The Goddess and the Ugly Duckling: C51

A Pen Pal Cometh

This novel was posted on cntranslations [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)

On on warm sunny day, Xiaoya had received a phone call.

Xiaoya: "Aw, thank you. I never thought you'd suddenly pop up in Nancheng, though. I didn't even get to fulfil my duty as a host, at all."

On on warm sunny day, Xiaoya had received a phone call.

Xiaoya: "But that time I was still in high school, it's different now because I'm in college. If I live frugally, I could gain a bare-bones level of financial independence to support myself if I tutor on the weekends and get another part-time job. But that won't be the case after I graduate. I would be a lot better off then. I'm currently laying the groundwork at home right now, and I've been tactfully testing the waters with my father by talking about which celebrities were lesbian and talking about what their lives are like. In the beginning, he couldn't believe it and asked how it's possible, but I still bring up the topic from time to time."

"Hi, may I ask if this is Yu Xiaoya?" A very pleasant sounding female voice sounded from the other end of the line.

On on warm sunny day, Xiaoya had received a phone call.

Xiaoya: "Yes, this is she."

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

As soon as Xiaoya was finished replying, a soft chuckle rang out from the caller's end.

Xiaoya: "But... Captain doesn't agree with me doing any of this. She thinks I should become a postgraduate student at our school, but I want to go to Shanghai or overseas. If it were overseas, I think the Netherlands would be the best option. She has permanent residency there, a visa , so it would help a lot with her job search, but she said she wouldn't elope with me. It's not like I want to elope either, it's just that I want to be together with her in the open. I want my mom to approve of our relation just like her mom does. But how I came out accidentally in high school, even though my mother thinks I changed, she's still anxious about me getting married and stuff. I'm still young now, but there are some decent boys who are friends of relatives and such, and she's starting to take note of them."

As expected, Joanna responded, "Oh, I deleted that that app a while ago, though. Having a pen pal was good enough."

"I remember all the postcards you wrote to me, Xiaoyu. So do you still think I'm a scammer?" Joanna let out another laugh before she added, "Cards you sent by registered mail."

Joanna: "So, what does she think about that?"

Xiaoya: "Captain says she wishes for me to live in peace with my family, and that she doesn't want us to have a falling out over this matter again. She wants me to focus on my studies now, and after I get a job, she hopes I can focus on that until I'm settled in. She said it doesn't matter what I tell my family, and that it's fine if I want to remain 'single' or even have a lavender marriage.T/n: A marriage in name only between a gay man and woman to keep the heat off. I think that time we got separated really scarred her. She's both scared my mom would separate us again and places far too much importance on my family. I was thinking of telling my family first, and if they don't agree, I'll still be with Captain. She and I could rent a place together and try to wear them down. Then, after some time passes, they'll have no choice but to accept us."

Joanna: "It doesn't take a lot of time to write a card every few days, doest it?"

With a relieved sigh, Xiaoya replied, "We discussed a lot of things, so which one are you talking about?"

Xiaoya: "May I ask who is calling?"

"The reason... the special reason I came all the way to Nancheng was you—to find you. Xiaoyu, I like you."

Xiaoya was rather confused by the reaction, but the other person had quickly replied. "Oh, my name is Joanna, but you might be more familiar with the other name I go by, 'Female Hobbies?'"

With resignation, Xiaoya replied, "I'll tell her I will never give birth."

"Really?" Xiaoya was stunned for a moment, "Are you really her, though? I'm pretty sure I never gave her my contact information."

"Of course. Of course!" Xiaoya was quick to respond, in English as well.

After Mo Yichen left, Xiaoya had no one else to talk about her and Lu Xiaobei's relationship with. What's more, the words Joanna said to her had made her feel a bit moved. Joanna had far more experience than her, and ut was completely possible she could impart her with some sound advice.

"The reason... the special reason I came all the way to Nancheng was you—to find you. Xiaoyu, I like you."

Xiaoya: ...

Xiaoya: "May I ask who is calling?"

Xiaoya bit down on her straw, feeling quite awkward. "The main issue is me." Xiaoya eyes met Joanna's pretty ones, the next words leaving her practically mumbled. "I find it especially hard to concentrate properly. Back when I was preparing for my college entrance exams, I almost became a repeater. So now with my post graduate exams coming up, I have to give my best to not have it turn into a world war two scenario..."

