Twist of Fate (GL) - Chapter 20

“You’re awake!” Xie Jing glanced at Qin Ning, whose face was still glistening with water droplets, and figured she had just finished washing up.

Hehe, her timing was perfect—she hadn’t disturbed Qin Ning.

“Mhm, just got up,” Qin Ning replied, taking the lunchbox from Xie Jing and placing it on the table. She then closed the door behind her and, after everything was settled, took out the letter. A bit nervously, she asked, “Xie Jing, is this for me?”

“Yeah, that’s the love letter I rewrote after waking up. Once I finished, I realized it was getting late, so I went to the cafeteria to grab a meal. I brought you a roasted duck rice box, too.”

Besides that, Xie Jing had also secretly gone to the stationery shop to buy a stack of sponge paper, planning to fold 99 paper roses for Qin Ning all over again.

“The roasted duck rice from this place is super tasty—and no mushrooms, I made sure of that~” she added while bending down to take the lunchbox out of the biodegradable bag.

Qin Ning watched her busy figure, feeling her heart quietly fill up. Though she had always known that Xie Jing was like a hidden little sun, being bathed in her light so directly still warmed her to her core.

“Thank you,” Qin Ning said, taking out her phone. “I’ll transfer you the money for the food on WeChat.”

“Nope… last time I transferred you money for Little Guai’s vaccination, you didn’t even accept it, and it was refunded after it expired.” Xie Jing quickly stopped her and stuffed a pair of chopsticks into Qin Ning’s hand. “Can’t I treat you to a meal just once?”

Besides, they had already confessed their feelings to each other—it was time to stop being so polite.

Xie Jing looked at her with a hint of shyness and asked, “Qin Ning, what exactly is our relationship now?”

She knew the question was a bit late—they had kissed just the night before. But still… Qin Ning hadn’t actually said she wanted to be her girlfriend.

Just to be safe, it was better to confirm.

“What kind of relationship do you want us to have? Just roommates, or… girlfriends?” Qin Ning asked, gazing at Xie Jing with a look full of expectation. Even though she had already confessed the night before, she had been so overwhelmed that she forgot to ask Xie Jing if she wanted to be in an actual relationship.

Qin Ning was reserved by nature. Her confession the previous night had come from a surge of emotion.

Since then, she had spent the night pondering their relationship. Yes, they were mutually in love—but what if Xie Jing’s parents didn’t approve? And they were living in the same dorm. If things progressed, their roommates would eventually find out—how would Xie Jing handle that?

“Of course I want to be your girlfriend! I’ve never even been in a relationship before.” Xie Jing’s tone was gleeful, like a bird finally let out of its cage. “Besides, it’s not like college cares about early relationships.

Even if we walk around campus holding hands, no one’s going to say anything.”

She was right—Jinghai University had a progressive atmosphere. Student relationships were common and unopposed. Even same-s3x relationships weren’t against any official rule.

If that was the case—

“Okay.” Qin Ning nodded solemnly. “Girlfriends it is.”

Xie Jing finally let out the breath she’d been holding, flashing a bright, relieved smile.

That was how they, cautiously but sincerely, made their relationship official.

“Girlfriend, you must be starving after skipping breakfast,” Xie Jing said, pushing the roasted duck rice toward her. “Go ahead—it’s still hot.”

Qin Ning looked at her, half amused. Was she really this happy just because they’d made things official? She was the same girl who had tried to run off after kissing her yesterday.

Her gaze drifted to Xie Jing’s lips—perhaps because she often licked them, they were always slightly moist, the lines faint, and the natural pout of her lips made her look extra demure.

“What’s wrong? Don’t feel like eating?” Xie Jing asked, noticing that Qin Ning hadn’t picked up her chopsticks.

“It’s not that,” Qin Ning said as she suddenly grabbed Xie Jing’s wrist. “I want to kiss you.”

“Ah… uh…” Xie Jing’s face instantly turned beet red. Qin Ning—wha… what was with her! It was almost mealtime and she still wanted a kiss? Couldn’t they wait until after they ate?

“Can I?” Although her tone was a question, Qin Ning didn’t loosen her grip in the slightest—in fact, she seemed ready to pull Xie Jing right onto her lap.

Xie Jing bit her lip and gave a small nod, eyes flickering. “J-just once.”

Qin Ning didn’t reply. She pulled Xie Jing onto her lap, cupped the back of her neck, tilted her head, and kissed her.

Unlike last night in the dark, this time Qin Ning clearly saw the blush bloom across Xie Jing’s cheeks, creeping behind her ears, down her neck, and disappearing beneath her white collar.

Xie Jing had just eaten a milk-flavored lollipop, so her breath carried a sweet, creamy scent.

Strangely enough, Qin Ning had never liked dairy, but in this moment, the flavor in Xie Jing’s mouth was like nectar—irresistibly enticing.

