Twist of Fate (GL) - Chapter 18

As soon as Zhou Yan spoke, everyone in the private room turned to look at Xie Jing.

Chen Yuan stifled a laugh, Qin Ning remained cold and aloof, and only Shen Xinghe reached out with a finger to gently wipe the cream from the tip of Xie Jing’s nose.

Under the colorful lights of the room, a faint blush spread across Xie Jing’s cheeks.

Only after the fact did Shen Xinghe realize that her gesture might have been a bit too intimate. She quickly withdrew her hand, her own face flushing slightly.

Zhou Yan, catching the moment, wore an expression that screamed I ship this, and swiftly began handing out slices of cake.

After the cake, Zhou Yan suggested a round of karaoke. She and Chen Yuan had already sung a duet, so now it was Qin Ning’s turn. They all assumed someone as aloof and cool as Qin Ning wouldn’t sing in front of a crowd. But to everyone’s surprise, she stood up without hesitation, took the mic from Zhou Yan, and chose A Little Happiness.

“Meeting you was such a stroke of luck…”

“Turns out you were the happiness I most wanted to keep…”

“Turns out we were once so close to love…”

As Qin Ning sang, her gaze occasionally drifted—intentionally or not—toward where Xie Jing sat.

That look didn’t escape Shen Xinghe, who turned to glance at Xie Jing, only to find her eyes sparkling, completely fixed on Qin Ning.

Shen Xinghe narrowed her eyes slightly, as if beginning to sense something.

“What’s wrong, Xinghe?” Xie Jing noticed her gaze and leaned in to ask.

“Nothing,” Shen Xinghe replied casually. “Xie Jing, what song are you planning to sing later?”

“Hmm… can we do a duet?” Xie Jing asked boldly, trying to close the distance between them.

She looked at Shen Xinghe with bright, hopeful eyes, like stars twinkling in them.

“Of course,” Shen Xinghe smiled, pulling out her phone and opening NetEase Cloud Music for Xie Jing to pick a song.

As Xie Jing browsed through her playlist, her expression grew more and more serious. By the end, her delicate face had crumpled into a frown.

Crap, she thought. Shen Xinghe’s a full-on traditional-style music fan. Her playlist is filled with nothing but those ancient-Chinese-style ballads.

But since she was the one who suggested the duet, she felt obligated to accommodate Shen Xinghe’s taste.

After digging through the playlist, she finally found one she was familiar with—Outside Shen Garden.

“This one,” Xie Jing said, handing the phone back.

Shen Xinghe nodded in agreement.

When it was their turn to perform, they took the stage together. Zhou Yan cheered loudly, “You’ve got this, Xiao Jing!”

As they passed Qin Ning, Xie Jing’s wrist was suddenly grabbed.

She looked up at her. “What is it?”

“Hold this,” Qin Ning said flatly, handing her the microphone before stepping offstage with her back turned.

Although Xie Jing was nervous, she didn’t show it at all. Her voice was steady as a pro’s—so calm that even Zhou Yan didn’t notice anything was off.

When Shen Xinghe’s part came, Xie Jing’s eyes began to wander again and eventually settled on Qin Ning. Qin Ning, sensing her gaze, looked back.

Xie Jing instinctively gave her a sweet smile.

Then it was Xie Jing’s turn to sing again. She picked up the lyrics effortlessly, her voice graceful and melodious. Her duet with Shen Xinghe blended seamlessly—even if not professional, it was incredibly pleasant to hear.

Applause erupted from the room, accompanied by a chorus of amazed reactions.

Zhou Yan practically single-handedly created the effect of a standing ovation.

“That was amazing!” she cried, clapping like mad as Xie Jing and Shen Xinghe stepped offstage. “Your voices are perfect together—such chemistry, I’m living for this ship!”

Xie Jing blushed, too embarrassed to admit that this was the only traditional-style song she could sing well.

As they sat down, Zhou Yan handed them both a bottle of RIO to soothe their throats.

Shen Xinghe took a polite sip. Xie Jing, on the other hand, downed the entire bottle in one go to boost her courage.

“This stuff’s like, what, 3% alcohol? Even ten bottles wouldn’t get you drunk,” Zhou Yan leaned over to whisper. “If you really want to build up your courage, I suggest something stronger.”

“I’ll pass. I’m afraid if I get drunk, you’ll sell me off,” Xie Jing replied, raising her hand in mock refusal.

“Do I look like that kind of person?” Zhou Yan pouted. “At most, I’d toss you onto Shen Xinghe’s bed and make my OTP real.”

Xie Jing deadpanned, “Gee, thanks.”

“How about showing your thanks with more than just words?” Zhou Yan teased, scooting closer.

Xie Jing, being “generous,” smeared a dab of cream on her face.

Zhou Yan feigned offense and shoved her lightly. But Xie Jing lost her balance and fell backward.

Just as she braced for impact, an arm caught her by the waist and pulled her into the sofa with a thud.

The sofa was soft, and the bounce pushed her straight into the person behind her.

