Hints at GL - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

December 31st.

The New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks in London draw tens of thousands of people every year. Some are even willing to stand near Big Ben for six hours just for those ten minutes of spectacle. Ever since before she moved to the UK, Zhong Ning had been looking forward to this day. However, she never expected that she would begin the final day of the year with a date that went against her heart.

Originally, Jing Yang had planned to ask Jing Han out to watch the fireworks. But unexpectedly, Jing Yang’s boyfriend from back home had flown in just before Christmas to see her. This turned into an awkward situation. Supposedly, Jing Yang didn’t think much of it and still invited Jing Han, but Jing Han declined.

As for Zhong Ning herself, ever since that day when she had spitefully claimed she was going on a date with Barry because of Su Yuan’s words, that heat-of-the-moment declaration had left her with no way to retreat.

Su Yuan indeed had not tried to ask her out again. Driven by a sense of gloom, Zhong Ning truly followed through with her insincere promise and accepted Barry’s invitation, even though she knew exactly what it implied.

Ultimately, she couldn’t let herself spend a day like this in misery.

Barry had been proactively contacting her since the morning, even suggesting they head out early in the afternoon to go ice skating by the London Eye. After some thought, Zhong Ning declined; she really didn’t want to force herself to be any more insincere than she already was.

In the end, she agreed to go for French cuisine with Barry before heading to Big Ben.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, yet another high-end restaurant she had never heard of. Zhong Ning spread the light-colored napkin over her lap and sat at the pristine white table, feeling calm and composed, entirely devoid of her previous nervousness and awkwardness.

But as she sat there, even while looking at the menu in her hands, her mind kept drifting elsewhere. She couldn’t help but recall the scene of her dinner with Su Yuan.

Should I really be sitting here?

She couldn’t figure it out, but every time she remembered the eyes of Olivia and Ruan Mu—who looked at her as if she were nothing, and those comments about how “there are always little girls like you throwing themselves at Su Yuan,” she felt extremely uncomfortable.

Zhong Ning knew that Su Yuan never actually intended to lie to her.

Over the past few days, she had come to terms with it a little. Honestly, how could you expect someone like Su Yuan not to have an impeccable ex-girlfriend and a few casual partners?

Zhong Ning didn’t know why she was being so stubborn with Su Yuan, but there was a lingering, nameless fear in her heart—the fear that even if she stayed with Su Yuan, she would eventually end up discarded and disliked.

She was also probably aware that having rejected Su Yuan once, a second chance would be hard to come by.

Why was it that her precognitive abilities failed her precisely when she needed them most?

Zhong Ning could only force herself to smile and temporarily forget everything.

A waiter in a tuxedo placed the appetizers before them. Barry nodded his thanks and suddenly asked, “Zhong Ning, do you remember those Singaporean friends of mine from that time we went to the club together?”

Zhong Ning’s fingertips had just touched her cutlery, and she froze at his words. “We… went to a club together?” She had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

Barry frowned at her. “Don’t you remember? Afterwards, we went to that KTV over in WN.”

Seeing the dissatisfaction on his face, Zhong Ning truly wanted to recall the event. But no matter how hard she thought, the last time she went to a club was on Halloween. Had she lost her memory, or had Barry remembered incorrectly?

“Sorry, I think I’ve been dazed from reviewing lately. Plus, I was stuck in bed with a heavy cold all day a few days ago.” After thinking it over, she provided a graceful exit for both of them.

Barry was surprised. “Is that so? Are you feeling better now?” Seeing her nod, he added thoughtfully, “No wonder. You seemed a bit distracted today.”

Zhong Ning’s heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile. “So, what happened with your Singaporean friends?”

Seeing her return to normal, Barry said, “They said they want to invite you out again next time. I figure we can wait until after your exams.”

Zhong Ning found it bizarre but smiled and nodded anyway.

Suddenly, Zhong Ning felt her phone vibrate on the table. She looked down and saw a notification for a Facebook update. Driven by some inexplicable urge, she couldn’t help but open the app.

Her premonition was spot on.

She saw that Olivia had tagged Su Yuan again. But unlike the previous “candid” shot, this was a captured photo of Su Yuan at an ice rink. Judging by the surrounding classical architecture, it looked like the courtyard of Somerset House.

In the photo, Su Yuan had just finished putting on her skates. Her hair was ruffled by a light breeze, and she was lifting her hand to tuck a strand behind her ear. She tilted her head and smiled at the camera—a smile that felt warm enough to reach one’s soul.

Zhong Ning stared at that photo for a long time, her cheeks involuntarily flushing.

