Lingyin didn't know how she made it back to her dorm.
The first time she tried to head back, she remembered halfway that the dance studio's lights were still on, so she hurried back to turn them off. The second time, she couldn't recall if she had forgotten anything, but fearing she might have, she went back to check repeatedly.
The tablet was taken, the charger was grabbed, and the power plugs for the speakers and projector were unplugged. Everything was packed up, and she couldn't think of anything she had forgotten, so she decided to leave.
On her third attempt to head back, she suddenly wondered... Did I close the door?
After a total of five trips back and forth, Lingyin finally returned to her dorm. She collapsed onto her soft little bed, feeling utterly drained and not wanting to get up again.
Her body was tired, her head was buzzing, and her mind was blank.
Today was really not a good day for Lingyin; it was practically a black Saturday. First, she sat alone on the side with her tablet "researching," only to be caught on the spot by the imaginary heroine in her mind, the well-endowed junior Bai Ningning.
Then, during a discussion about the reasons for forming a club, someone unearthed her deep-seated little secrets. After venting her frustrations, she found herself with her hands held tightly by Bai Ningning, who made a beautiful promise to always be together.
Ah no, that was just her roommate listening to music; she got distracted.
"Lingyin, aren't you working on club activities?" her roommate asked, "Why are you back so soon?"
"Just felt like coming back," Lingyin replied without looking back, "Why are you listening to such old songs?"
Listening to "The Years We Spent Together" made her thoughts all jumbled.
She turned the air conditioning down a couple of degrees, pulled the blanket over her head, and tried to calm down.
Being unexpectedly caught with her little secret was a bit of a shock, but it wasn't a big deal. The key point was that Bai Ningning had said she wanted to accompany her, which felt so random.
She said she recognized Lingyin's thoughts and admired her actions, but when she spoke, her tone was completely devoid of emotion, making it sound very insincere.
It must be an excuse!
So, the question arose: why did she want to accompany me and help me build the club? And she held on so tightly, it startled her.
Lingyin frowned slightly, deep in thought.
Could it be that she wants...
"Once the scenery is all seen through, maybe you will accompany me to watch the gentle flow of water~"
Lingyin pulled off the blanket and looked helplessly at her roommate: "I never knew you were a fan of Faye Wong."
"Yeah," her roommate turned her head in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just wanted to thank you. At least you weren't listening to Because of Love."
Lingyin rolled her eyes and tried to reorganize her disrupted thoughts. But thoughts are like a bowl of clear water; once mixed with a bit of impurity, it can never be cleaned again.
While pondering Bai Ningning's motives, the lyrics from earlier kept echoing in Lingyin's mind.
Could it be... but how could that be? She clearly... no, it's impossible!
Lingyin couldn't figure it out.
......
"Madam, that is to say, the young lady's mother, you have already met Miss Ningning, so I won't elaborate. As for the young lady's father, I will refer to him as 'Sir.'"
In the Shuiyue Tingyuan, the head of the household was still asleep, while Bai Ningning sat in the living room, listening to Aunt Zou explain the things to pay attention to.
"Understood, I will also call him 'Sir.'"
Aunt Zou rolled her eyes: "Why would you call him 'Sir'? Don't you know what you should call him?"
Bai Ningning tilted her head tentatively: "Uncle?"
"'Uncle' is fine, or 'Elder Uncle,' just pick one of those two titles," Aunt Zou continued, "In any case, during this gathering, I hope Miss Ningning remembers her identity as the girlfriend of the young lady."
Bai Ningning was slightly taken aback: "No need to hide it?"
Instead, Aunt Zou was puzzled: "Why would you need to hide it... In other words, if Miss Ningning were not the girlfriend of the young lady, what identity would you have to go?"
At family gatherings, everyone present are relatives. If you're not the girlfriend of the young lady, what right do you have to attend a family gathering? Just because you're the close senior of the second young lady?
That would be too strange.
"I'm just a bit surprised," Bai Ningning said, "I didn't expect that Yueyue's family relatives would be so open-minded."
Even if the eldest daughter brought back a girlfriend, even if the parents were mentally prepared and accepted it in advance, wouldn't the other relatives who were unaware of the situation have strange looks or gossip?
Aunt Zou thought for a moment and understood her meaning: "Because she is the young lady, so there won't be any. If it were someone else, there might be."
Like the second young lady.
Bai Ningning tilted her head, not quite understanding.
"The young lady is currently the actual power holder of the group, her position is very stable," Aunt Zou said, "The relatives have vested interests, so who would dare to gossip?"
Bai Ningning suddenly understood, thinking to herself that the eldest sister was so impressive.
Seeing her performance in battle with herself, she thought she was just like that.
"I'll continue, since it's a family gathering, there aren't many relatives coming, just those who live nearby and came by," Aunt Zou explained, "Miss Ningning, as the girlfriend of the young lady, if possible, I hope you can present yourself in the manner of a future mistress of the Qin family."
Bai Ningning was slightly taken aback: "What kind of attitude?"
Wasn't I here to be the big sister's warm bed secretary to repay my debt? How did I become the future mistress of the Qin family? Does the big sister have this idea?
Ningning didn't know, and she didn't dare to ask.
Aunt Zou then began to give examples: "For instance, when facing older relatives, you know it can be a bit strange. They might not dare to say anything on the surface, but their eyes can't hide it, and the conversation might be a bit awkward. You can go along with what they say, agree a bit more, and show that you're easy to get along with, which will make them feel good about you."
"But relatives might bring their children along, younger or even the same age as you, and they won't have as many concerns. Even if the parents advise them, there might be a rebellious mentality. If they talk to you, their words might be a bit sharp."
Bai Ningning was puzzled: "Why would the younger generation have hostility towards me?"
Why else? They think that girls like you tarnish the family's reputation, lower the standards of the Qin family, and that it would damage their own face if it got out. Kids, you know, have immature thoughts like that.
Additionally, some feel that you are not worthy of being the young lady. You should know that the young lady has a great reputation among the younger generation of the Qin family; she is practically a Goddess.
What Aunt Zou thought in her heart, she didn't dare to say out loud, so she simply spoke vaguely: "In short, when encountering such situations, Miss Ningning can smile gently and show the grace of being the future mistress of the Qin family."
That phrase, how does it go? "A person of great capacity is magnanimous," which is a standard trait for every family mistress.
Bai Ningning nodded: "I understand. I will talk to them properly."
Talk properly?
Aunt Zou wiped her cold sweat and tactfully said, "Miss Ningning, you don't need to speak. In such situations, just smile... a smile without sound."
Please, don't say anything.