Pretending To Be Affectionate [Transmigration] - Chapter 43

Xu Miao held her breath, hardly daring to exhale.

Even through the phone, Ling Yu could hear her nervous breathing.

Ling Yu was amused.

Was this really necessary?

Gu Qing might be the female lead of this world—fair-skinned and beautiful, with long legs, wealth, talent, and formidable ability.

She appeared to possess everything.

But she had no heart.

A no-romance female lead was destined to remain alone for life. What good could possibly come from falling for her?

Crossing her legs, Ling Yu lowered her voice and interrogated her.

“When did this start?”

Xu Miao clutched her phone and wiped away her sweat. After racking her brains for a full ten seconds, she began telling Ling Yu an extremely melodramatic story.

“It began on the night of the 2022 Spring Festival Gala…”

“Get to the point.”

“Ahem. Do you remember the bet you made with me before you left? For the past two years, I’ve called her at the beginning of every month. As we kept talking, feelings gradually developed.”

“Oh,” Ling Yu said. “You two must have plenty to talk about.”

Of course we did.

The very first time Xu Miao called, Gu Qing had educated her about illegally leaking someone’s personal information and the prison sentence and detention she might face. How could they possibly lack topics for conversation?

But Xu Miao certainly could not say that now.

She cleared her throat and deliberately made her voice coy.

“Anyway, Xiao Yu, I sincerely like women like her. Cold and heartless… No, wait—cool and dominant…”

Xu Miao quickly stopped talking, afraid that the more she said, the more likely she was to expose herself.

Her eyes darted around before she changed her tone and asked cautiously, “Xiao Yu, you’ll allow us to be together, won’t you?”

Ling Yu did not answer immediately. Taking their many years of sisterly affection into account, she asked instead, “Have you thought this through? It won’t be easy.”

“Yes.” Xu Miao answered without hesitation and solemnly declared, “I love her…”

She loved plenty of people.

For example, there was the female gaming streamer whose rankings she had recently spent two million boosting, the award-winning actress Luo Huihui, and Fishing in the Ocean, the author of Treasure Appraisal, an enormously popular serialized novel from the past two years.

Holding the phone, Xu Miao took a sip of coffee and made an encouraging gesture to herself.

Then she steered the conversation back on track.

“Xiao Yu, stop trying to dodge the question. I’ve asked you several times, so give me a clear answer. You keep changing the subject. Honestly, if you still like Gu Qing, then even though this is the first time your cousin has ever fallen for someone and I can’t control my feelings…”

If you still like her, I’ll damn well give her back to you.

Before Xu Miao could finish, Ling Yu interrupted her with a laugh.

“Don’t worry. People change. As I’ve grown older over the past few years, my tastes have changed too…”

Ling Yu answered cleanly, without the slightest hesitation.

Xu Miao’s face fell. She gave a quiet “Oh,” then asked unwillingly a few seconds later, “You’re really over her?”

“Really.”

“Are you seeing someone now?” Xu Miao paused. “If not, what kind of woman do you like? I can introduce you to some of my friends.”

She was still worried?

Ling Yu smiled sweetly. “I’m homophobic now.”

Xu Miao: “…”

Ling Yu chatted briefly with Xu Miao.

Just before ending the call, she patiently left her cousin with one final sentence.

“If you like her, go pursue her. After I return home, I’ll do my best to avoid Gu Qing.”

“Wait, no—that’s not right! Xiao Yu, listen to me… Damn it! Hello? Fuck!”

Clutching the phone, Xu Miao shot up from the sofa in terror.

Her mother emerged from the kitchen and saw her behaving so rashly.

She promptly smacked Xu Miao over the head with a wooden spatula.

“Ow! Mom! Mom! Mother dearest, you may as well beat me to death!”

Xu Miao looked utterly despairing.

Damn it. She had taken it upon herself to help someone, but who could have known her attempt at testing Ling Yu would backfire so spectacularly?

