After Transmigrating into a Book, I Had a Flash Marriage with the Beautiful Crazy Villain - Chapter 47.1

Today’s meal was, in Ning Hongmian’s opinion, the most difficult one she had ever had to swallow.

Of course, the food itself was delicious, but…

It was the atmosphere at the table that kept giving her an eerie, unsettling feeling.

At first, Ning Hongmian hadn’t quite realized it, she just felt uncomfortable. But when she accidentally glanced at her aunt, she finally pinpointed the source of her unease.

It was her aunt’s gaze!

Ning Hongmian choked, caught off guard by the sudden itch in her throat, and burst into a fit of violent coughing.

The thunderous coughing startled Chu Ling, who hurriedly poured a glass of water and patted her back. “What’s wrong? Slow down, no one’s rushing you. How did you even choke like this?”

Tears welled up in Ning Hongmian’s eyes from the coughing. She desperately tried to catch her breath, afraid she might suffocate right then and there.

After gulping down half the glass of water Chu Ling handed her, Ning Hongmian finally felt like she could breathe again.

She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m fine! Totally fine, Chu Ling-jie. You should eat, I’m all good now.”

Chu Ling gave her a worried look but relaxed when the coughing subsided. Still, she double-checked, “Really, you’re okay?”

Ning Hongmian nodded firmly. “Mhm!”

She couldn’t afford not to be okay.

Stealing a glance at her aunt, she saw that the woman had also paused her meal and was now staring at her.

Though her expression showed no obvious displeasure, it was unnerving all the same.

Ning Hongmian obediently finished her meal and even diligently helped clear the table afterward. She was ready to leave immediately, even turning down Chu Ling’s offer to cut some fruit for dessert.

Because that piercing gaze felt like needles against her back. If she stayed any longer, she feared her aunt might just toss her out.

Wuwu!

Chu Ling still seemed concerned. “Are you going back alone? Let me walk you.”

Ning Hongmian shook her head vigorously. “No, no need! I already called my driver, she’ll be here soon. Don’t worry, Chu Ling-jie, I’ll be fine on my own!”

Hearing that she had arranged for a driver, Chu Ling relaxed slightly. “Alright, then be careful on your way.”

Ning Hongmian nodded, but then she noticed something odd about Chu Ling’s demeanor and asked hesitantly, “Chu Ling-jie, are you staying a bit longer before heading home?”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn’t think it was anything to hide.

“I live here.”

Ning Hongmian blinked slowly, wondering if she had misheard but no.

Because she could feel her aunt’s intense gaze burning into her. A quick glance confirmed that her aunt was watching her with an amused smirk.

“My apologies, I’ll be going now.”

She decisively opened the door, then turned back just long enough to blurt out, “See you next time, Chu Ling-jie!”

Chu Ling waved. “Alright, take care.”

Ning Hongmian dragged out her farewell and left.

This was way too intense.

While waiting for the elevator, Ning Hongmian reflected on the situation and realized she had been an idiot the clues had been so obvious!

If Chu Ling-jie didn’t live with her aunt, how would she have known that her aunt could cook?

Well, unless she had just tasted her aunt’s cooking before.

But Sister Chu Ling’s invitation to stay for dinner was so natural, it practically carried the tone of the hostess.

So it turns out the two of them were already living together!

Ning Hongmian’s mind had been racing the entire way, and it wasn’t until she got into the car that she finally snapped out of it.

She slowly closed her eyes, unwilling to dwell on her own foolishness, but within seconds, her eyes flew open again.

Which meant, Sister Chu Ling and her aunt were a couple!

Didn’t that mean she had absolutely no chance at all?

Ning Hongmian’s eyes went blank, as if all her strength and schemes had drained away.

Well, turns out I’m the clown here. Sob.

After all, there was simply no comparison between her and her aunt. Honestly, forget about her, it felt like no one could measure up to her aunt, right?

Thinking about it that way actually made her feel a little better.

Ning Hongmian wallowed in disappointment for a moment before swiftly accepting the reality of the situation.

