After Transmigrating into a Book, I Had a Flash Marriage with the Beautiful Crazy Villain - Chapter 34.2

With the self-awareness of a working professional, Chu Ling quickly talked herself down and returned to apologize.

Thankfully, Song Qingyi didn’t mind.

When Song Qingyi heard her words, she froze for a moment before all her emotions settled into calmness.

She had forgotten in Chu Ling’s eyes, their relationship was nothing more than a contractual agreement.

Song Qingyi’s gaze darkened, and she suddenly felt a little ridiculous.

This agreement, why did it feel like she had shot herself in the foot?

Chu Ling was indeed clear-headed. It was only Song Qingyi who often forgot about this underlying reason.

No wonder Chu Ling remained so unshaken no matter how she teased her. So this was why.

For some reason, Song Qingyi began to resent the agreement, even though it was the very foundation of their current relationship.

She fell silent.

Meanwhile, Chu Ling finally let out a sigh of relief after explaining herself. Song Qingyi’s emotions seemed stable, with no signs of anger that was a good thing!

So she added, “Don’t worry, I won’t forget the agreement, and I won’t bring you any trouble. You can trust my integrity!”

Song Qingyi: “…”

She disliked the agreement even more now.

Yet, in the end, she said nothing more and silently followed Chu Ling back to the picnic spot.

By the time they returned after the delay, only Qiu Shuang and Fang Manwen remained at the scene. Their mothers, Aunt Zhou, and her girlfriend had all disappeared somewhere.

Chu Ling was puzzled. “Where did they go?”

Qiu Shuang: “Oh, they said they were tired from eating and went out to enjoy the scenery.”

Then her gaze flickered between the two of them. “You two also went to enjoy the scenery?”

Fang Manwen smirked. “Wow, outdoors. How exciting.”

Chu Ling: “…”

How should she put it? They had actually just had an argument.

It wasn’t something easy to explain, so Chu Ling simply laughed it off.

Qiu Shuang didn’t dwell on it and beckoned Chu Ling over. “Come on, we’ve got to finish the remaining skewers. These were the ones you specifically asked for!”

Chu Ling eyed them skeptically. “I don’t remember ever liking grilled leeks.”

Qiu Shuang casually picked out the leek skewers. “Then it must be these!”

Chu Ling: “So they didn’t run off because they couldn’t eat any more, did they?”

Qiu Shuang’s eyes darted away. “Of course not! Anyway, these are yours, no backing out!”

Chu Ling clicked her tongue, ready to argue with Qiu Shuang over the ownership of the skewers.

As the two bickered heatedly, Song Qingyi and Fang Manwen remained silent.

“Had a fight?” Fang Manwen asked abruptly.

Song Qingyi stiffened slightly but didn’t respond.

Fang Manwen understood. “Problems need solutions, you know. Young people letting things drag on isn’t a good way to handle things.”

Song Qingyi wasn’t planning to drag it out, but she needed the right moment. At the very least, now wasn’t the time.

It had only just dawned on her that perhaps, from the very beginning, she had spun a cocoon around the two of them, trapping their relationship in a fixed position with no room to grow.

That was why she always felt as though Chu Ling was so close, yet sometimes so far away.

And the issues between them were indeed numerous.

But the biggest reason she didn’t dare lay everything out was Chu Ling had forgotten her. If not for the agreement binding them together, Chu Ling could walk away without a second thought.

She didn’t believe she held any real importance to Chu Ling, nor did she dare gamble on that slim possibility.

Fang Manwen could guess some of Song Qingyi’s thoughts from her silence, so she didn’t press further, turning her attention instead to Qiu Shuang.

Watching her playfully bickering with friends, her face lit up with joy, Fang Manwen couldn’t help but feel a little dazed.

Though she lectured Song Qingyi, there were things she herself didn’t dare let Qiu Shuang know.

If that silly girl found out.

She might cry and yell at her, perhaps never forgiving her.

Fang Manwen sighed softly.

Honey, honey, even if it’s honey laced with arsenic, it’s still sweet, isn’t it?

The two fell into silence, but the heavy atmosphere was soon broken by Qiu Shuang’s voice.

It seemed her argument with Chu Ling had finally reached a conclusion, and the two had temporarily called a truce.

Qiu Shuang turned and shouted at Fang Manwen, “Come here! Quick, quick, I have something to tell you.”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and even though Fang Manwen knew she was up to no good, she still got up and walked over.

Song Qingyi glanced toward Chu Ling, just catching her hesitant, evasive gaze.

