Transmigrating Into A Sadistic Novel And Becoming A Master Of Painting Rosy Pictures - Chapter 36

Bian Yingning and Duanmu Zhengjie entered Duanmu Zhenghao’s hospital room. Upon seeing Bian Yingning, Duanmu Zhenghao’s face lit up.

After brief greetings, Duanmu Zhenghao recounted his heroic deeds from the previous night—his fight with the robber, how he apprehended him, etc.

Bian Yingning listened with a smile, her gaze fixed on Duanmu Zhengjie, who was busy with her phone.

Duanmu Zhenghao noticed Bian Yingning’s gaze. He looked at Duanmu Zhengjie. “Sister, what are you doing? Why aren’t you chatting with us?”

Duanmu Zhengjie looked up from her phone, her expression ambiguous. “Sorry, I was being rude.”

She put away her phone and approached, her gaze sharp. “I believe Miss Bian is still a sophomore, correct?”

Bian Yingning smiled sweetly. “Yes, Sister. I didn’t expect you to know about me.”

Implied meaning—You care about me.

Duanmu Zhengjie smiled faintly. “I’ve heard of you.”

“But aren’t you supposed to be in class, Miss Bian?”

“I only have morning classes. I just finished and came here… By the way, Sister Duanmu, don’t be so formal. Call me… Ningning.”

Seeing Bian Yingning’s innocent demeanor, Duanmu Zhengjie found it hard to connect her with the “manager” who changed her roses and drew a heart on her steak.

“That’s not appropriate. We should maintain proper etiquette.”

“Sister, why be so formal between us?”

“Miss Bian, what’s your academic performance like? What’s your GPA?”

“It’s embarrassing. I need to learn from Sister Duanmu. I heard you always topped your class. Do you have any tips?”

“There are no secrets. Just diligence.”

“Sister’s right.”

Listening to their back-and-forth, Duanmu Zhenghao scratched his head. He felt invisible.

He interjected. “Ningning, have you had lunch?”

Bian Yingning was startled by the nickname. Her sister was still being polite, but he wasn’t.

“…Not yet.” But she couldn’t go out to eat with him.

“You must be hungry. Sister, should I get some lunch? If my leg wasn’t injured, I’d go out with you.” Duanmu Zhenghao expressed self-blame.

Duanmu Zhengjie, who had planned to have a family member deliver food, subtly frowned.

Then she realized her brother was trying to get rid of her. She stood up. “Okay, what do you want? I’ll get it for you.”

Before Duanmu Zhenghao could order, Bian Yingning stood up anxiously. “How can I let Sister Duanmu buy me lunch…”

Duanmu Zhenghao, who had made the suggestion, said, “It’s alright…”

“Why don’t I go with you? Three servings of food is a bit much. It’s too much trouble for you to do it alone, Sister.”

Duanmu Zhenghao, who had been hoping to chat with her alone: …This Bian family Miss seems to really admire his sister.

Duanmu Zhengjie, who had seen through her scheme: …

After Bian Yingning’s suggestion, Duanmu Zhengjie was certain that Bian Yingning’s target was her.

It wasn’t about avoiding being alone with a man. If she had ulterior motives, she wouldn’t want anyone else around.

“No need. Miss Bian is a guest. It’s inappropriate for you to go out and buy things with me.”

“Oh, Sister Duanmu, don’t be so formal. I remember there’s a restaurant near my house with decent food. If you’d like, let’s go there,” Bian Yingning said, rising and heading towards the door.

“Zhenghao, is there anything you don’t eat? We’ll hurry back so you won’t be hungry,” Bian Yingning said to Duanmu Zhenghao.

Duanmu Zhenghao, who had intended to get rid of his sister but was now alone: “No…” This is absurd. How did things turn out like this?

“Okay, let’s go, Sister Duanmu, before Zhenghao gets hungry.”

Duanmu Zhengjie had no choice but to follow, glancing back at her brother, who was questioning his life choices.

It was lunchtime, and the hospital was crowded. They waited a while for an elevator.

It was very crowded.

There was no other way.

At first, they were at the front. As people got on and off, by the time they reached the lower floors, they were squeezed in the middle.

When a nurse wheeled an elderly woman in, they were like sardines.

