74 Chapter 74: Qing Mei’s Revenge
Though Su Ning initially promised to get her passport for a winter trip to the UK, her father Su Kun's unexpected car accident prompted her to stay in C Country during Lunar New Year. As such, Su Ning eventually rescheduled her visit to the UK to after she passed her gaokao scheduled on June 7 and June 8. She just didnt inform Gu YuChen and Lin JinYan about her plans as she intended to surprise them from the beginning. 'They're both always doing things for me. So I want to be able to do something for them too,' thought Su Ning.
And so, Su Ning spent the month of May doing a final comprehensive review of the six subjects tested on the science track of the examination. During this time, she rarely went out with friends, choosing to immerse herself completely in her studies. Her goal was to get into either T University or B University on a partial scholarship. And at the rate she was going, the likelihood of this is looking very favorable.
The weekend before the exam, Su Ning decided to put an all-stop to her studies as she felt cramming would only make her anxious and cause her to forget things that she already studied. Instead, she decided to spend the remaining 2 days before the exam doing self care activities. That Saturday, Su Ning went out to get a haircut with hot oil treatment and a massage. She was planning what to do on Sunday when she received a text from a person she'd lost contact with for over a year. It was Qing Mei.
[MeiMei_Hua]: Hi NingNing!
[MeiMei_Hua]: (⊙ᗜ⊙)
[MeiMei_Hua]: How have you been doing?
[NingNing_Star]: I've been well and you?
[MeiMei_Hua]: Better now.
[MeiMei_Hua]: I actually wanted to apologize for how I acted in the past.
[MeiMei_Hua]: I know we lost contact abruptly.
[MeiMei_Hua]: (ಥ﹏ಥ)
[NingNing_Star]: It's alright. There's nothing for you to apologize for.
[MeiMei_Hua]: Ah but I feel bad about it still. I just wanted to be able to apologize in person
[MeiMei_Hua]: that way I can move on. You know?
[MeiMei_Hua]: m(_ _;)m
[NingNing_Star]: Uhm. Okay.
[MeiMei_Hua]: Do you have some time tomorrow?
[MeiMei_Hua]: Let's grab lunch.
[MeiMei_Hua]: (๑´•.̫ • `๑)
[NingNing_Star]: If it's somewhere close by. Otherwise we can do it after the exams.
[MeiMei_Hua]: We can eat close to M Academy.
[NingNing_Star]: En. Alright.
[MeiMei_Hua]: Let's meet at Tofu Plus at 11:30.
[MeiMei_Hua]: (๑´ڡ`๑)
[NingNing_Star]: Okay see you then.
After confirming tomorrow's lunch date with Qing Mei, Su Ning cannot help but feel slightly restless. So she did something out of character -- texting both Gu YuChen and Lin JinYan the particulars of tomorrow's appointment. Though there is a 7 hour time difference separating them, she still felt somewhat reassured with that simple act alone. Even though she considered them both her best friends at this point, Su Ning never made it a habit to inform them of her daily schedule. Though she is blessed with an active social life this time around, Su Ning would still be considered a very private person. She finds herself listening rather than talking during conversations. Su Ning also prefers to ponder about and come up with solutions to her problems on her own. This owes to the fact that in her past life she was often alone. She had very few friends to hangout with and even completely lost contact with them after graduating from university. Subsequently, she was mostly stuck working in the office to repay her father's debts.
When her feeling of unease continued to linger, she further attempted to allay her doubts by reminding herself that she and Qing Mei used to be friends just a year back. 'Life has treated me very well in this lifetime. She recalled how QIng Mei and her mother had suffered a lot during the last few years and felt sympathetic. In the end, Su Ning decided it's best to hear out what her old friend had to say so they could finally put the past behind them. 'It's just a lunch. If meeting me could help her situation...Then what have I got to lose?'
At that time, Su Ning did not know that misplacing her trust would result in such dire consequences.
............
