The Premeditated Seductress Childhood Friend - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Finicky

Looking at those two simple words, Song Yixi felt a stir in her heart.

It felt as though Xu Qingyu could understand her perfectly without her having to say a word. In comparison, she didn’t seem to understand Xu Qingyu nearly as well. That realization brought a tingling sensation that she couldn’t quite label as good or bad.

Song Yixi stared at her phone for a long while before finally heading off to wash up.

Emerging from the bathroom feeling refreshed, she found the living room AC still blasting at 16°C—so cold that Yu Wei had put on a jacket.

Seeing Song Yixi, Yu Wei waved her over. “I joined the neighborhood group chat. Someone’s selling second-hand furniture. Since we don’t have class tomorrow morning, want to go check it out?”

“Sure, let’s get a sofa and a dining table.”

The “coffee table” they were currently using was just a small wooden desk they’d bought cheaply at the supermarket; it was so low they had to sit on the floor to eat, which was uncomfortable. They wanted to furnish the place, but having just asked their parents for rent money, neither felt right asking for more. They planned to skim a bit off their monthly allowances and pick up some bargains.

Yu Wei had already scouted a deal and set a meeting time with the seller for the next morning. They exchanged goodnights and went to sleep.

The two were women of action. Early the next morning, they inspected a sofa in person. Finding the appearance and price acceptable, they reached an immediate agreement and bought it.

There was one small problem: the seller didn’t provide delivery. They’d have to find a moving company themselves. Song Yixi squatted there for five minutes calculating the cost and decided it wasn’t worth it.

“How about we just carry it back ourselves?” she suggested to Yu Wei.

Yu Wei agreed in half a second. It was the same neighborhood, and there were elevators; moving it themselves was the most cost-effective choice.

They got right to work. One on each end, they hauled it downstairs. The morning air was cool as they leisurely wobbled through the residential complex.

As they passed the supermarket entrance, Song Yixi spotted Xu Qingyu coming out from shopping. She instinctively averted her gaze, feeling a sudden pang of guilt.

Before sleeping last night, she’d scrolled through her phone and finally seen Yu Wei’s message suggesting she and Xu Qingyu looked like they were dating. She hadn’t dared to bring it up with Yu Wei, unsure if her roommate was serious or joking. Now that they’d run into Xu Qingyu, Song Yixi was terrified Yu Wei would remember that comment.

Yu Wei, however, clearly wasn’t overthinking it. She waved enthusiastically. “Hi, Senior! Out shopping so early?”

Hearing the voice, Xu Qingyu slowly turned her gaze toward them. Her brow furrowed slightly when she saw the old sofa in their hands.

“Mhm. And you two are…?”

“Picked up a second-hand sofa,” Yu Wei said proudly. “Is it nice, Senior?”

Song Yixi covered her face with one hand. “I wouldn’t ask if I were you.”

One look at Xu Qingyu’s expression told her all she needed to know: she hated it. Xu Qingyu wouldn’t even let her buy a second-hand electric scooter, let alone a sofa. Song Yixi braced herself for a lecture.

But surprisingly, Xu Qingyu didn’t criticize them. She only said, “Wait here a moment.”

She turned and headed back into the supermarket.

Song Yixi and Yu Wei shared a look, found a shaded spot to set the sofa down, and sat on it to wait.

While waiting, Yu Wei suddenly remembered last night. “Did you see the message I sent you?”

Song Yixi answered without a second thought, “Didn’t look.”

Which meant she definitely had.

Yu Wei smirked confidently. “Why are you acting so guilty then?”

“You’re the guilty one.” Song Yixi scooted further away, clearly unwilling to discuss it.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Yu Wei crossed her legs, convinced she’d stumbled upon a secret. “Are you two…?”

Before she could finish, Xu Qingyu returned. Song Yixi stood up to greet her. “What were you doing?”

Xu Qingyu handed her a shopping bag. “Sofa covers. Take them back and put them on. It’ll be cleaner.”

