The Premeditated Seductress Childhood Friend - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Feeling the Pulse

That night, Song Yixi stayed up very late.

The next day was a class with her head teacher. She went with dark circles under her eyes, looking completely drained. Yu Wei saw her and joked that she looked like she’d been “sucked dry.” Song Yixi just pouted, lacking the energy to retort.

As class drew to a close, the teacher brought up the basketball tournament, noting that the women’s team wasn’t full yet and urging the girls to be more proactive.

Song Yixi remembered her promise to Xu Qingyu. She nudged Yu Wei’s arm and said, “Let’s do it together.”

“I’m down,” Yu Wei said, scanning her up and down with a gossipy look. “But I thought you weren’t interested?”

Song Yixi made up an excuse on the fly. “I watched them play yesterday. They were trash. I want to show them how it’s done.”

Yu Wei was skeptical. “Is that so? Why do I feel like you’re doing this to catch someone’s eye?”

Sensing she was about to be caught, Song Yixi quickly pulled her along. “Class is over. Let’s go sign up.”

Yu Wei followed, her eyes showing she had seen through everything. “Tsk, tsk. Your little scheme couldn’t be more obvious.” Song Yixi pretended not to hear.

As they collected the registration forms from the teacher, Chen Jingyu and her 6’3″ boyfriend were also there. Hearing Yu Wei speak, the boyfriend glanced at Song Yixi several times. Song Yixi ignored everything, focusing solely on filling out her form.

Yu Wei whispered, “Chen Jingyu signed up too. We have to be on a team with her. Talk about bad luck.”

Basketball is a team sport; chemistry matters far more than individual skill. To play in the tournament, they would inevitably have to practice together. Given the current tension between the three of them, a total blowout was only a matter of time.

Song Yixi didn’t care. “There are two of us. We’ll carry her.”

Yu Wei thought about it and decided that made sense.

After they handed in the forms, the teacher said, “Remember to go to the gym for a physical—height, weight, lung capacity, that sort of thing. The fifth-year TCM students are there too; they’ll be feeling your pulses and giving you a check-up. Cooperate with them—it’s part of their senior assignment.”

Yu Wei muttered, “So we’re lab rats. The school really knows how to integrate resources, doesn’t it? Killing two birds with one stone.”

Song Yixi wasn’t thinking about that. She was just thinking: All fifth-year students. What a shame. Xu Qingyu was only in her fourth year.

“Let’s go,” Yu Wei said, hooking an arm around her shoulder. “How much do you think fifth-years actually know? I heard a real TCM pro can see right through you just by feeling your pulse. Is that true?”

Song Yixi tilted her head, saying with a hint of pride, “Well, they definitely aren’t as good as Xu Qingyu.”

Yu Wei laughed. “Right, right. No one compares to the Senior.”

They joked all the way to the gym. They finished the basic measurements on the first floor before heading to the second. In the non-spectator area, over a dozen tables were set up far apart. Behind each sat a TCM student.

Song Yixi’s eyes scanned the room and, to her surprise, landed on Xu Qingyu.

She was sitting at the very center table. Unlike the other students who looked frazzled, she appeared cool and composed, like a master in a secluded valley waiting for a destined visitor. Song Yixi stared at her, forgetting why she was even there.

Yu Wei gave her a shove. “Hurry up. You go, then me.”

Song Yixi snapped out of it, but it was too late—she was already standing in front of Xu Qingyu. Xu Qingyu didn’t seem surprised by her arrival.

“Sit. Hand.” Her tone was as flat as if she were speaking to a stranger.

Song Yixi handed over her physical form and sat down obediently, extending her hand. Xu Qingyu didn’t look up, but her fingers landed precisely on Song Yixi’s pulse point.

After a moment, Xu Qingyu raised her eyes. Her gaze was meaningful, carrying the ghost of a smile. Song Yixi felt her skin crawl. “What? Do I have some terminal illness?”

“No.” Xu Qingyu’s hand slowly shifted to cover Song Yixi’s entire wrist.

Song Yixi didn’t notice the touch; she was too busy searching Xu Qingyu’s eyes. “Then what’s that look for? Is something else wrong? Don’t scare me.”

Xu Qingyu let the corners of her mouth curl as she pulled Song Yixi closer. In a very soft voice, she said:

“Watch less of those… ‘certain things.’ Especially during the tournament. Try to keep a clear, calm mind. Otherwise…” She gave Song Yixi a knowing look and stopped.

“Holy—!” Song Yixi panicked. “Who watches po—?!”

Sensing heads turning toward them, she slammed her mouth shut. She glared at Xu Qingyu, whispering through gritted teeth, “I did not watch anything.”

Xu Qingyu looked down to write on the paper, replying dismissively, “Mhm. You didn’t.”

Song Yixi felt like she was going to cough up blood. “I really didn’t! Stop writing that! It’s not exactly a badge of honor!”

Xu Qingyu’s smile deepened. “Relax. Private matters aren’t reported to the school. Your health is fine, but stop staying up late. Your dark circles are quite heavy.”

Song Yixi relaxed slightly. She stood up to leave but then sat back down, unconvinced. “Can you really tell what I’ve been watching just by my pulse?”

Xu Qingyu didn’t answer directly, giving her that same airy look. Song Yixi realized: “You’re bluffing me, aren’t you?” She hadn’t even watched anything; it was just a few photos…

Xu Qingyu said, “The pulse doesn’t lie.” She tapped the table, her knuckle brushing Song Yixi’s wrist for two seconds. “Right now… isn’t your heart racing?”

Song Yixi instinctively clutched her chest. Her heart was racing. It had been acting weird for days. She forced herself to say, “Because you scared me!”

With that, she stomped over to Yu Wei. “Your turn.”

“Okay.” Yu Wei didn’t know what they’d talked about, but she was excited to have her pulse read by the Senior. “Senior, sorry to bother you.”

Xu Qingyu gave a faint reply and took Yu Wei’s pulse. Yu Wei tried to make conversation. “Senior, aren’t you a fourth-year? Why are you here too?”

Xu Qingyu spoke emotionlessly: “They were short-handed. I’m helping out.” She withdrew her hand and wrote on Yu Wei’s form. “Eat less greasy food, more high-quality protein. Everything else is good. Keep it up.”

“Thanks, Senior!”

Yu Wei stood up and joined Song Yixi in the stands to watch the basketball below. “Not leaving?”

“Watching for a bit.” Song Yixi’s eyes drifted toward Xu Qingyu.

Yu Wei moved aside to give her a better view. “If you want to look, just look. Why act all secretive with me?”

Song Yixi coughed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Keep pretending.” Yu Wei rubbed her own wrist, smiling. “The Senior is so gentle.”

Song Yixi shot her a murderous look. At the same time, she saw Chen Jingyu sit down in front of Xu Qingyu. Xu Qingyu, ever the professional, took her pulse. Song Yixi curled her lip, wanting to look away. Her rational mind knew it was a school task, but she hated seeing someone she despised sitting in front of Xu Qingyu.

Just as she started to look away, a loud scraping of a chair erupted from Chen Jingyu’s table. Song Yixi looked back to see Chen Jingyu pointing at Xu Qingyu and shouting:

“You’ve only been studying for a few years! Do you really think you’re a professional TCM doctor?!”

Song Yixi’s temper flared instantly. “Who does she think she’s talking to?”