Chapter 98

~~~

Late at night, Su Jinglan slipped out of the bedroom in her bathrobe. The sprawling house now carried Ning Jiuwei’s scent everywhere, stirring memories of her with every step.

The dining room’s chandelier was dimmed to a soft glow. An open bottle of whisky perfumed the air with its heady aroma, the amber liquid mirroring her vacant gaze. Su Jinglan took a sip, letting the sharp bite of alcohol course through her.

“You’re summoning me upstairs in the dead of night when I was sleeping like a baby?” Shen Lanyan plopped down on the chair across from her, flipping over an upside-down glass on the table and pouring herself a drink. “I didn’t delete the Weibo post. I left the PR hype and marketing stuff to Sister Ling—she won’t drag your girlfriend into it. She knows where to draw the line.”

The house’s soundproofing was top-notch, ensuring it wouldn’t disturb the person sleeping soundly in the master bedroom. Su Jinglan glanced at Shen Lanyan’s hand; the ring designed by Ning Jiuwei was still on her finger.

“Don’t you take it off to sleep?”

Shen Lanyan deliberately lifted her glass with that hand, propping her cheek with a radiant smile. “Designer Ning put it on me herself. I can’t bear to take it off.”

“So it was Jiuwei who put it on you? Then by all means, don’t take it off.” Su Jinglan’s lips curved into a smile as she dialed a number right in front of her.

The call connected instantly. Su Jinglan’s eyes fixed on the ring as she issued her order to the person on the other end. “Tomorrow, break Shen Lanyan’s finger—the one wearing the ring.”

Shen Lanyan panicked at once and begged for mercy. “Sister Su, I was joking! I just love the ring Designer Ning made. She didn’t actually put it on me.” She grabbed Su Jinglan’s hand, playing the obedient little sister to perfection—the same girl who exuded regal poise in front of others but folded instantly here.

The person on the line overheard and smirked, accepting the command. “Got it, President Su.”

Shen Lanyan’s acting skills kicked in on cue. She gazed up at Su Jinglan with teary, aggrieved eyes. If Su Jinglan didn’t rescind the order, she’d throw herself into her arms and sob the next second.

“You’re off the hook.” Su Jinglan ended the call—the last bit clearly audible to the other side. Shen Lanyan released her grip and ruffled her messy hair, soothing her nerves with a sip of whisky. “Don’t scare me like that again. I’m faint-hearted; I can’t take it.”

The two sat facing each other, nursing their drinks. Su Jinglan smiled on the surface, but something gnawed at her inside—a dull ache she couldn’t voice.

“President Su, you didn’t call me up here just to keep you company while you drink, did you?” Having overindulged earlier that evening, Shen Lanyan couldn’t handle much more. She swirled the last of the whisky in her glass, fighting off sleep to chat. “I’ve got an early call at the film set tomorrow. If you’ve got something on your mind, spill it. Otherwise, I’m heading back to bed—I’ll crash here if I stay.”

Su Jinglan fell silent for a moment before asking, “Lanyan, could you ever fall for Jiang Shen?”

“Who? Jiang Shen?” Shen Lanyan burst out laughing. “Fans shipping us as Shenyan CP and force-feeding sweets is one thing, but you know how much I can’t stand her, President Su. Behind my back, she says I sleep my way to gigs, hires trolls to flood black tags about me, claims my awards are fake—bought by my sugar mama just to make me happy. Like her? Maybe if she gets reincarnated as a cat next life. Not in this one.”

“What if those smears weren’t from Jiang Shen herself? What if her manager did it behind her back to snag business deals?”

“Have you had too much to drink?” Shen Lanyan reached out to feel her forehead. “Or are you running a fever?”

Su Jinglan swatted her hand away. “Would you like her?”

“Never.” Shen Lanyan’s tone was resolute. “Her manager’s actions speak for her—she had to know. Why would I chase after someone who hurt me when there are so many great women out there? What kind of twisted mind would that take?”

“Go get some sleep.”

