Category: After Breaking Up, the Gentle Older Sister Went Crazy

Chapter 66

The streets were quiet in the early hours of the morning, only the streetlights casting their pale glow.

Inside the car, the familiar environment and the gentle rocking motion made Jiang Siyi even drowsier.

Just before closing her eyes, she heard Auntie Wang say, “Sleep well.”

Those familiar words made Jiang Siyi feel like she should add, “Wake me up when we get to school.”

She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Auntie Wang was a steady driver, she always had been. The car slowly stopped in front of the hotel, but the passenger in the back seat showed no sign of waking up.

“Jiang…” Just as she was about to speak, someone lightly tapped on the car window.

Auntie Wang turned around and saw her boss standing outside, like a ghost, her approach silent.

Exhausted after a chaotic night, Jiang Siyi was fast asleep.

She didn’t even realize she was being carried.

The tumultuous night was finally over.

She woke up the next afternoon. Jiang Siyi lingered in bed for a while, then, in her half-asleep state, she suddenly buried her face in her pillow.

A few seconds later, a soft sob escaped her lips.

Crying could help release pent-up emotions, this was a trick Xu Yuan had taught her. Now, putting it into practice, she realized it was nonsense, it didn’t work at all.

She got out of bed, her emotions in turmoil, and went to the bathroom to wash her face. But something felt off.

Jiang Siyi rubbed her eyes and saw that all of Shen Shiwu’s things were gone. After a moment, she smiled wryly, thinking it was for the best.

No trace of Shen Shiwu left in her apartment.

It was for the best.

Thinking this, she let out a long sigh, as if she had truly let go. After washing up and taking a shower, she went to the living room, looking for something to eat.

Shen Shiwu hadn’t had many belongings here, and at first glance, the apartment looked the same as usual. Jiang Siyi tried not to think about it and opened the fridge, then froze.

She remembered there being some leftovers.

Where were they?

Oh, Shen Shiwu had taken them.

Jiang Siyi closed the fridge and picked up her phone to order takeout. As she browsed the menu, she thought with a wry smile, So thorough, not even letting the leftovers go… heh, why didn’t she take the finger cots too?

After ordering, she quickly replied to the messages in the work group chat. Fortunately, there weren’t many scenes to record today, so it wouldn’t make much of a difference whether she went or not.

Jiang Siyi, relieved, heard the doorbell and went to get her takeout.

Passing by the shoe cabinet, she paused. Switching the takeout bag to her other hand, she opened the cabinet.

It was empty.

Shen Shiwu had actually taken the remaining finger cots.

Jiang Siyi’s lips twitched. “Im-impressive…”

Living alone was quite relaxing, and she wasn’t uncomfortable—after all, she had lived like this for over four years abroad.

Without a girlfriend to control her, Jiang Siyi could go wherever she wanted, do whatever she wanted. So that night, she dragged Lin Yusheng out for a walk.

“You, with your gastric bleeding, should be resting, why are you out for a walk?”

“I’ve rested enough, I need some fresh air.”

Lin Yusheng looked at her, worried. “Your girlfriend isn’t going to come and drag you back, is she?”

It seemed Kong Yin hadn’t told anyone about what happened at the hospital.

Jiang Siyi, enjoying the evening breeze, suddenly fell silent.

She clasped her hands behind her back, like an old lady taking a stroll. After a while, she said simply, “We broke up.”

“You broke up?”

“Yes.”

Lin Yusheng, straightforward and not good at comforting people, wanted to say something, then blurted out, “Well, it’s okay, you can’t have a reunion without a breakup.”

Jiang Siyi: “…”

“Do you think this is child’s play?” she said, “we’re not getting back together this time.”

Lin Yusheng was surprised by her firm tone. Snapping back to reality, she realized Jiang Siyi had already walked far ahead.

“Tsk, who walks this fast during a stroll? Wait for me!”

Jiang Siyi didn’t look back, continuing to walk quietly.

Unknowingly, they had arrived at the night market. Jiang Siyi glanced at the sign and wanted to tell Lin Yusheng to leave, if they got robbed again, no one would help them this time.

But Lin Yusheng was already walking towards the entrance, looking back at her with a challenging glint in her eyes. “I’m much faster than you this time.”

Jiang Siyi didn’t bother replying. After a moment, thinking she could just walk around for a bit to kill some time, she followed.

“Hold onto your phone and bag,” she reminded Lin Yusheng, tightening her grip on her own belongings.

The night market was crowded and noisy. Lin Yusheng replied loudly, “I know! This is my new phone, almost 10,000 yuan, I have to protect it…”

Hearing this, Jiang Siyi felt like someone was already eyeing her phone.

Hopefully, it was just her imagination, she prayed.

Half an hour later, Jiang Siyi once again experienced the horror of her intuition.

The familiar night, the familiar police station, the familiar… row of tourists who had been robbed.

“Hello, Miss, can I…?” The female officer who had helped her before wasn’t on duty today, and another officer was asking her questions.

“My phone was stolen!” This time, it was only Lin Yusheng’s phone that had been stolen, and she wailed, interrupting the officer, almost banging her head against the wall. “Can you please hurry up and find it?”

“It might take a while.”

“How long?”

The officer thought for a moment. “If we’re lucky, by tonight. If not, maybe the day after tomorrow, or the day after that, it’s hard to say.”

You call that “a while”?

Lin Yusheng collapsed onto the cold seat, contemplating life.

“Jiang Siyi,” she said suddenly, her tone serious.

“What?”

“Can you call your… no, your ex-girlfriend to help?”

Jiang Siyi’s face remained expressionless, and she told her to get lost.

Lin Yusheng sighed dramatically and started playing the guilt card. “I’ve been with you for so many years, I’ve at least done something for you.”

“What have you done? Did you write my manuscripts?”

“…”

With nothing else to do, they started bickering, until a voice called out, “Xiao Si?”

Jiang Siyi’s back stiffened, goosebumps rising on her skin.

Looking up, she saw Shen Yun standing before her.

“What are you doing at the police station?”

“My editor’s phone was stolen, we’re reporting it.”

Shen Yun had met Lin Yusheng before.

Back when Shen Yun had often visited Jiang Siyi at school, she had run into Lin Yusheng several times.

So she said, “Editor Lin, long time no see.”

Lin Yusheng shook her hand. “Ms. Shen, long time no see.”

“Then why are you just sitting here?” Shen Yun asked, puzzled. “Have you talked to the police?”

Lin Yusheng, seeing her savior, calmly explained the situation.

“I see, then you wait here, I’ll take Xiao Si out for a walk,” Shen Yun said, waving at Lin Yusheng, “come on, it’s been a while since we’ve had a proper chat.”

Lin Yusheng was caught off guard.

She chuckled awkwardly. “Okay, sure.”

Jiang Siyi was also a little confused.

The streets outside were still crowded, and she was afraid of getting robbed again, so she wanted to remind Shen Yun. But as she turned her head, she saw four bodyguards behind them.

Okay, you’re rich, you do you.

She wanted to ask Shen Yun why she was suddenly back in China, but she remained silent, waiting for Shen Yun to speak first.

“Xiao Si,” Shen Yun finally said, but only her name, nothing else.

Jiang Siyi responded, waiting for her to continue.

“There’s something I want to tell you,” Shen Yun said, as if she had finally made up her mind, a hint of unease in her usually composed expression.

Jiang Siyi frowned. “What is it?”

She had a feeling it was related to Shen Shiwu. The surroundings were too noisy, so she leaned closer.

Seeing that Shen Yun didn’t respond, she asked again, “What is it?”

A few beads of sweat appeared on Shen Yun’s forehead.

She looked at Jiang Siyi, her lips moving soundlessly, then finally said, “Let’s find a place to sit.”

“We can talk there.”

The quietest place nearby was a tea house.

Business wasn’t good, but it was quiet. The owner thought he was seeing things when they entered.

“What would you like to have?”

Jiang Siyi, her curiosity piqued, had no interest in tea. Shen Yun, however, browsed the menu for a while, then pointed. “Longjing tea, one pot is enough.”

“Alright, have a seat.”

The owner went to prepare the tea, and silence fell.

They sat by the window, and Shen Yun opened the window slightly for some fresh air.

Jiang Siyi was losing her patience, but she still maintained her composure. “Auntie Shen, so what is it?”

Shen Yun’s carefully constructed composure crumbled slightly. She avoided Jiang Siyi’s gaze and waved her hand dismissively. “Let’s talk after the tea arrives.”

Jiang Siyi: “…Okay.”

“Your tea,” the owner said enthusiastically, bringing over a pot of tea and two pastries.

Shen Yun thanked him and poured tea for herself and Jiang Siyi.

Everything was ready, only the storyteller was missing.

Jiang Siyi took a sip of tea and looked at Shen Yun.

The latter finally spoke, “Xiao Si, actually, I knew about your relationship with Shiwu a long time ago.”

Jiang Siyi’s body stiffened.

“I’m not against homosexuality, on the contrary, I think it’s perfectly normal. But…” She took a few sips of tea, as if sighing.

“But your mother was different, she didn’t accept it.”

“So, I’m sorry,” Shen Yun’s gaze flickered, “I’ve been trying to keep you two apart all these years.”

“I’ve done many terrible things. I was the one who posted those messages looking for you, and I arranged for Yang Yu to meet with Shiwu repeatedly.”

“All the misunderstandings between you two, I orchestrated them.” She lowered her eyes. “I’m truly sorry.”

Jiang Siyi almost dropped her teacup.

She struggled to process the information, then she frowned, tears welling up in her eyes. “Is that so…”

“So I was wrong about her all along?”

“None of you were wrong, it was me,” Shen Yun apologized again. “I’m sorry, I was too stubborn. I was afraid of disappointing your mother, so I kept trying to separate you two.”

“I’m truly sorry.”

It was too late now, they had already broken up, what was the point of saying all this?

Jiang Siyi’s lips twitched into a bitter smile.

Perhaps this was fate.

Shen Yun, seeing through her thoughts, said, “It’s not too late to get back together.”

“Get back together? How?” Jiang Siyi scoffed. “No one would turn back so many times.”

“She took all her things last night, not even leaving a single hair behind. If that’s not a sign of moving on, I don’t know what is.”

Shen Yun knew her daughter too well.

If she had truly moved on, she wouldn’t have acted so crazily.

Remembering Shen Shiwu’s furious expression a few hours ago, Shen Yun felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead.

She had never seen Shen Shiwu like that in her twenty-something years of life.

“How do you know if you don’t try?” Shen Yun pushed the pastries towards her. “Just give her a call, maybe she’ll come back.”

Jiang Siyi thought, You’re truly a loving mother.

Making your own daughter sound like a dog.

Chapter 65

Asking questions was exhausting.

As a child, after her mother’s death, Jiang Siyi had asked the housekeeper over and over again—Where did Mom go? Will she come back?

Later, when she started working part-time, the store manager had withheld her wages, and she had confronted him repeatedly, demanding answers.

The housekeeper had made up excuses, and the store manager had refused to give her a straight answer. She had thought that after meeting Shen Shiwu, her life would be less tiring, that things would finally settle down.

But Shen Shiwu wasn’t always honest.

Why was she at the same restaurant with Yang Yu?

Jiang Siyi could ask.

But what was the point? She would only get more excuses.

She was tired, she wanted to rest, to catch her breath.

She also wanted to let go.

***

Just before hanging up, Shen Shiwu asked, “So, we’re breaking up, right?”

Her mind clouded by alcohol, Jiang Siyi slumped against the table, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.

Her knuckles were white.

“Yes,”

Jiang Siyi heard herself say the word, and as she raised her hand, she accidentally knocked over an empty beer bottle. The shattering sound made the staff members hesitate to approach.

“Breaking up.”

The night was weary, and Shen Shiwu, hearing those words, ended the call, as if her heart was also tired.

The familiar voice suddenly gone, Jiang Siyi stared blankly at the table, then waved at a waiter and ordered another case of beer.

Kong Yin tried to stop her. “Ms. Jiang, you’ve had too much to drink tonight, you’ll get a stomach bleed.”

No one, except for Shen Shiwu, could control her.

Jiang Siyi skillfully opened another bottle and took a large gulp, then, finding Kong Yin annoying, she told her to leave.

Kong Yin, of course, didn’t want to leave, but she wisely kept quiet.

The rain showed no sign of stopping.

The downpour forced the restaurant to close early, and a waiter finally came over and said politely to Kong Yin, who was still relatively sober, “Miss, we’ll be closing in ten minutes.”

Kong Yin nodded. “Okay, I understand.”

