The Sour Plum Girl [Rebirth] - Chapter 9

The air was thick with the sweet scent of cake. A warm, slightly damp sensation flickered past, much like the sweeping beam of a lighthouse beacon at this very moment.

As the light flashed by, it revealed her flushed cheeks and her helpless, clenched fingertips looking for all the world like a child who had made a mistake.

At this instant, everything seemed to stand still; only she remained vivid in the depths of Song Yi’s eyes.

Song Yi stared fixedly at the scene, her throat bobbing unconsciously. Her hand remained frozen in front of her, unretracted.

The silence was so absolute that Song Yi could hear the frantic thumping of her own heart. She peeked up quietly to steal a look at the other girl’s expression.

In those eyes, she saw a flicker of bewilderment.

Song Yi became even more embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Song Song. I didn’t do it on purpose. I wasn’t trying to… ruin your purity.”

“Purity?” Perhaps because the words were so startling, the corner of Song Song’s mouth twitched.

Song Yi pursed her lips and nodded obediently, quickly pulling a tissue from her bag to wipe Song Song’s fingertips. Her movements were swift the damp sensation arrived and vanished in an instant.

Finally, Song Yi pulled back the tissue and smiled at her. “I’m sorry, it was a reflex. Song Tian told me that you like girls… a behavior like this… it’s an offense…”

As those halting words fell, Song Song’s heart began to sink.

Mocking voices surfaced in her mind: “Song Song, you actually like girls? That’s so weird…”

“How disgusting. I don’t even dare sit next to her for fear she might like me…”

“No wonder her mother didn’t want her and dumped her on her grandmother.”

“An Yi used to be close with her, but then she got a bit scared of her.”

“I always thought the way she looked at An Yi was strange, she must have been sizing her up in her head… Ugh, An Yi even changed clothes in the same room as her before. Do you think she did something inappropriate on the sly?”

“So gross… how could she be like that…”

In a dim room, before the tightly shut door slammed closed, she had seen the loathing in her mother’s eyes and heard her hysterical screaming: “You make me sick. Don’t say you’re my child, you’re disgusting to death. Why don’t you just die? Go die already!”

“Song Song, I should have dropped you and killed you the moment you were born.”

The memories buried deep in her mind were unearthed, intertwining with Song Yi’s words.

She must find it disgusting too…

Song Song withdrew her hand, her fingertips instinctively rubbing together. Finally, she spoke in a light, detached tone, “It’s fine. You should go back now.”

Song Yi watched her stand up. She couldn’t see Song Song’s expression, but for some reason, she felt the mood had turned sour.

She felt a sense of doom in her heart her clumsiness must have upset her.

She followed her up and called out, “Song Song, are you mad at me? I really didn’t mean to, I wasn’t trying to—”

Before she could finish, the sound of a man’s voice drifted over from the distant alley entrance.

“Brother Biao, I’ve asked around. That brat Song Song lives right in this alley. Just a few steps up the stairs and you’re there.”

“Zhang Qiang, good work. That brat… I’m going to make her taste my power today,” Sang Qiang growled, his face twisted in a grimace.

As these words reached Song Yi’s ears, she instinctively turned around in displeasure. A hand suddenly yanked her, and in a flash, the two of them were ducked behind the low wall in front of the house.

A second later, the figures of Sang Biao and Zhang Qiang appeared.

Both men were in their thirties, unshaven, wearing black T-shirts and black pants that were covered in dust and wrinkled, looking quite filthy.

Gripping thick clubs, the two moved menacingly toward Song Song’s house.

They raised their clubs and smashed the door open, kicking their way in. The already dilapidated door suffered even more damage.

Once they were inside, only the sounds of crashing and banging could be heard; they were clearly destroying everything within.

Song Yi watched this scene, her brows knitting tightly together.

They really have some nerve…

Fuming with anger, she felt she had to make them pay for the damages.

Song Yi had the face of a “good girl,” but in reality, her strength was surprisingly great. She used to get into fights often as a child and often lost so eventually, Ms. Song had no choice but to send her to learn Taekwondo.

Initially, Ms. Song was worried she would injure others, but she relaxed once Song Yi stopped fighting.

To Song Yi, only bullies prayed for their opponents to be weak. She refused to be weak. If anyone dared to provoke her, she would absolutely take action.

Her lips moved as she prepared to stand up, but suddenly, her mouth was covered. Due to the momentum, she leaned back and looked up in surprise, meeting Song Song’s downward gaze.

Those eyes were filled with a silent “No.”

It was as if she had guessed exactly what Song Yi intended to do.

At this moment, they were very close. Song Yi was half-leaning in Song Song’s arms. She could clearly smell the scent on Song Song a clean, refreshing fragrance that soothed the agitation in her heart.

“Song Song, they’re being too arrogant. I’m going to go teach them a lesson,” Song Yi whispered, her eyes burning with sincerity.

In her haste, Song Song had instinctively covered her mouth and touched her.

The girl’s words were muffled, her breath puffing against Song Song’s palm with a warmth that was almost searing.

The scent of osmanthus grew richer due to the proximity. Song Song couldn’t help but look into her eyes. Her small face was partially covered by Song Song’s hand, but her eyes were exceptionally bright they held no disgust, only anticipation. She was different from everyone else Song Song had ever met.

Song Song froze involuntarily, eventually letting out a helpless smile. “It’s not safe. Let’s leave first.”

As she spoke, she steadied Song Yi to help her crouch properly and pointed toward Sang Biao’s blind spot. The meaning was clear.

She moved along the low wall, and seeing this, Song Yi had no choice but to follow behind her.

