Chapter 53

“Date?” Yu Wan couldn’t help repeating her last two words, a smile in her voice.

Fang Nianchen had actually said that what the two of them had done all day today felt like a date.

She was getting more and more surprising.

Fang Nianchen gave an “Mm,” and blinked. “What’s wrong?”

That innocent, sincere expression made Yu Wan suspect that if she said “no,” Fang Nianchen would be heartbroken for a long time.

“It’s nothing…” Yu Wan smiled lightly. “It really is.”

A date, huh… If she’d known it was like this, she wouldn’t have let Yin Chi come. She definitely wouldn’t want to be a third wheel either.

Fang Nianchen chatted about cats and dogs to change the subject, making her “date” comment seem less abrupt.

Yu Wan noticed the shift but didn’t call her out, happily accepting it.

Since Yu Wan had just returned to North City and had to go to work the next day, needing to head home early to sort things out, Fang Nianchen politely declined her offer to drive her home.

But right before they parted, Fang Nianchen still said reluctantly, “Then be safe on the road, and message me when you get home.”

“Okay.” Yu Wan agreed softly. Seeing she wasn’t leaving, she asked, “Anything else you want to tell me?”

“Um… Good night?”

Yu Wan chuckled. “Why is it a question?”

It was like saying “good night” to her was some grave disrespect.

“Because…” Fang Nianchen’s mind was full of what Yu Wan had told her last time about the other meanings of “good night.” She shook her head. “Nothing.”

She wouldn’t say it.

Really, there was nothing she could do with her…

Yu Wan had no choice but to say, “Alright, good night.”

Once home, Yu Wan tidied up simply. Without Little Briquette around, the place wasn’t too dirty.

Just as she came out of the shower, Quan Cige’s call came in.

Quan Cige had entered the set the day after celebrating Yu Wan’s birthday. This time, it was a suspense drama filmed in remote mountains and forests with poor signal—only able to contact the outside world occasionally when going into town.

What she cared about most was how far things had progressed between her sister and Little Sunflower. The atmosphere had been good last time, and she was hoping they’d get together soon.

“Sis~” Quan Cige’s voice turned sticky. “What are you doing? You vanished all day—is it because you went on a date with Little Sunflower?”

“Yes.” Yu Wan replied with her usual single word, as always.

“Oh… Huh?” Quan Cige bolted upright in bed. “You two went on a date?!”

Though it made sense—a whole week had passed.

Quan Cige giggled. “Did you confess? How’d it go? Just like I said, right? She likes you too.”

“How does your mind jump like that?” Yu Wan said calmly. “No confession. We just went out to have fun.”

“Ah—” Quan Cige whined in dissatisfaction. “You two gonna make it or what? Don’t wait until I’m married and you’re still dragging your feet.”

“Don’t worry, no matter what, we’ll be faster than you.”

Quan Cige was hugely popular, so to retain fans, her company banned her from dating. She wasn’t all that interested anyway. Occasional scandal rumors were just hyped by shady media—the company sued every time and got hefty compensation. No one dared spread rumors anymore.

As for when Quan Cige would date, she said she’d think about it after earning enough money.

“Yu Wan, don’t get too smug. Watch me overtake you on the bend.” Quan Cige threatened. “If you don’t wanna be left behind, step it up.”

“Childish…” Yu Wan laughed lightly.

Talking to her sister like this—she was getting more and more brazen.

“Right, is that dog Chen Yuyang still harassing you lately?”

Mentioning Chen Yuyang’s name brought a sudden wave of panic, and Yu Wan’s breath hitched.

“Hey? You there?”

Yu Wan steadied herself. “He hasn’t come looking for me again.”

After that night, knowing he’d been hospitalized, she hadn’t visited him once.

They’d grown up together, but his head was filled with unspeakable filth. Yu Wan knew exactly what he’d wanted to do to her that night.

Just thinking about it wasn’t just fear—it was mostly disgust and nausea.