Shoulder to shoulder, they could feel each other’s breath and heartbeats.

• #What’s it like to be close to a sister you like?

Bian Yingning: My heart is racing, adrenaline is surging. I feel like I could run around the earth three times without breathing.

Is this a successful form of fangirling?

It probably is.

A faint, cool fragrance, like bait on a hook, occasionally brushed against her nose. When she tried to grasp it, it would move away, as if tempting her.

Bian Yingning clenched her fist, then realized her hand had brushed against someone else’s.

The next second, Duanmu Zhengjie seemed to move.

Bian Yingning looked straight ahead, acting like a gentleman. Her hand, hanging by her leg, moved again.

Touching a warm hand again.

Ah, a translator’s hands are smooth, warm, and soft.

These hands write in eight different languages.

If… if Duanmu Zhengjie wore thin-rimmed glasses, she would be the perfect image of a refined and elegant gentleman… Wait, refined and elite.

Duanmu Zhengjie felt her hand being brushed against several times.

She couldn’t look down; someone was right in front of her. She could only remain calm, feeling the feather-light touch.

Finally, the elevator reached the ground floor. After the others exited, Duanmu Zhengjie walked out.

Bian Yingning acted as if nothing had happened, jogging to catch up. “Wow, the elevator wasn’t this crowded when we got on. Why is it so busy now?”

Duanmu Zhengjie calmly watched her act innocent. “It’s lunchtime. Everyone’s going out for lunch.”

“Oh, right. Sister, don’t you have bodyguards with you?”

She didn’t understand how she could change topics so quickly.

“…Yes.”

“That’s good.”

Duanmu Zhengjie: ?

Soon, Duanmu Zhengjie understood why Bian Yingning asked. The restaurant was only two hundred meters away, so they walked.

Looking sideways, Duanmu Zhengjie saw four bodyguards in black suits following them at a distance. She fell silent.

So she asked if she had bodyguards because she did?

Bian Yingning seemed to notice her gaze and chuckled. “Sorry, it’s a bit excessive, but H City isn’t safe lately, and my mother insists I have them.

Don’t feel bad, Sister Duanmu. Your bodyguards can come too.”

“Mm…” But it’s not necessary.

Walking side-by-side towards the restaurant, Bian Yingning suddenly asked, “Sister, does anyone have a crush on you lately?”

“Yes.”

“Ah?” Bian Yingning looked surprised. “Which toad is so bold as to try to eat swan meat?”

Duanmu Zhengjie looked down at Bian Yingning.

Bian Yingning: ? Why is she looking at me?

Duanmu Zhengjie didn’t answer. “I feel like Miss Bian is very busy. What do you do?”

“Me?” Bian Yingning thought for a moment. “I care about the beautiful women in our circle. People are bad. They pretend to be nice and want to be with you, but they have ulterior motives.”

“Ulterior motives?”

“Yes, so, Sister, if someone says they love you, want to be with you, want to be good to you forever, be cautious. They’re lying.”

“How do you know?”

“Because someone who truly likes you won’t use ‘words’ to express their feelings.”

Duanmu Zhengjie was startled. She didn’t expect Bian Yingning to say that.

“They think that buying you a couple of meals, taking you out for a few dates, and saying a few sweet words is a show of love, that you’ll understand, that you’ll think he loves you deeply. But actually, they haven’t really put in any effort…”

Duanmu Zhengjie didn’t listen carefully to what Bian Yingning said after that.

“Then what about you? How do you think someone should show their love for another person?”

As they reached the restaurant entrance, Bian Yingning smiled slightly. “I’m not sure, but I think I would be unconditionally good to her, I would try to be around her more, to have more contact with her.

Even if it’s just a brief greeting.

But I wouldn’t ask for anything in return, and I wouldn’t say ‘I like you, so I want you to like me back.'”

Unconditional kindness, being around her often, having contact with her, without telling her she likes her…

Watching Bian Yingning walk into the restaurant, Duanmu Zhengjie’s eyes were deep.

A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds after the rain, illuminating Bian Yingning’s bright face as she turned around. “Sister Duanmu, what do you like to eat? I’ll have the chef make it for you.”

She… likes me?