Chapter 44: Taking Liberties

Kissed forcefully by the girl, Yan Ningxi first resisted on instinct at a physiological level, but she accepted it psychologically at the same time. She soon softened gradually between their lips and teeth, allowing the girl to take liberties on her lips.

The girl had never kissed before and had not watched any kissing tutorials. She only knew lip to lip.

Under the drive of human desire, people often awakened their innate talents the most. This time showed progress over the last; she knew to part her own lips and rub against Yan Ningxi’s.

She nibbled on the lower lip and nervously swallowed.

“Dong dong dong.” The knocking startled them both, making their bodies go rigid. “Senior Sister Yan, are you back?”

Ming You felt like her breathing had stopped.

Yan Ningxi pushed her away, straightened her clothes, and opened the door. “I’m back.”

Two people stood outside: the woman who had answered Ming You’s video call last night, and the junior brother who said Luo Yongjun had blocked his path to pursuing Yan Ningxi. The woman spoke first.

“When you were handling the discharge procedures, Senior Brother Luo mentioned it to me. He was afraid we wouldn’t find you at the hospital.”

Yan Ningxi thanked her. “Thanks for last night.”

This junior sister was the most favored by the professor in their cohort, as was Yan Ningxi, and so was Luo Yongjun. The professor often assigned the three of them the same research topics, making them collaborate and discuss. Over time, the revolutionary camaraderie between these senior and junior fellow students grew deeper than with others in their grade.

The man cut in. “Senior Brother Luo is too careless. Senior Sister Yan, we’ve already scolded him for you. Considering how he’s watched over you for so many years, forgive him this once? Ow, why’d you pinch me?”

The woman smacked his arm hard again and shoved him out of Yan Ningxi’s line of sight. “Don’t listen to his nonsense, Senior Sister Yan.” They weren’t involved parties; what business did they have talking about forgiveness?

Ming You stood in the spot behind the door, a blind spot where the people outside couldn’t see her.

“You haven’t left yet?” Luo Yongjun had parked the car and come up, but he hadn’t heard their earlier conversation.

“We were just about to check out. We came to check on Senior Sister Yan before leaving,” the woman said. “Senior Brother Luo, I’ve already spoken to them. This won’t get back to the professor or make him worry. But you have to show sincerity and apologize to Senior Sister Yan properly. Don’t make her shoulder it alone.”

Luo Yongjun nodded. “Thanks, Junior Sister. If I can get your senior sister’s forgiveness, I’d follow Lian Po’s example and carry thorns to plead guilt.”

Ming You, behind the door, really wanted to step out and snap at him, “Don’t just talk big—go do it!”

Knowing it was a joke, no one played along to embarrass Luo Yongjun. He turned to Yan Ningxi again. “Ningxi, I forgot to ask this morning. You said yesterday you had something today and bought a morning flight ticket. Did you cancel it?”

“Mm.” Yan Ningxi’s face was flushed, her heart pounding. She had no mood to chat idly with them. “Go do what you need to. I want to rest.”

“Then we won’t disturb your rest, Senior Sister Yan.”

After the three outside said their goodbyes and returned to their rooms, Yan Ningxi closed the door but hesitated to turn around.

Ming You stared at her back and asked, “That morning ticket—was it back to Huai’an, or to Hengyuan?”

Releasing the door handle, Yan Ningxi turned. “Hengyuan.”

Those two words came out so lightly from her, yet they landed so heavily on Ming You’s heart.

Last week, Ming You had sent Yan Ningxi a photo of the ginkgo avenue: [If you could come to the school to see it, the real scene is even more beautiful.]

Yan Ningxi had replied: [I’ll see it.]

Ming You held back the sourness surging in her nose and eyes at the same time. She turned away, set down the bag in her hand, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, “You sit for a bit first. I’ll go buy you some fresh clothes.”

