Chapter 81
Having suppressed her desires for so long, things were bound to get out of control.
As the water rippled around them, Jiang Siyi tilted her head back, her eyes half-closed, her fingers tangled in Shen Shiwu’s hair, soft moans escaping her lips.
Her fingertips moved slightly.
“Ah!”
She instinctively gripped the edge of the bathtub.
“Yes, just like that,” Shen Shiwu whispered, her lips brushing against Jiang Siyi’s eyelids, her voice a seductive murmur, “it sounds so good.”
Gentle kisses rained down on her skin. Jiang Siyi gasped for breath, her eyes red, like a little rabbit being bullied.
Her voice was trembling. “Shen Shiwu… let’s get out, okay?”
“Let me catch my breath.”
“I won’t run away, even if you do this all night,” Shen Shiwu said, her fingers moving rhythmically, “who said that?”
As her fingers brushed against a sensitive spot, Jiang Siyi’s body trembled, her words disjointed. “I, I take it back.”
“No going back on your word.”
“Or,” the woman chuckled softly, “there will be consequences.”
Jiang Siyi felt like she was suffocating.
Amidst the haze of pleasure, she heard Shen Shiwu’s amused voice.
“Ms. Jiang, it’s raining.”
***
The next afternoon, Jiang Siyi woke up in a daze.
Fortunately, the production had been suspended, so she had nothing to do and lingered in bed for a while.
As expected, the space beside her was empty, she was the only living creature in the bed.
Jiang Siyi pouted and called out, “Shen Shiwu—”
There was no response.
Remembering the past, she wondered,
Had she left again…?
Ravaging her then leaving, Shen Shiwu, you’re such a jerk.
Jiang Siyi burrowed under the covers. The memories of last night’s passion contrasted sharply with her current loneliness.
Like falling from heaven to hell.
She hugged herself, her heart sinking.
When Shen Shiwu quietly opened the door, the first thing she saw was a round lump under the covers. She raised an eyebrow and slowly approached the bed.
The blanket was thick and heavy, creating a cocoon. Jiang Siyi was hiding inside, silently crying, not noticing the approaching footsteps.
“Trying to suffocate yourself?” Shen Shiwu’s voice was merciless.
You’re the one who wants to suffocate…
Huh?
Jiang Siyi peeked out from under the blanket, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She seemed surprised. “You’re still here?”
Seeing her red eyes, Shen Shiwu reached out and gently stroked her hair.
Jiang Siyi, appeased by the gesture, moved closer, her head nuzzling against Shen Shiwu’s hand.
Then she wrapped her arms around Shen Shiwu’s waist.
Afraid of being pushed away, her movements were hesitant. Only when she felt that Shen Shiwu wasn’t going to reject her did she lean her head against her chest.
Like a stray animal seeking warmth.
Shen Shiwu felt a pang of regret.
Looking at the girl’s insecure expression and hesitant movements, she thought,
She should have stayed in the room and waited for her to wake up.
“I’m not leaving,” she said, gently patting Jiang Siyi’s back, “are you hungry? Let’s go eat.”
Jiang Siyi, after clinging to her for a while longer, finally lifted her head.
“I’m hungry, but…” she pouted, “I can’t walk.”
She had indeed lost control last night.
Shen Shiwu took a few seconds to reflect on her actions, then, scooping up the girl and the blanket, she carried her to the living room.
Seeing a table full of her favorite dishes, Jiang Siyi ate like she hadn’t eaten in days. Shen Shiwu tapped the table lightly, telling her to slow down.
Little Jiang, her head down, continued eating.
Shen Shiwu: “…”
As they were eating, Jiang Siyi’s phone rang. She picked it up and mumbled a “hello.” Xu Yuan, on the other end, sounded relieved. “Thank goodness, you’re still alive.”
Although her words were a bit harsh, Jiang Siyi knew she was concerned, so she swallowed her retort and simply replied, “I’m alive.”
