A Happy Ending with my Fiancée's Arch-enemy - Chapter 32

“Ding, ding, ding!”

The previously chaotic Class One fell silent as Wu Juan slammed her hand on the desk. Even Yu Ning, who had been catching up on sleep during the break, lifted her head to look at Wu Juan.

“I have some good news for everyone.”

Hearing this, the students of Class One obediently waited for her next words.

“To motivate us seniors, the school has approved a picnic outing for this Saturday.”

A picnic outing?

She remembered now this was the event where Jiang Shuangshuang stole the spotlight. Most students in Class One came from well-off families and were quite pampered. Forget cooking; some of them had probably never even washed a bowl.

Someone deliberately tried to make things difficult for Jiang Shuangshuang by assigning her to wash vegetables, cook, and clean the dishes. Unexpectedly, Jiang Shuangshuang didn’t complain at all. She seemed to enjoy it and even prepared dishes that were surprisingly good, earning praise from both her classmates and teachers. This left a favorable impression on Lin Yanqing.

How boring.

Just then, she heard Wu Juan say, “Are there any students who can’t make it on Saturday? You can request leave if needed.”

Yu Ning was about to raise her hand when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

So, while raising her hand, she glanced at the message.

It was from Su Yien.

【The seniors are having a group picnic on Saturday. What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you.】

Does that mean she can ask for anything?

“Yu Ning? You’re not joining the picnic?”

Wu Juan’s voice snapped Yu Ning out of her thoughts, and instantly, the entire class’s attention was on her.

“No, I just wanted to ask what we need to bring…” Yu Ning said, slowly lowering her raised hand.

Wu Juan gave her a dissatisfied look. “I’ll explain that later. Right now, I’m asking if anyone can’t attend on Saturday.”

After Yu Ning put her hand down, no one else raised theirs.

Perhaps due to the recent intense study schedule, many in the class were eagerly looking forward to the picnic.

【Where’d you go?】

Yu Ning: 【How about making ice cream on the spot?】

【…】

【If you really want it, I can sacrifice myself for you.】

Yu Ning silently reread the message, initially thinking Su Yien was actually offering to make ice cream for her on the spot. Just as she was about to reply, it suddenly dawned on her.

Could she mean that?

“Yu Ning, why is your face so red?”

Yu Ning, who had been trying to act nonchalant, was immediately exposed by her deskmate’s remark.

“Just excited… It’s a picnic, aren’t you excited?”

Her deskmate thought about it and agreed it was exciting, but Yu Ning had been looking at her phone when she blushed it didn’t seem like she was listening to the teacher.

After a while, not receiving a reply from Yu Ning, Su Yien sent a few more cat memes.

【Peeking quietly.jpg】

【Where are you?】

【Are you there?】

Even though she knew Su Yien couldn’t see her expression, Yu Ning guiltily pressed her water cup against her cheek to cool down.

Overthinking, overthinking Su Yien probably didn’t mean what she thought.

Su Yien stood outside the corridor of Class One, leaning against the railing as she looked into the classroom. From her position, she had a clear view of Yu Ning.

And she clearly saw her pressing the water cup to her face.

A moment later, Su Yien received Yu Ning’s message.

【The teacher was talking earlier, so I didn’t notice what you said.】

【Make whatever you want. I’ll just come and join your table then.】

After sending the message, she reached up and touched her cheek again.

Su Yien couldn’t help but laugh.

That was just too adorable.

Sensing an unfriendly gaze, Su Yien looked up and met Lin Yanqing’s eyes.

Using coldness to mask anger and panic seemed to be Lin Yanqing’s usual approach.

Su Yien gave her a “friendly” smile.

To Lin Yanqing, this was nothing but a provocation.

And indeed, it was.

[See you at lunch break.]

The two had agreed to play tennis for a while during lunch break before heading to eat.

Lately, because she knew she had to wake up early, Yu Ning had been going to bed early too, so she wasn’t as tired during the day as she had been on the first day.

In the blink of an eye, it was lunch break.

As usual, Su Yien waited for Yu Ning outside the classroom of Class 1.