Suddenly, a reply popped up underneath asking where they were. “Somerset,” Olivia replied, adding: “Love 🙂“

Zhong Ning’s smile froze. She almost threw her phone.

Love?

As a casual partner, does this woman have no shame? Zhong Ning felt she was being driven mad by anger. On a special and sensitive day like today, the two of them actually went skating together, and if skating wasn’t enough, they added “Love.”

She felt as if two voices were arguing in her head. One said: “This is too much! Where did all those sweet words she said to me go? Down the toilet?!” The other countered: “Since you were spiteful enough to give Barry a chance, what’s so hard to understand about Su Yuan asking Olivia out? You have to realize, they did sleep together once.”

They did sleep together…

The phrase echoed incredibly through Zhong Ning’s mind, and her expression grew more and more rigid.

“What is it?” Barry noticed her staring at her phone for a long time and casually looked up. “Hey, Anna?” He pointed curiously at Olivia next to her and asked, “Isn’t this Anna’s girlfriend?”

Zhong Ning, already spitting blood from her own thought about them sleeping together, replied crossly, “I imagine they will be soon.”

Seeing that she wasn’t surprised at all, Barry became curious. “Do you know the girl next to her?” He thought about it and decided it made sense. “Oh, but you’re in the same department as Anna, so you might have seen her. Anyway, I’ve seen her go to Anna’s house several times.”

Zhong Ning truly didn’t know what to say.

She looked down at her own feed. As soon as she entered the restaurant, she had posted a photo of the table setting, intentionally showing two glasses of red wine, and didn’t forget to add a smiley face and a location tag.

Though there were gossipy replies like “Wow, so romantic! Are you with your boyfriend?”, Zhong Ning didn’t know if her mindset at the time counted as revenge. But looking at it now, it was clear she was the one being “revenged” upon by Su Yuan.

“When did you meet Su Yuan?” Zhong Ning pushed her phone away gloomily and asked instinctively.

“Probably the beginning of this year, when she first moved in,” Barry recalled, slowly cutting the foie gras on his plate. “At first, she threw house parties in the villa quite often, it was pretty noisy.”

“My parents couldn’t really stand it. One day I went to knock on their door, and she came out holding a bottle of wine.”

For some reason, Zhong Ning thought back to the outdoor music festival—the way Su Yuan’s eyes narrowed as she took a sip of wine. She asked irritably, “And then?”

“Then Anna was quite apologetic and said they’d be quieter. I was surprised she was Asian, I couldn’t tell which country she was from by her accent, but then I overheard someone speaking Cantonese to her inside, so I knew she was from Hong Kong.”

“So, you only felt surprised?”

Zhong Ning was already throwing caution to the wind and was ready to joke about anything. “Didn’t you think Su Yuan was pretty? Didn’t want to pursue her?”

At this, Barry seemed to hesitate. “I… never really had that thought.” His explanation sounded a bit weak to Zhong Ning. “Honestly, I don’t like her type. Anna is too excellent, I feel like being with her would be a bit exhausting.”

He seemed to see what Zhong Ning was thinking and quickly added, “I prefer your type.”

Zhong Ning froze, not daring to respond to Barry’s words for a long moment.

Wait… was he saying I’m not ‘excellent,’ so there’s less pressure? Zhong Ning suddenly realized she had dug a massive hole for herself. Looking at the situation, Barry was clearly planning to confess tonight. She felt a wave of regret; she shouldn’t have agreed so easily.

Caviar and sea bass were placed before them, beautifully garnished on exquisite plates.

Zhong Ning thought the awkwardness would end once the main course was served, but before she could lift her knife and fork, she saw Barry looking behind her in surprise—he had obviously run into someone he knew.

“Anna, nei dei dim gaai wui kei lei dou?” (Anna, why are you guys standing here?)

Although Zhong Ning didn’t understand the Cantonese, she was sensitive enough to catch that name.

Is this a death wish…?

Accompanied by a familiar fragrance, Su Yuan and Olivia had already walked up to their side. “What, aren’t we welcome?” That gentle gaze swept over Zhong Ning, intentionally or otherwise. She asked with a smile, “Since we ran into each other, can we sit here?”

“Of course, I don’t mind,” Barry said, a bit surprised but generously pulling out chairs for them.

“We won’t be interrupting you?” Su Yuan chuckled softly.

Zhong Ning saw her look toward her deliberately. She forced a smile onto her lips. “Of course not. It’s fine.”

Zhong Ning desperately wanted to say no, but after a moment’s thought, her anger finally gave way to logic. At a time like this, of course, she couldn’t say she minded.