After Dumping the Female Lead, It's My Turn to Cry - Chapter 8

Although Qing Ling’s blueberry-flavored gummy worms had always been something Ruan Yubai desperately sought,

was Ruan Yubai really someone so easily swayed?

Definitely not!

“Alright, alright, I get it, you’re an upright and unyielding, awesome Beta,” her friend Bi Bi Ba said with keen interest, waving a dismissive hand while eager to hear more details. “But this is Qing Ling we’re talking about, a legendary figure among legends. My cousin somehow got hold of an old news photo of her, and it’s still the background on his spaceship control panel.”

Ruan Yubai was so shocked she froze. “So you knew about Qing Ling all along? Why didn’t you ever tell me!”

If she had known earlier, she would have ditched that cheesy novel the moment she laid eyes on it and never let herself get tangled up in such a cliché plot.

“How can you say I didn’t tell you?”

Bi Bi Ba felt utterly wronged and immediately retorted, “Back then, you were obsessed with those non-human supernatural novels, reading every day about how insectoids and humans fell in love. No matter what I tried to talk to you about, you’d steer the conversation back to the grand wedding between humans and insectoids within three sentences. You were like a fanatic, constantly lecturing me on the fifty thousand ingenious uses of insect mouthparts…”

The two exchanged a glance and tacitly steered clear of that inappropriate topic.

Blushing, Bibiba coughed twice and sighed. “It’s all your fault. Otherwise, why would I have signed up for mecha class for no reason? I shouldn’t have listened to you, dreaming of flying to a junk planet to raise a powerful, tragic, and beautiful young insectoid.”

Ruan Yubai wished she could cover her friend’s mouth: Enough, that’s plenty, no need to say more just let those reckless youthful days dry up and fade into history.

If not for the reminder from her terminal’s calendar, Ruan Yubai would have completely forgotten that the next day was the dreaded start of the school year.

The thought made her anxious too. “Have you finished your mecha class homework?”

“I recorded the simulated mecha operation video a few weeks ago,” Bi Bi Ba counted on her fingers, “but I haven’t finished the mecha chronicles illustrated guide or the model yet. I plan to check the forums for any tips from upperclassmen, or maybe just skip a few transitional sections when I turn it in. Teachers probably don’t care much about us F-class students anyway.”

When they first read the novels, the two had grand illusions thinking they’d master mecha operation in no time, then set off overnight, using joy and wisdom as their oars to sing their way to conquering a junk planet.

But in reality, for F-class students, mecha class was just tedious history and drafting. Even the simulated practice only involved piloting a mecha around the field once.

It was that dull and boring.

“When you first enrolled, your exam rank was B, right? Even if you couldn’t make it to A-class, you should have at least been in C-class. How did you end up like this? Even reading novels shouldn’t have caused this much of a drop.” Though Bi Bi Ba was also an academic slacker, she was a native one, fundamentally different from Ruan Yubai, who had fallen from grace.

Ruan Yubai looked a bit embarrassed and whispered, “I don’t know either. I thought I did pretty well on the exam, I had about an 80% accuracy rate when I checked the answers. I actually thought I’d make it into B-class because of that test.”

After all, her dear sister Lin Yi was in B-class.

Back then, Lin Yi had promised Ruan Yubai that if she could test into Class B, she would take her out for barbecue, complete with dipping sauce mixed with crushed crystal core powder.

If it weren’t for that incentive, Ruan Yubai wouldn’t have studied so hard back then, only to end up with such a bleak outcome.

Thinking of the past, Ruan Yubai felt a twinge of melancholy, but it quickly vanished under Bi Bi Ba’s deadpan stare. Frustrated, she exclaimed, “It’s true! I’m not just trying to save face! Don’t think I can’t tell what you’re thinking just because you’re not saying anything!”

Of course, Bibiba didn’t believe her, but out of consideration for her friend’s pride, she held back her thoughts. “Look at Yan Lan from your class back then, all the instructors said her grades were slipping, that she might not even make it into Class F. But in that exam, she barely scraped into Class A! Now look at you!”

Just then, Ruan Yubai’s terminal buzzed. She glanced at it and saw an unfamiliar number, assuming it was an automated sales call advertising new spaceships or a three-day Mars tour. She casually swiped it aside.

Meanwhile, Bibiba continued her lament.