But then again did anyone else know about her aunt and Sister Chu Ling? Or was she the first to find out?

Ning Hongmian jolted upright like a dying patient suddenly revived, feeling like she still had a shot after all.

Her aunt must still like her! Otherwise, why would she keep it from everyone else and only let her know?

Ning Hongmian clenched her fists, seamlessly transforming into a devoted shipper of the two, vowing to stand by their side and protect their relationship at all costs!

Meanwhile, Chu Ling had no idea the kid had spun such elaborate thoughts. After finishing dinner and resting for a bit, she prepared to take a shower.

The main issue was that Song Qingyi, for some reason today, hadn’t gone back to her room and was just sitting in the living room.

Chu Ling glanced at her several times, hesitating for a long while, but ultimately felt it would be too awkward to sit beside her, so she simply went to shower instead.

Song Qingyi, who had been waiting in vain for Chu Ling to approach: “…”

Her gaze darkened as she stared at the bathroom door, as if trying to bore a hole through it, before slowly withdrawing her eyes and lowering them in contemplation.

Lately, it felt like Chu Ling had been avoiding her whether intentionally or not.

What was going on? Where had things gone wrong?

Song Qingyi couldn’t figure it out, and the uncertainty left her restless.

Because Chu Ling wasn’t just avoiding her in person even online, she hadn’t left any comments in a long time.

Since their marriage, Song Qingyi had posted several videos, but the person who used to leave comments the moment they went up had suddenly vanished without a trace.

Of course, Song Qingyi had noticed.

And so had some of her longtime followers.

Chu Ling had been so active, her comments so witty, that other fans had grown familiar with her username. When she didn’t appear under the last few videos, some began to wonder if her account had moved on to a new favorite.

When Song Qingyi saw that speculation, her gaze froze.

Admittedly, there were plenty of beauties online, but she knew her own appeal to Chu Ling wasn’t insignificant. Logically, the other woman shouldn’t have gotten bored so quickly but then again, who knew?

After all, she’d long been aware that Chu Ling was a sucker for good looks.

Otherwise, back when they first met, the young Chu Ling wouldn’t have approached her to strike up a conversation.

Thinking of their first encounter, Song Qingyi’s eyes softened.

Truthfully, she hadn’t been a very likable child.

A kid who wore a blank expression all the time some people saw that as lacking the proper demeanor of a child, and no one who met her could really take a liking to her.

But little Qingyi hadn’t known that. She didn’t understand why the kids outside could shout and laugh, run around and play, while she wasn’t allowed to.

Moreover, among the group of children, she was considered an oddity, so no one wanted to play with her.

Little Qingyi didn’t really mind. She had been strictly taught that the behavior of those children was improper. So every time she went out, the well-behaved Qingyi would simply watch quietly, basking in the sun or just waiting.

Yes, her grandfather would sometimes take her out for walks in the small park.

But he never played with her. Most of the time, she would sit quietly, waiting while her grandfather chatted with acquaintances.

Little Qingyi would sometimes gaze at the sky or count ants on the ground.

If there were any ants passing by, that is.

But she never played with the other children.

Until one day.

The sun was particularly bright that day. After taking her out, her grandfather instructed her to stay on the bench under the tree before strolling off to chat with his acquaintances.

Summer wasn’t all bad, except for the heat and the incessant chirping of cicadas.

Today, the sun was still blazing, so Qingyi decided not to look at the sky. But there were no ants on the ground either, so she turned her attention to the tree, counting how many cicadas were perched on it.

Just as she was engrossed in counting, a figure suddenly leaped down from the tree.

Qingyi was startled, but before she could react, she found herself staring into a pair of bright, sparkling eyes. She froze for a moment.

“Wow! You’re so pretty!!”

The other girl moved with lightning speed. Before Qingyi could even process what was happening, she was already right in front of her.

The sudden closeness made Qingyi tense up, her breath hitching as she leaned back slightly.

What an enthusiastic child!

Qingyi was taken aback. She had never experienced such intense and unrestrained emotions before. Everyone in her family was restrained; no one ever showed such overt feelings.

