Chapter 69: Friends Shouldn’t Keep Secrets From Each Other

 Wang Mei Na was wearing a floral dress with a pink apron. She looked like a kindly albeit haggard middle aged woman. The inside of the apartment was clean but bare and the furniture appeared to be a mismatch of items from different households. Atop the wooden sofa was a bag of stuffed animals and on the coffee table was a stack of black buttons. 

Su Ning who had followed Wang Mei Na into the living room caught sight of this and immediately thought of one of her part-time jobs sewing stuffed animals. The pay was ridiculously low, less than 50CNY for an extra large bag of teddy bears. 'Why is Auntie Wang doing such tedious manual labor?' She wondered. 

"I'm so sorry for the mess. Please take a seat. Is water alright?" Wang Mei Na asked as she made her way into the kitchen.

"No no auntie. It's my fault for not giving prior notice. Uhm yes. Water is fine," Su Ning answered politely.

"Just a moment. Uhm mister, you can just place the basket anywhere there's space on the dining table," Qing Mei's mother said gesturing towards the table that was filled with freshly cooked dishes.

"Understood. Are you having a party, ma'am?" Driver Yang asked.

"Ah no no. These are food delivery orders. I make them fresh everyday," Wang Mei Na answered with a small laugh.

"The app called HomeCook right? My wife uses this whenever she doesn't have time to make dinner." (Driver Yang)

"Yes! That's the one! My handle is MamaWang. Try it with your wife sometime," Wang Mei Na beamed.

"Certainly, ma'am. Your dishes look very appetizing," Driver Yang complimented without batting an eyelid.

The apartment had an open floor plan so Su Ning was easily able to observe everything from where she sat in the living room. And upon hearing Auntie Wang and Driver Yang's conversation, Su Ning had to hide her shock. She wasn't aware that Qing Mei's family was experiencing financial difficulties. If that was the case, then why was Qing Mei enrolled in M Academy? That would only exacerbate their economic hardships. Su Ning herself wouldn't have entered M Academy if she had not gotten a full scholarship. 'Ah! What am I doing? It's not my place to judge a family's choices,' Su Ning thought chasticing herself. 

After Wang Mei Na placed the cups of water on the coffee table for Su Ning and Driver Yang, she tentatively asked the young girl what was weighing on her mind, "Does Xiao Ning perhaps know what happened to Xiao Mei at school on Monday?"

"Mm….I have an idea. Uhm, Is Qing Mei alright Auntie?" Su Ning asked concernedly.

"Yes. Thankfully she isn't sick. It's just Xiao Mei refuses to leave her room," Qing Mei's mom responded sadly.

"Auntie, is it alright if I speak to Qing Mei for a bit?" Su Ning finally brought up her courage to ask.

Wang Mei Na thought for a few seconds before responding, "En. It's the first room in the hallway." She had a good feeling about Su Ning and she hoped the young girl could help her daughter who had abruptly become closed off one day. Today, Wang Mei Na especially missed her little daughter Qing Mei who loved to sing and was always spirited.

.......

Meanwhile, Su Ning gingerly turned the knob of Qing Mei's bedroom door and quietly stepped into the darkened room. It was already close to noon but the young girl still lay in bed with the blankets pulled over her head. The curtains from all four windows were drawn shut and the light switches remained in the off position.

Turning her attention to the small double bed on the corner of the room, Su Ning could hear Qing Mei sniffling underneath the blankets.

"MeiMei, it's me Su Ning," she softly called out.

However, her friend simply remained silent for another 10 minutes, not bothering to acknowledge Su Ning's existence. 

"MeiMei, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had feelings for JinYan-ge."

"In fact, it's not that MeiMei isn't good. Just…JinYan-ge rejects….all confessions. I …uhm…wasn't able to tell you. So,….I'm really sorry." Su Ning attempted to explain somewhat incoherently. All of a sudden, Qing Mei sat up from her bed looking completely unkempt with a dull look in her eyes.

"MeiMei, are you alright?" (Su Ning)

"NingNing-ah…" (Qing Mei)

"Ung? Yes?" (Su Ning)

"Is that true?" (Qing Mei)

"Hmm?" (Su Ning)

"Did Lin JinYan really reject everyone?" (Qing Mei)

"Huh? Oh yes! He did." (Su Ning)

"So he's not seeing anyone right now?" (Qing Mei)

"No, he isn't." (Su Ning)

"You aren't secretly dating him behind my back are you?" Qing Mei suddenly spoke sharply, grabbing Su Ning's wrists. 