Su Jinglan wanted to be alone. But Shen Lanyan, now wide awake from the bizarre questions, perked up—no trace of drowsiness left. She could talk till dawn. “Why the sudden hypothetical, President Su?”

“Can’t sleep in the witching hour. Just a random thought.” Su Jinglan refilled her glass and tossed it back in one gulp.

Drawing on her professional instincts, Shen Lanyan observed her posture and demeanor, slipping into Su Jinglan’s shoes. A possibility struck her, and her eyes lit up as she sat up straight. “You’ve got your white moonlight now, but you’ve fallen for your rival?”

Su Jinglan wasn’t some entertainer in the industry; she was the president of Hengsu Group. “Rival” wasn’t quite right, so Shen Lanyan corrected herself. “Competitor.”

The business world was a battlefield, full of rivals in their sector. Shen Lanyan mentally ranked them, but Su Jinglan shot her a cool glance and issued a merciless dismissal. “You can go now.”

“Fine, fine—I’m just your beck-and-call girl.” Shen Lanyan capped the whisky and returned it to the liquor cabinet. “I’m off to bed. You should turn in early too. Too much booze is bad for you. I put it away for next time.”

Shen Lanyan had left, leaving Su Jinglan sitting alone in the dining room.

As the night deepened, the temperature dropped lower and lower. Su Jinglan sat there until her body grew ice-cold and her hands and feet went numb. She headed into the bathroom in the guest room.

She rinsed her mouth with mouthwash to dilute the taste of alcohol, then gently pushed open the bedroom door and slipped back into bed without a sound.

The person on the bed was still asleep, in the exact same position as when she had left. Su Jinglan lay down along the edge of the bed, slowly warming herself up.

The person beside her pillow shifted closer, draping an arm across her waist and pulling her into an embrace. The warmth of that body pressed intimately against her, and Su Jinglan stiffened for a moment before gently removing Ning Jiuwei’s hand.

“Where did you go?” Ning Jiuwei tightened her grip slightly, pulling Su Jinglan back in. Her voice was husky and alluring, like a murmur from a dream, whispered right into Su Jinglan’s ear.

“I stepped out to make a phone call. Did I wake you?” Su Jinglan’s voice carried a hint of amusement as she said to Ning Jiuwei, “I’m cold right now. Let me warm up first before you hold me.”

Ning Jiuwei didn’t let go, instead using her own body heat to warm Su Jinglan.

The bedroom fell quiet once more, filled only with the steady rhythm of even breathing. Su Jinglan turned over to face Ning Jiuwei, and they drifted off to sleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

But the thought that Ning Jiuwei didn’t want her made Su Jinglan’s eyes snap open.

In the dark night, outlines blurred into indistinct shadows, giving her the illusion that she was in a dream. Ning Jiuwei’s affection for her was just a dream, and when she woke, Ning Jiuwei would once again be the distant Designer Ning, keeping everyone at arm’s length.

The suppressed longing reignited, burning hot in her chest. Su Jinglan cupped Ning Jiuwei’s face and kissed her tenderly. The sleeping Ning Jiuwei woke up, wrapping her arms tightly around Su Jinglan and responding with fervent passion. The rising emotion spurred her to flip over, pinning Su Jinglan beneath her.

Intimacy with the person she loved brought relief to both body and soul. Ning Jiuwei was content with the exchange of kisses, but Su Jinglan wanted more. She took Ning Jiuwei’s hand, pressing her feverish palm against the slightly cooler back of Ning Jiuwei’s hand and guiding it forward. “Jiuwei, I want you.”

Ning Jiuwei knelt on the bed, hesitating without making the next move. After a long pause, she spoke softly. “I might not be able to satisfy you.”

“Hm?” Su Jinglan looked puzzled. Ning Jiuwei rested her forehead on the pillow and whispered an explanation near Su Jinglan’s ear. “I have no experience. I’m afraid I won’t do it well or make you feel good.”

The room fell silent for several seconds before Su Jinglan burst out laughing. She hugged Ning Jiuwei and rolled across the bed, burying her face in Ning Jiuwei’s neck as laughter overtook her. “Ning Jiuwei, you have so many hang-ups. I thought you didn’t want to touch me, that you didn’t like me.”

