Chương 216: An Alternative Way to Enjoy Sandwich Cookies

Witnessing Ye Zixuan's sudden pounce and the shocking scene of Ji Ying being instantly tackled to the bed and the two of them tightly intertwined, Su Yuqing's face darkened instantly after a brief moment of stunned silence, and alarm bells went off in her mind.

That cunning woman!

My attempt to hug Xiaoying just now was thwarted by myself, but now, taking advantage of the fact that I was off guard while we were talking about serious business, I launched a surprise attack in the same way again, and in the end, I succeeded!

That's really true—we can't let our guard down for even a moment!

The next moment, Su Yuqing stepped forward angrily, put her hand on Ye Zixuan's shoulder, and tried to forcibly pull this audacious guy away from Ji Ying.

"Hey," her voice was filled with undisguised displeasure and wariness, "why are you doing this again—" However, the question that was about to slip out, "You touched Xiaoying inappropriately again," was abruptly stuck in her throat the moment she touched Ye Zixuan's body.

The sound that came from her hand was the extremely subtle trembling of the girl's body. Su Yuqing was slightly taken aback and looked at Ye Zixuan with some doubt and uncertainty.

It was only then that she belatedly heard a series of intermittent sobs coming from the girl who had buried her face in Ji Ying's arms. The sobs were deliberately suppressed but were still clearly audible.

Wait, she actually cried?!

—And what's more, it happened right in front of me and Xiao Li?!

This incredibly impactful fact instantly plunged Su Yuqing into immense chaos.

In her mind, the girl named Ye Zixuan always maintained a calm, composed, proud, and confident demeanor, no matter when or where.

Whether it was the first meeting in the abandoned school building, the "aerial war" on the way back from the unfinished building, or the verbal sparring in this room just now, none of them were exceptions.

Even when she occasionally feels shy or embarrassed by her own teasing and jokes, she can maintain a relatively calm demeanor and quickly adjust her mindset, immediately taking effective countermeasures, and never truly showing weakness.

But this very same person—just like that, without any warning, burst into tears right in front of me?! And cried so bitterly?!

Su Yuqing was at a loss for what to do, and the hand on the other person's shoulder unconsciously loosened its grip.

Ji Ying, who was being held tightly by Ye Zixuan, could clearly feel the trembling of her body and hear the suppressed sobs of sorrow.

The warm tears had even soaked the fabric of her pajamas, making her feel damp.

Although Ji Ying wasn't entirely sure why Ye Zixuan had such a sudden emotional outburst, she knew that the other person was very vulnerable at the moment and desperately needed her comfort.

So, Ji Ying slowly propped herself up on the bed and cast an apologetic look at Su Yuqing, who was staring blankly to the side.

"I'm sorry, Yuqing, I know you're angry, but the situation is special right now. Let me comfort her first."

She then adjusted her position so that Ye Zixuan could lean against her more comfortably. Then she reached out and gently hugged the girl who was burying her head in her arms and crying her heart out. Her fair hands gently stroked the girl's soft, long black hair again and again.

"Okay, okay—don't cry," she comforted gently, her words filled with reassuring strength.

"It's okay, I'm here."

Unexpectedly, after hearing her gentle words of comfort, Ye Zixuan's previously suppressed sobs not only did not stop, but instead became even louder as if she had found an outlet to vent her emotions.

"Waaaaahh...

She seemed to have completely shed all her strength and pretense, and like a child who had suffered a great injustice, she burst into tears in Ji Ying's arms.

At the same time, she subconsciously hugged Ji Ying tighter, as if she wanted to vent all her grievances, emotions, and fears without reservation.

This sudden change left Ji Ying feeling somewhat embarrassed and at a loss.

She subconsciously raised her head and looked to Su Yuqing beside her for help, hoping that the other party could lend a hand.

Yuqing, help! Why is she crying even harder?!

As a result, after receiving her distress signal, Su Yuqing just snorted again in annoyance, then released her hand that was still on Ye Zixuan's shoulder and silently took a small step back.

She crossed her arms, turned her head to one side, and adopted a posture that said, "I can't see or hear anything. You got yourself into this mess, so you have to deal with it yourself."

—Silly Xiaoying, what can I do to help? She's not hugging me, so just bear it.

Seeing that there was no way to get help, Ji Ying could only sigh helplessly in his heart and continue to brace himself and clumsily comfort the girl in his arms who had completely lost control of her emotions.

On the other hand, although Su Yuqing appeared indifferent on the surface, she had nowhere to vent her dissatisfaction and jealousy.

Especially after seeing Ye Zixuan's pitiful appearance and her success in capturing Xiao Ying's full attention, the nameless anger in her heart burned even brighter.

However, seeing how heartbroken the other person was, Su Yuqing didn't want to forcibly pull them away. After silently suppressing her feelings for a while, her gaze unconsciously fell on the clone of Jiying in Luo Bingli's arms, and an idea suddenly sprouted in her mind.