A faint lemony scent wafted to her nose—she didn’t even need to look to know who it was.

“Careful,” Qin Ning’s voice came from above.

“Thanks. I’m okay.” Xie Jing quickly scrambled upright and sat properly on the couch.

The little episode passed, and the room returned to its usual lively chatter.

“Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom,” Shen Xinghe suddenly stood and headed for the door.

Zhou Yan gave Xie Jing a meaningful look—Now’s your chance.

Xie Jing followed her gaze to the hidden bouquet of roses in the corner and gave an “OK” sign.

This bar, located in the university district, catered mainly to nearby students and had a classier vibe than most.

When Shen Xinghe went to the restroom alone, Xie Jing didn’t hesitate to “tail” her out.

She didn’t want to confess by the restroom door, so when Shen Xinghe came out, she tugged her over to the rooftop terrace.

“Xie Jing, what’s going on?” Shen Xinghe asked, puzzled by the sudden detour.

“I wanted to talk to you,” Xie Jing said, nervously clutching the sleeve of Shen Xinghe’s jacket with one hand while the other hand hid a love letter in her pocket.

“Xinghe, I’ve never forgotten you. Do you remember that game group chat we made in middle school between Class 3 and Class 4?” Though she’d rehearsed this many times, her mind went blank in front of Shen

Xinghe, and her words came out jumbled.

Her long-winded trip down memory lane left Shen Xinghe thoroughly confused, but she nodded anyway. “I remember. Why?”

Xie Jing’s face lit up with joy. “And do you remember the time we played 2v2 and PUBG together? Those were the happiest days of my life!”

Shen Xinghe froze. When did I ever play those games with her?

“…You don’t remember?” Xie Jing’s voice faltered as she saw Shen Xinghe’s confusion. Her face dimmed with disappointment. So, it was just me who held onto those memories?

“You’ve forgotten everything?” she asked quietly.

“I’m sorry,” Shen Xinghe said, shaking her head.

The smile froze on Xie Jing’s face, and the hand holding the envelope stiffened.

The movement to pull out the letter stopped cold. In that moment, Xie Jing suddenly regretted ever trying to speak her heart.

If she hadn’t asked, she could have continued to treasure those memories alone. But now Shen Xinghe had clearly told her—she never remembered any of it.

Only Xie Jing had been living in the past.

Only she had remained stuck in that fervent summer.

She hadn’t even started her first love, yet she had already been blindsided by heartbreak. Wordlessly, she left Shen Xinghe and returned to the private room alone.

Zhou Yan was startled by her pale face and thought something had happened. Only when she saw Shen Xinghe trailing behind did she realize—this must’ve had something to do with her.

The bouquet of roses remained untouched. The love letter never made it out of her pocket.

Just like that, Xie Jing’s first love was quietly buried on her eighteenth birthday.

Coming of age didn’t make her more mature. But heartbreak—that heavy, unexpected blow—made her taste bitterness like never before.

She walked back in a daze, collapsed beside Zhou Yan, and rested her head on her shoulder. Not long after, Zhou Yan felt a sudden warmth on her neck.

The lights were dim. Xie Jing didn’t want anyone to see her crying, so she buried her face in Zhou Yan’s neck, trying to hide her misery.

Zhou Yan’s heart broke for her. She didn’t need to ask—she knew the confession must have failed. She thought Xie Jing was optimistic enough to brush it off even if Shen Xinghe rejected her. But as Xie Jing’s tears silently soaked into her skin, Zhou Yan’s eyes reddened in turn. She cursed Shen Xinghe silently—How could she hurt such a bright, lovable girl?

“She doesn’t deserve you,” Zhou Yan whispered. “You still have me, Xie Jing. Don’t cry.”

“Mhm,” Xie Jing nodded against her shoulder, trying to hold the tears back.

“Xie Jing, can I talk to you?” Shen Xinghe’s voice came again as she approached.

“What… what do you want to say?” Xie Jing looked up from Zhou Yan’s neck, eyes still red and her voice choked.

Zhou Yan tightened her grip on Xie Jing’s arm, glaring at Shen Xinghe like a protective mother hen. What do you want now?

“Can we talk outside?” Shen Xinghe asked politely.

“…Okay.” Xie Jing pulled away from Zhou Yan and followed her out of the room.

They returned to the rooftop.

“Xie Jing,” Shen Xinghe looked at her tear-streaked face with a hint of guilt, “I remembered something. In seventh grade, Qin Ning and I were desk mates. She couldn’t register an account because she was underage, so I used my aunt’s ID to help her create one. If I remember right, the account name was… ‘Xinghe.’”

“I think the person you’re looking for might actually be her.”

“What?” Xie Jing’s eyes widened. “You’re saying Xinghe was Qin Ning?”

“Yes. I gave her the account, but I never used it myself. She was the one who leveled up, did the quests… all of it. So, I think… maybe you mistook me for her,” Shen Xinghe said. “The one you were looking for all this time—it might’ve been Qin Ning.”

This completely shattered everything Xie Jing thought she knew…