Panda Cub – Chapter 16

Lazy bug

“You still don’t know her well enough? She’s probably in some bar right now, drinking with beauties,” He Ying said leisurely.

Jing Dan: “…”

That does seem likely.

Having come to that realization, she didn’t bother with Hu Tu’s nonsense any longer and bowed her head to continue eating the food that He Ying had prepared for her.

Seeing her unabashed demeanor, He Ying shook herhead; it seemed she really did treat her like a mere tool.

“Aren’t you eating?” Seeing her continually serving, Jing Dan finally started to feel a little embarrassed.

“Ah,” He Ying opened her mouth.

Jing Dan: “…What are you doing?”

He Ying lifted her gloved hands coated with chili oil, looking innocent, “Look at me now. Do I look like I can eat by myself?”

Jing Dan: “…”

“Are you going to feed me or not, my mouth’s getting tired from being open,” He Ying said with a hint of laughter in her eyes, finding it funny to see someone silent like that.

Jing Dan felt conflicted. Looking at all the shells He Ying had peeled on the table, and considering the saying “one who takes from another is beholden to them,” she wondered if outright refusal would make her seem cold-hearted?

Her inner turmoil even started causing a stomachache, but she also found the act of feeding her a bit odd. She had never even fed Hu Tu like this before…

Seeing Jing Dan’s tangled expression, He Ying shook her head and ceased to tease, taking off her gloves, “Better if I do it myself, or I’ll starve to death waiting.”

Jing Dan: “…”

However, a sense of relief washed over her internally; at least she wouldn’t have to go through with those weird antics.

Out of the corner of her eye, He Ying caught Jing Dan’s gesture and pondered thoughtfully. It seemed she wasn’t accustomed to such actions, having quite a strong sense of personal boundaries.

After a late-night snack, Jing Dan’s impression of He Ying had considerably improved; at least she wouldn’t secretly label her a ‘fox spirit’ in her mind anymore.

“Go get some good rest. Tomorrow I’ll take you out for some… tasty food.” He Ying initially intended to suggest going out for some fun, but after seeing those clear, bright eyes, her words took an unexpected turn.

To this person, eating might be far more tempting than playing. It’s a wonder how she maintains such a fine figure with such an appetite.

True to her expectations, she saw that person’s eyes suddenly light up.

Jing Dan nodded, indicating that she understood.

She then quickly urged He Ying to retreat back into the room and close the door, rather than standing in the doorway.

After returning to her room, He Ying looked down at the bathrobe she was wearing, shook her head in resigned amusement, and chuckled to herself. It seems this person not only has a strong sense of personal boundaries but also rather conservative thoughts. Could her attire even be considered revealing?

The next morning, He Ying was up and about early, having washed and done a quick half-hour of exercise, followed by a shower to wash off the sweat. It was now 8, and thinking that the other two should be up by now, she sent out a message.

Little did she know, her two sent messages vanished as if into a sea of stones, without any response.

He Ying: “???”

Can’t be, she’s still not awake?

She waited until 9, even after having her breakfast, when she sent another message, to the same silent treatment.

He Ying: “…”

What kind of shenanigans are these two up to? I’d let it slide if it were just Hu Tu being her usual muddled self, but Jing Dan, that kid, can’t even be dragged out of bed with the promise of food?

First off, a call to Hu Tu—the phone rang and rang, for so long that He Ying was about to hang up, when it was finally picked up. Then came Hu Tu’s voice through the receiver, tired to the bone and muffled, clearly not yet awake.

He Ying: “…Where are you now?”

Did this guy manage to find someone she liked overnight?

Hu Tu: “I, I’m now at, erm—knock it off, stop it…”

Following that, from the other end of the phone, there came vague hums and murmurs, overlaying Hu Tu’s intermittent speech. He Ying, with an expressionless face, hung up the phone.

She looked up towards the door, and although she could effortlessly enter Jing Dan’s room, she refrained from doing so. Instead, she took out a book and read quietly, waiting for that lazy bug to wake from sleep.