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

"I remember all the postcards you wrote to me, Xiaoyu. So do you still think I'm a scammer?" Joanna let out another laugh before she added, "Cards you sent by registered mail."

Xiaoya was rather confused by the reaction, but the other person had quickly replied. "Oh, my name is Joanna, but you might be more familiar with the other name I go by, 'Female Hobbies?'"

Thinking there was something she'd need help with in the future, Xiaoya replied, "Yeah, I'm free."

Xiaoya: "You came all the way to Nancheng, so it's only right I should act as a proper host."

Joanna: "Your girlfriend has settled things properly with her own family, right?"

As expected, Joanna responded, "Oh, I deleted that that app a while ago, though. Having a pen pal was good enough."

With this, Xiaoya did recall they had sent each other letters via registered mail before, and that must have had one's real name and phone number used in order to be posted. So, when she thought about it like that, it was possible Joanna got a hold of both her real name and number.

N/A

Joanna: "What are you doing right now?"

Leaning back on the sofa, Joanna then said, "You can tell me all about it, you know? I got a few years on you, after all, so I might be able to offer some advice."

After this, the two talked for a long time about other things. When it was time for them to leave, Joanna planned to pay the bill and called over the waiter, but she was told the bill was already paid for.

"Hi, may I ask if this is Yu Xiaoya?" A very pleasant sounding female voice sounded from the other end of the line.

Xiaoya: "I just finished class."

Xiaoya: "You have a point and your reason is sound, but I can't seem to get this through Captain's head."

N/A

Xiaoya: "Oh. Is there any reason in particular you're here for?"

Xiaoya: ...

Xiaoya and her pen pal had agreed to meet up at a cafe near the train station.

Joanna: "So, are you free right now?"

Joanna continued to encourage her, saying, "That's great. Taking a step-by-step approach is very good."

Xiaoya: "Aw, thank you. I never thought you'd suddenly pop up in Nancheng, though. I didn't even get to fulfil my duty as a host, at all."

"Oh. What a pity." Joanna then added, "What about you and your girlfriend, then? Are you guys still together?"

Thinking there was something she'd need help with in the future, Xiaoya replied, "Yeah, I'm free."

Xiaoya: "There is something that has been bugging me recently, it's about my family. After I graduate, I was thinking about coming out to my parents, but Captain doesn't agree that I should."

Xiaoya: "May I ask who is calling?"

Xiaoya: "I'm sorry about that. I did leave you a message on the app we talked about movies on. It's just that... something happened so I um..." While she was on the phone with Joanna earlier, Xiaoya figured she possibly missed her message and felt bad she made her make the trip here for nothing. This was why she had agreed to their meet up.

Joanna: "What reason could there be for me to allow a little junior to treat me?"

Joanna: "It's been so long since I've last received a card from you, and I'm actually passing through Nancheng right now and will probably be spending a night here, so do you want to grab something to eat?"

Xiaoya was completely overwhelmed. Joanna was far too frank in nature and all Xiaoya wanted to do was bury her head under the table. She can grind out full postcards for a few hours, but her responses in real life weren't as quick. She could tell Joanna that she had stopped exchanging cards with her because she and Lu Xiaobei had a spat. But the reason for the disagreement involved Joanna, herself, so Xiaoya didn't want her to think too much about it.

Xiaoya and her pen pal had agreed to meet up at a cafe near the train station.

"The reason... the special reason I came all the way to Nancheng was you—to find you. Xiaoyu, I like you."

Xiaoya: "There is something that has been bugging me recently, it's about my family. After I graduate, I was thinking about coming out to my parents, but Captain doesn't agree that I should."

Xiaoya: "Anyway, I'm in my third year of university right now, and I'm also preparing for the post graduate examinations, so a lot of my former hobbies and interests got left behind. I said as much in the message I left you."

"Oh. What a pity." Joanna then added, "What about you and your girlfriend, then? Are you guys still together?"

On on warm sunny day, Xiaoya had received a phone call.

Joanna: "Your girlfriend has settled things properly with her own family, right?"

As soon as Xiaoya walked into the shop, she recognised Joanna immediately. She was just as beautiful as Xiaoya had imagined, possibly even more so. Her beauty was different from the elegant one possessed by Mo Yichen, it wasn't like the dazzling beauty Lu Xiaobei had either. It was more beguiling, and steeped in feminine appeal. Her long, flowing hair was curled into huge waves that draped over her shoulders and framed a face delicately accentuated by makeup as it spread into a soft smile under the dim lights of the cafe.

