Hints at GL - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The spiral staircase led to the second floor, revealing a long corridor. The doors on both sides were carefully closed, except for the one in the middle, which stood ajar.

Zhong Ning did not intentionally soften her footsteps, yet the sounds she didn’t want to hear remained clear.

“Bringing someone to an occasion like this after knowing them for less than a week… Anna, you’ve really improved, haven’t you?”

“Look into my eyes…”

That soft, seductive voice was slightly unsteady, the words broken and intermittent, clearly due to touching the other person.

As if possessed, even though she was well aware of what was happening inside, Zhong Ning still walked to the door and looked in through the gap.

Then she saw that scene: Su Yuan’s arms were hooked around Ruan Mu’s neck, allowing herself to be pressed against the sink as they kissed, the sound of heavy breathing filling the entire room.

It was exactly as the image that had surfaced in her mind.

Zhong Ning was stunned, the scene leaving her unable to react for a long moment. So… Su Yuan was kissing Ruan Mu.

“Darling, it seems we can’t continue…” Those crimson lips lightly sucked and bit Su Yuan’s lower lip before moving away a few inches with lingering reluctance. “After watching for so long, do you have any thoughts?” Ruan Mu’s slender hand had not yet withdrawn from Su Yuan’s clothes as she curled her lips into a smile toward the door.

The door was pushed open, and three pairs of eyes finally met.

“Anna, your little girlfriend’s heart is about to break.” Ruan Mu slowly straightened up, her fingertips not forgetting to brush over Su Yuan’s sensitive waist.

Hearing her words, Su Yuan lifted her watery eyes.

The moment their eyes met lasted less than half a second before Su Yuan lowered her gaze again, gently and slowly tidying her clothes. As if completely unaware of what had just happened, Su Yuan walked up to Zhong Ning and looked at her with a calm expression.

Yes, she had never given any touching promises anyway. Even after kissing her ex passionately in front of her, Su Yuan was still that elegant and gentle Su Yuan.

Zhong Ning knew she shouldn’t be weak at a time like this, but her nose couldn’t help but feel a bit sour.

But no matter how uncomfortable she felt, she couldn’t exactly question what Su Yuan’s previous actions had meant.

She forced a smile. “I said it just now; I’ve only known her for a few days. We aren’t in 그 kind of relationship.”

Ruan Mu leaned against the sink, slowly wiping her damp fingertips, seemingly unconcerned by her excuse.

Su Yuan looked at Zhong Ning but only said one sentence: “I’ll take you back.”

Zhong Ning could tell that Su Yuan had no intention of apologizing or explaining right now, seemingly having suddenly forgotten the fact that she had lightly kissed her a week ago.

She didn’t know what Su Yuan was thinking; she only knew that she felt extremely uncomfortable right now.

Zhong Ning smiled, trying her best to appear as though she didn’t want to cause trouble for anyone. “It’s okay, I’ll just take a taxi myself.”

At that moment, a cool voice suddenly came from behind her: “I’ll take you back.”

The tall figure walked slowly from the end of the corridor. Jing Han didn’t know how long she had been standing at a distance watching, but when her gaze met the two of them, her expression remained as usual.

Ruan Mu raised her glamorous eyes slightly. She didn’t tease them about competing to take her home, but instead curled her lips. “Jing Han, do you even have a car?”

“I’ll borrow Machal’s.” Jing Han’s cool eyes landed on Su Yuan, then she said to Zhong Ning, “Let’s go. I want to head back too, and check on Jing Yang while I’m at it.”

Zhong Ning knew she was giving her a way out, so she didn’t linger on anything behind her anymore.

On a London autumn night, every breath taken was cold enough to seep into the lungs.

Zhong Ning blinked her somewhat stinging eyes, suddenly feeling that she shouldn’t have come to this place from the very start.

The car started. The silent Jing Han sitting beside her made Zhong Ning’s mood settle a lot. True, nothing had started, so nothing was lost. What was there to be sad about?

“When… did you go upstairs?” She tilted her head to look at her.

“I saw that you didn’t look well, so I followed to see if everything was okay,” Jing Han replied simply, her thin lips moving.

So… she must have seen everything that was meant to be seen. Zhong Ning suddenly asked, “So… is that woman named Ruan Mu really Su Yuan’s ex-girlfriend?”

“Mhm. I don’t know the specifics, but Su Yuan might be the one Ruan Mu dated the longest,” Jing Han explained in a flat tone.

