Yan Ningxi’s trust. A moment later, she looked up at her: “I want to calmly repeat the angry words I said to you in the apartment that day.”

“No one is perfect; we all have flaws and strengths. I apologize that ever since we met, all I’ve shown you seem to be my flaws. I’m also very sorry that I unintentionally vented my negative emotions on you. Although saying this might seem a bit unreasonable, it’s how I truly feel.”

“Sister Yan, I feel a great sense of safety whenever you are near me.”

“If ‘safety’ sounds like an exaggeration, then it can also be described as a chain reaction brought about by ‘liking’ you. Sister Yan, have you heard of the ‘first impression’ effect?”

The first impression effect. Yan Ningxi knew more about it than Ming You.

But it was Ming You who reminded her.

“I have.”

Ming You smiled: “It was my luck to have met you that night. I truly can’t imagine how much I’d regret it now if it wasn’t you who took me to the hotel.”

The waiter arrived with their food, bringing Ming You’s spontaneous emotional plea to an end. For a broadcasting student, this was not difficult.

“Please enjoy your meal.”

The appearance and taste of the food at this restaurant exceeded Ming You’s expectations. During the meal, they only exchanged a few words, mostly about the food.

After finishing the meal, Yan Ningxi used a trip to the restroom as an opportunity to pay the bill at the front desk, but she was informed that her friend had already paid online.

She had seen the total cost when ordering. Combined with various other signs, it was clear that Ming You came from a wealthy family and had little concept of money in her daily spending.

But she was different.

Since starting university, every expense and every income required meticulous planning to keep her from being destitute and to allow her to stand confidently in front of people during the day.

She was not rich, nor poor, and certainly didn’t owe Ming You. So, what was the point of arguing? Arguing with this extravagant, spoiled, and financially secure post-2000s generation.

Having figured this out, Yan Ningxi stopped agonizing over it. She returned to her seat: “Let’s go to the first floor.”

Leaving the restaurant, the two took the elevator down to the first floor of the mall, where a large ball pit play area, which looked recently set up, was located. Several mascots in cartoon costumes were handing out discount coupons to passersby.

“Ming You.” As they walked past the play area, Ming You was called out by a woman.

The woman was wearing a red dress and a light-colored cardigan, carrying a designer bag with a prominent logo, and decked out in flashy diamond rings and gold bracelets.

“It really is you.” Seeing Ming You look at her, the woman, wearing nearly ten-centimeter white heels, quickened her pace: “What a coincidence! Are you out shopping too? With a classmate or a friend? It’s rare to have such a long holiday. Why are you back in Huai’an and haven’t found time to visit? Zihuan is starting to forget he has an older sister.”

Ming You’s expression changed instantly. Alarm bells rang, and she raised all her defenses, retorting: “If your brain isn’t working, go to the hospital.”

This woman in her early thirties who suddenly appeared was Chen Rui, Ming You’s father, Ming Tai’s, current wife.

Her son had been implicitly called mentally unsound by Ming You, and Chen Rui immediately became furious: “Is using malicious words to curse your own younger brother what you call upbringing?”

“Upbringing?” Ming You scoffed: “It’s not today that you’re learning whether I have good manners or not. Chen Rui, I’m advising you: if you don’t want to humiliate yourself, stay as far away from me as possible when you see me. Don’t provoke me. I have nothing to say to you.”

The first time she met Chen Rui many years ago, Ming You thought she had a sharp and mean look.

Later, through interaction, she realized that Chen Rui was not only sharp and mean-looking but also acted that way—a typical aggressive woman who wouldn’t yield, a prime example of a shrew among shrews.

Especially when Ming You was present, Chen Rui acted like a battle-crazed hen, pecking at her, unable to tolerate anyone else in her sight.

Ming You was utterly fed up with her. She took Yan Ningxi’s hand, wanting to bypass this woman she couldn’t stand.

Her unintentional action made Yan Ningxi’s icy fingertips tremble.

The girl had a precedent of “touching and talking” to her, so the resistance in her mind and body wasn’t strong. However, this was the first time their palms were clasped together, and Yan Ningxi was somewhat at a loss.

Allowing Ming You to hold her right hand, and to cover her awkwardness, Yan Ningxi lifted her left hand to check her phone screen. Coincidentally, an unread message popped up, labeled “Teacher He.”

But before she could open the message, the screen went dark again.

Being treated so rudely by her junior, Chen Rui couldn’t keep her dignity. She stepped forward to block Ming You’s path, crossing her arms, and spoke fiercely: “Fine. If you want to say such unpleasant things in front of your friend, don’t blame me for not saving face for you. Your dad transferred a substantial amount of money from his personal account in June. Did he give it to you?”

Yan Ningxi felt uncomfortable being “scrutinized” by a stranger.

From the brief exchange, she had generally grasped the relationship between the woman and Ming You. As an outsider in the middle of their heated exchange, she couldn’t intervene rashly, lest inappropriate words escalate the conflict.

Anger flared in Ming You. She stepped sideways, positioning herself between Chen Rui and Yan Ningxi: “Are you deaf, or can you not understand human language? I’ll say it again: I have nothing to say to you and your family of three. Get out of the way.”

Chen Rui ignored her: “Thirty thousand. This money he gave you is enough for a dowry. After all, you are his daughter. You can’t lose face when you get married later. But speaking of which, since you hate the Ming family so much, why don’t you just change your surname to Yang, like your mother? You never check in on the Ming family during the holidays, and when you come back for the Spring Festival, it’s like fulfilling a duty. You sit there with a long face for less than ten minutes… You take the name of the Ming family’s eldest daughter, take the money, but don’t perform your filial duties. That’s really inexcusable.”

