Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 36

“A tattoo?” Three voices rang out at once, making passersby turn their heads.

“Absolutely not. What gave you the idea to get a tattoo?” Teacher Xia was shocked, her face stern as she asked.

Mom absolutely forbids it!

Xia Wanshuang didn’t have a problem with tattoos in general, but she felt children shouldn’t get them. They didn’t understand the permanence. The marks tattoos left were irreversible. Zhou Qinglang was small and didn’t know better, but Xia Wanshuang did. Although Zhou Qinglang looked like a middle schooler, by age, she should still be an elementary school student. Even middle schoolers shouldn’t get tattoos, let alone an elementary student.

“That’s kind of cool, though! Honestly, I want a tattoo, too—on my collarbone, ankle, or wrist. Just letters or designs. That’s super cool, right?”

“Don’t even think about it.” Xia Wanshuang raised her hand and tapped Lin Qiushui’s head, giving him a glare.

“I’m not getting one, I’m not getting one! I was just talking! If I were going to, I would have gone already. I heard it hurts. They use needles on your skin, hiss.” Lin Qiushui was a peculiar person—tough, stubborn, and resilient, but sometimes incredibly delicate, afraid of pain and bitterness, very changeable.

“Did something happen?” Zhao Tianhang felt Zhou Qinglang wasn’t someone who acted on a whim. She must have seen or heard something.

“Nothing happened, Sister, don’t be mad. I was just talking casually.” Zhou Qinglang had been excited to tell Xia Wanshuang but didn’t realize Lin Qiushui and Zhao Tianhang were still around. How could she say in front of them that she wanted to tattoo her sister’s name on her heart so they could be together forever? They would definitely laugh at her, especially Lin Qiushui.

“If you really want a tattoo, you can wait until you’re older, at least an adult. Tattoos stay with you for life. While they can be removed, removal hurts and leaves scars. Sister isn’t saying no forever, just not right now.” The child was young. If she regretted it later, it would be too late.

“What were you planning to tattoo?” Zhao Tianhang asked, feigning curiosity, which earned him a cold look from Zhou Qinglang. That annoying Zhao Tianhang! Since her sister was unhappy, Zhou Qinglang wanted to drop the subject, but he brought it up again.

“Knowing the little vinegar pot’s personality, you weren’t going to tattoo ‘Xia Wanshuang’ on yourself, were you?” Lin Qiushui looked horrified. He had once seen someone tattoo their parents’ names on their back, which was startling at first glance. He then imagined Zhou Qinglang with Xia Wanshuang tattooed on her back… it was kind of funny.

Zhou Qinglang looked at Lin Qiushui’s contorted expression, wondering what kind of simpleton he was. However, in a way, Lin Qiushui’s guess was pretty accurate.

“Tattoo me?” Xia Wanshuang looked puzzled. What kind of operation is this?

“Yeah, like the people who tattoo their parents on themselves! Hahahahahaha!” Lin Qiushui couldn’t help himself, his shoulders shaking.

Zhao Tianhang imagined the scene and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Honestly, that’s a little creepy.” That image was more than “a little creepy”—it was very much so. Although Teacher Xia was acting as both mother and father, this was definitely too much.

“Lin! Qiu! Shui!” Zhou Qinglang gritted her teeth, looking at Lin Qiushui with eyes that seemed to be sharpening a knife for slaughter.

“My bad, my bad!” Lin Qiushui immediately apologized, hiding behind Zhao Tianhang, then let out another round of arrogant laughter.

“I wanted to tattoo Sister’s name.” Zhou Qinglang whispered, watching Xia Wanshuang’s expression.

“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough.” Lin Qiushui sounded like a chicken being choked, his hysterical laughter cut off. Zhao Tianhang patted his back, helping him breathe.

“Little vinegar pot, you don’t have to show loyalty like that. Your sister isn’t your girlfriend. Why would you tattoo her name?” In a sense, Lin Qiushui had the makings of a prophet. “Forget it, this is just typical behavior for you,” Lin Qiushui continued, not waiting for Zhou Qinglang to speak.

“Langlang, you…” Xia Wanshuang was at a loss whether to cry or laugh, and she glanced at Zhao Tianhang. Your future boyfriend is right here! What is going on, saying you want to tattoo my name in front of him!

Xia Wanshuang assumed this was just a childish whim. She knew Zhou Qinglang was dependent on her. Maybe, just like Lin Qiushui said, she wanted to remember her in this way, like tattooing a parent.

“That’s not necessary.”

“Mhm, Sister, I understand.” Zhou Qinglang replied obediently, hiding her disappointment well. It’s okay. Even without a tattoo, she would be with her sister forever.

“By the way, the person who cut my clothes confessed to me.” Zhou Qinglang changed the subject, successfully drawing Xia Wanshuang and the others’ attention.

“That fast? I thought it would take a few more days.”

“Who was it?”

“Pang Lei from Class 5.” Xia Wanshuang and Lin Qiushui exchanged glances. They had absolutely no recollection of this person.

“Why did she do it? Do you have a grudge against her?”

“She was the one who spread the rumors about me a few days ago.” When Xia Wanshuang asked, Zhou Qinglang realized she had forgotten to ask Pang Lei for her motive. She had just beaten her up and hadn’t asked why. She didn’t care at all why.

“She has a lot of nerve.” Xia Wanshuang frowned, displeased.

