Zhu You seemed surprised that Yun Chun stuck to her guns even now.
She stared for a moment before asking point-blank, “Do you like Qingxue?”
“Those people claim to be Qingxue’s boyfriend or girlfriend because they love her. What about you? You say you’re her wife because you like her too? Or do you just think claiming that will shut the others up?”
Zhu You’s question left Yun Chun silent.
Just like in the room earlier, when she’d learned of Lu Qingxue’s plans from three years ago.
It wasn’t that she was speechless.
It was that her already full heart had swelled even more, stuffed to bursting with thoughts of Lu Qingxue.
Someone approached to chat with them, interrupting the conversation.
Afterward, Yun Chun didn’t seek Zhu You out again— she still couldn’t answer that question.
Did she like Lu Qingxue?
She’d asked herself the same thing yesterday, with no answer.
What about today?
Did it even need thinking about? Yun Chun took a sip of wine and wondered.
When Zhu You had posed the question, the first image in Yun Chun’s mind wasn’t anything else—it was Lu Qingxue’s eyes.
Those eyes that rained whenever they looked at her.
A fine drizzle, slanting with the breeze, nourishing her youthful self.
The patter of raindrops echoed the tender affection in Lu Qingxue’s voice each time she called her “Little Darling.”
Ripples spread in circles across the ground, like silent protection.
Those eyes held landscapes beyond words.
They made her want to toss her umbrella aside, fearless of the downpour, and dive right in.
Next came memories of her childhood admiration for Lu Qingxue.
She’d idolized her, seeing Lu Qingxue as brilliant—a role model. But was it really? Sure, she aced the physical fitness tests in PE, but her grades were a disaster. She’d only learned to ride a bike because she wanted to. And while she admired Lu Qingxue’s smarts, it never drove her to study her butt off— Yun Chun knew she just wasn’t cut out for it, which was why she’d dropped out to work without a second thought.
In her mind, admiration meant respect and aspiration to be like that person. But her own behavior… was it still admiration?
Another question to set aside for now. Yun Chun pressed on.
After learning of Lu Qingxue’s graduation and move away, Yun Chun hadn’t reacted much at first—just felt an emptiness, regretting that they might never meet again.
Time filled that void with dust, needing a specific gust to sweep it clean.
That wind had howled in when she learned of Lu Qingxue’s death. It blew away even the shock of their ghost marriage.
The emptiness left her lost and adrift, much like the call from the hospital announcing Yun Yueqin’s passing.
But seeing Lu Qingxue filled it again.
Aside from the fact that she couldn’t grasp her, Lu Qingxue was no different from the living—like air, essential to her life.
Waking her in the mornings, cooking for her, brewing coffee, offering advice, solving her problems on the spot…
Most importantly, waiting for her to come home.
No need to fumble with keys—the door opened on its own. No rushing red lights on the bike; safety first. The hanging lamp switched on automatically, banishing the dark.
Because of Lu Qingxue, the house had become a home.
Stray cats found their way back, sour oranges turned sweet, and even the coffee… wasn’t as bitter.
Yun Chun had never felt anything like it before.
Lu Qingxue had gone by feeling—when she sensed it, it was real.
Yun Chun didn’t know what Lu Qingxue felt for her, but her own feelings had built up second by second in their shared existence.
Like the dust piling up after Lu Qingxue’s departure.
Except this time, it wasn’t loose grit to be scattered by a breeze.
It was a barrier.
An invisible, intangible, unbreakable shield.
Maybe she’d been alone too long, too lonely. Lu Qingxue’s kindness was an attachment she couldn’t bear to release.
Lu Qingxue had been too good to her.
So good that… it weighed on Yun Chun.
This attachment she couldn’t let go of carried not just her, but the Lu Qingxue from three years ago.
And was this feeling… like?
~~~
That night, Yun Chun drank heavily.
She held her liquor well and rarely got drunk.
But by the time Qin Xing arrived, Yun Chun was a mess.
Drunk, Yun Chun didn’t cry, fuss, or cause a scene. She just curled up quietly in a corner.
Zhu You had noticed Yun Chun overdoing it and, seeing her retreat to the corner, watched nearby with her wineglass.
When Qin Xing approached, Zhu You followed. “Don’t get any ideas. She’s got a wife.”
Qin Xing blinked. “Since when does she have a wife?”
Zhu You glanced at Yun Chun. “Ask her yourself.”
Qin Xing frowned and patted Yun Chun’s cheek. “Yun Chun?”
