Chapter 35: Goodwill

They parked temporarily at the entrance of the residential area. Yan Ningxi pulled Ming You out of the car. “I’ll take her to the clinic to see a doctor. You pull forward a bit and wait for us.”

“Go on, go on. She’s so precious.” Qi Xuexin found a spot in the car that didn’t block the way and waited.

She looked around up, down, left, and right. Designer clothes, designer bags, and at just twenty years old, she already owned a car worth three hundred thousand. Even the car air freshener was the two-hundred-yuan kind. It was clear her family was well-off, with doting parents.

She didn’t know much about cars—the price was something she had looked up online. It was a few tens of thousands more expensive than her own, but in essence, there wasn’t much difference. Both were funded by parents.

She had originally thought it would be great news if someone could make Yan Ningxi “blossom,” but was a girl like Ming You really suitable for Yan Ningxi?

Whether as friends or lovers, talking about matching backgrounds or wealth gaps felt a bit vulgar, but the economic disparity between Yan Ningxi and Ming You was an unavoidable fact.

Qi Xuexin knew full well the heavy burden of supporting the family and the financial pressures Yan Ningxi shouldered.

From the first day she met Yan Ningxi, she had known that this classmate—who got a tuition waiver yet still worked part-time—could not be underestimated. This woman had a backbone of integrity and pride; she would never bow to fate.

Yan Ningxi had only told her that her mother passed peacefully. But Qi Xuexin knew what she hadn’t said: the debts from her mother’s treatment, which she had to bear alongside her father.

Three hundred thousand? Or five hundred thousand, a million? Qi Xuexin had no idea how much their family specifically owed, and she couldn’t ask.

Every family has its own problems to deal with.

Everyone, every family has its own hurdles to overcome—tough ones, but they get passed somehow.

As one of Yan Ningxi’s few close friends, setting aside their family matters, what Qi Xuexin had consistently done was use her utmost effort and ability to let Yan Ningxi enjoy life and gain precious emotions while forging ahead under her burdens—including friendship, and also love.

…

When she entered the room, Qi Xuexin took a liking to the new pair of fuzzy slippers. “Yan Huahua, are these Pineapple Shoes new?”

“Sister Yan bought them for me.” Ming You kicked off her shoes and slipped them on.

“Tch, who’s gonna fight you for them.” Qi Xuexin opened the shoe cabinet and took out her own dedicated slippers. “Sister Yan, Sister Yan, I’m your absolute number one bestie. You keep butting heads with me everywhere—aren’t you afraid I’ll break up you lovebirds?”

“Go ahead! But aim carefully. Drive away all those crooked melons and split dates. Don’t accidentally hurt Sister Yan.”

“…” Qi Xuexin was so mad she just wanted to hit her. “Is this what they teach you in the broadcasting major?”

Ming You sprawled contentedly on the sofa, clutching a throw pillow in one hand and grabbing the remote with the other to turn on the TV, just like she was at home. “Not at all. We learned a lot more. We’ve got plenty of time ahead, Teacher Qi.”

So the confirmed “patient” got to run wild? Qi Xuexin slipped on her slippers and rolled up her sleeves. “Plenty of time ahead, huh? Little Pomelo, you sit right there and don’t move.”

Yan Ningxi timely stopped Qi Xuexin from exploding. “No one’s hungry? You’ve still got energy to bicker. If you’re not hungry, I won’t make dinner. You two can head home or back to school, and let me finish grading these essays in peace.”

People regard food as their heaven. You don’t mess with the head chef.

Qi Xuexin and Ming You stared wide-eyed at each other and silently reached a consensus: ceasefire.

“Sister Yan, I’ll help you.”

“Yan Huahua, I’ll help you!”

The two who had turned swords into silk shook hands and made peace, rushing to assist Yan Ningxi. They buzzed around the kitchen nonstop, like two little cubs bawling for food, starving and counting on this meal to fill their bellies.

…

After eating their fill, they feasted heartily. Qi Xuexin washed the dishes as promised, straightened her clothes, and wandered into Yan Ningxi’s bedroom.

They had slept in the same bed.

But not shared a pillow.

Ming You took her medicine in the living room while Yan Ningxi went to the bedroom to charge her phone. “See what you wanted to see?”