Although they had sold bingfen (icy dessert) at No. 3 Middle School, that was five years ago. Plus, their appearance had changed as they grew up, and the students who bought the dessert had already graduated. So, when Xia Wanshuang and Zhou Qinglang enrolled, no one recognized them, thus not knowing their past or Zhou Qinglang’s background. Xia Wanshuang disliked anyone bringing up Zhou Qinglang’s background; it was like repeatedly hitting a sore spot. Since she was fiercely protective, she couldn’t stand anyone talking about it.

“It’s fine, Sister. I’ve taken care of it.” Zhou Qinglang leaned against Xia Wanshuang, playing with her fingers and rubbing them against her face.

“How did you resolve it?”

“I slashed her clothes too and made her cry.”

“You two sisters are equally ruthless.” Lin Qiushui gave a thumbs-up. What a pair of extraordinary women.

Xia Wanshuang had planned to tell the Class 5 homeroom teacher the next day and ask for a public reprimand. But when she got to school the following day, the news that Pang Lei was the culprit had already spread, complete with various versions—some said it was jealousy, others said it was over a boy.

It was Zhou Ying who told the teachers. She hadn’t slept well all night out of anger and arrived at school early. Last night, Pang Lei came to her, saying Zhou Qinglang suspected Zhou Ying was behind the incident and was trying to force a confession, acting pitiful. Zhou Ying was so enraged that she furiously cursed Zhou Qinglang in front of Pang Lei, thinking that if Zhou Qinglang really framed her, she wouldn’t let it go. However, once she got home and checked her phone, she saw the message Zhou Qinglang had sent her through Xia Wanshuang’s QQ account in the class group, and she was stunned for a moment, then completely blown away. Pang Lei dared to play her for a fool, tried to use her as a pawn before, and now tried to sow discord again. So, when Zhou Ying got to school, she staked out the dean’s office and launched a full accusation the moment the dean arrived.

The matter ended with Pang Lei making a self-criticism speech under the national flag. Neither Xia Wanshuang nor Zhou Qinglang cared much about Zhou Ying looking for trouble with Pang Lei afterward, considering it self-inflicted misery.

••••

Xia Wanshuang had been busy lately. Apart from teaching, she was constantly researching, enriching her notes, and writing outlines. No success is accidental. Xia Wanshuang didn’t consider herself naturally talented. She had loved reading since childhood, consuming many Chinese and foreign classics, as well as historical texts. As a Chinese teacher, her ability to craft stories was naturally strong.

Moreover, Xia Wanshuang wasn’t writing blindly. When she wrote her first contemporary novel, she read many similar online novels, then selected the site and the genre. The beginning, climax, and ending were clearly outlined. Her second novel, a story of palace intrigue and power struggle, was the culmination of her previous life’s experience. Although set in a fictional dynasty, she referenced historical texts, and the annotations she made while writing it filled almost an entire notebook. That was why Zhu Xue hadn’t known her true age, and Jiang Wan could spot the tell-tale signs. Her current body was that of an elementary school student, but her soul was not.

Xia Wanshuang was buried in writing in the study. Zhou Qinglang didn’t disturb her and went to the bathroom to take a shower first. Although the tattoo idea didn’t materialize, Zhou Qinglang still had something in mind.

The shower sprayed hot water, cascading over the girl’s body. Steam filled the room, fogging the mirror and blurring the details. Zhou Qinglang stretched her body, her fingers lingering on her heart. She used her finger to write Xia Wanshuang’s name on her chest, stroke by stroke. The awkward posture made the writing a bit shaky.

“This should be okay too, right?” Zhou Qinglang thought uncertainly. She wrote her sister’s name on her heart, so she should still be able to stay with her sister forever. “Would the effect be better if I asked Sister to write it?” Zhou Qinglang mumbled, finding more and more logic in the idea.

She finished rinsing, put on her pajamas, and walked out. Xia Wanshuang was still in the study. Zhou Qinglang waited in the room, growing increasingly drowsy.

Xia Wanshuang only stopped typing at one in the morning. She organized the materials on her desk and returned to the bedroom to grab her pajamas for a shower. The sound of the door opening startled the person on the bed, and Xia Wanshuang slowed her movements.

“Sister, are you done?”

“Mhm, I’m about to shower. Did I wake you up?”

“No. Sister, go shower quickly. When you come back, I have something important to tell you.” Zhou Qinglang’s voice was husky with sleep, yet her tone was soft and obedient. Xia Wanshuang smiled; it was like taking a bite of a sweet, sandy watermelon in the summer. She hurried into the bathroom, speeding up her shower so Zhou Qinglang wouldn’t wait too long.

Xia Wanshuang returned to the bedroom, still smelling faintly of steam. The moment she sat on the edge of the bed, Zhou Qinglang grasped her hand.

“What is it, Langlang? What do you want to tell me?”

“Sister…” Zhou Qinglang’s voice was a little muffled. She guided Xia Wanshuang’s hand to feel her body.

“Langlang, why aren’t you wearing clothes? It’s cool at night. You’ll catch a cold.” Xia Wanshuang was startled by the warmth under her fingertips, wondering what the child was up to.

“Sister, this is my heart.” Zhou Qinglang guided her hand to the spot, looking intently in Xia Wanshuang’s direction with wide-open eyes. “Will you use your finger to write your name here, okay? That way, we can be together forever.” Zhou Qinglang’s voice was full of excitement. Even though Xia Wanshuang couldn’t see her face clearly in the dark, she could imagine her look.

“Okay.” Xia Wanshuang felt in the dark and used her fingertip to write her name. Stroke by stroke, beneath her fingertip was a beating heart.

“All done. Now go to sleep.” Her voice was gentle and indulgent, drowning the girl with the obsessive heart in affection.