Hints at GL - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Strictly speaking, since they had been together, this was not the first time Zhong Ning had come to Su Yuan’s nearby residence; she had stayed over a few times occasionally after New Year’s Eve.

Actually, in Zhong Ning’s heart, she always had some reservations.

Although she had explicitly rejected Barry after that mix-up of a date on New Year’s Eve, his entire family lived right next door. She felt it truly wasn’t great to always be staying at Su Yuan’s place like this.

So, tonight, she brought the matter up once again.

“So I’m saying…”

The slender figure walked into the kitchen. Su Yuan filled two glasses with water, turned around, and handed one to Zhong Ning. “If you hadn’t gone and provoked him, would there be such a troublesome matter?” She clearly still had some choice words regarding Zhong Ning’s previous actions.

Zhong Ning leaned against the clean kitchen counter, feeling a bit unhappy upon hearing that. “You’re really the last person I want to hear that from.”

When it came to the subject of flirting, how could Su Yuan have the face to talk about her? It was truly strange.

“Is that so?” Su Yuan smiled, looking at her meaningfully. “Anyway, as long as I managed to flirt with you, it’s fine.”

“…” Zhong Ning’s face turned red. Did this person have no shame?

Seeing her at a loss for words, Su Yuan couldn’t help but reach out and pull Zhong Ning in front of her. “Alright, are you hungry now?” The glass in Zhong Ning’s hand was taken away and set aside. Su Yuan hooked an arm around her waist. “Don’t you want to eat something? We didn’t even manage to have dinner together tonight.”

Su Yuan leaned against the counter. Because of their embrace, the two were very close.

Zhong Ning bit her lip and couldn’t help but act spoiled. “If I say I’m hungry, will you cook for me?”

Hearing this, Su Yuan’s fine brows curved slightly. “Of course, as long as you don’t mind it.” She seemed to think of something, her thin lips curving again. “But it’s probably better to wait until you’ve ‘fed’ me, don’t you think?”

Su Yuan placed a deliberate emphasis on the words “fed me.” Looking at that deep, suggestive gaze, Zhong Ning felt a wave of heat rush to her cheeks.

Just then.

The phone sitting on the counter suddenly lit up. Both of them glanced at it subconsciously. The caller ID: …Ruan Mu? The moment she saw that name, Zhong Ning’s head felt as if it had been doused with ice water; all the heat instantly vanished.

The call was irritating to both of them, and Su Yuan didn’t seem to want to deal with it. “…” But after the fifth ring, she finally sighed and reached out to pick it up.

“Mhm, it’s fine, go ahead…”

Because the room was very quiet, Zhong Ning could vaguely hear Ruan Mu’s voice on the other end. It sounded like she was inviting Su Yuan to do something, and she even mentioned Jing Han. The original words seemed to be: “Jing Han is with me.”

Zhong Ning was surprised that Jing Han would actually go on a date with Ruan Mu, but she didn’t understand why such a thing had to be told to Su Yuan.

Clearly, Su Yuan also opened her mouth in disbelief. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Ruan Mu…” She took a deep breath, trying to maintain a smile. “No, I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

Ruan Mu seemed to say something else. There was a flicker of emotion in Su Yuan’s gentle eyes, and she pursed her lips. “I don’t understand. What does your dating her have to do with me? At this point, do you really expect me to give you my blessing?”

Su Yuan paused, her voice a bit unsteady. “I don’t want to hear it. I really mind.”

Su Yuan hung up the phone in a state of agitation, then knit her brows tightly, remaining silent for a long time.

Although there were only a few fragments of words, Zhong Ning actually understood the content of their conversation, but seeing Su Yuan like this, she suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Regarding the fact that Ruan Mu was still contacting Su Yuan, she definitely minded it. Even if she understood that Ruan Mu’s betrayal was something Su Yuan couldn’t let go of, seeing Su Yuan so dejected right in front of her gave Zhong Ning an indescribable feeling of distress.

Zhong Ning felt like she should be angry, but she also felt that being angry at a time like this would be extremely childish.

She hesitated for a long time, ultimately deciding to act as if nothing had happened. “Um, didn’t you just say you were hungry?” Zhong Ning masked the sourness in her heart, keeping her voice as light as possible. “How about I make something for you to eat?”

But Su Yuan merely gave a shallow smile. “Don’t bother. I’m a bit tired.”

Zhong Ning’s compromise didn’t bring about an improvement in the mood. Su Yuan’s smile was forced. She leaned over and kissed Zhong Ning’s forehead, but it seemed like her heart wasn’t in it. “I’m going to wash up and go to sleep. You should go to sleep early too.”

That night, Zhong Ning lay in bed tossing and turning. She heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom, and before long, Su Yuan moved lightly to lie down beside her.

Su Yuan’s breathing gradually became steady, but Zhong Ning felt extremely stifled in her heart.

Come to think of it, both of them had been in a bad mood today. Later, they had said they’d watch a movie to relieve the gloom, but the actual effect was hard to speak of.

Under these circumstances, Zhong Ning could actually understand the other’s feelings. Although Su Yuan never told her she was afraid, in her subconscious, Su Yuan must also have times where she didn’t know what to do.

