Transmigrating Into A Sadistic Novel And Becoming A Master Of Painting Rosy Pictures - Chapter 112

“Did you consider me?” Bian Yingning pondered these words.

Shang Qinghui’s expression shifted several times; she bit her lip, wanting to speak but unable, finally puffing out her cheeks in frustration.

She had been furious when she received the list, wanting to confront Bian Yingning, to find out why she was so busy that she couldn’t even participate in the competition.

Thinking of her efforts… this ungrateful person had withdrawn from the competition; she wanted to hit someone.

But… she had felt justified, but now, face-to-face, she felt less so.

“Meng Weixin was sent back by you?” Bian Yingning suddenly realized.

Shang Qinghui’s anger vanished instantly. Her eyes darted around; she tried to stand but was stopped.

Bian Yingning held her chin, leaning closer. Shang Qinghui had been aggressive, her hands on the table, looking down at Bian Yingning.

But now, everything changed.

“Was it for me?”

Shang Qinghui glanced away, muttering, “Don’t flatter yourself…”

“It was for me.” Bian Yingning changed the question to a statement.

Shang Qinghui’s face flushed; her mouth opened and closed, but she couldn’t speak.

“Why?”

Shang Qinghui’s heart pounded; her breath hitched. Bian Yingning was so close, saying things she couldn’t face…

Finally, Shang Qinghui raised her hand to push Bian Yingning away, “What nonsense…”

But Bian Yingning quickly grabbed her wrist with her other hand. Leaning forward, her hand on the table, she lost her balance, falling onto the table. She fell onto Bian Yingning’s shoulder.

Shang Qinghui: “…”

Bian Yingning groaned involuntarily.

“Mmm…”

Time seemed to stop.

“…”

After a long time, Shang Qinghui, petrified, watched Bian Yingning’s finger trace the lipstick on her face.

Bian Yingning touched Shang Qinghui’s cheek; the lipstick smudged.

Shang Qinghui quickly stood up, pressing her lips together, trying to hide the lipstick.

Damn it. She had fallen; she accepted that; falling onto Bian Yingning… okay, she accepted that, but… why did Bian Yingning’s lips brush against her face?!

Seeing the long lipstick mark on Bian Yingning’s cheek, it looked like she had applied lipstick directly.

Why had she worn lipstick? She regretted it; she hated it.

Seeing the lipstick on her finger, Bian Yingning looked at Shang Qinghui, who was avoiding eye contact, her whole body saying, “Why are you looking at me? It’s not my fault.”

“Taking advantage of me?”

Shang Qinghui exploded, “You’re lying!”

Bian Yingning rubbed the lipstick on her finger.

Shang Qinghui said softly, “…It was an accident.”

Bian Yingning didn’t argue; she pushed the tissue box towards Shang Qinghui, “Regardless, you should take responsibility.”

“Re… re… responsible? For what?”

Was it what she thought?

“Wipe it clean,” Bian Yingning looked at her strangely, “You wipe up spilled water; you should wipe lipstick off your face.”

Lipstick. On her face.

Shang Qinghui’s fists clenched.

“Can’t you wipe your own face?”

“I can’t see,” Bian Yingning frowned, looking helpless.

Zhang Zhizhi, carrying two boxes of still-warm takoyaki, arrived at the café entrance and saw them.

Bian Yingning sat upright, her chin slightly raised. Shang Qinghui, looking like a little wife, was pouting, bending down to wipe something off Bian Yingning’s face.

Zhang Zhizhi stopped; she leaned in to look closely. She covered her mouth in shock.

!!!!!

She had seen everything! What were they doing?!

They definitely had something going on! Bian Yingning had said she wasn’t confident; look at her now; she could even order Shang Qinghui around.

She wisely turned and quietly left. Now, the question was, could she eat two boxes of takoyaki by herself?

“Okay,” Shang Qinghui reluctantly wiped the lipstick off Bian Yingning’s face. It looked like she had applied blush. Shang Qinghui looked at it nervously.

Bian Yingning hummed, regretting asking her to wipe her face. She was close, leaning in to check; her breath was on Shang Qinghui’s neck; her touch was light, making Shang Qinghui’s body tingle.

Bian Yingning suppressed her feelings, saying, “I thought you were still angry, but you secretly sent Meng Weixin away for me.”

Shang Qinghui threw the tissue into the trash can, sitting opposite Bian Yingning, arms crossed, rolling her eyes, “What do you mean ‘for me’? Don’t be presumptuous.”

“Really? I wanted to thank you,” Bian Yingning said, looking regretful.

Shang Qinghui: “…” Who wanted her thanks?

“Shouldn’t you? You benefited, even if it wasn’t for you; you got lucky.”