After the waiter left, she looked at the completely drunk Jiang Siyi and nudged her arm. “Ms. Jiang, we should go.”

After a while, Jiang Siyi finally reacted.

Her face was pale, her head spinning.

Seeing Kong Yin trying to help her up, Jiang Siyi quickly pulled her hand away and stumbled towards the exit.

The cold air hit her.

She shivered, trying to hide herself in her clothes. Suddenly, her stomach churned.

Luckily, there was a trash can nearby.

After dry heaving a few times, Jiang Siyi felt a chill run down her spine. Then, as a flash of lightning lit up the sky, her legs went weak, and she vomited blood.

Jiang Siyi’s vision blurred, and she almost lost her balance. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, and after swallowing, she calmly called an ambulance.

At the hospital’s emergency room, Jiang Siyi lay in bed, receiving an IV drip.

The doctor said it was acute gastric bleeding, and she would need a gastroscopy later.

The emergency room was crowded and noisy, and she stared at the ceiling, occasionally glancing at the IV bag.

Kong Yin had followed her to the hospital, worried, and was now sitting by her bedside, her expression concerned.

But Jiang Siyi just wanted to be alone.

Her voice was weak and hoarse, but she still managed to say, “You can go now.”

“How can I go home when you’re bleeding?” Kong Yin’s eyebrows were furrowed with worry, and she started blaming herself. “I should have stopped you from drinking more.”

“You couldn’t have stopped me,” Jiang Siyi turned to look at her and repeated, “You can go now.”

But Kong Yin refused to leave, stubbornly staying by her side. Two hours passed, the IV drip almost finished, and Jiang Siyi, drowsy, was about to fall asleep.

“Ms. Jiang, I’ll go get the nurse,” Kong Yin said, standing up.

After the IV drip, Jiang Siyi felt slightly better, but the metallic taste in her throat lingered. She coughed a few times, bringing up a little blood, and Kong Yin quickly handed her a tissue.

“You still have to do a gastroscopy, if it’s serious, you might have to be hospitalized,” Kong Yin said, glancing at the time. “It’s about time, let’s go.”

Her bed was being pushed forward, and Jiang Siyi, uncomfortable, wanted to sit up, but she was too weak. As they moved through the crowded hallway, she attracted many stares, and she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination—

But she thought she saw a familiar figure in her peripheral vision.

Before she could turn and look, she was pushed into the elevator.

As the doors slowly closed, Jiang Siyi lay there, thinking silently,

Having hallucinations from gastric bleeding.

Tsk, never drinking again.

The painless gastroscopy required anesthesia, and a few seconds after the injection, Jiang Siyi was fast asleep. The procedure was quick, less than twenty minutes, and she was wheeled out, still unconscious, mumbling incoherently.

Kong Yin leaned closer to listen, then her face stiffened—Jiang Siyi was calling out Shen Shiwu’s name.

She took a deep breath and pushed the bed towards a recovery room. After settling Jiang Siyi in, she wanted to ask the doctor when the results would be ready.

She asked a nurse to keep an eye on Jiang Siyi, and after the nurse agreed, she left.

The recovery room was crowded, and the few nurses on duty couldn’t watch every patient constantly.

So, in a quiet corner, a bed sat alone.

The woman in the bed was still mumbling, her voice sometimes loud, sometimes soft, all her words revolving around her ex-wife’s older sister.

“Shen Shiwu,” she murmured, for the umpteenth time that night, “you jerk…”

In the quiet corner, footsteps approached, the heavy, purposeful strides suggesting the person was in a bad mood.

But as they neared the bed, the footsteps softened.

Jiang Siyi, oblivious, continued muttering curses. “Bitch, asshole, jerk!”

The person being cursed stood by the bed, hands in pockets, looking down at her. She listened quietly, her expression unreadable.

Only when Jiang Siyi started sobbing softly, tears soaking her pillow, did Shen Shiwu’s eyes flicker.

“This breakup, this is really goodbye.”

“Shen Shiwu, I won’t like you anymore.”

Although her words were firm and resolute, Jiang Siyi’s tears flowed freely. Her consciousness returned slightly, and she could hear the distant chatter of patients and their families.

As if sensing something,

She opened her heavy eyelids, her vision slowly clearing.

“Ms. Jiang, you’re awake?”

It was Kong Yin’s face she saw. She held up two fingers. “The results will be ready in twenty minutes, how are you feeling? Still uncomfortable?”

Jiang Siyi wasn’t sure what she was feeling, a sense of disappointment perhaps. She closed her eyes again and said, “A little better, it’s nothing serious.”

Kong Yin, relieved, seeing her close her eyes again, remained silent.

Back in the emergency room, after the results were ready, the doctor examined them carefully and said that it was fortunate the ambulance had arrived in time, it wasn’t too serious.

“Doctor, does she need to be hospitalized?” Kong Yin asked.

“No, she can go home and take her medication, come back for a check-up in a week. And no food or drink for two hours after the gastroscopy, then she can have some light, liquid food.”

“Okay, thank you, doctor.”

Kong Yin folded the report and put it in her bag. Seeing Jiang Siyi stand up, she reached out to help her—but Jiang Siyi quickly dodged her hand.

Jiang Siyi walked out silently, and Kong Yin, knowing she was upset, followed her. Reaching the hospital entrance, Jiang Siyi waited for her.

Kong Yin quickly caught up.

“Jiang…” She was interrupted.

Jiang Siyi spoke first. “Thank you for today.”

Kong Yin smiled. “It’s okay, I should do that.”

Her smile faltered as she heard Jiang Siyi’s next words.

“But there’s no need next time,” Jiang Siyi said calmly, wrapping her coat tighter as the light rain started falling again, the air turning cold, “I don’t like owing favors to strangers.”

Strangers.

After all this time, they were just “strangers.”

Kong Yin couldn’t believe her ears.

She was speechless, unable to reply. Only when Jiang Siyi turned to leave did she finally speak, “Jiang Siyi.”

This was the first time Kong Yin had called her full name.

“You must have known about my feelings for you, right?” Her voice choked with emotion. “Remember that snowy night three years ago?”

“I had a fight with my family, I had no money, and I even thought about ending it all on the streets of a foreign country. You stopped me and took me in for a few nights.”

“Yes, I’ve liked you since then,” she finally confessed, “but…”

“You can’t say such hurtful things just because I like you.”

Jiang Siyi, who had been about to leave, stopped. The rain was still falling, a light but steady drizzle, and she, her illness not fully recovered, had already put on a hat and wrapped her coat tightly around her.

Her voice, muffled by her clothes, sounded strangely loud in the quiet night.

“I’m not saying these things because I think I can take advantage of your feelings. I’m saying this because I need you to know,” Jiang Siyi said seriously, “I don’t like you.”

“Not now, not ever.”

“I don’t like leading people on, and I’m not one to play games. I think a clear rejection is better for both of us.”

Seeing the rain intensifying, Jiang Siyi said goodbye and turned to leave, her figure disappearing into the darkness.

Kong Yin didn’t chase after her this time.

She stood there, tears mixing with the rain.

It was always difficult to get a cab at night, especially past midnight.

Jiang Siyi stood by the roadside, looking more frightening than a ghost.

Seeing another driver cancel her order, she sighed, tired of standing, and slowly squatted down.

She closed the ride-hailing app and opened the map app, wanting to check how long it would take to walk back to the hotel.

But the page was still loading when suddenly, car headlights illuminated her surroundings.

The bright light made her squint.

Surely this car wasn’t here for her?

Thinking this, Jiang Siyi moved to the side, almost hiding behind a tree. She looked down at her phone, still trying to calculate the walking distance.

A few seconds later, the car stopped right in front of her.

Jiang Siyi looked up, startled, and saw the car window roll down, revealing Auntie Wang’s smiling face. “Ms. Jiang, what a coincidence.”

Seeing a familiar face, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

“Auntie Wang,” she said, surprised.

“It’s hard to get a cab at this hour. Ms. Jiang, where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.” Auntie Wang was as enthusiastic as ever.

Remembering that her boss was Shen Shiwu, Jiang Siyi hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s okay, I can go back myself.”

“Is that so…” Auntie Wang drawled, stalling for time, waiting for instructions.

A female voice came through her earpiece.

“Tell her someone died on this road. It’s easy to run into ghosts if she walks alone at night.”

Auntie Wang repeated the words verbatim.

Jiang Siyi’s expression remained unchanged, her voice calm and steady. “Really? I’ve never heard of that before.”

Auntie Wang, seeing her reaction, thought, Damn it, this isn’t working either. Just as she was about to cough and ask for further instructions—

Jiang Siyi discreetly moved closer to the car, saying, “Actually, I’m not afraid of ghosts, and I can get a cab. But it’s been a while, I wanted to catch up with you…”

As soon as she finished speaking, she opened the car door.

Jiang Siyi had wrapped herself up like a ball.

And the next moment, the ball rolled perfectly into the car.

Chapter 64

Having slept too much during the day, Jiang Siyi was wide awake at night.

She rolled over, snuggling into Shen Shiwu’s arms.

“So restless, don’t you have to work tomorrow morning?” Shen Shiwu asked, knowing the answer.

“I can rest for a few days, Kong Yin left, we have to find a new voice actress.” Jiang Siyi was puzzled. “Does Yuan Chang have a grudge against her? She refused to work with her no matter what.”

Shen Shiwu gently massaged the back of her neck.

“Don’t worry about other people’s business,” she said, her voice soft, as if she was back to her role as a mentor from four years ago, “focus on yourself.”

Jiang Siyi hated being lectured.

But since it was her girlfriend, she would listen patiently.

She drawled, “Okay, I know.”

Then she continued to fidget, showing that she couldn’t sleep.

The next day, the light rain had stopped, and the sun was barely visible. The sky was overcast, making one want to open the window and breathe in the damp air.

And that was exactly what Jiang Siyi did.

She sat at her desk, the wind gently ruffling her hair.

Shen Shiwu had gone to work, to the development zone, where she had invested in several businesses. She had prepared food for Jiang Siyi before leaving, afraid she would starve.

Jiang Siyi typed listlessly on her keyboard, then, half an hour later, she rubbed her sore shoulders, preparing to go out for a walk.

Just then, her phone rang.

“Ms. Jiang, are you free now?” Ah Yun asked.

The background was noisy, and a second later, Lin Yusheng’s voice came through. “Jiang Siyi, want to join us for barbecue?”

She had nothing else to do anyway.

Jiang Siyi closed her laptop. “Sure.”

Outside the hotel, the air was cool, and Lin Yusheng was waiting for her by the roadside.

“My goodness, you’re so slow,” she said, already walking away, “hurry up, everyone is waiting at the restaurant.”

Jiang Siyi jogged to catch up. “Why the sudden invitation?”

“Ms. Kong is leaving, Ah Yun is treating her to dinner as a farewell,” Lin Yusheng said thoughtfully, then added, “Ah Yun must have won the lottery, she wasn’t like this before.”

“What was she like before?”

“Stingy.”

Jiang Siyi chuckled. “People change, it’s normal, maybe you’ll become generous one day too.”

Lin Yusheng: “…”

The barbecue restaurant was lively and had a good atmosphere. Jiang Siyi preferred this kind of place to fancy restaurants. They had been waiting for a while, their mouths almost dry from talking.

Jiang Siyi apologized, “Sorry I’m late, you guys should have started without me.”

She sat down next to Xiao Xuan, as far away from Kong Yin as possible.

“It’s okay,” they were all easygoing and didn’t mind.

Although the AC was on, the barbecue restaurant was still hot. Jiang Siyi, halfway through her meal, tied her hair up.

“Oh, great author, such a childish hair tie, with an ice cream charm,” Lin Yusheng teased, and Jiang Siyi, used to her teasing, simply replied,

“Matching one with my girlfriend.”

The others were chatting animatedly, the restaurant noisy, and most of them didn’t hear her. Only Xiao Xuan, sitting next to her, leaned closer, eager for gossip.

Lin Yusheng, the only single person among them, quietly moved away.

“Wow, so you and Ms. Shen knew each other since high school?”

“I was in high school, she was already in her twenties.”

Jiang Siyi didn’t reveal too much, just a brief description. But the girl beside her almost squealed. “So, the books you wrote, are they based on you two?”

“Inspired by, but not entirely.”

Jiang Siyi had her secrets.

During her years apart from Shen Shiwu, all the books she had written, although angsty, still contained glimpses of happiness.

Like walking on the beach, chasing the sunset.

These were the things she had wanted to do with Shen Shiwu when she was seventeen or eighteen.

But reality hadn’t been kind.