Now Ling Yu intended to avoid Gu Qing completely!

“Mom, how did you manage to give birth to someone as brainless as me?”

Hearing that, Mother Xu planted her hands on her hips and panted in fury.

“You’ll have to ask why the Xu family genes mutated by the time they reached you!”

Summer in Country M was considerably hotter than back home.

That morning, Ling Yu visited the academic affairs office, where her advisor invited her to remain at the university.

Over the past two years, Ling Yu had published several academic papers in renowned journals, causing quite a stir in her field.

Not long ago, she had personally authored a volume of annotations on the history of human development. Within six months of its publication, parts of her commentary were incorporated directly into secondary-school textbooks by Country M’s education authorities.

Ling Yu had gone to TJ University to pursue further studies in the history of human development and modern and contemporary literary history.

Visiting scholars like her ordinarily returned home after finishing their courses.

However, Ling Yu’s papers possessed extraordinary academic value, and her personal abilities were exceptional. The university hoped she would stay.

They wanted her to continue studying for another three years, earn her doctorate, and then teach directly at TJ University.

Her advisor conveyed the university’s wishes, but Ling Yu tactfully declined.

She had less than a month remaining before completing her studies, and Ling Taiguo was already urging her to return.

When the professor realized he could not persuade her, he could only shake his head.

Perhaps reluctant to let such talent go to waste, he wrote Ling Yu a letter of recommendation and told her that, if she wished, she could take it directly to the University of Gangcheng and apply for a teaching position.

Ling Yu had not expected precisely what she needed to fall into her lap.

After a brief moment of surprise, she thanked the professor repeatedly.

When she returned to the dormitory that afternoon, Gu Xiu was there.

She appeared to have just showered, her wet hair clinging to her cheeks.

“You’re not going to the bar today?”

Ling Yu wiped the thin layer of perspiration from her forehead. The direct sunlight had painted her cheeks a faint pink.

Her beautiful fingers brushed across her forehead, trailed down her fair cheek, and swept the damp strands of hair away from her elegant swanlike neck.

Miss Gu stared at her so intently that her eyes nearly went rigid.

Her ears began to itch slightly. Lowering her long lashes, she steadied her voice.

“I’m leaving now.”

“Oh.”

Ling Yu turned on her computer. Since she would soon return home, she intended to tell Q in advance.

They had known each other online for quite some time and could reasonably be considered very good friends.

A few minutes later, Ling Yu logged into the social platform. Q happened to be online. Given the time difference, it should have been around midnight in Country Z.

Ling Yu moved the cursor toward the chat window, but a shadow suddenly fell beside her.

Gu Xiu stood in front of her desk, glanced at the computer screen, and grumbled, “Chatting with that older woman again?”

Ling Yu did not even raise her head.

“Go away. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late.”

Gu Xiu clicked her tongue.

“I don’t depend on singing for money. Why won’t you believe that my family is Asia’s richest family?”

Ling Yu had no patience for her nonsense and responded with a perfunctory “Sure.”

She assumed Gu Xiu would finally leave.

Instead, the woman remained motionless, her words evasive.

“Xiao Yu, could you turn around and fasten my bra for me? I can’t reach the clasp.”

Ling Yu looked up at the sound and found herself staring directly at Gu Xiu’s bare, chocolate-colored back.

Gu Xiu had deliberately tanned her skin. In her words, it was body art, and bronze was also a healthy color for a woman’s skin.

Every time Ling Yu saw her exposed skin, she thought it was far too dark.

Ling Yu preferred cool white, pallid white, and snowy white.

She practically wanted to grab a steel-wool scrubber and scour away Gu Xiu’s artificial tan.

Her hand trembled instinctively as she moved it away from the mouse.

She did not notice that she had accidentally clicked the voice-call button.

Picking up the mug beside her, she took a sip of coffee and smilingly refused.

“No.”

Gu Xiu shamelessly leaned closer.

