Diagnosis: Friend [Rebirth] - Chapter 30.1

Chapter 30.1

Jiang Qing rarely spoke harshly, especially to Gu Yining. That stern “Shut up” actually managed to stun Gu Yining, who froze and looked at her, realizing something seemed off.

How to describe it? Jiang Qing’s face was flushed pink and radiating heat, like a peeled lychee. It was a bit cute… and also a bit—

Before Gu Yining could finish the thought, Jiang Qing opened her eyes. Unlike her previous indifference, Gu Yining felt that this time, Jiang Qing was truly angry. Not at Tan Baozhu, but at her.

Jiang Qing: “Get up.”

“Oh.”

Gu Yining straightened her upper body but remained straddling Jiang Qing. Her left hand still gripped Jiang Qing’s wrist, resting near the red mark on her neck. Before Jiang Qing could catch her breath, Gu Yining suddenly placed her right hand over Jiang Qing’s throat.

She didn’t actually “strangle” her; she just placed her hand there, her thumb pad landing exactly on the red bruise. She blinked and asked in a low voice, “Is this how the mark on your neck got there?”

“What mark?”

Jiang Qing thought for a moment; it must be the mark left when Tan Baozhu grabbed her earlier. Her free left hand suddenly pinched Gu Yining’s waist. Sensitive and ticklish, Gu Yining’s body instinctively curled up. Jiang Qing took the opportunity to brace her legs and firmly kicked Gu Yining over onto the bed.

Jiang Qing scrambled up, taking a wary step back until her back hit the wall. She covered her neck with her hand, the blush on her face refusing to fade. Avoiding Gu Yining’s gaze, she walked to the wall and pushed the window open.

The icy wind rushed in, carrying a mist of moisture. Soft flower branches peeked in from the windowsill. The heat surrounding Jiang Qing dissipated, and with it, the scent of Gu Yining slowly vanished. That untimely palpitation gradually subsided; as the cold wind slipped down her collar, Jiang Qing’s body slowly cooled.

As the cold air swirled through the room, Jiang Qing heard the sound of Gu Yining climbing off the bed behind her. She didn’t turn around, simply saying coldly: “Gu Yining, Tan Baozhu is gone. You should leave too.”

Gu Yining’s movement stalled. She stood frozen for a long while. “You’re kicking me out?” It seemed inconceivable to her.

Jiang Qing kept her head down. She had let her guard down too much lately; without realizing it, her relationship with Gu Yining had trended dangerously toward crossing boundaries. She took a sharp breath of cold air and corrected Gu Yining’s perception: “Gu Yining, you were wrong earlier.”

“This isn’t ‘our’ room. This is my room. I paid for the guesthouse, the ID registration is mine. You are just a classmate who occasionally comes over to study…” Jiang Qing paused. “…and a friend.”

“The calamondin tree was a gift from you, and I appreciate it. But once a gift is given, the right to dispose of it belongs to me. Who enters my room and what happens here—you have no right to be angry or to question me. Especially using that…” Jiang Qing gritted her teeth. “…position just now. It was very insulting.”

The room fell silent for a moment. A scoff came from behind her, and Jiang Qing turned around. Red window paper-cuts were reflected behind her. The curl of Gu Yining’s lips slowly fell away. “Do you realize that Tan Baozhu was molesting you just now?”

“I know.” Jiang Qing’s face stiffened for a split second, and she slowly looked up. “So were you.”

Gu Yining frowned, her composure slipping. “Huh?”

“How was I…” Gu Yining couldn’t bring herself to use the word “molest” toward her best friend. She sat despondently on the bed, blurted out in frustration: “Jiang Qing, you really are strange enough.”

It was an ordinary sentence, but Jiang Qing reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Yes, I am a very strange person.” She pointed to the door. “Now get out.”

Cold air surrounded Gu Yining. She was utterly perplexed and felt that Jiang Qing was being completely unreasonable. “She did that to you, and you didn’t tell her to get out. I didn’t do anything to you, yet you’re telling me to get out?” Gu Yining laughed out of pure frustration. “She can do it but I can’t?”

Jiang Qing gritted her teeth. A massive sense of despair from their “chicken-and-duck talk” (miscommunication) surged over her. She said coldly: “Yes. You can’t.”

The bright, cold sun was quickly obscured by dark clouds. The sky grew gloomy, perfectly matching Gu Yining’s current mood.

She didn’t understand why Jiang Qing was so protective of Tan Baozhu but so harsh with her. After “rolling out” of the guesthouse, she wandered aimlessly through the streets, walking from one end to the other. She spent the whole time following a clunky garbage truck, listening to its “Happy Birthday” melody on loop.

Crowds of people passed her by. Gu Yining looked up at the pale sky. Turning her head, her peripheral vision caught something. She looked toward a nearly empty milk tea shop. The shopfront was new, its name a fusion of several famous brands. Though the decor was high-end, few people were inside. Behind the glass doors were empty tables and chairs, except for one table closest to the door, where a girl sat.

It was Tan Baozhu—the culprit behind Gu Yining’s current street-wandering.

Tan Baozhu was chewing on a straw and playing on her phone when she sensed a murderous gaze. She slowly looked up, meeting the cold sneer of Gu Yining outside the door. Gu Yining stuffed her hands in her pockets and swaggered into the shop, stopping in front of Tan Baozhu with an aggressive posture.