So she could only fulfill these fantasies in her books.

Although fictional, it at least brought her some comfort.

“So romantic, wishing you a long and happy relationship!”

Jiang Siyi smiled faintly. “Thank you, we will.”

Time flew by as they chatted and laughed. After a few topics, it was almost evening.

Jiang Siyi glanced at the time, wanting to go back to the hotel. Just as she stood up, Kong Yin spoke, “Ms. Jiang, are you leaving so soon?”

“Yes, I have to go back and be with my girlfriend.”

A group of single people dramatically covered their ears, claiming they had been critically hit, falling over dramatically. Jiang Siyi chuckled. “You’ll find someone eventually, don’t worry.”

“Oh, and we have to thank you and Ms. Shen,” Ah Yun said, suddenly becoming serious. She wiped her mouth and cleared her throat, then raised her glass. “Cheers!”

The others followed suit.

Shen Shiwu wouldn’t be back at the hotel until six. Jiang Siyi calculated the time, realizing she still had more than an hour to kill. So she sat back down and raised her glass of juice.

She had planned on leaving after twenty minutes, but a few minutes later, she received a message from Xu Yuan.

“Oh my god, is this your girlfriend? They look so alike!”

She clicked on the picture, it was of a restaurant. A familiar figure, being led by a waiter, towards a private room on the second floor.

Jiang Siyi’s heart stopped.

She froze for a few seconds, then clicked on another screenshot.

It was a post on a social media platform—”Looking for this beautiful woman! I saw her at this Thai restaurant on Xingyun Road in Beicheng, she was incredibly striking, I want her contact information!”

Jiang Siyi searched for the original post.

And in the comments section, she saw Yang Yu’s picture—”Same restaurant, I’m looking for this woman too!”

Calling this a coincidence was a bit of a stretch.

She switched back to WeChat, staring at Xu Yuan’s message, speechless. Lost in thought, she heard Lin Yusheng ask, “What are you thinking about? You were in such a hurry to leave earlier, what happened?”

Jiang Siyi blinked slowly.

She said, “It’s okay if I go back later.”

The restaurant was noisy, the sizzling of barbecue filling the air. Jiang Siyi fanned herself, her heart heavy—judging by Shen Shiwu’s outfit, she must have been at that restaurant yesterday.

Yesterday.

Thinking of the luxury bags Shen Shiwu had given her, Jiang Siyi frowned. So, those gifts weren’t to make her happy, but a cover-up?

A costly diversion to hide the fact that she had met with Yang Yu again?

“Ah, it’s raining again,” Ah Yun said, looking outside, “the weather is so unpredictable.”

Lin Yusheng groaned, realizing she hadn’t brought an umbrella.

With the rain, everyone started teasing Xiao Xuan.

“Your girlfriend is also in Beicheng, she’ll definitely come pick you up, unlike us lonely souls,” they said dramatically, their acting skills impeccable.

Xiao Xuan’s face flushed. “Ms. Jiang’s girlfriend will definitely come pick her up too.”

Jiang Siyi was staring at the rain, lost in thought.

Only when Lin Yusheng called her name did she react.

“Ah, yes,” she mumbled, not having heard a word of their conversation.

Amidst the exclamations of “So lucky!” and “God, please send me a girlfriend,” Jiang Siyi picked up her glass and finished her drink in one gulp.

The grape juice was sweet and sour, the taste unpleasant, leaving a sticky feeling in her throat. She waved at the waiter and ordered a few cans of beer.

The others were surprised.

“Ms. Jiang, not in a hurry to go back anymore?”

“Mm-hmm,” she forced a smile, her reply slightly off-topic, “I suddenly feel like drinking.”

Summer weather was unpredictable, and a few moments later, the wind picked up, and the rain intensified.

The waiters huddled by the counter, grumbling softly. Most of the customers had left when the rain was still light. Their table was the liveliest one left.

“Xiao Xuan, let me tell you,” Jiang Siyi, slightly drunk, grabbed Xiao Xuan’s sleeve and started lecturing her, “never trust a woman’s words.”

Xiao Xuan, who had thought she was about to receive some writing advice: “…”

She hadn’t had any alcohol and was perfectly sober. She nodded obediently. “Okay, Ms. Jiang, I’ll remember that.”

None of them had a high tolerance for alcohol, but none of them were willing to back down. An hour later, most of them were drunk, except for Xiao Xuan and Jiang Siyi.

Jiang Siyi was still stubbornly holding her head up, refusing to collapse onto the table, her mouth still running non-stop. After ranting for a while, her voice choked with emotion, and she sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes.

Xiao Xuan was startled. “Teacher, what’s wrong? Did you have a fight with your girlfriend?”

Jiang Siyi finally collapsed onto the table, her face hidden by her hair. She didn’t reply.

After a while, she scratched the table with her fingernails, a harsh, scraping sound, as if in response.

It was late, and the others, struggling to their feet, mumbled about going home. Jiang Siyi continued scratching the table, glancing at her phone occasionally.

After what felt like an eternity, her phone finally rang. She reached for it, saw the caller ID, but hesitated to answer.

Ah Yun, drunk, had paid the bill and left with the others, completely forgetting about two people.

Besides Jiang Siyi, there was another person—not Xiao Xuan, who had been picked up by her girlfriend.

It was Kong Yin.

She was tipsy, but not completely drunk.

She sat quietly, watching Jiang Siyi’s every move.

“Hello,” Jiang Siyi finally answered the phone, managing a single word.

“Where are you?”

Hearing this, she turned her head, her fingertip tracing the rim of an empty beer bottle.

“Dinner.”

“With who?”

The voice on the other end was calm, but Jiang Siyi could sense the underlying anger. She frowned, and her phone slipped from her hand, landing on the table with a thud.

Meanwhile, Shen Shiwu had just finished work and returned to the hotel. She was leaning against the sofa, her laptop on her lap, looking at the pictures Gu Ning had sent her.

Drinking, eating, chatting, laughing, having a good time.

She stared at the pictures, then, a few seconds later, the laptop slipped from her lap and crashed onto the floor.

The call hadn’t ended.

Shen Shiwu, controlling her anger, said, “Answer me.”

“Who else would I have dinner with? Ghosts?” Jiang Siyi sat up and picked up her phone. Because of what she had seen, her words were sharp.

Shen Shiwu took a deep breath, her anger simmering. “Don’t talk to me like that.”

“I’m sorry, this is how I talk, it’s not the first time you’ve heard it,” Jiang Siyi said, her voice laced with mock resignation, “if you don’t like it, you can find someone else.”

“I won’t complain.”

Shen Shiwu didn’t understand what had happened to make Jiang Siyi so angry. Her own anger was also reaching its boiling point, and she said, her voice tight, “Jiang Siyi.”

“Have I spoiled you too much, allowing you to say such things?”

“Find someone else?” She scoffed. “What, are you breaking up with me again?”

The rain outside had intensified, the wind turning umbrellas inside out, and people were rushing home, cursing under their breath. The restaurant’s soundproofing wasn’t good, and amidst the noise, Jiang Siyi suddenly calmed down.

She swallowed her grievance and heartache.

Then she said, “Yes.”

Her voice was soft, almost lost in the wind.

She repeated, “Yes.”

She felt like she was going crazy, her emotions a chaotic mess of laughter and tears. The waiters tactfully avoided their table, and Kong Yin held her breath, a flicker of anticipation in her eyes.

“You always have a reason, a reason I can’t refute, for meeting with Yang Yu.” She wiped away her tears, her mind foggy from the alcohol, her temples throbbing. “But in the end, you still met with her.”

“Shen Shiwu, you’ve already forgotten, haven’t you?”

“You promised an eighteen-year-old girl that you wouldn’t interact with her too much.”

“You’ve already forgotten, but I still remember,” Jiang Siyi said, a bitter smile on her lips. “So, Shen Shiwu,”

“You have a terrible memory, I don’t want to like you anymore.”

Chapter 63

Before meeting Jiang Siyi, Shen Shiwu’s life had been calm and uneventful. In Shen Yun’s eyes, she was a good, obedient child.

Only she knew,

Beneath the surface, was a rotten core.

During the most mundane year of her life, Jiang Siyi had appeared. After that, all pretense had been stripped away, revealing her true nature.

Until now.

Completely unmasked.

“Shen Shiwu, can you help me?”

The girl looked up at her, her eyes filled with expectation, longing, and a flicker of tears.

Shen Shiwu hesitated.

She was self-aware—she was no saint, willing to do whatever it took to achieve her goals, a typical egoist.

Like this time, offering Yuan Chang ten times the penalty for breaching the contract, just to make her change her mind.

But…

Shen Shiwu gently touched the girl’s chin, wanting to soothe her.

Then she asked, “Is it that important?”

Jiang Siyi nodded. “Of course, I’ve been working so hard on revising the script, it can’t just be canceled.”

“Can you help me?”

Shen Shiwu sighed inwardly, like a villain forced onto the path of righteousness. After a moment, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll help you.”

“But I have a condition.”

Jiang Siyi blinked. “What condition?”

“You have to stay by my side from now on,” Shen Shiwu said meaningfully, “always.”

Jiang Siyi, thinking it wasn’t much of a condition, quickly agreed. “Of course.”

“You promise?”

“I promise!”

Shen Shiwu patted her head. “Good girl.”

In the living room, Shen Shiwu stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the river. She held her phone, pretending to call her assistant.

Jiang Siyi, curious, was eavesdropping.

After hanging up, Shen Shiwu didn’t turn around immediately. She looked down at her phone, then said casually, “Could you hear clearly? Why don’t you come closer?”

Little Jiang, caught red-handed, nonchalantly went to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.

Returning with the steaming glass in her hand, the condensation blurring her vision,

She said calmly, “Actually, I couldn’t hear anything.”

“Can you say it again?”

Shen Shiwu walked over and tapped her head lightly.

“The problem is solved, that’s all.”

Jiang Siyi was surprised. “So fast?”

“After all these years, you still don’t know your girlfriend’s capabilities,” Shen Shiwu chuckled, “is that right?”

Jiang Siyi, on tiptoe, kissed her.

She rarely took the initiative, and after the kiss, feeling shy, she hurried away, clutching her glass. “Where’s my phone?” she mumbled as she walked.

Shen Shiwu watched her enter the bedroom, her eyes unreadable. She received a new message from her assistant.

“Boss, I’ve talked to Yuan Chang, she’s satisfied with our offer and has agreed to play along.”

Shen Shiwu’s lips curved into a smile.

She glanced at the time and went to find Jiang Siyi. “You were tired last night, go back to sleep for a while.”

Jiang Siyi had been thinking the same thing.

She lay in bed, phone in hand, and told Ah Yun the good news. The other woman was overjoyed, repeatedly thanking her.

Sleepiness washed over her.

She tossed her phone aside and said, “I’m going to sleep now.”

“Mm-hmm, I have to go out for a bit, I’ll be back soon.”

Jiang Siyi, sleepy, fell asleep almost instantly.

She didn’t even hear Shen Shiwu’s words.

It was raining outside, and Shen Shiwu, holding an umbrella, walked at a leisurely pace. She received a message from Shen Yun: “Where are you?”

“Just left, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back to China?”

She got into her car, replied to the message, then focused on driving.

The Beicheng airport was confusing, and Shen Yun, having lived abroad for so long, rarely returned to China. It was her first time at this airport, and she almost got lost.

After they met, Shen Yun asked with concern, then casually, “Why are you in Beicheng?”

Shen Shiwu replied calmly, “Xiao Si is here.”

Shen Yun was slightly surprised—she had thought Shen Shiwu would hide it from her, but she had actually told the truth.

“Yes, Xiao Si is back in China, you two met again?”

Shen Shiwu nodded, still holding the umbrella.

Shen Yun, pretending not to know about their relationship, changed the subject. “There’s a nice Western restaurant in the Beicheng business district, let’s go try it.”

Shen Shiwu glanced at the time. “I don’t really like Western food anymore.”

“Thai food then, Xiao Si likes it, and so do I.”

Shen Yun was momentarily stunned.

Then she quickly recovered and said, “Sure, anything is fine.”

As soon as they got into the car, Shen Yun took out her phone, seemingly busy with something. She said to Shen Shiwu, “I’ll make a reservation.”

“Okay.”

She messaged Yang Yu while calling the restaurant. “Yes, the VIP room.”

Arriving at the restaurant, Shen Yun went inside first. By the time Shen Shiwu parked the car and went upstairs, Yang Yu was already there.

Seeing her, Yang Yu smiled. “Senior, long time no see.”