Joanna: "It doesn't take a lot of time to write a card every few days, doest it?"

Joanna was a twenty-seven year old who worked as a freelance photographer, meaning, she would often be hopping from city to city or mountain village to mountain village. So it wasn't until she returned to her home that she got some proper rest and properly organised her postcards.

As a result, the addresses Joanna used to send Xiaoya the cards were always different each time.

Xiaoya: "Come on, now, tell me where you're staying so I can send you back."

Joanna was also someone proficient in breaking the ice, so in no time at all after their first meeting, she and Xiaoya were already chatting like old friends. Well, they were still pen pals who had sent each other cards for two years straight, after all, so they did know one another quite well, plus have a lot of interests in common.

But before she could finish, Joanna cut her off and said, "Xiaoyu, this isn't a trick. Before, I always wanted to tell you that one of the things I looked forward to the most after returning to my home wasn't having to not run around outside any longer, it was that I could finally receive your postcards. I didn't realise it in the beginning, and I guess I just chalked it up to me just really liking exchanging cards with you. It wasn't until I stopped receiving your cards for those few months that I finally figured it out, that I realised I was already trapped.

Joanna: "You're so pretty. You're as pretty as I had imagined."

Xiaoya: "I just finished class."

Joanna: "You're so pretty. You're as pretty as I had imagined."

Turning around, she set her sights on Xiaoya.

Xiaoya: "Aw, thank you. I never thought you'd suddenly pop up in Nancheng, though. I didn't even get to fulfil my duty as a host, at all."

Joanna: "Your girlfriend has settled things properly with her own family, right?"

Joanna: "I was actually supposed to fly straight to Shanghai. But after I remembered you were in Nancheng, I looked up tickets to here, saw they were a lot cheaper, and decided to come here first."

Thinking there was something she'd need help with in the future, Xiaoya replied, "Yeah, I'm free."

Joanna: "Your girlfriend has settled things properly with her own family, right?"

Xiaoya: "Oh. Is there any reason in particular you're here for?"

Xiaoya: "May I ask who is calling?"

With resignation, Xiaoya replied, "I'll tell her I will never give birth."

Xiaoya: "Oh. Is there any reason in particular you're here for?"

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

With resignation, Xiaoya replied, "I'll tell her I will never give birth."

Xiaoya: "I just finished class."

Xiaoya: "You came all the way to Nancheng, so it's only right I should act as a proper host."

"I remember all the postcards you wrote to me, Xiaoyu. So do you still think I'm a scammer?" Joanna let out another laugh before she added, "Cards you sent by registered mail."

Joanna was staying at a place not far from the cafe they just visited, so they made their way there by foot in hardly any time. Joanna then asked, "Would you like to come up and sit for a bit? I brought a coffee machine and have coffee in my bag, too. Do you remember what I told you before? My coffee making skills are pretty good."

Joanna: "What are you doing right now?"

Joanna: "You're so pretty. You're as pretty as I had imagined."

Xiaoya: "Yes, this is she."

As expected, Joanna responded, "Oh, I deleted that that app a while ago, though. Having a pen pal was good enough."

Xiaoya: "You came all the way to Nancheng, so it's only right I should act as a proper host."

Xiaoya didn't want to talk about this topic so she only gave the vague response: "One of them went to live abroad."

As expected, Joanna responded, "Oh, I deleted that that app a while ago, though. Having a pen pal was good enough."

Xiaoya: "No, we're still at a stalemate. We just agreed to ignore the elephant in the room."

Joanna: "The one about your friend whose also a lesbian. What happened to them?"

Joanna: "What are you doing right now?"

Joanna: "It doesn't take a lot of time to write a card every few days, doest it?"

For a while, neither of the two said a word to the other. Xiaoya had no idea what to say, but luckily Joanna took it upon herself to change the topic of their conversation. "It's been a while since we talked, so did you resolve the problem you had before?"

Xiaoya: "Oh. Is there any reason in particular you're here for?"

On on warm sunny day, Xiaoya had received a phone call.

With a relieved sigh, Xiaoya replied, "We discussed a lot of things, so which one are you talking about?"

Joanna: "So, are you free right now?"

Joanna: "I saw you still exchanged postcards on the postcrossing siteT/n: you can see the cards in transit for users on the site. Xiaoya made an oopsie~."