Bian Yingning nodded, seemingly agreeing. Shang Qinghui suppressed her smile.

“But you told me not to be presumptuous.”

Shang Qinghui’s smile faltered. She knew Bian Yingning was cunning; she had done things to her while she was drunk and acted as if nothing had happened. She was difficult to deal with; she could act.

She was probably secretly laughing.

“But who would refuse a gift?”

“Okay,” Bian Yingning said, as if making a decision, “Let’s order. It’s on me.”

“???”

Shang Qinghui looked at the cashier, then at Bian Yingning, “…Is this your thanks?”

“Ah? What? Don’t you want it?”

“…Yes.”

“Everything on the menu, please,” Shang Qinghui said loudly.

The server, playing on their phone, looked up in shock. The café served more than just coffee; there were also bread, cakes, and pizza.

Bian Yingning looked at the cakes, then at the tables filled with coffee, pizza, and egg tarts. Leaning on the table, she looked at Shang Qinghui eating cake.

Shang Qinghui tasted several cakes; they were all similar. She felt Bian Yingning’s intense gaze.

Looking up, she saw Bian Yingning smiling at her.

…

She didn’t know how alluring she looked. Her head was down; her cheeks were puffed up; her eyes looked like a little hamster caught stealing food.

“I think I know why you’re so fat,” Bian Yingning said, smiling.

Shang Qinghui: “?” Could she still eat this cake?

“I’m not fat!” Chewing her cake, Shang Qinghui wanted to swallow Bian Yingning whole.

Bian Yingning didn’t speak; she reached out; Shang Qinghui looked at her hand. She thought Bian Yingning would point out her fat, but she reached across the table and gently wiped the cream from Shang Qinghui’s lips.

Then, she brought her finger to her own lips, lightly licking it, “If you weren’t fat, why would you occupy all my attention?”

Shang Qinghui was speechless; she trembled.

Bian Yingning looked at her, seemingly pleased with her reaction. Seeing her smile, Shang Qinghui realized she had been teased again.

“You damn…”

Bian Yingning leaned back, pushing a cake towards Shang Qinghui. She was calm and composed, as if she hadn’t just licked cream off Shang Qinghui’s lips.

“You really wanted me to participate in the competition?”

Finally, they could talk about this.

Shang Qinghui’s thoughts were immediately diverted.

“Why didn’t you participate?” she asked.

“No need.”

She was past the age of wanting to show off.

Shang Qinghui didn’t understand, “You knew what Meng Weixin did?”

“I guessed,” Bian Yingning said, answering readily.

“Why…”

Why didn’t you retaliate?

“Maybe… because you were there?”

Bian Yingning swore she just wanted to express her gratitude and trust in Shang Qinghui.

She didn’t act against Meng Weixin to see what she would do.

Shang Qinghui was angry, “You used me?”

Bian Yingning was confused, “???”

Losing patience, she laughed, “What would you do if it rained outside?”

Shang Qinghui frowned, “Rain… find an umbrella.”

“Silly,” Bian Yingning said through gritted teeth, gathering her things and paying the bill before leaving.

Shang Qinghui watched her back, equally confused.

Later, Shang Qinghui posted pictures of the coffee and desserts in the class group chat, saying that anyone who wanted some could come and get it.

Besides her classmates, Wang Yu and her other friends also came to “help.”

Soon, everything was gone.

Wang Yu took a sip of her coffee, “Mmm, it’s cold.”

Shang Qinghui replied without much thought, “Tell them to heat it up.”

Wang Yu: “…”

Remembering the abundance of food when she first arrived, she asked, “What are you doing? Revenge spending? Why did you order so much?”

This brought Shang Qinghui back to reality. She took a bite of a pizza slice, “It’s all at the expense of a sucker; I feel better if I take advantage of them.”

Wang Yu looked puzzled, “Sucker?”

Shang Qinghui didn’t want to explain; she changed the subject, “What would you do if it rained outside?”

“Run home,” Wang Yu replied naturally.

Run… home…

Shang Qinghui tossed down her fork, “Damn, wouldn’t you find an umbrella?”

The simple-minded Wang Yu carefully analyzed it with her friends; their answers varied; some said find an umbrella, others said find shelter and wait for the rain to stop.

Shang Qinghui understood; there was no right answer; Bian Yingning was just trying to insult her; no matter what she said, she would be called silly.

But why call me silly?

Shang Qinghui fell into thought.

Wait, hadn’t she come to question Bian Yingning? Why had things turned out like this?

…

Bian Yingning and Shang Qinghui didn’t participate in the following competition.

Two weeks later, after the last final exam.

Bian Yingning stretched her neck.

“It’s snowing again!”

A nearby classmate exclaimed happily.

