For dinner, Jiang Ling made stir-fried beef, black bean ribs, and corn and rib soup.
Lu Yuyao had eaten some snacks when she returned in the afternoon and was not very hungry, so Jiang Ling did not make too much.
Perhaps because she had cried for a while in the afternoon, Jiang Ling’s appetite was larger than usual.
She ate many pieces of ribs before finally touching her little stomach with satisfaction, signaling that she was full.
After cleaning the dishes and taking their baths, the two sat in the living room for a while.
Jiang Ling accompanied Lu Yuyao to watch a movie she had recently taken a liking to, a film with transmigration and horror elements.
Lu Yuyao looked like a small, soft thing, but she was actually quite brave.
There were many bloody scenes in the movie, and even Jiang Ling instinctively closed her eyes during some of the jump scares, yet Lu Yuyao watched with excitement from beginning to end.
‘The Eldest Young Lady’s strange hobby.’
Tomorrow was the weekend, so the two did not have to worry about the time.
After watching the movie with Lu Yuyao, Jiang Ling felt a bit sleepy.
After saying a word to Lu Yuyao, she went back to her bedroom first.
Judging by Lu Yuyao’s posture when she left, she would probably pick out another horror movie to watch.
Jiang Ling sat in front of the vanity, staring blankly at the mirror.
Her dazzling blonde hair was still a bit damp, draped over her shoulders and leaving small water stains.
After showering, Jiang Ling never liked to blow-dry her hair too thoroughly; leaving a bit of moisture felt just right.
Jiang Ling wore a pink nightgown.
The fullness of her chest propped up the front of the gown, and her exquisite, tempting collarbones were exposed, but her beautiful eyes were filled with fatigue and a sense of being lost.
‘I’m so tired.’
Jiang Ling was mentally exhausted.
On the way home, she had been thinking about how to deal with the changes in Fang Chenxi.
Regarding the interlude after school today, she had been wallowing in regret over her own reaction.
How could she get inexplicably angry and inexplicably cry in front of Fang Chenxi?
In the past, how could a manly man like her have done such a thing?
It was just a thigh touch; Fang Chenxi was at least a beautiful girl, so it was not like she lost out!
But Jiang Ling overlooked one point.
Since coming to this world, it was not just Fang Chenxi who had changed; she had changed as well.
Her consciousness, her heart, and every other aspect were completely transforming toward femininity.
‘So, was my reaction this afternoon normal?’
Jiang Ling left the mirror and, like a salted fish, dove straight into the soft bed.
Her voice was muffled as she muttered to herself.
“Should I have not rejected that junior girl’s confession? At least she could have served as a shield. Then Fang Chenxi would have had some reservations, and today’s incident wouldn’t have happened.”
Actually, Jiang Ling could feel it.
Fang Chenxi seemed to have some kind of… should she call it an obsession, or what?
Regardless, she was deliberately getting close and intentionally doing things to attract her attention.
Clearly, the target of these actions should have been Lu Yuyao.
But there was one thing Jiang Ling could be sure of.
Ever since she arrived in The Book World, she had never done anything bad.
Therefore, being treated as a villain by the Heroine should not happen.
In other words, she was temporarily out of danger.
However, she also had to think of a way to deal with the Fang Chenxi who had already deviated from the plot.
Jiang Ling already had a slight inkling of an idea.
***
At Fang Chenxi’s house.
Inside the bedroom, the lights were off.
It was already evening, and the room was gloomy; Fang Chenxi was the same.
With a sigh, Fang Chenxi sat up from the bed, letting her messy hair slide past the corners of her mouth.
If she were to turn on the lights and look in the mirror now, she would definitely be startled by a gloomy, pale face and disheveled hair.
Ever since she returned from school, she had told the family chef that she did not need dinner and went straight back to her bedroom, collapsing onto the bed.
During that time, she had opened her phone countless times, logged into the burner account that only had Jiang Ling’s contact information, opened the chat box, typed, and deleted.
Back and forth she went, but in the end, she still could not send a message.
Fang Chenxi could not understand what she wanted.
