Chapter 73
Shen Shiwu wasn’t one to suppress her desires.
Before their breakup, three times a week was the minimum. At home, in the car, anywhere, anytime.
But now, it was different.
She needed to show Jiang Siyi the pain of their separation with a cold and indifferent attitude.
Of course,
A calculated coldness.
So,
“Finished?” Shen Shiwu glanced at her. “If you’re done, then eat your food.”
Jiang Siyi was silenced.
She lowered her eyes, her grip on her chopsticks tightening.
Embarrassed and flustered, she wanted to escape as soon as possible, so she ate quickly, almost choking. She silently vowed—never listen to online advice again!
Jiang Siyi was actually quite cute when she was flustered.
Her pale cheeks flushed pink, her earlobes turning red, her gaze flickering nervously.
She had been like this four years ago, and she was still the same now.
Shen Shiwu, watching her, smiled faintly.
After all these years, she hadn’t changed at all.
“I’m done,” Jiang Siyi said, wiping her mouth with a tissue and grabbing her bag, “you take your time.”
Even her tendency to run away was the same.
Thinking this, Shen Shiwu’s expression darkened slightly, and she frowned. “Sit down.”
The familiar sense of oppression returned.
Jiang Siyi almost instinctively obeyed.
After sitting back down, she wondered why she was always so obedient when it came to Shen Shiwu.
Before she could even figure it out, the woman across from her spoke. “I have a question for you.”
Oh, you have a question for me now?
Jiang Siyi nodded. “Ask away.”
“Do you have any classmates who are looking to buy a house? I bought a courtyard house before, but I don’t need it anymore, I’m selling it at a low price.”
Jiang Siyi realized she was talking about the house opposite hers.
Wasn’t this a bit much, even for a breakup?
Selling her house already?
She hummed softly. “No.”
“I don’t have many connections, why are you asking me?”
Actually, Shen Shiwu wasn’t really planning on selling the house. It was just a small property to her, and she had only brought it up to make conversation.
She hummed thoughtfully. “Don’t you have many classmates?”
Jiang Siyi: “…”
She felt that Shen Shiwu was being sarcastic.
By the time Shen Shiwu finished her meal, it was already nine o’clock. Normally, Jiang Siyi would have been home by now.
But today was different.
Since she had run into Shen Shiwu, she might as well spend some time with her.
The earlier awkwardness had dissipated, and Jiang Siyi followed Shen Shiwu out of the restaurant, then suddenly called out, “Shen Shiwu.”
The other woman didn’t stop walking.
Jiang Siyi, feeling a sense of urgency, jogged over and tugged on her sleeve. “There’s a new movie, it’s getting rave reviews, do you want to watch it?”
“Not really.”
“I know you want to.”
“I don’t.”
“Shen Shiwu…”
Jiang Siyi blinked, and tears welled up in her eyes. She sniffed, trying to hold them back, but her throat tightened with emotion.
She whispered Shen Shiwu’s name again.
Before meeting Jiang Siyi, Shen Shiwu had thought she wouldn’t be swayed by emotions.
It wasn’t worth it, there was no need for it.
But…
There were always exceptions.
She closed her eyes for a moment, seeing the redness around Jiang Siyi’s eyes, and sighed inwardly.
Just watching a movie, it wasn’t a big deal.
“If you keep crying, we’ll miss the last showing,” Shen Shiwu said, resisting the urge to wipe away her tears. Then she turned and walked towards the cinema.
Jiang Siyi quickly wiped her tears, grateful that she wasn’t wearing any makeup. Seeing Shen Shiwu walking towards the cinema, she hurried after her. “Wait for me.”
The cinema wasn’t crowded at night, and even buying tickets on the spot, they could still choose seats in the middle. But Jiang Siyi chose seats in the back corner.
Satisfied, she bought a large bucket of popcorn, thinking that just holding the tickets didn’t feel right.
Shen Shiwu reminded her, “You just had dinner.”
Jiang Siyi, of course, knew that. But without the popcorn, how could she create a romantic, movie-date atmosphere?
