After a Drunken Night, I Got My Happy Ending with My Tsundere Childhood Friend - Chapter 1

“This one is yours, this one is mine.” The little girl was busy dividing the building blocks with intense focus.

“Wait, it’s missing one. Did you secretly hide one? Did you give it to that little boy?” The owner of the childish voice was incredibly sharp.

“No, I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Really?”

“Really. I accidentally lost one yesterday.” The little girl nodded quickly, her face showing nothing but sincerity.

Suddenly, the little boy from their conversation appeared, holding a building block with a look of triumph on his face.

“You were lying to me!” the girl accused the little girl. Her face turned red with anger, and teardrops hung precariously in her eyes.

The little girl was panicked. Mimicking what she had seen on TV, she raised two fingers.

“It really wasn’t me, Mu-Mu. I swear, I will never lie to you for the rest of my life.”

For the rest of my life—

—will never lie to you.

“Aha—!” The girl’s eyes widened in terror, and she suddenly jolted awake.

Outside the window, the sun had already flooded into the room.

It was mid-morning. Having already finished the College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), Kong Ning felt absolutely no guilt about waking up at this hour.

“I knew it. A person can’t sleep soundly after doing something bad,” Kong Ning said, sitting up and wiping the thin layer of sweat from her forehead.

“It’s not like I lied more than once. Honestly, why did I swear that kind of oath when I was a kid? My brain must have been kicked by a donkey.” Kong Ning sighed in regret, finally collapsing back onto her pillows to contemplate her life.

That’s right—when she filled out her college application, she had lied to her.

She had lied to Wei Mu.

“Are you really applying to Jing University? Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s true.” That was the only time in high school that Kong Ning had answered Wei Mu with such absolute seriousness.

It was also the first time she had ever performed with such masterful acting skills.

Wei Mu was the city’s top scorer. A while ago, teachers from the admissions office had come to camp out in front of her house. Even though they couldn’t actually get inside—as the distance between Wei Mu’s front gate and the residence was quite vast, and security wouldn’t let anyone in without the owner’s permission—it didn’t stop them from trying.

Wei Mu: the greatest obstacle in Kong Ning’s lifelong quest to look cool.

She had a fresh, sweet appearance, long jet-black hair, soft, expressive brows, bright eyes, a straight nose bridge, and a gentle mouth. When she smiled, it was infectious…

Ugh, forget it. Why am I thinking about this? Kong Ning cursed her own thoughts, yet she felt that it was only the truth.

Wei Mu was someone who excelled at bewitching people; even the sharp-witted Kong Ning felt confused the moment she thought of her.

Let’s start over.

She was malicious, she loved to make veiled taunts, she was sharp-tongued, and she bullied people!

Specifically, she only bullied her.

Kong Ning felt indignant.

Above all else, she was always getting first place!!! This made Kong Ning, the eternal second-place holder, incredibly annoyed.

That’s right—the adolescent Kong Ning had developed a “middle-school syndrome” where she felt physically uncomfortable if she couldn’t show off by taking first place.

In the first year of middle school, things were fine. Wei Mu was away in another city, and Kong Ning had effortlessly swept all the first-place spots, whether it was in grades, music competitions, or speech contests. When they were in primary school, Wei Mu’s mother had taken her abroad for a few years, only returning by the second year of middle school. This time, only Wei Mu had come back.

The two families were old acquaintances. Kong Ning had been forced to “know” Wei Mu from the moment she was born. Originally, Kong Ning had a great fondness for this cute childhood companion, and in middle school, they actually got along quite well.

Later, Wei Mu became the eternal first-place holder. Whether it was music competitions, essay contests, or speech tournaments, if Wei Mu was there, no one would notice Kong Ning. And yet, Wei Mu would always mysteriously stick by her side.

Even that didn’t matter. Kong Ning figured she was just not good enough.

But by high school, the increasingly rebellious Kong Ning couldn’t stand it anymore.

She knew Wei Mu preferred science, so to escape her, Kong Ning chose liberal arts.

However, just as she was locked in a fierce battle with the class’s second-place student, Wei Mu switched her track and specifically transferred into her class.

