Chapter 57
Nightlife in Beicheng was always vibrant, especially in the summer. The city was brightly lit, the sounds of traffic and honking cars never ceasing.
Jiang Siyi insisted she wasn’t drunk.
She struggled out of Shen Shiwu’s arms and immediately tried to run forward—unsuccessfully, as her wrist was firmly grasped by the person behind her.
“Slow down.”
Jiang Siyi, reeking of alcohol, swayed as she walked. Hearing those two words, she turned around fiercely. “I’m not drunk.”
The sounds of scooter horns and cicadas filled the air, not unpleasant. Shen Shiwu, having just finished a long drive, had rushed here to catch a drunkard, her heart still filled with annoyance.
But…
Looking at the girl’s swaying figure, her mood improved slightly.
—So cute.
“Walk slowly, come to my side,” Shen Shiwu said, her tone softening slightly.
Jiang Siyi rarely listened to her, even less so now. She looked down, trying to pull her hand away, muttering, “No, I want to walk by myself, let go…”
Shen Shiwu’s expression darkened again.
She clicked her tongue.
“Jiang Siyi.”
The girl’s figure stiffened.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Jiang Siyi’s mind was racing. She was reminded of years ago, when she had refused to do her homework, and Shen Shiwu had called her full name like this.
The familiar sense of oppression returned.
Jiang Siyi’s face remained expressionless as she gave up struggling. Then, reluctantly but obediently, she turned around and walked to Shen Shiwu’s side.
Shen Shiwu patted her head. “Be good.”
Jiang Siyi stared at the ground, not replying. After walking a few steps, she seemed to snap back to reality and hummed softly. “I’ll try.”
On their way back to the hotel, they passed by a supermarket. Shen Shiwu, leading the drunkard, turned and entered, planning to buy some apples and oranges for a hangover soup.
The drunkard was surprisingly well-behaved, following quietly, seemingly more sober than usual.
But when Shen Shiwu finished paying and was about to leave, she looked around and couldn’t find Jiang Siyi anywhere.
The full moon hung high in the sky, a few birds perched on the branches of a tree, building their nest.
Jiang Siyi was standing there, her head tilted up, her eyes fixed on the birds.
Watching them intently, afraid they would fall, she held out her hand protectively.
This was the scene Shen Shiwu saw when she finally found her.
She stood there, her hair slightly disheveled, and took a deep breath.
Jiang Siyi, after all these years, still playing hide-and-seek?
This was what Shen Shiwu had wanted to say.
But as Jiang Siyi noticed her approach, she put a finger to her lips, making a “shh” gesture.
Jiang Siyi whispered, “Be quiet.”
Shen Shiwu’s eyes flickered.
She swallowed her words.
After standing there for who knows how long, Jiang Siyi finally felt tired. She rubbed her neck and leaned against Shen Shiwu.
“Shen Shiwu.”
“Mm-hmm?”
When she felt safe, Jiang Siyi became more talkative, her words often nonsensical. She mumbled, “The little birds are so amazing. After tonight, they’ll have a place to sleep.”
“It’s not bad being a bird. They don’t have to buy a house, they don’t have to worry about money, just a few twigs, and they have a home.”
“I’m so envious.”
“Envious of what?” Shen Shiwu rubbed the back of her head, playing with a few strands of her hair. “You have a home too.”
Her voice softened. “You’ve had a home since four years ago, the moment you stepped under my umbrella.”
***
A certain drunkard finally returned to the hotel, satisfied.
Shen Shiwu’s words had made her happy, but she didn’t want to show it, so she rolled around on the bed a few times.
Jiang Siyi still insisted she wasn’t drunk.
So, she stumbled to the kitchen, her slippers dragging against the floor, and seeing Shen Shiwu busy at the stove, she asked, “Shen Shiwu, what are you doing?”
“Making hangover soup.”
“Oh,” she leaned against the doorframe, “who are you making it for?”
“For a pig.”
“…”
Even in her drunken state, Jiang Siyi could sense the sarcasm. She angrily bumped her head against the door a few times.
A warm hand cushioned the impact.
