Twist of Fate (GL) - Chapter 12

There was a pet hospital near Jinghai University, just a few stops away by bus.

By the time they boarded the bus, only one seat was left—right at the back.

Qin Ning held Xie Jing’s wrist and steadily led her through the aisle. She didn’t let go until they reached the seat, then motioned for Xie Jing to sit.

“I’m not sitting—you take it,” Xie Jing said, ready to slip away, but Qin Ning pushed her gently back down.

“You sit and put the cat on your lap,” Qin Ning said. “That way, neither of us will get too tired.”

Xie Jing thought about it and realized Qin Ning made sense, so she stopped resisting and stayed seated.

She stared at Xiao Guai, the cat in the carrier, for a moment, then looked up at Qin Ning.

Qin Ning was gazing out the window, one hand gripping the overhead ring, the other resting on the back of Xie Jing’s seat, her whole body forming a protective shield between Xie Jing and the crowd boarding behind them.

It was usually awkward to view someone from such an angle, but Qin Ning’s sharply defined jawline and slender neck looked flawless. Her skin was taut, without even a trace of a double chin. Even viewed from

below, she looked impossibly cool.

She was, without a doubt, the epitome of a “cool girl.”

And she wasn’t the talkative type either. Her lips were always pressed into a tight line, with no smile lines—clearly someone who didn’t smile often.

While Xie Jing was dazed, staring at Qin Ning, Qin Ning was also watching Xie Jing’s reflection in the bus window.

Qin Ning tilted her head slightly, and a delicate tendon stretched along her pale neck, trailing diagonally from the side of her neck to her collarbone. It moved under her skin with each motion she made.

Xie Jing was entranced.

She never realized a neck could be this beautiful.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Ning suddenly lowered her head slightly, catching Xie Jing’s gaze.

Caught in the act, Xie Jing showed no embarrassment. She raised an eyebrow and said confidently, “I’m looking at you. You’re this good-looking and expect people not to stare?”

Qin Ning lowered her eyes, studying Xie Jing’s face.

After a moment, she sighed. “It’s useless.”

“How is it useless?” Xie Jing retorted. “If I had a face like yours, I’d be strutting sideways through life.”

Qin Ning looked down and said succinctly, “So I look like a crab now?”

Xie Jing almost choked on her laughter. “You really don’t know how lucky you are.”

Qin Ning chuckled, then said casually, “Want to have this ‘luck’ of mine?”

“Of course I do! Not that I can grow a new face like yours in this lifetime, but I can recruit you as my bestie,” Xie Jing said, giving Qin Ning a once-over before suddenly grabbing her arm and pulling her down.

Qin Ning was forced to bend forward.

Their noses were barely half an inch apart, breaths mingling.

Xie Jing looked at her intently, then slowly opened her mouth and tilted her head.

Qin Ning leaned in, breath held, heart racing.

Then she heard Xie Jing whisper, “—I’ll protect you in-game from now on.”

Qin Ning: “…”

She should’ve known better than to expect anything serious from this overdramatic girl.

The warmth of her breath still lingered in the air. Xie Jing’s voice echoed in Qin Ning’s mind. She was dazed until the bus arrived at their stop and the announcement snapped her out of it.

“We’re here—come on,” Xie Jing said as she ducked under Qin Ning’s arm, holding the cat carrier and heading for the back door. She waited at the handrail for Qin Ning to catch up.

After a short walk from the bus stop, they arrived at the pet hospital. Excited by the new environment, Xiao Guai bounced around in its carrier, completely unafraid.

Xie Jing tried placing it in front of a young male cat. Xiao Guai instantly turned around, presenting its fluffy backside to the transparent dome, tail swishing in the air.

Then she moved it in front of a young female cat. The kitten meowed once, and Xiao Guai immediately began purring, pushing its nose eagerly against the carrier window.

Xie Jing thought to herself: Great. This cat’s been around me too long—it’s starting to catch the gay.

Not long after, Qin Ning came over, having finished paying. She looked down at Xie Jing squatting on the floor, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Xie Jing shook her head. “How much was the vaccine?”

Qin Ning glanced at the booklet in her hand. “168 per shot. I paid for all three in advance. Rabies can’t be given until after three months. As for neutering, the earliest is next April.”

Xie Jing said, “No problem. April’s fine. There should be seniors staying over the winter break. They can help take care of Xiao Guai.”

“Mm.” Qin Ning picked up the carrier, and Xie Jing followed closely, holding a cat treat stick just in case.

Qin Ning took Xiao Guai out of the carrier and held it in her arms. The kitten stuck its head out and began licking the treat in Xie Jing’s hand.

Meanwhile, the vet stealthily grabbed the scruff of Xiao Guai’s neck and gave it a quick shot.

