Chapter 35 - The Panda Cub Bows For Love

Chapter 35: Dreams on the Same Bed, Yet Worlds Apart Jing Dan had gone to the bathroom, and He Xiang, seizing the opportunity, fetched a lint roller to clean up the mixed black and white fur on the sofa. Observing the intertwined furs, she tightened her gaze for a brief moment before gracefully tidying up the couch. Afterwards, she proceeded to the kitchen and began to organize the messy aftermath there. By the time Jing Dan emerged, only the smoke-stained walls remained a visible testament to the chaos, as everything else had been cleaned and tidied up. Jing Dan: “…” She actually took advantage of the time I was bathing to stealthily clean up! Observing He Xiang’s rolled-up sleeves that revealed her smooth, slender arms, Jing Dan thought such an artifact was meant to flourish freely on stage in dance movements, yet here it was now, being utilized to clean up the kitchen she had wrecked. A sense of dullness enveloped Jing Dan, coupled with a strange feeling. “What’s with that look?” He Xiang could tell just by her expression that Jing Dan’s mind was probably cluttered with all sorts of thoughts. Jing Dan responded with a sullen shake of her head, “I don’t have another room for someone to sleep in.” She hadn’t lived here long and hadn’t prepared many things, let alone a guest room. “Since we’ve already shared a bed before, does it matter if we do so one more time?” He Xiang seemed unconcerned. After all, Jing Dan had slept in her bedroom when she stayed at her place. Was she now fussing about it when roles were reversed? Impossible. Jing Dan: “…” What do you mean ‘shared a bed before’… “Do you have clothes to change into?” He Xiang asked. Jing Dan: “...Yes.” The aunt had indeed prepared quite a few things for such occasions. He Xiang sighed in relief. “Your clothes have already been washed. You can wear your own tomorrow,” Jing Dan mentioned, having washed He Xiang’s clothes promptly upon her arrival. Initially, she had planned to send He Xiang home with them tonight, but since she ended up staying, it turned out to be rather convenient. He Xiang laughed and then headed into the bathroom with the clothes Jing Dan had prepared for her. After He Xiang entered the bathroom, Jing Dan suddenly started to feel nervous. First, she returned to her bedroom to tidy up the somewhat disorganized desk, followed by straightening and adjusting the quilt on her bed, attempting to present a neat and clean appearance. When He Xiang came out, she immediately noticed the changes in the bedroom. However, she spared Jing Dan only a glance, feeling that mentioning it might just make her blush and speechless. She decided to be considerate of this grown-up child instead. Lying in bed, it was still early, only about ten o'clock. This adult child probably wasn’t sleepy yet, so Jing Dan suggested they watch a movie together. Jing Dan blinked, “What shall we watch?” Seeing her innocently asking, He Xiang couldn’t help but have some mischievous thoughts, barely suppressing her laughter as she pulled up the movie version of "Boonie Bears" on her phone. Jing Dan, peeking over: “…” She hadn’t expected He Xiang to have such a taste, and the name "Boonie Bears" somehow felt peculiar to her, especially since she considered herself a bit of a bear… With a laugh held back, He Xiang scooted closer to Jing Dan, positioning the phone between them for easy viewing, and suggested, “We should probably get a projector for the bedroom. It’d make watching movies much more convenient in the future, don’t you think?” Jing Dan watched "Boonie Bears" with a stoic expression but paid serious attention to it. He Xiang chuckled quietly to herself. As expected, she’s still a child at heart, enjoying cartoons. While the two of them cuddled together, watching the animated movie in harmony, Hu Tu was embodying the world of adults elsewhere. Her little white dress was torn and tattered, hanging off her body in a mess, coupled with her disheveled hair and a vacant look in her features, as if she had suffered some form of ❖❖. A woman, whose appearance could almost be described as enticingly seductive to the bone, crawled up from behind Hu Tu, pressing down on her and laughed in a soft, enticing tone that almost dripped with honey, “How does it feel? Still unwilling to accept defeat this time?” Hu Tu’s initially unfocused gaze slowly sharpened as she felt the soft press against her back. She clenched her teeth, anger flushing the corners of her eyes! She had been blinded by deception again! But now, she found herself speechless. Each word she could utter felt like stubborn pride, only inviting more ridicule from the woman. “You’ve lost. What do you think you should wear tomorrow?” the woman teased, her voice gentle and her fingertips teasingly playing through Hu Tu’s hair. Hu Tu: “...Damn, you twisted freak!” “Ah, I’ve got it. How about a bunny girl outfit? What do you say?” The woman’s voice deepened with amusement, clearly finding great satisfaction in her proposition. Hu Tu’s expression turned fierce, and she flipped the woman beneath her, grinding out through clenched teeth, “You wear it instead.” And with that, she launched a vigorous assault. Perhaps the