Chapter 73 p1
Cai Ying’s face fell, her earlier excitement replaced by disappointment, as she didn’t receive the answer she had hoped for.
“You don’t understand the pain of unfulfilled expectations,” she said, putting on a mock-fierce expression, seeing the amusement in Xu Jinnan’s eyes.
“I wasn’t laughing at you,” Xu Jinnan said. “If not this time, then next time. There’s no rush.”
“Exactly, there’s no rush,” Tong Jia agreed, nodding. “If you really don’t want to go alone, I’ll go with you tomorrow, sis.” Her pause was deliberate, the suggestive undertone obvious.
She was only being this restrained because of Cai Ying’s presence.
If Xu Jinnan had been alone, her innuendos would have been far more explicit.
Cai Ying, still uncorrupted by Tong Jia’s influence, focused only on the latter part of her sentence, throwing her arms around Tong Jia in a grateful hug.
They patted each other on the back, exchanging sisterly affections, then, caught up in the moment, clinked their beer cans together.
—
The dinner, which had already lasted over an hour, showed no signs of ending.
Tong Jia and Cai Ying, both with high alcohol tolerances and a shared love of drinking, were deep in conversation, their chatter increasing with each sip.
Shen Shu stood up and went to the bedroom.
Xu Jinnan glanced at them, then followed her.
The bedroom lights were off, only a faint light coming from the balcony, the streetlights outside casting a warm glow, the windows of the buildings across the street twinkling like distant stars.
The occasional sounds of traffic, conversations, and the rustling of leaves drifted in, creating a peaceful, almost intimate atmosphere.
Xu Jinnan stood at the doorway, watching as Shen Shu took a few garments from the drying rack, then joined her, picking up Shen Shu’s strawberry-print pajamas, the soft fabric inviting.
Shen Shu, without a word, walked past her, carrying the other clothes, but Xu Jinnan caught her wrist, pulling her back gently.
“Shu Shu.”
Xu Jinnan leaned down slightly, about to ask if she was okay, when Shen Shu pushed her away. “What?” she asked, her tone playful despite the slight annoyance in her voice.
If it weren’t for the softening lilt at the end, Xu Jinnan would have thought she was genuinely angry.
The sound sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.
She released Shen Shu’s wrist, letting her go, Shen Shu taking the pajamas with her.
Xu Jinnan watched her go, a faint smile playing on her lips.
They could talk later, after Cai Ying and Tong Jia left.
Cai Ying had said she was going home tonight.
But words were cheap.
—
Cai Ying, wiping away tears brought on by a yawn, bid Tong Jia a dramatic farewell. “My dearest Jia Jia, goodbye! Be careful! Don’t talk to strangers! And let me know when you get home!”
Tong Jia: “My dearest Little Cai, goodbye! I never thought you would become a third wheel! Don’t barge into married couples’ bedrooms! I’ll definitely let you know when I get home!”
Xu Jinnan: “…Just go together.”
Tong Jia turned back to Cai Ying, a playful glint in her eyes. “See? She’s kicking you out, Little Cai.”
“Alright, enough with the theatrics,” Xu Jinnan said, following them to the door. “Viola is still nearby. She can drive you home.”
After seeing them off at the elevator, Xu Jinnan returned to the apartment to find Cai Ying draped over Shen Shu on the sofa. “Shu Shu’s lap is so much more comfortable,” she murmured.
Xu Jinnan stared at them: “…”
For the first time, she considered physically removing Cai Ying from the premises.
But it was just a fleeting thought.
Tonight, Cai Ying’s words, though occasionally excessive, didn’t seem malicious; she simply needed someone to talk to.
That was why Shen Shu had let her stay.
Having known each other for so long, Shen Shu knew when Cai Ying needed her.
Xu Jinnan messaged Viola, letting her know Tong Jia was downstairs.
She had originally intended to have Viola join them for dinner, then drive Tong Jia and Cai Ying home, but Viola had declined.
