She lowered her head, allowing Li Yunli’s hands to press against her temples.
“Sorry, I made you worry again.”
Her mind was a chaotic mess, and the apology slipped out instinctively.
Li Yunli smiled softly, reaching out to gently hook Ji Zhenshi’s nose tip before slowly massaging her temples. “You know better now, so be good and listen from now on—don’t make me worry. Feeling any better?”
Resting on Li Yunli’s thigh, Ji Zhenshi closed her eyes and nodded. Her restless emotions found a moment of peace.
After a long while, Li Yunli finally stopped. “Alright, get up now. Even though you’re not going to the company today, aren’t you supposed to go back to see Grandma?”
Ji Zhenshi propped herself up, feeling like she’d forgotten something but unable to recall it. She leaned back, putting some distance between herself and Li Yunli.
“Ah!”
Li Yunli couldn’t even grab her in time—Ji Zhenshi tumbled backward in a clumsy heap, her tailbone slamming into the floor with a dull thud.
Li Yunli didn’t even have time to put on her shoes; she rolled off the bed to help her up. “Be careful! Does it hurt? Let me see. Can you move? Am I that scary that you keep backing away?”
Ignoring the pain in her butt, Ji Zhenshi clutched the blanket and stood on the bed, keeping distance from Li Yunli. “How did you know I’m not going to the company today? You even know I’m going to Grandma’s?”
It really felt like a dream. Li Yunli even had mind-reading powers now.
But if it was a dream, why did her butt hurt so much? And why did she still feel shame, wanting to bury her head in the blanket from embarrassment?
Normally in dreams, she’d be clingy and unreasonable with Li Yunli.
Ji Zhenshi flipped faces like a switch—having just enjoyed the massage, now she acted like she didn’t know her.
The warmth on Li Yunli’s face froze, fresh bite marks appearing on her lower lip.
Ji Zhenshi didn’t remember a thing?
Swallowing her bitterness, Li Yunli explained gently, “I saw the to-do list on your phone.”
She paused. “Just now, I said you were drunk last night and kept wanting to call me. After unlocking your phone, I saw it, so I didn’t wake you up today.”
“Oh, I see.” Ji Zhenshi’s head throbbed at the thought. She leaned closer to Li Yunli, hoping to hear about last night from her. “Did I do anything else? Or say anything crazy?”
What she really wanted to ask was why she’d slept naked.
As if seeing through Ji Zhenshi’s hesitant expression, Li Yunli smiled warmly, her doting gaze falling on her. “You said you don’t have a girlfriend, so it doesn’t matter sleeping without clothes.”
!?
Ji Zhenshi had imagined many possibilities, but never that she’d say something like that in front of Li Yunli—it made her seem so desperate for love!
She was too embarrassed to ask about the rest. Covering her face with both hands, she peeked through her fingers at Li Yunli, who was still smiling.
Laughing at her embarrassment?
Seeming to find Ji Zhenshi’s shyness adorable, Li Yunli added, “You also said you’re an unwanted little cabbage.”
It was another line etched in Li Yunli’s memory. Xiao Zhen was just too cute.
Her earlobes flushed red instantly. Ji Zhenshi couldn’t believe her ears.
What had she done!
“No way.”
“Is it impossible that you’re an unwanted little cabbage, or impossible that you said it?”
“Neither.”
Ji Zhenshi tried to quibble to salvage her crumbling dignity.
Li Yunli’s eyes and brows curved with amusement. “Oh, right—you also said you couldn’t find a girlfriend and would end up lonely forever, so you kept crying, tears that wouldn’t wipe away.”
“……”
After finishing, Li Yunli teased with a smile, “Xiao Zhen, are you made of water? Why do you cry nonstop when drunk?”
She cried so much, like she’d suffered the greatest injustice.
But she was such a cool person sober, radiating boundless vitality and sunshine. The contrast with Xiao Zhen was striking.
“Ah! Me? I cried all last night? No way, that’s not true—I never cry. And I’m not ugly, so I won’t end up lonely forever. I can’t be an unwanted little cabbage!” Ji Zhenshi’s face turned beet red. Incredulous, she pointed at herself, unwilling to believe those words came from her mouth, instinctively refuting them.
Just imagining those scenes made her feel like she’d lost face all the way to the Pacific.
It was horrifying—she’d actually said she was an unwanted little cabbage.
Li Yunli nodded solemnly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “It’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you. Xiao Zhen, I like little cabbages—especially unwanted ones.”
Last night wasn’t an empty promise to coax a drunkard. Ji Zhenshi had taken a hundred steps toward her; she just needed to stand still and witness Ji Zhenshi bravely breaking free from worldly chains to choose love.
And Ji Zhenshi’s greatest wish was simply not to push her away—that was all.
So, she was willing to take in this unwanted little cabbage.
“Ah! Sister A-Yun, I’d rather you lie to me!” Ji Zhenshi’s neck shrank as she smoothly burrowed under the blanket.
Escape wouldn’t solve problems, but it would fix the awkwardness.