She insisted, “I’m still hungry.”
“Pig.”
“What’s wrong with being a pig? You’re the one who fed me like one.” Jiang Siyi, after saying this, realized her mistake, she had just admitted to being a pig.
Seeing Shen Shiwu’s lips twitching slightly, she hugged the popcorn and went to get their tickets checked.
Inside the cinema, the lights were still on, and Jiang Siyi easily found their seats. She tossed a few pieces of popcorn into her mouth and offered some to Shen Shiwu. “Want some?”
Shen Shiwu replied flatly, “I’m not a pig.”
Seriously, what a jerk. She had fed her like a pig before, and now she was disgusted? Jiang Siyi, increasingly annoyed, munched on her popcorn, only quieting down when the lights dimmed.
The back corner seats were perfect for a date. Jiang Siyi had no intention of watching the movie, her gaze constantly drifting towards Shen Shiwu, until her chin was grasped and turned back to the screen, and she realized she had been caught.
She pouted and finally focused on the movie.
Having decided to watch the movie on a whim, Jiang Siyi hadn’t even checked the plot.
When she saw the actors, she suddenly realized something and said to Shen Shiwu, “Haven’t we watched this movie before? Four years ago?”
“No.”
“Bullshit, we definitely have,” she whispered.
The person beside her said calmly, “That was the first movie, this is the second one.”
“…”
Oh, close enough.
Jiang Siyi mumbled and quieted down. Then, seeing the protagonists reunite, she couldn’t sit still anymore.
Nudging Shen Shiwu’s arm, she whispered, “Just like us.”
Shen Shiwu didn’t even turn her head. “Not like us.”
“They don’t touch their ex-girlfriend’s leg while watching a movie.”
Jiang Siyi, exposed, was silent for a few seconds, then discreetly retracted her hand.
She rubbed her fingertips, her face slightly flushed.
For the rest of the movie, Shen Shiwu was the epitome of indifference. No matter what Jiang Siyi did, she didn’t react.
A dejected Little Jiang stubbornly finished the entire bucket of popcorn, feeling stuffed, then leaned back in her chair, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
And continued cursing Shen Shiwu inwardly.
Sometimes, accidentally muttering a curse out loud, she would clear her throat and pretend nothing had happened.
Shen Shiwu: “…”
Two hours later, as the movie was nearing its end, Jiang Siyi, her plan foiled, finally sat up straight. Her gaze turned resentful, and she thought,
If she had known Shen Shiwu would be so unresponsive, she would have just gone home.
Her legs were numb, and she shifted in her seat, then she saw a couple kissing a few rows ahead.
Jiang Siyi’s lips twitched, and she quickly leaned back in her chair. Seeing their intimacy, her dead heart suddenly rekindled.
She nudged the unresponsive person beside her.
Shen Shiwu finally turned her head and asked what was wrong. Hearing her calm tone, Jiang Siyi felt both aggrieved and angry.
She asked, “Shen Shiwu, do you know what I’m doing right now?”
“Watching a movie.”
“…I’m trying to win you back.”
Afraid of disturbing the others, Jiang Siyi lowered her voice to a whisper, her words almost a growl. “Can’t you at least give me some reaction?”
Shen Shiwu leaned back in her chair, looked at her for a moment, then, suppressing a smile, she lowered her head.
“What kind of reaction do you want?” she asked, her expression carefully neutral.
Jiang Siyi scoffed, then started listing her demands. “When I flirt with you, you should act shy.”
“…”
“When I touch your leg, you should touch mine back.”
“…”
Just then, the lights came on. Jiang Siyi shielded her eyes with her hand, but she continued talking.
Shen Shiwu, after a moment of silence, stood up and left.
“Hey, I’m not done yet,” Jiang Siyi said, hurrying after her, “wait for me.”
Past midnight, the business district was quiet, most of the shops closed, the streets dark and deserted.
Jiang Siyi, holding the empty popcorn bucket, tried to walk close to Shen Shiwu. The latter, seeing the bucket, asked, “Keeping it as a souvenir?”
