Snuggling for Survival: A Quick Transmigration Tale - Chapter 24

Li Qing stared at the message for a long time, her mind a tangled mess.

Ever since she realized her true feelings for Ye Zi, she had found it increasingly difficult to control her thoughts. For the past few days, the chaos surrounding her roommate had cluttered her mind, temporarily pushing Ye Zi to the back of her head.

But seeing this message now, Li Qing hesitated.

Going to dinner herself was fine, but what about that troublemaker back at the apartment?

Her fever had broken by noon, but this person’s constitution was nothing like Ye Zi’s. When Ye Zi got sick, she bounced back almost instantly; she had a strong body and recovered at lightning speed.

Li Qing dazed off into thought. It was only as the workday neared its end that she realized, with a start, just how much she was thinking about her roommate.

Her face suddenly went cold, and she wore a sour expression.

That person has nothing to do with me. Why am I thinking about her so much?

Li Qing: [I’ll go.]

Li Qing: [I was busy just now. I will be a bit late. Do I need to bring anything?]

She sent the messages in a rush as if trying to burn all her bridges. She glared at her phone, feeling a strange urge to lose her temper.

Yet, she had no idea where this flare of irritation was coming from.

Yu Yu let out a sudden sneeze and touched her forehead.

Her body still felt weak, but the fever had long since subsided. After spending the afternoon monitoring the situation between the female lead and Li Qing, Yu Yu did not get the impression that the female lead would ever fall for Li Qing.

Li Qing was indeed very good to the female lead, but she was far too cold in her expression. Yu Yu had been in this world for a while now, and it seemed it was always the female lead who initiated contact. Li Qing appeared indifferent to everything around her.

However, the kindness she showed Ye Zi was so natural. This mixture of coldness and natural care made her seem like a perfect complement to the lively and bouncy female lead. But frankly, if Yu Yu encountered someone like that in daily life, she would have no idea how to interact with them.

She had tried so hard to comfort Li Qing yesterday, only to be treated so fiercely in return. Emotions are easily swayed when one is ill, and the more Yu Yu thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. While she did have a small, ulterior motive at the time, her desire for Li Qing’s well-being was sincere.

The auras of the male and female leads are naturally attracted to each other. For a cannon fodder character like her, it was never going to be easy to catch a protagonist’s attention.

She stared resentfully at the screen projected by the system. Seeing Li Qing comfort Ye Zi again and encourage her to confess to Liu Xu, Yu Yu puffed out her cheeks.

Still giving advice to others?

You deserve to be single!

Seeing Yu Yu looking so gloomy, the system was a bit bewildered. As an artificial intelligence, it could not fully grasp human nuance; it simply assumed Yu Yu was discouraged because she had failed to change the plot point where Li Qing still liked Ye Zi.

After some thought, it offered a weak word of encouragement. [Host… that is just the plot setting. If you want to change it, it is fine. We are not the ones bound by the script. If you want, you could even end up with the male lead!]

Yu Yu: [What would I want the male lead for? Not even a dog would want him!]

The mere thought of confessing to the male lead gave Yu Yu goosebumps. It was not that she looked down on him; it just felt wrong, like a string of bad luck.

She brushed her arms to smooth down her skin and warned her little system earnestly, [Stop talking nonsense. That was terrifying; you almost gave me a heart attack. Let us not target the men. It is not suitable, not suitable at all!]

[Oh…] The system did not quite understand, but it captured and highlighted the phrase: “Let us not target the men.”

This feels like a key point; I must frame it in the space!

Hee hee, I feel like I understand my host a little better now!

The little system silently framed the sentence, even giving it a small gold border. It placed it in a corner of the space, right next to the red pouch.

The system wondered if it was just an illusion, but it felt the red pouch was a bit brighter than when it was first stored. However, looking closely, there seemed to be no difference.

It decided not to overthink it and happily calculated the energy values. They had earned a bit less in this world than the last, but it was still enough to last a long time.

“Sigh…” Confirming that Li Qing was going to the male lead’s house for dinner, Yu Yu felt even more depressed.

Did this not mean her chances to absorb energy were getting even slimmer? Not coming back after work? What a scumbag!

Yu Yu wobbled to her feet, preparing to go out and get some food.

[Host, can you not just order takeout?]

[I am tired of it. I want to walk around. Takeout is never as good by the time it arrives.] Unable to explain her sense of disappointment, Yu Yu offered a perfunctory excuse and told the system to turn off the display.

It was after six o’clock, the peak of the after-work rush. Yu Yu had to wait a long time just for the elevator.

She wrapped herself up tightly. Although it was not cold out, her body still felt a bit chilled. But her luck was strange today; just as she stepped out of the residential complex gate, she ran into Li Qing returning.

Not being in a good mood and not feeling like chasing energy, Yu Yu hunched her shoulders and tried to walk past her with her head down.