She hadn’t pressed the issue.
—
Outside, the cool night air was a welcome relief after the warmth of the apartment and the alcohol, clearing Tong Jia’s head slightly.
She saw a white car with its window down, waved, and walked over, leaning against the doorframe. “Hey, Viola, you’re working hard tonight,” she said.
Viola smiled. “It’s nothing. Get in, Miss Tong.”
Tong Jia got into the passenger seat, and as Viola started the car, she asked, “Miss Tong, you have a high tolerance for alcohol, don’t you?”
“Not bad. Definitely better than your CEO Xu,” Tong Jia replied without thinking.
Viola, a smile playing on her lips, didn’t reply, but she didn’t deny it either, her gaze fixed on the road ahead.
Tong Jia chuckled. “Sorry for talking about your boss behind her back. I get it, I get it. No need to explain. We all know what she’s like.”
Viola smiled. After a moment, she asked, “Want some water?”
Tong Jia shook her head. “I prefer alcohol. Secretary V, can you hold your liquor? I’ll have to show you sometime.”
“I’d like that,” Viola replied, her tone sincere.
Tong Jia glanced at her, observing her profile, her features sharp and elegant, her demeanor efficient and professional.
She seemed like a straightforward person, her actions direct and decisive.
Tong Jia’s gaze drifted downwards, lingering on her figure, her auburn hair a striking contrast against her dark suit, the white shirt beneath not too tight, her physique slender, typical of an Alpha.
Viola suddenly turned her head, and Tong Jia, blinking, looked up, pretending she hadn’t been staring.
“Miss Tong.”
“Yes?”
“You haven’t told me where you live.”
“Oh, I live at…”
After giving Viola her address, perhaps because of the alcohol, or perhaps just fatigue, she leaned against the window and closed her eyes, quickly drifting off to sleep.
Then… she woke up just as quickly.
She had been dreaming of Qiao Rui.
It was snowing, the soft flakes falling like white flowers, covering the ground in a blanket of pure white.
She had been sulking, having refused to eat all day after seeing Qiao Rui accept a gift from another woman.
She had ignored Qiao Rui’s calls and messages, even the ones relayed through mutual friends.
Then, that night, Qiao Rui had appeared outside her dorm, holding a bouquet of red roses, their vibrant color a stark contrast against the white snow, bright enough to melt even the coldest winter heart.
Then, the scene had shifted, and she had seen Qiao Rui in bed with another woman, smiling at her, the woman in her arms saying, “Tong Jia, you’ve been such a fool all these years.”
She had been enraged, about to lunge at them, when she woke up.
Her breathing ragged, she rolled down the window, the cool night air dispelling the lingering anger from her dream.
It was almost laughable.
She was still dreaming of Qiao Rui.
It wasn’t the first time; most of her dreams about Qiao Rui were filled with pain and anger, like the one she had just had.
Sometimes, she would dream of happier times, and those dreams were even more painful upon waking.
Betrayal wasn’t the worst part; it was the lingering shadow of that betrayal, the inability to erase the memories, that truly hurt.
Cai Ying had said it was like a malignant tumor, impossible to completely remove, the scar always remaining.
But you could distract yourself, and eventually, you would forget about it.
Tong Jia had asked how to distract herself.
Cai Ying, twirling the bracelet on her wrist, had said with a smile, “Find someone new.”
Tong Jia agreed, but despite her open-mindedness, her only romantic experience had been with Qiao Rui.
She had tried dating other people, but she always felt a sense of resistance, a lack of connection.
Sometimes, what you wanted wasn’t easy to find, especially when it came to matters of the heart.
Because you couldn’t control your feelings.
And hatred, after all, was also a form of attachment.
Lost in thought, her head resting against the car window, she heard Viola’s voice. “Miss Tong, do you like chocolate?”
She turned her head slowly. “Huh?”
Viola smiled, stopping at a red light, and took a piece of chocolate from her pocket, offering it to Tong Jia.