“Oh, I forgot,” Jiang Siyi looked around, “where’s the trash can?”
Shen Shiwu’s eyes softened with helplessness. She took the bucket, walked away, threw it in the trash can, then returned. “Behind you.”
Her arms feeling empty and insecure, Jiang Siyi moved closer to Shen Shiwu. “You have such good eyesight,” she said, making conversation.
Shen Shiwu swatted her restless hands away, ignoring her, and walked away.
Jiang Siyi rubbed her hands, which weren’t hurting at all, and said pitifully, “Walk slowly, I’m afraid of the dark.”
Although the villa wasn’t far, within walking distance, Jiang Siyi still insisted, “It’s too late, take me home.”
Shen Shiwu glanced at her. “Is that how you ask for a favor?”
The girl immediately softened her tone. “Sister.”
Hearing that word, Shen Shiwu was momentarily stunned. She paused, then looked away. “Let’s go.”
Jiang Siyi, her plan working, suppressed a smile and turned to leave, only to be stopped by a tap on her head. “Wrong way, this way.”
“Oh—”
She should have bought a house further away from the city center.
As they approached the villa, Jiang Siyi became increasingly anxious, her words tumbling out of her mouth, as if tomorrow was the end of the world.
“Did you know that people lose weight when they don’t get enough attention? They become pale and sickly,” she said, making things up.
Shen Shiwu, driving quietly, replied, “Keep making things up.”
Jiang Siyi’s face flushed with anger, and she opened the window slightly, still not giving up. “Did you know…”
“I don’t know.”
Damn it.
Jiang Siyi silently cursed—this woman was even harder to pursue than before.
Fine, since neither gentle nor harsh words worked,
She would use her acting skills.
Shen Shiwu, finally enjoying the silence, glanced at Jiang Siyi and saw that the girl had lowered her head.
“It’s not Halloween yet, no need to play the ghost,” she said casually.
Jiang Siyi gritted her teeth, suppressing her urge to curse. She ignored Shen Shiwu and continued her “ghost act.”
The car stopped in front of the courtyard house.
“Get out,” Shen Shiwu said, turning to look at her.
But the only response was a soft sob.
Crying?
The next second, Jiang Siyi pretended to wipe her eyes and forced a smile. “Okay, then I’ll be going.”
Ask me why I’m crying, quick!
Quick!
Shen Shiwu nodded and said considerately, “It’s dark outside, use your phone’s flashlight.”
…And?
Jiang Siyi’s heart sank.
After a moment, she dejectedly got out of the car.
Although there were streetlights, it was still quite dark late at night. Jiang Siyi stood at her doorstep, tears still staining her face.
Shen Shiwu watched her, sighing inwardly.
“Go inside,” she said.
But Jiang Siyi didn’t move, stubbornly standing there like a gatekeeper.
Seeing that Shen Shiwu was about to leave, she finally called out, “Shen Shiwu.”
“Do you… really not like me anymore?”
The question, piercing the silence of the night, was incredibly abrupt.
The woman in the car, hearing those words, paused, her hand hovering over the steering wheel.
“If you don’t have feelings for me anymore, just say it, no need to beat around the bush,” Jiang Siyi said, her voice trembling slightly, trying to keep it steady.
Shen Shiwu listened quietly, then, a few seconds later, she opened the car door and got out.
Jiang Siyi’s mind raced with possibilities.
Was she annoyed and about to yell at her?
They had loved each other once, please, no violence.
“Ask me again,” Shen Shiwu said, standing before her, her voice calm.
Under the dim light of the streetlamp, her shadow stretched long and thin.
Jiang Siyi fidgeted with the corner of her clothes and repeated, “Shen Shiwu,”
“Do you really…”
“I do.”
The woman leaned casually against the car, her hair shimmering faintly in the moonlight. Seeing Jiang Siyi’s stunned expression, she repeated,
“Didn’t you hear me? I said, I do.”
Leave a Reply