Song Yixi was stunned, her mind momentarily blank. Xu Qingyu didn’t scold her; she bought her new covers instead? Was this even the same Xu Qingyu?

Yu Wei reacted faster, saying excitedly, “Thank you, Senior!”

“Mhm. I’m heading to campus now.” That last part was directed at Song Yixi.

Song Yixi watched her leave in silence. Yu Wei nudged her shoulder. “What’s with the daze? Touched by the senior’s ‘tenderness’?”

Song Yixi immediately broke out in goosebumps. “What tenderness?”

In all their years together, she had never associated the word “tender” with Xu Qingyu. However, in their recent interactions, Xu Qingyu had indeed been different. She wasn’t cold or aloof; she initiated conversation, bought her things, and had stopped lecturing her with a stern face. She wasn’t just gentle; she almost seemed… demure.

Has university driven Xu Qingyu crazy? Song Yixi shuddered and tossed the shopping bag onto the sofa. “Let’s go, let’s get this thing inside.”

“Tsk.” Yu Wei grabbed one end of the sofa. As they walked, she said, “I think you just don’t want to admit it. The senior is clearly very gentle; even her voice is so soft.”

Song Yixi gave a forced, fake smile.

They got the sofa home, gave it a quick cleaning on the balcony, and let it air out in the sun all morning. Before leaving for class, Song Yixi put on the covers Xu Qingyu had bought.

The new covers had that unique scent of fresh packaging. As Song Yixi sat down, she thought she caught a faint whiff of the herbal scent that only Xu Qingyu carried. She stood up, bent over, and sniffed carefully, but the scent was gone. Not convinced, she walked in a full circle around the sofa, sniffing.

Yu Wei, who was changing her shoes at the entryway, watched her as if she were performing some strange ritual. “What are you doing? You haven’t even washed the covers yet; are you using them directly?”

“I was just… checking the fit.” Song Yixi quickly pulled the covers back off.

She figured she was probably overthinking things. She tossed the covers into the sink to soak and followed Yu Wei out the door.

Walking under the scorching sun, Yu Wei said, “Once we get our allowance next week, let’s buy the electric scooter first. The campus is huge.”

Song Yixi tugged at the brim of her sun hat and shook her head. “I’m not planning on buying a second-hand one anymore. I’ll save up a bit longer. Let’s get a washing machine next month instead. A few hundred bucks is enough, and washing clothes by hand is too exhausting.”

“A washing machine is fine, but why are you giving up on the second-hand scooter?”

Song Yixi sighed gloomily. “It’s Xu Qingyu. She won’t let me buy one; said she won’t ride on a used seat. It’s not like I can actually go against her.”

Yu Wei was confused. “Doesn’t the senior have trouble with the wind? Can she even ride on a scooter?”

Song Yixi froze as the realization hit her. “You’re right! Why does she care what kind of bike I buy? She can’t even ride it!”

Seeing her like this, Yu Wei laughed. “You still shouldn’t buy a used one. It wouldn’t be good to actually upset her.”

“Who cares about her…” Song Yixi muttered, her face full of grievance.

Yu Wei asked, “Is the senior a germaphobe?”

Song Yixi rubbed her neck and thought about it carefully. A germaphobe? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. When she ate at Song’s house, used their utensils, or slept in Song’s bed, she wasn’t. But in public, she was picky about everything.

Song Yixi summarized it in one word: Finicky.

But she didn’t say it aloud to Yu Wei. “Maybe. We’ll see next month. We’re going to be late, hurry up.”

They picked up the pace and entered the school through the main gate, passing right by the Traditional Chinese Medicine department building.

By pure coincidence, Song Yixi spotted Xu Qingyu.

The frequency of these “accidental” meetings lately was becoming absurd. Song Yixi tried to pretend she hadn’t seen her and looked away, only to catch a glimpse of someone chasing after Xu Qingyu to hold a sunshade over her.

For no apparent reason, Song Yixi’s face went dark.