Qiu Shuang had called Fang Manwen, and seeing Chu Ling still silent, she took it upon herself to shout, “Sister Song, you come too! Lingling has something to ask you!”

Song Qingyi’s gaze froze as she took in Chu Ling’s expression.

Chu Ling cleared her throat and finally spoke, “Song Qingyi, you can you come over? If it’s not convenient, forget it.”

Song Qingyi stood and walked over. “What is it?”

Chu Ling scratched her cheek awkwardly. The tension between them had been palpable just moments ago, and now, pretending nothing had happened felt strange.

But Qiu Shuang had no such reservations. She grabbed two portions of skewers from the grill and, with a serious face, said to Fang Manwen and Song Qingyi, “Alright, this is our mission. Wasting food is bad. They’re already grilled, let’s tough it out and finish them!”

Song Qingyi and Fang Manwen fell silent.

Then Song Qingyi looked at the guilty-faced Chu Ling.

Fang Manwen scoffed. “This is what you called us over for?”

Qiu Shuang, utterly unbothered, met her gaze and nodded firmly. “Yes! Isn’t this important? I’m calling you over to eat! How could you bear to refuse me?”

Her eyes shimmered as if she might burst into tears if they declined.

Fang Manwen stared at her wide-eyed expression and felt a headache coming on. “I’m already full. And if I recall correctly, most of these were grilled because you thought it was fun, weren’t they? If we’re assigning responsibility, most of them belong to you.”

Qiu Shuang’s eyes widened even further as she shoved a handful of skewers at her. “I don’t care! These are yours!”

Chu Ling, already feeling awkward, reconsidered after hearing Fang Manwen’s words. Forcing Song Qingyi to help finish the food didn’t seem right. She raised her head. “Never mind, I’ll eat them myself.”

But before she could reach out, the other portion in Qiu Shuang’s hand was taken.

Chu Ling turned in surprise to see Song Qingyi holding them. “You want to eat them?”

Song Qingyi gave a faint hum. “I’m still a little hungry.”

Chu Ling nodded blankly, catching a fleeting glimpse of Song Qingyi’s gaze lingering on Fang Manwen and Qiu Shuang.

Almost like envy?

Was Song Qingyi envious of them? Why?

Before Chu Ling could look closer, Song Qingyi had already turned and walked back toward the parasol with the skewers.

Maybe she had imagined it.

With that thought, Chu Ling took her own assigned portion.

“Ugh, next time, could you not grill so much? If there’s a next time, you’re eating it all yourself.”

Qiu Shuang huffed twice, knowing she was in the wrong, and said, “Fine, I’ll treat you all to milk tea when we get back.”

“I want a large cup with extra toppings.”

Autumn Frost chuckled immediately, “Alright! I’ll top you up, and switch it to a milk tea bucket!”

Chu Ling snorted with a laugh, “Fine then, I’ll reluctantly accept it.”

The picnic continued intermittently for three hours. By the afternoon, Chu Ling couldn’t hold on any longer and retreated to the tent for a nap. When she woke up, it was already dark outside.

The sound of bubbling came from outside, as if something was being cooked.

She lifted the tent flap and saw Chu Tong busily working by the fire, simmering a pot of chicken soup.

Dinner was finally not skewers this time.

The aroma of the chicken soup was mouthwatering, no wonder, since it was home-raised. Chu Ling instantly felt her stomach growl with hunger.

“Dinner’s almost ready, Lingling. Go call everyone back,” Chu Tong said.

Chu Ling acknowledged and went around calling everyone one by one.

They all arrived in succession, each exclaiming how delicious it smelled, and soon gathered around the fire to sit down.

Chu Ling helped pass out bowls and distributed the soup. As she took a sip, she nearly scalded her mouth.

She hissed softly, and Song Qingyi handed her a bottle of mineral water with the cap already loosened. “Be careful.”

Chu Ling accepted it as if granted amnesty, gulping down a few mouthfuls until her numb tongue felt better.

Her gaze inadvertently drifted to the sky, where a full moon hung, casting a gentle glow.

“Song Qingyi, look up, the moon is so round.”

Song Qingyi followed her gaze, his eyes softening slightly as he murmured, “Mm, it really is.”

Chu Ling cradled her bowl, taking occasional sips while everyone enjoyed the freshly slaughtered chicken generously provided by Aunt Zhou’s girlfriend.

Surrounded by long-missed liveliness and under the high-hanging full moon, it truly was a perfect day for reunion.

A warmth stirred in Chu Ling’s heart, her eyes crinkling slightly.

This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival seemed especially wonderful.

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