Only when Qin Ning’s lemon-scented mouthwash finally overpowered the last traces of sweetness did she draw back slightly.

Their foreheads touched, noses brushing, breath mingling in the tight space between them. Qin Ning looked down at Xie Jing’s lips, now flushed like ripe cherries, her gaze darkening.

“No, just once—remember?” Xie Jing said, seeing Qin Ning staring and trying to cover her lips. But as soon as she lifted her hand, Qin Ning grabbed her wrist and pinned it behind her back.

Xie Jing: “???”

Liar! You said just one!

“Be good. One more,” Qin Ning murmured as she leaned in again—this time softer, slower, savoring the kiss like a delicacy.

Just as they got lost in the moment, noise from the hallway grew louder—shouts and laughter approaching. Xie Jing suddenly opened her eyes, startled, and glanced toward the door.

“It’s fine,” Qin Ning said without even looking. “I locked it.”

Xie Jing: “…”

When did she lock the door?

Why didn’t she know?

And wait—why had Qin Ning locked the door in the first place?

Had she already anticipated… not one, but two kisses?

As Xie Jing’s thoughts spiraled, Qin Ning gave her earlobe a soft bite, snapping her right out of it.

Xie Jing trembled, letting out a stifled gasp as if someone had hit her switch.

Qin Ning, intrigued by the reaction, gave the sensitive ear a teasing lick.

“Mmm…” Xie Jing’s eyes flew open in shock. Her ears were already sensitive to the lightest breath, and now with Qin Ning’s mouth involved—it felt like someone had her entire nervous system in their grasp. She couldn’t move, just wide-eyed and frozen.

Qin Ning seemed unaware of Xie Jing’s flustered state and kept playing, amused.

Tears welled in Xie Jing’s eyes from the overstimulation. Qin Ning noticed the shimmer and abruptly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” she froze. “Did I hurt you?”

“No…” Not pain exactly—more like tingles and numbness all over. Xie Jing felt like jelly, her strength completely drained.

It took her a while to recover while still perched on Qin Ning’s lap. Qin Ning’s hand was still at her waist.

“Put me down,” she muttered, wriggling.

Reluctantly, Qin Ning let go. Xie Jing darted toward the door and confirmed—it was, in fact, locked.

She turned to look at Qin Ning, gave her a long, wordless stare, then went to sit at her desk.

She hadn’t been sulking long before Qin Ning scooted over beside her. Xie Jing instinctively made space on the desk, then resumed eating.

“This roasted duck is seriously amazing,” Qin Ning said, placing a piece in Xie Jing’s bowl. “Eat more, Xie Jing—you’re too skinny.”

The gentle gesture made Xie Jing forget her minor annoyance. She popped the duck into her mouth and, in return, added some cabbage to Qin Ning’s bowl. “You eat more too.”

Qin Ning smiled and took a bite of the cabbage. Just like that, peace was restored between them.

After finishing, Qin Ning rinsed her mouth and handed Xie Jing a bottle of green tea. “A thank-you for bringing me food.”

Xie Jing accepted it without hesitation. After a few sips, she noticed Qin Ning watching her.

“What?” she asked. “You thirsty too?”

Qin Ning nodded. “A little.”

“Then have a sip.” Xie Jing turned the bottle to the clean side and brought it to her lips. Qin Ning drank from it as Xie Jing held it for her, but the angle was awkward and some of the tea spilled—trickling down her neck to her collarbone, dampening her shirt.

Xie Jing stared at the now-darkened fabric and snapped back to reality. She quickly grabbed tissues and tried to dry it.

“You’re wet—are you cold? Should you change?” she asked, flustered.

“I’m fine.” Qin Ning held her hand against her chest, locking eyes with her. “It’s okay—I can take care of it.”

“Still, shouldn’t you change? Wet clothes must feel awful.” Xie Jing seemed oblivious to how intimate her hand placement was. Trapped under Qin Ning’s palm, she awkwardly wiped again until the wet spot faded.

“Xie Jing.” Qin Ning’s breath quickened, voice low and heated.

“Hm?” Xie Jing looked up.

Qin Ning suddenly grabbed her wrist and kissed her again.

One hand trapped, the other holding the drink, Xie Jing froze. As Qin Ning’s tongue slipped past her lips, Xie Jing’s grip trembled—nearly dropping the bottle.

Qin Ning’s mouth still tasted like green tea, fresh and sweet. Xie Jing swallowed, slowly losing herself in the kiss.

Maybe it was their third time already, but this time, Xie Jing was less clumsy. Though she still fumbled her breathing, she didn’t turn red from holding it in.

She began to mirror Qin Ning, timidly dancing her tongue with hers in a shy, hesitant rhythm.

Qin Ning felt it—Xie Jing’s response, her trembling enthusiasm. Her heart thundered with joy.

It felt like she might burst from happiness at any second.