Twist of Fate (GL) - Chapter 13

How does Qin Ning know everything?! They’d only lived together for just over a month, yet Qin Ning already had her menstrual cycle figured out.

Xie Jing’s period was due in the next day or two. If she had something cold today, there was a good chance she’d end up with stomach cramps—but she was seriously craving it.

“Hahaha, you can just eat hot liangpi,” Gu Shiwei said with a smile as she elegantly picked up a strand of cold noodle and popped it into her mouth. Then, she fished out her phone from her pocket and texted Lin

Qinghuan from the neighboring medical university, inviting her to come join them for barbecue.

In the end, Xie Jing didn’t get to eat the liangpi. She stopped in front of a grilled tofu stall and ordered a serving of pan-fried tofu.

Qin Ning stood by her side the whole time, keeping a close eye, and casually handed her a mandarin orange to settle her stomach.

After flipping the tofu back and forth for a while, the stall owner asked, “Do you want medium spice or extra spicy?”

Before Xie Jing could answer, Qin Ning cut in, “No spice at all. She can’t handle it.”

The vendor thought, What’s the point of street food without spice? But after glancing at Xie Jing’s fair face, he decisively skipped the chili sauce.

“One grilled squid, please,” Gu Shiwei added. “And a fried rice with sausage.”

“Got it~” the vendor replied cheerily.

Just a moment later, the liangpi in Gu Shiwei’s hand had somehow transformed into braised noodles.

Xie Jing stared at her in amazement. How hungry was she?!

“Wanna try a bite?” Gu Shiwei offered.

Xie Jing dodged to the side and nodded furiously.

As she finally got her hands on the tofu, a new person joined their little trio: Gu Shiwei’s childhood friend, Lin Qinghuan. She happened to be off today and was nearby shopping with classmates, so she came over quickly.

Lin Qinghuan was a chatterbox, bombarding Xie Jing with question after question. Even the extra toppings in her fried rice couldn’t keep her quiet.

Seeing this, Qin Ning suggested they split up: Lin Qinghuan would go shopping with Gu Shiwei while she took Xie Jing to a rice noodle roll shop.

As soon as they entered, Xie Jing shoved the last few pieces of tofu into Qin Ning’s hands and ordered a serving of rice noodle rolls and a three-delicacy soup.

“I can’t eat anymore,” she said. “There are extra toothpicks in the cup. If you want them, help yourself. If not, just throw them out.”

Qin Ning silently finished the leftover tofu and then ordered a bowl of Fuding meat slices.

The shop was crowded, and it took a while before they found seats. As soon as they sat down, Xie Jing’s rice noodle rolls arrived. She stirred the sauce with her chopsticks and was just about to take a bite when she noticed Qin Ning staring intently at her.

“Wanna try some first?” she asked, offering a piece coated in sauce.

“No need,” Qin Ning replied. “Didn’t you say you were full?”

She glanced at the rice noodle rolls. “Do you want to pack the rest to go?”

“I was just full from the tofu~” Xie Jing said shyly.

She could definitely still eat other things.

“I don’t eat mushrooms,” Qin Ning added, declining the bite Xie Jing had offered.

“Mushrooms are so tasty though,” Xie Jing mumbled. “Who doesn’t like mushrooms?”

Wait a minute—if Qin Ning didn’t like mushrooms, then why did she always come with her to that cafeteria window where the braised pork rice and clay pot rice were full of mushrooms?

Xie Jing gave her a curious look. Qin Ning’s face was as calm as ever, unaware that her long-maintained disguise had been subtly exposed.

A fuzzy suspicion began to sprout in Xie Jing’s heart.

“Your spicy boiled pork slices are ready~”

“Your three-delicacy soup too~”

The soup arrived with Qin Ning’s dish. Xie Jing glanced at the bowl topped with seaweed and scallions—but as expected, no cilantro. She licked her lips involuntarily.

“You can’t eat this,” Qin Ning said firmly. “I added pickled chili.”

“Just a sip of the broth?” Xie Jing pleaded, holding up her fingers to indicate a tiny amount. “I miss the flavor of dried shrimp…”

Qin Ning reluctantly moved the bowl closer to her and watched as she carefully scooped up a spoonful of clear broth and tasted it.

A moment later, Xie Jing’s face turned red like a cooked crab. “Cough, cough—so spicy!”

As expected, Qin Ning knew she couldn’t handle spice. She got up at once and went to the vending machine, returning with a bottle of yogurt that she opened and handed to her.

Xie Jing gulped it down in a few big swigs. Only after the numbing sensation in her mouth faded did she quietly return to her own soup.

“Qin Ning,” she said after slurping up a noodle roll.

“Yeah?” Qin Ning responded.

“Are Gu Shiwei and Lin Qinghuan… a couple?” Xie Jing tilted her head, curious.

“Nope.”

