Hints at GL - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

After leaving the antique shop, Zhong Ning and Su Yuan did not speak for a long time.

Perhaps it was because of the old man’s blunt criticism, or perhaps it was the past events that Zhong Ning was reluctant to have mentioned; for a considerable amount of time, they were trapped in a state of distress, pondering the same question: Was doing this truly right?

What he said wasn’t without merit.

Precisely because most of the people at the scene were superhumans, they should have been more cautious.

If the murderer hadn’t yet planned out a killing scheme or didn’t know whom to target, wouldn’t their act of asking one another if they were acquainted simply provide the killer with a convenient list?

This thought lingered in their minds, refusing to dissipate.

Zhong Ning didn’t know what Su Yuan was thinking right now. Su Yuan had been arranging everything from the start; having someone point out such a glaring flaw now must be even harder for her to accept than it was for Zhong Ning.

Zhong Ning couldn’t help but steal a glance at her. Su Yuan’s gentle gaze was fixed ahead, but sensing the look, she turned back. “What is it?” Su Yuan’s lips moved slightly.

Heartache? Regret?

Zhong Ning couldn’t tell. She could only anxiously tug on Su Yuan’s hand. “You… why aren’t you talking?”

The heavy atmosphere was broken by her words. Su Yuan slowed her pace, her eyes appearing somewhat drifted. “Nothing, I’m just feeling a bit frustrated…” She didn’t finish her sentence but suddenly came to a halt, turning toward Zhong Ning with a shallow smile. “Shall we go to a club together?”

This suggestion from Su Yuan came too suddenly and without warning.

Zhong Ning looked directly into the other woman’s eyes but saw no trace of remorse or indignation. Perhaps Su Yuan was indeed depressed at this moment, but she also knew that dwelling on it was useless. Why not just forget those things?

“…Mhm.”

Zhong Ning’s face turned red. To be honest, she had never been to a club with Su Yuan before. “…Are we really?” She felt inexplicably nervous.

Su Yuan was about to say something as she watched her shy expression, but Zhong Ning’s phone rang. It was a call from Jing Yang.

“Mhm, I’m still with Su Yuan right now,” Zhong Ning signaled to Su Yuan that she’d be done in a second, explaining to Jing Yang with some embarrassment. “Things… are actually over, eh?” Hearing whatever Jing Yang said, she added hesitantly, “Then let me ask her.”

Zhong Ning kept the phone to her ear and asked Su Yuan in a low voice, “Jing Yang wants me to ask you…”

“Today was supposed to be her birthday, but since we were busy, we didn’t accompany her for dinner. She knows I’m with you now, so she asked if we wanted to see a movie together.” Zhong Ning also felt it might be a bit inappropriate, so she cautiously squeezed Su Yuan’s hand. “Or should I just say we have other plans and won’t go?”

Su Yuan thought for a moment. “Ask her where she is now.”

Zhong Ning chatted for a few lines with the other end and said in a low voice, “At the Renoir, over near Brunswick.”

Su Yuan looked at her and nodded gently. “Tell her we’re coming over now.”

The other woman’s overly submissive manner made Zhong Ning feel a bit guilty, so she didn’t pick up the phone immediately. She asked anxiously in a whisper, “Then… will you be unhappy?”

Su Yuan was amused by her cautious look and replied softly, “Of course not. Am I that petty?” She put her arm around Zhong Ning’s waist, drawing them closer. “I just want to relax with you. Anything is fine.”

They were still standing by the street; although few pedestrians passed by, it still made Zhong Ning’s face turn completely red. “Mhm… then,” she asked haltingly, “Then, what about not being able to spend time with you today?”

Su Yuan turned and pecked her flushed cheek, chuckling. “You could just not return to the dorm tonight, couldn’t you?”

The advertisement time in British cinemas is notoriously long, which left them quite a bit of time. By the time they reached the Renoir, the movie still had ten minutes before starting.

“Zhong Ning, over here!”

Jing Yang was wearing a loose sweater with her lips painted bright red; she looked like she was ready for a club later. “Kevin, move over, I want to sit with Zhong Ning,” she said to the person next to her.

Wait.

Zhong Ning scanned the area. My god. How did Jing Yang call so many acquaintances? There were several classmates from Kevin, Banking, and MI; almost everyone was from the Business School… And the girl with long hair over her shoulders sitting next to Kevin… wasn’t that Cathy from their major?

In an instant, Zhong Ning felt a headache coming on.

She stood by the aisle, not daring to move forward. God knows if she had known the situation would be like this, she would have gone straight to the club with Su Yuan. She wasn’t mentally prepared to “come out” in public yet.

“Eh, Zhong Ning, why are you with Anna…”

Sure enough, the topic started right there.

Kevin was startled when he saw Su Yuan. He sensitively noticed how close the two were standing, and coupled with Zhong Ning’s previous inquiries with him, many things were already self-evident. “…”

But he thought better of it; he wasn’t familiar with Su Yuan, so there was no point in teasing.

However, Leon picked up where he left off. “Eh, I feel like I’ve been seeing you two together at school lately. Could it be that you…”

Zhong Ning was a bit overwhelmed by their successive questions but truly didn’t want to answer honestly, so she just smiled. That was her limit.