Shen Shiwu suddenly understood Shen Yun’s strange behavior earlier.

All that effort, just for this.

Shen Yun pulled her over to sit down and said, half-scolding, “Why did you block Xiao Yu’s contact information?”

“Unblock her.”

Shen Shiwu pulled her arm away. Without even looking at Yang Yu, she said to Shen Yun, “I don’t add irrelevant people on WeChat.”

Silence.

Yang Yu chuckled awkwardly, her expression stiff.

“Senior, that’s a bit harsh,” she tried to make light of it, “we’re friends, aren’t we? How am I an irrelevant person?”

Shen Yun also frowned. “Why are you being so rude?”

“Since you think I’m being rude, I’ll be going then.” Shen Shiwu stood up, and Shen Yun couldn’t stop her.

Shen Yun called out her name, “Shen Shiwu, do you have somewhere to be? You can’t even stay for a while?”

The woman finally turned around.

Her tone was casual, almost boastful. “I have a rabbit at home, I have to go back.”

“Or it’ll throw a tantrum, and it’s very difficult to coax.”

With that, she walked out, slamming the door behind her. Shen Yun’s frown deepened. She knew her daughter had a rabbit, so she wondered, “Did she bring the rabbit to Beicheng?”

Yang Yu had already lowered her eyes.

She had liked Shen Shiwu for almost ten years, but she couldn’t even have a meal with her as a friend, not even as important as a rabbit.

She gritted her teeth, the thought of giving up crossing her mind.

“Auntie, maybe… we should just forget about it,” Yang Yu said, her voice tired, as she finished her drink in one gulp. “If she doesn’t like me, she doesn’t like me.”

“Pushing her like this will only make things worse.”

Shen Yun, of course, wouldn’t give up—Shen Shiwu and Jiang Siyi couldn’t be together, even if they were back together now, she had to separate them.

Otherwise, how could she face her deceased friend?

Would she tell her, “Sorry, my daughter turned your daughter into… the thing you hated most, a homosexual?”

It was too much.

The mere thought filled Shen Yun with guilt.

Since this wasn’t working, she would try a different approach, starting with Jiang Siyi. Shen Yun comforted Yang Yu, “Persistence is key, right? You have to persevere in the pursuit of true love.”

But she was already planning to contact Kong Yin.

The rain intensified.

Shen Shiwu, holding the umbrella steadily, sent Jiang Siyi a message: “Xiao Si, are you awake?”

“What do you want to eat? I’ll bring you something.”

Getting into her car, she didn’t start driving immediately, but sat in silence for a while.

When could she finally go public with her relationship with Jiang Siyi?

She didn’t care, she was ready anytime, but it was Jiang Siyi…

Four years ago, when they had talked about this, Jiang Siyi had always said, “Let’s wait a little longer.”

And they had waited for so many years.

Shen Shiwu sighed.

Seeing that Jiang Siyi still hadn’t replied, she started the car and drove off. Passing by the city center, she thought for a moment, then turned.

She had been too rough last night, she needed to buy something to appease her.

“Mr. Shen, these are rare leather bags we’ve collected from all our stores, do you see any you like?”

Inside the VIP room, Shen Shiwu leaned against the sofa as the manager introduced the bags. “These two are lizard skin, and the other three are crocodile skin.”

“This aurora pink crocodile skin bag is extremely rare, I went through a lot of trouble to get it for you, what do you think?”

Shen Shiwu glanced at it and nodded. “Okay, wrap it up.”

The manager quickly nodded. “Alright, what about the others?”

“I mean, I’ll take them all.”

The sales associate standing beside her perked up, eager to claim the commission, but the manager glared at her. Shen Shiwu didn’t care and simply said, “I’m in a hurry to go home, be quick.”

The manager immediately smiled obsequiously. “Right away, right away.”

Carrying so many luxury shopping bags, she attracted countless stares. Shen Shiwu ignored them, her expression calm and indifferent, as she entered the elevator.

Only after entering her apartment and swiping her key card did the coldness surrounding her gradually dissipate. She placed the bags on the sofa and quietly entered the bedroom.

The girl in bed was fast asleep, her breathing even.

Shen Shiwu had only wanted to take a quick look, but she ended up standing there for a long time—Jiang Siyi looked different when she was sleeping.

Completely relaxed, her guard down, like a child.

Shen Shiwu looked at her, remembering the seventeen or eighteen-year-old Jiang Siyi.

Awkward, stubborn, and rebellious.

Yet also adorable.

Even in her sleep, Jiang Siyi sensed a gaze on her. Opening her eyes, she thought, As expected.

She grumbled, “Why are you standing there trying to scare me?”

“Scaring myself.”

“…”

Having slept for so long, Jiang Siyi was finally well-rested. She rubbed her eyes, sat up, and asked, “What time is it?”

“One o’clock in the morning.”

Seeing that the girl was about to hit her, Shen Shiwu quickly corrected herself with a smile. “Almost five o’clock.”

Jiang Siyi, thinking she must be a reincarnation of a sleeping god, got out of bed. After washing up, she rushed back to the bedroom and checked her phone for messages from Ah Yun.

“Ms. Jiang, the copyright issue has been resolved, we can continue recording.”

“But…”

Jiang Siyi continued reading and saw that Ah Yun had written, “Ms. Yuan wants to change the voice actress.”

“Xiao Si,” at the same time, Shen Shiwu called out from the doorway, “come out for a bit.”

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Siyi, holding her phone, walked over and was pulled into a hug.

The woman whispered in her ear, “I have a few small gifts for you.”

When Jiang Siyi saw the numerous luxury bags, she almost dropped her jaw.

These were “small gifts”?

“How much did this cost?”

“One hundred yuan.”

“…”

Shen Shiwu, seeing her expression, said, “Don’t worry about the price, as long as you like them.”

“So, do you like them?”

It would be a lie to say she didn’t.

Jiang Siyi, a true aesthete, her eyes lit up at the sight of the aurora pink bag. But she felt they were too expensive.

So she didn’t say anything.

Just then, Ah Yun called. Jiang Siyi answered, and the other person’s tone was strange. “Ms. Kong has to leave.”

“Kong Yin is leaving? Why?”

Jiang Siyi wasn’t particularly concerned about Kong Yin, she was just curious and surprised.

“It’s Ms. Yuan’s decision.” Ah Yun, no longer bothering with the formal address, clicked her tongue, her voice filled with helplessness. “It’s so strange.”

Just as Jiang Siyi was about to reply, she felt a hand on her lower back. Shen Shiwu leaned closer, her voice not soft, “Baby, answer me, do you like them?”

Jiang Siyi’s mind went blank.

Her first instinct was to end the call, but Ah Yun, sensing the situation, quickly said,

“Ah, Ms. Jiang, you continue, I won’t disturb you.”

Then she hung up.

Jiang Siyi: “…”

Shen Shiwu, I’m going to kill you.

Chapter 62

A smart rabbit should know how to escape.

So, when Shen Shiwu opened the door to get her things, Jiang Siyi seized the opportunity and dashed to the bedroom, quickly locking the door behind her.

Actually, Shen Shiwu could have easily stopped her.

But… seeing the girl’s panicked retreat, she found it amusing.

There was a knock on the door.

Jiang Siyi, still catching her breath, asked weakly, “What?”

Shen Shiwu’s reply was concise. “Open the door.”

I’m not stupid.

Jiang Siyi scoffed inwardly.

“I have to work tomorrow. What if you leave marks on me again? Should I wear a coat in the middle of summer to cover them up?”

Jiang Siyi looked at the locked door with satisfaction, lay back down on the bed, and rolled around, feeling relaxed and comfortable.

Shen Shiwu’s lips curved into a smile, as if she had thought of something amusing. Then she said calmly, “Really not opening the door?”

That tone…

She seemed to be angry.

Jiang Siyi sat up abruptly. After thinking for a moment, she decided to let Shen Shiwu be angry for now, she could always coax her later.

She touched her nose. “Yes.”

Footsteps sounded outside, then faded away.

Shen Shiwu seemed to have left.

Jiang Siyi sighed in relief and lay back down. She had been getting up early lately, and she slowly closed her eyes, wanting to rest for a while.

Bang—

A loud thud startled her awake. She frowned and called out tentatively, “Shen Shiwu?”

The woman didn’t reply, just continued what she was doing.

The lock was broken.

Smashed to pieces.

Jiang Siyi’s eyes widened in disbelief as she opened the door.

Shen Shiwu casually tossed her suitcase aside and dusted her hands, as if she hadn’t just broken the lock.

She threw the box of finger cots onto the bed, then pinched Jiang Siyi’s cheek, looking down at her. “Who allowed you to run?”

Jiang Siyi was speechless.

She instinctively tried to back away, but Shen Shiwu held her firmly in place. “Answer me,” she said, her voice cold.

Damn it, she had really pissed her off.

Jiang Siyi silently prayed for herself, then finally apologized, “I’m sorry.”

She made up an excuse. “I was sleepy, I wanted to sleep, so I rushed in.”

“I locked the door because I was afraid you would disturb me.”

Shen Shiwu actually chuckled, but the amusement was fleeting, her eyes darkening with a myriad of emotions.

“Jiang Siyi, you’ve become quite skilled at lying.”

“Was I too lenient with you before?”

The woman’s tone was heavy, almost a growl, and Jiang Siyi’s heart trembled, finally feeling scared.

She softened her voice. “I know I was wrong.”

Seeing that Shen Shiwu didn’t react, Jiang Siyi panicked, her voice laced with tears, her eyes slightly red. “I’ve already apologized. You, you can do whatever you want, is that okay?”

Shen Shiwu’s hand moved to her neck.

The woman gently caressed it, not replying, then her fingers tightened slightly.

A slight feeling of suffocation.

It wasn’t unbearable, so Jiang Siyi didn’t struggle.

“Jiang Siyi,” Shen Shiwu leaned closer, nibbling on her chin, “you’re mine.”

Only mine.

Jiang Siyi trembled. Her body was trapped, unable to move, only her heart racing, as if trying to escape her chest.

A tear rolled down her cheek, landing on Shen Shiwu’s eyelashes.

“I’m yours,” she repeated, “Shen Shiwu, I’ve always been yours.”

Before this, Jiang Siyi had only seen finger cots online. She had once read a comment saying that their girlfriend looked very attractive while tearing open a finger cot.

She hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time.

She had thought, Just tearing open a package, what’s so special about that?

Until now.

Shen Shiwu’s hands were beautiful, long and slender, her skin smooth and pale. They looked harmless, like delicate, pure white gardenia blossoms.

Only Jiang Siyi knew their true power.

“Grape-flavored, do you like it?”

Shen Shiwu held her chin with one hand, using the other to tear open the package, and asked.

At this point, how could Jiang Siyi say no?

She nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

The next second, the empty package was tossed onto her face.

Shen Shiwu put on a finger cot, rubbing her fingertips, then leaned down and commanded, “Hold this in your mouth.”

Jiang Siyi obediently opened her mouth, taking the small, square package.

“Don’t drop it, understand?”

“Mm-hmm… I understand.”

The faint grape scent, mingled with the steam from the shower, became even fainter. Shen Shiwu, finding it a waste, leaned down.

Soft and warm—intense and relentless.

The package in Jiang Siyi’s mouth, damp and slippery, slipped from her lips and landed on her cheek.

A soft moan escaped her lips as Shen Shiwu pulled her closer by her ankle.

“You dropped it,” she clicked her tongue, “you have to be punished.”

The water continued to run.

The blanket, the pillows, even her phone, were all on the floor.

As Jiang Siyi wrapped her arms around Shen Shiwu’s wrists, her chin held by Shen Shiwu’s hand, their lips meeting, she closed her eyes, her voice pleading, “Let’s stop here for tonight… okay?”

Seeing the rabbit almost delirious with pleasure,

Shen Shiwu was only slightly satisfied.

Not enough, this wasn’t enough.

She wanted to mark her, to leave her scent on her.

So that no one else would dare to approach her.

So she chuckled softly, feeling Jiang Siyi’s trembling grip on her arm, and whispered, “Baby.”

“The gym or the floor-to-ceiling window?”

Too wild, too much.

Jiang Siyi thought this woman was truly insane.

Her legs went weak, and before she could even speak, she was lifted into Shen Shiwu’s arms.

Then she heard Shen Shiwu say, “I remember you used to hate multiple-choice questions.”

“So,” she smiled mischievously, like a true villain, “let’s make it a multiple-choice question.”

That night was incredibly long.

Shameful, pleasurable, and fulfilling.

As Jiang Siyi’s vision blurred again, she thought,

Crazy it is, then.