"Oh. What a pity." Joanna then added, "What about you and your girlfriend, then? Are you guys still together?"

"Of course. Of course!" Xiaoya was quick to respond, in English as well.

Xiaoya: "There is something that has been bugging me recently, it's about my family. After I graduate, I was thinking about coming out to my parents, but Captain doesn't agree that I should."

Xiaoya: ...

Joanna: "I saw you still exchanged postcards on the postcrossing siteT/n: you can see the cards in transit for users on the site. Xiaoya made an oopsie~."

Joanna: "Your girlfriend has settled things properly with her own family, right?"

Joanna: "You're so pretty. You're as pretty as I had imagined."

Thinking there was something she'd need help with in the future, Xiaoya replied, "Yeah, I'm free."

iana: Captain was right on the money.

As expected, Joanna responded, "Oh, I deleted that that app a while ago, though. Having a pen pal was good enough."

Xiaoya: "Come on, now, tell me where you're staying so I can send you back."

Joanna: "Your girlfriend has settled things properly with her own family, right?"

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

Joanna: "So, what does she think about that?"

Xiaoya didn't want to talk about this topic so she only gave the vague response: "One of them went to live abroad."

With a relieved sigh, Xiaoya replied, "We discussed a lot of things, so which one are you talking about?"

Joanna: "What are you doing right now?"

Joanna: "The one about your friend whose also a lesbian. What happened to them?"

Joanna: "So, are you free right now?"

Joanna: "The one about your friend whose also a lesbian. What happened to them?"

Joanna: "What are you doing right now?"

Xiaoya didn't want to talk about this topic so she only gave the vague response: "One of them went to live abroad."

Joanna: "Well, when the time comes, you will either agree to her demands once more and give birth to a child, and it's likely you life score would only be a ten in total by then. But if you never take that step starting right now, your mother's current life score of a hundred would only drop or stay a that ninety, but the ten in your possible future can actually become a hundred based on your decision today. So, tell me, which sounds better to you?"

"The reason... the special reason I came all the way to Nancheng was you—to find you. Xiaoyu, I like you."

N/A

"Oh. What a pity." Joanna then added, "What about you and your girlfriend, then? Are you guys still together?"

"Of course. Of course!" Xiaoya was quick to respond, in English as well.

Xiaoya: "Yes, this is she."

Joanna: "Oh... so does this man you two have worked out the disagreement you had before?"

"Really?" Xiaoya was stunned for a moment, "Are you really her, though? I'm pretty sure I never gave her my contact information."

Thinking there was something she'd need help with in the future, Xiaoya replied, "Yeah, I'm free."

Xiaoya: "You have a point and your reason is sound, but I can't seem to get this through Captain's head."

Xiaoya: "No, we're still at a stalemate. We just agreed to ignore the elephant in the room."

Leaning back on the sofa, Joanna then said, "You can tell me all about it, you know? I got a few years on you, after all, so I might be able to offer some advice."

Joanna: "You both have a point. Your mom sees a successful career and harmonious family as the full 100 points needed for a person's perfect life, and right now she has a score of 90. But if you compromise temporarily and proceed with a lavender marriage, if she has other demands in the future, like wanting to hold a grandson or a granddaughter in her arms, what will do when the time comes?"

Xiaoya: "You came all the way to Nancheng, so it's only right I should act as a proper host."

"Is something wrong?" Joanna asked, not understanding Xiaoya's reaction.

Xiaoya and her pen pal had agreed to meet up at a cafe near the train station.

"I remember all the postcards you wrote to me, Xiaoyu. So do you still think I'm a scammer?" Joanna let out another laugh before she added, "Cards you sent by registered mail."

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

Xiaoya: ...

Xiaoya: "There is something that has been bugging me recently, it's about my family. After I graduate, I was thinking about coming out to my parents, but Captain doesn't agree that I should."

A Pen Pal Cometh

As expected, Joanna responded, "Oh, I deleted that that app a while ago, though. Having a pen pal was good enough."

Joanna: "What reason could there be for me to allow a little junior to treat me?"

Xiaoya: "Oh. Is there any reason in particular you're here for?"

Joanna: "Your girlfriend has settled things properly with her own family, right?"

Xiaoya: "There is something that has been bugging me recently, it's about my family. After I graduate, I was thinking about coming out to my parents, but Captain doesn't agree that I should."

