Chapter 38: Tough Decisions

Seeing her worry nearly overflowing from the screen, Jiang Ling felt a warm current sweep through her heart. She glanced disdainfully at her fingers, weakened to the point they could no longer type, and simply pressed the voice message button.

“I’m fine, no need to worry…”

This time, there was no reply—just a direct call.

Listening to the ringing vibration, Jiang Ling answered. Immediately, Song Meng’s slightly anxious voice came through: “You call this fine? You’re about to be too weak to speak!”

The deafening volume made Jiang Ling wearily hold the phone away from her ear. Song Meng’s incessant chatter continued: “What illness do you have?”

“Really, it’s nothing.”

Jiang Ling turned over, intending to place the now-cold hot water bag onto the table, but her weakness caused it to slip from her grasp, thudding dully onto the floor.

“Thud—”

After a brief silence, Song Meng seemed to have calmed down, her tone softening: “Are you going to send it or not?”

Hearing that exceptionally gentle voice, Jiang Ling inexplicably shivered, sensing that if she argued again here, something serious might happen.

“…I’ve sent it to you.”

So, Jiang Ling buried her head in the pillow, her voice muffled.

Upon hearing this, Song Meng didn’t press further and hung up, probably on her way over.

Suddenly, Jiang Ling felt an intense hunger she couldn’t ignore. She rubbed her hollow stomach, thought for a moment, then sent Song Meng another message.

【Bring some food, no need to thank me.】

No reply.

Jiang Ling pouted and closed her eyes.

Song Meng looked at the address on her phone, then glanced around to confirm this was indeed Jiang Ling’s residence. She stepped forward and pressed the doorbell.

“Ding dong.”

No answer.

After waiting a moment, Song Meng lowered her hand.

It made sense; Jiang Ling was weak and probably couldn’t come to open the door.

She stood there pondering. Just as she was about to take out her phone to call, a puzzled female voice came from behind.

“What are you standing there for?”

Song Meng turned and met a sharp gaze.

Not exactly sharp—if anything, it was more scrutinizing. Before her stood a petite girl with golden twin tails, holding a transparent plastic bag. Her delicate features carried an inexplicable air of pride, brows furrowed tightly as she stared at Song Meng.

“I’m here to see Jiang Ling.”

Song Meng felt the girl looked vaguely familiar, so she didn’t hide her purpose.

“Jiang Ling?”

Fang Wannian eyed Song Meng up and down with a hint of suspicion, wondering silently: Since when did Jiang Ling have such a stunningly beautiful friend?

Not just her looks, but even her aura was quite superior.

Ah… but Jiang Ling was in university, making friends was normal.

Still, why did an inexplicable unease rise in her chest?

Fang Wannian averted her gaze, suppressing the odd feeling, and pressed her finger on the door lock: “Come in, but she’s a bit unwell today.”

“Mm, I know.”

Song Meng stared at the swaying twin tails for a moment before remembering Fang Wannian’s identity—Jiang Ling’s teammate.

They’d seen each other at the roadshow and a quick glimpse at the hotpot restaurant. She recalled Fang Wannian had been drunk unconscious then, probably didn’t remember her.

The two entered one after the other. Fang Wannian expertly switched into slippers, then found a disposable pair for Song Meng. Her tone was casual: “So, what brings you here to see her?”

Song Meng shook her head after taking off her shoes. “Nothing important, just worried and came to check.”

Hearing this, Fang Wannian said nothing further and headed toward Jiang Ling’s room, but stopped halfway.

“Oh, right. She apparently slept in Sister Bai Xue’s room last night. It should be that way.”

Fang Wannian changed direction and gently knocked.

Song Meng silently repeated the name in her mind: Sister Bai Xue?

“The door’s unlocked—”

Jiang Ling’s faint voice came from inside immediately.

Fang Wannian pushed open the door accordingly, revealing Jiang Ling wrapped in a small blanket, sitting weakly by the bedside. Her brows furrowed as she approached.

“Not feeling well and still not lying down?”

Jiang Ling was used to this kind of reprimand, so she answered weakly, “I’ve been lying down all day, Miss, please spare me.”

“Even so…”

“Even when sick, you can’t lie down all the time. Miss Fang, please don’t scold Lingling.”

Cutting off Fang Wannian was Song Meng, who appeared with a smile, having come up quietly between the two. She casually hooked Jiang Ling’s hand dangling outside the blanket, her eyes gentle.

“Huh?”

Seeing her so natural, Fang Wannian felt inexplicably annoyed and her expression sharpened.

Jiang Ling sensed a strange standoff forming between them.

This couldn’t be her imagination, could it?

But why exactly was this happening?

She thought this as her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.

Their gazes simultaneously fixed on Jiang Ling.

“Hungry? I bought porridge and soup on my way. When you’re sick, you need to eat something light.”

Song Meng first produced the prepared light meal, deftly opened the package, and scooped a spoonful intending to feed Jiang Ling.

“Wait!”

Fang Wannian eyed the porridge with disdain. “You call that food?”

She took a lunchbox from her bag and lifted the lid, releasing a rich aroma. Inside was a variety of dishes, colorful and fragrant.

“Rather than eating that messy stuff, why not eat the food our chef made? What do you think?”

Jiang Ling stared dumbfounded at the two people sitting on either side of her and involuntarily swallowed.

Excuse me, what kind of romantic comedy light novel plot is this?

No one answered her.

Jiang Ling could only grit her teeth, glanced at the meals on both sides, and cautiously said, “Actually, I’m not very hungry…”

“Gurgle~”

…Damn it, how can your own stomach betray you like this?!

Jiang Ling felt she was facing the toughest choice in her two lifetimes.

Or rather… she couldn’t afford to offend either side.

“Come on, time to choose.”

Song Meng smiled, pressing her advantage.

“Any normal person knows what to pick, right?”

Fang Wannian was her usual impatient self.

Hearing this, Jiang Ling’s gaze shifted as she looked around Sister Bai Xue’s room, hoping to find some secret basement or escape route.

Of course, there was no such thing!

The scene fell into a stalemate.

The silence was broken by the sound of Mo Ran pushing the door open.

“Little Lingdang, time to eat… oh?”

Seeing the scene before her, Mo Ran froze for two or three seconds, then tilted her head thoughtfully, her eyes on Jiang Ling carrying a strange look.

“So greedy~ Bringing women home to play this feeding game, has Nan Nan stopped satisfying you alone?”