TNSFC – Chapter 16

Que Yining wasn’t looking at her phone; she was currently sitting in a club.

After getting her hair done, Qiao Yuchu, who had been waiting for her for a long time, suddenly went crazy and wanted to sing, so she dragged Que Yining to ‘Chun Chao’ without taking no for an answer.

This was their old haunt for fun. Since it was just Qiao Yuchu and Que Yining this time, Qiao Yuchu didn’t get a very large room.

Que Yining sat on the sofa, cracking melon seeds, watching Qiao Yuchu desperately try to rap along to a rhythm she couldn’t keep up with. She shook her head and continued to smile while cracking seeds.

Qiao Yuchu was almost out of breath from singing. She switched to a rock song and waved at Que Yining: “Come on, sing with me! Weren’t you rocking out harder than me before? Why are you sitting there motionless like an old empress dowager now?”

Que Yining continued to crack melon seeds indifferently: “Too lazy to sing. I’ve changed my style.”

Qiao Yuchu sat down next to her and chugged some beer: “What, have you switched to listening to sentimental love songs now?”

Que Yining neither confirmed nor denied, picked up a piece of watermelon, popped it into her mouth, and wiped the juice from her hands with a tissue.

Qiao Yuchu glanced at the door, then continued to hold the microphone, humming a few lines from time to time.

Que Yining: “Are you waiting for someone?”

Qiao Yuchu was startled: “How did you know?”

Que Yining: “You keep looking at the door while you sing. My eyesight is still good. Who are you waiting for?”

Qiao Yuchu suddenly leaned closer, grinning at Que Yining: “A beauty.”

Que Yining pushed her away slightly with her fingers, looking at the smile on Qiao Yuchu’s face, her own expression elegant and teasing.

Que Yining: “Xiao Qiao, I seem to recall you telling me the day before yesterday that you were going to a male escort club. Why the sudden change in taste?”

Qiao Yuchu flopped onto the sofa: “That day, wasn’t it because I saw you… I just wanted to try it. Besides, aren’t women much safer than men? Just for fun. I’m not as bold as you, going for someone in the circle right away.”

Qiao Yuchu chuckled: “I’ll just consider it as taking care of the ‘sisters” business for free, a bit of poverty alleviation. Her family owes a lot of money, so they sent her to Chun Chao. She just arrived yesterday, and I happened to see her. Isn’t it better for her to be with me than with some stinky man?”

Que Yining tilted her head: “Then why did you ask me to come? Should I leave first then?”

Qiao Yuchu immediately hugged her leg: “Don’t! Sis, don’t go yet. Sit here and help me see if she keeps glancing at you.”

Que Yining swatted her away: “Alright, you. Using me as your touchstone?”

Qiao Yuchu smiled: “We’re sisters, you can’t say that. For the sake of me introducing you to Tony the hairstylist, just sit here for a while. It’s fine even if you don’t talk.”

Qiao Yuchu’s smile faded slightly: “You know, I’ve been traumatized by that little white lotus. I don’t want the little plaything I’m about to keep to be always looking at others. Just thinking about it is upsetting.”

Qiao Yuchu remembered those years when her partners were poached or cheated on her. Today’s meeting was arranged. Coincidentally, Que Yining was getting her hair done, so Qiao Yuchu simply asked her to come along.

The young girl was most likely straight. Qiao Yuchu herself wasn’t completely gay either. She knew why the young girl chose her, but she couldn’t help wanting to give it a try.

Que Yining glanced at the time on her phone and nodded: “Alright, I’ll wait with you then. Half an hour at most, I need to go have dinner.”

After just a few minutes, the door to the private room was pushed open, and a tall, slender girl in a white down jacket walked in. She looked a bit nervous and reserved, exuding an air of youthfulness and innocence.

The lights in the private room were dim. The girl hesitated at the door for a moment before walking towards them.

Qiao Yuchu waved: “Over here.”

The young girl hesitated for a moment, then walked over. She saw Que Yining and was momentarily stunned by her face, then averted her gaze and silently sat down next to Qiao Yuchu.

Que Yining got a clear look at the young girl’s face in the light and couldn’t help asking: “Xiao Qiao, even charity has its limits. Is this girl even an adult?”

The young girl quickly interjected, somewhat anxiously: “I’m already an adult. I’m 19 years old.”

Qiao Yuchu burst out laughing. She placed her cold hand on the young girl’s hand and leaned against her improperly.