The next moment, Su Yuqing showed a slightly "kind" smile and quietly moved closer to her friend.

"Yuqing?" Luo Bingli called out softly, somewhat puzzled.

Under the slightly confused gaze of the other party, she stretched out her hands and began to vent her anger on the shadow clone that was no different from the real Ji Ying.

She first stretched out her finger and gently poked the clone's delicate cheek, then, as if that wasn't enough, she used both hands to pull the cute cheek to both sides like kneading dough, and then shaped it into all sorts of strange shapes.

"Ugh—!"

Ji Ying, who was gently comforting Ye Zixuan, suddenly stiffened and let out a muffled groan that was hard to understand.

The shared senses immediately made her expression turn extremely strange, and the corners of her eyes twitched slightly involuntarily.

That feeling was so strange!

It was as if her cheek had suddenly turned into a piece of clay that could be kneaded at will. Although it didn't hurt, the incredibly clear sensation still made her feel an indescribable sense of shame and embarrassment.

Seeing the strange expression on Ji Ying's face—a mixture of anger and unease, a desire to hide but an inability to escape—Luo Bingli immediately realized his predicament.

She hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly spoke, trying to stop Su Yuqing's increasingly outrageous behavior: "Um—Yuqing, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"Huh? What's wrong with that?" Su Yuqing asked without looking up, "It's just a clone anyway, it won't really feel any pain."

As she spoke, she intensified her actions, mischievously pinching the clone's lower abdomen with her finger, then looking at the real Jiying with a hint of provocation, she said irritably, "Even if I do this, does Xiaoying dare to have any objections?"

Jiying: "————" Of course I have objections, huge objections, but I just can't bring myself to say them!

Ji Ying roared silently in her heart, but on the surface she could only endure the incredibly clear and strange sensation, and continue to maintain the posture of gently comforting Ye Zixuan, not daring to make the slightest move.

"But----" Luo Bingli turned her gaze to Ji Ying, and after seeing the other party shaking her head frantically and gesturing to her with her eyes, she instantly understood what she meant.

She preferred to bear this "torture" alone rather than let Yuqing and Zixuan know the secret of shared senses, because once they found out, given their personalities, they might do something even more outrageous.

Thinking of this, Luo Bingli could only sigh silently in her heart and give up the idea of continuing to dissuade her.

I'm sorry, Xiaoying, but I really can't help with this anymore.

The duration of Ji Ying's gentle comfort was the same as the duration of Su Yuqing's "venting" on the other side.

During this time, Ji Ying silently endured the other party's merciless behavior, which was tantamount to "torture" his cheeks, and felt that his face was about to lose all feeling.

When Ye Zixuan's suppressed sobs finally subsided and turned into low sobs with a nasal tone, the shadow clone that had been tormented by Su Yuqing for so long had a bright red face, and even looked slightly swollen from being pulled too much.

All the strange sensations during this time were received without reservation by the Shadowless Body.

Ji Ying lay flat on her back on the bed, her once bright and deep dark red eyes now appearing somewhat empty. She stared blankly at the white ceiling, her hands mechanically stroking the back of Ye Zixuan's head, like a robot with a pre-programmed routine.

—What kind of nonsense is this?!

In her heart, only this cry filled with grief, indignation, and helplessness remained.

After a cathartic outburst, Ye Zixuan's emotions finally calmed down.

However, she remained nestled tightly in Ji Ying's arms like a kitten seeking shelter, showing no intention of getting up.

The reason for this was partly because Ji Ying's embrace was so soft and comfortable, and partly because the experience of him gently comforting her and stroking her head without asking why was something Ye Zixuan had never experienced before in her life.

She was extremely fascinated by it, even a little bit addicted, and couldn't bear to let go of it so easily.

On the other hand, it was because after she calmed down, she belatedly realized how inconsistent her behavior was with the image she had always tried to maintain in front of Su Yuqing and Luo Bingli.

If Xiaoying were the only one in the room right now, she wouldn't care at all, and might even be bolder.

But—and those two just happened to be right next to me, watching the whole thing without blinking!

The thought of the mocking looks Su Yuqing and Luo Bingli might give her after she got up from Xiao Ying's arms made Ye Zixuan's pretty face, still buried in Ji Ying's arms, uncontrollably burn.

Although Ye Zixuan knew that she would have to face this matter sooner or later, she didn't want to at least not now.

So she steeled herself and continued to bury her face in Ji Ying's faintly fragrant embrace, pretending she knew nothing, hoping to delay as long as possible.

However, Su Yuqing, who was standing to the side, was clearly not going to let her have her way.

After she had finished "punishing" the Shadow Clone to her satisfaction, she gave the clone a final, gentle pinch on its side, causing the Shadow Clone to shudder silently once more, before reluctantly letting go.

