My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 153

Chapter 153: Diligent Practice

It was their shared bedroom. Normally, Jiang Xue would have just walked in directly, even knocking on the bathroom door to let Xiao Luo know she was back.

But today, whether it was because of the sneeze before arriving home, or Xiao Luo’s words “I’ll tell you the details when you get back tonight,” or perhaps because of the unusual timing of the shower, she hesitated to enter.

Xiao Luo usually didn’t shower in the evening.

But after some hesitation, Jiang Xue calmed herself down, entered the room, and knocked on the bathroom door.

“Xiao Luo, I’m back! When are you going to tell me the rest of the ‘gossip’?”

She even put on a tone of eager anticipation.

“Right away,” Xiao Luohan replied from inside. “Do you want to take a shower too?”

Jiang Xue suddenly felt that she understood her earlier hesitation.

Perhaps it was because she lacked practice. She was always worried about not performing well, so whenever she sensed Xiao Luo’s hints, she would instinctively hesitate instead of enthusiastically responding.

How could she overcome this? Just like learning to drive, practice more, ask for guidance, and let it become natural?

She replied with an “okay” to Xiao Luohan, and while getting her change of clothes, couldn’t help but think about that idea again.

Should she… ask Dr. Qi for guidance?

She was closer to Dr. Qi than Teacher Sui, and she also knew that this doctor had a “sharp tongue but a soft heart.” Even if she wasn’t naturally talented in this aspect, Dr. Qi would still patiently teach her, albeit with some scolding.

Lost in thought, Jiang Xue entered the bathroom with her clothes.

“I’ve confirmed it, the ring on Teacher Sui’s finger is indeed an engagement ring with Dr. Qi,” her girlfriend said from behind the steam, starting with the topic Jiang Xue wanted to hear about most while driving. “But the reason is a little… puzzling.”

“Tell me, maybe I can explain it to you,” Jiang Xue said.

Xiao Luohan recounted the story verbatim. She had a good memory, and if she wanted to remember something, she could recite it perfectly, even imitating the tone.

After finishing the story and her shower, she came out, her skin slightly flushed from the warm water, and went to the clothes rack to get her nightdress.

Jiang Xue was still “analyzing” Teacher Sui’s words. When she looked up, ready to explain, Xiao Luohan had already dried herself.

She paused for two seconds, then hurriedly stood up with her clothes, making space for Xiao Luohan, and entered the bathroom after placing her clothes down, undressing and turning on the shower.

“Both of them, and the Qi and Sui families, already knew about Teacher Huang and the Huang family’s true colors. This ‘revenge engagement’ was based on that understanding.”

“Objectively speaking, it’s not really ‘revenge,’ but simply that the partner’s moral character was lacking, and there was no longer a need for the Qi and Huang families to maintain the close relationship established by their ancestors, so the Qi family took this opportunity to find a better partner for their daughter.”

“Partner?” Xiao Luohan picked up on this word.

“Yes, a partner, but with some personal considerations mixed in,” Jiang Xue started applying the shower gel Xiao Luo had chosen. “I personally think that having a controlling partner isn’t a good thing, especially when their careers are also intertwined.”

“To give an inappropriate example, if Dr. Qi opens her own clinic, and Teacher Huang insists on a stable hospital position, even if she’s unhappy at the hospital, with a low salary and a depressing work environment, even to the point of affecting Dr. Qi’s mental health, but it’s a ‘secure job,’ Teacher Huang would try to convince Dr. Qi to return to her previous position.”

Recalling Teacher Huang’s drunken rant against Teacher Sui that night, Xiao Luohan suddenly understood.

“Some controlling partners, they’re impossible to reason with. As soon as they hear any opposition, they’ll start lecturing and shifting blame,” Jiang Xue said, turning on the shower again and rinsing off the rose-scented foam. “In their eyes, their partners aren’t even real people, but puppets, whose every move must be controlled by them. Only then can they feel secure.”

“…I think they’re sick,” Xiao Luohan said softly, expressing her thoughts. “They need to see a therapist.”

“I agree, so when you told me that Dr. Qi is with Teacher Sui, I was genuinely happy for them,” Jiang Xue chuckled. “At least Teacher Sui won’t restrict Dr. Qi’s freedom. I bet that if Dr. Qi wants to do anything, or suddenly change careers to ‘experience life,’ Teacher Sui would be cheering her on with a glow stick.”

Wanting to quickly confirm her “worries,” she finished her shower as quickly as possible, imitated Xiao Luo’s earlier actions, and casually walked out to get her clothes.

Then, in a relaxed tone, she asked, “So, there should still be some time before dinner, do you want to…”

She still didn’t have the courage to say it directly.

Xiao Luohan was still pondering her words, and hearing the question, she paused, blinking at Jiang Xue in confusion.

But she wouldn’t refuse. A-Xue rarely took the initiative, so she had to give her some encouragement, so A-Xue could “grow” more confidently in this aspect.

There were already two little dolphins on the sink, one pink, hers, and one light orange, Jiang Xue’s.