She was so mortified that she didn’t even register Li Yunli’s implication in that moment.
Li Yunli found her utterly adorable and gently lifted the blanket. “Xiao Zhen, don’t you want to take responsibility?”
“Responsibility?” Ji Zhenshi cleared her throat.
What did Li Yunli mean? Take responsibility for her? Could she even do that?
She looked down at herself, then at Li Yunli wearing her clothes. No way?
Li Yunli trailed a finger from her jaw down to the tattoo on her chest, pressing lightly. “You said you’d love me until my heart beats its last second.”
It hit her like enlightenment, clearing her mind instantly. “I said that? I can’t believe I said something so profound.”
“So you’re unwilling?”
Suddenly enlightened, Ji Zhenshi couldn’t help but laugh. “How could I be? I am—I really want to take responsibility for Sister A-Yun.”
Her smile looked so cheap.
Desire flickered in her eyes. Though Ji Zhenshi couldn’t remember what she’d said last night, waking up felt like seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
“Sister A-Yun, really? You really agree to us being together?” Ji Zhenshi tilted her head up to gaze at Li Yunli, her eyes shimmering with joyful spring waves—a mix of wish fulfilled and lingering disbelief. She looked at her carefully, afraid it was just a joke.
The girl’s warmth transmitted through her fingertips, inexplicably stirring Li Yunli’s heart. Lips pressing together slightly, she was warmed by the youthful energy radiating from her.
Her smile bloomed slowly, gentle as spring. “Mm, because I don’t want to see Xiao Zhen being a little crybaby anymore.”
“Yes, yes! I’m so happy, Sister A-Yun, I love you.” Ji Zhenshi could no longer contain her excitement. Arms wide, she pounced into Li Yunli’s embrace, hugging her shoulders and belting out her love.
No winter was too harsh—Ji Zhenshi had finally ushered in her spring.
In this moment, her six-year secret crush came to an end.
Because now she would love Li Yunli openly.
Her slender brows arched, and Li Yunli returned the full embrace, carefully holding the large creature in her arms.
“Xiao Zhen, I love you too.”
Li Yunli silently echoed Ji Zhenshi’s confession in her heart.
Reluctant to let go, Ji Zhenshi clung to Li Yunli. The dark clouds of the past months dispersed in an instant—no more headache, no butt pain.
Lightly kissing Li Yunli’s earlobe, she said deeply, “Sister A-Yun, don’t worry. Even if we face many difficulties, it’s okay—I’m willing to accept any challenge.”
Li Yunli’s ears were already red. She released the fiery warmth in her arms. “Mm, thank you for your bravery, Xiao Zhen.”
Ji Zhenshi tilted her head, tears of joy welling as she leaned in to kiss Li Yunli.
Li Yunli raised a hand to block her cheek, coughing lightly, face flushed. “Get up now. I’ll go with you to see Grandma in a bit.”
Finally, Li Yunli gazed deeply into Ji Zhenshi’s eyes. “Put on some clothes. Girlfriend or not, sleep with clothes on—the weather’s getting cooler. What if you catch a cold?”
Li Yunli was getting better at reading Ji Zhenshi’s little habits.
“Ah? That was just drunk nonsense, Sister A-Yun—don’t take it to heart. I rarely sleep without clothes.” Ji Zhenshi grew more embarrassed as she spoke, covering her face with both hands, trying to escape reality.
Don’t think about it. Absolutely don’t.
“Then wear clothes. I’ll see what I can make to eat. You still need medicine after—even if the fever’s gone, don’t slack off.” Li Yunli straightened her collar, not intending to tease Ji Zhenshi further.
Ji Zhenshi quickly grabbed Li Yunli’s shoulders, spotting the mess on her chest and asking with concern, “How did you get hurt?”
It looked like it’d been bumped, but there were also scattered marks—bruised patches, large red areas stark against Li Yunli’s fair skin.
Seeing Ji Zhenshi’s serious expression, Li Yunli calmly buttoned up, glancing at the culprit. “Bitten by a certain disobedient little dog.”
Good grief.
Ji Zhenshi froze for a second, then jumped barefoot off the bed. “Me? I really bit you?”
“It’s fine—just drink less in the future.” Li Yunli bent to pick up her clothes from last night, still damp, so she gave up on changing back and planned to keep wearing Ji Zhenshi’s.
Ji Zhenshi was a bit taller and liked loose clothes, so it fit her without looking off—just a little baggy.
“Sorry, I always forget a lot after drinking—probably did a bunch of over-the-top things to you. Hope Sister A-Yun doesn’t mind.”
To be precise, it wasn’t forgetting a lot—it was total blackout.
Ji Zhenshi blacked out completely when drunk.
Li Yunli smiled softly. “No worries—Xiao Zhen is very good.”
Her long hair cascaded down; in the morning light, Li Yunli’s elegant features brimmed with gentle laughter in her stunning eyes, embracing all of Ji Zhenshi’s faux pas.
Ji Zhenshi’s gaze followed her, unconsciously swallowing as she hooked her waist from behind, hugging the one about to leave.
