Princess Syndrome - Chapter 6
Chapter 6: A Smile
“Lingyue, have you seen the forum post?”
“What post?”
“The one where people are voting for who’s the best-looking in our class.”
“That’s a no-brainer, it’s definitely Lingyue.” The girls around her chimed in. “Is there anyone in our class who’s prettier than Lingyue?”
A voice piped up, “Could it be Ji Zhiyi?”
Su Lingyue turned her head. “Who?”
“Ji Zhiyi.” The girl speaking smiled at Su Lingyue. “You probably don’t know her. She’s a favorite of the professors and has amazing grades. She joined some research group right after the semester started…”
Su Lingyue said indifferently, “Oh? She’s pretty impressive.”
Those around her agreed. “She is quite impressive, but she’s not one of us. She’s the academic type.”
Su Lingyue asked, “What type are we?”
She could never be seen in school for three out of five days. What type did she want? The person talking held back her sarcastic retort. “We are the powerful type!”
Su Lingyue laughed, her eyes narrowing like a cat, relaxed and content. “I’ve got to go and meet her.”
At the time, she was sitting at the desk behind Su Lingyue, wearing a baseball cap. A cup of milk tea in front of her hid half of her face. Hearing Su Lingyue say that she would go meet her, her hand tightened, and the milk tea overflowed out of the straw. She quickly pulled out a tissue and wiped it off, but her heart was in turmoil.
She went back to the dorm and rummaged through her closet.
Her roommate asked, “Zhiyi? What are you doing?”
She twisted and turned, “Which outfit do you think looks better?”
Her roommate said, “They all look great on you. You have a model’s body. You look good in anything.”
Even so, she tried them on for half an hour before going back to the classroom early, sitting there as her heart pounded faster and faster as the time for class approached, her heart blocking her throat.
The sound of chatting behind her reached her ears, and she turned her head.
Su Lingyue, who was usually surrounded by people in the middle of the crowd, wasn’t there.
That day, she didn’t show up until the evening.
Ji Zhiyi gripped the steering wheel, looking at Su Lingyue. The person in front of her had changed little since college. Whether it was that she had dressed too maturely in college, or time had been kind to her, she looked the same as she had back then, except that her features had become more refined.
She remembered how the other students used to give Su Lingyue a nickname behind her back: Little Doll.
Because her smile was like a lazy cat.
Looking at her now, she was still the same.
Noble, charming, languid, and content.
She was leaning against the back of her seat, her eyes closed. After drinking that glass of wine, her face had remained flushed. A few strands of hair covered her forehead, hiding her eyebrows and eyes. Ji Zhiyi quietly watched her. When the headlights of an oncoming car shone into the car, she started the engine and drove slowly away from the hotel.
Su Lingyue turned over and opened her eyes, finding herself in a car. She turned her head. Ji Zhiyi was holding the steering wheel, driving with a calm expression. Her face was expressionless. The light from the streetlights outside the window seeped in through the glass. Even though the color was warm yellow, it highlighted the sharp, cold lines of her face. She didn’t say anything, but just stared directly at Ji Zhiyi.
Ji Zhiyi sensed the gaze beside her. She turned her head when she stopped at a red light. Su Lingyue’s eyes were shining, her gaze unwavering.
She frowned, looking back.
The two met eyes. Su Lingyue mumbled something and then turned to look out the window.
Ji Zhiyi hadn’t heard clearly. She wanted to ask, but didn’t know how. The car was silent except for the faint smell of perfume and the sound of her clothes rubbing against the seat. She looked away and continued driving.
When they arrived at the apartment, Su Lingyue was still asleep. Ji Zhiyi sat in the car and opened the window. The wind mixed with the air conditioning, alternating between cold and warm. She leaned against the car window with one hand. Her fingers looked slender and long in the rearview mirror, the joints distinct. Ji Zhiyi tilted her head, resting her chin on her thumb, her index finger rubbing her thin lips. After a while, when Su Lingyue had not woken up, her phone rang.
Zhang Xian’s voice came through the phone. “Is the gala over?”
Ji Zhiyi said, “It just ended.”