Though both were academically challenged, Bi Bi Ba couldn’t help feeling exasperated. “The gap in resources between Class A and Class F is huge! If you’d made it to Class A, you could’ve flown off to some garbage planet, kept a pretty, strong, tragic larva, studied 500,000 ingenious uses for mouthparts and even shared the spoils with your girl here! But now? How am I supposed to latch onto you for support?”

Completely unashamed, Ruan Yubai blinked innocently. “Well then, you be the support, and I’ll latch onto you! We’re sisters, why split hairs over who’s the anchor and who’s the accessory?”

The two chattered about other things like the new transfer student coming to their school and tips for fudging their holiday homework before parting ways to make one last, futile struggle as pitiful students before the semester began.

“Huh?” As Ruan Yubai picked up her dark blue jacket, she noticed her terminal still showed an active call. She must have accidentally tapped the answer button when she swiped earlier.

She didn’t think much of it and simply ended the call.

By the time she got home, it was almost 7 p.m. Dusk hung like mist in the air. The hulls of silently gliding hovercars displayed the latest E-class star discovery, a centipede-like insect, every bristle on its winding body rendered in perfect detail. Beside it stood a poised warrior in armor, signed with a name:

Yan Lan.

Ruan Yubai stared blankly for a moment. A damp mist brushed by not from any forest, but from a nearby toy-shaped machine automatically spraying vapor.

She brushed away a nonexistent speck of dust from her eyelid, and that faint trace of emotion quickly faded. Pushing the door open, her attention was already captured by something else: “Dad, what’s for dinner tonight?”

“Curried mashed potatoes and mango pudding,” her father replied, setting his apron aside. “But I only made one portion and just finished it. Didn’t you go out to eat with your classmates? If you’re still hungry, I can make you something.”

Ruan Yubai shook her head. She had eaten, but the savory aroma of potatoes still made her mouth water.

“Isn’t Qing Ling eating?” She picked up a fork to spear a slice of orange and nibbled on it, immediately content.

Mr. Ruan sighed helplessly, “Even if you don’t call her ‘senior,’ you should at least call her ‘sister.’ You’re usually so sweet-talking with Xiao Lin.”

Secretly, Ruan Yubai curled her lips. How could Qing Ling compare to Lin Yi? Lin Yi was gentle and patient, treating her to meals and even giving her gummy worms, while Miss Qing Ling.

Well, even though Qing Ling had given her gifts too, it just wasn’t the same.

She angrily stabbed another piece of apple with her fork. In any case, it just wasn’t the same!

Unaware of her little gesture, Mr. Ruan continued, “Xiao Qing’s family has run into some trouble, so she might have to transfer to Laureus School too. She even said she doesn’t want to cause us too much trouble and plans to live in the school dormitory.”

He sighed again, “That child is perfect in every way, except she’s sometimes too polite. When she arrives at school, make sure to take good care of her, understand?”

“Oh, got it.”

“What kind of attitude is that?”

“Alright, I’ll take very careful care of her. If there’s anything she doesn’t know, I’ll tell her everything without holding back holding nothing back and leaving nothing unsaid!” Ruan Yubai stood at attention, answering stiffly and formally, then immediately bounced upstairs like a rabbit to do her homework.

Of course, she would do it, provided the female lead actually asked her.

Thanks to those cheesy novels, Ruan Yubai had known even before her father that Qing Ling would transfer to Laureus Academy. But with the female lead’s outstanding abilities, she naturally wouldn’t end up in her F class instead, she’d test directly into A class with excellent grades. Plus, in the novel, the female supporting character, though admiring the female lead, was too insecure and didn’t want their relationship to be public. She took the initiative to suggest keeping it a secret, and from then on, she had even fewer interactions with the female lead.

After all, no matter how infatuated the Ruan Yubai in the book was, she was still just a cannon-fodder supporting character.

However, Ruan Yubai hadn’t expected the other party to move into the school dormitory so soon. Although the novel had the same plot point, it happened much later.

Leaving early usually meant there was someone they deeply disliked or really didn’t want to see.

Who was it that Qing Ling didn’t want to see?

Ruan Yubai paused at this thought but quickly refocused, burying herself in her messy homework. It wasn’t until the city lights began to glow in the evening that she finally let out a long sigh, tossed her pen aside, and flopped onto her soft bed. She casually opened her light-brain, intending to browse the forums for fun.

