Chapter 54: The Caged Bird Infected with a Vicious Disease (9)

Jian Wanqing, now blissfully in love, found her daily life utterly delightful.

She could embrace Bai Qian anytime, anywhere, without the slightest worry of rejection.

When they were alone together, all she had to do was lean in with her lips, and she’d be met with an eager kiss from the woman.

But most importantly, those long nights were no longer filled with nothing but cold air—she finally had Bai Qian to hold as they drifted off to sleep.

Happy times always passed in the blink of an eye.

It felt like only yesterday that Jian Wanqing had started dating Bai Qian, yet now Yu Niannian’s winter break was already over.

The little one had school tomorrow, so to bid a proper farewell to the holidays, Jian Wanqing suggested they all go out for an all-you-can-eat barbecue.

When it came to food, she and Yu Niannian were always on the same page, and Bai Qian had always gone along with their whims. So with the idea proposed, the woman quietly pulled out her phone to look for a spot.

Jian Wanqing led the pair downstairs and into the car. Perhaps it was the slightly cooler temperature inside that sparked the thought, but she turned to Yu Niannian and asked, “Want to invite Little Tang along?”

The girl blinked in surprise. After all, she’d brought other friends home during break—why did Jian Wanqing only remember Liu Yutang?

Her confusion was plain on her face. Spotting it, Jian Wanqing explained earnestly, “The last time we saw Little Tang was at the sports festival, and that’s been ages ago. You haven’t brought her over during break either. We’re heading out for once, so why not call her too? It’ll give you two a chance to bond. You’re graduating this year— what if you don’t get to see each other afterward?”

“But I brought Xiao Qian and the others over too. How come you’re not thinking of inviting them, Auntie Jian?”

Jian Wanqing pointed at Bai Qian, who was quietly taking the wheel as their driver. “You have to think about your godmom’s wallet. If Xiao Qian comes, you know it’ll be a whole group. You can do the math on that, right?”

Yu Niannian nodded. “Yeah… I can.”

“And most importantly,” Bai Qian said, ruffling her hair, “Xiao Qian and her friends have plenty of other people to hang out with. But Little Tang? She probably only has you.”

The words seemed to strike a chord. Yu Niannian quickly pulled out her phone, tapping into WeChat as she replied, “You’re right, Auntie Jian. We definitely won’t be going to the same junior high—everyone says elementary school friends always drift apart eventually. She and I might end up the same. Let me ask if she wants to come.”

Jian Wanqing said nothing more, giving the girl the perfect space to make the call.

From her expression and tone, it was clear the other side had agreed. Sure enough, Yu Niannian hung up and turned to Bai Qian. “Godmom, I told her to wait at the school gate. Can you drive over and pick her up when we get close?”

“Mm-hmm.”

This time, the girl switched to texting. Once she got a reply, she turned back, catching Jian Wanqing’s expectant look. Grinning, she asked, “What’s up, Auntie Jian? Got something to ask me?”

Jian Wanqing pressed on about Liu Yutang. “Why’d you say you two might not end up at the same school? Your grades are solid enough. Is it because Little Tang’s aren’t great?”

“No, hers are amazing. She’s always first on our school’s honor roll—photos and all. She’s definitely heading to Yi Middle School. If I’m lucky and push hard, I might make Second Middle School.”

“Wow, that impressive? Is there anything she’s not good at?”

Yu Niannian furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment before hesitating. “Does not being great at talking count?”

Jian Wanqing burst out laughing. “A all-around genius like that? Get as much time with her as you can.”

“Huh?”

The woman winked playfully. “A free personal tutor like her? You’d be lucky to find one even with a lantern.”

Yu Niannian sighed in exasperation. “I did have her explain some problems to me before, but she was so dry about it. I got sleepy just listening. Better not.”

Recalling the girl’s somewhat subdued personality, Jian Wanqing chuckled. “Fair enough. No relying on others, then—your grades are good enough as is. But just in case, if you start struggling later, your godmom can sign you up for tutoring classes.”

“Okay.”

The car soon pulled onto the road in front of the school. Jian Wanqing’s sharp eyes spotted the girl from a distance, standing all alone at the gate.

She wore no expression, standing ramrod straight—which only made her look all the more well-behaved.

“Does Little Tang ever smile at you?”

Rather than answer, Yu Niannian countered, “Auntie Jian, does she strike you as the type who smiles?”

Jian Wanqing had to admit: That was a good question.