“Ruan Mu…” Zhong Ning seemed unfamiliar with the name.

Jing Han explained patiently, “She is a quarter mixed-race; her Chinese name is Ruan Mu.”

Zhong Ning nodded. For some reason, the scene from earlier couldn’t help but replay in front of her eyes. She murmured, “Su Yuan must still like her.”

Jing Han didn’t respond; the pedestrian signal on the left happened to turn green.

After a long pause, she suddenly said, “Although it might not be appropriate for me to say this, I still suggest you stay away from Su Yuan. You aren’t the same kind of people.”

Jing Han’s words were a bit unexpected to Zhong Ning, yet they felt logical. “You… said the same thing as Ruan Mu.”

“No, I think we are talking about different things.” Jing Han stopped the car to let pedestrians pass and glanced at her. “Ruan Mu just wanted to tell you that you aren’t from the same world.”

…What did that mean?

“There are many international students in London who only study for one year. Most of them share common characteristics: because they’ve been pampered since childhood, they are exceptionally afraid of loneliness. Their personalities are mostly flighty, they don’t know how to refuse, and they don’t care about the future in relationships. As long as they are happy for that one year, that’s enough.”

Jing Han paused and restarted the car. “Su Yuan has seen countless girls like that.”

Zhong Ning’s heart sank. Was she… trying to say that Su Yuan wouldn’t even look at her seriously?

“I have no opinion on those values; no matter how one wants to spend this year, as long as they like it, it’s fine.”

“If you are the same as them, Su Yuan won’t take you to heart in the end. If you aren’t…” the indifferent voice suddenly stopped, and a nearly inaudible sigh sounded beside her. “In such a short period of time, if you invest too much heart from the beginning, sooner or later you will hurt yourself.”

So that’s what she wanted to say…

Zhong Ning’s mood was complicated. she couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of person do you think Su Yuan is?”

Jing Han’s thin lips moved as she said slowly, “Because everything she wants is within easy reach, she cares exceptionally about the rare refusals.” She seemed to remember something, her brows knitting slightly. “Just like Ruan Mu—like pampered children.”

Zhong Ning was slightly startled, picking out only what she cared about. “So… was it Ruan Mu who initiated the breakup back then?”

Jing Han didn’t deny it, but said as she stopped the car, “I’m just suggesting you think things through; what you choose to do is your own choice.”

“We’re here,” she said softly.

Zhong Ning’s emotions had settled a lot by now. Although she still had many questions, she hesitated but offered a word of thanks. “Um… do you want me to call Jing Yang down for you?”

Jing Han shook her head. “No need. You go on up.”

Back in her room, Zhong Ning threw herself into the soft bed, suddenly feeling an intense sense of exhaustion.

After all, ever since a few months ago, she had gradually stopped seeing certain things. On one hand, Zhong Ning was surprised that she had inexplicably foreseen that scene, and on the other hand…

More important than that.

She wasn’t a child anymore. Even if they weren’t world-shaking, she had been in a few relationships. Being pursued… hesitating… accepting… and finally separating—it was nothing more than that.

Zhong Ning had to admit that since going abroad, the people she met were of a much higher caliber than before. She had also fantasized about whether it was possible to have a relationship with a result with a tall, handsome, and rich person.

But no matter how she thought about it, she never expected such a thing to happen in just one week.

Jing Han was right; she and Su Yuan were not the same kind of people. What Su Yuan wanted was merely short-term comfort. It was her own wishful thinking, believing Su Yuan had become serious about her after only meeting twice, believing there was some meaning behind that warm smile.

What meaning could there be?

The most depressing thing in life is overthinking.

That night, Zhong Ning had that dream again.

For the countless-th time, she felt the pressure from the surroundings. Her movements were gentle, for fear of startling those “living dead” in the bar.

Suddenly, the scent drifting in the air relaxed her tensed spirit. She felt a bit of warmth on her cheek. “Why are you still here…” It was Su Yuan’s soft voice.

Lifting her eyes, that alluring, exquisite face came into view. Su Yuan looked at her, her thin lips curving. “Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Zhong Ning stared at her blankly, somewhat infatuated.

But in the next second, she felt her vision blur. Her lips were gently covered, slowly being sucked. She heard Su Yuan whisper against her lips, “Be good, open up…” A tongue then explored inside, and her body softened uncontrollably.

Finally, Zhong Ning woke up with a start from the bed.

8:05 AM—exactly five minutes more than before.

What on earth was wrong with her…