“Alright, stop gossiping.” Two voices rang out simultaneously—one from Jing Yang and one from Cathy in the back row.

This surprised Zhong Ning a bit. Jing Yang was understandable, but what was Cathy doing? She wasn’t familiar with her at all, so was she bailing Su Yuan out?

Su Yuan looked at Zhong Ning. She didn’t force anything because of the other’s cowardice, nor did she make any suggestive gestures like holding her hand or putting an arm around her waist. “Let’s go over,” she said in a low voice, though there were some unreadable emotions in her eyes.

Zhong Ning sat down next to Jing Yang, trying her best to act normal, but her voice sounded through gritted teeth. “Jing Yang…” She didn’t lower her voice, since Su Yuan couldn’t understand Chinese anyway. “Why didn’t you tell me there were so many classmates?”

Jing Yang was a bit apologetic but remained stubborn. “Alright, since you didn’t accompany me for dinner, we’re even. Besides, they’ll definitely assume you’re in a relationship from now on; you won’t even need to argue against it.”

Zhong Ning still couldn’t let it go. “I just find it strange, how do you know so many of my classmates?” If it weren’t for this, it wouldn’t be so awkward. “Couldn’t you just invite people from your Media Department to your birthday party?”

Jing Yang rolled her eyes. “The ‘rich-beautiful-whites’ and ‘tall-handsome-rich’ guys in our department are too few, I don’t like playing with them.”

Just then.

Zhong Ning suddenly noticed Cathy sitting on the other side of Su Yuan. The two started chatting just like that. After only a few sentences, Cathy even laughed and lightly patted Su Yuan’s arm.

A wave of jealousy surged up instantly.

Before this, more than one person had told her that Cathy and Su Yuan had a good relationship. Zhong Ning hadn’t taken it seriously because she knew there was a Ruan Mu, and at the very least, a “friend with benefits” blocking the way.

Why did she insist on sitting over to chat when she clearly knew about Su Yuan’s relationship with her? Was she sick?

Zhong Ning didn’t want to look at them at all. She didn’t know if it was a case of “like poles repelling” or if a “rich-beautiful-white” like Cathy simply didn’t care to interact with her; they had been in the same major for half a year and hadn’t even spoken ten sentences.

How did such a “thin as water” relationship suddenly reach the point of jealousy?

“Hey, I say,” Jing Yang whispered as she peeked at the side of Zhong Ning, “Given that your lady has a ‘history,’ could Cathy have had an ambiguity with her too? I feel like they’re getting a bit too close.”

Zhong Ning took a deep breath, and her words couldn’t help but turn a bit sharp. “So why exactly did you invite her to your birthday? I didn’t know you two were such good friends.”

“I didn’t invite her,” Jing Yang looked at her. “There, she was brought along by that girl in the front row; they’re both from Shanghai and are on very good terms.”

Zhong Ning inadvertently watched their movements again. It looked like Cathy had taken out her phone to show Su Yuan something, and then Su Yuan smiled and leaned over, their heads very close together.

She finally couldn’t watch anymore.

“…The movie is starting,” Zhong Ning naturally took hold of Su Yuan’s right hand and smiled at Cathy. “Why don’t you head back to your own seat first?”

Faced with this obvious act of defending her territory, Cathy was slightly taken aback, but then she smiled as well. “Alright, I’ll sit back now.”

Su Yuan had a smile on her lips and didn’t say anything from start to finish.

The lights gradually dimmed, and the movie finally began. Zhong Ning wanted to let go of Su Yuan’s hand, but the other held it tighter. “Were you jealous just now?” Su Yuan teased in a low voice.

“I… was not,” Zhong Ning said somewhat awkwardly. “I’m not such a petty person. I want to watch the movie.”

In the darkness, Su Yuan gave her a deep look and said nothing more.

But as soon as the movie started, Zhong Ning began to regret it. This… turned out to be the legendary The Cabin in the Woods, which pays homage to many horror films. How could Jing Yang have such heavy tastes?

She had always been afraid to watch such things and wanted to ask Su Yuan for help, but because she was still displeased with Su Yuan’s lack of rejection toward Cathy, she felt embarrassed to act spoiled. “…”

Zhong Ning endured it for a full two hours, gripping the armrest tightly the entire time.

Until the latter half of the film, she finally couldn’t hold it anymore. It was a series of continuous, bloody scenes. Zhong Ning felt as if those monsters were about to leap out of the screen at her. She shrank back in fear.

Finally, her trembling hand was met with a warm sensation; Su Yuan gripped her hand tightly.

“Zhong Ning, don’t watch anymore.” Su Yuan comforted her softly. “If you’re scared, shall I take you out?”

Her gentle tone gradually made Zhong Ning forget her previous unhappiness. Although she wanted to resist a bit longer, a series of continuous screams on the screen made her finally unable to bear it. “Mhm, then I’ll tell Jing Yang.”

In the end, by the time she finally escaped the cinema with Su Yuan, her legs felt a bit weak.

“Are you alright?” Su Yuan put her arm around her waist and said with a smile, “That’ll teach you to try and act tough in the future.”