Chapter 106: Do It With Me Once Part 2

“I-I…” Lu Zhixia scratched her head. She didn’t want to lie, but after hemming and hawing for ages, she finally said, “Can I just… not say?”

“What do you think?”

“Yes?”

“Guess again.”

“…”

Lu Zhixia couldn’t stifle a yawn. Shen Wanqing commanded, “I need you asleep. Right now.”

“Okay.” Lu Zhixia was indeed feeling sleepy. She twisted around, clambered onto the sofa, and mumbled, “Good night, sister.”

Shen Wanqing found it equal parts exasperating and amusing. In a light tone, she said, “I need to check. Are you sleeping in your bed at home?”

“Huh?” Lu Zhixia sat up. “Why?”

“You’ve been awfully quiet these past few days. Have you been out looking for another sister?” If Shen Wanqing hadn’t brought it up, Lu Zhixia might have let it slide—but now she wailed in grievance, “I haven’t! You’re the one with another dog on the side!”

“I don’t.” As she spoke, Shen Wanqing sent over a video call. “Pick up.”

Lu Zhixia didn’t dare. Shen Wanqing deliberately cooled her voice. “It’s late. If you’re not home tucked in bed like a good girl, I’ll really get mad.”

Lu Zhixia scratched her head. This was…

“You’ve got half an hour. Wash up nice and fresh, then video me.” Shen Wanqing laid down the law. “From now on, rest properly. No more late nights.”

In the surveillance feed, the figure immediately sprang up, snatched her bag, and bolted for the door—nearly smashing into the glass panel in her rush. Shen Wanqing instinctively reached out as if to shove it open for her, her mouth even parting to call out a warning. But in the end, she held back.

Shen Wanqing replied to Yan Fanghua: She didn’t tell me, either. But I reminded her—no more staying up late.

Lu Zhixia came scurrying back to find Yan Fanghua standing sentinel at the door, eyes narrowed.

On the topic of overtime, Lu Zhixia put on her best behavior. “I won’t stay out this late again.”

She plunged into the bathroom, scrubbed herself in a frenzy, then dashed back to her room. She had just burrowed under the covers to make the call when—

Yan Fanghua walked in. Lu Zhixia sat bolt upright, clutching the blanket to her chest. “Mom? Something wrong?”

Right on cue, Shen Wanqing’s video call chimed. Lu Zhixia swallowed hard. Yan Fanghua arched a brow. “Why are you looking at me? Answer it. Let’s see who it is, calling so late.”

Gritting her teeth, Lu Zhixia hit reject and dove back under the covers. “Wrong number. I’m going to sleep.”

Yan Fanghua approached. Lu Zhixia bundled herself up tight. “I’ve got the blanket sorted!”

Yan Fanghua fixed her with a steady stare. Lu Zhixia wilted under the scrutiny and shrank even deeper into her cocoon.

She didn’t emerge until she heard the door click shut. Overheated, she flung the covers off and kicked them away with one foot.

And that was when she spotted Yan Fanghua still lurking in the doorway. Mom hadn’t gone anywhere.

Stark naked, Lu Zhixia flushed crimson and shrieked, “What are you doing!”

Yan Fanghua whipped around, yanked the door open again, and snapped in exasperation, “Have a shred of decency, would you!”

Fuming, Lu Zhixia flopped back and kicked her legs in a tantrum. Her playful mood was utterly ruined. She threw on her pajamas and finally video-called Shen Wanqing.

Shen Wanqing picked up to find her face red as a ripe peach.

She launched into a pitiful whine. “I just wanted to have a little fun with sister, but Mom saw everything. I’m not your pure little dog anymore.”

Shen Wanqing stifled a laugh. What went on in this girl’s head all day? She reminded her, “The internet’s a vigilant place these days. Careful, or the cops will have you in for tea.”

Lu Zhixia mewled and fussed for a good while before Shen Wanqing coaxed her into calm—then turned serious once more. “Rest on schedule from now on. No excuses.”

Lu Zhixia sprawled across the bed as drowsiness crept in. Squinting sleepily, she murmured, “Sister, my wallet’s still at your place.”

“Didn’t you chuck it at me?”

“Sister.” She wheedled, reaching out imploringly.

“Fine. We’ll sort it next time.” Shen Wanqing chatted a bit longer before hanging up.

With the holiday looming, plenty of people had already checked out, counting down to their break.

But for Yang Ge, this Mid-Autumn Festival dragged on unbearably. He’d dug into Yang Zhiqiao’s background through contacts—her connections were a tangled web. It worried him.

He’d even tried prying into her performance metrics through intermediaries, but came up empty.

In desperation, he assigned tails to follow her. Yang Zhiqiao’s driving, though, was something else; she ditched them every time.

Mid-Autumn passed, and National Day loomed. Yang Ge’s window was closing fast.

Until the results dropped, only they knew their numbers. He’d sounded out Wen Wan to no avail.

As for Yan Menghui, she’d crossed paths with Yang Ge once before and hadn’t been impressed by his skills. She barely acknowledged him.

Yang Ge was proud too. He stopped approaching them and instead leveraged every connection he had, pulling out all the stops to chase his targets.

His anxiety was plain as day, while Yang Zhiqiao’s easy delight was equally obvious.

It piled on even more pressure for him. Losing to a little girl like her? He gritted his teeth, seething with reluctance.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival drew near, Haijing Senhua began its holiday schedule.

