She Became The Black Lotus’s Pure, Untouchable Love - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Doubt flickered in Huo Xingyu’s heart.

What did she mean, “Are you here for Deng Yanxin?”

Since when did she drive an hour and a half, flooring the gas pedal across cities from west to east and canceling an essential meeting, just for Deng Yanxin?

Huo Xingyu narrowed her eyes, staring at Ning Xiangxiang with growing dissatisfaction.

Ning Xiangxiang said she missed me, so I came.

Ning Xiangxiang said she wanted to go for a walk together, so I decided to set aside the grudge of my beaten digital chicken and temporarily forgive her behavior—whether intentional or not.

Because of her “deceased ex-girlfriend” persona, I even changed my habit of not listening to the radio or music in the car. What is she babbling about now?

Amidst the low hum of an emotional advice segment on the radio, Huo Xingyu felt a searing, intense gaze landing on her. She silently met Ning Xiangxiang’s eyes.

Why? Why was Ning Xiangxiang looking at her with such fierce, urgent intensity? And why was there a mysterious, underlying hint in that gaze that she couldn’t quite decipher?

What is she doing?

Huo Xingyu watched her, perplexed. Before she could decide whether to ask, the deep, soulful voice of the radio host drifted through the car’s speakers.

…To our listener on the line: please, whatever you do, do not be sad or lose hope in love. You must understand that when a girl is angry, she is prone to saying the exact opposite of what she feels. Especially when she is consumed by jealousy, she loses her logic. Her emotions fluctuate, and she talks nonsense…

Believe me, when your girlfriend says “Go on then, go find her!” and glares at you with that burning, resentful gaze—that is a classic sign of jealousy…

…

Huo Xingyu went still. She looked hesitantly at the fire burning in Ning Xiangxiang’s eyes.

Is… is this jealousy?

What was there to be jealous of regarding Deng Yanxin? Huo Xingyu pondered in the silence. Because she had threatened to shut down the production to let Deng Yanxin relax, was Ning Xiangxiang angry?

But based on her long-standing impression of her, Ning Xiangxiang wasn’t the type to throw petty tantrums. In the ten years of their past life together, she was always understanding, generous, and dignified.

What? You don’t believe me? Observe closely. Usually, a fight fueled by jealousy will ignite a girl’s competitive spirit. Notice if your girlfriend is dressed more beautifully than the day before—is she wearing makeup? Is her dress prettier than yesterday’s? Well?

Hearing the radio host’s rapid-fire analysis, Huo Xingyu felt a wave of uncertainty as she scanned Ning Xiangxiang from head to toe.

She couldn’t deny it. Ning Xiangxiang was indeed meticulously dressed today.

Her eyeliner was slightly extended and flicked upward; a hint of shimmering highlighter graced the tip of her small nose. A warm brown lipstick added a touch of alluring charm to her “pure white flower” face. And that pale yellow sundress—the bright summer sun combined with the green scenery made her skin look almost translucently white.

The sight of her delicate collarbones and the slight, soft curve visible above the neckline of the dress caused a sudden surge of heat in Huo Xingyu. She looked away.

Compared to the disheveled state she was in when leaving the hospital yesterday with her heavy cast, the Ning Xiangxiang standing before her now was indeed much more beautiful.

The radio host continued with passionate zeal:

They say “a woman beautifies herself for the one she loves!” The more she acts out like this, the more it means that you being with another girl has truly triggered her. It means she loves you—she loves you deeply!

My friend calling into “Midday Emotional Express,” you clearly lack experience. Take my advice: a girl this good is rare these days. Don’t break her heart, and stop seeing other girls. From now on…

Listening to this heartfelt counsel, Huo Xingyu, for the first time in her life, felt a sense of romantic reflection.

She had no emotional entanglement with Deng Yanxin. At most, Deng’s status in the industry matched the Huo Group’s needs; they worked together often and were familiar with each other. She had only used Deng Yanxin as an excuse because she was angry seeing “Madam White Snake” holding Ning Xiangxiang’s face.

Was Ning Xiangxiang really jealous over a petty remark?

Why hadn’t she noticed that Ning Xiangxiang was such a “vinegar jar” (jealous type) before?

Huo Xingyu carefully compared Ning Xiangxiang’s words and deeds from the ten years of her previous life with her behavior in this life. She felt more and more that Ning Xiangxiang was a master of “saying one thing and doing another.”

That past obedience, gentleness, and propriety were now merging with this person who played little tricks, threw tantrums, and was incredibly jealous.

It’s… actually quite cute.