—
It was 9 p.m.
The night sky was dark and overcast, the forecast predicting more rain before dawn.
While Cai Ying was showering, Shen Shu brought the roses in from the balcony.
When Xu Jinnan entered the bedroom, Shen Shu was just returning from the balcony. She glanced at Xu Jinnan, then opened the wardrobe to get her pajamas.
Xu Jinnan stepped closer, her voice low. “You’re sharing the bed with Cai Ying tonight, right?”
Shen Shu glanced at her. “Yes,” she replied calmly. “That way, you can get some rest.” No need to wait for her to fall asleep before coming to bed.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She had been deliberately maintaining a distance these past few days, but the implication that she had been intentionally staying up late was unfair. Shen Shu had been perfectly fine these past two days; the problem had been that phone call at lunchtime.
“I don’t know that woman who asked for my WeChat. I just met her randomly at the restaurant,” Xu Jinnan explained.
Shen Shu’s gaze cooled slightly.
“Teacher Xu is quite the charmer, attracting admirers wherever she goes,” she said dryly.
Xu Jinnan: “…”
She’s missing the point.
Just then, they heard Cai Ying emerge from the bathroom.
Shen Shu didn’t say anything more, taking her pajamas and turning to leave.
As she did, Xu Jinnan stepped in front of her, blocking the doorway with her foot.
The door swung closed slightly.
The dim light of the bedroom contrasted with the brighter light of the living room, spilling through the gap in the doorway.
Xu Jinnan stood in the shadows, Shen Shu in the light.
Xu Jinnan stepped closer, crossing the dividing line, and gently kissed Shen Shu’s lips.
“I’m not that charming,” she murmured.
Shen Shu froze for a moment, then, as she looked up, Xu Jinnan had already opened the door and left the room.
The lingering coolness of her lips was both familiar and unfamiliar.
Shen Shu touched her lips. They hadn’t been this close since that night.
Xu Jinnan had been holding back, her touch hesitant, as if she was worried about something.
And they had both been busy lately, Shen Shu with her increasingly demanding filming schedule, Xu Jinnan with the launch of the live streaming platform.
They rarely saw each other except late at night, Shen Shu often half-asleep when Xu Jinnan finally came to bed.
So, there hadn’t been many opportunities for intimacy.
That fleeting kiss, light as a butterfly’s wings, had stirred something within her, a ripple of desire spreading through her like a wave.
—
At 10:30 p.m., Shen Shu and Cai Ying lay in bed, chatting.
Cai Ying talked about Han Ling.
“She’s amazing! Like, she can do anything, knows everything, kind of like Xu Jinnan… She always knows what I’m thinking. And she’s so good to me, but sometimes, I can’t read her, don’t know what she’s thinking,” Cai Ying said, sighing. “And these past two times we met, she seemed upset, but she wouldn’t tell me why. It bothers me.”
Shen Shu turned on her side. “Do you like her?”
Cai Ying thought about it, then nodded. “I do.”
“I started seeing her to get over my ex, not just for fun, but to find someone new. And then I realized how amazing she is, how kind and… perfect,” she said, her voice softening as she talked about Han Ling. “And most importantly, she’s beautiful, especially her eyes. They’re mesmerizing.”
Shen Shu chuckled, amused by her sudden shift from melancholy to lovestruck teenager.
“Shu Shu.”
“Yes?”
“Teacher Han’s pheromones smell so good!”
“…”
Shen Shu opened her mouth to ask, but Cai Ying, anticipating the question, quickly added, “We haven’t done anything! Just… kissed a lot,” she said, her voice dropping slightly, a shy smile on her face.
“Well, just be careful,” Shen Shu said.
“I will!”
They chatted for a while longer.
“I’m so tired. Let’s go to sleep,” Cai Ying said, yawning and listening to the faint sounds from outside the bedroom. “What’s Xu Jinnan doing out there?”
—
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