Xiaoya: "Yeah. I talked to her mom on the phone and she has no issues with us. Her father also doesn't involve himself in her affairs much, so her family is considerably less restrictive so there won't be any big issues. My family is not the same, however. My parents are more conservative and there don't know anyone around them who have taken this path. They also know that not many positive things could come from it. I had come out to my mother before, by accident, and... she was opposed to the idea, very strongly as well."

Joanna: "Oh... so does this man you two have worked out the disagreement you had before?"

iana: Captain was right on the money.

Joanna: "You two have to work together, be on the same page."

Xiaoya: "I just finished class."

With a relieved sigh, Xiaoya replied, "We discussed a lot of things, so which one are you talking about?"

Xiaoya: "There is something that has been bugging me recently, it's about my family. After I graduate, I was thinking about coming out to my parents, but Captain doesn't agree that I should."

Joanna continued to encourage her, saying, "That's great. Taking a step-by-step approach is very good."

Xiaoya: "You came all the way to Nancheng, so it's only right I should act as a proper host."

Joanna: "The one about your friend whose also a lesbian. What happened to them?"

As a result, the addresses Joanna used to send Xiaoya the cards were always different each time.

A Pen Pal Cometh

Joanna: "So, are you free right now?"

Joanna continued to encourage her, saying, "That's great. Taking a step-by-step approach is very good."

As expected, Joanna responded, "Oh, I deleted that that app a while ago, though. Having a pen pal was good enough."

With resignation, Xiaoya replied, "I'll tell her I will never give birth."

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

Joanna: "Oh... so does this man you two have worked out the disagreement you had before?"

"I remember all the postcards you wrote to me, Xiaoyu. So do you still think I'm a scammer?" Joanna let out another laugh before she added, "Cards you sent by registered mail."

Joanna: "So, what does she think about that?"

"Is something wrong?" Joanna asked, not understanding Xiaoya's reaction.

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

Leaning back on the sofa, Joanna then said, "You can tell me all about it, you know? I got a few years on you, after all, so I might be able to offer some advice."

Xiaoya: "You have a point and your reason is sound, but I can't seem to get this through Captain's head."

Joanna: "You can say that. A friend I've been exchanging postcards with for a few years stopped contacting me for three months and I got really worried."

Joanna: "You two have to work together, be on the same page."

Joanna continued to encourage her, saying, "That's great. Taking a step-by-step approach is very good."

_{Joanna: "Well, when the time comes, you will either agree to her demands once more and give birth to a child, and it's likely you life score would only be a ten in total by then. But if you never take that step starting right now, your mother's current life score of a hundred would only drop or stay a that ninety, but the ten in your possible future can actually become a hundred based on your decision today.}
Joanna: "You both have a point. Your mom sees a successful career and harmonious family as the full 100 points needed for a person's perfect life, and right now she has a score of 90. But if you compromise temporarily and proceed with a lavender marriage, if she has other demands in the future, like wanting to hold a grandson or a granddaughter in her arms, what will do when the time comes?"

_{Joanna: "Well, when the time comes, you will either agree to her demands once more and give birth to a child, and it's likely you life score would only be a ten in total by then. But if you never take that step starting right now, your mother's current life score of a hundred would only drop or stay a that ninety, but the ten in your possible future can actually become a hundred based on your decision today.}With this, Xiaoya did recall they had sent each other letters via registered mail before, and that must have had one's real name and phone number used in order to be posted. So, when she thought about it like that, it was possible Joanna got a hold of both her real name and number.

With resignation, Xiaoya replied, "I'll tell her I will never give birth."

In a daze, Xiaoya stared at Joanna.

Joanna: "You're so pretty. You're as pretty as I had imagined."

Xiaoya: "You have a point and your reason is sound, but I can't seem to get this through Captain's head."

With a relieved sigh, Xiaoya replied, "We discussed a lot of things, so which one are you talking about?"

Xiaoya: ...

Joanna: "What are you doing right now?"

Xiaoya: "I just finished class."

Turning around, she set her sights on Xiaoya.

Joanna: "What reason could there be for me to allow a little junior to treat me?"

Xiaoya: "I just finished class."

In a daze, Xiaoya stared at Joanna.

Xiaoya: "You came all the way to Nancheng, so it's only right I should act as a proper host."

To which Xiaoya replied, "After you, yourself, taught me all those tricks to pick up girls, do you still think you can use them on me? You what, the truth is, I came here today because I wanted to tell you—"