She Is So Hard To Get - Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Suffer
It wasn’t until the apartment door opened and closed that Yan Ningxi snapped out of her daze. She’d actually been “lectured” by a girl so much younger than herself?
Ming You’s volatile emotions made Yan Ningxi uneasy. She quickly walked to the door, intending to call out to her, but just as her hand touched the doorknob, an urgent knocking sounded.
At first, Yan Ningxi thought the frantic thumping meant Ming You had come back. But the irregular, rapid, and heavy rhythm of the knocking was clearly not Ming You’s style.
Indeed, when the door opened, the person standing before Yan Ningxi was not Ming You.
Qi Xuexin burst in, dragging Ming You behind her.
“Yan Huahua (Flower), I’d say you’re quite the speedster, snagging a young lady and bringing her home.” Qi Xuexin scolded, placing the things she brought down on the shoe cabinet. She then pulled Ming You forward and grinned slyly: “Caught red-handed! I got you in the act. Let’s see how you’re going to argue your way out of this.”
Half a minute ago, Ming You was waiting for the elevator when she bumped into Qi Xuexin, who was stepping out. Ming You hadn’t recognized the person, but the person seemed to have recognized her instantly.
Just as Ming You pressed the button for the first floor, the woman turned around, called out “Little Cutie” to her, and then swiftly dragged her out of the elevator, leading her back toward Yan Ningxi’s apartment.
She continued talking as they walked: “The old iron tree is quietly blooming; it’s a miracle! Little Cutie, don’t be in a hurry to run. You’re the witness. We have to discuss this inside.”
The nickname “Little Cutie” had only been used by one woman, the one at the bar that night. Ming You wasn’t forgetful. Finding it amusing, she let Qi Xuexin lead her back the way she came.
Being called “Yan Huahua” in front of Ming You caused a long-lost feeling of shame to creep over Yan Ningxi, coloring the tips of her ears.
“Watch your language.”
“Ah? Ptooie, ptooie, ptooie! Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue!” Qi Xuexin’s eyes never left Ming You: “Such a pretty young girl, how old are you?”
“She’s a student at No. 3 High School.” Yan Ningxi used this move to strike down her opponent, worried about Qi Xuexin’s indiscretion.
Qi Xuexin: !!!
She let go of Ming You’s hand so fast it was as if she’d been holding a time bomb.
Ming You immediately understood the situation and instantly transformed back into a model student, bowing politely: “So this beautiful Jiejie (older sister) is also a teacher at No. 3 High School. Beautiful Jiejie, if I may speak from the heart, I personally think you look much better and more attractive and seductive with your heavy nightclub makeup.”
Qi Xuexin: !!!
She scurried a few steps away, turning her back to Ming You and covering her face: “Classmate, I made a mistake! No, you made a mistake! I’m not a teacher! And I’m definitely not a teacher at No. 3 High School!”
It was a huge public embarrassment. Ming You couldn’t help but smile.
The gloom in her heart lifted a little. Seeing Yan Ningxi staring at her, Ming You seized the opportunity to exit: “I won’t interrupt Sister Yan entertaining her friend. I’ll take my leave.” She then added loudly: “Oh, and beautiful Teacher Jiejie, I’m a graduate from a previous year. My name is Ming You.”
The implication was that they wouldn’t meet at school, so she didn’t need to worry about the burden of being a teacher.
After leaving the community, Ming You immediately posted the photo of the noodles she took that morning to her social media, captioned: “A Feast for the Eyes.”
All the text and images on her profile were only visible to one person. Beneath all the posts, there were no likes, no comments. But she had been consistently updating for two years.
She clicked on the WeChat chat interface and scrolled to a newly added friend: Jiang Lai.
Ming You: “Classmate Jiang, do you have time tomorrow?”
Jiang Lai: “Yes!”
Ming You: “The news said a new popular bookstore opened in the old street area last month. Are you interested in going with me to check it out?”
Jiang Lai: “Very interested!”
Ming You: “Alright, shall we meet at the bookstore entrance at ten o’clock?”
Jiang Lai: “Mhm mhm! See you tomorrow!”
Qi Xuexin was a regular guest at the apartment. She was very familiar with Yan Ningxi’s routine and rarely arrived unannounced, which is why she didn’t always contact her beforehand.
If she did, she might very well be locked out.
The dishes in the kitchen hadn’t been washed. Looking at the quantity, it was obvious the girl had eaten dinner there.
Yan Ningxi tied on her apron: “Eat some fruit to calm down first. Give me a moment.”
Qi Xuexin leaned against the kitchen doorway, holding the fruit platter: “Yan Huahua, when can I eat dinner here without having to wash the dishes, like her?”
“When your arm is broken.”
“…” Qi Xuexin nearly choked on the dragon fruit in her mouth: “Playing favorites! But, are you trying to do the ‘raise and keep’ thing?”
