Transmigrating as the Female Supporting Character: Dumb with Deep Pockets - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: It’s Not Easy to Be Together

Ultimately, Chen Jia and Su Su were sweet-talked by Ning Qingyuan into heading to a restaurant.

“I used to come to this grilled fish place all the time. The flavor is incredible; you two are in for a treat.” She ordered with practiced ease, introducing the shop’s specialties to them. “You two have been at Q University for so long—don’t tell me you don’t even know what’s around the campus?”

Su Su didn’t think it was a big deal. She nodded. “Yeah, there’s not really anything fun around here.”

To Ning Qingyuan, this was the ultimate insult to her hometown, Jiancheng. “Who says? You just don’t understand Q University at all.”

Chen Jia and Su Su exchanged a look. Su Su didn’t feel like continuing the topic. “Why do you always talk about studying, yet you ended up at a mediocre school like Q University?”

Su Su was there because she lacked the grades; Chen Jia was there due to her circumstances; but she couldn’t figure out Ning Qingyuan.

“Why must you use a $37^{circ}text{C}$ mouth to say such cold words? Do you think I didn’t want to get into a top-tier school? I’m just extremely lopsided. My math was 142, but my English was 37, and Physics was 20. Everything else was average. I can’t memorize things. If it weren’t for my math score, I would’ve had to repeat a grade.”

Su Su nodded thoughtfully. “Makes sense. If it weren’t for English, I would’ve had to repeat a grade too.”

The grilled fish arrived, smelling divine. Since moving in with Chen Jia, Su Su had completely forgotten about her diet.

The meal passed quietly. Afterward, Ning Qingyuan proactively settled the bill and took advantage of Chen Jia going to the restroom to slide over next to Su Su.

“Look at you—your drool is practically hitting the floor. Do you really like her that much?”

“None of your business.” Despite her words, Su Su actually reached up to wipe the corner of her mouth.

“Don’t be like that,” Ning Qingyuan rubbed her nose. “I have no ill will. I just think it’s suffocating to watch. Are you planning to keep it a secret forever?”

“What else? Tell her, and then we can’t even be friends?” There were still three and a half years of college left. Even if she wanted to take a gamble, she’d wait until graduation. That way, if she were rejected, she wouldn’t have to face Chen Jia every day while her heart suffered.

Ning Qingyuan clicked her tongue. “So you’re just going to wait? Chen Jia is quite a catch. She might not be a ‘conventional’ great beauty, but from what I know, plenty of people have their eye on her. If she starts dating in the next three years and gets married right after graduation, you’ll be the ‘auntie’ to her kids…”

“Shut up!” Su Su felt like Ning Qingyuan existed solely to jinx her.

“I’m just reminding you. I don’t really get this stuff, but I think you should test the waters. It wouldn’t hurt, and it beats wasting three years.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Su Su replied, though she knew the suggestion had already taken root in her mind.

When Chen Jia returned, she saw the two of them sitting close together and chatting. Although Ning Qingyuan was doing most of the talking, the fact that Su Su could tolerate her meant she didn’t hate her as much as she claimed.

For some reason, a sense of irritation began to build in Chen Jia’s heart. “It’s already nine o’clock. We have class tomorrow; let’s head back.”

Su Su was more than ready to go. She grabbed her backpack and stood by Chen Jia’s side instantly.

Ning Qingyuan let out a yawn. “It must be nice living in a house. My family lives in the same neighborhood as you guys, but my mom won’t let me come home.” Apparently, her mother wanted her to develop independence. In reality, Ning Qingyuan knew her mom just found her annoying and would rather give her extra allowance than see her lounging at home every day.

…

It was nearly ten when they got home. After her shower, Chen Jia still had C-language homework to finish. Just as she opened her laptop, Su Su knocked. “Chen Jia, I can’t sleep.”

Chen Jia let her in. Su Su’s hair was still damp from her shower, and she smelled like sweet roses. She flopped onto Chen Jia’s bed, patting her soft stomach. “I’ve eaten so much lately, I’m becoming a fatty.”

“You’re not fat at all. Being healthy is what matters.”

Su Su rolled over, burying her face in Chen Jia’s pillow and taking a deep breath. “Mmhmm,” she mumbled.

After a while, the only sound in the room was the clicking of the keyboard. Chen Jia turned around to find that Su Su had fallen asleep. She instinctively softened her movements. By the time she finished her homework, it was after midnight. She washed her face, drew the curtains, and gently covered Su Su with a light blanket before lying down on the other side of the bed.

