RAHHSFL - Chapter 96
Extra 2 (Part 2)
"Okay," Ruan Nan said, quickly standing up.
…
Despite clutching her stomach and her throbbing ankle, her eyes held a triumphant glint.
Qin Juran instantly regretted her offer.
She bent down, picked up Ruan Nan’s bag, and slung it over her shoulder, frowning at Ruan Nan's ankle. "Can you walk?”
Ruan Nan tested her right foot. Her heels were almost two inches high. She could manage a light step, but putting any weight on it was painful.
Qin Juran looked around the narrow alley. A car wouldn’t fit, and in her skirt, she couldn’t ride a bicycle. She paused. "Should I help you?”
"Thank you, Juran~," Ruan Nan said, smiling sweetly.
"…It's nothing," Qin Juran replied curtly, hoping she wouldn't start acting like Chen Xue and trying to manipulate her.
Qin Juran took Ruan Nan's bag and put it on her right shoulder, then offered her left arm.
Qin Juran rarely had close physical contact with other girls. She was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and Ruan Nan's blouse was practically see-through. She held out her arm, unsure how to support Ruan Nan.
Seeing her awkwardness, Ruan Nan smiled, taking Qin Juran’s hand and guiding it around her waist. Qin Juran flinched slightly, then let Ruan Nan hold her, leaning on her as they slowly walked, Ruan Nan’s subtle lime scent filling the air.
As Ruan Nan's waist pressed against her hand, Qin Juran paused, her face flushing.
"What's wrong?" Ruan Nan asked, looking up at her.
"Nothing. Let’s just go."
Qin Juran supported Ruan Nan as they walked. Initially, Ruan Nan’s pace was steady, but as the pain in her ankle intensified, Qin Juran noticed her faltering and pulled her closer, letting Ruan Nan lean more heavily on her.
They reached Chengjing Manor after crossing the street. They walked in silence. Qin Juran glanced at Ruan Nan’s heels. Ruan Nan was almost as tall as her now. Without the heels, there wasn't much difference.
"I wish I were a bit taller…" Qin Juran mumbled.
"You’ll be 5'8"," Ruan Nan replied casually.
?
"Did you calculate that for me?"
Ruan Nan looked at her. "Your bones are long and slender. Reaching 5'7" shouldn’t be a problem~"
Qin Juran tilted her head, teasing her. "Jiejie is rather petite, isn’t she?"
…
Qin Juran was referring to her height and frame, but Ruan Nan, remembering Qin Juran commenting on her small chest years later, gritted her teeth.
They entered the manor. The security guard, seeing two young women supporting each other, was about to stop them, but seeing Qin Juran's face, he quickly looked away.
Fortunately, Qin Juran's apartment was nearby. Before they went upstairs, Qin Juran said, "I live alone. You can take a shower first.”
Ruan Nan nodded. Qin Juran helped her up the stairs, the steps short but slippery. As they neared the top, Ruan Nan stumbled, about to fall backwards. Qin Juran quickly reached out to catch her.
Startled, Ruan Nan instinctively fell against Qin Juran, a familiar, trusting embrace.
The hallway was dimly lit. Ruan Nan gasped, then landed safely in Qin Juran’s arms. They stood there, embraced, Qin Juran feeling the softness of Ruan Nan’s body against hers, her subtle perfume filling the air. A strange sensation washed over her.
They stood there for a moment, time seeming to stop, Ruan Nan slightly dazed.
"Ju Ju…" she whispered, the nickname escaping her lips without conscious thought.
"Ruan Nan, are you…”
Qin Juran’s hushed voice, close to her ear, sent shivers down her spine.
"Yes?" Ruan Nan didn't pull away.
"…Not very bright?"
"?"
Qin Juran pushed her away, quickly unlocking the door, and retrieved a pair of slippers from inside. "Put these on. Take your time coming up.”
…
Qin Juran went back inside, her face slightly flushed from their close contact. Of course, being unfazed wouldn’t be Qin Juran.
Ruan Nan, unashamed, took off her heels, put on the slippers, and slowly went inside.
Qin Juran lived alone, having chosen a small apartment in Chengjing Manor. Ruan Nan entered the two-story duplex, its minimalist black and white décor reflecting a distinctly Nordic aesthetic.
The furniture and decorations were luxurious, a clear indication of a wealthy upbringing.
Qin Juran tossed her bag onto a chair by the dining table and sat on the sofa. "The bathroom’s over there. There are disposable toiletries inside.” Then, as an afterthought, she asked, "Where’s your luggage? You didn't come back from abroad without any luggage, did you?”
Ruan Nan shrugged. "I left it in the taxi.”
…
She couldn't shower without changing clothes. Qin Juran, barely settled on the sofa, had to get up again. "I’ll get you a dress," she said, then, glancing at Ruan Nan's figure, added, "It might not fit."
Ruan Nan also looked down at their chests, a forced smile on her face. "Thank… you.”