Zhang Xian asked, “What did Yang Zhizhi say?”
Ji Zhiyi said, “We didn’t come to an agreement.”
Zhang Xian said, “I heard that Zhou Yan has been getting close to Baoshun’s head of investment.”
Ji Zhiyi gave a faint hum. Zhang Xian held her phone. “I’m coming back tomorrow.”
Ji Zhiyi said, “Okay, I’ll send someone to pick you up from the airport tomorrow.”
Zhang Xian made a sound of disapproval. “You’re not going to pick me up yourself.”
Ji Zhiyi’s expression remained indifferent. “I have a meeting tomorrow. I don’t have time.”
Zhang Xian said, “You’re heartless.”
Ji Zhiyi didn’t reply. A rubbing sound came from her side. Su Lingyue had moved. Ji Zhiyi said, “I have to go.”
Zhang Xian said, “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
Ji Zhiyi hung up and turned to look at Su Lingyue.
Su Lingyue had opened her eyes, her cheeks still flushed, but her eyes were clearer than when she had gotten into the car. She looked around the car, then finally looked at Ji Zhiyi. They locked eyes. Ji Zhiyi asked, “Are you awake?”
Su Lingyue blinked, regaining her awareness. She recognized that they were at Ji Zhiyi’s apartment. She twisted the car handle, released her seatbelt, and said to Ji Zhiyi, “I’m sorry.”
Polite, without any emotion, like a pretty doll.
Ji Zhiyi also got out of the car, taking her car keys and walking forward. A few steps later, she turned her head. “Aren’t you coming in?”
Su Lingyue said, “No need. I’ll just take a cab home.”
“Come in and help me organize the study.”
Embarrassment flooded her head. Su Lingyue gritted her teeth, forcing a smile. “Okay, President Ji.”
Then she walked forward in her high heels. Ji Zhiyi looked at her unsteady gait, the slight swaying of her waist, and pursed her lips, turning away. She opened the door.
Su Lingyue followed her inside.
As soon as she entered, a gust of cool air washed over her, relieving her burning skin. She stood at the door for a moment, feeling comfortable. Ji Zhiyi tossed her a pair of shoes.
They were the pink slippers on the shoe rack. Ji Zhiyi had already put on a pair. She stood there for a few seconds before putting them on. The size was perfect. Yes, Ji Zhiyi seemed to wear the same size as her.
After Su Lingyue went inside, she asked Ji Zhiyi, “Where’s the study?”
Ji Zhiyi pointed to a room inside. As Su Lingyue was about to walk in, Ji Zhiyi said, “Drink a cup of tea before you go in.”
Su Lingyue turned her head. The corners of her eyes were flushed with the effects of the alcohol. Even though her face was expressionless, she still looked seductive. She didn’t say anything. Ji Zhiyi lowered her eyes. “Sober up a little.”
Was she afraid she would throw up in the study?
Su Lingyue never threw up when drunk. She just easily fell asleep. But she had just slept a little in Ji Zhiyi’s car and was slightly awake. She nodded and asked Ji Zhiyi, “Where’s the kitchen?”
Ji Zhiyi pointed next to her. Su Lingyue walked in, poured a glass of cold water. Ji Zhiyi was about to reach for it, but she picked it up and took a sip, drinking the whole thing at once like she was drinking alcohol. Ji Zhiyi turned and sat on the sofa, seeing Su Lingyue putting down her glass and going into the study.
The lights in the study were on. Su Lingyue looked up at the two large rows of bookshelves. After a moment, she turned back to the living room. “How do you want me to organize it?”
Ji Zhiyi said, “Switch the top rows with the bottom rows.”
She couldn't reach, right?
If you can't reach, why did you buy such a big bookshelf?
Su Lingyue silently complained, her expression calm. She turned and walked to the bookshelf. Next to the support corners of the large bookcase was a pull-out ladder, used to reach the books on the top shelves. She had one at home. Su Lingyue skillfully pulled out the ladder, climbed up, and looked at the books on the first row, then looked at the rows below. Even with her calm demeanor, a sense of hopelessness rose up.
She was so tired.