Chen Rui’s taunts were full of provocation, successfully setting off Ming You’s alarm. Ming You released Yan Ningxi’s hand and said: “Sister Yan, please wait for me in the shop ahead.”

Yan Ningxi worried Ming You might act impulsively, but as an outsider, she had no right to interfere in their family matters: “Talk properly. Don’t be too rash.”

“Mhm.”

The biggest “argument” between Ming You and Chen Rui happened on her 18th birthday. Ming Tai had arranged a birthday dinner first and then notified her.

The private room was originally planned only for her grandparents and her aunt’s family. As a junior, with all the elders present, could Ming You not go? Her mother, Yang Guishu, had to persuade her, driving her to the restaurant herself.

Unexpectedly, just as they started eating, Chen Rui walked in with the tiny Ming Zihuan (her son).

Ming Zihuan was Chen Rui’s trump card.

The moment he appeared, her grandparents no longer had eyes for Ming You, their disagreeable and aloof granddaughter; the moment he appeared, he naturally became the focus and protagonist of the entire event; the moment he appeared, the perfectly good two-layer birthday cake was reduced to a plaything, scattered and ruined by his waving fork and knife.

Ming You didn’t care for this perfunctory family dinner, nor the two-tiered birthday cake, but she was furious and immediately threw down her chopsticks.

—Chen Rui, are you serious?

That was the first time she had called Chen Rui by her first name, and the first time she had challenged her in front of the entire Ming family.

Ming You’s household registration was with the Ming family, but she lived with her mother. So Chen Rui was technically Ming You’s stepmother, and Chen Rui’s entry into the family wasn’t through any disgraceful means like being a mistress. Furthermore, she had given birth to a son for Ming Tai, so it was understandable that the elderly couple would protect her as their daughter-in-law.

That day, Ming You’s act of throwing down her chopsticks and calling her stepmother by her name enraged the old man. In the end, it was Ming You who got a severe dressing-down.

That was the coming-of-age gift Chen Rui, the Ming family, gave her. A gift she would never forget.

Inside the ball pit playground, a four-year-old boy climbed up the slide under his father’s escort, looking excitedly for his mother outside the play area.

Red. Noticeable.

“Daddy, look, Mommy went over there.”

Ming Tai was playing with his son, Ming Zihuan, in the ball pit, a kind of bonding time he had never experienced in the first half of his life. However, he became uneasy when he clearly saw the girl opposite Chen Rui was Ming You.

“Zihuan, come down. We’re going to find Mommy.”

On the other side, Ming You was fully charged, filled with combative energy: “My bl00d flows with the Ming family line. Why should I change my surname? What, are you afraid I’ll fight Ming Zihuan for the assets?”

Chen Rui raised her chin, stating bluntly: “You don’t need to perform your filial duty for your father’s side. Cutting ties completely is better for both of us.”

“I don’t think so. Chen Rui, it won’t benefit you to stir up my fighting spirit. You be the ‘Mrs. Ming’ you are. How much of the Ming family’s money you and your son can spend and take is up to your own ability. As for whether I spend or take any, and how much, that’s between my father and me. In short, peace between us is impossible. We can only coexist peacefully if we don’t interfere with each other.”

“Ming You, I’m advising you kindly. Don’t be ungrateful. After all, I am your…”

“Chen Rui.” Ming Tai rushed over, holding Ming Zihuan.

“Mommy, hug.” Ming Zihuan held out his arms, wanting Chen Rui to hold him.

“Be good. Let Mommy go play with you some more.” Ming Tai gently placed his son in Chen Rui’s arms, pressed Chen Rui’s shoulder, and steered the mother and son toward the play area.

They truly looked like a happy family of three. Ming You closed her eyes, unable to watch.

“Ming You, what did she say to you?” Ming Tai and Chen Rui were husband and wife. Even if he transferred a large sum of money from his personal account, Chen Rui would find out sooner or later. He wasn’t afraid of Chen Rui arguing or making a scene; he just preferred to avoid trouble.

“Mr. Ming, please manage your wife. If she insists on viewing me as a thorn in her side, I’m ready for a fight, and I’ll see it through to the end.”

“She doesn’t mean any harm to you. She just has a sharp tongue. You…”

“I’m not interested in knowing what kind of tongue or heart she has. But you’d better make her understand that your daughter is a vindictive person who keeps her word. If she continues to be stubbornly difficult and comes to trouble me again, the consequences will be her own.”

Ming Tai looked wistfully as his daughter turned away, remembering her slightly warm “Thank you, Dad” when he gave her a birthday gift in July.

He had originally thought that his relationship with his daughter could improve over time, slowly repairing the rift little by little. Now, it seemed hope was slim.

What stood between him and Ming You like an iceberg was more than just the psychological trauma caused by the break-up of her original family. Standing between them were Chen Rui and Ming Zihuan, as well as the grandparents’ favoritism towards Ming Zihuan.

Ming Tai, as a man, felt helpless in this matter. He could only place his hopes in time as a remedy.

Yan Ningxi stood quietly at the entrance of the store. She had been watching Ming You from afar, also contemplating the words spoken by the woman named “Chen Rui.”

The amount of information was overwhelming.

Could she ask? Should she ask?

Would Ming You accept her concern, and would she misunderstand it?