woman had underestimated Hu Tu, for she soon found herself utterly overpowered and unable to turn the tables. The woman: “…” “Heh, thought you were so capable? Try standing up now,” Hu Tu gloated triumphantly while smacking her lips, teasingly calling out, “Xu Yu?” Since learning the woman’s name from He Xiang, this was the first time she had addressed her directly. Xu Yu’s gaze turned icy; the smile on her face, once filled with allure, gradually faded, her eyes narrowing slightly as she coldly said, “You’ve been investigating me?” The shift in her tone caught Hu Tu off guard, prompting her to pause and then resume, somewhat nonchalantly, “Not exactly an investigation. After all, you’ve made headlines with He Xiang in the celebrity gossip, haven’t you?” Xu Yu: “...You know He Xiang?” Her tone softened significantly, showing real interest for the first time as she looked at Hu Tu. Hu Tu raised an eyebrow, noting the change, and resumed her actions while saying carelessly, “Of course I know her. After all, it was she who told me your name.” Xu Yu: “...” Eventually, after both had finished cleaning up in the bathroom, they sat face-to-face for the first time, looking at each other seriously. Xu Yu observed Hu Tu carefully, noting her reaction upon mentioning He Xiang. It didn’t seem like she harbored any special intentions towards He Xiang, which relieved Xu Yu somewhat. “Since you’re a friend of He Xiang, you can be considered my friend as well. And since we’re friends, it’s time to end this affair,” Xu Yu declared. Hu Tu: “...” So, because we are friends, our relationship should end? Frowning, Hu Tu eyed the woman across from her and, without hesitation, stated, “You’re in love with He Xiang!” It wasn’t a question, but a firm assertion. However, Xu Yu only lifted her eyelids slightly, offering no rebuttal to Hu Tu’s claim. Hu Tu’s frown deepened; she was at a loss for words. She now held profound respect for Xu Yu. To be in love with someone, shouldn’t one at least strive to remain chaste? Yet, Xu Yu seemed to do the opposite. Recalling He Xiang’s casual and natural mention of Xu Yu, Hu Tu suddenly had a realization. “Could it be that you’re in love with He Xiang, but she’s completely oblivious?” Thinking from He Xiang’s perspective, who would believe that someone loves them yet constantly gets entangled with others in their presence? Such a belief would be absurd. Xu Yu: “...” Silently facing Hu Tu, she appeared to be at a loss for words. Hu Tu broke into a full-on laugh, finally feeling utterly triumphant. The sensation was even more delightful than having previously subdued her in a battle of wits. Shaking her head with a look of pity, she said, “Seeing you like this, I can tell He Xiang is hard to pursue. You’re really asking for trouble.” She knew that He Xiang had never been involved in any romantic entanglements. As for those with ulterior motives who got close to her, well, it was simply unbearable to witness. Xu Yu watched her blabber on, her expression cooling, then abruptly grabbed her bag and turned to leave, showing an eagerness to escape Hu Tu’s presence. Her agitated departure brought immense joy to Hu Tu, who teased from behind, “Truly heartless.” Hadn’t they just engaged in a fiery exchange a moment ago? This cold detachment was worthy of absolute distinction. Xu Yu paused for a moment, then quickened her pace and left. — Halfway through the movie, with He Xiang yet to feel sleepy, Jing Dan had already succumbed to drowsiness. Yet, seeing Jing Dan engrossed in the movie, He Xiang felt it would be rude to interrupt and suggest they sleep. It seemed like a case of reaping what you sow. Amused, He Xiang thought to herself how seriously Jing Dan took watching an animated film—such a unique interest. “You keep watching. I’m going to sleep,” He Xiang finally said, breaking the silence. Alright, she admitted, this young person had more stamina than her. Interrupted, Jing Dan then turned to look at He Xiang, only to see her struggling to stay awake, her phone nearly slipping from her grip and landing on the comforter. “Oh, then let’s sleep. No more watching,” Jing Dan said as she picked up the phone to turn it off and placed it on the nightstand. She then turned off the light, settled under the covers, and in the darkness, she turned to face He Xiang. Caught off guard by Jing Dan’s smoothly executed actions, He Xiang was momentarily perplexed: “…” “Let’s sleep,” Jing Dan said, patting He Xiang’s leg through the blankets. "…Understood." He Xiang didn't even know what expression to wear on her face anymore. As she lay down, an arm stretched from beside her, gently pulling the blanket over her. He Xiang: "..." Why does this feel so oddly off? It didn’t take long for her to realize the oddity; she was usually the one who took care of Jing Dan in such manners. When did the roles reverse?! She stared blankly at the ceiling, finding the turn of events utterly unexpected — or rather, Jing Dan's behavior throughout the day had been an array of surprises. Suddenly, darkness enveloped her vision as a hand covered her eyes, followed by Jing Dan’s crisp voice by her ear, "Sleep now." He Xiang: "…" This felt even stranger. After falling asleep, He