“Really?” Xie Jing looked surprised.

Isn’t it obvious that Lin Qinghuan’s interested in you? Qin Ning thought. They’re clearly into the same person, there’s no way they’re together.

Xie Jing kept eating while glancing at Qin Ning. After finishing the rice rolls, she wiped her mouth with a tissue and reached for her wallet, but Qin Ning said, “Already paid.”

They left the shop and strolled down the street to digest.

“Sigh… Too bad I’m full,” Xie Jing lamented. If only I could sample everything on this street. But her stomach could only hold so much.

“We can come back next month,” Qin Ning said.

“Huh? Why next month?”

“Because… you shouldn’t eat street food every day.”

Xie Jing nodded. Qin Ning was right—most food stalls didn’t have proper licenses, and hygiene could be questionable. Occasional indulgence was fine, but overdoing it might lead to stomach issues.

Especially for someone like her, a delicate foodie prone to gastritis.

As she pondered this, her eyes lit up. “Ooh, look—fried bananas! Want one?”

Qin Ning raised an eyebrow. “You still have room?”

Xie Jing grinned mischievously and said nothing.

The fried banana was crispy outside and soft inside, the sweet aroma filling her mouth with each bite. Satisfied, she tried to coax Qin Ning into getting one too.

Qin Ning, ever composed, ate slowly and politely, showing no expression whether the food was good or not. She was nothing like Xie Jing, who made dramatic faces and muttered, “So good, so fragrant,” between bites.

“Fried rice cakes look amazing too… but I really can’t eat anymore,” Xie Jing said, nibbling the golden banana with regret.

Halfway through the night market street, they ran into Gu Shiwei and Lin Qinghuan again—both holding skewers.

“You guys done already?” Xie Jing asked in surprise.

“No, just couldn’t eat anymore.” Lin Qinghuan looked utterly defeated. “One more bite and I’d throw up.”

“Pfft, hahaha… then let’s head back.” Xie Jing bought a few skewers of strawberry tanghulu and handed one to each of them to take back to the dorm.

Lin Qinghuan looked moved holding the shiny red candy, even promising to hang out again soon.

Gu Shiwei and Qin Ning, watching the two part like old friends, were left speechless. They just met today—how are they already so close? What did they miss?

Afterward, Gu Shiwei took a shortcut back to the South Dorms while Xie Jing and Qin Ning strolled along the campus track.

It was 9:30 PM. Scattered shadows dotted the field—mostly couples, sitting in pairs.

Xie Jing stared at them through the fence, full of envy.

Sigh… I’m so unlucky, falling for a straight girl. I can’t even confess—I can only secretly pine for her. I’ll probably spend all four years of college missing out on late-night dates like this.

“Hungry again?” Qin Ning asked suddenly.

“Huh?” Xie Jing was confused. “Why?”

“You’ve been staring so hard, you’re practically drooling.”

“I was just… feeling a little melancholy,” Xie Jing sighed. “Am I going to be single for all four years?”

“Thinking of dating now?” Qin Ning raised an eyebrow.

Xie Jing hugged her arms. “Just having a late-night crisis.”

Qin Ning advised, “Your focus should be on studying.”

“Games and good food are all that matter right now!” Xie Jing retorted.

Qin Ning fell silent. Good. With her gamer obsession, she’s never falling in love on her own. Aside from eating and gaming, nothing else even registers with her.

She let out a breath of relief.

Then sighed again.

“What are you sighing for?” Xie Jing tilted her head.

“I like someone… but she’s dense as a rock.”

“Ha—” Xie Jing almost burst out laughing but barely held it in. Seeing Qin Ning’s slightly aggrieved expression, she couldn’t help it: “Pffft, hahaha!”

She tried to cover it up: “Seeing other people struggle with love makes me feel… less pathetic.”

Misery really does love company.

“…You’re overthinking,” Qin Ning said dryly. “It’s just the two of us who are lovesick.”

“Yeah. We’re both cowards,” Xie Jing said, eyes shimmering with emotion. “You don’t dare confess, I don’t dare ask if Shen Xinghe’s straight. We’re the same—heading for a future full of regret.”

Qin Ning looked deeply into her tear-brimmed eyes and said firmly, “It’s not that I’m scared to confess. It’s that she already likes someone else.”

“That’s just a crush,” Xie Jing said gently, patting her on the shoulder. “If they’re not together, why not go for it? Don’t be like me—I missed my chance for six whole years.”

Qin Ning’s gaze wavered. “You really think that?”

“Yeah. I plan to ask Shen Xinghe soon. If she’s straight, I’ll keep my distance. If not… I’ll go for it. We can’t stay stuck forever, right?”

“You know the saying—‘The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago. The second-best time is now.’ Don’t leave yourself with regrets.”

Qin Ning gently grasped the hand resting on her shoulder and said solemnly, “Alright. I’ll listen to you.”