Bian Yingning looked up; the snow, which had stopped for a while, started again with the drop in temperature.

It wasn’t heavy; Bian Yingning caught a snowflake; it quickly melted in her palm, leaving only a trace of moisture.

“It’s snowing. Still going for hot pot?” Hua Cancan, who had been elusive lately, appeared, holding an umbrella over Bian Yingning.

They had planned to eat together after the exams. Zhang Zhizhi had already packed up and gone home; her family didn’t live nearby.

“Sure.”

“How about my place?”

“Yours?” Bian Yingning was startled.

“Either place is fine, but my place is empty; my parents are away; we can be more relaxed at my place,” Hua Cancan said casually.

They could go to Bian Yingning’s house, but Bian’s parents were there; they couldn’t be so unrestrained.

“Let’s go to your place then.” Bian Yingning secretly felt relieved, then glanced at the oblivious Hua Cancan.

After Hua Jiangrong left the Hua family, Hua’s parents were busy.

Was Cancan… always alone?

“Mm-hmm, I’ll call the housekeeper to prepare some ingredients. What do you want to eat?”

“Pork belly.”

…

Hua’s house was large but usually empty and cold.

Now, the bubbling hot pot filled the living room with aroma. Bian Yingning and Hua Cancan didn’t sit at the dining table; they set up the pot and ingredients on the coffee table and sat on the carpet.

Towards the end, Hua Cancan couldn’t handle the spice; after drinking some sweet and sour fruit wine, she smacked her lips, “Wow—this wine is so cold.”

Bian Yingning laughed, “That’s chilled wine; at room temperature, it might freeze.”

“That’s the worst part of winter; everything is cold.”

Their faces were flushed, either from the alcohol or the hot pot.

“Yeah, everything is cold,” Bian Yingning agreed.

Several empty wine bottles were scattered on the coffee table and carpet, showing they had drunk quite a bit.

Hua Cancan leaned back, her head resting on the sofa; her eyes were hazy, but her voice was loud, “This chaotic semester is finally over!”

Bian Yingning leaned back in the same way, murmuring, “It’s only been one semester.”

It felt like it had been much longer.

“Bian Yingning.”

“Mm?”

Hua Cancan started calling her name.

“Bian Yingning!”

“I’m here!”

Bian Yingning called back.

“We’re best friends, right?” Hua Cancan drawled the last word.

“Right!” Bian Yingning echoed, their voices echoing in the villa.

“You can tell me anything, right?”

“Anything. Even if you killed someone, as long as they deserved it, I’ll help you bury the body!”

Bian Yingning was also drunk.

“Cut it out, I’m a law-abiding citizen!” Hua Cancan laughed.

“Oh~”

After a while, “Can you tell me,” Hua Cancan leaned over, seemingly staring at Bian Yingning, but her eyes were unfocused.

It was more a question to herself than Bian Yingning, “Can I… can I like her?”

Bian Yingning smiled with her eyes closed, “Who needs permission to like someone? You only need permission to be with someone.”

“Mm-hmm.” Hua Cancan closed her eyes.

The world spun after drinking; she felt like she was inside a balloon, a decoration; as the balloon moved, she rolled around.

Liking someone… doesn’t need permission.

Bian Yingning slowly opened her eyes, looking at the chandelier; the bright light stung her eyes.

“I can too, right.”

…

The next day, Bian Yingning woke up with a headache; she lay there for a while before regaining consciousness. Looking around, the surroundings were unfamiliar; she tapped her head, remembering the last thing she remembered was eating hot pot and drinking with Hua Cancan; after that, she didn’t remember anything.

She must still be at Hua’s house.

She got up, washed her face; her coat was on the bed; she went to Hua Cancan’s room to find her.

The door was ajar; Bian Yingning pushed it open; Hua Jiangrong, sitting by Hua Cancan’s bed, looked back.

They looked at each other; Bian Yingning was startled, but Hua Jiangrong didn’t react much; she seemed to have expected her.

Downstairs in the living room.

The coffee table was clean; there was no smell of hot pot or alcohol.

“Cancan has a slight fever; she probably caught a cold last night.”

Hua Jiangrong said, sitting opposite Bian Yingning.

A housekeeper brought Bian Yingning a bowl of millet porridge; Bian Yingning held it carefully and ate slowly.

Hua Jiangrong looked more sophisticated; her appearance was refined and elegant.

“I’m relieved you’re taking care of her.”

This made Hua Jiangrong silent.

After Bian Yingning finished the porridge, Hua Jiangrong didn’t speak.

Bian Yingning put down the bowl, “Your career is going well; you must be doing great, Aunt.”

Hua Jiangrong looked at her. She had been calling her “aunt” since the beginning and hadn’t changed.