Xiang found herself in a dream where she was a white crane chick, newly born with eyes yet to open. Abandoned right after birth, she was then picked up and brought home by a woman who treated her kindly, offering milk and lullabies, occasionally grooming her feathers with meticulous care. Gradually, being well cared for, she wanted to open her eyes, eager to see the woman who had been nurturing her. She tried hard to open her eyes until, at last, a moment came when her eyes opened wide. She hurried to gaze upon her benefactor, wanting to etch her savior’s image into her heart. However, what she saw was a stunningly beautiful woman, looking back at her with eyes full of tenderness… !!! He Xiang suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for air, her gaze fixated on the ocean-blue ceiling, still unable to shake off the shock from her dream. Was the woman with tender eyes in her dream Jing Dan?! This revelation was horrifying! He Xiang closed her eyes again, feeling ridiculous for having such an absurd dream. "Are you awake?" Jing Dan's soft inquiry came by her ear. He Xiang: "…" She didn't know how to face Jing Dan now. Every time she saw her, she would remember Jing Dan from her dream, looking at her with kind eyes. Kindness? That was something entirely unrelated to Jing Dan! Seeing no response, Jing Dan thought He Xiang wanted to sleep in a little more. She then cautiously got out of bed, careful not to disturb He Xiang, and tiptoed to the bathroom to freshen up. He Xiang: "…" Why is she up so early today? She opened her eyes towards the direction of the bathroom. The door was thoughtfully closed, and she could barely hear any noise. However, in just a few minutes, she heard the door being opened. She quickly shut her eyes, pretending to be still asleep. She heard Jing Dan approach the bed to grab her phone, and then cautiously opened the bedroom door and left, her movements as light as a feather. He Xiang: "…" After lying in bed for a while, driven by curiosity, she eventually got up to wash up and walked out of the bedroom. Stepping out, she saw Jing Dan sitting on the living room sofa, engrossed in her phone. Upon closer inspection, He Xiang discovered Jing Dan was browsing a food delivery platform. Noticing her presence, Jing Dan looked up, seemingly puzzled, probably not expecting He Xiang, who seemed set on sleeping in, to get up so soon. "What are you doing?" He Xiang pointed at her phone. Jing Dan looked down, revealing the storefront she had selected, and said, "Ordering breakfast." He Xiang was torn between laughing and sighing but eventually exhaled and said, "No need to order, I'll make some." The kitchen had been tidied up last night and was ready for use. Jing Dan blinked, uttering an "Oh." Certainly, she preferred He Xiang's cooking over anything else. He Xiang paid her no mind, her hand lifting to tie her hair up as she walked towards the kitchen. She casually grabbed a pen from a passing counter to secure her hair, embodying an air of casual elegance. Jing Dan, watching from behind, was momentarily entranced. He Xiang's natural demeanor was a sight to behold, no wonder netizens were clamoring for her to enter acting. Snapping back to reality, Jing Dan hurried into the kitchen, intending to assist He Xiang. However, after last night's incident, there was no way He Xiang would let her enter the kitchen. She immediately pushed Jing Dan away, saying, "You don’t need to come in. Your presence might disrupt my cooking rhythm." Jing Dan: "…" Cooking has a rhythm? Ignoring Jing Dan’s puzzled look, He Xiang pushed her out and closed the kitchen door, signaling she didn’t want Jing Dan anywhere near. Jing Dan: "…" Returning to the living room, Jing Dan suddenly remembered the lie she had told He Xiang the previous night. She quickly took out her phone to message Hu Tu. 【Jing Dan】: Hurry up and find a black-and-white cat to send to my aunt! After all, she had promised to let He Xiang meet that cat sometime. If she couldn’t produce it later, wouldn’t her lie be exposed? Still groggy, Hu Tu pulled her phone closer upon hearing the notification sound. Opening the message, she saw the peculiar request. With her clouded mind, she wondered why it had to be black and white? Wouldn’t that just be matching your own color? She replied with a question mark, set the phone aside, and planned to continue sleeping. Just as she was about to drift off, she suddenly jolted awake, sat up, and closely read Jing Dan’s message again. "…" So what kind of trick was she up to now? 【Jing Dan】: When He Xiang came to my house last night, she saw fur on the sofa… Hu Tu: "…" So? You said it was your aunt's cat? Shaking her head, Hu Tu lamented that Auntie Jing Shimei had such a troublesome niece. 【Hu Tu】: Why don’t you deliver it yourself? 【Jing Dan】: … How could she dare approach her now? Probably her aunt didn't want to see her either… 【Hu Tu】: Deliver it yourself, and you can also ask her about the missing soul while you’re at it. !!! Jing Dan realized she hadn’t consulted her aunt about the missing soul matter! She was frustrated. Such an important issue had been neglected, all because she was distracted by He Xiang's delicious cooking! (End of Chapter)