Chapter 5: As She Expected

Staring at those seven words in the chat box, Jiang Xiaoyi’s mind flashed with some wildly inappropriate images. Her ears flushed red all the way down to her collarbone.

Big Boss Sister was just echoing her words. It couldn’t mean anything else.

Jiang Xiaoyi’s fingertips poked and deleted in the typing field, at a loss for how to reply and smooth over her earlier embarrassing blunder, when Meng Chuning’s message popped up first.

M: 【Xiaoyi, could you come to my place tomorrow and teach me?】

Xiao Yi: 【Of course!】

Big Boss Sister had thrown her a lifeline, and Jiang Xiaoyi tumbled down it without hesitation.

M: 【Four o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Want me to pick you up?】

Xiao Yi: 【No need! Just send me your address, sis.】

M: 【Lovers’ Water Bay Building 1. I’ll be waiting.】

Xiao Yi: 【I’ll be there on time.】

Once she’d sent those replies, Jiang Xiaoyi powered off her phone and finally let out a breath. Chatting with Big Boss Sister was seriously nerve-wracking.

Time to chill out shipping some CP.

She switched to her alt account and dove into the “Yingqiu” Super Topic. Inside, the buzz was electric—news that Jing Ying and Li Qiunuo were teaming up for a new drama. The whole fan community was popping off like it was New Year’s, with giveaways flying left and right to celebrate.

Jiang Xiaoyi excitedly liked every bit of fresh fan content from today.

Nothing beat your favorite ship boldly collaborating. Bliss!

Even better news came when Lu Xi burst into her apartment, yanking her out of bed. “Xiaoyi! You nailed that Female No. 3 audition!”

Still half-asleep with her eyes squeezed shut, Jiang Xiaoyi mumbled, “Got it.”

She’d stayed up late last night lost in a CP frenzy and couldn’t sleep, so her head was fuzzy and she was dying to crash again. She burrowed back under the covers.

“And there’s more good news.”

Lu Xi was trying to build suspense, hoping for a big reaction, but Jiang Xiaoyi clearly couldn’t care less.

“The two leads are Jing Ying and Li Qiunuo.”

A second later, Lu Xi watched as Jiang Xiaoyi bolted upright out of her cozy blankets. Two seconds after that, a wide-awake Jiang Xiaoyi grabbed Lu Xi’s arms, demanding confirmation over and over. “For real? You’re serious?”

Lu Xi was used to it by now. “Dead serious. Wanna go out and celebrate tonight?”

“Yes!” Jiang Xiaoyi was too hyped up. She groped for her phone and spotted a message from M, sent half an hour ago.

M: 【You here yet?】

Two minutes ago.

M: 【Xiaoyi?】

Jiang Xiaoyi rubbed her face, realization dawning too late. “What time is it?”

Lu Xi glanced at her watch. “Nearly three.”

“Crap.” Jiang Xiaoyi slapped on her slippers and dashed into the bathroom. “I’ve got something tonight. Can’t go out.”

“You? A total Salty Fish who holes up at home shipping CP? You’ve got plans?” Lu Xi was baffled.

“It’s… it’s Su Jiuyue.” Jiang Xiaoyi muttered around her toothbrush. “She dropped a new story and wants me to give it a read-through.”

Su Jiuyue was Jiang Xiaoyi’s one and only real-life friend. They were both the type to bunker down at home for a month straight, so scoring a hangout was rare. Lu Xi nodded. “Don’t stay out too late.”

Looks like name-dropping Su Jiuyue worked like a charm. Jiang Xiaoyi agreed instantly. “Gotcha.”

She’d forgotten to check the weather before heading out, and by the time Jiang Xiaoyi reached Lovers’ Water Bay, a torrential downpour had kicked in.

“Thanks, driver.” Jiang Xiaoyi shut the taxi door and turned to jog toward Building 1 when a figure approached from the distance.

For a moment, Jiang Xiaoyi blanked on what she should do. She just stood there, waiting for the other woman to reach her.

Meng Chuning’s pale hand gripped the umbrella handle, holding it high over Jiang Xiaoyi’s head.

Jiang Xiaoyi was a touch taller, so Meng Chuning stretched her slender arm to the perfect angle. She eyed Jiang Xiaoyi’s damp cheeks.