Once they were clear, Song Song immediately stood up, grabbed her hand, and began to run as if there were some terrifying beast behind them.

Song Song’s long hair whipped behind her as she ran. Though she was tall and lean, she gave Song Yi a profound sense of security.

Their hands were tightly clasped, warm and firm. The scene felt like something out of a dream, leaving Song Yi in a daze.

All the clamor seemed to vanish, leaving only a violently thumping heart. A familiar voice seemed to echo in her ears, calling out, “Ranran… Ranran…”

Song Yi lost herself for a moment. A second later, she snapped back to reality. Without her noticing, she and Song Song were now standing in front of a convenience store.

“Song Yi… Song Yi, what’s wrong?” Song Song stopped and turned back to see her spacing out.

Song Yi shook her head. “I’m okay. I might just be a bit shaken.”

Song Song: “Huh?”

She didn’t see a trace of fear on the girl’s face; just a moment ago, she had wanted to charge in and handle those two men.

To be honest, Song Song found it hard to believe.

But that didn’t matter now. She looked at the darkening sky. She couldn’t go back home, so she would have to find somewhere else to stay.

The thought made Song Song’s heart ache.

Her money…

Song Yi was lost in thought, puzzled by the voice from earlier. In her memory, Song Song had never called her “Ranran.” Was it a hallucination?

Hearing a sigh beside her, she looked up and asked, “Song Song, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’ll see you home.”

Song Song spoke flatly, wearing an expression of resignation.

“Then what about you? Where will you stay?” She looked at Song Song, thinking of those men, and said worriedly, “Since they didn’t find you, they’ll definitely keep looking.”

“What will you do… all alone?” She hesitated. Based on her understanding of Song Song, the girl didn’t have many friends besides Song Tian. Those thugs would have surely checked Song Tian’s place too.

If they didn’t find her there, they would surely linger like persistent parasites.

Song Song realized this as well. Her only option was a hotel.

Good hotels were expensive; cheap ones were easily searched.

She clearly wasn’t going to stay at a good one…

Song Yi looked at her with deep unease.

Perhaps sensing the intensity of her gaze, Song Song looked down and smiled faintly. “I know how to deal with people like that.”

“Don’t worry. Go home.”

She gave a reassuring look and stepped forward to hail a taxi. But there was no way Song Yi could feel at ease.

She reached out and grabbed Song Song’s wrist. “Song Song, how about you come home with me?”

“My neighborhood doesn’t allow non-residents to enter. The security is very good, and they don’t know who I am.”

“Come home with me, okay?” Her soft voice drifted into Song Song’s ears like a gentle breeze.

Song Song looked down at the fair, slightly plump hand. The skin seemed to glow, clearly belonging to someone who had never done heavy labor.

The diamonds on her nails sparkled. Song Song’s gaze slowly moved to Song Yi—her expensive leather shoes and her costly dress.

Her delicate face was full of worry. Everything about her screamed wealth.

Song Song had seen many people like this, but only this one was so… strange. She thought back to that word: friend?

Did she really just want to be friends?

Song Song curled her lips into a smile. “Song Yi, do you want to date me?”

A bright smile appeared on her cold face, her soulful eyes staring directly at Song Yi, attempting to entice her.

Song Yi blinked, her lips parting slightly. She was caught off guard.

Waiting online: What does it mean when your idol suddenly asks if you want to date?

Song Yi suddenly wanted to take out her phone and post a thread asking for advice; she was sure it would go viral. She could already imagine the heated comments.

Finally, one “comment” seemed to stick in her mind: “This is a trap, a test from the idol. If you take the bait, you’ll be kicked out of the fandom; if you don’t, congratulations, you’ve been certified as a loyal fan.”

Her confusion vanished instantly. She huffed indignantly, “Song Song! How can you ask a beautiful girl who has never been in a relationship a question like that? I treat you as a friend, and you’re trying to hit on me?”

“What is your head even filled with?”

Song Yi stepped forward angrily, her hands on her hips, staring at her reproachfully. “Did you say the same thing to Song Tian? How could you tarnish our pure friendship like this?”

“I only suggested it because I felt bad for you and wanted you to stay at my place. Do you think my house is some terrible place? Do I have to roll out a red carpet just to get you to visit? You…”

Song Yi pointed a finger at her, sputtering…

Finally, she let out a “Hmph,” turning her head away and grumbling about people not appreciating kindness.

Her reaction was clearly not what Song Song had expected. Song Yi was always smiling in front of her; she had never been this angry.

Song Song had never cared about such things before. In her eyes, everyone was the same coming and going just for that kind of thing.

She usually felt disgusted and irritated, but now her eyelashes trembled. She pursed her lips and said nothing.

She just stared at Song Yi.

Her heart felt sour. Through the girl’s eyes, she couldn’t face herself; she saw the gap between them.

She felt she had messed everything up…

Finally, Song Song lowered her head in shame. “I didn’t say it to Song Tian… I’m sorry… I won’t do it again.”

She looked just like a child who had done something wrong.

Song Yi kept an eye on her from the corner of her vision. Seeing this, she thought, Now she should believe me.

Then, she coughed twice and crossed her arms awkwardly. “Since you apologized, I’ll forgive you.”

“Don’t say such unlikable things next time.”

“No… there won’t be a next time…”

There won’t be a next time!

Song Song looked up, repeating those words in her heart. For some reason, she felt a bit breathless.

Song Yi walked past Song Song and reached out to hail a car.

Song Song’s hand twitched slightly, then dropped…

After the taxi pulled over, she watched as the girl quickly opened the door and sat inside.

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