Su Yien had been waiting for Yu Ning outside the classroom on time these past few days, and the students of Class 1 had already grown accustomed to it. On the first day, many were curious, but after that, few paid any attention.

The basketball match was scheduled for next Friday, and the tennis match was set for after the joint exams.

To be honest, Yu Ning wasn’t sure how to practice tennis. All she knew was that every time she and Su Yien agreed to play tennis, Su Yien ended up taking her for a walk around the playground to chat.

Today was the third day of their walks.

Yu Ning: “?”

“Wait, what exactly are we practicing here?” Yu Ning stopped walking and questioned her.

“Take it step by step. Let’s build up stamina first,” Su Yien replied softly to Yu Ning’s questioning.

“Wouldn’t running be better then?”

If the goal was to build stamina, running would definitely be more effective than walking.

“Oh, you want to run? I thought you really disliked running.”

Su Yien’s tone even carried a hint of being misunderstood, which made Yu Ning reflect for a second maybe her tone had been a bit harsh just now.

“Oh, it’s not that I hate it. So, should we run?”

Yu Ning was ready to start running, but Su Yien suddenly said, “Let’s skip running and just play.”

Then she headed toward the tennis court.

Yu Ning:

They had only played one round when Lin Yanqing and Jiang Shuangshuang showed up.

“Should we leave?” Su Yien asked.

“No.”

They were there first, why should they leave?

Lin Yanqing and Jiang Shuangshuang were right next to them, with Lin Yanqing standing parallel to Yu Ning.

Just after serving, Yu Ning heard a voice beside her reminding her, “Serving too hard isn’t good for your wrist.”

Not good for her wrist?

Mind your own business.

Lin Yanqing didn’t expect Yu Ning to respond. After saying this, she served a ball herself, almost as if talking to herself, “A lighter serve makes it easier for the opponent to return.”

Not long after, Yu Ning saw Sun Yiyi walking onto the sports field with four bottles of water in her arms.

“Ningning! Ningning! Come have some water.”

Yu Ning calculated that she had probably played for less than ten minutes and was wondering whether to take a break later when she heard Su Yien say, “Let’s take a break first.”

Alright, as long as Su Yien didn’t think she was holding her back.

For some reason, Yu Ning felt that Su Yien didn’t seem the least bit worried about this match was she the only one who was actually nervous?

It must be an illusion.

“Yiyi, what are you doing here?”

Before coming to the sports field, Yu Ning had told Sun Yiyi that she could either wait in the classroom or go to the cafeteria with someone else.

“Hmph,” Sun Yiyi snorted lightly. “Because I heard someone was trying to bother you again, so I came.”

“Huh?” Yu Ning was about to unscrew the cap of her mineral water bottle when Su Yien beat her to it, handing her the opened bottle.

Yu Ning took the bottle of mineral water and, not hearing Sun Yiyi’s response, asked again.

Sun Yiyi snapped out of her surprise, her eyes darting between the two of them. Were they already this close? The way Yu Ning took the water from Su Yien was so natural, and she didn’t even bother to say thank you.

And Su Yien, too, seemed to act on instinct, not finding anything odd about Yu Ning’s lack of gratitude.

“I overheard them hiding in the classroom,” Sun Yiyi gritted her teeth. “Jiang Shuangshuang and Lin Yanqing were discussing whether to practice tennis together. At first, Lin Yanqing refused, but then Jiang Shuangshuang said she heard you were also at the sports field and suggested they come secretly observe your practice methods and progress. ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated,’ she said. After that, Lin Yanqing agreed.”

“They’re here to steal your techniques! How shameless!”

Sun Yiyi emphasized the words “steal your techniques,” each syllable seeming to squeeze through her clenched teeth.

Yu Ning knew that Sun Yiyi’s dislike for Lin Yanqing and Jiang Shuangshuang made her resentful of everything they did.

Of course, Yu Ning felt the same, so she nodded in agreement. “Yes, shameless!”

What other reason could there be for Lin Yanqing to show up here, aside from being afraid of losing and wanting to check on their progress?