Looking up, she saw Shen Shiwu’s hand between her head and the door.
“Even a pig shouldn’t be hitting its head like that.”
“…”
Jiang Siyi turned and left, going back to the bedroom.
She felt weak, her head still spinning, seeing black spots every time she blinked.
She remembered some videos she had seen online.
She quickly wrapped herself in her blanket.
This symptom…
…wasn’t it a sign of sudden death?
She had only had a few drinks, then walked a long distance.
No way, was her body giving up on her?
Jiang Siyi closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate.
Shen Shiwu, opening the door, saw a certain great author lying peacefully in bed, her body straight, her hands on her stomach, the blanket neatly tucked around her.
She paused. “Ms. Jiang, cultivating immortality?”
Ms. Jiang didn’t react.
Shen Shiwu placed the bowl of soup on the nightstand.
A sweet scent filled the air.
Jiang Siyi’s eyelashes fluttered, but she didn’t open her eyes.
“You should exercise before meals,” Shen Shiwu said meaningfully, “don’t you think so, Teacher?”
Jiang Siyi suddenly sat up.
Her head spun, and she almost fell back onto the bed.
Before she could react, something cold touched her lips.
Shen Shiwu was holding a spoon, filled with soup, offering it to her. “Say ‘ah’.”
Besides the sweetness of fruit, there was also the taste of honey.
Too sweet, almost cloying, Jiang Siyi took two sips and turned her head away. “I’m full, I want to sleep.”
“Finish it, or you’ll regret it tomorrow morning.”
Jiang Siyi felt like she needed to wash her brain to get rid of all the dirty thoughts. She sniffed and made a face. “It’s too sweet.”
“Then let’s try a different way of feeding you.” Shen Shiwu said suddenly.
Just as Jiang Siyi was mentally scolding herself for her slightly inappropriate thoughts, her chin was grasped.
Their lips met.
Shen Shiwu said in a low voice, “Open your mouth.”
The hangover soup was finished, but her lips were now sore and swollen.
Jiang Siyi’s eyes were red as she complained, “You… you bit me again.”
The woman’s eyes were filled with satisfaction.
She chuckled. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
After taking the bowl to the kitchen, Shen Shiwu went to fill the bathtub. Coming back to the bedroom, she said to the girl in bed, “Take a shower before you sleep.”
Jiang Siyi didn’t want to move.
She rolled over. “I’m sleepy.”
“If you don’t shower, you’ll smell like alcohol. I don’t mind, but someone might dislike herself tomorrow morning.” Shen Shiwu took her pajamas and sat on the edge of the bed, coaxing her for a while, until Jiang Siyi finally opened her eyes slightly.
She reluctantly got out of bed, her vision blurry.
But the moment her feet touched the ground, she was lifted into Shen Shiwu’s arms.
Shen Shiwu kissed her forehead. “No energy? It’s okay, I’ll help you.”
The bathtub was cold.
Jiang Siyi, with nowhere to hide, could only look away. She curled up, her knees drawn to her chest.
Her face was flushed with embarrassment.
Shen Shiwu’s movements were gentle as she washed her with a towel. Seeing her discomfort, she said softly, “Why are you so nervous?”
Jiang Siyi curled up even tighter.
The hangover soup hadn’t taken effect yet. She stared at the ripples in the water, poking them with her fingers.
Shen Shiwu looked at her, curled up like a ball, and shook her head slightly, then reached for the shower gel.
The scent of jasmine filled the air.
She lathered it in her hands and started washing Jiang Siyi’s back.
Perhaps it was because it was late at night, the steam from the hot water making her drowsy, Jiang Siyi, initially tense, gradually relaxed.
“Look up,” Shen Shiwu said, gently tilting her chin up.
Jiang Siyi, her eyes half-closed, responded with a drawn-out “Oh” and obediently looked up.
Like a proud little rabbit.
Shen Shiwu smiled mischievously and smeared some foam on her cheek.
The rabbit blinked, then started protesting.
She reached out of the water, wiping the foam from her face, accidentally getting some in her eyes, and mumbled, her eyes closed, “I’m sleepy, stop messing around…”
Shen Shiwu gently wiped her eyes with a washcloth, looking at her flushed, sleepy face.