Unlike typical companies that stuck to statutory days off, Haijing Senhua had operated under its own system ever since Shen Wanqing took the helm.

With Mid-Autumn falling on a Sunday, they extended the holiday by an extra day. Everyone was thrilled.

By month’s end, Shen Wanqing’s approval ratings had skyrocketed. Rhine Group took notice, and so did Wen Wan. She tapped open Shen Wanqing’s LT and asked if they’d keep up the Mid-Autumn tradition as usual.

Sirius: This has nothing to do with President Wen, does it? No need to trouble yourself.

Shen Wanqing opened her chat with Yan Menghui. Lately, their conversations had been strictly work-related—no personal chit-chat.

In years past, she’d head out alone after dinner at the Shen Family home to spend time with Yan Menghui. This year, she messaged: Convenient to meet?

YSL: If President Shen is asking me out, of course it’s convenient.

Shen Wanqing frowned. Yan Menghui still had a habit of dropping those vaguely flirtatious lines.

YSL: This might be the last time you ask me out, huh? You’ve always handled things before. Mind if I take care of it this time?

Shen Wanqing had no issue with that. YSL: After you get back from the Shen Family this time, will you still spend Mid-Autumn with me?

The answer was no, but Shen Wanqing didn’t type it out. Instead, she replied: Let’s talk about it in person.

She’d just nailed down the time when Sister’s Little Dog sent an excited message: Sister, can I take you out tonight?

Shen Wanqing answered honestly: No.

Sister’s Little Dog: You already have plans?

Then, right after: You can’t spare me even a little time the whole evening?

Her tone was so plaintive that Shen Wanqing’s heart softened. After a moment’s thought, she replied: I don’t know how long it’ll run. If I wrap up early, I’ll let you know—but you have to eat properly. Don’t wait up for me.

Shen Wanqing clocked out, and her bodyguard drove her to the Qingye Villa address Yan Menghui had given.

It was her first time there, and the drive was quite a haul. Along the way, Lu Zhixia kept her tied up in conversation, badgering her for the address ahead of time.

Shen Wanqing sent it over and reminded her to eat well.

Yan Menghui was waiting at the door. The place was beautifully decorated, and she had even slipped into a long dress for the occasion—something she hadn’t done in ages.

Shen Wanqing was caught off guard. “You didn’t have to go all out like this.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever prepared something for you.” Yan Menghui smiled. “Have a seat.”

Yan Menghui kicked things off that evening, starting with stories from their childhood antics.

Shen Wanqing wasn’t keen on the drinking, but Yan Menghui lifted her glass anyway. “We don’t get to do this often. Just a little.”

Once the lighthearted tales wrapped up, Shen Wanqing broached the subject Yan Menghui always dodged.

She stepped away to the bathroom and returned to her seat, her eyes faintly reddened. “Go ahead and say it.”

There had to be closure between them. She laid it out plainly once more: romance was off the table.

Shen Wanqing rubbed her increasingly foggy temples and pushed her glass aside. “No more drinking.”

She wanted Yan Menghui to think clearly—to recognize that what lay between them had never been love, from start to finish.

Unlike before, Yan Menghui didn’t snap or throw a tantrum. She listened quietly until the end, then asked, “So, no matter what, you’ll never see me that way?”

“Yes.”

“Then do it with me. Dare you?” Yan Menghui stared her down. “Sleep with me once. If you feel nothing, I’ll let it go.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Shen Wanqing could hardly believe her ears. “This isn’t a game.”

“Then just kiss me,” Yan Menghui pressed on, sounding half-mad with obsession. “I can tell if you feel anything from a kiss.”

Shen Wanqing pinched the bridge of her nose as her head grew heavier still.

Yan Menghui slid onto the seat beside her, but Shen Wanqing found herself rooted in place, unable to budge.

It dawned on her too late, and irritation flared. “Did you drug me?”

Yan Menghui draped her arms over Shen Wanqing’s shoulders, her smile tinged with sorrow. Her voice cracked as she choked out, “I really just like you, Shen Wanqing. That’s all.”

Shen Wanqing tried to shove her away, but her limbs felt like lead.

“I want to kiss you right now.” Yan Menghui leaned in close, her whisper ghostly and insistent. “I want to do it with you. You won’t know if you like it until you try.”

Shen Wanqing tried to pull back, only to get tackled straight onto the carpet.

Yan Menghui snatched up a remote from the table and pressed a button. The TV flickered to life, and a WeChat video call chime rang out.

Through her hazy vision, Shen Wanqing made out a familiar profile picture—Lu Zhixia’s.

Yan Menghui’s laugh turned sultry and wicked. The moment she accepted the call, she murmured right in Shen Wanqing’s ear, “Let’s give her a show.”

Author’s note:*

Reader: Isn’t this a spinning top?

Mom: Yeah, deserves a good thrashing.

Big Dog: Hmph.

~~~

Big Dog slammed her fist into the door frame.

The door frame groaned, “What do I owe you? Quit pounding on me already.”

Big Dog: “Mad. Do not disturb.”

~~~

She threaded the needle!

Big Dog: “Rawr! I am the Invincible East!”

Big Dog: “Aha!” She kicked off the blanket and discovered Mom was still there.

The blanket muttered, “Serves you right. That’s what you get for kicking me.”

Big Dog: “I’m no longer Big Sister’s pure Big Dog!”

~~~

See? Haijing Senhua’s holiday system is the right one. Staggered days off? Nah, no thanks.

~~~

Big Dog was already on her way, forty-meter sword in hand!