“You’re soaked. Cold?”

Under the single umbrella, they stood close enough to feel each other’s breath.

“N-not cold.” Jiang Xiaoyi’s lashes fluttered, sending a droplet sliding down.

“Forgot to warn you about the rain.” Meng Chuning kept tilting the umbrella toward Jiang Xiaoyi’s side as she spoke. “Come on. I’ve got dry clothes ready for you.”

“Let me.” Jiang Xiaoyi took the umbrella, her hand grasping the middle of the handle without brushing Meng Chuning’s.

Her own clothes were more than half drenched, so Jiang Xiaoyi angled the umbrella to shield Meng Chuning as much as possible.

The distance between them stretched out. Jiang Xiaoyi stared straight ahead at the path, only to feel a warm, soft grip close around her wrist.

Meng Chuning’s fingers circled her bony wrist. Rain from the cuff soaked into Jiang Xiaoyi’s skin, and then Meng Chuning tugged her back under the umbrella.

They were even closer now. Meng Chuning’s thumb slowly rubbed the skin at Jiang Xiaoyi’s wrist. “Are you afraid of me?”

Jiang Xiaoyi froze for a beat, but Meng Chuning had already let go.

“I’m not.” What had felt cold moments ago now burned hot. The spot Meng Chuning had touched tingled like it’d been zapped.

“Really?” Meng Chuning’s fingertip pressed lightly under Jiang Xiaoyi’s chin. “You won’t even look at me.”

The umbrella’s shelter was cramped. Jiang Xiaoyi caught the faint lychee scent wafting from Meng Chuning’s body.

Her chin caught in that soft touch, and Jiang Xiaoyi’s cheeks flamed. With Big Boss Sister staring so intently, she really couldn’t meet her eyes.

“It’s not fear.” Amusement danced in Meng Chuning’s gaze. “Then are you shy, Xiaoyi?”

Hearing her own nickname spill from Meng Chuning’s lips was too intimate. Jiang Xiaoyi’s grip tightened on the handle until her knuckles whitened.

“Sis… don’t… look at me.” Jiang Xiaoyi turned away her burning face. This was mortifying—she always got flustered and tongue-tied around Meng Chuning, blushing like crazy and stumbling over her words.

“Come on in.” Meng Chuning’s lips curved slightly. If she kept teasing, Jiang Xiaoyi might get too spooked to even step inside.

Meng Chuning had set out brand-new house slippers just for her, and they fit Jiang Xiaoyi’s pale feet perfectly.

“Fresh clothes on the sofa. Go take a shower and change before you catch a cold.” Meng Chuning had everything ready at the door. Jiang Xiaoyi obeyed without question.

It wasn’t until she reached the bathroom that Jiang Xiaoyi caught her reflection in the mirror.

Her wavy hair ends dripped rain, plastered to her clothes. Her delicate earlobes glowed bright red. Jiang Xiaoyi pinched one scalding lobe and inwardly groaned. “Stop blushing already. It’s not like she got that close or said anything wild. Is it really worth turning this shade?”

Sure, Meng Chuning was a stunningly gorgeous woman who treated her with real kindness, but someone like Jiang Xiaoyi—an obscure C-list nobody—had no business entertaining fantasies.

No wild thoughts. No way. Get the job done and bail.

The showerhead cut out mid-hot water. Jiang Xiaoyi, sporting soaking wet hair, fiddled with it desperately, only making things worse.

Talk about social suicide. Wrecking Big Boss Sister’s fancy shower on her very first visit—who knew how much it’d cost to fix.

Foam still clung to her skin in stubborn white patches, making it awkward to change. With no other choice, Jiang Xiaoyi snatched a bath towel and wrapped it around herself.

The towel was tiny, barely skimming her thighs. Jiang Xiaoyi clutched one corner tightly and cracked the glass door open just a sliver.

She peeked out with wide, dark eyes.

“S-sis?”

Her soft voice drifted from the bathroom.

“What is it?” Meng Chuning’s reply was calm.

As Meng Chuning approached, Jiang Xiaoyi instinctively shrank the gap smaller and mumbled from inside. “The hot water… seems to be out…”

A faint silhouette of Jiang Xiaoyi—bath towel and all—showed through the frosted glass door. Meng Chuning’s gaze heated up. “Want me to come in and check?”