“Why on earth did I agree to my discipline’s request and co here?” Ling Ning thought to herself in utter exasperation as she sat in a chair.
She couldn’t understand what had co over her. Sohow, she had nodded instinctively, and now here she was.
Looking around Jiang Xue’s neat and tidy room, Ling Ning felt a sense of satisfaction. At least she didn’t have to clean up after her discipline every ti she visited. The walls were adorned with so sketches.
Judging by the style, they were clearly Jiang Xue’s work, all depicting a recurring character: the Master figure from her manga.
Ling Ning recalled that the Master in the manga was modeled after her. Coupled with Jiang Xue’s confession last ti, it wasn’t hard to guess what her discipline wanted to convey.
As Ling Ning observed the surroundings, Jiang Xue approached, carrying two cups of coffee.
Ling Ning accepted one and took a small sip, her eyes narrowing in contentnt. Though it was instant coffee, the taste was quite decent—it likely had so milk added to it.
“These are all your drawings, right?”
“Yes, they’re all mine.”
Jiang Xue didn’t bother to hide it and answered openly, which surprised Ling Ning. She had expected Jiang Xue to be at least a little evasive. Perhaps she had overthought it.
“It seems like you’re really fond of the Master character in your manga~”
“Yes, I adore her. More than the protagonist, I prefer the Master—both in the manga and in real life.”
Jiang Xue’s gaze was serious as she looked at Ling Ning. She was clumsy by nature, a little airheaded, and had no concept of romance. The only way she knew to express her feelings was through direct words.
Hearing this, Ling Ning sighed softly and said, “It’s not worth it.”
“Whether it’s worth it or not, that’s for to decide.”
“You’ve grown a lot more assertive since I last saw you,” Ling Ning remarked, a tinge of amazent in her voice.
“Assertive? Not at all. I’m just saying what’s in my heart.”
“What’s in your heart, huh…”
Seeing Ling Ning’s sowhat lancholic expression, Jiang Xue hesitated, unsure of what to say.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about . By the way, how are you adjusting to living here? Does your landlord bother you often?”
“That old pervert.”
The ntion of her landlord made Jiang Xue’s frustration boil over. Every ti she encountered him, he would ogle her with lecherous eyes, making her want to punch him.
If it weren’t for the fact that she needed to stay here for a while longer, she would have acted on her impulse already.
“Even a clay figurine has its limits, huh.”
“It seems like he hasn’t changed. Although he’s all bark and no bite, you should still keep so pepper spray handy, just in case.”
“Don’t worry, Master. I always have it in my bag. And don’t let my slim build fool you—I’ve trained, you know.”
Jiang Xue raised her arm as she spoke, trying to flex her barely-there muscles.
Her comical display made Ling Ning laugh out loud. Shaking her head lightly, she finished the coffee in her cup and said, “It’s getting late. I should head ho.”
“Eh!? So soon?”
“Yes. Soone’s waiting for to return. If you need anything, just call .”
“Alright, I’ll walk you out.”
Though Ling Ning wanted to decline, she knew her discipline’s stubborn nature. Even if she said no, Jiang Xue wouldn’t listen. So she decided to let it slide.
The two descended the stairs one after the other. Once they reached the ground floor, Ling Ning turned to Jiang Xue and said, “This is far enough. You should head back now.”
“Okay.”
“About that matter… you should think it over carefully. Liking soone like isn’t worth it.”
“Master, I will never give up!”
Hearing her discipline’s determined words, Ling Ning shook her head gently before turning to leave, disappearing into the night.
Jiang Xue watched until Ling Ning was out of sight before heading back to her room.
In the quiet solitude of her room, she walked to her bed and collapsed onto it. Even now, her mind was filled with thoughts of her Master.
When had her Master’s image first entered her heart?
Was it during their first eting?
Back then, her Master’s perfect appearance and deanor, coupled with her gentle guidance, had left Jiang Xue with the impression of an elegant and capable woman.
Or had it been during their daily conversations?
As soone clueless about life, Jiang Xue had relied on her Master’s advice to navigate the world. No matter what happened, her Master always had a solution, like a magical cat accompanying a hapless protagonist.
Then there was the manga convention incident, where her Master had harshly scolded her awake. Back then, she’d been utterly miserable, berated for her incompetence. It was as if her Master’s words had pierced her very soul: “Do you even understand how bad your art is?!”
But it was through her Master that she had t her current teacher. Without her Master, she wouldn’t have gotten this far.
Did her feelings stem from gratitude? No, it didn’t feel like that.
Jiang Xue recalled the mont she realized her feelings for her Master. It had been at her teacher’s house when she witnessed the close relationship between her Master and her teacher. She had expected it, yet seeing their intimacy filled her with a strange bitterness.
Previously, she had been content to be her Master’s discipline. But after that day, she realized she no longer wanted to remain in the background.
She wanted to be closer to her Master, to be more than just a dependent discipline. She wanted to be her Master’s most important person.
Ah, human desire is insatiable. Even knowing sothing is wrong—sothing that mustn’t be done or said—desire drives one to break boundaries again and again.
“Ling Ning…”
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