Seeing her somber face, Tan Baozhu couldn’t help but laugh. She said mockingly, “Got kicked out, didn’t you?” Her goal had simply been to disgust Gu Yining; seeing her walking the streets alone now meant they had fought, which was an unexpected bonus.

Delighted, Tan Baozhu sucked up a few pearls. They slid into her mouth, and she used her tongue to roll them against her teeth before biting down. Seeing Gu Yining step forward, she thought she was going to strike and instinctively shrank back.

Gu Yining simply pulled out a chair and sat across from her. She looked at Tan Baozhu expressionlessly. “Got beaten again?” Her tone was flat, as if it were a casual question she didn’t care about, but Tan Baozhu heard the deep malice within it.

In the past, they had had friction and even physical fights, but Gu Yining had never spoken with such blatant venom. The smile froze on Tan Baozhu’s lips. Her thick black lashes lifted as she stared unblinkingly at Gu Yining. Sensing the unfiltered malice, she suddenly felt a novel thrill, like an electric current surging up her spine to her brain.

So, at her core, Gu Yining is the same kind of person as me.

It was like a wolf realizing that a little lamb in the flock was strange. The lamb was well-disguised—more sheep-like than the sheep themselves—surrounded by the flock and praised for its kindness and obedience. But today, the wolf had spotted the lamb’s tail peeking out.

She’s just like me.

Tan Baozhu had few interests. Destruction was one—like the farce in the guesthouse. Scouting her own kind was another—like right now. Her frozen smile expanded into an impossible arc, like a puppet whose facial joints had lost control. She touched the corner of her mouth, her mood significantly improved. “Want something to drink? My treat.”

Gu Yining leaned back, her chin slightly raised. “Stay away from her.” She paused, then sneered. “She isn’t like you. Don’t go ‘into heat’ around her. If you’re really that itchy, go scrub yourself with a steel wool pad.”

The girl’s cold expression was reflected in Tan Baozhu’s dark pupils. Tan Baozhu tilted her head and suddenly burst into a wild, shrill laugh that sounded like a chainsaw cutting wood. The laughter rippled through the air as if celebrating some grand occasion. A nearby server jumped at the sound and hesitated for a few seconds before stepping forward to place the order on the table. “H-hello, your order is ready. Enjoy your meal.”

A cola, an order of fries, and chicken nuggets.

Tan Baozhu picked up a fry, dipped it in ketchup, and bit down with her white teeth. Crunch. She looked up at Gu Yining. “Gu Yining, f*ck your father.”

Gu Yining stood up. “As you wish.”

Tan Baozhu smiled. “Leaving already?” She pointed at the fries. “Eat something before you go.”

Gu Yining looked back at her, her half-lidded eyes still conveying a heavy warning.

Tan Baozhu wiped the ketchup from her lips. “Fine, fine. I promise not to harass her, okay?” Her crimson tongue licked the ketchup from her fingertip—sweet and soft. Seeing Gu Yining’s expression relax, Tan Baozhu lowered her eyes. “Gu Yining, sometimes I think you’re actually quite pitiful.”

She thought of the photo in that book. Tan Baozhu stared at Gu Yining, imagining the day she discovered the truth—what a colorful array of expressions would grace that beautiful face. Watching Gu Yining walk away, Tan Baozhu was filled with anticipation, even feeling an impulse to hasten that day’s arrival.

She finished her iced cola quickly and looked out the glass door at the bustling street. People near the traffic lights were carrying bags of New Year goods; their exhaled breath mingled like steam from a fresh basket of buns. The noise filtered through the glass. Tan Baozhu gave a “tch,” tossed an ice cube into her mouth, and crunched it loudly.

A few days passed in a flash.

Red couplets were pasted outside the lobby of the Xuemei Guesthouse, and two prominent lanterns hung under the eaves. Ms. Yu had gone to the wholesale market today and brought back several crates of drinks. She was currently unpacking them and stocking the display case.

After placing a few bottles, her phone chimed. Ms. Yu checked it, glanced around, took off her gloves, and replied to the woman, reporting Jiang Qing’s itinerary for the day. This woman had added Ms. Yu on WeChat over ten days ago, saying she wanted to ask about someone. Ms. Yu didn’t know her name, so she simply labeled her “Rich Lady.” It wasn’t that she had narrow horizons; it was just that the “red envelopes” (money transfers) the woman sent were too tempting.

Below the “Rich Lady” contact was “Rich Lady No. 2″—the girl who used to visit Jiang Qing often, Gu Yining.

That day, Jiang Qing had brought back a girl, and Gu Yining had arrived later. The two had fought for some reason, and Gu Yining had left in a rage and hadn’t returned since. Somehow, Gu Yining had gotten Ms. Yu’s WeChat ID. Her request was basically identical to the first “Rich Lady,” though the pay was slightly less. She also requested that Ms. Yu keep it a secret from Jiang Qing.

Earning three times the money from one guest, Ms. Yu was so happy she couldn’t close her mouth. She smiled at everyone she met, and her complexion looked healthier and more radiant.

She had just finished messaging Gu Yining and was idly twirling a streak of red hair when she saw the girl walking in from outside, carrying a large plastic bag.