…

Bai Qian never imagined she would run into Yu Laiwei under these circumstances.

~~~

The scum male protagonist from the original plot.

She had nearly forgotten that a person like him even existed in this world.

Had the woman sitting across from him not called out her name just as she passed their table, Bai Qian wouldn’t have noticed him at all.

Bai Qian didn’t break her stride, her expression perfectly composed as she kept walking. It was only after rounding the corner that she casually glanced back toward the man.

His face was much as she remembered it, though compared to the original plot, it bore an unmistakable pallor of exhaustion from excessive indulgence.

“What are you looking at?”

Jian Wanqing’s attention had never wavered from her, and she immediately sensed the momentary distraction.

Seeing her gaze fixed on something nearby, Jian Wanqing instinctively started to follow it, but a hand blocked her view before she could make out what had caught her eye.

“Something filthy. Don’t look.”

Jian Wanqing’s curiosity only grew. She placed her hand over Bai Qian’s, trying to tug it down. “What filthy thing? You saw it—why can’t I?”

“Vomit. You want to see that too?”

The struggle ceased at once. Jian Wanqing grabbed the hem of Bai Qian’s clothes instead, pulling her forward. “Then let’s not go this way later. I’m scared I’ll lose my appetite if I see it. Who’s that gross? Can’t they clean it up?”

Before being led away, Bai Qian stole one last glance toward the scumbag man. The woman across from him had just stood up, and catching her profile in that moment, Bai Qian froze for a second.

She felt certain she’d seen that face before, but she couldn’t place where.

Pushing aside thoughts of such trivial people and matters, she released her hand and naturally took hold of the one beside her, her voice warm. “After dinner, let’s go see a movie together.”

“Hm? But none of the animated films out right now are ones I like. How about next time?”

“Who said anything about an animated film?”

Jian Wanqing looked puzzled. “If not animated, then what? Lately it’s just those or horror flicks. Little Nian and I are both scared of ghosts, so animated’s the only option.”

Bai Qian gritted her teeth, for the first time feeling like they had an extra third wheel tagging along at home. “I mean just you and me. Not four people.”

Even after the explanation, Jian Wanqing showed none of the delight Bai Qian had hoped for, her face still hesitant. “But there really aren’t any good movies out right now. Tickets cost dozens of bucks—better not waste the money.”

“…”

It was a rare occasion for Bai Qian to take the initiative on a date, yet this utterly unromantic woman beside her left her too irritated to even speak.

Her lips pursed for less than half a second before the other hand in her grasp began to scratch coaxingly at her palm.

At the same time, its owner sidled closer, lips brushing her ear as she whispered words too intimate for outsiders to hear.

“More than a movie, I’d rather do other things with you—things that make us even happier. My birthday’s coming up soon. For this year’s gift… let me be on top, okay?”

Bai Qian: ?

…

When the two returned to their seats with their plates, Yu Niannian was in the middle of scraping a lump of hopelessly charred food onto hers.

The heavy, acrid smell hit Jian Wanqing the moment she caught it, flashing an unwelcome image through her mind. The hand that had been reaching for her chopsticks to resume eating fell limply to her side.

Bai Qian finished grilling a piece of meat and naturally placed it into Jian Wanqing’s bowl. As she reached for more, she noticed her companion hadn’t touched her food and asked with concern, “Full already? Weren’t you just starving and begging me to go get more meat with you?”

Jian Wanqing shook her head, her expression one of utter grievance. “It’s all your fault for mentioning vomit earlier. Now that’s all I can picture—every bite of food makes me want to—”

She didn’t even finish the sentence before her face twisted. She shot up from her seat in a panic. By the time the other three registered what was happening, her figure had already vanished from sight.

Jian Wanqing bolted to the restroom and braced herself over the sink, hand clamped over her mouth as she retched. She heaved for what felt like ages, but nothing came up.

Catching her breath at last, she splashed some water onto her lips.

Footsteps sounded behind her. She glanced up into the mirror and saw a second figure appear.

“It’s nothing. I just couldn’t hold it back for that second.”

Bai Qian’s gaze held a touch of regret, though she offered no further explanation. Instead, she pulled a pack of wet wipes from her pocket, extracted one, and gently wiped Jian Wanqing’s mouth with careful motions.

Jian Wanqing stood obediently still for it. As they turned to leave, she paused for one last look in the mirror. “I don’t feel like eating anymore right now. I’ll grab something later if I get hungry. Oh, my lipstick—is my bag with Little Nian? Guess I’ll do it back at the table with my phone camera.”

Bai Qian reached out and grabbed her, pulling something from her own pocket under the other woman’s puzzled gaze. “I brought it with me.”

Jian Wanqing sighed in admiration. “How did you know to bring it? We’re really in sync.”

She faced the mirror and carefully applied a layer of nude lipstick to her lips. Once finished, she pursed them, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the other woman reflected there.

The woman stood quietly at her side, the pale moonlight highlighting her eyes and infusing them with a touch of gentleness.

Jian Wanqing’s heart stirred. With a soft click, she set the lipstick down on the bathroom counter and turned around. She pinched the woman’s chin with one hand and leaned in close, her lips hovering near hers.

“Bai Qian, your lips look so dry. Why don’t I help moisten them for you?”

Ever since they’d gotten together, Bai Qian had never refused her in moments like this. But this time, she frowned and turned her head away, dodging the kiss.

Before Jian Wanqing could pout in disappointment, Bai Qian explained, “Let’s kiss when we get home. This is the bathroom.”

The implication was clear: it was dirty.

With that, Jian Wanqing skipped the preliminaries and kissed her squarely.

This time, Bai Qian couldn’t evade it. The instant their lips met, Jian Wanqing’s hand found her waist, holding her firmly in place.

When they finally parted, Jian Wanqing chuckled softly and nipped at her earlobe, murmuring coyly, “It’s not like we’re doing it right here. How could it be dirty?”

Bai Qian: “…”

“Or… do you want to?”