Qiao Yuchu: “Can you sing?”

The young girl nodded. Qiao Yuchu gestured towards the microphone, letting her choose and sing her own songs.

The young girl lowered her head, searched for songs on the dedicated song-selection tablet, and then began to sing earnestly.

Que Yining found it rather boring watching the two of them, so she took out her phone, checked her Moments, and noticed a familiar profile picture in the updates.

She clicked on it and saw that Gu Shanxue had indeed liked her photo.

But the other person hadn’t left a comment, nor had she sent her any messages.

Que Yining took the initiative, opened the chat window with the cat profile picture, and sent a message.

【Que Yining】: Miss Gu, do you think my newly dyed hair color looks good?

The message seemed to sink like a stone into the sea, with no immediate response.

Que Yining didn’t feel discouraged. In a pleasant mood, she continued scrolling through other messages, occasionally glancing at Qiao Yuchu and the young girl beside her.

The young girl’s eyes kept darting towards Qiao Yuchu, not glancing around at all; her target was very clear. After finishing one song, she looked at Qiao Yuchu apprehensively, and only after seeing Qiao Yuchu nod did she proceed to sing a second song.

She was a smart girl. To have ended up here, she must have been out of options. Latching onto Qiao Yuchu was like grasping a lifeline; even a fool would know how to choose.

Que Yining listened to the young girl sing while reading financial news. It wasn’t until after a few songs that her phone notified her of a message.

【Gu Shanxue】: Looks good.

【Que Yining】: I like it a lot too.

【Que Yining】: I’m about to go eat dinner now, but eating alone feels a bit lonely. Miss Gu, have you eaten?

【Que Yining】: You just returned to Lu Su City not long ago.

【Que Yining】: You probably haven’t tried Lu Su’s specialty dishes yet, right?

【Que Yining】: Would I have the honor of inviting you to dinner?

Que Yining sent the last few messages quickly, with almost no pause in between. It looked like she was typing cheerfully, but it was actually a short and intense barrage of messages.

If, when she asked if Gu Shanxue had eaten dinner, the other person replied that she had, then Que Yining wouldn’t be able to extend her subsequent invitation. So, she preferred to break up her sentences and send the messages out first.

After she stated her purpose, even if there was a chance Gu Shanxue would refuse, there was still a fifty-fifty chance she would agree.

Even if it wasn’t successful, it was definitely not a loss.

Gu Shanxue, who had just finished dinner and was leaving the Gu residence, looked at the text on her screen and hesitantly swiped on it a couple of times.

What on earth did this person want to do? What was her purpose? What did she want to get from her?

Gu Shanxue couldn’t quite figure it out at the moment. In terms of benefits, personal connections, or their social circles, she didn’t feel there was any particular need for the other person to interact with her.

Yet, Que Yining’s attitude towards her was very friendly and enthusiastic. Externally, she had even established an image of protecting her, to the extent that outsiders like Gu Qianqian thought they were on the same side.

Reason told Gu Shanxue that she could cut off unnecessary interference. After all, judging from the current situation, Que Yining wouldn’t be a good business partner for her, and she had no need to use her for anything.

Just as she was about to type out her refusal, Gu Shanxue seemed to see the woman on the other side of the screen, fairy-like, with smiling, crescent eyes filled with light.

Gu Shanxue’s brow furrowed slightly. Her finger hovered over the screen, never pressing down.

Que Yining looked at the chat box with no reply, thought for a moment, and typed another line.

【Que Yining】: Is Miss Gu not free?

【Que Yining】: If that’s the case, then I won’t bother you.

Que Yining could have easily used the favor from helping her at the banquet during the day to get Gu Shanxue to have dinner with her, but Que Yining thought it was inappropriate. That would make her intentions too obvious; it wouldn’t be flirting, but forcing.

Know when to quit while you’re ahead; if it doesn’t work out, try again next time.

Text conversations always seem to cause misunderstandings in conveying emotions. So, when Gu Shanxue saw these two sentences, her first reaction was to wonder if Que Yining was disappointed.

Gu Shanxue checked her work schedule and replied to the message.

【Gu Shanxue】: Busy, sorry.

Gu Shanxue pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, and added another sentence.

【Gu Shanxue】: I’ll treat Miss Que to dinner another day.

When Que Yining saw this sentence, she tossed her phone into her bag.

As everyone knows, in the adult world, the most indefinitely postponed day is probably ‘another day’.