After briefly explaining what had happened, Xu Yuan clicked her tongue and exclaimed, “Your ex-girlfriend is truly dedicated, why haven’t you two gotten back together yet?”
Although Jiang Siyi wasn’t on speakerphone, they were sitting at the same table, and Xu Yuan’s voice was loud. Jiang Siyi knew Shen Shiwu could hear her clearly.
She emphasized her words, “Yes, why haven’t we gotten back together yet?”
But when she discreetly glanced at Shen Shiwu, the latter was still staring at her laptop, seemingly oblivious.
Stubborn woman.
Jiang Siyi pouted and angrily finished her soup.
***
It was past two in the afternoon.
Having packed their things, with no work scheduled, they decided to go back to Qinan.
Xu Yuan came to see them off.
“When I’m free next year, I’ll bring my girlfriend to Qinan, you have to treat us to dinner then.”
“Of course,” Jiang Siyi said, discreetly gesturing towards the car behind her, “we’ll treat you together.”
Xu Yuan followed her gaze and saw the woman waiting quietly in the car.
“Okay, good luck, student Jiang, wishing you a speedy reunion.”
Xu Yuan had wanted to pat Jiang Siyi’s shoulder, but she suddenly met Shen Shiwu’s gaze. She quickly retracted her hand.
“It’s getting late,” she said, “you guys should go, don’t drive in the dark.”
“Then goodbye.”
“Bye.”
Getting into the car, seeing that Xu Yuan was still standing there, Jiang Siyi waved, telling her to go back to work.
But the next moment, the car window rolled up.
“Seatbelt,” Shen Shiwu said, glancing at her.
Jiang Siyi mumbled an “okay” and fastened her seatbelt, then looked back.
The car drove forward a short distance, then stopped and reversed. Xu Yuan, who had been about to leave, was puzzled, thinking they had forgotten something, and she hurried over. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Siyi was also confused and looked at Shen Shiwu questioningly.
Shen Shiwu said calmly, “Giving you two some time for a dramatic farewell.”
She took out her phone and waited. “Continue.”
Jiang Siyi: “…”
She waved at Xu Yuan through the car window, mouthing, “It’s okay, you can go now.”
Xu Yuan stared at the car, then mouthed silently, “Young people, have some self-control.”
Then she turned and left.
“?”
Jiang Siyi was puzzled, then, after a moment, she realized what Xu Yuan had meant, and her face flushed. Suppressing her embarrassment, she said to Shen Shiwu, “Let’s go.”
“Done catching up?”
Seriously, these two,
None of them could speak normally.
“…Yes.”
A few minutes later, just as Jiang Siyi was getting restless, Shen Shiwu finally started the car.
Seeing that they were finally on the road, she took out her phone and started bombarding Xu Yuan with messages.
Long drives could be tiring.
Jiang Siyi knew this, so she kept trying to find topics to talk about.
Making small talk.
At first, the conversation was normal.
“Are you hungry? I have matcha cookies.”
“No, you eat them.”
Until later—
“Shen Shiwu, can we not do it in the bathroom next time? It’s too hot.”
The woman, focused on driving: “…”
“Cuddle with your plushie and go to sleep,” she said calmly.
Jiang Siyi hummed softly and turned her head away, ignoring her. After a while, she turned back again. “Shen…”
“Go to sleep.”
She rested her chin on the plushie’s head and finally quieted down.
When she opened her eyes again, the car had stopped at a rest area in Qinan. Jiang Siyi, still drowsy, didn’t want to move. So Shen Shiwu got out of the car to buy her some snacks.
Just as she took a few steps, she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
Before she could even turn around, Jiang Siyi had caught up to her, rubbing her eyes, her face slightly flushed from sleep. “Forget it, I’ll come with you.”
Still half-asleep, her words were slightly slurred. Shen Shiwu stared at her for a few seconds, then cleared her throat and looked away.
“Let’s go.”