Three years. The second-place throne, which she had only sat on during her rare moments of failure, was now firmly secured as her permanent seat.

Their relationship grew lukewarm. The proud, arrogant Kong Ning wanted to end their friendship, but her mother wouldn’t allow it—she even frequently invited Wei Mu over for dinner.

To the daughter of her childhood best friend, Qi Zhirou offered just as much love and care as she did to her own daughter.

Eventually, Kong Ning couldn’t take it anymore and asked, “Why do you always sign up for the same competitions as me? Are you doing this on purpose? Where did I offend you? You steal my first place every single time!”

Wei Mu didn’t even lift her eyelids. She replied, “Oh, really? I just signed up when I saw a competition. I ended up getting first place by accident. Maybe I’m just too talented.”

“You… you… how utterly shameless!” Kong Ning pointed at Wei Mu, nearly fainting from rage. This person was too good at acting! She didn’t believe for a second that Wei Mu hadn’t been practicing in secret.

Ask her why? Well, Kong Ning herself was the “dead-set actor”—she worked hard in silence behind the scenes for the sake of glory, waiting to shock everyone and win their applause.

Damn it. Studying and practicing are both exhausting.

Fortunately, by following in Wei Mu’s footsteps, Kong Ning—whose family was wealthy enough to lounge around for eighteen lifetimes—could choose between Jing University and Hua University with her Gaokao scores. After all, she was the city’s runner-up.

Well, not many people knew that, since second place is rarely the center of attention.

Because they would both be inheriting their respective family companies in the future, Kong Ning had told Wei Mu sweetly that she was applying to the Business School at Jing University, while secretly applying for the Literature Department at Hua University.

Kong Ning didn’t have much interest in inheriting her family’s business.

She felt she was doing a good deed, actually. If Wei Mu studied literature, she feared Wei Mu’s family company might truly be snatched away by her father’s illegitimate child.

She knew that Wei Mu would inevitably apply to the same university and the same major as her, continuing the act of the “swan” letting the “ugly duckling” set her off. She could almost hear the broken heart of the Hua University admissions officer.

But that didn’t matter. Through her superb acting, she had deceived everyone—even her mother, Qi Zhirou, didn’t know her daughter was going to Hua University. Now, she finally didn’t have to be with Wei Mu anymore.

Hua University, you are about to have the brilliant me!

Kong Ning laughed on her bed like a crazy dog that had broken free from its owner and was running toward freedom.

Suddenly, a constant knocking sounded at the door. The nanny, Auntie Ge, called out, “Miss, what’s the matter?”

Auntie Ge was terrified that Kong Ning had gone insane or was in danger; that laughter was far too arrogant.

“Ahem, ahem.” Kong Ning cleared her throat.

“Auntie Ge, I’m fine. I was just clearing my throat. I’m going to practice some bel canto in a bit,” Kong Ning replied calmly.

“As long as you’re okay. Breakfast is ready. Your mother asked me to call you down to eat. Also, Miss Wei Mu is here.”

Wei Mu? What was she doing here so early in the morning?

Wei Mu’s house wasn’t far from Kong Ning’s. In fact, they could be considered neighbors, even if there were dozens of meters between them, and there were no other houses between the two estates.

Ever since they had stood in their respective gardens and spoken before the application process, they hadn’t seen each other at all.

Because of the distance, Wei Mu hadn’t noticed that Kong Ning was lying. If she had looked closely into Kong Ning’s eyes, she might have sensed something was wrong.

Kong Ning had never lied to Wei Mu from the time they were small. She could lie to others with ease, but lying to Wei Mu always made her feel flustered and uncertain.

I must be too kind; that’s why I’m like this, Kong Ning told herself at the time.

But Wei Mu coming over was likely just to keep her mother company. As for coming so early… maybe she wanted to mooch a meal, Kong Ning thought heartlessly.

In the past, Wei Mu had been a frequent visitor at her house. It was only in the last few years that she came less often, but that was none of her business. In the life Kong Ning was about to lead, she would have very little interaction with Wei Mu.

“Auntie Ge, I’ll be down after I change.”

A few minutes later, a yawning Kong Ning walked downstairs.