And Ruan Mu’s phone call had become the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

Thinking about it, Zhong Ning couldn’t help but turn her head to look at the person beside her.

Those thin shoulders were exposed outside the soft bedding, her hair sliding down from her neck. Compared to the elegant image seen during the day, the Su Yuan at this moment gave one an inexplicable urge to pull her into an embrace.

Driven by the thumping in her heart, Zhong Ning finally followed that soft scent and gently wrapped her arms around Su Yuan’s waist from behind.

The moment she touched the body, Su Yuan seemed to be awake, a faint sigh drifted through the air.

It seemed a long time passed before Su Yuan finally turned around, reaching out to pull Zhong Ning into her arms. Neither spoke, but looking into those gentle eyes, Zhong Ning’s own eyes gradually turned red.

It was as if the emotions she thought she could digest on her own came flooding back the moment Su Yuan looked at her. Even if there were plenty of understandable reasons, how could this person be so half-hearted? Having such an emotional upheaval over an ex-girlfriend’s call—did she not consider that it would make her unhappy?

“What are you… turning back for?”

Zhong Ning’s eyes were red. Looking at Su Yuan, she was so aggrieved she couldn’t speak. “Turn back. Don’t look at me.”

Her voice sounded a bit choked. Su Yuan was slightly startled, and her gaze immediately softened. “…Zhong Ning.” She traced the outline of Zhong Ning’s reddened eyes with her finger. Her thin lips parted slightly, and she leaned in to kiss Zhong Ning softly.

It seemed that only when their warm tongues intertwined could that distress, confusion, and anxiety find a place to settle. There were too many emotions to express, yet only one outlet.

Su Yuan’s warm lips pressed against Zhong Ning’s, and she whispered apologies repeatedly. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

Hearing those soft words, Zhong Ning’s nose felt even more sour, and her voice trembled slightly. “Su Yuan, I hate you.”

Su Yuan caressed her increasingly soft waist and sighed. “Mhm, I know.” She held Zhong Ning a bit tighter, her soft kisses falling on the shoulder of the person in her arms. “I hate myself too.”

This time, Su Yuan didn’t take the opportunity to tease her. Instead, through increasingly gentle movements, she invested herself earnestly and tangibly into this moment of pleasure.

Zhong Ning didn’t know if she should keep making a fuss or wait considerately for Su Yuan to say something.

Everything seemed to require an answer, but in the rising body temperature, everything also seemed unnecessary.

All night, Zhong Ning seemed to have a bit of an ache in her waist and back—even in her dreams.

In her dream that night, Zhong Ning felt herself sitting at the bar, exhausted. But when she finally thought to scan her surroundings, an inexplicable sense of discordance hit her. What exactly was wrong?

As if she had looked a thousand times, she finally noticed the discordance near the corner sofa. Why did it feel like something was missing?

8:00 AM sharp.

Driven by a strong sense of panic, Zhong Ning actually sat bolt upright, feeling her entire back soaked in a thin sweat.

Su Yuan was woken by her movement. Her eyes opened slightly, and she saw Zhong Ning’s bare back exposed to the air. “What’s wrong?” She couldn’t help but frown and reach out to touch her. “Isn’t it cold?”

“Anna, I think something’s wrong…”

Zhong Ning pressed her hand to her forehead, always having an indescribable feeling. She opened her mouth but didn’t know where to start. “Anyway…”

“Anyway…” Su Yuan lay in bed looking at her, smiling shallowly for reasons unknown. “This angle is quite good.”

Only then did Zhong Ning notice the other’s gaze. It turned out the corner of the quilt covering her chest had fallen. She was a bit angry. “I’m being serious, who asked you to look?” As she spoke, her face involuntarily turned a bit red.

“Mhm, serious… what do you think is wrong?”

Su Yuan watched her with a faint smile. Just as she was about to say something, the phone rang.

They both remembered the upsetting call from last night. After a night had passed and they had finally managed to digest those matters, their current emotions instantly backslid a bit.

But this time, Su Yuan truly didn’t plan to answer. She lightly patted the small of Zhong Ning’s back. “Don’t worry, I’ll hang up now.” As Su Yuan spoke, her bare arm reached out from under the covers to bring the phone closer.

She glanced at it casually but unexpectedly saw the caller ID. “Mhm? It’s Alex?”

This call was obviously much more important than Ruan Mu’s.

Su Yuan knit her brows slightly, sat up, and swiped to answer. “It’s fine, I’m awake… what did you say?” Before long, her expression changed. “No, how is that possible… attacked?”

Su Yuan slowly lowered her hand. After a long while, she managed to force out a sentence. “That old couple from last night… they were found attacked in the shop last night.”

For a long time, Zhong Ning couldn’t process this fact. “What… what do you mean?”

Su Yuan’s mood was also very complex. “The male shopkeeper died on the spot. The woman is still in emergency care.”

Zhong Ning felt her entire body go rigid, and she didn’t speak for a whole minute.

She couldn’t understand the reason for what had happened. Why had it turned out like this? How could they die at this point in time? Clearly, the prophecy hadn’t reached that time yet—how could they have died ahead of schedule?

“Wait a moment, Alex is sending over a link to the news.” Su Yuan said in a low voice.