She rubbed her eyes, then started to take the books down, placing them on the ladder. She arranged the books neatly. Ji Zhiyi heard the faint sounds from the study. After a moment, she stood up and walked to the study.
Su Lingyue was standing on the ladder, wearing the pale yellow, knee-length dress. Perhaps because she was afraid of dirtying the ladder, she was barefoot, her ankles round and slender. Her calf muscles were tight as she stood on tiptoes. Her whole body was standing up straight.
In her memory, several years ago, she had been sitting on the ladder with a long ponytail, holding a book, her voice pleasant with a smile when she had asked others, “Is it this one?”
Looking down at the students surrounding her, her profile was blessed by the sun, the light refracting from her facial contours, showing her clear features.
A classmate had said, “Not that one. The one on the right.”
“Then why didn’t you say it clearly…” Her impatient tone still conveyed a sense of coquetry.
She was truly crazy.
The past and present superimposed upon each other, forming two separate scenes. Ji Zhiyi focused her gaze, regained her composure, and watched as Su Lingyue took the books down one by one, placing them on the ladder. The books were neatly arranged. Su Lingyue sensed the gaze behind her.
She had to supervise her just for sorting some books?
Was it really necessary?
She took a deep breath, continued to take the books, put them on the ladder, then turned her head. The person behind her was gone.
Only an empty living room was left. The surroundings were quiet. She placed the books on the top row, then pulled out a row from the middle. Finally, she climbed the ladder and put the books back, switching the positions of the two rows.
Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, but just doing one row had made her sweat. Her mouth also felt dry. Seeing that Ji Zhiyi hadn’t appeared, she walked out in her slippers. Ji Zhiyi wasn't in the living room, but she didn’t pay any attention, going to the kitchen to pour some water. The cold water instantly quenched her thirst. She drank two glasses in a row before finally feeling better. Then, she left the kitchen.
The large apartment felt like it was only her in it. A sense of fatigue washed over her. Su Lingyue rubbed her eyes, the effects of the alcohol adding to her strong drowsiness. She could hardly resist it, and simply sat on the edge of the sofa to rest for a while.
Ji Zhiyi came out of the room in her pajamas. She saw a figure sprawled on the sofa, leaning against the back, her hands hanging limply at her sides, her head drooping, her hair messy, her bangs covering her eyebrows and eyes.
Had she fallen asleep?
As soon as Ji Zhiyi sat down, Su Lingyue woke up. The faint movement startled her, and then she looked at Ji Zhiyi, her body relaxing slightly. She apologized. “I’m sorry, President Ji, I haven’t finished organizing the study yet.”
She should scold her now, right?
Su Lingyue had waited an entire day for the criticism. It didn’t come. She turned her head, looking at Ji Zhiyi.
Ji Zhiyi had removed her makeup and taken a shower. She was wearing a white silk nightgown, her long hair draped over her shoulders. Her expression was indifferent. She didn’t look like she was about to scold her.
Su Lingyue admired Ji Zhiyi.
Her self-control was really good.
If she had been treated like that by someone, she would have definitely ridiculed them the moment she saw them again. But Ji Zhiyi hadn’t said anything, hadn’t done anything. Or hadn’t she? Wasn’t she using her to make Yang Zhizhi vent her anger?
But in comparison, she was quite kind.
So kind that Su Lingyue felt a little guilty.
She looked at Ji Zhiyi, then suddenly stretched out her arms and sprawled on the sofa. She said to Ji Zhiyi, “Come on.”
Ji Zhiyi was stunned. The hand gripping the dry towel tightened, her nails digging into the soft towel, forcing a painful sensation. She looked at Su Lingyue’s pretty face, her eyes closed, her voice somewhat low. “What are you doing?”
Su Lingyue said, “Don’t you hate me?”
Her resigned tone carried a hint of rogue. “Come step on me a few times.”
Ji Zhiyi: …
She held back her laughter, releasing the towel, and turned to look at Su Lingyue. Her indifferent expression had changed. As Su Lingyue was about to open her mouth, Ji Zhiyi reached out, covering Su Lingyue’s face with the towel.
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