None.

“Right? I knew you’d think the same way.”

Yu Ning nodded firmly. She also suspected that Lin Yanqing had come deliberately to annoy her, hoping to drive her away from the sports field. If that was the case, Lin Yanqing had seriously overestimated her own influence.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Sun Yiyi asked, dissatisfied at not hearing a response from Su Yien.

“Whatever Yu Ning says goes.”

Sun Yiyi: “…”

Impressive.

If Su Yien didn’t have feelings for Yu Ning, she’d eat noodles upside down.

“But why did you bring so much water?” Yu Ning coughed lightly, steering the conversation elsewhere.

Only then did Sun Yiyi remember the two bottles of water she had with her.

“Oh, this ”

“It’s to show some classmate camaraderie.”

With that, Sun Yiyi picked up the two bottles and walked toward Lin Yanqing.

Although Lin Yanqing had been focused on returning the ball, her peripheral vision had been fixed on Yu Ning the entire time.

When she noticed someone approaching, she glanced sideways and was surprised to see it was Sun Yiyi.

That momentary distraction nearly caused the ball to hit her, but she dodged just in time.

“Yanqing,” Jiang Shuangshuang rushed to her side anxiously, “are you okay?”

Lin Yanqing didn’t answer, instead turning her gaze to Sun Yiyi, who had suddenly appeared beside her.

Seeing the ball narrowly miss Lin Yanqing’s face, Sun Yiyi felt a flicker of disappointment. Why couldn’t it have hit her? She would have loved to test what Lin Yanqing’s face was made of.

“Want some water? This is for you,” Sun Yiyi said with a cheerful smile, looking at Lin Yanqing and Jiang Shuangshuang.

Lin Yanqing didn’t take it. She had clearly seen the brief flash of schadenfreude in Sun Yiyi’s eyes.

“What a pity. I even spent Ningning’s money to buy these,” Sun Yiyi sighed dramatically. “I thought since you’re both practicing tennis here, as classmates, I should bring you some water…”

At the mention of “Ningning,” Lin Yanqing’s eyes flickered, and she accepted the water.

“Go ahead, it’s just mineral water. Have a drink and rest a bit before you continue.”

Seeing that Lin Yanqing had taken the water, Jiang Shuangshuang also accepted a bottle from Sun Yiyi.

Lin Yanqing twisted the bottle cap, her hand pausing briefly before she took a sip of water as if nothing had happened.

Not a single frown crossed her brow.

Jiang Shuangshuang also took a sip, but immediately spat it out, glaring angrily at Sun Yiyi. “You!”

Sun Yiyi crossed her arms, feigning innocence. “Ten yuan for the water. WeChat or cash?”

Ignoring Sun Yiyi, Lin Yanqing took out her phone, found Yu Ning’s name, and prepared to transfer the ten yuan Sun Yiyi had mentioned.

But unexpectedly, a glaring red exclamation mark appeared.

[You are not friends with this contact.]

Lin Yanqing:

Their messages had stopped a few days ago, with her last text being “Are you there?” Scrolling up, all she saw were her own messages from recent days.

Yu Ning hadn’t replied to a single one.

The thought of removing Yu Ning as a friend flashed through her mind for just a moment, because Lin Yanqing saw the messages Yu Ning had sent her long ago.

If she removed her as a friend, she might never see this side of Yu Ning again.

In the end, Lin Yanqing handed Sun Yiyi twenty yuan in cash.

“Yanqing… don’t you feel unwell after drinking soda water?” Jiang Shuangshuang asked, puzzled.

“How do you know that?” Lin Yanqing looked at her, confused.

She had never told Jiang Shuangshuang that drinking soda water made her feel unwell.

The only people who should know about this were Yu Ning and those close to her.

Yu Ning wouldn’t have told Jiang Shuangshuang.

So, how did she know?

Jiang Shuangshuang grew uneasy under her gaze and stammered an explanation. “I misspoke. I meant that her water was mixed with several things, and drinking it would make anyone feel unwell.”