She hadn’t expected it to be because Ning Jiuwei was afraid of doing it wrong.

Ning Jiuwei bit her lip, reining in the surging heat. “Does President Su have any instructional videos I could study?”

“No instructional videos, but I can give Teacher Ning some hands-on clinical training.” Su Jinglan pinched Ning Jiuwei’s fingers. “Teacher Ning, just do what feels right. I’ll let you know if anything doesn’t feel good.”

Built on their feelings for each other, the exchange easily satisfied Su Jinglan. At first, she guided Ning Jiuwei, but soon she could only clutch the sheets to withstand being utterly claimed by her. There was no need for hesitation—love bound their hearts and bodies tightly together. Su Jinglan lost herself in the sensation, holding Ning Jiuwei close.

“Teacher Ning doesn’t need any lessons at all. You’ve already made me very satisfied.” She looped her arms around Ning Jiuwei’s neck, nuzzling her ear as they lingered in tender affection. “It’s so much better than doing it myself.”

Ning Jiuwei blinked in confusion. “Doing it yourself?”

Su Jinglan twirled a lock of hair around her finger, teasing her. “Looks like Teacher Ning has no experience with outsiders—or even with herself.”

Thank goodness the lights were off, hiding her embarrassment. Now that she understood, Ning Jiuwei flushed and sank into the pillow, straightening the rumpled sheets around her.

For all these years, she had never tried taking care of her own needs. Tonight, Su Jinglan treated her like family, revealing her own secret method of relief. It dawned on Ning Jiuwei that Su Jinglan was steadily drawing them closer together.

She stayed quiet for a long while, so Su Jinglan leaned in and pinched her cheek. “Teacher Ning, time for review.”

Ning Jiuwei couldn’t resist Su Jinglan’s pull and dove back into their intimate exchange.

After tonight, she probably wouldn’t be able to focus on classes or studying anymore. Certain words would forever remind her of this night.

Sated, Su Jinglan fell asleep and didn’t wake until the sun was high in the sky. The phone on the bedside table rang incessantly, forcing her to pick up.

“President Su, have you come to the company yet?” Lin Fengmian was in the President’s Office of the Design Division, pressing down on the stack of documents awaiting approval on her desk. “The Chairman is looking for you. He wants you to come to his office right away.”

Su Jinglan squinted at the time on her phone after pulling it away from her ear. It was past eleven. “I had something this morning and didn’t come in. I’ll head over this afternoon. Is Designer Ning at the company?”

The spacious soft bed now held only her alone. She had no idea when Ning Jiuwei had slipped away; she hadn’t felt a thing.

Lin Fengmian glanced toward the office across the way. Ning Jiuwei was hunched over her desk, stylus in hand as she sketched away on her tablet. “Designer Ning got to the company just after nine and has been holed up in her office working on design drawings ever since.”

A familiar figure knocked on the door of Ning Jiuwei’s office. Lin Fengmian’s heart leaped into her throat. She hurriedly relayed what she’d seen to Su Jinglan. “President Su, Secretary Zhao just went into Designer Ning’s office—and he shut the door behind him.”

Secretary Zhao, who was always at the chairman’s side, never came to the Design Division. Hardly anyone here even knew who he was.

Ning Jiuwei calmly regarded the stranger who had barged into her office without so much as asking permission. In a mild tone, she asked, “May I help you?”

“I’m the chairman’s secretary. Surname Zhao. The chairman invites you to his office for a brief visit.” Secretary Zhao cut an impeccable figure in his tailored black suit, accented by a black-and-gold striped tie. He spoke with crisp enunciation and deferential poise. “Does Designer Ning have time right now?”

“Yes.” Ning Jiuwei set down her stylus and rose to her feet, ready to follow Secretary Zhao out.

Then another uninvited guest swung open the door to Ning Jiuwei’s office. Assistant Lin gripped the handle, a professional smile plastered on her face, and said to Ning Jiuwei, “Designer Ning, President Su wants you to wait for her right here in the office.”

~~~