After all,

She wasn’t much better herself.

***

A night of indulgence.

The next day, after weeks of clear skies, it started raining in Beicheng.

Jiang Siyi was woken up by the sound of rain against the window.

As she slowly came to her senses and checked her phone, she realized it was past one in the afternoon.

Damn it, was this considered skipping work?

Ignoring her sleepiness, she threw off the covers and was about to get out of bed,

When the bedroom door opened. Shen Shiwu had already changed out of her pajamas and was wearing a long dress. She asked, “Awake?”

Then she added meaningfully, “Need me to carry you?”

Jiang Siyi’s face flushed, and she walked past her and into the bathroom, muttering, “No.”

Looking in the mirror, Jiang Siyi wanted to die. She looked down at the marks on her body, her neck a disaster zone, not to mention her arms and inner thighs.

Did she use her as a chew toy?

Jiang Siyi’s lips twitched into a wry smile. Then she realized her lips hadn’t escaped unscathed either, the slightest movement sending a jolt of pain through them.

A dog, she’s a dog.

She took a deep breath, her anger simmering, and the sounds of her washing up became more forceful.

When she went to the living room, Shen Shiwu was setting the table. Seeing her, she smiled. “Breakfast is ready.”

Heh, after turning me into a mess, she’s acting like nothing happened.

Jiang Siyi pulled out a chair, thinking she was being fierce, then sat down, her body stiffening.

How to describe it?

It hurt.

She maintained a neutral expression, wishing she could just die. Shen Shiwu, busy placing the dishes in front of her, didn’t notice.

Only when Jiang Siyi shifted uncomfortably after each bite did she finally realize something was wrong.

“Mosquitoes?”

Mosquitoes my ass.

Jiang Siyi poked at her food, ignoring her.

“Uncomfortable?”

Jiang Siyi took a bite of food, swallowed, and sniffed. “Thanks to you, I’ve also caught a cold.”

She still hadn’t mentioned that.

But Shen Shiwu kept asking.

“Does a cold affect your posture?”

“…”

Jiang Siyi suspected that Shen Shiwu already knew, but was waiting for her to confess.

Thinking about it made her angry, and she put down her chopsticks, starting to rant. “You didn’t let me sleep until four in the morning, not even giving me a chance to breathe, and every time I said I wanted to rest, you just went faster.”

“One moment on the bed, the next in the gym, not even sparing the, the floor-to-ceiling window.” Jiang Siyi fanned herself, her voice trailing off.

Then she continued, her voice rising again, “Were you trying to collect all the locations in the house?”

Shen Shiwu put a piece of meat on her plate. “Sorry.”

“…”

“But… wasn’t it good?”

Arguing with the current Shen Shiwu was a losing battle. Her words were too explicit, and Jiang Siyi was no match for her, admitting defeat.

“That’s… beside the point.” She picked up her chopsticks and continued eating, then mumbled after a while, “It was good, but it also hurt…”

Jiang Siyi’s competitiveness was truly strange.

She thought—Heh, who can’t talk dirty?

It was just that she wasn’t as shameless as Shen Shiwu…

Shen Shiwu admitted she had gone too far last night, perhaps because of her pent-up anger, her possessiveness towards Jiang Siyi had reached its peak.

“I can barely walk, how am I supposed to go to work?”

Speaking of work, Jiang Siyi suddenly remembered she hadn’t called in sick yet. Tsk, it was all Shen Shiwu’s fault.

“Didn’t you know?” The woman’s expression remained unchanged as she took a bite of lettuce, chewing slowly. “Your audio drama production has been suspended.”

Jiang Siyi’s reaction was dramatic. She frowned. “What?”

Shen Shiwu continued eating, then explained patiently, “There’s a problem with the copyright for the second script, the author seems to have breached the contract.”

The audio drama had two scripts.

The first one was written by Ah Yun, and the second one was by a well-known author.

Jiang Siyi put down her chopsticks and, ignoring her sore legs and other aches, rushed to the bedroom to get her phone.

Shen Shiwu also stood up and followed her.

“Ah Yun, what happened?”

The other end sounded anxious. “I don’t know, I’m trying to contact Ms. Yuan, but she’s not replying.”

“Did she pay the penalty for breaching the contract?”

“No.”

Ah Yun was busy, and after a brief exchange, Jiang Siyi hung up. She looked up and saw Shen Shiwu leaning against the doorframe, her eyes filled with concern.

Shen Shiwu walked over and hugged her.

“Don’t worry,” she said, holding Jiang Siyi tightly, “it’s just an audio drama, it’s not a big deal.”

Jiang Siyi tugged on the corner of her clothes.

She looked like a lost little bunny, her eyes blinking rapidly. It was clear that she was upset.

She said, “Shen Shiwu, can you help me?”

The woman looked at her teary eyes, her lips moving soundlessly

Chapter 61

Jiang Siyi would never have guessed that the “sick person” back at the hotel was, in a sense, already quite mad.

After buying porridge for Shen Shiwu, she was still hungry herself. She rushed towards the office building, ordering takeout on her phone.

After a race against time, Jiang Siyi successfully arrived at the studio just as the clock struck the hour.

“Oh, you’re here?” Lin Yusheng, sitting on the sofa eating breakfast, looked quite relaxed. “I thought you were busy with your wife and would skip work today.”

Jiang Siyi, slightly breathless from running, caught her breath and said, “I did consider it.”

“I’ll be leaving early this afternoon.”

Lin Yusheng shook her head and clicked her tongue. “Hopelessly in love.”

“First of all, I’m not hopelessly in love,” Jiang Siyi said, walking towards the recording studio, “and second, you, a single dog, wouldn’t understand.”

She slammed the door shut, not giving Lin Yusheng a chance to reply.

Lin Yusheng: “…”

“Ms. Jiang, you’re here,” Ah Yun said, surprised.

Seeing everyone’s surprised reactions, Jiang Siyi wondered—did she really seem that lovesick?

Thinking about leaving work early today, she thought silently,

Well, maybe a little.

“Yes, I’m a little late, but I made it on time,” Jiang Siyi said, placing her bag on the table, her tone slightly apologetic.

Ah Yun waved her hand dismissively. “Not late, not late, it’s okay even if you’re late.”

Jiang Siyi smiled, put on her headphones, and gestured towards the recording booth, signaling that they could begin.

Jiang Siyi was indeed very different when she was working.

Not only was she more serious, but also much calmer. She had Shen Shiwu to thank for this—

During their years apart, Jiang Siyi had been watching a video of herself in a debate competition and had suddenly realized,

Her behavior, her way of speaking, everything was becoming more and more like Shen Shiwu.

So, Shen Shiwu wasn’t just her lover,

But also her role model.

“Jiang Siyi, did you order takeout?” Lin Yusheng opened the door and asked.

Ah Yun, seeing that Jiang Siyi was working, answered for her.

“And several cups of bubble tea,” Lin Yusheng pointed at the drinks on the coffee table outside.

“Ms. Jiang is treating everyone,” Ah Yun explained, remembering what Jiang Siyi had said earlier.

“Oh,” Lin Yusheng’s tone changed, as if suddenly realizing something, “I thought she was going to drink seven or eight cups by herself.”

It was break time, and Jiang Siyi, taking off her headphones, heard the last part.

She smiled. “Lin Yusheng, you can have one.”

“You’re so much older than me, yet you call me by my full name, so disrespectful.” Lin Yusheng had already grabbed a cup of bubble tea and waved it in front of Jiang Siyi’s face. “Thanks.”

Jiang Siyi scoffed, then turned to the voice actors who had just emerged from the recording booth. “Everyone, there’s bubble tea outside, one for each of you.”

Several voices thanked her as they left the room. Only Jiang Siyi remained.

She sent Shen Shiwu a message: “Be careful, don’t let your fever come back. If you’re still feeling unwell, call me, and I’ll come back immediately.”

There was no reply.

Jiang Siyi figured she must be asleep, so she turned off her phone and went outside. The lounge was lively, everyone sipping their bubble tea and chatting.

“Does Xiao Xuan have a girlfriend too?” Lin Yusheng asked curiously.

The word “too” was quite telling.

Xiao Xuan, usually quiet, blushed and mumbled, “Yes, we just started dating a few days ago.”

“Where do you all find your girlfriends?” Lin Yusheng asked, exasperated.

“My girlfriend is my older sister’s friend, we’ve been secretly dating.”

“Wow, exciting!” Ah Yun exclaimed.

Xiao Xuan, startled by the sudden outburst, paused, then said, “Actually, I have a problem.”

She sighed under everyone’s gaze. “My girlfriend is perfect, except for her possessiveness.”

“How possessive?” Jiang Siyi finally spoke.

“She… wants me to quit my job and stay at home with her, because she’s rich, she said she can take care of me.”

Jiang Siyi thought for a moment. “It’s not entirely unacceptable.”

“Depends on how much she’s giving you per month.”

Ah Yun, beside her, almost jumped out of her seat.

She slapped her thigh. “Seriously?”

Xiao Xuan scratched her head. “She said tens of thousands per month, and she’ll take me traveling and such.”

Jiang Siyi’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“It does sound good, but I’m afraid she’ll spoil me rotten, and if we break up, I’ll be doomed,” Xiao Xuan said, still relatively rational.

Jiang Siyi clicked her tongue and nodded. “That’s true.”

Lin Yusheng nudged her. “Isn’t your girlfriend even richer? Hasn’t she offered to take care of you?”

Jiang Siyi wanted to say—Tsk, you know nothing. She took care of me during high school.

But she simply mumbled, “I prefer being independent.”

“Ms. Jiang.”

“Yes?”

“If your girlfriend asked you to quit your job and stay at home with her, what would you do?”

Jiang Siyi chuckled. “I’m a writer, I work from home anyway, it wouldn’t make a difference to me.”

“That’s true, being a freelancer is great,” Xiao Xuan said wistfully.

They chatted for a long time, it was almost noon, and Jiang Siyi still hadn’t finished her breakfast. She had ordered the same meat sauce noodles, after all, she hadn’t had a chance to eat them last time.

The noodles were delicious, and Jiang Siyi ate happily. During a break, she played on her phone, seeing that Shen Shiwu still hadn’t replied.

Still asleep?

Fine, since she was sick, she would let it go this time.

Perhaps because she was thinking of Shen Shiwu, time seemed to pass incredibly slowly.

Finally, at two o’clock, she said goodbye to the team and hurried back to the hotel to see her girlfriend.

“Shen Shiwu?” She called out as she entered the apartment, heading straight for the bedroom.

Shen Shiwu was indeed fast asleep.

Jiang Siyi quietly approached the bed, about to leave, not wanting to disturb her, when Shen Shiwu coughed a few times. “You’re back?”

Hearing her cough, Jiang Siyi frowned. “Why are you coughing again?”

Shen Shiwu’s face was pale, almost ethereal.

“It’s nothing, why are you back so early?”

“Are you stupid? Of course I came back to take care of you.” Jiang Siyi sat on the edge of the bed and touched Shen Shiwu’s face, relieved to find it wasn’t burning up.

“My fever’s gone, but I suddenly started coughing,” Shen Shiwu said, her voice nasally, “it’s nothing serious.”

Then she coughed again.

Nothing serious, as if. One day, she’ll probably say “I’m dead, it’s nothing serious.” Jiang Siyi pouted, not liking her nonchalant attitude.

But she had to be patient with a sick person.

She took out her phone, about to call the front desk. “I’ll ask them to bring up some cold medicine.”

Shen Shiwu’s face flushed slightly from coughing.

She didn’t say anything, but simply moved closer and hugged Jiang Siyi from behind.

Jiang Siyi rarely saw her like this.

Vulnerable, like a delicate flower swaying in the wind.

Her voice softened. “Do you feel better lying down?”

“I’ve been lying down all day, I need to move around.”

Shen Shiwu held her tighter. “What if I infect you?”

Jiang Siyi thought for a moment, then shrugged. “It’s fine.”

“Then I’m going to kiss you.”

“…”

Vulnerable, my ass.

This was clearly a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Jiang Siyi felt betrayed, but then she thought, she should have been used to this by now.

She kissed Shen Shiwu’s cheek, thinking she should be nice to a sick person, then quickly stood up and changed the subject. “I’ll go get you some water.”

Her arm was grabbed.

A few seconds later, Jiang Siyi felt the world spinning. She realized she had been pushed onto the bed, trapped beneath Shen Shiwu.

Still so agile even when sick?

She should join the Shaolin Temple.

Jiang Siyi was shocked.

She stammered, “I, I… hiss.”

A wet, slightly painful sensation on her collarbone.