While Yan Ningxi spoke with others, Ming You had scanned the things in the room. There were pajamas on the bed and a small luggage bag on the chair—nothing else.

“Ming You…”

“Sister Yan, I won’t leave.”

“Can the ticket still be refunded?” Yan Ningxi had canceled her own ticket while Ming You was out buying breakfast. She was frugal with money and kept a tight rein on Ming You, naturally not allowing waste.

“…” Teacher Yan, oh Teacher Yan, always saying something shocking. Ming You turned back with a smile. “Probably, but it’ll deduct more in fees for sure.”

She pulled out her phone, operated for a bit, and successfully canceled the ticket. “Done.”

Before leaving, Yan Ningxi reminded her, “Just get something cheap for emergencies. Don’t buy anything expensive.” She didn’t want Ming You wasting money on her; all her money came from her parents.

“Mm.”

After Ming You left, Yan Ningxi opened her phone and checked her account balance.

For the past few years, every month’s salary had gone straight into two regular transfers out. But last month and this month’s spending had far exceeded her nearly fixed monthly budget from recent years.

Sweet, yet bittersweet.

She opened her chat with Ming You and transferred 2000 yuan: [Take it.]

…

Ming You bought clothes and also packed lunch.

When she returned to the hotel to extend the stay, the front desk informed her that a Mr. Luo had already renewed their room for one night.

Ming You went upstairs and was about to swipe her key card when the next door opened. Luo Yongjun stood in the doorway. “Had lunch? Want to eat together?”

“I’ve already got packed lunch. Taking care of Sister Yan is no trouble for Mr. Luo.” She hadn’t gone up with them earlier, so Ming You hadn’t known Luo Yongjun was next door.

Luo Yongjun deflated, but the other was younger and the sister of the woman he liked, so he swallowed his frustration. Restraining himself, he continued, “She’s in no state to fly right now. Take a couple days’ delay before leaving.”

“When are you leaving? Today or tomorrow?” Ming You asked because she planned to give him the hotel money. But she didn’t want to add him as a friend to transfer it; she intended to withdraw cash.

This romantic rival was annoying, sure, but he wasn’t entirely useless. For instance, shamelessly running errands for Yan Ningxi, acting as their driver, and indirectly revealing the truth about her flight ticket purchase.

For that last “good deed,” she’d grudgingly give him a “nice guy card.”

But small merits couldn’t offset major faults; he didn’t deserve her courtesy. Without that nice guy card, she wouldn’t have bothered replying at all.

“Tomorrow morning.” Luo Yongjun thought this was a breakthrough. “If there’s anything you need help with, I can…”

“No need. Mr. Luo, go busy yourself if you have things to do.” She entered the room and shut the door.

What a cold little beauty.

As Luo Yongjun passed where Ming You had stood, psychological suggestion made him feel like he’d crossed an icy glacial zone—colder even than the vibe Yan Ningxi gave him.

…

The room was utterly quiet, the furnishings and items just as she’d left them. Yan Ningxi sat in the other chair, resting.

Ming You felt a serene peace, like a gentle stream meandering across a vast plain.

Her heart had been a mess before she left; she’d thought the whole way without figuring it out. But seeing Yan Ningxi upon return, the tangled puzzle resolved itself.

Get into character, then—get into character.

She quietly squatted in front of Yan Ningxi, gazing up at the woman’s clear and beautiful features. She stared in a daze, intoxicated. When the woman opened her eyes, she no longer dodged or flinched but took hold of her hand.

“Sister Yan, sorry. Don’t be mad, okay?” Ming You lowered her head and kissed the back of her hand. “I’m the jerk. You’re injured, and I still deliberately pissed you off.”

Yan Ningxi’s hand flinched. “Take the money, or I won’t wear the clothes you bought.”

Ming You had seen the pending transfer. She’d anticipated Yan Ningxi would insist, so she accepted without resistance. “Whatever you say.”