They didn’t have much time, so Xiao Luohan didn’t bother with the other “tools” she had bought last time. She simply nodded, stood up, and walked towards the sink.

—Taking both dolphins with her.

When Sister Cheng came upstairs to call them for dinner, Jiang Mei happened to be returning home from work.

Seeing Jiang Xue’s trembling hand as she held her chopsticks, she asked with concern, “No rush with the driving lessons, rest if you’re tired. Should I ask Instructor Ma for a day off for you tomorrow?”

Jiang Xue, her mouth full of food, let out a confused “Huh?” and thought about it. She hadn’t complained about the driving lessons to A-Xi, so how did her older sister know she was tired?

Could it be that Instructor Ma had noticed and, afraid that she was pushing herself too hard, had contacted her older sister?

Since it was her “workaholic” older sister who suggested it, Jiang Xue felt that taking a day off wasn’t a bad idea, so she swallowed her food and nodded. “Okay, I was planning to practice for one more day and then ask for leave to visit Mingjing Taoist Temple to express our gratitude. It’s good to go earlier.”

She was a little worried that Taoist Master Xuan Nuo, like the nimble cats at the temple, would disappear in a flash. Although it was also possible to express gratitude to the deities at the temple, she was still bothered by their previous unpleasant encounter.

She wanted to sincerely apologize to Taoist Master Xuan Nuo in person, and if possible, hear her opinion on their current situation.

“Then I’ll also inform Teacher Sui,” Xiao Luohan said, wiping her hands and taking out her phone.

Thinking of the recent events involving Teacher Sui, Jiang Mei frowned and stopped Xiao Luohan before she could send the message. “No need, I’ll contact her. You two should get ready.”

Last time they went to Mingjing Taoist Temple, they didn’t have Cang Ling’s motion sickness amulets, so they had chosen the route with the shortest bus ride but the longest overall distance.

But now, Jiang Xue’s motion sickness was greatly alleviated by the amulets, and she had also learned to drive and could handle long drives, showing signs of overcoming her carsickness completely, so they could plan a different route.

Jiang Mei took care of asking for leave. After dinner, the two girls returned to their room and looked at the navigation map together.

After a while, Xiao Luohan couldn’t help but say, “Your hands are still shaking, should we ask Dr. Qi to take a look?”

Jiang Xue stared at her.

She couldn’t overcome her nervousness and had been maintaining the same position since using the little dolphin, afraid of accidentally scratching Xiao Luo with her still-slightly-sharp nails.

“It’s okay,” she refused. “Really, it’s just lack of practice, like learning to drive. I’ll get used to it.”

Xiao Luohan was silent for a full five seconds. “Then… do you still want to practice later?”

Before Jiang Xue could answer, she added, “We can try something else, like when the practice on the training ground becomes boring, we can go for a drive.”

Jiang Xue: …

Her Xiao Luo was quite good at applying principles to different situations.

Even if it was defined as “practice,” they were both still ordinary people, and developing genuine feelings was only natural.

While washing the stained pad, Jiang Xue felt her hands tremble even more.

No, not just her hands, her whole body was shaking.

“Xue Luo” or “Xue Yu” was indeed what Xiao Luo wanted, but Xiao Luo also liked sharing her experiences with her.

She hadn’t used the dolphin this time, Xiao Luo had.

She still felt embarrassed, how could a mere little dolphin turn her into a lovesick cat, even staining Xiao Luo’s palm!

Xiao Luo would never be like this!

But just as Jiang Xue finished washing up and crawled into bed, feeling a little down, Xiao Luohan came over.

“Just treat it as normal practice,” Xiao Luohan said, gently patting her back. “Besides, we don’t have to take exams or get certifications for this kind of thing.”

Jiang Xue: …

Xiao Luo would say anything when comforting her!

“O-Of course I know!” she said, poking her head out and looking at the serious Xiao Luohan. “I just… hope I can become more mature soon, so you can also fully enjoy it.”

She saw Xiao Luohan blink. “Then practice diligently?” Then, feeling that this wasn’t specific enough, she continued, “895? Start at 8:00 PM, end at 9:00 PM, five days a week.”

Jiang Xue’s eyes widened.

In the end, they agreed on “895,” but with an added condition: it didn’t have to be during this specific time slot, they could practice whenever they had the time and energy, or when inspiration struck.

The plan was good, but Jiang Xue hadn’t expected this added condition to be her “downfall.”

She didn’t know where Xiao Luo got so much inspiration from.

Every improvisation, like livestreaming a song she was hearing for the first time, was a little clumsy, but each time, it could make her feel helpless and increasingly dependent on Xiao Luo, using words and descriptions she usually scorned, clinging to Xiao Luo like a snake.

This wouldn’t do, Jiang Xue!

If this became a habit, even outside of their “practice sessions,” she would be distracted, thinking about Xiao Luo!!

Jiang Xue felt an “angel” and a “devil” battling in her mind. The angel kept telling her to stop Xiao Luo, while the devil whispered seductively, “Don’t you like it?”

She didn’t know which side was right, only that at this moment, she had indeed given in to the “devil.”