Shen Shiwu was nibbling on it, leaving red marks. Jiang Siyi was sensitive, and even this was enough to make her body tingle. She grabbed the blanket, her hand being held by Shen Shiwu’s.

After a long while, Shen Shiwu still hadn’t lifted her head, her touch becoming more daring. Feeling her moving lower, Jiang Siyi pushed her slightly, wanting to stop her.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, the front desk delivering the medicine.

Jiang Siyi’s heart skipped a beat, and she tried to push Shen Shiwu away, but she couldn’t break free. She could only whisper, “Someone’s here with the cold medicine…”

“Let’s stop for now, okay?”

Shen Shiwu smiled faintly.

She nuzzled against Jiang Siyi’s hair and agreed. “Okay.”

The front desk staff, puzzled, was about to call the room to confirm if anyone was inside when the door opened. Jiang Siyi apologized, “Sorry, I was asleep, I didn’t hear you.”

A guest in the presidential suite being so polite?

The staff member quickly waved her hand dismissively. “It’s okay, ma’am, here’s your cold medicine.”

Jiang Siyi smoothed her hair, trying to look presentable. She took the medicine, closed the door, and turned around to see Shen Shiwu standing behind her, already out of bed.

“You should be resting, what are you doing out here…” Before she could finish, she was lifted into Shen Shiwu’s arms. She almost cried out in surprise, and only when her back hit the door did she realize what Shen Shiwu was about to do.

Her feet dangling in the air, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Shen Shiwu’s neck. They were very close, their heartbeats echoing each other’s, and Jiang Siyi tried to reason with her. “You’re still sick…”

“Tie my hair up,” Shen Shiwu interrupted her.

Jiang Siyi, relieved, said, “I don’t have a hair tie.”

“I do, in my pocket.”

Jiang Siyi hesitated, then reluctantly took it out.

It looked familiar, an ice cream charm dangling from it.

Seeing the familiar object, her heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Siyi, after a moment of hesitation, gathered Shen Shiwu’s hair and tied it into a low ponytail. Just then, a warm, lingering kiss landed on her lips.

Jiang Siyi’s body went limp, her grip loosening, and Shen Shiwu’s hair cascaded down again.

Shen Shiwu wasn’t satisfied. “Tie it again.”

Another deep kiss followed.

Jiang Siyi, her head spinning, could only endure the kiss as she gathered Shen Shiwu’s hair and tied it up again.

Finally done, she sighed in relief, only to have her breath stolen away again.

The soundproofing in the presidential suite was excellent, and since they were the only ones on this floor, no one could hear them.

But Jiang Siyi still felt a strange sense of embarrassment.

Just a door away, the hallway was quiet, while inside, the atmosphere was charged with desire.

Just as her dress was lifted, there was a knock on the door.

The front desk staff’s polite voice came through. “Hello, ma’am, I’ve brought the things you ordered.”

The knocking echoed in the room, the vibrations slightly shaking the door.

Jiang Siyi quickly covered her mouth.

Shen Shiwu, however, was much calmer.

She nibbled on Jiang Siyi’s earlobe. “Sorry, I ordered some finger cots.”

Chapter 60

Two of the lights were out, and with the late hour and lack of light from the windows, the IV drip room was dim and quiet.

After saying those words, Jiang Siyi noticed an empty seat in the row ahead and discreetly… made her escape.

She sat down and played on her phone, but her mind was racing—That was crazy.

Saying those words in public, it felt like a secret affair.

With nothing else to do, she started working on her manuscript. She hadn’t written anything in days, busy with the audio drama production.

The person behind her, however, was restless.

By the time Jiang Siyi, exasperated, opened WeChat, Shen Shiwu had already sent her thirty-two messages.

They were all the same: “I miss you a little.”

Jiang Siyi turned around, her face expressionless, and saw that Shen Shiwu had already put down her phone. She was leaning back in her chair, one hand tapping rhythmically on the armrest.

Looking at her slightly pale face, Jiang Siyi’s throat tightened, and she quickly looked away.

She suspected Shen Shiwu was trying to seduce her.

Although she had no proof.

Jiang Siyi put on a stern expression and replied, “We’re less than five meters apart, what’s there to miss?”

Shen Shiwu replied quickly, like a robot, repeating, “I miss you a little.”

“…”

Talking to a brick wall.

Two hours later, Shen Shiwu’s IV drip was finally finished. Jiang Siyi helped her apply pressure to the injection site, and they walked out together.

It was past nine, the sky dark, with only a few stars visible. As they walked, Jiang Siyi heard Shen Shiwu hiss, “That hurts.”

She was puzzled, thinking she hadn’t pressed that hard.

“Stop pretending.”

Shen Shiwu wasn’t ashamed at all. “It really hurts.”

Jiang Siyi thought for a moment, then let go of her hand. “Then press it yourself.”

She walked towards the car.

Shen Shiwu stood there, watching her figure disappear into the night, then followed with a smile.

“Ms. Jiang, don’t be so fierce.”

***

Perhaps because she had been so busy lately,

Jiang Siyi slept soundly that night and even had a dream.

In her dream, she and Shen Shiwu were arguing, their faces dark with anger. She was crying, tears streaming down her face, her eyes red.

Then she woke up. It was early morning. Jiang Siyi’s forehead was damp with sweat, and she touched her face, feeling the dried tears.

She whispered, “Shen Shiwu.”

The woman beside her stirred and quickly opened her eyes. Before she could react, Jiang Siyi had buried her face in her chest.

Shen Shiwu was momentarily stunned by her sudden embrace, then she held her tightly. “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Siyi’s voice was muffled. “I had a nightmare.”

“I dreamt that we were arguing, about to break up, and you were being very mean.”

Shen Shiwu chuckled. She gently patted Jiang Siyi’s back. “Aren’t you usually the one who’s mean to me?”

“And we’re not breaking up again,” she said firmly, “don’t worry.”

Jiang Siyi held her hand, squeezing it lightly. Although it was just a dream, she still felt a sense of unease, her heart heavy, her breath slightly constricted.

“Ms. Jiang, are you trying to murder your girlfriend?” Shen Shiwu suddenly asked.

Jiang Siyi realized she had almost touched the back of Shen Shiwu’s hand—where the IV needle had been.

She snapped back to reality and quickly let go, her thoughts shifting to another topic. “Does it still hurt? We should take your temperature again when you get up.”

Shen Shiwu had slept well and didn’t have a headache anymore. But after thinking for a moment, she still nodded. “A little.”

Jiang Siyi immediately pulled away from her embrace.

“It still hurts?” She got out of bed and went to look for the thermometer.

Shen Shiwu, her arms suddenly empty, sat up and leaned against the headboard. “Much better than yesterday.”

Meanwhile, a certain rabbit was frantically searching the room.

She had been in such a hurry last night when taking Shen Shiwu to the hospital that she had misplaced the thermometer. Ten minutes later, she finally found it, rushed back to the bed, and held it to Shen Shiwu’s lips. “Here.”

Shen Shiwu opened her mouth and took the thermometer.

Jiang Siyi glanced at the time, then went to the bathroom to wash up. When she returned, Shen Shiwu had already taken out the thermometer.

The woman leaned against the headboard, her tone laced with mock disappointment. “Ah, my fever’s gone.”

Jiang Siyi, relieved, let out a sigh.

“That’s good.” She was about to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and said to Shen Shiwu, “If you’re still feeling unwell, just stay in bed and rest, don’t go to work today.”

Shen Shiwu nodded, her expression unchanged. “I’m still feeling unwell.”

Hearing this, Jiang Siyi felt a pang of sympathy. She was about to leave for work, and leaving a sick person alone felt wrong.

Should she call in sick?

“Ms. Jiang,” Shen Shiwu suddenly called out.

“What?”

The woman was still in her pajamas, her neckline slightly askew, revealing her shoulder.

Tsk, even with a fever, she still couldn’t dress properly.

Jiang Siyi thought, about to remind her, when Shen Shiwu spoke, “Don’t forget, we still have to work out together.”

Jiang Siyi gritted her teeth. “In your dreams.”

“Can I dream about you?”

“…Get out.”

Slamming the door behind her, Jiang Siyi grumbled as she walked, “I was even thinking of calling in sick to stay with you, as if! Just stay there and reflect on your actions.”

Reaching the kitchen, she finally stopped grumbling. Looking at the pots, pans, and knives, Jiang Siyi frowned—she couldn’t cook.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried learning while she was abroad. On the contrary, she had studied recipes diligently. Until one time, she had given herself food poisoning and ended up in the hospital.

Although Shen Shiwu was always saying outrageous things, there was no need to poison her to death.

Jiang Siyi thought for a moment, then quietly left the kitchen. After thinking about it, she decided to go downstairs to buy breakfast.

Before leaving, she called out to the bedroom, “I’m going to buy breakfast, what do you want?”

Shen Shiwu didn’t reply.

Jiang Siyi opened the door, and before she could even ask, the woman in bed said, “What I want…”

“You won’t give me anyway.”

It sounded like Jiang Siyi was mistreating her. “Oh, then just starve.”

The hotel’s breakfast buffet wasn’t good, so Jiang Siyi quickly dismissed that option. She wandered around for a while, then entered a porridge shop.

A sick person should eat something light.

“One bowl of shrimp and vegetable porridge.”

The owner’s wife was quick, and ten minutes later, she handed Jiang Siyi a bag. “Here you go, young lady, be careful, it’s hot.”

The young lady smiled, then her smile faltered.

Damn it.

She had left her phone in the kitchen.

The owner’s wife didn’t notice her change in expression and pointed at the QR code. “Scan here to pay.”

Jiang Siyi, holding the bag of porridge, started to explain.

“Ms. Jiang?” Ah Yun, passing by, turned around. “What a coincidence, buying porridge here too?”

Jiang Siyi’s eyes lit up, seeing her savior, and she told the owner’s wife to wait a moment and waved at Ah Yun.

But it was Kong Yin, who was walking with Ah Yun, who came over.

“Auntie, I’ve already paid,” Kong Yin said, putting away her phone.

“Okay, thank you, come again.”

Jiang Siyi felt utterly defeated, thinking that it was a good thing Shen Shiwu hadn’t seen this, otherwise, they wouldn’t just be doing it in the gym, but in every corner of the house.

She thanked Kong Yin politely. “Thank you, I’ll transfer the money to you later.”

“No need,” Kong Yin smiled, “it’s just a few yuan.”

Ah Yun, standing beside her, also chimed in, “Ms. Jiang, don’t be so formal, if my phone wasn’t dead, I would have treated you.”

Jiang Siyi had already walked out of the shop.

She thought for a moment. “Then I’ll treat everyone to bubble tea later.”

It was best not to owe anyone any favors, especially Kong Yin.

“It’s a deal then,” she waved at them, “my girlfriend is still at the hotel, I have to go back, see you later.”

Hearing Shen Shiwu’s name, Ah Yun immediately became obsequious. She said quickly, “Goodbye, Ms. Jiang, go back and take care of your girlfriend. Or you can take the day off! It’s no problem at all!”

With the “money bag” around, who cared about a mere friend?

She ignored Kong Yin’s darkening expression and offered her thoughtful suggestion.

After Jiang Siyi left, Kong Yin walked away quickly, not waiting for Ah Yun. The latter, knowing she was angry, didn’t rush, strolling leisurely behind her.

Jiang Siyi quietly opened the door, afraid of waking Shen Shiwu. She slowly pushed open the bedroom door and saw that Shen Shiwu was already awake, working on her laptop.

“You have a fever, why aren’t you resting? Don’t you feel bad anymore?” Jiang Siyi frowned.

Shen Shiwu closed her laptop, placed it on the nightstand, and lay back down, pulling the covers over her. “I feel bad.”

“Kiss me a few times.”

Jiang Siyi, after a moment of silence, tried to shut her up with food.

She opened the container, scooped a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and then held it to Shen Shiwu’s lips. “Eat something, it’s a little hot, be careful.”

Shen Shiwu sat up and finished the porridge, then she suddenly asked, “Do you have any cash on you?”

“No, why?”

“I called you earlier, and your phone was ringing in the kitchen.”

Jiang Siyi held the spoon. “Yes, I left it there.”

Shen Shiwu didn’t say anything, just looked at her quietly.

Jiang Siyi scooped up a shrimp and, as she fed it to Shen Shiwu, said, “Ah Yun happened to be passing by, so she helped me pay.”

Only a fool would mention their love rival’s name in front of their girlfriend.

Shen Shiwu, after a moment of silence, ate the shrimp.