She saw Wei Mu and Qi Zhirou talking in the garden. They had already finished breakfast.

Wei Mu sat in a lounge chair, her brows and eyes looking exceptionally gentle in the sunlight, a faint smile on her face.

Kong Ning recalled how everyone said that talking to Wei Mu was a very pleasant experience; she made people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Standing on the landing of the spiral staircase, Kong Ning looked back on the fragments of her time with Wei Mu.

I don’t know when it started, but Wei Mu always looks at me so coldly. Why?

The other party’s words were never as sharp as they would be to an enemy, so why did she only refuse to smile at her?

Thinking of this, Kong Ning had an epiphany.

Wei Mu was doing it on purpose. She was treating the intelligent her as her number-one rival.

Who would smile at their rival? Kong Ning, who often gave Wei Mu a cold shoulder, thought to herself.

“Ning-ning, you’re down?” Qi Zhirou asked.

“Yes, Mom.” Kong Ning greeted her mother and went straight to the dining table.

“You see, Ning-ning is still so childish, holding a grudge until now. And she’s supposed to be the older one.” Qi Zhirou didn’t know what had caused the rift between Kong Ning and Wei Mu, but she didn’t care.

Children would eventually reconcile.

“Mu-Mu, don’t worry. I’ve already spoken to Ning-ning. When you both get to Jing University, look after each other. If she doesn’t listen, just call Auntie Qi, and I’ll make sure to give her a piece of my mind.” Qi Zhirou knew her daughter’s personality well enough; she knew Kong Ning wouldn’t break a promise, so she would definitely look after Wei Mu.

If only she knew, her daughter wasn’t going to Jing University at all.

Qi Zhirou was chatting with Wei Mu as usual. She saw nothing unusual about Wei Mu coming over today.

Halfway through the meal, Kong Ning received a call—the courier was here with her admission letter.

Kong Ning immediately grabbed her ID and ran to the main gate.

The courier naturally knew this was an admission letter from Hua University and hurriedly offered his congratulations.

Opening the package, the letter clearly stated: Hua University, Department of Literature.

Kong Ning smiled with satisfaction. She hugged the letter and intended to go back to finish her meal, but she ran into Wei Mu on the way.

“Let me see,” Wei Mu said faintly, reaching out a hand.

Kong Ning felt that Wei Mu was a bit aggressive today. She was scared.

“No,” Kong Ning said, hugging the admission letter tightly.

Show it to Wei Mu? That would be the end of me. Should I prepare for her death stare?

“Oh?” Wei Mu sneered.

“Kong Ning, you are so stupid.”

“I am so stupid too,” Wei Mu muttered to herself.

“You’re calling me stupid again!” Kong Ning felt like she couldn’t go on living. What was all this?

Although she had forgotten the last time Wei Mu called her stupid, she remembered that Wei Mu had indeed said it before.

“You—you’re going too far!!!” After thinking for a long time, that was all Kong Ning could reply.

Before she could wait for Wei Mu’s response, Qi Zhirou’s voice drifted over.

“I just heard from Mu-Mu that she got her admission letter this morning. I was just wondering why yours hadn’t arrived yet, and here you are, running out to get it.”

“Good timing. Bring it over and let me have a look.”

Kong Ning was in despair. She had wanted to enjoy a few more days of peace.

Suddenly, she remembered what the courier had said earlier: “It should have been delivered to you earlier. I was so excited after delivering the Jing University admission letter to your neighbor that I forgot to take yours out, and then I had to go back, which delayed things.”

What had she replied back then? “It’s fine—”

This wasn’t fine at all. The courier probably told Wei Mu that the admission letter for the girl next door was from Hua University.

So that’s why, Kong Ning thought. Wei Mu already knew I was lying, and she came over early this morning to block me.

Qi Zhirou reached out to take the admission letter, and Kong Ning closed her eyes, accepting her fate as the letter was pulled from her hands.

When she opened her eyes, she received the “cold stare” she had expected from Wei Mu, along with the interrogation from her mother: “Why is it Hua University?”

“Uh, actually, I can explain. Do you believe me?”

Kong Ning blinked her large eyes, her face full of innocence.