Xiao Guai just kept munching on the treat like nothing happened—didn’t even blink.

The vet, calm as ever, said, “Give it a little rub. If it looks fine in a few minutes, you can leave.”

Xie Jing nodded enthusiastically and reached behind the kitten to gently rub the injection site.

Since Qin Ning was holding Xiao Guai tightly, Xie Jing had to lean in. She caught a subtle, refreshing scent of lemon on Qin Ning—comforting and clean.

She’d seen Qin Ning’s shampoo and body wash before—all lemon-scented. Clearly, she was a fan.

After about five minutes, Xie Jing finally pulled her trembling hand back, massaged her sore wrist, and informed the vet that everything seemed normal.

The vet checked, nodded, and told them they were good to go.

“That was fast,” Xie Jing remarked.

On the way back, Xie Jing transferred the money to Qin Ning. No way she’d let Qin Ning pay for the vaccinations—this whole thing was her impulsive idea. Qin Ning had already gone above and beyond just by accompanying her.

By the time they returned to Jinghai University, it was already 6 PM. After settling Xiao Guai in the cat shelter, they headed to the south dormitory to return the carrier.

The pet carrier had been lent by a law major who used to keep a Ragdoll cat. When studies got too hectic, the cat was sent back home, leaving the carrier unused.

It was Xie Jing’s first time at the south dorms, so she waited downstairs. It wasn’t long before Qin Ning returned—this time with someone else beside her.

The girl had chestnut curls, porcelain skin, pale-colored irises, and a sharp, narrow nose—looked like a mixed-bl00d beauty.

“So, this is your new roommate?” Gu Shiwei greeted Xie Jing with a smile before casting a cryptic glance at Qin Ning.

“Mm,” Qin Ning responded, ignoring the amused expression on Gu Shiwei’s face. She turned to Xie Jing. “What do you want for dinner?”

Xie Jing glanced between the two of them and replied sensibly, “You two go ahead. I won’t intrude on your little date.”

Gu Shiwei burst into laughter. “Ha—”

Qin Ning shot her a look and frowned slightly. “It’s not what you think. She’s just my classmate from before I switched majors.”

Xie Jing nodded quickly. “I know, I know. Got it. No need to explain.”

Qin Ning stared at her, clearly unconvinced.

Gu Shiwei leaned in and whispered in Xie Jing’s ear, “Relax—I swing the same way.”

Qin Ning: “…”

Oh… so that’s what she meant…

But Xie Jing didn’t quite get it. What was she supposed to be relieved about?

Even if they did swing the same way, what did that have to do with her?

She was completely unaware that her earlier comments could be misinterpreted.

Wasn’t she just being considerate by giving them some alone time? Why did Qin Ning still seem upset?

“Come on, let’s eat. I’m starving,” Gu Shiwei said as she grabbed both of them and pulled them toward the cafeteria.

But it was late and the weekend, so the cafeteria only had scraps left.

After a few bites, all three of them wore the same unimpressed expression.

That’s when Gu Shiwei suggested they visit the night market. There was a famous food street right outside the university’s back gate, filled with delicacies from all over China—from scallion pancakes and roujiamo to spicy crawfish and obscure street snacks. No one left that street with an empty stomach.

Xie Jing was clearly tempted.

Qin Ning wanted to object—it wasn’t exactly hygienic—but when she saw the excited faces of both Gu Shiwei and Xie Jing, she swallowed her protest.

Fifteen minutes later, the trio arrived at the back gate.

It was the perfect time—six to seven in the evening—when the night market stalls were just opening. Even before they reached the entrance, the scent of grilled squid wafted toward them.

Qin Ning bought a bag of oranges at the entrance and then walked side by side with Xie Jing deeper into the market.

Gu Shiwei had already bought a few skewers of grilled gluten, handing one each to Qin Ning and Xie Jing before dashing back into the crowd.

Qin Ning found it hard to believe someone from a billionaire family was this obsessed with street food. Despite her refined appearance, Gu Shiwei was surprisingly down-to-earth.

She reminded Qin Ning of her mother. When school first started, her mom personally helped her move into the dorms—made her bed, organized her desk, all swift and efficient. If you ignored the designer suit and diamond-studded watch, she looked like a model homemaker.

In reality, Mrs. Gu Qingfeng was a famous entrepreneur in Jinghai—a woman with an iron will. Yet she tucked bedsheets for her daughter without hesitation. Down-to-earth, just like her daughter.

“Want some cold noodles?” Gu Shiwei asked, holding a plastic container filled with vibrant red and green liangpi.

Xie Jing was about to nod when Qin Ning grabbed her collar. “You can’t eat cold stuff these days.”

Xie Jing: “…”

Qin Ning really was something else.