She closed her eyes for a moment. “What a coincidence, was she alone?”

Jiang Siyi felt a little guilty, but she still nodded. “Yes.”

After that, Shen Shiwu didn’t say anything, just quietly ate her porridge. Ten minutes later, she took the container. “I can finish this myself, don’t you have to go to the studio?”

Jiang Siyi realized she only had fifteen minutes left before work started.

She quickly packed her things, grabbed the script, and was about to leave when she suddenly turned back.

“I’ll be back early today.”

“There are mangosteens and pineapples in the fridge, help yourself.”

Like a nagging parent, after giving her instructions, she added a threat, “Don’t go to work if you’re still sick.”

Shen Shiwu, holding the porridge, nodded. “Okay.”

Hearing the door close, she looked down at the porridge, found it tasteless, and placed it on the nightstand.

She read the message from Gu Ning, her expression turning cold.

Jiang Siyi had lied to her.

Shen Shiwu leaned against the headboard, her feigned illness gone. She played with her phone, then tossed it onto the nightstand.

A loud thud.

The screen protector was probably cracked.

She didn’t care and continued pondering. After a moment, a smile appeared on her lips.

A child like Jiang Siyi needed to be taught a lesson.

Shen Shiwu had learned this four years ago.

She smiled faintly.

And to teach her a lesson, she had to be locked up, that was the only way.

And once she was locked up,

Shen Shiwu’s smile deepened, thinking—she wouldn’t let her go free again.

Chapter 59

Jiang Siyi had thoroughly committed the act of inviting a wolf into her sheep pen.

And by the time she realized it, it was too late.

The production was progressing smoothly, and today was another early finish. Kong Yin emerged from the recording booth, picked up her water glass, and took a few sips.

Her gaze, however, kept drifting towards Jiang Siyi.

The latter was leaning back in her chair, pen in hand, marking the script, her movements slow and deliberate, her expression serious.

Even with a discerning eye, one wouldn’t be able to tell that she was actually just stalling for time.

Kong Yin also slowed down her drinking.

“Ms. Kong, aren’t you leaving yet?” Lin Yusheng, bag in hand, entered the recording studio and poked her head in.

Kong Yin choked slightly.

The next second, her expression returned to normal. “Later, it’s still early.”

Lin Yusheng nodded, then glanced at Jiang Siyi, who was completely ignoring Kong Yin.

A complex expression flickered in her eyes.

Although she was a non-marriage advocate and had little dating experience, she still felt something was off—could Kong Yin be interested in Jiang Siyi?

Tsk, not afraid of her girlfriend coming after her.

She walked over to Jiang Siyi and, after a long while, urged her, “Great author, do you really plan on submitting the manuscript by the end of the year?”

Jiang Siyi turned another page of the script and replied casually, “What’s the rush?”

“…”

Lin Yusheng grabbed her hat, packed her things, and asked, “Are you leaving?”

“Where to?”

“Back to the hotel.”

Jiang Siyi checked the time on her phone, then shook her head decisively. “You go ahead.”

Lin Yusheng had known her for three or four years now and was used to her unpredictable mood swings and inexplicable behavior.

She didn’t bother asking for a reason and simply left, her high heels clicking against the floor.

Only three people remained in the recording studio.

Besides her and Kong Yin, there was also Gu Ning, who was mopping the floor.

Seeing Kong Yin pull over a chair and sit down, Jiang Siyi frowned slightly. “Aren’t you going home?”

The woman replied calmly, “It’s too boring at home, I might as well stay here for a while.”

Jiang Siyi wanted to say, Don’t you have a cat at home?, but she held back.

After all, this wasn’t her territory, she had no right to chase people away.

Her phone kept vibrating, clearly a certain CEO bombarding her with messages.

Jiang Siyi ignored them, continuing to look at the script—for two reasons. One, to get back at Shen Shiwu for not replying to her messages earlier.

Two,

She was exhausted, her body aching all over.

So she was stalling for time, not wanting to go back to the hotel or reply to Shen Shiwu’s messages.

After a while, the sky outside turned red.

Jiang Siyi yawned, figuring it was about time, and reluctantly reached for her phone.

Kong Yin, who had been silent, suddenly stood up, wanting to hand it to her.

The script in Jiang Siyi’s hand fell to the floor.

She quickly snatched her phone away, her movements smooth and fluid.

She smiled. “Thank you, but I can get it myself.”

Kong Yin smiled back. “Okay.”

Jiang Siyi opened WeChat, and the only pinned contact had sent her a bunch of messages.

Just as she was about to open the chat, her finger paused.

Shen Yun’s profile picture suddenly appeared at the top, a new message notification.

“Xiao Si, you didn’t even tell me you were back in China.”

“How have you been?”

Jiang Siyi couldn’t help but grip her phone tightly.

When she was in England, Shen Yun had often visited her at school, always showing concern. Every time, she would ask, “Xiao Si, is your living allowance enough?”

“How’s school? How are you getting along with your classmates? Any problems?”

Admittedly, her mother’s friend had been very kind to her. But at first, Jiang Siyi had still met with her occasionally, later making excuses to decline.

She couldn’t explain why.

She just felt that, like her daughter, Shen Yun was also a “smiling tiger.”

Later, Jiang Siyi had started working two part-time jobs.

She was either in class or working. She had gradually returned to her life before she was seventeen, a life devoid of light.

And this was the reason why her excuses for refusing Shen Yun’s invitations had become increasingly convincing. As time passed, they had lost contact.

It had been a long time since their last conversation.

Jiang Siyi looked at the two messages and replied formally, “I forgot to tell you about coming back to China. I’ve been well, work is going smoothly.”

As soon as she sent the message, Shen Yun’s daughter, as if sensing her neglect, bombarded her with messages.

Jiang Siyi: “…”

Switching to the other chat, she had wanted to type a reply, but remembering that someone was sitting beside her,

She cleared her throat and said, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, “I’m revising the script, are you going back to the hotel?”

Kong Yin, who was reading a book, didn’t react, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

However, her grip on the book betrayed her.

“Going back now? Okay, I’ll go downstairs too,” Jiang Siyi said, picking up her bag, making sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, and stood up to leave.

Kong Yin, unusually, didn’t stop her.

Seeing Jiang Siyi leave, Gu Ning discreetly followed. The door opened and closed, and a few minutes later, the only sound in the recording studio was Kong Yin’s soft grinding of teeth.

She took out her phone and sent a message.

“Ms. Shen, their relationship seems very stable, I’m afraid it will be difficult to break them up.”

Shen Yun replied after a while, “If it were truly stable, they wouldn’t have broken up in the first place.”

Kong Yin felt slightly relieved.

“Then what do you mean?”

“You’re useless, after so many days, you haven’t even created an opportunity for them to be alone.” Shen Yun’s gentle facade crumbled, her words laced with anger.

Kong Yin didn’t dare to argue with her.

She apologized and explained, “I brought Jiang Siyi home that day, we even drank together. But… your daughter appeared too quickly, I couldn’t do what you said, kiss her and take pictures.”

Shen Yun’s anger subsided slightly.

She said impatiently, “Fine, I’ll find some people to help you these next few days, I’ll let you know what to do.”

Kong Yin quickly agreed, repeatedly thanking her.

***

Jiang Siyi said goodbye to Ah Yun and slowly went downstairs.

The weather was still nice, although it was almost dusk, the sun was still shining brightly.

Even the wind was warm.

Jiang Siyi’s steps were slow and heavy, almost dragging her feet.

She shouldn’t have let Shen Shiwu stay for a few more days, she thought.

Although it was indeed very enjoyable… but at this rate, she would be exhausted to death.

Thinking this, she stopped walking. Seeing a fruit store nearby, she went inside to kill some time.

Shen Shiwu had bought her favorite cream puffs and dorayaki and had already returned to the hotel. She had tied her hair up and was leaning against the sofa, waiting for Jiang Siyi’s message.

Half an hour later, Jiang Siyi, squatting by the roadside, had finished a box of cantaloupe. She threw the empty box into the trash can and wiped her mouth with a tissue.

She stood up, wanting to buy some mangosteen.

Remembering that she had a “roommate,” she also asked the store clerk to cut up a pineapple. After paying, she walked out, carrying the bag of fruit.

It was almost six o’clock.

She really had to go back now.

Dusk was fading, and night was approaching. Jiang Siyi hurried back to the hotel before it got completely dark.

Going upstairs and swiping her key card, she slowly pushed open the door, pretending to be in a hurry. “I’m exhausted… Shen Shiwu, come and help me.”

But there was no response.

Jiang Siyi, puzzled, placed the bags of fruit on the dining table, her eyes lingering on the pastries, feeling a little tempted.

But finding Shen Shiwu was more important.

“Shen Shiwu?” she called out again.

The apartment was quiet and empty, and Jiang Siyi’s heart started to race. Only after entering the bedroom and seeing Shen Shiwu sleeping soundly in bed did she relax.

She walked quietly to the bed and looked down at Shen Shiwu.

Seeing her furrowed brows and pale face, Jiang Siyi’s eyes darkened with worry.

Shen Shiwu, a light sleeper, stirred at the slight movement and slowly opened her eyes.

She watched as Jiang Siyi sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on her forehead, not moving.

“Shen Shiwu, you have a fever.”

The woman immediately wrapped her arms around Jiang Siyi’s waist, her voice muffled. “It’s okay, it’ll go away on its own.”

“Do you want to burn your brain out?” Jiang Siyi was truly impressed by her and stood up, about to call the front desk for a thermometer.

But Shen Shiwu refused to let go, and Jiang Siyi, exasperated, bit her arm.

Shen Shiwu chuckled and finally released her.

The front desk, hearing that a VIP guest had a request, quickly delivered a thermometer. Jiang Siyi took it, went back to the bedroom, sanitized it, and then held it to Shen Shiwu’s lips. “Here.”

Shen Shiwu sat up and obediently opened her mouth.

Jiang Siyi glanced at the time, then stared intently at Shen Shiwu, as if supervising her.

“38.7 degrees Celsius.”

“Get up, we’re going to the hospital.”

Shen Shiwu lay back down and pulled the covers over her head. “I don’t want to go.”

Jiang Siyi wanted to scream. She forced a smile. “Come on.”

“Mm-hmm,” the woman chuckled softly, “then kiss me.”

“…”

Jiang Siyi wanted to say something, then gave up and leaned down, kissing Shen Shiwu’s cheek.

“Okay,” she urged, “get out of bed now.”

Shen Shiwu pointed at her lips. “I meant here.”

Jiang Siyi’s face burned as their lips met, her breathing ragged. After the kiss, she said, her voice slightly breathless, “Can we… go to the hospital now?”

Shen Shiwu, satisfied, her mood improved, although her head still felt heavy. She nodded and started taking off her pajamas. “I need to change.”

Jiang Siyi swallowed nervously, quickly averted her gaze, and rushed out of the room. “I’ll wait for you in the living room!”

The city hospital was close to the hotel, both located in the city center, only a ten-minute drive away.

Jiang Siyi drove steadily, and normally, she would have asked the person beside her, “So, how’s my driving? Pretty impressive, right?”

But she decided against it this time.

At a red light, she glanced at Shen Shiwu, who was resting, and pursed her lips.

“Feeling awful? We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

“Just a fever,” Shen Shiwu smiled, reassuring her, “it’s nothing serious.”

Even at night, the hospital in the big city was still crowded.

Jiang Siyi carefully protected Shen Shiwu, only letting go after they entered the examination room. Shen Shiwu, seeing this, immediately held her hand again.

Jiang Siyi didn’t resist, letting her hold her hand—she wouldn’t be able to break free anyway.

The IV drip room was packed.

Shen Shiwu was quiet as she received the IV, not even flinching. Jiang Siyi took the IV bag from the nurse and was looking for an empty seat when she heard Shen Shiwu say, “That hurts.”

“…”

Jiang Siyi, too busy to listen to her nonsense, didn’t reply, simply gesturing with her eyes, “There’s a seat over there.”

Because of the large number of patients, there were only single seats available, not any for two. Jiang Siyi helped Shen Shiwu sit down and hung the IV bag on the stand.

Just as Shen Shiwu was about to stand up and offer her the seat, Jiang Siyi stopped her. “What are you doing?”

“Giving you the seat.”

“Are you sick or am I sick?”

Shen Shiwu looked at her for a moment. “Me.”

“Then sit down.”

The patient pondered for a moment, then said, “Being sick is so uncomfortable, and the needle hurt so much.”

Jiang Siyi, despite her annoyance, felt a pang of sympathy. “You’ll feel better after the IV drip.”