Yun Chun looked up, saw it was Qin Xing, and grinned. “Sister Xing, you’re finally here.”
Zhu You raised an eyebrow. “You two know each other?”
Qin Xing nodded.
Zhu You relaxed. She’d thought Qin Xing might be trying to take advantage. Hearing they were acquainted, she said, “Take her home, then. So many people here—she’s had at least two rounds.” She couldn’t help muttering, “First time I’ve seen someone treat wine like water.”
With that, Zhu You walked away.
Qin Xing glanced at her before hurriedly shifting her attention to Yun Chun.
She took the wine glass from Yun Chun’s hand and set it on the table, then steadied Yun Chun’s shoulder as she asked, “What happened? Why did you drink so much?”
Yun Chun leaned against Qin Xing’s arm, squinting with a smile as she replied, “The Big Boss told me to get to know more people. She said it would help my future career.”
And there was something else… something she just couldn’t figure out.
“You still can’t let yourself get like this,” Qin Xing said with a frown. Then she remembered Zhu You mentioning that Yun Chun had gone through two full rounds—easily more than ten bottles—and couldn’t help but gripe, “Just listen to Mo Yue and let it go. She’s not reliable.”
“Oh?”
Qin Xing glanced back to see Mo Yue standing there in an elaborate gown. She pursed her lips and pretended not to notice, turning back to Yun Chun instead. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”
Yun Chun mumbled in her daze, “Sorry for the trouble.”
Qin Xing chuckled softly. “If you know it’s trouble, drink a little less next time.”
With one hand supporting Yun Chun’s arm and the other around her waist, Qin Xing guided her toward the exit.
A few steps away, Mo Yue’s gaze fixed directly on the hand Qin Xing had wrapped around Yun Chun’s waist. As they passed by, Mo Yue parted her red lips. “How am I unreliable?”
Qin Xing halted in her tracks. She stood there for two seconds without so much as glancing at Mo Yue. “Every single bit of you.”
Mo Yue’s lips curved into a smile. “Is that so? What about her? Can you trust little sister?”
Those last two words made Qin Xing turn to face her. She spoke coldly. “Don’t call me that. It’s disgusting.”
Without waiting for Mo Yue’s response, Qin Xing resolutely led Yun Chun away.
On the way to the parking lot, Qin Xing had no time to dwell on her issues with Mo Yue. Yun Chun’s constant mumbling filled her ears—and it was always the same phrase: “I want to go home.”
Once she had helped Yun Chun into the car, Qin Xing said, “There. I’m taking you home now.”
Yun Chun lifted her gaze to meet Qin Xing’s. She was drunk, but her mind was still somewhat clear. “I can get back on my own. You’ve been busy all day—you must be exhausted.”
Qin Xing shook her head. “I wouldn’t feel right leaving you like this.”
“Sister Xing… don’t be so nice to me. I could never repay you.”
“I didn’t say anything about repaying me.”
Yun Chun shook her head and murmured softly, “I have to. I have to repay it.”
Qin Xing had no intention of arguing with a drunk. She decided to ignore Yun Chun and get into the car, but Yun Chun clung stubbornly to the door, blocking her way.
Qin Xing laughed in exasperation. “Are you sure you can really manage on your own?”
“Mm. Go get some rest.”
Qin Xing stared at Yun Chun’s face for a moment before relenting. She leaned toward Cris. “After you drop her off at home, give me a call. Otherwise, I’ll come by myself.”
Cris nodded. “Of course, ma’am.”
The moment the car pulled away, Yun Chun’s eyes fluttered open in a haze.
Qin Xing was good to her, and she was afraid she could never repay it.
But Lu Qingxue was good to her too—and she’d never once thought about repaying that.
It wasn’t just accepting it as her due. She simply hadn’t realized it. So when she suddenly learned that Lu Qingxue had always been quietly looking out for her, Yun Chun struggled to process it. She didn’t even dare ask about it, terrified of disappointing Lu Qingxue.
She stared out the window. When the car passed by a river, Yun Chun asked Cris its name. Upon hearing it was Cris River, she told him to pull over. She wanted to get some fresh air by the riverside.
Truth be told, it was because she’d remembered their morning coffee chat. She’d asked Lu Qingxue about her favorite spots, and Lu Qingxue had mentioned this river. She’d said that whenever she lacked inspiration, she’d sit by the riverside—sometimes for just a little while, sometimes for an entire afternoon.