“Don’t be so heartless, Yuyu. We’re classmates. Is helping me fasten one little clasp really such a big deal?”

Ling Yu gave her an affirmative look.

Yes, it absolutely was.

Gu Xiu’s head drooped miserably. Her short hair appeared soft and fluffy beneath the gentle light, and she looked thoroughly dejected.

“Then can I sleep with you tonight?”

Ling Yu could not be bothered to answer her.

Gu Xiu possessed the romantic sensibilities of a performance artist from Country F. To her, cheek kisses and embraces were polite gestures that strengthened friendship.

Ling Yu respected her customs.

That did not mean she would indulge Gu Xiu’s attempts to approach her.

She extended one long leg and kicked her.

Gu Xiu let out an exaggerated yelp and retreated with painfully fake theatrics. Then she glanced meaningfully at Ling Yu’s chat window.

“Xiao Yu, why are you still on a voice call with someone?”

Ling Yu’s fingers stiffened.

Remembering everything she and Gu Xiu had just said, she turned around and stared at the chat window for three full seconds.

The situation had become impossibly awkward, so she simply greeted Q with forced cheerfulness.

“Hello, beautiful lady.”

Ling Yu waited for a long time, but the person on the other end said nothing.

Perhaps Q had fallen asleep.

Relieved, Ling Yu moved the cursor toward the end-call button.

As long as she did not ask, the embarrassment did not exist.

Pretending nothing had happened, Ling Yu typed Good night into the chat box.

Before she could send it, a notification appeared.

Q has transferred 250 yuan to you.

Ling Yu stared blankly.

[Did your hand slip?]

Q: [What?]

Seeing that Q seemed unaware, Ling Yu sent her a screenshot of the transfer.

Five minutes later, Q replied.

[Sorry. Occupational habit. I minored in psychology at university, so I’m practically half a doctor.]

Could a psychologist and a regular physician really be placed in the same category?

Ling Yu raised an eyebrow.

[???]

Q: [Sorry. I accidentally overheard your roommate speaking just now. Her cerebellum may be underdeveloped. I suggest taking her to the hospital for an emergency neurological examination. Life isn’t easy for international students, so consider this my personal contribution toward her emergency medical expenses. Please pass it along to her.]

Ling Yu: […]

For a moment, Ling Yu had no idea what to say.

Q’s tone was completely unlike her usual manner of speaking.

Tonight’s style of speech gave Ling Yu an inexplicably strong sense of familiarity.

Tapping a finger against her forehead, she narrowed her eyes and asked without revealing anything:

[Is this really you?]

The reply came quickly and concisely.

[Who else would it be?]

[A few days ago, I found an extremely rare handwritten manuscript on modern jewelry appraisal in the library. Want to see it?]

Ling Yu’s eyes brightened.

Her ongoing novel, Treasure Appraisal, had entered the climax of its current arc, but she had recently suspended updates again.

Her earlier research had not been sufficiently thorough. Many of Ling Yu’s ideas came from her previous life, causing the protagonist’s jade-appraisal methods to reflect concepts far too advanced for that historical period.

A plot hole had appeared.

This time, many readers noticed immediately.

With no way to resolve it, Ling Yu could only pause the serialization.

She currently needed to absorb a vast amount of theoretical knowledge from rare appraisal texts to support her writing.

Unfortunately, she had encountered difficulties while searching for materials.

In this world, many appraisal techniques were passed down privately through families and were not available to outsiders.

Ling Yu had no way to access advanced appraisal methods.

A few days earlier, while chatting with Q, she had casually mentioned her interest in jewelry appraisal.

She had never imagined Q could genuinely locate an exceptionally rare manuscript that was almost never circulated publicly.

A smile spread through Ling Yu’s eyes.

[Sister, do you know you remind me of someone?]

In front of her computer screen, Gu Qing stared at the word Sister for a long time.

Her throat went dry.

She instinctively reached for her teacup, but her elbow knocked against it, spilling tea across the table in a decidedly undignified fashion.