Ruan Nan went to the bathroom. Qin Juran told her to lock the door and sat in the living room, reading the news in English on her tablet. The sound of running water from the nearby bathroom filled the air. This was the first time another girl had used her shower.
Qin Juran’s mind wandered. She put down her tablet. This girl, she thought, was strangely captivating. Not particularly bright, not as manipulative as Chen Xue, her intentions clearly written on her face, yet Qin Juran couldn’t seem to refuse her.
And that moment in the hallway…
Qin Juran’s face flushed. So this is what being an adult allows you to do?
The bathroom door opened. Qin Juran quickly picked up a book, pretending to read. Ruan Nan emerged, wearing a pale yellow dress of Qin Juran's. Qin Juran, at 17, had indeed been about the same size. Ruan Nan's hair was still damp, her skin slightly flushed from the shower. She walked over, drying her hair with a towel. "What's for dinner?"
Qin Juran put down her book, glancing at Ruan Nan, then quickly turned away. "Why aren't you dressed properly?"
Ruan Nan looked down at the dress. The straps, tied at the back of her neck, had come undone as she dried her hair. The dress had slipped down, revealing her shoulders.
She paused. "My… my hair’s still wet…”
Qin Juran, without saying anything, went to the closet, retrieved a white shirt, and handed it to her without even looking. "Put this on.”
Ruan Nan, thinking it was a bit much, but seeing the blush on Qin Juran's face, just took the shirt and put it on.
When she was dressed, Qin Juran turned around, glancing at her ankle. "What did you ask me?”
"What’s for dinner?" Ruan Nan asked casually, as if she were asking a roommate.
"But your ankle seems to be fine now," Qin Juran said, looking at her feet.
Ruan Nan followed her gaze, realizing she had walked over without any difficulty. After a moment of silence, she clutched her stomach. "Ow, it seems my stomach is hurting again…”
"..."
Ruan Nan, groaning dramatically, sat on the sofa, curling up against a pillow. Qin Juran’s dress wasn’t very long, and with Ruan Nan’s legs curled up, they were clearly visible, threatening to reveal even more with every movement.
Qin Juran crossed her arms. "Hasn't anyone told you it's not safe to stay at a stranger's house alone?"
Ruan Nan looked at her. "What’s so unsafe about staying at my meimei’s house?”
"..." Qin Juran hadn't told anyone she liked girls, let alone Chen Xue, who couldn't care less about her, or this seemingly random "cousin.”
She cleared her throat. "So you’re not planning on leaving tonight?"
Ruan Nan nodded. "I told you I’m here for your farewell party.”
"Reason?" Qin Juran raised an eyebrow.
"Initially, it was for Chen Xue. But now I find you rather… interesting.”
Qin Juran, as if she’d heard a joke, walked over to the sofa, leaning over Ruan Nan. "Interesting? What's so interesting about me? I have a resting bitch face, I'm bad-tempered, I don't know how to be nice or fake a smile, and the person I dislike most is your cousin. You still find me interesting, Jiejie?"
She was still in her school uniform, her tie dangling in front of Ruan Nan as she leaned over, her beautiful face a mask of indifference. Ruan Nan, struggling to contain her laughter, said, "You have a resting bitch face, but you’re also beautiful. You don’t know how to be nice because you’re straightforward and honest. And as for Chen Xue, since you dislike her…”
"It must be her fault.”
"?"
Qin Juran's eye twitched. Just to stay the night, is it really necessary to go through all this?
She looked around the apartment. Whatever. It's big enough. Let her stay.
"What do you want to eat?” she asked.
"Anything is fine. Something light. I can help you prepare the noodles.”
Who said anything about cooking?
Qin Juran paused. They usually ordered takeout. It had started raining outside. She checked her phone; the delivery service said it might be a while. She thought for a moment, then replied:
[It’s okay, we don't need it today.]
She closed her phone and turned to Ruan Nan, her voice slightly suspicious. "You really know how to make noodles? I don't have any instant noodle seasoning.”
"Of course," Ruan Nan nodded. "I can even help you with your homework.”
"Help me?” Qin Juran scoffed. "Do you even know what I got on my math test?"
Ruan Nan shook her head. "But I know you haven’t memorized 'Li Sao' yet~"
"..."
They cooked some noodles. Qin Juran's contribution was limited to finding the pot and the noodles; Ruan Nan did the rest. Qin Juran had been skeptical, but after her first bite, she realized it was surprisingly good.
"How’s my cooking, Qin classmate?"
"Did you add some special seasoning or something?"
Ruan Nan nodded proudly. "A secret recipe.”
Qin Juran rolled her eyes. Even if she knew the recipe, she still wouldn’t cook.
After dinner, Qin Juran went to take a shower, telling Ruan Nan where she could sleep and then heading upstairs. Ruan Nan glanced at the time. It was only 9:00 PM. Qin Juran usually stayed up late. Had she not developed that habit at 17?
"Are you going to bed?" she asked.
Qin Juran adjusted her backpack strap. "I’m going to memorize 'Li Sao'."
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