Lu Qingxue hadn’t specified which bench, so Yun Chun picked an empty one at random and sat down.
It was still a banquet in the evening, but after knocking back two full rounds, the sun outside hadn’t fully set yet.
In the glow of the dying sunset.
The sky edged in orange, distinctive buildings dotting the horizon.
The river, the bench, drooping willows, a gentle breeze.
And… Lu Qingxue.
At the sight of the sudden figure, Yun Chun’s breath hitched, a sour ache blooming in her chest. Fighting the tightness in her heart, she called out softly, “Sister Qingxue.”
Lu Qingxue’s palm gently caressed Yun Chun’s cheek. “You’ve been drinking?”
“Mm.”
“Unhappy?”
“No. The opposite, actually—I’m thrilled. I drank my fill.”
Lu Qingxue gazed at her without a word. She couldn’t see any happiness there. If anything, Yun Chun seemed to be hiding something, bottling it all up inside.
Yun Chun’s eyes lingered on the river’s surface for two seconds before she turned to the shadow beside her. “Sister Qingxue.”
“Mm?”
Buoyed by the alcohol, Yun Chun asked, “The global endorsement deal—why did it get decided so early?”
“Because you’re that good. I knew it.”
Lu Qingxue stared out at the river, her voice calm. “You deserve it.”
“Wasn’t it because you—”
Yun Chun cut herself off.
Wasn’t it because you like me, so you gave it to me?
But she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
She was afraid Lu Qingxue would say yes. And she was afraid Lu Qingxue would say… no.
Yun Chun’s gaze grew distant. Why was she so afraid of hearing no?
The fullness in her heart felt on the verge of bursting.
Some answer she’d been wrestling with suddenly clicked into place the moment Lu Qingxue appeared.
Yun Chun pressed a hand to her chest, where her heart had started pounding the instant she saw Lu Qingxue. She was utterly baffled.
She’d drunk so much and been fine—how could one touch of Lu Qingxue’s hand to her cheek make her heart race like this?
A pedestrian path ran behind the bench, filled with people passing by, their voices a noisy clamor.
But in that moment, Yun Chun heard nothing. Only the thump of her own heartbeat.
Lu Qingxue waited a few seconds, but Yun Chun never finished her question. She turned her gaze away from the river.
She had lied to Yun Chun about coming here yesterday, but she hadn’t lied about one thing: back when she was alive, this riverside had been one of her favorite spots. She’d sat on every bench along it.
Including the one Yun Chun was on now. By coincidence, it was her favorite.
The view from here was perfect—you could see everything.
A few minutes after the sun dipped below the horizon, the streetlights along the road would flicker on. Right on cue, the flower shop across the way would light up with colorful bulbs, filling the air with a faint floral scent.
And just as Lu Qingxue turned to look at Yun Chun, the sun set, the streetlights came alive, and the river’s dark surface reflected a kaleidoscope of colors.
But Yun Chun saw none of it.
A soft wind stirred, and in her eyes, there was only Lu Qingxue.
Staring at the mole at the corner of Lu Qingxue’s eye, Yun Chun’s heart skipped a beat.
The breeze carried the flower shop’s fragrance across the river. Lu Qingxue blinked, gazing at Yun Chun with gentle warmth.
Unsure if it was the alcohol or the breeze tickling her heartstrings, Yun Chun met Lu Qingxue’s eyes—eyes like a soft, drizzling rain—and blurted out, “Lu Qingxue, do you want to kiss me?”
The question came out of nowhere.
Lu Qingxue paused for a beat before replying, “No.”
Yun Chun felt a pang of disappointment. “Why not?”
Lu Qingxue leaned closer, wrinkling her nose delicately before smiling. “You reek of booze. I mind it.”
“…”
Yun Chun’s ears burned—perhaps scorched by the fallen sun, or lit by the rising moon.
She knew Lu Qingxue was joking. For all her words of distaste, she hadn’t pulled back an inch.
Which let Yun Chun study that mole at her eye’s corner even more closely.
Along with her naturally dark, fine brows… and her soft, pink lips.
Finally, Lu Qingxue’s gentle, smiling almond-shaped eyes.
Yun Chun was drunk.
Drunk on Lu Qingxue’s gaze.
More precisely, drunk on those three words—”Lu Qingxue”—and the figure before her.
The irregular heartbeat that had started the moment Lu Qingxue appeared suddenly made sense.
“But I…”
Yun Chun murmured softly, giving voice to the pounding in her chest. “I kind of want to kiss you.”
