My Little Pink Crocodile - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Liking the Shameless One

Hearing Grace’s question, Jiang Yu shook her head. She was about to complain, but fearing Qi Yan might overhear her speaking ill, she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“Qi Yan dropped me off twice. She won’t even show me our home.”

“Huh? Where did she drop you off?” Grace asked, puzzled. In all the years she’d known her, she had never seen Qi Yan be heartless enough to dump someone twice, so she assumed Jiang Yu was exaggerating.

However, Jiang Yu began counting on her fingers. “Once in the mountains, and once in some police station.”

As she spoke, she looked quite aggrieved. Qi Yan had actually lied to her, saying the police station was her home, only for her to wake up all alone again.

Grace was genuinely surprised. Seeing Jiang Yu’s furrowed brows and piteous expression, she felt as if she were looking at a bullied child. Her sense of justice instantly flared up. Grace stole a few glances at Qi Yan in the driver’s seat and decided right then and there: Qi Yan had definitely failed this girl and abandoned her in the middle of nowhere.

“She’s gone too far,” Grace said, patting Jiang Yu’s shoulder to show her support.

“But she’s so pretty, and I like her,” Jiang Yu replied, missing the indignation in Grace’s eyes and looking up with a smile instead.

Grace: “…”

In an instant, a clichéd romance plot—You love me, I don’t love you—running hundreds of thousands of words long played out in Grace’s mind, with her best friend as the protagonist.

Driving in the front, Qi Yan felt two intense gazes from the back seat. Her brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t say anything. The two in the back were chatting with great gusto. Grace had been completely won over by Jiang Yu’s perspective, and Jiang Yu’s opinion of Grace had improved since Grace hadn’t “tattled” on her earlier; she at least stopped calling Grace a “bad woman.”

Grace decided to help Jiang Yu—and in doing so, help Qi Yan escape her fate of forced blind dates. She leaned in and whispered into Jiang Yu’s ear:

“Don’t you think Qi Yan is a bit of a blockhead?”

Jiang Yu thought about it and nodded in agreement. Even though Qi Yan was gentle, she didn’t seem to “like” her that way; she only looked at her with politeness or the expression one gives a fussy child.

I’m not a child, I’m an adult!

Grace gave a mischievous smile and spoke again. “Let me tell you a secret. Qi Yan likes ‘shameless’ people. You just have to be more proactive.”

“Huh? Shameless?” Jiang Yu knit her brows, looking down and twiddling her fingers in thought. “But there was an ugly man this morning who was also shameless. Does Qi Yan like him too?”

But Qi Yan had looked so disgusted by him that Jiang Yu wasn’t quite sure if she believed Grace.

“Ugly man?” Grace thought for a second, then realized who she meant. “Ugh, that thing isn’t ‘shameless.’ That’s called…” Grace paused, searching for the perfect word. “That’s called a sha-bi (idiot)!”

Seeing Jiang Yu’s dazed look and fearing she wouldn’t believe it, Grace dragged the unsuspecting Qi Yan into the conversation. She pointed at her friend. “Ask Qi Yan if it’s true.”

The road ahead was smooth and traffic was light. Qi Yan had heard Grace’s exclamation. Seeing Jiang Yu’s curious eyes in the rearview mirror, she felt as if a soft feather had brushed against her heart—it felt a bit ticklish. Qi Yan’s lips curved slightly into a soft chuckle.

“What do you want to ask?” Qi Yan asked Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu leaned forward, resting her hands on the back of Qi Yan’s seat and peeking over her shoulder. “Is that ugly man from this morning a sha-bi?”

Qi Yan froze, clearly caught off guard by the question. Since Tao Yan was likely the only man they’d seen that morning, that’s who Jiang Yu was asking about.

Qi Yan’s expression became quite complicated. Seeing Grace’s schadenfreude-filled grin in the mirror, she didn’t even have to guess who had taught the girl that word. She sighed, but when her eyes met Jiang Yu’s expectant silver-grey gaze—so beautiful they looked like gems—she was reminded of that pink crocodile with the rare skin. That crocodile had the same mesmerizing eyes.

Coming back to reality, Qi Yan gave a helpless smile and played along. “Yes, he is.”

Satisfied, Jiang Yu was about to say more when Qi Yan added, “We’re almost there. Sit back and buckle up.”

Grace, fearing Jiang Yu might let slip the rest of their conversation, pulled her back. “Come here, let me teach you how to be ‘shameless’.”

Jiang Yu sat back immediately, looking like a devoted student. “Tell me. I can do anything.”

Her expression was so serious it almost made Grace give up out of guilt, but it only lasted a second. Grace coughed, and seeing Jiang Yu’s eager face, her last shred of guilt vanished. “Climb into her bed.”

It was short and concise. Jiang Yu nodded thoughtfully, looking at Grace for more advice, but after waiting a while and hearing nothing else, she tilted her head. “Is that all?”

Looking into Jiang Yu’s pure, innocent eyes, Grace’s heart almost couldn’t take it. She nodded. “You only need to climb into Qi Yan’s bed. Qi Yan won’t have the heart to make you cry.”

“Oh.” Jiang Yu bit her fingertip, a glint of cunning flashing deep within her bright pupils as she looked at Qi Yan.

Grace knew Jiang Yu had taken the advice to heart. To be safe, she whispered, “Don’t let Qi Yan know I told you, or she’ll think you’re taking shortcuts.”

Jiang Yu waved her off distractedly, admiring Qi Yan’s focused expression in the mirror and marveling at her own good taste. “I know,” she eventually replied to Grace.