The next day, Qing Mei arrived at their meeting place 10 minutes early. By the time Su Ning arrived, she was surprised to find that the young teen had booked a private room for the two of them. Su Ning was understandably concerned since these rooms are very pricey specially for 17 year olds like themselves. However, Qing Mei simply brushed off Su Ning's apprehension by saying an uncle of hers booked the room for them so they could have a good talk. This made Su Ning relax somewhat but she still asked Qing Mei for a Vechat account she could send money to to help cover today's food expenses. 'It feels bu hao yi si. To have an unknown person treat me,' she thought with furrowed brows.
Author's Note: Bu hao yi si' is used when someone feels embarrassed or is sorry for inconveniencing someone. You can also use it when someone does you a favor. (●´ω｀●)
As soon as Su Ning was seated, Qing Mei handed her a drink; it was a coconut smoothie that she liked. "Thank you, MeiMei."
"It's been a long time. You are looking well," Qing Mei commented with a half smile.
"Yes. You too. You look a lot prettier," Su Ning complimented her friend truthfully.
Qing Mei appeared to have undergone a beauty transformation in the span of a year that they lost contact. Qing Mei's hair was cut in shoulder length layers with caramel highlights. She was also wearing a full face of make-up with red lipstick. It was attractive but somewhat unfitting for her young age. She had on a black denim mini dress paired with chunky white sandals. On the other hand, Su Ning wore a simple white v-neck tee paired with high waisted jean shorts and white sneakers. She looked youthful and lovely.
"I hope you don't mind. I placed the order for us. There's nothing you can't eat right." (Qing Mei)
"Mhmm. I can eat everything." (Su Ning)
"That's great. Well, you already know the reason I wanted us to meet." (Qing Mei)
"Hmm?" (Su Ning)
"I wanted to apologize for suddenly cutting off contact like that. I was so heartbroken about getting rejected by Lin JinYan. He is my first love and all," Qing Mei expressed with a look of melancholy on her face.
"Oh my. I didn't know that," Su Ning gasped.
"Yes. I sincerely wanted him. Even now," Qing Mei admitted.
"..." (Su Ning)
"But, of course I've learned that some things aren't meant to be you know," Qing Mei said with a sigh and Su Ning nodded in understanding.
"And our family was also experiencing financial troubles so we had to leave A City," Qing Mei continued.
"Oh no, are you and Auntie Wang both alright now?" Su Ning inquired concernedly.
"Yes. Thankfully I met some good people that were able to get us decent paying work," Qing Mei answered flippantly as she sipped her juice.
"You're working? But how about school and debuting?" Su Ning asked, surprised.
"I dropped out of school. I'm still going to debut just in another company. Do you know MengXu Entertainment?" (Qing Mei)
"Ah…Yes. I've heard of them," Su Ning replied tentatively with a slight frown.
"Why the face?" (Qing Mei)
"No uh.. they seem to have quite a bit of scandal associated with their stars," Su Ning said slowly, not wanting to offend her friend.
"Oh every company has scandals, just some are better at hiding them than others," Qing Mei said unconcernedly.
"Ah…" Su Ning uttered but didn't bother to inquire further about her friend's statement.
"So what type of work do you do? Where do you live now? Have you made some friends there?" she asked instead.
"Mmm. It's related to the entertainment industry. I live in B City now. And yes, I made several friends. They've helped me a lot to be where I am now." Qing Mei said with a short laugh.
"I'm glad. I was always worried something had happened to you. But I'm glad you're fine," Su Ning said, a look of relief visible on her beautiful face.
"En. I am glad I could be here to make amends with NingNing," Qing Mei smiled back.
"Aiyah. There's no need to apologize for anything. It's all in the past now," Su Ning chuckled.
"En. Things will get better from now on," Qing Mei nodded in agreement.