Suppressing her mischievous thoughts, she replied, “Okay, I’ll stop.”
…Why did that sound wrong?
Being held in Shen Shiwu’s arms felt good.
Like… being filled with happiness and a sense of security.
Emerging from the bathroom, Jiang Siyi inhaled Shen Shiwu’s scent, wanting to memorize it, and was rewarded with a tap on the head. “Are you a puppy?”
Jiang Siyi nuzzled closer.
“I’m not a puppy, I don’t bite.”
“Then you’re a bunny.”
“…”
Couldn’t she just be a person?
Being placed on the bed, Jiang Siyi felt like she had just returned from a space journey. She kicked the blanket a few times, grumbling, “It’s so hot…”
Shen Shiwu turned down the AC(air conditioner) . Seeing the girl tossing and turning restlessly, she pulled the blanket over her.
“You’ll get even hotter if you keep moving,” she said, holding Jiang Siyi’s shoulders down, her grip gentle but firm, “go to sleep.”
Jiang Siyi thought she was being told to be obedient.
Her heart fluttered, and she stopped moving, lying still, wanting to hear it again.
But the lights were turned off, plunging the room into darkness.
Shen Shiwu patted her head. “Good night.”
What?
Was she leaving?
Her emotions always fluctuated at night, and the alcohol hadn’t completely worn off yet, so Jiang Siyi, in the darkness, felt a lump forming in her throat, wanting to cry.
Just as Shen Shiwu was about to turn away, Jiang Siyi grabbed the corner of her clothes.
Feeling aggrieved, she sniffed before speaking. “Where are you going?”
Shen Shiwu replied truthfully, “I still have some work to do.”
Jiang Siyi’s grip loosened slightly, then her hand slipped.
She buried her face in the blanket and mumbled, “Okay, you can go.”
But the woman standing by the bed didn’t move.
Jiang Siyi sensed her presence and opened one eye, peeking out.
The shadowy figure was standing there, arms crossed, looking at her. Although she couldn’t see her expression clearly, she could sense the amusement.
Jiang Siyi quickly closed her eyes again.
In the quiet room, Shen Shiwu chuckled softly.
She turned on the bedside lamp, a dim light filling the room.
Jiang Siyi, hearing the sound, pulled the blanket down slightly, wanting to peek—and was caught.
Shen Shiwu was looking at her, a smile playing on her lips.
Her voice was filled with helplessness, but also indulgence.
“Always so awkward, I wonder who spoiled you.”
Jiang Siyi’s face burned, and she licked her lips, blaming the alcohol.
Her voice, muffled by the blanket, was slightly indistinct. “A jerk spoiled me.”
“…”
Shen Shiwu turned off the lamp.
The room was plunged into darkness again.
Jiang Siyi felt someone leaning closer, then the blanket was pulled down.
Her face was exposed.
Just as she was about to cover it with her hands, Shen Shiwu held her wrists down, pinning them against the pillow.
Despite the forceful gesture, Shen Shiwu’s voice was gentle as she explained why she hadn’t replied to her messages. “I rushed to Beicheng to see you as soon as I finished work today, I spent most of the time driving, I didn’t have time to check my phone.”
It was mostly true, just a slight exaggeration.
She hadn’t waited until she finished work.
The moment she received Gu Ning’s message, she had rushed out of the office and driven straight to Beicheng.
She hadn’t checked her phone because she had been focused on driving.
She had wanted to see Jiang Siyi as soon as possible.
The room was dark.
Jiang Siyi couldn’t see Shen Shiwu’s face, only feeling her warm breath against her skin as she spoke.
“Oh…”
“Okay, I understand.”
She turned her head slightly, her gaze flickering.
Suddenly, the grip on her wrists loosened for a moment, then tightened again, held by one hand.
Shen Shiwu used her free hand to gently turn Jiang Siyi’s face towards her.
“I’ve explained,” she leaned down and kissed Jiang Siyi’s trembling eyelashes, her voice suddenly changing, losing its gentleness, “now it’s your turn.”
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