The image of her beaten digital chicken suddenly didn’t represent grievance or anger anymore. A strange, tingly numbness spread through Huo Xingyu’s heart. She suppressed the corners of her mouth that kept trying to curve upward and used her usual, impatient tone to say: “Get in the car.”

Since she was a child, countless girls had tried to please her or stay close to her. But none were like Ning Xiangxiang—so in love, so clingy, so prone to tantrums, and… so possessively explosive.

Ning Xiangxiang already loves me this much. She already wants to claim me as her own.

Huo Xingyu turned her head to hide the rising heat in her face. Since this possessive little girl was making such a strong “demand,” what choice did she have? She could only “reluctantly” satisfy her. She’d make Deng Yanxin find somewhere else to relax.

She cleared her throat. “Deng Yanxin will move to a different location later. You guys can continue filming.”

The flush on her face finally subsided slightly, but Ning Xiangxiang didn’t react. She didn’t take the initiative to get into the car. Huo Xingyu turned back with a frown.

The sight made her freeze. Ning Xiangxiang’s eyes were red, and she was looking at her with tear-filled eyes.

What? Is she that happy to hear the rival is leaving?!

…

The moment Ning Xiangxiang heard “Get in the car,” she wanted to refuse. She didn’t know what Huo Xingyu was up to, but she had a date with Auntie Chen. She absolutely did not want to stand her up.

However, to refuse the petty and vengeful Huo Xingyu, she needed a perfect excuse. Just as she was choosing her words, Sister Luo gave her arm a vicious pinch.

It was as if Sister Luo had predicted her refusal. The pinch was so hard Ning Xiangxiang almost burst into tears. Fortunately, Huo Xingyu was looking away at the time and didn’t notice.

Ning Xiangxiang turned her teary eyes toward Sister Luo.

Sister Luo hissed in her ear through gritted teeth: “This is a living gold mine! Ning Xiangxiang, think about your endorsement fees, the production, and the liquidated damages! If you follow her, she is the one losing out. These days, rich people who love ‘charity’ this much are rare.”

Actually, Sister Luo wasn’t wrong. The biggest obstacle to her career right now was Huo Xingyu, but the Huo Group’s endorsement was also the largest sum of money she could currently earn. She couldn’t afford to offend her.

Ning Xiangxiang checked her watch in pain. There was still an hour and a half before her meeting with Auntie Chen. Given Huo Xingyu’s personality—getting straight to the point and ignoring people otherwise—it shouldn’t take long, right?

Huo Xingyu suddenly turned back, her sharp eyes meeting Ning Xiangxiang’s misty gaze. “Why are you crying?”

Enduring the pain in her arm, Ning Xiangxiang squeezed out a line of flattery: “I’m just… so touched that the Fourth Miss came to find me herself.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Huo Xingyu gave a low “Oh” and quickly snapped her head away. From this angle, Ning Xiangxiang could see the tips of Huo’s ears turning a hot red through her black curls.

With her own effort and Sister Luo’s “assistance,” Ning Xiangxiang successfully settled into the passenger seat. Seeing Sister Luo waving goodbye with a smile through the window, Ning Xiangxiang felt a surge of nerves. She had no idea what Huo Xingyu wanted to talk about.

Suddenly, she heard Huo Xingyu give a light cough.

Ning Xiangxiang glanced over. Huo Xingyu’s face was cold, her thin red lips moving slightly: “Where do you want to go?”

Ning Xiangxiang was bewildered. When did Huo Xingyu become so polite? She actually had the right to decide where they’d talk?

She thought for a moment and threw the decision back. “I’ll follow whatever the Fourth Miss arranges.”

“I said last time I’d take you out to play. You decide.”

Looking in the rearview mirror, Huo Xingyu saw Ning Xiangxiang looking completely shell-shocked. Those round deer-eyes were filled with disbelief.

What doesn’t she believe? That I’d actually take her to play?

Huo Xingyu controlled the upward tug of her lips. At this moment, Ning Xiangxiang must be utterly stunned and flattered. Where would she want to go? Based on the girls her age in Huo’s family, she’d probably want to buy jewelry, bags, or luxury goods.

Huo Xingyu hated wasting time shopping; usually, she just handed over a credit card. But if Ning Xiangxiang liked it, she wouldn’t mind accompanying her “reluctantly.” Whatever she wanted, Huo would buy it.

In her mind, she already saw Ning Xiangxiang happily carrying bags of clothes and jewelry, dressing up exactly how Huo liked.

A smile was just beginning to touch Huo Xingyu’s eyes when Ning Xiangxiang spoke:

“I want to go to the arcade.”