In the meantime, in Jing Dan’s room, a woman of stunning beauty lay peacefully asleep on the big bed, clutching the quilt to her chest as though it were a tender bamboo shoot fragrant and soft, her treasure indeed.

As the minutes ticked by, and when the sunlight gradually became more glaring, the woman in bed finally stirred. She pulled the quilt over her head to block out the sun and continued to sleep contentedly.

He Ying waited in the room. She waited from 9 until 10, and then until 11. It was nearing midday, and she was getting restless.

What species is this person, really? Did she go out to have fun last night after the late-night snack? Otherwise, how could she sleep so much!

Thinking that sleeping so much wasn’t good for her health either, He Ying finally couldn’t resist and gave Jing Dan a call.

“Hello—” came a hazy voice, sweet and sticky with sleepiness.

He Ying’s intended words stopped short, feeling like she had committed a grave sin. The other was sleeping so soundly; what was she doing disturbing her?

“It’s noon, what would you like to eat?” He Ying’s voice softened involuntarily, almost as if she was afraid of waking her up completely.

Jing Dan, still nestled in her blankets, finally opened her eyes. She blinked repeatedly to clear the grogginess and then, belatedly, seemed to remember the promise she made to He Ying the night before.

With a swift movement, she sat up and grabbed her phone to check the time. It was already 11:40. She had promised He Ying they’d go out for something delicious…

“Hello? Jing Dan?” He Ying’s voice was still calling from the other end of the phone.

“Ah, yes, wait for me, I’m getting up right now!” Jing Dan hurriedly clambered out of bed, a look of self-reproach on her face. She had made a promise to He Ying, and here she was, having slept through half the day. Wasn’t this breaking her word?

Listening to the continuous dial tone, He Ying couldn’t help but laugh helplessly before she decided to order room service instead. Given the time, they really couldn’t go out to eat anymore.

About 10 minutes later, He Ying’s room door was knocked on.

As He Ying went to open the door, she was met with the sight of a woman standing outside, clad in a sapphire blue shirt, tucked into her trousers. However, perhaps due to the rush of stepping out, the woman had buttoned her shirt incorrectly.

Seeing Jing Dan in such a rare disheveled state brought a hint of amusement to He Ying’s eyes. After stepping aside to let her in and giving her an appraising look, He Ying couldn’t help but think that slender individuals like Jing Dan really suited button-up shirts. Even though the buttons were mismatched, there was an effortless, rebellious charm about her. Yet the seriousness of her face—a stark contrast to the casualness of her attire—somehow perfectly converged on her, creating a compelling, albeit contradictory, impression.

“Wait a moment, lunch will be sent up soon,” He Ying said as she closed the door, then pointed at Jing Dan’s shirt and remarked, “You buttoned it wrong.”

Jing Dan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Aren’t we going out?”

Seeing that Jing Dan wasn’t moving, He Ying took the initiative to step forward and started to undo the wrongly fastened buttons for her, her voice calm, “Look at the time, how can we go out now? I have a program recording at 2.”

The implication was clear: even if they went out, they wouldn’t have much time to enjoy themselves.

Jing Dan: “…”

Her eyes and eyebrows drooped slightly, and she watched He Ying tidy up her clothes, pouting slightly.

Had she known, Jing Dan wouldn’t have rushed over in such a hurry.

“All set.” He Ying finished rebuttoning the shirt for her and smoothed out the wrinkles. Shaking her head and sighing, she said, “Were you a sleep bug in your last life? How can you sleep so much?”

Jing Dan: “…”

She didn’t know why she had that brief bout of insomnia last night either.

“Alright, have a seat, the food will be here shortly.”

He Ying busied herself in the kitchen for a bit before coming out to serve Jing Dan a glass of milk.

Jing Dan’s eyes instantly lit up.

The author has something to say:

Jing Xiaodan: Milk~