Seeing Ming You accept the transfer, Yan Ningxi got up and took the pajamas. “I’m going to shower.”

Ming You called after her, “Put on a shower cap.”

Ming You adjusted the room temperature, took off her outer clothes, sorted the purchased items, and packed the dirty laundry into a bag. She’d asked the front desk; the hotel had a laundry service that could dry clothes too.

Yan Ningxi finished showering, feeling refreshed. She opened the door and saw Ming You with her back turned. “What are you doing standing here?”

Ming You turned to look at Yan Ningxi. “I’m facing the wall in reflection.”

Better not to mention it—but now that she did, new and old grievances flashed through Yan Ningxi’s mind. “What conclusion did you reach?”

“The conclusion is: next time something like this happens, I’ll weigh the priorities before acting. Also, I shouldn’t have said those hurtful words in the hospital room. Sorry, Sister Yan. I take back those thoughtless words—pretend I was farting them out.”

“What farting or not—don’t let dirty words hang on your lips. Watch your language.”

“Yes, ma’am!” The girl beamed like the sun after rain, coaxing Yan Ningxi playfully. “Speak civilized, starting with me.”

But hearing the girl’s reflection, seeing her like a child who’d erred awaiting judgment—restraining her temper and pride, even resorting to crude words to placate her—suddenly made Yan Ningxi hate herself.

Why?

Why should a proud, radiant girl obey her every word and cater to her whims?

“Ming You, sorry.” This apology from Yan Ningxi drained all her strength.

She leaned against the wall, swaying unsteadily.

She felt like a villain.

Ming You hugged her, cheek to cheek. “Sister Yan, you did nothing wrong. I panicked and acted impulsively without thinking, doing something reckless.”

“No, Ming You…” Yan Ningxi’s voice was soft, almost inaudible to herself.

She placed both hands on Ming You’s face and confessed to her. “In the hospital, you asked me: if the one on the sickbed was you, what would I do? Fine, I’ll tell you—you were wrong. Because I’d make the same choice as you. As long as you need me, I’ll go be with you.”

This was the sweetest “love talk” Ming You had heard since pursuing Yan Ningxi. Her sea of flowers no longer held just an ephemeral bloom, but a snow lotus in full flourish—a once-in-a-millennium encounter she’d claimed.

Her heart moved with her body; she pecked Yan Ningxi’s lips.

Yan Ningxi’s cheeks flushed bright red.

She hadn’t put on underwear after showering, and Ming You had removed her jacket, leaving a cotton shirt underneath.

It wasn’t the first time they’d hugged like this, but this time felt warmer and sweeter than ever before.

“Thanks, Sister Yan.” Ming You touched foreheads with her. “Does your head still hurt? Dizzy?”

The woman shyly shook her head. “No pain.”

The girl kissed her cheek again, her heart nearly dripping honey. “Showering felt good too. Eat and rest some more; I’ll handle the laundry.”

“Will it dry after washing?”

“Silly Sister, the hotel has a laundry room with dryers.”

Ming You led Yan Ningxi to the small round table by the window, opening the lunchbox as she said, “Ask the school for two days off. Based on your condition, we should stay here another night or two, head back to Huai’an tomorrow or the day after. Your head’s dizzy; forcing it won’t let you teach properly.”

Called Silly Sister, Yan Ningxi’s face and ears reddened further. “Mm, I’ll definitely take the leave. Going to work sick depends on the illness.”

The doctor had repeatedly warned her not to wet the wound or wash her hair for a few days. Go to class with greasy, stinky hair? Ruining her image was minor; ruining the teacher’s image was major. Better to stay home obediently and recover.

Yan Ningxi called the grade director to request leave for Monday and Tuesday, not mentioning the concussion—just that she was ill. The class side would handle rescheduling or self-study via the homeroom teacher.

After lunch together, Yan Ningxi lay down on the bed. Ming You quickly showered too, then took their dirty clothes and the new ones to the laundry room.