Li Qing’s temper flared instantly. Watching the person who was swaying as she walked, Li Qing closed the distance in three steps and blocked her path. Her voice was full of irritation. “What do you mean by this?”

Are you crazy?

Yu Yu looked up, completely bewildered.

She is the one going to someone else’s house for dinner. What is she so angry about?

Do I not even have the right to go out and eat? No human rights!

“I am going to get some food. What is wrong? Do you want me to starve to death?” Even though Li Qing had cared for her today, Yu Yu still felt aggrieved.

Always so fierce. No wonder you do not have a partner!

Li Qing looked down at her. She had no idea what kind of mood this person was in now, but she looked like she was on the verge of tears.

A total troublemaker. Impossible to read!

“What I mean is, you just had an IV drip this morning. Why are you running around instead of resting at home?” Li Qing tried to talk herself down, reminding herself that the girl was a patient, as she moderated her tone.

“To eat,” Yu Yu said, dropping her head. She felt she was being a bit dramatic because of her illness. The other person was showing concern, after all; she should not have been so rude.

“I am sorry…” Being flexible, Yu Yu apologized and then explained, “I just… I did not want takeout. I wanted to go out and eat a real meal. I was not trying to cause trouble for myself.”

Eating out and takeout are basically the same thing. Li Qing was nearly fuming. This flare of anger would not go away. She is not even an important person to me. What she does is her own business!

And yet, she is the only one who can make me this angry.

Li Qing felt like she was the one who was sick.

She grabbed Yu Yu’s hand and led her toward the street. With her other hand, she pulled out her phone and made a call. Before the call connected, she spoke to Yu Yu. “Then come and eat with me.”

This was followed by a series of words into the phone that Yu Yu did not quite follow. “My roommate is sick… yeah, I am not comfortable leaving her. Her constitution is a bit weak. Okay, I will tell him in a bit… that works… okay… good… we are coming.”

Dazed, Yu Yu was bundled into a car. Halfway through the drive, she still had not fully processed what was happening.

It was only when the car stopped and she was pulled out that it finally clicked: Li Qing was taking her to dinner.

Without seemingly asking for her opinion, Li Qing grabbed Yu Yu by the arm and led her into a residential complex.

“Where… where are we going?” Despite having a guess, Yu Yu looked at her pleadingly, seeking an answer.

Li Qing gave her a brief glance. “I am taking you to dinner.”

“But… but I do not know anyone there.” Her guess confirmed, Yu Yu became even more frightened. She swallowed hard and tried to turn around.

You must be joking. If it were not for the energy points, I would be a pure social recluse.

How could I go to dinner with strangers? Out of the three people there, she only knew Li Qing. She had met the female lead once, and she had never even seen the male lead. It sounded terrifying.

Li Qing clamped her hands onto Yu Yu’s shoulders and steered her toward the elevator. “Liu Xu’s cooking is very good. You can just eat by my side. You do not have to talk.”

“But… but…”

Amused by her “quail-like” behavior, Li Qing’s mood suddenly brightened significantly. “No ‘buts.’ We will go back as soon as we finish eating.”

“Oh…” Her heart still racing, Yu Yu’s mind went blank. Subconsciously, she grabbed Li Qing’s hand. “Then, can I hold onto you?”

Li Qing did not say anything, but she did not pull away from the soft hand pressed against her palm.

Yu Yu took this as a response.

As they waited, the elevator doors opened, and Yu Yu could already hear the female lead’s voice.

Yu Yu began to worry again. “But… but I did not buy anything. It is my first time being a guest at someone’s house, and I did not bring a gift. It is very rude…”

“It does not matter. You can make up for it next time.” Leading her inside, Li Qing spoke as if the next visit was already planned. She knew Yu Yu was small and thin, but holding her hand, she felt even smaller. “Do not think about anything today. Just eat well.”

Following behind her like a timid quail, Yu Yu decided to just let things happen.

Anyway, this person is moving out soon. I do not know when I will get another chance to absorb energy. I might as well get my fill today.

Even so, when Ye Zi came bouncing out to open the door, Yu Yu’s scalp felt numb with embarrassment.

Ye Zi did not seem like a patient at all. Seeing the two of them, she was still full of energy. “You’re here! It’s almost ready. Let’s just sit for a bit!”

“Yeah, we’re a bit late. I was going to go back and grab something, but I got delayed and didn’t make it back.” Li Qing nodded, her voice naturally softening. Looking at Ye Zi, one would never guess she had also been on an IV drip this morning.

Yu Yu carefully peeked out from behind Li Qing. Her voice was tiny, and her face and ears were completely flushed with shy embarrassment. “Hello.”

“Wow, hi! Welcome to dinner!” Ye Zi reached out and gave Yu Yu a tight hug, incredibly excited.

Yu Yu let out a soft sound. Caught off guard by the tight embrace, she felt physically uncomfortable, and her face turned pale for a moment.

The female lead is so enthusiastic, but it is so overwhelming!