“What do you mean?” Yan Ningxi hadn’t really been in a relationship, so she naturally didn’t understand this specific terminology.
“Raise… Never mind. I mean this young lady is vibrant, polite, and quick-witted. She’s a good match.” A good ‘raise and keep’ match.
Explaining it too clearly might ruin everything. Qi Xuexin was still hoping that Yan Ningxi could at least start one romantic relationship, however long it lasted.
After all, from university classmates to colleagues, and spanning from men to women, Qi Xuexin had worried herself sick over Yan Ningxi’s love life.
She was only two or three months older than Yan Ningxi. They were classmates and roommates in normal university and now both taught in the same high school in Huai’an City, though one was in the high school division and the other in the junior high.
It was her own choice not to continue her studies after her undergraduate degree; Yan Ningxi, on the other hand, held a master’s degree.
Qi Xuexin realized her sexual orientation in junior high. Her first relationship was arguably in high school, and she had her second girlfriend within three months of starting university, openly admitting it to her roommates.
Whether it was because she was too playful or just unlucky, her relationships never lasted long.
In the years since she started working, Qi Xuexin had navigated the dating scene, mostly prioritizing physical pleasure. She couldn’t be bothered with other people’s hearts or feelings anymore.
Compared to herself, she often suspected Yan Ningxi was the kind of immortal described in Xianxia novels who cultivated the Dao of emotionlessness.
Now that there was finally a small sign of her entering the mortal world, she didn’t want to miss any detail.
When Yan Ningxi finished cleaning the kitchen and returned to the living room, she found the entire plate of fruit had vanished into Qi Xuexin’s stomach. Just as she reached for the plate, Qi Xuexin grabbed her and pulled her down onto the sofa, pressing down on her shoulders.
“Qi Xuexin!”
“Shh. We’re so close, I won’t do anything to you. I just wanted to check—did she do anything to you?”
Qi Xuexin was a veteran. Before she could even grope around, her sharp eyes caught sight of the mark on Yan Ningxi’s neck, leaving her speechless.
Oh no! This sister was like her—a …submissive. This time they truly shared a bond; it was time for “submissive-submissive” dating.
Qi Xuexin had also been a “dominant” before, but only for her first and second girlfriends. Chasing, pampering, and coaxing people exhausted her. After that, she decided to “lie flat.”
Yan Ningxi adjusted her clothes and stood up, ushering her out: “You’ve eaten the fruit and caused a commotion. You should hurry back now. I have things to do tomorrow.”
When she said she had things to do, she meant it.
Qi Xuexin quickly offered an apologetic smile: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I came here for a serious matter too!” She took a file out of her bag: “Take a look at this person’s information. If you’re willing to take it on, let me know on WeChat.”
“Mhm, I’ll look it over and give you an answer later.” Yan Ningxi’s mind was a mess.
Qi Xuexin, however, couldn’t resist one last teasing remark. Even as she reached the door, she poked her head back in: “Yan Huahua, you’re 26. There’s no shame in falling in love.”
Jiang Lai was excited all night for her senior’s appointment. She put on some light makeup, wore a sweet English plaid skirt suit, and her short black hair made her baby face look even cuter.
At the bookstore entrance, Jiang Lai waved: “Senior Ming You, over here! The timing is perfect. Not many people are at the bookstore right now.”
Ming You was dressed very casually today in a white T-shirt and jeans. She handed her a cup of milk tea: “Do you need to buy any classics or study guides?”
“Teacher He recommended some extracurricular reading before the break. I can buy them now.” She held the milk tea with both hands and looked at the logo on the cup: “Thank you, Senior. This milk tea shop is a popular one too. The last time I had it was when it first opened. I waited in line with classmates for half an hour!”
“Marketing strategy. It won’t be as popular once the hype dies down. There weren’t many people lining up today.” Ming You had a sweet tooth but wouldn’t queue for more than ten minutes for food. She only bought it because the line was short.
The two walked inside side-by-side. The tiered wooden spiral staircase, with mirrors installed on the ceiling and sides, was quite aesthetically designed.
“You go look for your books first. I’ll wander around. Message me on WeChat when you’re done.”
“Okay, Senior.” Jiang Lai nodded.
While wandering alone, Ming You only looked through one book: 100 Things to Do with Your Lover. She wanted to buy it but was afraid Jiang Lai would see it.
She decided against it.
After spending over an hour at the bookstore, the two went to a Cha Chaan Teng (Hong Kong-style tea restaurant) for lunch.
After ordering, Ming You sipped her new passion fruit juice and began to gather information: “How many classes are there in the senior grade now?”
“Fifteen.”
“That’s one class less than when we were there. Are there any teaching competitions or open classes recently? For Chinese, specifically.”
“I haven’t heard of any. But our grade has a drama competition next month. I’ve been revising the script over the National Day holiday.” Jiang Lai answered honestly.
Ming You said with interest: “It’s rare to have such an event in the senior year.” Then, she called out: “Jiang Lai.”