“I think he’s super petty. Who knows how he’ll try to get back at you this time. Sis, you have to be really careful.” Quan Cige nagged like an old mother hen.

“I know. Don’t worry, I’ll be more vigilant.”

Quan Cige relaxed a bit, but her tone turned sour as she brought up someone else. “Does Xiao Ning’an know about this?”

Quan Cige’s beef with Xiao Ning’an mostly came from jealousy.

Xiao Ning’an was a cousin on their dad’s side. The three of them had played together since they were kids, and Xiao Ning’an was a year younger than her, so Yu Wan always cared for her a little more.

As kids, Quan Cige would get mad that Yu Wan treated Xiao Ning’an better than her own little sister. The older they got, the more obvious it felt.

Especially since Yu Wan never scolded Xiao Ning’an, no matter what she did or what kind of boyfriend she dated—Yu Wan always accepted it calmly.

But with her, Yu Wan was super strict—even jokes got escalated.

Plus, Xiao Ning’an was always mouthing off about being “phobic of gays.” Quan Cige didn’t know what she’d been through, but every time she heard that hostile tone, she wanted to tape her mouth shut.

Yu Wan said, “She only knows Chen Yuyang is in North City too. The rest… I didn’t tell her.”

“Why not tell her? Aren’t you two super close?” The air filled with jealousy, getting thicker. “Let her help you shake off Chen Yuyang.”

“Xiao Ge…” Yu Wan called her name. “You don’t need to have such a big issue with Xiao Ning. She can’t help with this, that’s why I didn’t say anything.”

“Hmph.” Quan Cige snorted coldly. “Now she can’t help? Before you came to North City, she called me all frantic. I thought she was gonna eat me alive.”

“All bark at home.”

Back then, when Yu Wan wanted to come to North City—considering Chen Yuyang’s family business was here, and Shi Yumei had done business here for a few years too—it’d be easy for them to find her.

Quan Cige had nagged until her mouth was dry, but it was like talking to a wall.

Yu Wan had been pretty patient, explaining her reasons.

Xiao Ning’an had been the one to lose it first, calling Quan Cige even angrier than Yu Wan, swearing up and down that she had connections there and could take care of Yu Wan, telling her not to interfere.

Take care, my ass. Yu Wan was handling everything herself.

When Chen Yuyang was harassing Yu Wan, that Xiao young miss was nowhere to be seen.

Quan Cige plopped down cross-legged on the sofa and glanced at the lights flickering on outside. “Then I bet you definitely haven’t told her you like girls either.”

“No.” Even without bringing it up, one thing was always on Yu Wan’s mind.

Xiao Ning’an and Fang Nianchen were close girlfriends. If she found out about this, who knew how she’d react.

But it was still early—at least wait until she and Fang Nianchen were together, then figure it out.

Though… if Fang Nianchen liked her too, had she considered this already?

“You’ve got a lot on your plate. Gotta get Miss Xiao to accept you and Little Sunflower, shake off Chen Yuyang. Oh right, and Mom.” Quan Cige sighed for her. “What god did you piss off? This is rough.”

“There’ll be a way.”

“Once I finish this busy stretch, I’m taking a long vacation to help you sort out all these messes.” Quan Cige yawned. “But now this actress needs to sleep. Good night.”

“Good night. Be safe on set.”

Quan Cige mumbled a vague “Mm-hm,” and hung up.

Night deepened. Lying in bed, Yu Wan suddenly recalled the two “good nights” she’d heard tonight.

They were a little different…

—

The next day at work, Fang Nianchen was assigned a new task—finishing up a half-done proposal.

The colleague in charge of the project had quit, so it was handed to her for practice.

The proposal was for a collaboration with a well-known domestic photographer, shooting concept photos for the company’s artists.

Since the colleague had already set the theme—the hardest part was done—it was just polishing details, not too tough.

Fang Nianchen skimmed it over. The most interesting was the “Beauty and the Beast” concept shoot, handled by the country’s top wildlife photographer, Teacher Mai Tian. She’d just returned from South Africa half a month ago.

