“Miss Mo Ran, can you please stop using such a casual tone that only makes things worse?! Besides, haven’t you met Song Meng before?”
Jiang Ling grew anxious, her anger flaring as she raised her voice.
Earlier at the hotpot restaurant, Mo Ran had clearly met Song Meng and even praised her for being gentle and serene, so why was she pretending not to know her now?
“Ah~ I guess that’s true.”
Mo Ran smiled as if suddenly realizing something, but Jiang Ling caught the obvious provocation behind it and decided to throw the difficult decision back at Mo Ran.
“I want to eat the food made by Xiao Ran.”
The moment she said this, Mo Ran instantly felt the piercing gazes of two dangerous women locking onto her. Sensing the intense standoff in the air, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Alright, Little Bell is half a patient after all. How can you let her rest properly if you keep pestering her like this?”
She said, then took the initiative to suggest, “Why don’t we all just have a meal together? We can talk things out calmly.”
“Your period?”
At the dining table, Song Meng paused mid-motion with her chopsticks, glancing at Jiang Ling, who looked somewhat uncomfortable.
“I already told you it’s nothing.”
Jiang Ling mumbled, looking at the spread of delicious dishes on the table and eagerly picking up a piece of the premium roast meat that Fang Wannan had brought.
Although it would have been better to eat something light, Jiang Ling just couldn’t resist the tempting aroma of the meat!
“Drink some porridge.”
Seeing Jiang Ling stuffing herself with meat, Song Meng frowned and pushed a bowl of porridge toward her.
“Ah, I’ll drink it later.”
Jiang Ling instinctively wanted to refuse, but Mo Ran chimed in, “If you keep eating greasy food, you’ll feel nauseous later. Drinking some porridge to line your stomach is the obvious choice. Don’t like it so plain? I can add some sugar for you.”
“…Add a lot.”
Reluctantly, Jiang Ling raised the bowl and whispered her request.
She definitely didn’t want to be dry-heaving over the toilet later.
“Anyway, thank you all for coming to see me.”
Taking the bowl back from her, Jiang Ling sincerely thanked the two who had inexplicably ‘fought’ earlier and the ever-smiling Mo Ran.
It wasn’t a big deal, but their kindness was precious.
Of course, it would be even better if they didn’t force her to make choices!
Muttering this to herself, Jiang Ling scooped a spoonful of porridge and tasted it. The sweetness lifted her spirits considerably, and her body felt less weak after eating.
When Bai Xue and Lin Xiaoyu entered together, they saw four people quietly eating—a peaceful scene with no sign of the earlier strange dispute.
“I remember this is Jiang Ling’s classmate?”
Bai Xue looked at the elegant Song Meng and smiled warmly.
“Yes, I was a bit worried about her, so I came by today.”
Song Meng put down her chopsticks and nodded politely.
“Here, and I want to eat this.”
Lin Xiaoyu went straight to Jiang Ling’s side, placing a large pack of warm patches in her arms, then pointed at the tantalizing fried shrimp in the lunchbox.
“Who lets a patient feed you?”
Jiang Ling couldn’t help but tease but obediently picked up a piece and brought it to Lin Xiaoyu’s lips.
Seeing this, Lin Xiaoyu immediately bit into it, squinting her eyes slightly and giving a thumbs-up: “Nice!”
Bai Xue sat down and joined them, creating a happy and harmonious atmosphere—
“So whose cooking do you like better?”
Mo Ran’s eyes sparkled as she asked.
The question made Song Meng and Fang Wannan simultaneously glance at Jiang Ling, their eyes burning with fierce determination.
Unable to withstand their stares, Jiang Ling retorted bitterly,
“If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”
After the meal, Song Meng said she still had classes and didn’t stay long. Before leaving, she looked at Jiang Ling with a meaningful gaze that made Jiang Ling shrink her neck in discomfort.
Ah… she seemed to owe her a favor.
Jiang Ling already started lamenting the future that awaited her.
“How’s your recovery? Do you still need your sister to hold you to sleep?”
Bai Xue asked with interest, arms folded. Naturally, Jiang Ling’s gaze was drawn to the soft, plump curves pressed against Bai Xue’s arms. She nodded without thinking…
“Hey, why do you make me sound like a child?”
Jiang Ling suddenly snapped out of the mesmerizing ‘trap’ and struggled to pull herself free, protesting with dissatisfaction.
“So last night it was you whining to me for brown sugar water, tossing the blanket in your sleep, snuggling against my arm, and secretly saying thank you, right—”
“Ah ah ah, shut up!”
Jiang Ling quickly covered Bai Xue’s mouth, her cheeks and even ears burning red.
She was definitely not some weak little kid!
With her mouth covered, Bai Xue smiled at Jiang Ling’s flustered expression, then pressed down on her restless body and looked at the others. “Since everyone’s here, the date for our first performance is set for November 2nd, Friday night, from 6 to 8 pm.”
“That soon?”
Mo Ran raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the quick announcement.
Lin Xiaoyu, crunching on a bag of chips, stared intently at Bai Xue, waiting for more.
“What about promotion?”
Fang Wannan asked immediately after.
“Almost all arranged.” Bai Xue pinched Jiang Ling’s puffy cheek. “So everyone needs to step up practice, especially you.”
Jiang Ling shook off her hand, looking unwilling.
“I know, I know!”
In the days that followed, Jiang Ling sank completely into a three-point daily routine: school, dance studio, dorm bed.
Every day was nothing but practice—practice—
Jiang Ling felt like she was becoming a machine filled only with practice.
Ah… her tiny little head was about to be filled up with big dance moves… ♥
In the dance studio, Jiang Ling gasped for breath, collapsing onto the floor.
“Get up, one more time.”
Fang Wannan kicked her shoe and played the familiar music again.
Their duo dance was almost perfected, with the right vibe.
But since Jiang Ling was still a beginner, some moves were stiff or awkward, so Bai Xue wanted them to practice well before the performance to avoid problems.
Hearing this, Jiang Ling covered her head in agony and rolled on the floor. “Ah! I’ve never hated a song this much before!”
“Three, two…”
But Fang Wannan, now in practice mode, ignored Jiang Ling’s cries. She bent her finger and counted out loud, word by word.
Jiang Ling shivered as if hearing her life countdown, her face full of grievance as she got up and started moving reflexively.
The song ended.
“This time, I’m definitely not dancing anymore!”
Jiang Ling loosened her collar and fanned herself hard. Sweat dripped down her temples, the heat unbearable.
“Tsk, that’s nothing.”
Seeing her like this, Fang Wannan frowned, dissatisfied.
“Dear young lady! We’ve practiced so many times already. I’m really at my limit. Let me catch my breath a bit, okay?”
Jiang Ling wasn’t trying to slack off—she simply didn’t have the energy. Her head was buzzing as if she was about to reach the gates of hell.
Seeing Jiang Ling so exhausted, Fang Wannan didn’t push anymore but lowered her head to review the recorded video.
After a while, Fang Wannan also felt tired and turned off the screen. She looked at the drowsy Jiang Ling, thought for a moment, then propped her chin up and made an enticing suggestion:
“Hey, how about we go to the beach tomorrow?”