“Yes, Senior?”
“Don’t be so nervous all the time. I’m just asking about the current situation at school. How should I put this—Teacher Yan is my older cousin. She only recently started teaching here and doesn’t have many friends. She currently has the best relationship with Teacher He in the grade group, but Teacher He is married and needs to take care of her family. What I mean is, I’d like to ask you to tell me things that happen to Sister Yan at school when it’s convenient—nothing involving privacy, just the good, the bad, the happy, the unhappy… so that I can share or alleviate her concerns. Otherwise, she always bottles things up, and it worries me.”
Afraid Jiang Lai wouldn’t believe her, Ming You showed her her WeChat. The pinned chat box was Yan Ningxi: “This is my chat with Sister Yan. I’m not lying to you.”
Jiang Lai didn’t have Teacher Yan’s WeChat, but she clearly saw Yan Ningxi’s profile picture and name. Recalling that Teacher Yan had specifically told her to look out for Senior Ming You at the wedding, she had no reason to doubt her.
“Mhm, I believe you, Senior, and I promise to help. So, am I an undercover agent or a spy?”
“A kind messenger.” Ming You corrected her phrasing: “If there’s ever anything I can help you with, you can also ask me.”
Jiang Lai twisted her fingers and stammered: “There is something. I really, really like your voice, Senior. Could you record a sentence for me? I want to use it as my alarm.”
Ming You: “What sentence?”
Jiang Lai couldn’t say it out loud, so she picked up her phone: “I’ll send it to you on WeChat.”
“Classmate Jiang, you have to work hard today.”
Ming You saw the message and felt like smiling: “Mhm, Classmate Jiang, you have to work hard. I’ll record it for you later. You don’t need it urgently, do you?”
“No, not urgently.”
Ming You took a sip of water and asked: “Is Teacher Yan popular at school? What is she like when she’s angry?”
“Teacher Yan?” Jiang Lai pondered for a moment before answering: “We all know Teacher He very well, so let’s use her as an example. Teacher He is especially gentle when she smiles, and even when she’s not smiling, she looks very approachable. Strangely, Teacher Yan’s appearance seems even gentler than Teacher He’s, and she always has a subtle smile on her lips, but you just can’t sense any happy emotions from her. Especially when Teacher Yan frowns slightly, the aura she gives off is so strong it’s intimidating. In contrast, Teacher He’s aura is weaker. No, no, I shouldn’t say Teacher He’s aura is weak. It’s more like Teacher He is more approachable, which is why the mischievous students dare to act up. Maybe my description isn’t very accurate, but as far as I know, most students in our few classes think this way. Everyone secretly calls Teacher Yan Goddess Yan and rarely makes her angry.”
“And Teacher He,” Ming You paused, “does she still get upset by students to the point of crying?”
It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was bustling with people.
Jiang Lai and Ming You were sitting at a small table for two, only sixty or seventy centimeters apart. This was the first time Jiang Lai hadn’t heard Ming You clearly since they started talking.
She leaned forward, craning her neck, blinking: “Senior, what did you just say? It’s a bit noisy around here. I didn’t catch that.”
“Nothing. Let’s eat.”
Yan Ningxi didn’t rest every day during the weekend and holiday. Her original work schedule for today was from three to five in the afternoon, but last night she had accepted the job Qi Xuexin introduced, and the client had scheduled the meeting from seven to nine in the evening.
When she got back to her door at half-past nine, she was startled by someone sitting against the wall.
“Ming You?”
The girl was hugging her knees, her head buried in them. Yan Ningxi thought she was asleep and gently patted her shoulder: “Are you looking for me?”
Still no response.
Yan Ningxi crouched down, meeting the girl’s hazy gaze.
“Sister Yan…” Her voice was extremely hoarse.
Sensing the abnormality in her voice, Yan Ningxi touched the girl’s face, then checked her forehead. Her temperature was higher than normal: “If you’re sick, why didn’t you go to the hospital? Why didn’t you call me… There’s a community clinic outside the complex. Let’s go get you checked there first. If it’s serious, we’ll go to a major hospital.”
“I’m not going. I’m not sick. I’m just a little cold and a little dizzy.” Ming You’s attitude was resolute.
Yan Ningxi wasn’t strong, and Ming You wouldn’t cooperate, so she couldn’t pull her up. She said angrily: “Give me your family’s phone number.”
The girl bit her lower lip, trying to clear her head, and successfully forced out a few cheap tears: “My parents are divorced. They each have their own family, their own elderly and young to care for. Which family’s number do you want?”
Looking at the downcast girl, Yan Ningxi’s gaze shifted slightly, but she took no further action.
Ming You smiled bitterly and adopted a strategy of advancing by retreating. She took out a hotel key card: “Sister Yan, we’re strangers, not even friends. You certainly have no reason to care whether I live or die. Do me one last favor, okay? Take me back to the hotel.”