Qi Xuexin plopped down on the bay window seat. “Didn’t you say you had no ideas?”

She truly had none. Even when Qi Xuexin asked again today, Yan Ningxi’s answer remained the same. She plugged the phone into the charger on the bedside table and said to Qi Xuexin with her back turned. “Come help me get the blanket.”

Qi Xuexin was 167 cm tall without shoes, about the same height as Ming You in slippers—both a few centimeters taller than Yan Ningxi, who was only 163 cm.

“Where?” Qi Xuexin walked to the wardrobe.

“Stand on the bed and reach the top middle of the cabinet. There’s a blue air-conditioned blanket.”

The wardrobe was only sixty centimeters from the bed.

Qi Xuexin climbed up, and Yan Ningxi reached out to steady her waist. “Things with her are a bit complicated.”

She sat down hugging the air-conditioned blanket and pulled Yan Ningxi’s hand, gesturing for her to sit too. Then she said very softly, with utter certainty, “No matter how complicated, you don’t seem keen on spilling the details. From these past few interactions, what I can confirm is that she likes you—no faking it.”

“I’m talking like, not love.”

“If you like her too and just want to experience dating, that’s totally fine. Keep it measured, take it one step at a time. If she’s good, let her be. If not, call it off quick and clean.”

“But!” Qi Xuexin emphasized, poking Yan Ningxi’s chest sternly. “If you lose control and fall for her, then before popping the bubble, you absolutely must fully understand her family background…”

“Xuexin.” Yan Ningxi grasped Qi Xuexin’s wrist. “I get what you mean, and your concerns. I have no intention of pursuing a relationship.”

“Yan Huahua.” Qi Xuexin leaned in to hug Yan Ningxi, wanting to scoop out all the bitterness in her heart.

In Yan Ningxi’s first year in Huai’an, she had dragged her home. The night before, she had told her parents that Yan Ningxi was her closest bestie and to treat her like a daughter—recognize her as a goddaughter, best case.

When they met, Qi Dad and Qi Mom praised Yan Ningxi endlessly, and Qi Mom subtly expressed the idea. But Yan Ningxi was politely humble, always deftly changing the subject.

Qi Xuexin hadn’t pushed her.

Qi Dad and Qi Mom had bought Qi Xuexin a two-bedroom apartment, and she wanted Yan Ningxi to live with her, but Yan Ningxi refused.

A post-95s only child who couldn’t cook and hated cleaning—sure, she had “moved out” for independence, but Qi Xuexin was far from self-reliant. She spent at least five nights a week at her parents’ place. That apartment was just for show, and Qi Mom personally came by weekly to clean.

The mood was all set, emotions stirring, Yan Ningxi touched at heart, when Qi Xuexin sighed, “Love arises unknowably. Be careful not to let lust cloud your judgment.”

…

Before leaving, while Yan Ningxi was packing lunchboxes in the kitchen, Qi Xuexin snatched Ming You’s phone. “Show me that original photo.”

“Why should I?”

The phone had fingerprint and password locks, no face recognition. So when Qi Xuexin held the phone to Ming You’s face and saw her nonchalant reaction, she cringed at her own foolish move.

Curiosity killed the cat. “How about this: I’ll trade you a Yan Huahua secret.”

A secret? Ming You agreed instantly. “Deal.”

Qi Xuexin tossed the phone back as Yan Ningxi came out with two packed boxes. “Say hi to Uncle and Auntie for me.”

She had made extra of the two main dishes that evening on purpose, for Qi Xuexin to take home. The boxes were the ones Qi Xuexin had brought earlier when delivering dumplings from Qi Mom.

“I’m not passing it on—you go say hi yourself.” Qi Xuexin grabbed the handheld bag. “You haven’t been to my place in two months. My parents were talking about you during National Day.”

National Day…

She had “given” all her National Day time to Ming You.

Ming You stood up from the sofa, swaying unsteadily, perfectly playing the sickly beauty. “Sister Qi, want me to walk you downstairs?”

When she called “Sister Qi,” she was definitely up to something. Qi Xuexin knew her ways and snapped irritably, “Want? What do you mean want? With you looking all sickly like that, how could I say yes? Don’t bother sending me—just text if you have something to say.”

Ming You grabbed a few milk candies and smiled ingratiatingly. “Sister Qi, have some candy. Walk safe.”