“I heard that because Teacher Mai has been in contact with wild animals for years, her verbal expression isn’t great—she speaks very straightforwardly. A colleague once said that communicating with her can suddenly piss you off.” Su Xiazhi had no doubt about Fang Nianchen’s good temper. “If you get upset there, don’t show it too obviously. When you come back, I’ll treat you to something delicious as compensation.”

Hearing her exaggerate so much, Fang Nianchen grew worried instead: Was Mai Tian really that hard to get along with?

During lunch break, when she mentioned it to Qiao Yan, Qiao Yan laughed. “You can even put up with Bodhisattva Yu—what are you afraid of?”

“That’s different…” Yu Wan in university wasn’t like she was now; back then, it was Fang Nianchen who had been hard to approach.

“Oh oh, yeah, it’s different. You have a crush on Bodhisattva Yu, but not on that photographer.” Qiao Yan had a look that said, “I get it, no need to explain.”

“Who says…” Fang Nianchen was about to defend herself when she caught Yu Wan approaching out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t help shifting her gaze to her and swallowed her words halfway.

Yu Wan sensed something and turned back, their eyes meeting just then.

Seeing someone beside her, she didn’t stop and walked straight on.

“Pfft…” Seeing her lovestruck expression, Qiao Yan couldn’t hold back. “Holy shit! Puppy love!”

“No way!” Whether from annoyance or something else, Fang Nianchen’s face flushed faintly.

“I’m just saying, Top Student Fang, your crush is way too obvious.”

“Wha…” Fang Nianchen’s retort caught in her throat, her voice pitching up. She repeated fiercely, “Don’t imagine nonsense.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m imagining things.” Qiao Yan stood up and suddenly yelled at her, “I’m waiting for your wedding candies!!!”

With that, she bolted like a streak of smoke, leaving Fang Nianchen unable to even grab her for a swat.

Qiao Yan’s shout was deafening—half the restaurant turned to look.

Fang Nianchen shrank in annoyance, pretending nothing had happened.

Only when most people had left the restaurant did she stand, fish a glass jar from her bag, and sit across from Yu Wan. “For you.”

Yu Wan looked up. “What?”

“Honey pomelo tea, I made it myself.” Fang Nianchen pushed the jar over. “You forgot it last time when you left, so I made a fresh batch.”

Last time… had already been half a month ago. She wouldn’t have remembered if Fang Nianchen hadn’t mentioned it.

Yu Wan took it. “Thanks.”

After that, it was like they’d reached a silent agreement. Yu Wan leisurely finished her meal, while Fang Nianchen pulled out her phone and quietly read a novel she’d downloaded ahead of time.

No chatting, but the atmosphere was unusually harmonious.

The instant Yu Wan set down her chopsticks after eating, Fang Nianchen pocketed her phone, sat up straight, and waited.

Yu Wan’s expression shifted slightly. Was she… deliberately waiting for me?

First the little “sweet treat,” then the attentiveness—it was hard not to link her odd behavior to some hidden motive.

“Anything else?”

“Nope.” Fang Nianchen shook her head honestly.

“Then why aren’t you leaving?”

“Waiting for you.”

Yu Wan was nearly defeated by her brazen confidence. Not a single sweet word, yet she felt happier than she had any other day.

Not wanting this little rascal to win too easily, Yu Wan decided to make her taste a bit of bitterness.

Just a little.

So she asked with mock seriousness, “Whose wedding candies does Qiao Yan want to eat—with you and who?”

Instant silence, as if the Earth had stopped spinning for a second.

Seeing no response from Fang Nianchen, Yu Wan raised a brow. “Hm?”

“Hehe…” Fang Nianchen looked at her and suddenly let out a silly giggle.

Yu Wan had meant to press her seriously, but that sound broke her defenses. She looked away, her lips curving as she chided, “I’m asking you something—why are you laughing…”