Chapter 99: 099 New Best Friend
On Sunday afternoon, Pei Ningle and Han Yixuan had arranged to go shopping together.
These past few days, both had been intentionally probing each other’s situation and thoughts, so they chatted a lot more than usual. The chat records on Q were packed full, a long string.
Even her roommate, who happened to glance at the chat records, couldn’t help but ask: “Doesn’t seem like a boy, huh? We thought you were in an online relationship…”
Han Yixuan, who was combing her hair in front of the mirror, walked over, closed the laptop computer, and said with a beaming smile: “I’m not interested in online relationships at all. This is a girl.”
“That string of Q messages just now, all from this girl?”
Han Yixuan nodded: “Yeah.”
The roommate couldn’t help but ask again: “So the one you’re meeting later is also this girl?”
The young girl nodded again: “That’s right.”
The roommate quietly stepped back two steps, putting some distance between herself and Han Yixuan.
Another roommate asked: “Is this an old classmate of yours?”
Han Yixuan shook her head lightly: “No, it’s a newly met best friend.”
“Best friend, huh…”
While talking, Han Yixuan finished combing her hair. And all the other preparations were already done. So the young girl picked up her small bag, checked the mobile phone, key, wallet and such inside, then opened the dormitory door.
“See you later. I might not come back for dinner, but I’ll definitely be back before lights out.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Han Yixuan closed the dormitory door from outside.
The two roommates exchanged a glance and muttered a couple of sentences:
“Her feelings with that new best friend are really good.”
“Specially arranged to hang out together, who knows what they’re going to do…”
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At Han Yixuan’s suggestion, their shopping spot was chosen as a shopping mall in the city center of Rongdu City. It didn’t belong to the busiest business district, but the popularity wasn’t low either. From eating, drinking, playing, to clothes and beauty products, all kinds of merchants were there.
And most importantly, the consumption grade here wasn’t high, which suited Han Yixuan who didn’t want to spend money.
At the main entrance of the shopping mall, Han Yixuan spotted that petite love rival who called herself ‘Wang Le’.
Pei Ningle was wearing a very simple long sleeves sportswear and cropped pants, paired with light-colored short socks and sports shoes, full of youthful vibe. She wasn’t carrying a handbag, just had a small alternate account backpack. Looking at that cute face, she seemed innocently immature no matter how you saw it, like she had no scheming at all.
The most scheming person is one who doesn’t let others know she has scheming.
Han Yixuan secretly clenched her small fist, full of vigilance in her heart, but with a smile on her face: “Xiao Le, I’m here!”
Pei Ningle smiled and waved her hand: “Good afternoon. Where are we going now?”
“Not sure, let’s just walk around and see…”
The two young girls walked side by side, strolling idly in the shopping mall.
Han Yixuan had no intention of buying anything, just wanted to use this opportunity to continue investigating the enemy. And Pei Ningle didn’t seem to plan on buying anything either—this made Han Yixuan secretly guess that there were plenty of clothes and accessory stores in the shopping mall, but probably none caught the rich loli’s eye?
Suddenly, Pei Ningle stopped in front of a store.
It was a KTV.
Han Yixuan probed: “Xiao Le, do you want to sing?”
Pei Ningle nodded: “My biggest hobby is music.”
She had mentioned this point before when chatting on Q, but Han Yixuan hadn’t paid too much attention, after all, there were way too many girls who claimed to like music, including some with nice voices.
So, was this showing off some talent?
With such a guess, Han Yixuan followed Pei Ningle into the KTV.
They booked the cheapest mini private room, only two hours, price just a few dozen yuan. Before Han Yixuan could take out her wallet, Pei Ningle had already paid.
“I’ll definitely sing more than you, so I’m treating this time.”
What did that mean? Did grabbing the microphone like that imply some deeper meaning? The problem was there were two microphones in the private room… Han Yixuan contemplated, involuntarily suspecting if she was overthinking it.
Once in the private room, Pei Ningle first selected several songs, then turned her head and said: “Xiao Xuan, you pick some songs too.”
Han Yixuan came to the song selection station, glanced at the songs Pei Ningle had picked. The first one was a childhood memory for countless peers—《Our Love》.
What deeper meaning was there in picking this song?
Han Yixuan patted her head, reining in her thoughts. After all, this was karaoke; if she analyzed the deeper meaning of every love song, these two hours wouldn’t know how many brain cells it’d burn.
“Actually, I’ve always disliked love songs before…” As the prelude started, Pei Ningle said softly, “But now it seems like I kind of get it.”
Hmm?
This remark made it impossible for Han Yixuan not to overthink. But before she could contemplate it carefully, her thoughts were interrupted again.
Because Pei Ningle picked up the microphone and started singing:
“Memories bring back the vague days of childhood…”
The opening low notes immediately made one’s eyes light up. Not just a nice voice, but every pronunciation had a captivating beauty.
As the melody rose gradually to the chorus part, this beauty was even more fully expressed.
“Our love, once passed, won’t come back…”
Different vocal timbre from the original singer, less of the mature emotion, but more of a young girl’s ethereal quality. Recalling the original singer’s feeling carefully, Han Yixuan thought she preferred Fei’er’s original, but had to admit ‘Wang Le’s version was pretty good too.
Suddenly, Han Yixuan reacted—she was clearly just singing in a KTV, why was she comparing her to a professional singer like the original?
One song ended.
Han Yixuan pressed the pause button and clapped: “Xiao Le, you sing really well…”
Pei Ningle stuck out her little tongue: “It’s okay, I said this is my only hobby and only specialty. And for earning a living with it, it definitely can’t be too bad.”
Han Yixuan frowned, sensing something off: “Earning a living with it?”
Pei Ningle: “Yeah, I’m a resident singer in a bar.”
Han Yixuan said in surprise: “You never told me before!”
Pei Ningle: “Uh, forgot to mention…”
Han Yixuan stared at the love rival in front of her, involuntarily falling into contemplation.
Was this ‘Wang Le’ really a rich loli? Originally from a good family background, then resident singing in a bar to experience life? Or had she misunderstood earlier, and the money for keeping Wang Heng came from her own earnings?
If it was the second case, that would be even more terrifying. Resident singing in a bar isn’t stable work, doesn’t earn much, yet still shelling out from the wallet to keep him… You have to know, a rich person spending some money on something versus a poor person emptying their wallet to buy it, the meaning is completely different.
Just how obsessed was this ‘Wang Le’ with Wang Heng?
Han Yixuan suddenly felt a chill.
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Thanks to everyone for the recommendation tickets, thanks to Linxian Ge, Younger Sister’s good person card, Shiguang Yu Hanmei or Wuwangwo and other classmates’ rewards!