Immediately, she went to the bedside, crossed her arms, and looked down at Ye Zixuan, who was still "playing dead," and said somewhat irritably, "Hey, I said, you've finished crying, aren't you going to get off our Xiaoying? Or have you—become addicted to hugging her?"

Or perhaps—" Su Yuqing deliberately dragged out the last syllable, her tone full of mischief, "that you feel ashamed of how you cried just now, so—you're too afraid to get up and face me now?"

Hearing Su Yuqing's words, which perfectly understood her true thoughts, Ye Zixuan was startled.

She knew she could no longer run away.

Actually, she wanted to enjoy Xiaoying's soft embrace and gentle comfort a little longer, but since Su Yuqing had already said so much, she, who wasn't very thick-skinned to begin with, was too embarrassed to continue lingering in Jiying's arms.

So, Ye Zixuan steeled her heart and, with every movement filled with longing, as if she might bury her face back in Ji Ying's arms at any moment, she sat up very slowly from the bed.

She then subconsciously reached out and smoothed her long hair, which had become somewhat disheveled from crying, on both sides of her face.

She was already very beautiful, and now her delicate face still bore traces of tears, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were veiled with a thin layer of mist, making her look especially pitiful and endearing.

Not to mention men, even Su Yuqing, who is also a woman, was stunned for a moment when she saw Ye Zixuan's appearance. She even had the thought that "it seems like I've gone a little too far in bullying her?"

Before she could recover from her brief moment of distraction, Ye Zixuan had already raised her head and said solemnly in a slightly nasal and hoarse voice, "Yuqing—thank you."

"ha?"

This sudden thank you left Su Yuqing somewhat confused once again.

She instinctively took a half step back, a suspicious blush rising on her fair cheeks, and stammered, "You—why are you thanking me? What did I just do that deserves your thanks? I was just—just mocking you—" Seeing her slightly flustered appearance, Ye Zixuan gave her a playful smile and then said softly, "You know very well what I want to thank, right? Yuqing?"

"I----" Su Yuqing was even more at a loss because of Ye Zixuan's affectionate way of addressing her with a drawn-out ending. She subconsciously waved her hands quickly, wanting to deny it, but couldn't think of any suitable words to refute it.

Of course she knew what Ye Zixuan was thanking her for. Ye Zixuan was thanking her for not kicking her when she was down when she was most vulnerable, even though she was sharp-tongued, and for giving her enough time and space to vent her emotions.

But how could she possibly tell this kind of thing to her "love rival" with her personality?

In the end, she could only turn her head sharply to one side, refusing to look at Ye Zixuan's charming face with a faint smile, and huffed in annoyance, stubbornly saying, "Who knows what you're talking about! The way you are now—it's infuriating—even more infuriating than before!"'

"And another thing! Don't call my name that disgusting way, it's so cheesy!"

Ye Zixuan smiled and didn't expose her, but instead turned her gaze to Luo Bingli beside her, with a sincere smile on her face: "Xiaoli, thank you for what you did earlier too."

Luo Bingli smiled and gently shook her head without saying a word.

Finally, Ye Zixuan turned her gaze to Jiying, who had already sat up in bed and was looking at the three of them with a gratified expression. Her smile became even gentler and more sincere.

"Of course, the person I should thank the most is Xiaoying."

"Xiaoying, thank you for your gentle comfort just now. I'm feeling much better now."

Hearing Ye Zixuan once again steer the conversation toward Jiying, her tone filled with undisguised closeness and gratitude, Su Yuqing, who had just turned her head to the side, immediately turned her head back.

She looked at Ye Zixuan warily, leaning forward slightly, ready to intercept her at any moment, afraid that this woman who had just tasted the sweetness would once again lose control and rush up to hug Xiaoying.

—After thanking her, will this woman try to pounce on Xiaoying and hug her again?!

I only let you have your way for now because you were crying so hard. If you want to hug Xiaoying again, this time—I absolutely won't let you have your way!

However, this time, Ye Zixuan simply stayed where she was and did not do anything outrageous as Su Yuqing had expected, leaving Su Yuqing's prepared defenses completely in vain.

Looking at the genuine smile on Ye Zixuan's face, Ji Ying smiled and gently shook her head, saying softly, "It's alright, it's good that you've recovered."

"But—I just don't know, would you mind telling me—why did you suddenly become like that just now?"

Immediately, as if afraid that his question would put pressure on the other party, Ji Ying waved his hand and added, "Of course, if you don't want to say, you can just not say. Let's continue sharing information about Jing Jue."

Upon hearing this, the blush that had just faded from Ye Zixuan's cheeks returned uncontrollably, clearly still feeling somewhat embarrassed about her emotional outburst earlier.

But she quickly suppressed her emotions, raised her head, looked at Jiying with an extremely solemn gaze, and said softly, "Xiaoying, actually you shouldn't have come to save me in the first place."

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