Snuggling for Survival: A Quick Transmigration Tale - Chapter 25

Li Qing immediately noticed that something was wrong with Yu Yu. She stepped forward and pulled Ye Zi away, though she didn’t say anything.

Yu Yu let out a quiet sigh of relief and took a moment to recover. Her complexion gradually returned to normal. She glanced at Li Qing and wondered, Is she jealous because the female lead gave me a hug?

Her mind was racing with too many thoughts. Yu Yu looked at Li Qing with a complicated expression, trying to figure out how to explain that she had no improper feelings for the female lead. Before she could speak, Li Qing gently pushed her further into the apartment.

“Don’t block the doorway. Let’s go inside and talk.”

With her frail constitution, Yu Yu had no strength to resist and was led straight in. The delicious aroma of food was already wafting through the air. The female lead closed the door and went into the kitchen to help bring out the dishes.

Yu Yu was promptly settled into a seat. Fearing she might feel awkward, Li Qing sat down right beside her instead of going in to help.

However, Li Qing’s gaze remained fixed on the kitchen. Yu Yu watched her closely, trying to catch a hint of struggle or regret in her eyes. But whether it was because Yu Yu was too inexperienced or because Li Qing hid her emotions too deeply, Yu Yu couldn’t detect a thing.

“Um… maybe we should go in and help too?” Yu Yu hesitated, eventually tugging on Li Qing’s sleeve. Even as a guest, she felt embarrassed arriving empty-handed and not doing any work.

“No need. Just sit here. I’ll go help bring the dishes out,” Li Qing said. She let go of Yu Yu’s hand and poured her a glass of hot water. “It will only take two or three minutes. Don’t feel awkward.”

“Oh…” Yu Yu looked dazed. Sometimes she really couldn’t grasp this person’s personality. According to the original plot, Li Qing was supposed to be extremely cold and indifferent to everyone except Ye Zi. But reflecting on it, Li Qing had been quite kind to her lately.

Yu Yu watched blankly as Li Qing entered the kitchen and brought out several dishes. Thinking back to Li Qing’s tragic ending, Yu Yu felt a twinge of guilt.

Seeing her spaced out, Li Qing waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Snap out of it. We’re going back as soon as we finish eating.”

Yu Yu nodded. Internally, however, she refused to admit she was just daydreaming. I was thinking about how to change your tragic fate; how is that just staring blankly?

Pouting slightly, Yu Yu greeted the male and female leads in a soft voice when they finally emerged from the kitchen.

“Don’t be too shy! This is the first time Qingqing has ever brought someone over for dinner!” Ye Zi said with a beaming smile, staring at Yu Yu for a long while. “Thanks again for looking after Qingqing last time.”

Last time?

Yu Yu froze for a moment before realizing she meant the night Li Qing got drunk. Her cheeks slowly grew warm. She was too embarrassed to talk about that night—she had intended to look after Li Qing, but she had ended up falling asleep first. She nodded hesitantly, feeling incredibly awkward.

Li Qing didn’t expose her. She ladled a bowl of soup for Yu Yu and then one for Ye Zi. “Don’t talk so much during dinner. Don’t forget you’re still a patient.”

“But I feel like I’m mostly recovered! My fever broke as soon as I finished the IV drip, and I slept all afternoon. I’m full of energy; I can even eat two bowls of rice later,” Ye Zi giggled. In front of her two best friends, she could always show her true self.

“Mm,” Li Qing nodded, not contradicting her.

Then she looked at her little roommate, who was perpetually in a sickly state. Even on days when she wasn’t technically “ill,” she still looked incredibly fragile. Usually, Yu Yu just lay in bed looking at her phone or computer; her exercise levels were clearly not up to par.

As her thoughts drifted, Li Qing glanced at the girl beside her. Yu Yu sat with her head slumped like a quail, trying her best to lower her presence. From Li Qing’s perspective, she looked tiny and pitiable. Like a little stray…

“By the way, Qingqing, the lease on the apartment I found for you is almost up. Do you want to move? Why don’t you move in with me? I’m so lonely living by myself. Every time I come home from work, it’s just me.”

Here it comes! Yu Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and her head snapped up. Was the plot point where Li Qing moves out starting right here?

She instinctively turned toward Li Qing, her eyes filled with cautious anxiety. She couldn’t help but worry; they hadn’t even added each other on WeChat yet—she only had Li Qing’s phone number. If Li Qing really moved out now, who knew when she’d get another chance to get close to her?

Ye Zi’s question seemed to catch Li Qing off guard. She had considered moving out before, but lately, the thought hadn’t crossed her mind. Every day after work, she found herself heading back to the small apartment quite naturally.

“Qingqing? What are you thinking about?” Ye Zi asked, puzzled.

Li Qing remained silent, seemingly unsure of how to respond. An answer was on the tip of her tongue, but her mouth felt as if it were glued shut.

Seeing the female lead growing impatient, Yu Yu quietly shuffled closer and reached out, giving Li Qing’s knee a tiny poke. The female lead is asking you to move in! Say something, whether it’s yes or no!