"Yes! Your future is looking bright! And I'm sure you will meet a good man in the future as well." (Su Ning)
"En." (Qing Mei)
After their talk, the two friends happily ate a delicious Korean meal with plenty of side dishes. They spent over an hour chatting together and soon Su Ning had to excuse herself to quickly use the ladies room. After several minutes, she returned to their room just in time for her alarm to go off.
***beep beep beep***
"Would you mind if I take my medication before we go grab dessert?" she asked.
"Sure. Go ahead," Qing Mei said with a cheery smile.
Su Ning poured herself a glass of warm water as she took the meds from the pillbox. In less than 10 minutes Su Ning could feel something was wrong. Her heart was palpitating wildly and her chest began to feel tight as if a vise was gripping her heart. Her breathing started to come out in gasps as she lost her balance and fell to the floor.
.
"Oh my! Are you alright?" Qing Mei asked, walking over to Su Ning who was sitting on her knees, hands on the floor.
"MeiMei...Som--Something's wr-rooong." Su Ning answered with obvious difficulty.
"What's wrong? Does your heart hurt?" Qing Mei asked as she crouched down to be at eye level with Su Ning.
Su Ning nodded vigorously, clutching her chest. "Me-Me-Meiii Meii. Ma-- myy phone."
"Where is it?" Qing Mei asked as she stood up and walked back a few steps.
**Cracking noise**
"Oh no! I think I just stepped on your phone. It looks completely busted." Qing Mei spoke with a feigned apologetic tone.
"Mei--Mei he--help me ca--call 1 2 0," Su Ning weakly uttered as her arm lost strength and her body fell to the floor.
Author's Note: 120 is the emergency number for an ambulance service in C Country. (`•ω•´๑)
"Help you? Hahaha." Qing Mei cackled loudly. "Su Ning, it looks like you still haven't woken up from your dream."
"I'm not here to help you. In fact. Nobody's going to help you," she spat viciously.
"You'll die a painful death from those drugs you took."
Su Ning lay on the floor barely conscious, she couldn't understand why Qing Mei currently looked at her with a face full of hostility. "Wh-why?" Su Ning croaked.
"Hah! Why? It's just so like you Su Ning. You can't even imagine that someone would hate you huh?" Qing Mei asked with a condescending look at the girl lying prostrate on the floor.
"Meiii, puh-puh-llezee. Huuuuurts." Su Ning pleaded, her voice growing softer as she spoke. She could feel her consciousness slowly fading. There was a strong pressure in her chest as if a heavy weight was sitting on top of it. Her hands were clammy as she tried to move towards the chair in front of her.
"It hurts huh. Good! You should feel the pain. That's the same pain you caused me when you took everything from me!" Qing Mei cried, feeling not an ounce of sympathy for the sickly girl at her feet.
"Even now you try to act so innocent! You stole my popularity! My friends! The spotlight which was meant for me! Music was supposed to be mine!" Qing Mei scoffed at Su Ning with obvious disgust.
"You always had it good! You never had to work for anything!" Qing Mei screamed as she stepped on Su Ning's fingers that were attempting to reach for a wayward chair to prop herself.
Su Ning uttered a groan as her fingers were crushed under the heel of Qing Mei's clogs. The young girl looked deathly pale and beads of sweat ran down her face.
"This is it for you, Su Ning." Qing Mei said with a menacing smile. "This is payback."
When she was done reveling at Su Ning's pitiful appearance, Qing Mei made her way towards the door of the restaurant's private room. She gave Su Ning a look of utter disdain, "You know when I said that things get better from now on? It's because you'll be gone. So Su Ning. Please die quickly."
The door slammed shut and the young girl lay on the floor, her sight blurry and her breathing shallow. With one last ounce of strength she tried to reach for the table that was at arms length away. 'Noise...I need to make noise,' thought Su Ning desperately.
The last thing Su Ning remembered was pulling at the table cover in her attempt to get up, thus causing all the dishes on the table to come crashing on the floor.
Then, everything faded to black.