The car entered the residential complex and parked in the underground garage. The group entered the elevator. Everything was new to Jiang Yu. The sudden change in air pressure as the elevator moved startled her, and she lunged into Qi Yan’s arms for safety.

“What just happened?” Jiang Yu asked, her voice muffled against Qi Yan’s chest.

Qi Yan patted her head soothingly, not expecting her to be scared. “We’ll be there once we go up.”

Jiang Yu wasn’t actually scared; she just wanted an excuse to be close. Catching a whiff of the woman’s fresh scent, she smirked at an angle Grace couldn’t see and let out a soft, tiny “Mhm.”

Grace looked away from the lovey-dovey pair, but the elevator walls were reflective; no matter where she looked, she caught them in her peripheral vision.

An elderly woman walking a Yorkie entered the elevator and greeted Qi Yan. “Oh, Xiao Yan, home from work so early?”

Grandma Zhang lived alone with only her dog for company. The day Qi Yan moved in, the dog had been ill and listless. Grandma Zhang had been in a panic about where to take it when she bumped into Qi Yan, who had treated the dog on the spot. Since Qi Yan also handled the follow-up care, they had become quite friendly.

Qi Yan nodded and looked at the dog. “Does Ollie have an appetite today?”

Grandma Zhang chuckled. “He’s eating like a horse and full of energy! It’s all thanks to you.”

The Yorkie was usually docile, but for some reason, it barked at Jiang Yu in Qi Yan’s arms. Grandma Zhang noticed her then. Seeing Jiang Yu being held protectively, she smiled kindly. “Besides bringing Grace, do you have another friend over today?”

Usually, she only saw Qi Yan with Grace, but this was the first time she’d seen Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu pulled her head away from Qi Yan’s chest and corrected her seriously: “No, I’m her partner.”

Qi Yan knit her brows and explained, “She likes to joke around.”

“I’m not—” Jiang Yu tried to argue, but Qi Yan leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Jiang Yu pouted and buried herself back in Qi Yan’s arms, feeling wronged. Grace looked at the sulking Jiang Yu and the “denying-but-doting” Qi Yan, then whispered to Grandma Zhang, “These two just need one last push.”

Grandma Zhang blinked, then looked at them with a knowing smile. “It’s about time Xiao Yan found someone. This girl is so pretty; she looks like such a good kid.”

“Yes, quite good,” Qi Yan replied vaguely, dodging the topic of finding a partner.

Hearing the praise, Jiang Yu’s pride returned instantly, and she couldn’t stop a secret grin. She felt confident again—she was so beautiful that everyone back home said she was loved by all. It was only a matter of time before Qi Yan liked her… or at least, after she climbed into her bed.

Qi Yan didn’t know what Jiang Yu was thinking. Feeling the girl trembling slightly in her arms, she looked down and saw her smiling to herself. A bit silly, Qi Yan thought.

But Jiang Yu was as exquisite as a porcelain doll. Even when she smiled sillily, it didn’t detract from her beauty; it only made her look more adorable, making one want to kiss her.

The moment the thought of kissing her appeared, Qi Yan stiffened. She quickly pushed Jiang Yu away, but seeing the girl’s confused face, her heart softened again. It felt like whenever she was close to Jiang Yu, she instinctively wanted to kiss her—as if they had some soul-level connection, drawing them together.

Qi Yan’s expression shifted. Grace noticed the change. “What’s wrong?”

Qi Yan shook her head and pulled the aggrieved Jiang Yu back to her side. “Nothing, I just feel a bit unwell.”

The elevator reached Grandma Zhang’s floor. Hearing Qi Yan, she said worriedly, “I have medicine at home. If you’re really feeling bad, come over and get some.”

Qi Yan rubbed her temples. “I’ll be fine in a moment. I won’t trouble you.”

“Well, don’t go bullying the poor girl now,” Grandma Zhang joked as she left.

Qi Yan gave a noncommittal response, her mind elsewhere. Jiang Yu reached out to touch Qi Yan’s forehead. The skin wasn’t hot. “You don’t have a fever.”

“It’s not a fever, it’s…” Qi Yan trailed off. She didn’t dare say the desire to kiss her was becoming clearer and clearer, fearing she would scare Jiang Yu.

The elevator opened, and Qi Yan led Jiang Yu out. Grace, watching their hurried exit, muttered, “I know you’re in a rush, but you could at least wait for me.”

Qi Yan’s apartment was a two-bedroom. While not as large as her family’s house, it was plenty for her. Usually, only Grace stayed over, but with Jiang Yu added, there weren’t enough rooms. Since Grace had already claimed the guest room, Jiang Yu had to stay in the master bedroom with Qi Yan.

Once inside, Jiang Yu excitedly explored every corner. Grace took her to see Qi Yan’s room. The decor was simple and clean, and the air carried Qi Yan’s signature scent, which Jiang Yu loved.

“This is Qi Yan’s room. You’re sleeping together tonight,” Grace said, pointing at the bed while fighting back a mischievous grin. She couldn’t wait to see Qi Yan’s reaction to this “surprise.”

Grace whispered a few more things in Jiang Yu’s ear, causing a blush to creep onto the girl’s fair face.

“Does she really like that?” Jiang Yu asked. Though her face was red, she looked incredibly excited.

In the kitchen, Qi Yan opened the fridge and took stock of the ingredients. She called out to Jiang Yu, “Do you have any dietary restrictions?”

Jiang Yu fiddled with her dress and skipped over to Qi Yan’s side. She looked up at her with a radiant smile. “Anything is fine!”

Qi Yan looked at her. The smile was beautiful, but that suspicious blush on the girl’s face… if she didn’t know better, she’d think they were up to something.