This small movement triggered a reaction in Li Qing, but she remained unmoved by Ye Zi’s suggestion.

Sensing the awkwardness, Liu Xu broke the silence with a smile. “Li Qing’s workplace is a thirty-minute drive from your place. If she lives with you, she’ll have to wake up much earlier. Don’t just think about yourself; consider others. If you’re that lonely, you might as well move in with me.”

“You!” Ye Zi’s face turned beet red instantly, and she glared at Liu Xu. “You’re being a rogue!”

“I have two bedrooms. I didn’t say we’d be sharing a bed. How is that being a rogue?” Liu Xu’s tone was calm, his expression feigning innocence.

“Hmph!” Ye Zi turned her face away, refusing to look at him. She looked back at Li Qing, her face still flushed. She was clearly happy, but as a girl, she felt she had to be reserved. She couldn’t fall into Liu Xu’s trap so easily, they weren’t even official yet. “Qingqing! Look at him!”

“I’m sorry, it really is a bit too far,” Li Qing said, shaking her head as if she had been considering it for a long time. “We can get together whenever we have time, but let’s not live together. You should learn to be a bit more independent.”

When Ye Zi had asked her to move in, Li Qing’s first instinct hadn’t been joy. Perhaps she was afraid her feelings would be discovered, or perhaps she feared she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from confessing. Whatever the reason, she gave herself many excuses.

Her words stunned both Ye Zi and Yu Yu.

What is going on?

In the original plot, Li Qing moved in with her and even acted as a strategist for Ye Zi, creating plenty of opportunities for the male and female leads to have their “two-person world.” Not long after that, the leads had become a couple.

Yu Yu was completely bewildered. Looking at the female lead’s visibly disappointed expression, she wanted to crack open Li Qing’s head to see what was inside.

“Okay then…” Ye Zi’s mood plummeted. She had never expected Li Qing to reject her request. Because of this little episode, Ye Zi was much quieter during the rest of the meal, making the atmosphere even more bizarre.

Yu Yu’s mind was also a mess, but then she had a change of heart. Wasn’t her goal to change the plot? Perhaps Li Qing learning to say “no” wasn’t a bad thing after all.

The meal ended quickly as it was getting late. It wasn’t appropriate to stay at Liu Xu’s place too long, and since Li Qing wanted to get her roommate back home to take her medicine, she soon led Yu Yu toward the door.

“Hmph.” Still unhappy, Ye Zi threw a little tantrum, the grievance still visible on her face. “Since you rejected my request, I’m not seeing you out!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll see them out after she rests a bit and takes her medicine. You two head back first and stay safe,” Liu Xu said with a smile, smoothing things over.

“Mm,” Li Qing nodded.

Yu Yu felt entirely awkward and stammered out some polite goodbyes. “Then, goodbye. Thank you for the hospitality. The food was delicious. I’ll treat you both next time I get the chance.”

Mysteriously finding her stammering quite amusing, Li Qing waited until they were in the elevator before leaning down to whisper in her ear, “If it was good, I’ll bring you again next time.”

Yu Yu: “????”

Seeing her shrink back like a quail, Li Qing’s mood improved even further. She didn’t know why she was so cheerful, but then again, who can ever pinpoint the exact reason for an emotion?

“You… you…” Yu Yu turned to look at Li Qing, feeling as if this woman was becoming possessed.

Since her mood was good, Li Qing spoke more than usual. “Me what?”

“Nothing.”

Since they were still outside, Yu Yu didn’t dare say more. She was afraid of being dumped on the side of the road and having to find her own way back. She couldn’t guess why this person’s mood shifted so quickly. Maybe because she saw the female lead?

Once they were in the car, Li Qing uncharacteristically struck up a conversation. She asked casually, “You never actually told me—what exactly is your job?”

“I clearly already told you…” Yu Yu frowned and pouted, silently criticizing Li Qing’s memory. “It’s just that you didn’t remember. I told you I’m a freelance writer. I write things online because my health is poor and I can’t do many other jobs.”

Li Qing nodded with a small smile. “I do have a bit of an impression now. Last time you went out to find inspiration, I remember.”

“I’m actually quite impressive! My new novel was published and the response has been great. When this month’s royalties arrive, I can treat you to a meal!” At this, Yu Yu’s voice became cheerful. “And I got so much material today! I think I can write again tonight.”

That small mouth kept chattering away. Li Qing nodded, not finding it annoying at all. By the time they reached the apartment entrance, the little roommate was still talking about her character designs.

Opening the door with her key, Li Qing smiled. “Why don’t you just send me the link so I can take a look?”

Yu Yu froze instantly.

How would she dare?! Her story was completely based on the male and female leads and Li Qing! She had just written the part where Li Qing was about to confess to the female lead!

“Uh… your best friend invited you to live with her. Why didn’t you go?” Yu Yu said, stiffly changing the subject and looking at her expectantly.

“Why should I go just because she invited me?”

Her mouth reacted faster than her brain, and Yu Yu blurted out instinctively, “Don’t you like her?”