Shen Shiwu, pretending to be exhausted, leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes like a sleepy puppy.

“Then say something nice to me,” she said, a smile playing on her lips.

Jiang Siyi took a deep breath, reminding herself, She’s sick… don’t get angry.

She forced a smile. “Okay, what do you want me to say?”

The other patients in the room, mostly elderly people, were all asleep, and their voices were low, so no one could hear them.

“How about this,” Shen Shiwu said considerately, “repeat after me.”

No need to think, just repeat, Jiang Siyi agreed.

The woman’s hair, which had been tied up, had come loose, framing her face, making her look even more alluring.

She beckoned Jiang Siyi closer.

Jiang Siyi leaned in, listening intently.

Shen Shiwu’s voice, hoarse from her cold, sounded low and languid. She turned her head and gently blew on Jiang Siyi’s ear.

Then she said slowly, “Repeat after me.”

“I want to be with Shen Shiwu forever.”

The last word was barely a whisper, yet incredibly suggestive.

Jiang Siyi bit her lip.

In the quiet room, where anyone could wake up at any moment, her voice was soft.

“I want to be with Shen Shiwu.”

“Forever.”

Chapter 58

The blanket and pillows were scattered on the floor.

Two figures were entangled on the desk, where the laptop usually sat.

As the girl beneath her moaned softly, Shen Shiwu chuckled. “We’re missing a school uniform.”

Jiang Siyi knew what she meant.

Four years ago, it had also been on the desk.

She cursed, calling Shen Shiwu a jerk, but her head tilted back involuntarily.

Her hands gripped the edge of the desk, her knuckles turning white.

It wasn’t until late at night that Jiang Siyi finally fell asleep.

Just before closing her eyes, she was still questioning herself—why had she ever thought Shen Shiwu was gentle and harmless?

She fell asleep, filled with resentment, and woke up in Shen Shiwu’s embrace, unable to move.

Jiang Siyi was wide awake.

The memories of last night, fragmented, flashed through her mind, and she wished she had blacked out instead.

Standing under the tree, watching the birds build their nest, leaning against the kitchen door and bumping her head against it.

Wanting Shen Shiwu to stay, only to be ravaged again…

Ms. Jiang, usually so composed, now stared at the ceiling, contemplating life.

The arm around her waist tightened.

Jiang Siyi felt a warm breath against her neck and shivered.

A soft touch followed.

Before she could react, Shen Shiwu had gently nibbled on her collarbone.

The touch was much gentler than last night.

More like a lick than a bite.

It didn’t hurt, just tickled slightly. She felt Shen Shiwu’s tongue tracing the outline of her collarbone, as if marking her territory.

She poked Shen Shiwu’s face. “Okay, stop it.”

The other woman ignored her, continuing her ministrations, until Jiang Siyi was about to kick her, and she finally opened her eyes.

She gasped softly, as if just realizing what she was doing.

“Sorry.”

Her voice was gentle, her tone even, the apology insincere, as she intertwined her fingers with Jiang Siyi’s. “Just woke up, my mouth has a mind of its own.”

“…”

“You didn’t just wake up, you’re missing a few brain cells.” Jiang Siyi almost elbowed her.

Shen Shiwu chuckled.

Her sleepiness hadn’t completely vanished yet, her eyes still half-closed, crinkling at the corners with her smile.

“Cursing so early in the morning, that’s not very nice, Ms. Jiang.”

“Oh,” Jiang Siyi pried Shen Shiwu’s hand away, got out of bed, and replied dismissively.

Actually, Shen Shiwu could easily have pulled her back into bed with just a little force. But she glanced at the time, thinking the rabbit probably had to go to work.

So she retracted her hand.

“Are you going to the studio?”

“It’s still early, work starts at eight, it’s only half-past six.”

Shen Shiwu nodded thoughtfully, then, before Jiang Siyi could walk away, she wrapped her arms around her waist from behind.

“Then stay in bed with me for a while longer.”

“You’re twenty-seven years old, you have to learn to be independent.”

Shen Shiwu chuckled. “Really?”

A few seconds later, she obediently let go, not saying anything else, and lay back down.

Jiang Siyi, thinking she was angry again, opened her mouth, about to say something, when she heard Shen Shiwu’s voice, “After thinking about it, I think you’re right.”

Her tone was neutral, her words clear and deliberate. “Then I’ll sleep in the other room tonight, to practice my independence.”

Jiang Siyi, hoisted by her own petard, pouted, speechless.

Then, realizing what Shen Shiwu had actually meant, she turned around, her eyes shining with excitement. “You mean, you’re not in a hurry to go back this time? You’re staying for a few days?”

Shen Shiwu hadn’t expected this to be Jiang Siyi’s first reaction.

She leaned against the headboard, her expression lazy, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Why, don’t you welcome me? Are you chasing me away?”

Jiang Siyi hummed softly. “Answer my question first.”

Shen Shiwu teased, “I don’t know, I might have to leave today.”

Jiang Siyi’s face fell visibly.

She pretended to be indifferent. “Oh, I see, okay.”

Then she went to the bathroom to wash up.

Shen Shiwu sat up, leaning against the headboard, and listened to the sounds coming from the bathroom, shaking her head helplessly—She actually believed that, so silly and cute.

But… the cuter she was, the more Shen Shiwu wanted to tease her.

With half an hour left before work, since it only took five or six minutes to walk from the hotel to the office building, Jiang Siyi sat at the dining table and called out to the kitchen, “Take your time.”

The presidential suite was fully equipped, with a kitchen, a gym, and everything else. Shen Shiwu replied that breakfast would be ready in ten minutes.

Jiang Siyi looked at the kitchen door, remembering her drunken headbutt, and felt a pang of embarrassment.

She quietly left the dining area.

The gym was large, the equipment new and dust-free, clearly regularly cleaned even though no one used it.

Jiang Siyi wandered around, her hands behind her back, like a landlord inspecting her property. She paused when she saw the dumbbells.

She was lazy and had no interest in working out, but she was reminded of Shen Shiwu’s strength.

“What are you looking at? Breakfast is ready.”

The woman’s voice suddenly rang out.

Jiang Siyi, her mind filled with inappropriate thoughts, was startled, feeling like a thief caught red-handed.

She turned around mechanically. “Coming.”

Shen Shiwu looked at her, then at the gym equipment.

“Want to work out?”

“No.”

“Then…” the woman leaned closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “want to do it here?”

Jiang Siyi’s mind short-circuited.

She stammered for a while, then finally managed to say, “Get out.”

Shen Shiwu loved it when she was angry, her hair bristling, her words sharp, her face flushed.

And she enjoyed the process of soothing her.

“Okay, let’s go eat.”

“…”

Smooth talker.

Shen Shiwu preferred light flavors, and so did Jiang Siyi, neither of them could handle spicy food. But Jiang Siyi, for the sake of pride, would practically swallow chili peppers whole.

Eating her curry rice, she suddenly said, “It’s too bland, it needs more spice.”

Jiang Siyi’s competitiveness always manifested in strange ways.

She had been rendered speechless by Shen Shiwu’s earlier comment and now wanted to regain some face by criticizing her cooking.

Shen Shiwu, sitting beside her, looked over. “You can handle spicy food?”

“Of course,” Jiang Siyi glanced at her, “much better than you.”

The woman nodded, put down her chopsticks, and went to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, she returned with a bright red chili pepper.

“Here,” she said considerately, “eat this with your rice.”

Jiang Siyi’s breath hitched.

She screamed inwardly, Seriously, there are actually chili peppers?

Shen Shiwu, as if she knew what she was thinking, suppressed a smile and said calmly, “I bought some vegetables at the supermarket yesterday, besides the fruit. The auntie gave me this.”

“It’s perfect, your favorite.”

Jiang Siyi wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that Shen Shiwu had emphasized the last two words.

Her lips twitched slightly.

What was the one thing a person couldn’t lose?—Pride!

Jiang Siyi snatched the chili pepper, still damp from being washed.

“Thank you, just what I wanted.”

Shen Shiwu nodded calmly, then said gently, “You’re welcome.”

“…”

Just a chili pepper.

Jiang Siyi looked at it and swallowed nervously.

Just eat it quickly before her taste buds could react.

“Savor your favorite, eat slowly, no rush,” Shen Shiwu said calmly, glancing at the clock on the wall, “we have plenty of time.”

Jiang Siyi smiled. “Of course.”

But just as she swallowed a mouthful of rice and was about to bite into the chili pepper, a hand stopped her.

Long, slender fingers snatched it away.

Shen Shiwu held the chili pepper, looking at Jiang Siyi’s stunned expression. “Why do you always try to act tough in front of me?”

“I like it when you’re being difficult, or throwing a tantrum, it’s cute,” Shen Shiwu said frankly, “but…”

“There’s no need to act tough.”

“Just tell me what you want, what you like. I’ll even pluck the stars from the sky for you.” She tapped Jiang Siyi’s head lightly with the chili pepper. “I told you that four years ago.”

Jiang Siyi was speechless.

She closed her eyes for a moment, then, before she could think of a reply, Shen Shiwu continued, “There’s no need to lie for the sake of pride, especially when it’s something you can’t even do.”

“In front of me, you only need to show your true emotions, no need to hide anything.”

After a moment of silence,

Jiang Siyi lowered her eyes, then looked at Shen Shiwu and nodded. “I understand, I will.”

When she was seventeen or eighteen, she had always put on a tough exterior, radiating an unapproachable aura.

Then she had met Shen Shiwu, and gradually, she had softened.

But only slightly, she would still activate her self-defense mechanism most of the time.

Then, their separation had been sudden. During her years abroad, Jiang Siyi had become indifferent again, almost cold-blooded, her unapproachable aura intensifying, her illness worsening.

Until now.

Until Shen Shiwu said those words.

Jiang Siyi finally felt safe enough to say those three words: “I will.”

***

After breakfast, it was time for work.

Shen Shiwu also had a few projects to check on in Beicheng, related to real estate. Their schedules aligned, so they left the hotel together.

“I’m going now,” Jiang Siyi said, looking back at her, then asked, “So when are you going back to Qinan?”

Shen Shiwu’s words were always laced with innuendo.

Jiang Siyi quickly added, “I, I’m not chasing you away, just asking.”

The woman’s eyes softened with a smile.

Jiang Siyi looked at her, thinking this person truly had two faces, switching between them effortlessly.

“How long do you want me to stay?”

Shen Shiwu gave her the choice.

“Well…” Jiang Siyi thought for a moment, her voice soft, “longer.”

It was barely a whisper.

Shen Shiwu raised an eyebrow slightly and leaned closer. “What?”

Jiang Siyi gritted her teeth, her voice suddenly louder, “Longer! Stay longer!”

Life in Beicheng was fast-paced, the streets already crowded even in the morning. Perhaps because Jiang Siyi had raised her voice, several people turned to look at them.

Shen Shiwu was satisfied.

She nodded slightly, as if she had been waiting for those words, and readily agreed. “Okay.”

“I have some work here too, it’ll take at least ten days, maybe half a month.”

Having been tricked before, Jiang Siyi’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really,” Shen Shiwu picked up her phone, about to show her the relevant documents. Jiang Siyi, completely clueless about these things, just like when she was struggling with math problems, felt her eyelids drooping.

She quickly stopped her. “Forget it, forget it,”

Glancing at the time, she said, “I have to go now, you do whatever you want.”

After crossing the street, she received a message on her phone. It was from her girlfriend, whom she had just parted ways with.

“When are you finishing work?”

Thinking about today’s recording schedule, Jiang Siyi replied, “Around five.”

Shen Shiwu replied with an “Okay.” Jiang Siyi thought the conversation had ended and was about to put her phone away when it vibrated again.

“We have plenty of time.”

“?”

Shen Shiwu, sitting in her car, typed without a change in expression. After sending the message, she started the car and went to buy some sanitary wipes.

“The gym, didn’t you want to try it?”

Jiang Siyi was speechless.

She gritted her teeth and typed furiously, “Not… at… all!”

Entering the building, waiting for the elevator, she received another message. Jiang Siyi closed her eyes and took a deep breath before checking her phone.

Shen Shiwu’s reply was concise.

“Sorry, resistance is futile.”

The elevator arrived.

Jiang Siyi didn’t enter immediately.

She stood there, her face expressionless. “Oh, then you should just go back to Qinan.”

Shen Shiwu, being rejected again, sent a voice message, her voice feigning grievance, “Baby.”

Five minutes later, the cold and heartless Ms. Jiang was still standing there, not having entered the elevator.

She held her phone,

Silently listening to the voice message over and over again.

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.”