Qingyi blinked slowly but remained silent.

“My name is Chu Ling! What’s yours? Oh my gosh, you’re so beautiful! Like a little princess from a fairy tale!”

The girl’s eyes shone with excitement, making Qingyi feel a little uneasy.

She was too enthusiastic. And her words were so direct.

Qingyi’s clasped hands tightened nervously, but before she could speak, the other girl had already started chattering away again.

She even gestured animatedly when excited, her smile radiant and her eyes twinkling like stars.

“Oh, right! Look at the bug I caught, this one’s the biggest!”

Little Chu Ling proudly extended her hand toward the pretty girl, eager to impress her.

But to her dismay, the pretty girl’s eyes widened, her face turning pale.

Chu Ling gasped in dismay and quickly withdrew her hand, her expression full of concern. “You don’t be scared, I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were afraid of bugs.”

Ugh! She’d been so focused on showing off that she forgot the pretty girl might be scared of bugs.

Chu Ling hastily tossed the cicada into the bushes and then held out her empty hands. “Don’t worry, I threw it away!”

She didn’t want the pretty girl to dislike her.

“Hey, are you still scared?”

Seeing that the other girl hadn’t spoken, Chu Ling asked cautiously.

Qingyi finally snapped out of her daze and shook her head. She wasn’t actually afraid just startled by the suddenness of the gesture.

Besides, this wasn’t how she had been taught to behave.

My grandfather always said that one must behave with propriety and maintain a certain social distance when interacting with others, never crossing boundaries.

But the little girl across from her clearly clashed with the upbringing she had received. Little Qingyi froze, unsure how to react.

“I’m not scared,” she finally managed to say.

Little Chu Ling’s eyes sparkled even brighter. “That’s great! Oh, your voice is so lovely too. Ah, I really like you!”

Qingyi’s pupils trembled slightly, and she clenched her hands nervously.

Grandfather! Grandfather never taught her how to handle this.

Chu Ling beamed, unconcerned with the other’s reaction. After expressing her affection, her eyes darted playfully. “Little sister, do you want to come play with me?”

Qingyi hesitated, then shook her head. “I can’t just go with strangers.”

Chu Ling thought for a moment and nodded, unfazed by the rejection. She clambered onto the bench and plopped down beside the pretty girl.

“Then let’s chat!”

Qingyi was troubled. This child seemed overly familiar. And…

She was sitting so close.

The other girl must have been running around outside her forehead and cheeks were glistening with sweat.

Yet, it wasn’t unpleasant, nor did she smell bad.

Still, Qingyi couldn’t ignore the sweat. After a brief internal struggle, she pulled a handkerchief from her little bag and handed it over. “Here, wipe your face. You’re sweating a lot.”

Chu Ling took it cheerfully, scrubbing her face haphazardly until her flushed cheeks were dry again.

“Thank you, little sister!”

After wiping, she sniffed the handkerchief curiously. “Oh! It smells so nice!”

Qingyi stiffened, her fair face tinged pink.

That handkerchief was something she carried with her, also used to dab her own sweat.

And yet, the other girl said it smelled nice.

Flustered, Qingyi struggled to find the right words but came up empty.

Chu Ling giggled, her thoughts already leaping elsewhere.

Qingyi looked bewildered, trying and failing to keep up with the whirlwind of topics. Silently, she labeled Chu Ling in her mind:

This child is strange.

But not unpleasant.

Though much of what Chu Ling said went over her head, Qingyi nodded along, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

Then, a voice called out. Chu Ling gasped, hopping off the bench and waving. “Oh! My mom’s calling me! I’ll come play with you next time, okay? Don’t forget me, little sister!”

Before Qingyi could even respond, the girl had already dashed away.

She opened her mouth, she wanted to say she might not come back, and to stop calling her “little sister”, but Chu Ling was already gone.

As she turned back, the sudden silence felt heavy.

Looking down, Qingyi froze.

Ah.

She took the handkerchief with her.

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