Qi Xuexin didn’t take them.

She was stuffed on dog food—now candy too!

Ming You had wanted to buy the milk candies at the supermarket. They were the same as the one Yan Ningxi had given her last weekend.

Yan Ningxi didn’t particularly like them either. That candy had come from one of her class reps. She had pocketed it casually, later found it when changing clothes, put it in the vanity drawer, and then “borrowed flowers to offer Buddha” to coax Ming You.

In the taxi, Qi Xuexin got a message from Ming You: 【Sister Yan says you and I are fated enemies.】

【Qi Xuexin: Fated enemies that should reconcile, not feud!】

【Ming You: Sister Qi, next three seconds, don’t zone out.】

【Ming You: Group photo.jpg】

“Little Pomelo” withdrew a message.

Exactly three seconds, as said. Ming You had sent the original photo Qi Xuexin wanted.

The photo was withdrawn, but Qi Xuexin burst out laughing anyway.

【Ming You: Now that you’ve seen the pic, Sister Qi, honor the deal. [Naughty]】

【Ming You: Secretly observing.gif】

【Qi Xuexin: I can’t hear you.gif】

【Ming You: Bold demon, take a whack from ol’ Sun! .gif】

【Qi Xuexin: Big deal.gif】

【Ming You: Hello, Officer Shu? .gif】

【Qi Xuexin: Scram.gif】

【Ming You: Pretty please.gif】

【Qi Xuexin: Get back here.gif】

【Ming You: Here’s a little red flower for you.gif】

【Qi Xuexin: Enough with the cuteness. Go to sleep. Wait till I’m in a good mood someday, then I’ll spill. Betraying a sister is an unforgivable sin—let me think.】

【Ming You: Obedient.gif】

【Ming You: This one takes leave.gif】

Sigh, the joy of meme battles—Yan Ningxi couldn’t give her that. After this back-and-forth, Qi Xuexin’s opinion of Ming You upgraded yet again. Calling her “Little Fox” didn’t even capture her sharp tongue and sly wit.

This Fox Cub Ming You was a bona fide “White-Cut-Black.”

On second thought, if it were some honest little white bunny up against the abstinent old-cadre Yan Ningxi—both straight and pure—who’d seduce whom?

So it had to be a scheming little fox to get anywhere. If she weren’t a bit “bad,” she couldn’t even budge that blockhead Yan Ningxi.

…

That night, Ming You didn’t buy a ticket, and Yan Ningxi didn’t bring it up again.

At night, Ming You looked at the air-conditioned blanket added atop the fleece on the bed. “Tonight, I’ll sleep on the sofa again. Don’t want to get you sick too. Plus, my throat’s itchy—I might cough off and on and disturb your rest.”

“I won’t feel easy with you in the living room. Besides, I drank some cold-prevention effervescent. I’m fine.”

“Sister Yan…”

“We have to get up early tomorrow. Sleep.”

“Oh.”

At two in the morning, Yan Ningxi was woken by the person beside her kicking off the covers.

Using the faint light from her phone screen, she wanted to pull the kicked-off blanket back over the girl, but she saw the girl curled up tight, hands clutching the blanket, forehead beaded with sweat, sideburns damp.

She quickly turned on the phone flashlight, sat up, and touched Ming You’s forehead with the back of her hand. So hot.

“Ming You? Ming You? Wake up.” Yan Ningxi patted Ming You’s shoulder and gently rubbed her ears, calling her name.

The girl was trapped in a nightmare: a pitch-black dark room, a boy covered in blood, lying in a pool of it, barely breathing.

The boy’s straight-across bangs were matted with blood, disheveled and clumped into strands hanging over his forehead, covering half his face. Blood trickled from his brow tail and temples down to his chest, his legs twisted in an unnatural pose.

Ming You drifted hazily in the dream, her head pounding like it would split open. She gritted her teeth and pulled the blanket to her chest for security.

The scene shifted to a hospital room.

The pungent smell of disinfectant couldn’t mask the thick stench of blood in the air.

The boy lay lifelessly on the hospital bed, his life sustained by the oxygen mask, with the incessant beeping of various medical devices in his ears.

As well as the girl’s own sobs.

—Don’t die.

—The one who caused trouble is me. The unnecessary one is me. The one who deserves to die is also me.