Wincing from Qing Mei's sharp nails that were digging into her soft skin, Su Ning answered "N-Noo, we don't have that kind of relationship."

"Really? You're not lying to me are you?" Qing Mei persisted.

"No! I wouldn't lie to you. MeiMei, it hurts. Can you release your grip?" (Su Ning)

"You said Lin JinYan wanted handmade socks," Qing Mei mentioned in an accusatory tone.

"Ah? He does. Just.." (Su Ning)

"Then why didn't he accept my present?" (Qing Mei)

"Ah…That's… JinYan-ge doesn't accept gifts from girls who confess to him." (Su Ning)

"So you're saying he only takes gifts from friends?" (Qing Mei)

Recalling how Lin JinYan had accepted her previous presents, Su Ning nodded positively in response to Qing Mei's inquiry. All the while thinking that her friend was acting somewhat oddly this morning.

"MeiMei, I'm sorry I forgot to clarify this beforehand." (Su Ning)

"Hmm. It's fine now. I forgive you," Qing Mei said rather nonchalantly.

"Really?" (Su Ning)

"Mhmhmm. But NingNing…You're not allowed to keep secrets from me anymore alright? Friends shouldn't keep secrets from each other," Qing Mei said with an unnatural glint in her eyes.

Su Ning felt rather unsettled from Qing Mei's unwavering gaze. Her words sounded rather weird and obsessive so Su Ning could only nod in response.

**beep beep beep***

"Who's calling?!" Qing Mei questioned piercingly.

"Huh? No..this is an alarm." (Su Ning)

"What alarm?" (Qing Mei)

"For my medications. I have to take them every day." (Su Ning)

"Really?! Can I see?" Qing Mei asked with sudden interest.

"Uhm. Th-that's fine. But I'd rather not open the container if you don't mind." Su Ning said, showing Qing Mei a clear, flat pill box.

"How long have you been taking them?" (Qing Mei)

"Mm. Since I was 12." (Su Ning)

"What happens if you don't take them?" (Qing Mei)

"Uh… it's not really something I'd want to imagine. These are medications I need to take everyday for the rest of my life." (Su Ning)

"Amazing how those little tablets can keep someone alive." (Qing Mei)

"Huh? Yeah the medical field has sure progressed. Uhm, MeiMei, your mom has been really worried. Can I have her come in with lunch?" (Su Ning)

Qing Mei's face initially crinkled at the mention of her mother; however as if infused with newfound vigor, she unexpectedly smiled and nodded in acquiescence at Su Ning's inquiry.

A look of relief washed over Su Ning's face at Qing Mei's positive response. 'She seems like she is feeling better. That's good.'

"MeiMei, will you be coming to school on Monday?" she asked with some anticipation.

"Mhmm. I can't take more days off. The second round of auditions for XIIN Entertainment are coming up as well." (Qing Mei)

"Ah I see. That's great. I hope you do well," Su Ning said sincerely.

Before Su Ning left for her lunch appointment with Lin JinYan, Qing Mei had inquired about Lin JinYan again. Apparently, she still intended to become close to the school prince despite having recently been rejected. 

"NingNing, I want to spend more time with Lin JinYan before he graduates. Can you help make that happen?" (Qing Mei)

"I'm not sure I can do that. Lin JinYan doesn't like when people try to set him up that way." 'Lin JinYan dislikes contrived situations like these the most. So it's not like I can just come up with a plan to match them together. Aii, I thought Qing Mei had given up on Lin JinYan but that was apparently not the case,' Su Ning was so engrossed in her worries that she didn't notice the expression of intense loathing that flashed across Qing Mei's face.

"I thought you said we were friends," Qing Mei said coldly.

"Huh? We are friends. But MeiMei, setting up meetings with JinYan-ge is something I have to do with his permission. That's why I said I am not sure it can be done. But I will certainly ask if JinYan-ge would be willing to hangout with you," Su Ning honestly explained.

For a minute or so, Qing Mei did not respond, causing Su Ning to anxiously wonder if she had been unclear with her explanation. 'Qing Mei is my friend and I came here to make things right with her but I don't intend to sacrifice Lin JinYan in the process.'

"Fine. Alright. Let me know what he says," Qing Mei finally says with a forced smile.

"Mhmm. I will."