As the Heroine of The Book World, she had extraordinary beauty and top-tier abilities in all aspects.
Possessing these settings should have been a source of joy, but for Fang Chenxi, these things seemed to have become thorny chains that bound her tightly.
Fang Chenxi thought of the classroom that afternoon when she locked eyes with Jiang Ling.
In those teary eyes, there seemed to be more than just anger and dissatisfaction; there was also fear.
‘Is she afraid that I will be like the previous life and kick her out of Lu Yuyao’s house, kick her out of Tianhua Middle School, and kick her out of their lives?’
‘It should be.’
That was why Fang Chenxi was so frustrated.
To be honest, because of her Rebirth, she sensed that all her past feelings for Lu Yuyao had been diluted by suspicion and hesitation.
If she had not accidentally run into Jiang Ling while she was working as a game companion, she might not even want to go to school now.
She would probably bury herself at home all day, playing games when she woke up and sleeping when she was tired, living out these gloomy days.
Everything was planned out anyway, so nothing mattered.
In fact, for a period of time after her Rebirth, she had indeed been in that state.
Jiang Ling’s change gave her a glimmer of hope.
That unrestrained gold was like a Golden Marigold in a dim world; that splash of gold filled Fang Chenxi’s heart.
“What exactly should I do?”
Fang Chenxi said softly.
She lay back on the bed, her hair spread out, her face pale.
Those phoenix eyes, which were usually full of confidence, appeared lonely at this moment.
“So, Eldest Young Lady, why did you have to call me along to buy clothes? You know that my aesthetic sense is not even as good as… ”
Jiang Ling scratched her head, a bit at a loss for words.
“Anyway, it’s not like I can help you choose.”
Lu Yuyao rolled her eyes at her.
“If you can’t pick them out, can’t you at least come out and help me carry things?”
“Lazy maid.”
“I am not lazy.”
“Yes, yes, you are the most diligent little maid. In a bit, I’ll buy two beautiful outfits for you to wear as well, so stop complaining.”
Jiang Ling was coaxed into happiness.
The resentment of being dragged out of bed early and missing her chance to sleep in instantly vanished.
Look at that—usually, it was the maid who coaxed the lady, but Jiang Ling was different; she was the one being coaxed.
“You should just buy your own. I don’t want any.”
For an ordinary girl, going out shopping for pretty clothes was a happy occasion, but Jiang Ling did not feel that way.
She did not like wearing skirts, but Lu Yuyao insisted on buying her all sorts of beautiful skirts every time she bought her clothes.
As a result, her wardrobe was full of dresses that had almost never been touched.
The School Uniform and the Maid Outfit were exceptions, as those were due to uncontrollable factors.
Lu Yuyao was dressed very beautifully today.
She wore a pure white dress that suited her cute and elegant temperament perfectly.
Only half of her calves were exposed, and they were so white they seemed to glow.
Jiang Ling was no exception; she had changed into a cooler outfit: a light green floral dress.
The hem was quite short, barely covering her thighs, giving off a fresh, youthful vibe.
“See? Don’t you look great in a skirt? It’s not as serious as you say.”
Lu Yuyao nodded with considerable satisfaction.
Her gaze moved from top to bottom, finally resting on the large area of fair skin exposed at Jiang Ling’s chest.
This floral dress had a waist-slimming design, making Jiang Ling’s waist look even thinner and her legs longer.
Lu Yuyao was a bit dazed as she watched, and a thought suddenly rose in her heart.
“I’m just not used to wearing skirts.”
“Turn around. Let me see the back.”
Hearing Lu Yuyao’s command, Jiang Ling turned her back in confusion.
Lu Yuyao quietly took a photo and then quickly put her phone away.
Perhaps because she had done something bad, her small face was flushed.
“Alright, inspection over. You look very beautiful.”
“Wouldn’t I look better if I didn’t wear it… ”
Jiang Ling muttered softly.
“Hmm?”
A dangerous signal came as Lu Yuyao narrowed her eyes.
Jiang Ling hurriedly turned her head away and said, “Then let’s go now.”
“Hmph.”
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