The rest area was crowded and noisy, and Jiang Siyi clung to Shen Shiwu’s arm, afraid of being separated from her.
“What do you want to eat?”
Jiang Siyi tiptoed and looked around. “Mm-hmm… oden.”
The evening air was cool, and she wanted something warm. Holding the paper cup of oden, her hands warmed by the heat, she closed her eyes, feeling sleepy again.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“Not hungry, let’s go.”
Shen Shiwu said this, but Jiang Siyi didn’t follow. Shen Shiwu slowed down and looked back, seeing that Jiang Siyi was still eating.
Noticing her gaze, Jiang Siyi quickly finished her mouthful and ran to catch up. “Coming.”
They walked side by side.
Shen Shiwu’s expression was calm, but her eyes kept glancing at Jiang Siyi, afraid she would suddenly disappear.
Then, realizing what she was doing, she suddenly thought,
Jiang Siyi was in her twenties now.
No longer a high school student who couldn’t even find her way around.
She lowered her eyes and stopped looking.
Jiang Siyi, however, was a different story.
She took a bite of a beef ball and immediately started fanning her mouth, having burned her tongue.
The crowd grew denser, the sound of children crying mixing with the loud voices of truck drivers, a cacophony of noise. Jiang Siyi quickened her pace and almost tripped over a beggar kneeling on the ground.
Afraid of being scammed again, she quickly moved around him.
Then she was bumped from behind.
“Ouch, young lady, I’m so sorry,” a middle-aged woman with permed hair apologized.
Seeing that it was a woman, Jiang Siyi smiled. “It’s okay.”
It was just a small incident, nothing to worry about, and she waved her hand dismissively, then hurried to Shen Shiwu’s side. Before she could even regain her balance, a hand appeared before her.
“Hold my hand,” the woman said casually.
Jiang Siyi, her mouth full of fish tofu,
Couldn’t hear her clearly over the noise, her cheeks puffed out. “Huh?”
Shen Shiwu: “…”
Her hand still outstretched, she took the oden from Jiang Siyi.
“This is mine now,” she said, her tone slightly annoyed.
Jiang Siyi had only had two skewers, and she was still hungry. She reached for the oden. “No, I’m not done yet.”
Shen Shiwu, taller than her, held the oden out of reach, not even spilling a drop of broth. Jiang Siyi, defeated, sulked and looked down at the ground.
“Watch where you’re going.”
No response.
Shen Shiwu sighed inwardly, then extended her hand again, her voice slightly raised. “Hold my hand.”
The head finally moved.
Jiang Siyi took her hand, their fingers intertwining. Still thinking about the oden, she suddenly lunged forward when Shen Shiwu wasn’t paying attention.
Like a tiger pouncing on its prey.
Shen Shiwu, seeing her smug expression, chuckled helplessly.
What tiger?
More like a rabbit.
They got into the car and continued their journey. A ringtone broke the silence, and Shen Shiwu, glancing at the screen, said to Jiang Siyi, “It’s the housekeeper, you answer.”
Jiang Siyi obediently answered the call. “Auntie—”
“Is that Ms. Jiang? Are you and Ms. Shen coming home for dinner tonight?”
“Yes, Auntie, I want chicken soup.”
…
After hanging up, Jiang Siyi was about to turn off her phone screen when a familiar icon appeared.
Weibo? Did Shen Shiwu use Weibo?
Then she took a closer look, and her expression turned strange.
[Ding dong, friendly reminder to our superfan “Jiang Siyi,” you haven’t checked in to the supertopic today!]
Superfan?
Jiang Siyi was reminded of a certain reader’s default profile picture and random string of characters as their username.
To confirm her suspicion, she took out her own phone and checked the reader’s Weibo profile.
As she refreshed the page, the IP address changed from Chang’an to Qinan.
Jiang Siyi’s eyes widened slowly.
Her expression was complex, and after a moment, she really wanted to ask,
Shen Shiwu, do you have multiple personalities?
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