Then she abruptly sat up.

Qing Ling: Have you finished your homework?

How did she know she hadn’t finished her homework?

The thought flashed through her mind, but that obviously wasn’t the main point.

Ruan Yubai: I’m not going out for another check-up. I suggest you give up on that idea early.

She had finally nursed her arm back to health and refused to suffer again! Even if it meant developing stomach problems someday, that was a problem for future her. Right now, she couldn’t endure even a little bit of pain.

Ruan Yubai: I faint at the sight of needles!

Surprisingly, a reply came almost instantly.

Qing Ling: «No blood draw. I’ll treat you to congee.”Ruan Yubai blinked once, then blinked again, her mind flooded with a torrent of complaints.”

Wasn’t the female lead transferring schools? Shouldn’t she be busy with entrance exams and placement tests right now? How did she have time for this?

Besides, she knew those cheesy novels inside out. Today was supposed to be the scene where the female lead and male lead first met, there was no role for a cannon-fodder supporting character like her. If she went out for congee with the female lead, what would happen to the male lead?

Although Ruan Yubai wanted to play the villain, she never actually intended to break up the couple.

So, to maintain the plot’s progression, Ruan Yubai replied righteously.

Ruan Yubai: “Do you have oyster omelets?”

Half an hour later.

Even though it was already nighttime, this congee shop was still bustling with customers. Its table turnover rate was so high that it made all the surrounding fast-food restaurants envious. The pot used to cook the congee continuously emitted a sweet, fragrant aroma of rice.

The rice grains, served in a small celadon bowl, were distinct and clear. The gentle steam rising from it resembled a lingering poem, softly blurring her delicate features and adding a touch of elusive charm.

Even in a congee shop, one could instantly recognize the young lady’s striking beauty.

Truly worthy of being the female lead.

Following the furtive glances of the other diners, Ruan Yubai had no trouble spotting the female lead in the crowd. Without much thought, she sighed in admiration before quickly walking over and plopping down into a seat. Sniffing the air, she exclaimed in rapture, “Ah, oyster omelet, the fire of my soul, the desire of my flesh.”

Without even sparing a moment to greet Qing Ling, she immediately picked up her chopsticks and began eating with intense focus. Only after stuffing her mouth full of eggs did she lift her head, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster, and mumble, “For the sake of this oyster omelet, I forgive you.”

As expected of the female lead though she seemed a bit mischievous, she still knew how to make amends.

To admit a mistake and correct it is to be a good female lead!

Ruan Yubai nodded in satisfaction.

The girl’s eyes were round and bright, and the corners of her pink lips were stained with a bit of seafood sauce. When she ate, she was exceptionally focused, stuffing large bites into her mouth like a cute little animal storing food. Even someone with no appetite would feel a bit hungry watching her.

Qing Ling didn’t usually have the habit of eating late-night snacks, but seeing Ruan Yubai enjoy the food so much, she couldn’t help but take a few bites as well. True to their earlier agreement, the two of them polished off every last bit of the meal.

Only when she couldn’t eat another bite did Ruan Yubai slump back in her chair, rubbing her stomach. Her lazy demeanor practically radiated contentment. With her stomach full, it was time to say goodbye. Just as she lifted her head to bid farewell, Qing Ling suddenly spoke.

“I have a question I’m very curious about, Miss Ruan.”

Ruan Yubai, in an excellent mood after her meal, waved her hand generously, signaling for her to ask away.

Qing Ling, however, didn’t ask directly, as if she were merely bringing it up casually. “I’ve been to the garbage planet and caught some larvae with mouthparts. So, I’d like to learn more about Lepidoptera insects.”

Ruan Yubai froze instantly, unable to believe her ears. She frantically checked her terminal, only to be shocked to discover that the person who had just messaged her was the same “unknown telemarketer” who had called her earlier.

But that couldn’t be right, Qing Ling’s contact number wasn’t this one!

As if she hadn’t noticed the girl’s panic, Qing Ling remained composed and even poured a cup of light tea for the flustered Ruan Yubai.

Her voice was as pleasant as the clear, melodious strum of an ancient instrument: “For example, what are the 500,000 ingenious uses of mouthparts?”

Ruan Yubai dropped her terminal, utterly dumbfounded.

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