“Not great.”

Bian Yingning looked at her, “Why not?”

“Thinking about unanswered questions makes me feel bad.”

Bian Yingning smiled lightly, “Aunt… are you still wondering if we… did anything?”

Hua Jiangrong didn’t speak; she just stared at her.

Bian Yingning sighed, “Aunt, do you think I’m someone who does good deeds anonymously?”

After a few seconds, Hua Jiangrong looked away.

“Indeed.”

Bian Yingning: “?”

She felt like she had been freed from a shackle, “You’re not a good person.”

So, if she had really helped her recover, she wouldn’t deny it.

Bian Yingning: “???”

Was there a misunderstanding?

Before, she had explained, denying it and then giving up, wanting Hua Jiangrong to let it go; Hua Jiangrong had persisted.

Now, she said she wasn’t a good person, and she… believed it?

Hua Jiangrong was still unhappy when she drove Bian Yingning home, feeling wronged.

At Bian’s house, Bian Yingning unbuckled her seatbelt and asked, “That…”

She didn’t know how to ask, especially in front of Hua Jiangrong, “…Thank you, Aunt. Drive safely.”

Bian Yingning opened the door to get out.

Hua Jiangrong said, “Do you want ask about Jiang Jiaotao?”

Bian Yingning paused.

“She’s fine; she’s probably horseback riding in Inner Mongolia.”

Bian Yingning smiled, getting out of the car, “Thank you, Aunt. Goodbye.”

The car door closed; Hua Jiangrong sat for a while before driving away.

She had arranged Jiang Jiaotao’s trip. She had traveled a lot while filming; it was easy for her.

…

In the villa area, a black McLaren was parked discreetly near Bian’s house; no one noticed. Shang Qinghui was leaning against the car window, watching Bian’s house.

It was the first day of winter vacation; she didn’t have school or work; she wanted to go for a drive; she didn’t know why she came here.

She happened to see Bian Yingning being dropped off by another woman; they seemed reluctant to part; they lingered by the car.

She checked the time; it was past 11 pm. Had she stayed out all night?

Impressive…

…

The snow fell slowly, like spring rain. A thin layer covered the ground; it was beautiful and didn’t affect daily life.

Bian Yingning woke up early; they were going to a temple outside the city to pray and stay for a few days to cleanse themselves of the past year’s “impurities.”

As soon as they got out of the car, the driver pulled over.

Bian Yingning, in the passenger seat, asked what was wrong.

Bian’s mother, in the back seat, was on the phone, “Checking if your Uncle Shang is here.”

“Uncle Shang?”

Bian’s father smiled, “Your mother forgot to tell you; the Shang family is coming too.”

Bian Yingning hummed, saying nothing. She looked at her phone but didn’t touch it.

She hadn’t contacted Shang Qinghui, but they sometimes met.

“We see your car. Let’s go,” Ouyang Fei hung up; Shang Qinghui frowned, “Someone’s coming with us?”

She had just followed; she hadn’t asked who else was coming.

Usually, it was just their family.

“Yes, the Bian family.”

Shang Qingfeng and Shang’s father were in another car; only Shang Qinghui and Ouyang Fei were in this car, besides the driver and bodyguards.

“Bian…” Shang Qinghui felt a tightness in her chest when she heard that name.

“Mm-hmm. The Bian family gave our family the construction project for the southern project; they gave us a lot of space; we should keep in touch. We’re also checking the start date; it’s important; it’s a multi-billion dollar project…”

Ouyang Fei chattered; Shang Qinghui didn’t listen; she remembered what she had seen a few days ago.

How many secrets did Bian Yingning have that she didn’t know?

What kind of person was she?

Shang Qinghui only knew…

Shang Qinghui sniffed. Her nose felt a bit sour.

The temple was on a mountaintop, accessible only by a winding stone path. Cars were parked at the bottom; the temple seemed popular.

The Bian family had six bodyguards; the Shang family had four; they looked impressive.

Bian Yingning saw Shang Qinghui as soon as she got out of the car. She was wearing a dark green down jacket, a furry hat covering her ears; she looked soft and eye-catching.

Bian Yingning looked at her for a while. Shang Qinghui didn’t look at her.

Hmph, so cold.

The adults exchanged greetings before starting to climb. Shang Qingfeng and Bian Yingning nodded to each other, then walked behind Shang’s father, chatting occasionally.

The path wasn’t wide or narrow; two people could walk side-by-side easily. Bian Yingning fell behind, walking beside Shang Qinghui.

Shang Qinghui loosened her down jacket. She walked without looking at Bian Yingning; only when they passed vendors did she look.

This made it hard for Bian Yingning to start a conversation.

she finally said, “What a coincidence.”