…

In the morning, Chen Jia woke up to find Su Su already awake, staring at her intently.

Seeing Chen Jia open her eyes, Su Su looked panicked. “Good morning.”

“Morning.” Chen Jia yawned. She had two classes at ten, so there was still time. She grabbed a change of clothes, but Su Su showed no sign of leaving, her eyes following Chen Jia’s every move.

Chen Jia looked back, signaling her. “Aren’t you going back to wash up?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m not in a hurry.”

“I need to change.”

“Oh.” Su Su lingered, muttering, “It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.”

“…” Chen Jia had seen bold people, but none who were this bold toward a “friend.”

Embarrassed by Chen Jia’s stare, Su Su squeaked, “Just pretend I didn’t say anything! I’m going back to change!”

…

Breakfast was simple millet porridge and small steamed buns made by Chen Jia. After their morning classes, they walked out with the crowd. Just as they were discussing what to have for lunch, Su Su received a call from a US number.

Thinking it was her aunt, Bai Li, she answered without thinking. It was Jiang Hanting.

“Su Su?” This time, his tone was gentle, no longer aggressive, but that didn’t mean Su Su’s bad impression of him had changed.

She was about to hang up when Jiang Hanting practically shouted through the phone. “Don’t hang up! I’m not here to cause trouble. I need a favor.”

“Given our terrible history, why would I want to help you? Goodbye.”

“I’m sorry! I was wrong before. This isn’t for me, it’s for Yue’er. She’s a good person. I’m the one who offended you, she didn’t do anything. She’s sick—I heard it’s serious. I can’t check on her; if my mom finds out, she’ll pressure Yue’er’s mother. I promised to go abroad and cut contact so she could keep her job at my house. Please.”

Hearing it was about Lin Yue’er, Su Su remembered how Lin had stood up for her before. “Fine, I’ll go help her. But it’s because she helped me, it has nothing to do with you. Don’t use this as an excuse to talk nonsense to me again.”

Jiang Hanting sounded genuinely ashamed. “I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you.” Su Su hung up impatiently.

She looked at Chen Jia. “I hate Jiang Hanting, but Lin Yue’er is alright. She’s sick, let’s go check on her together.”

“Do you know where she is?” Lin Yue’er was at the same school but in a different major.

Su Su’s phone buzzed with an address. Lin Yue’er usually worked part-time and returned late; to avoid disturbing her roommates, she rented a place nearby. It wasn’t nearly as nice as Su Su’s villa—it was an old building near the Yellow River.

After getting lost several times, they finally found the door. Before they could enter, they heard a violent cough.

“Lin Yue’er? It’s Su Su. I heard you’re sick, I came to see you.”

The door opened. Lin Yue’er was pale and looked frail. “Why are you here?” she forced a smile, though sadness lingered in her eyes. “He sent you, didn’t he? Otherwise, I could die in this house and no one would know.”

She was stubborn and felt too inferior to let people get close. Though Jiang Hanting had left without a word, she knew why.

Su Su bit her lip, eventually unable to hold back. “Is Jiang Hanting really that good? You’re in this state and still thinking about him?”

Lin Yue’er shook her head. “You must have never been in love—at least, not a love that carves itself into your bones. We grew up together. He thinks he hid it well, but I’ve known for a long time why he broke up with me and why he left.”

Su Su instinctively glanced at Chen Jia. “Is that what love is like?” She imagined if one day Chen Jia left her for some unavoidable reason… but she couldn’t fathom what could possibly drive Chen Jia away once they were together.

Her emotions were written all over her face. Lin Yue’er smiled and invited them in. “Feelings aren’t that simple. You’ll understand when you’re with someone whose heart is in sync with yours.”

“Okay.”

Su Su didn’t realize that her simple nod caused Chen Jia to mentally run through every male student around Su Su, trying to figure out who that “person in sync” was. Unlike Su Su, Chen Jia kept all her emotions bottled up.

Lin Yue’er had fallen into a pool while working at the gym and had been suffering from a recurring cold for a week. “I’m fine. It’s just too much worry slowing the recovery. Don’t tell him. I know everything… it’s better if he just studies abroad. Honestly, being apart like this might be for the best.”

Watching her sad face, Su Su felt a wave of empathy. She felt that if she confessed to Chen Jia, she too might fall ill from worry. The walk back was somber.

“What are you thinking about?” Chen Jia asked.

Su Su snapped back. “Nothing. Just that… it’s already so hard for two people to like each other. To have to go through all these other things too… the chance of staying together for a lifetime is just so low.”