She pulled out several tissues and distractedly wiped the surface dry.

When she raised her head, she caught sight of her reflection in the glowing screen.

The woman staring back at her had long curls draped over her shoulders and looked rather disheveled. Indescribably complex emotions spread through her blue eyes.

Gu Qing tugged at the corner of her mouth, flattened her fingers, and covered her eyes.

Her vision became an impenetrable field of darkness.

It seemed this was the only way she could briefly avoid Ling Yu’s message.

She reminded her of… whom?

Gu Qing could probably guess.

The way she had unleashed her full fury upon Ling Yu’s roommate was far too distinctive.

Was Ling Yu finally going to recognize her?

Q’s identity had been a mistake from the very beginning, yet Gu Qing had never been able to force herself to end it.

Over the past two years, she had filed away every sharp edge while speaking with Ling Yu, disguising herself as gentle and humorous.

Today, there was nowhere left to hide.

Ultimately, it was because she had been afraid Ling Yu would discover the truth.

Gu Qing knew exactly how recognizable she became when she stopped restraining her presence.

Just like now.

She had lashed out at Ling Yu’s roommate, and Ling Yu had noticed something wrong almost instantly.

Gu Qing rubbed her aching brow.

She could not describe what she felt.

She had believed she would never regret her decision.

Later, she found herself walking constantly along the edge of regret.

It had rained heavily on the day Ling Yu left.

Gu Qing had stood at the back of the auditorium. A younger student beside her had asked, “Senior, do you feel like crying?”

Gu Qing had thought:

She’ll come back. I have no reason to cry.

One month.

Two months.

Three months.

Just as Gu Qing had wished, once Ling Yu left, she never looked back.

The sky over Gu Qing’s head became permanently black—airless and impenetrable.

Walking down the street one day, Gu Qing heard a male singer crooning from a roadside CD player:

People are always coming and going…

Only then did she suddenly understand.

Oh.

Ling Yu had left.

She had vanished from Gu Qing’s world.

Gu Qing could no longer remember which night she had gone drinking with Fang Jia.

After becoming drunk, Fang Jia tearfully described the woman she loved.

Foxlike eyes.

A face like a hibiscus blossom.

Long skirts fluttering in the wind…

In that instant, Gu Qing’s thoughts became a rolling strip of film filled entirely with Ling Yu.

To like someone was to think of them morning and night.

To think about that person’s untamable defiance.

To wonder how to approach her.

To think and think—

Until, without realizing it, one surrendered to panic.

So this was what it meant to like someone.

After returning home that night, Gu Qing did the most absurd thing she had ever done.

Like a thief, she secretly traced Ling Yu’s IP address.

…

She warned herself that she would only watch from afar and never disturb her.

Because she had already lost the right to stand beside her.

Only after realizing she liked Ling Yu did Gu Qing look back and understand that every instance of her uniquely unreasonable behavior toward Ling Yu had left a trail.

When someone could infuriate you to such an extent…

You were already the frog being boiled in the pot.

Gu Qing was covered in rebellious thorns. She had never imagined that someone unpredictable would enter her life.

Ling Yu had appeared with nothing but fearless courage, dismantling all Gu Qing’s defenses and sending her into a panic.

Gu Qing had raised every sharp thorn she possessed to defend herself against that strange, uncontrollable affection.

By the time she unknowingly lost Ling Yu, every bizarre nightmare that haunted her nights contained those eyes from the moment they fell from the roof.

Gu Qing’s lips curved self-mockingly.

What right did she have to ask for Ling Yu’s affection again?

If Ling Yu recognized her, Gu Qing had only herself to blame.

Ling Yu waited for a long time, but Q sent no reply.

She urged her:

[Hurry, hurry! Show me the rare manuscript. Let me take a look.]

Q: [Hm?]

[You just said… I remind you of whom?]

Ling Yu sent an adorable sticker.

[Doraemon—a little angel who can pull out a treasure at any moment.]