Chapter 19: MAMA-19

MAMA-19: Go to my place?

Mi Shanxin habitually wore a mask when going out. Now, the mask concealed her faint smile. For once, her heart raced out of control.

To Jian Wanji, the girl still looked dazed.

The woman hesitated a moment, then patted her shoulder. “Still leaving?”

Mi Shanxin hung her head. Jian Wanji stooped to look at her, but Mi Shanxin turned her face away. Jian Wanji had to circle to the other side. This went back and forth several times. Jian Wanji laughed helplessly. “What are you doing, secretly laughing behind your mask, feeling very pleased, aren’t you?”

“No.” Mi Shanxin’s voice, muffled through the mask, was even more low and subdued.

“Then take it off and let me see?” Jian Wanji said, slightly annoyed.

“You take it off yourself.”

Jian Wanji didn’t dare touch her. Meeting Mi Shanxin, whether it was lecherous or sexual harassment, labels that never applied to her before were now easily pasted onto her. No wonder Zeng Baian had laughed so heartily—it was a rare instance of Jian Wanji being bested in her otherwise brilliant life.

And now, she had agreed to an even more outrageous matter, practically confirming the above accusations. The risk was great. Jian Wanji knew this clearly. Having agreed, she still harbored some hesitation.

“Didn’t you promise me?” Mi Shanxin tilted her head to look at her. Jian Wanji looked back with complex eyes. After a few seconds, she spoke, unsure if it was a laugh or a sigh. “How do you manage to say ‘take off my mask’ the way I’d say ‘take off your clothes’?”

The woman’s daily makeup wasn’t heavy, her single eyelids swept upwards, the mole very eye-catching. Whether smiling with teeth hidden or laughing openly, she was always worth watching.

Even though Jian Wanji hadn’t casually tied her low ponytail today like before, the hair on both sides was clearly styled with something, not messy, smoothly adhering to her scalp, making her bone structure even more apparent.

But in Mi Shanxin’s eyes, those side bangs she had before looked too much like a curly-haired dog’s big ears. Even though her hairstyle changed today, her hair was still curly, just not hanging down.

Many options suddenly popped into Mi Shanxin’s head, blurry. She felt she had seen it before; brown-ish probably. More specific than that, she didn’t know what it was called.

When that kind of dog eats, its ears need to be tied back, and it’s best to wear a bib.

So what would Jian Wanji look like in a bib?

If anyone overheard their conversation right now, they’d certainly think Jian Wanji was utterly depraved, going after a tender shoot.

Actually, it was the opposite. The tender shoot insisted on eating the old cow.

“That’s fine too.” Mi Shanxin seemed born without shyness. It was hard to imagine this fair face blushing bashfully. The slight pink it now carried was just from the heating, making her look less frail.

“Not okay right now.” Jian Wanji didn’t take off Mi Shanxin’s mask either. She wanted to stay far away from Mi Shanxin, but unfortunately, she truly absolutely needed her.

This kid was rather calculating, clearly understanding that Jian Wanji’s grandmother had her mind set on her, leaving Jian Wanji with even less room to maneuver.

Jian Wanji had even greased the wheels at the hospital. Changing people now would be even more troublesome.

Mi Shanxin, on the other hand, had opportunities whether advancing or retreating. She had nothing to lose, betting this member of society wouldn’t do anything to her.

Successful people care about face, unlike Mi Shanxin, who was clean and broke, no one wanting her anyway.

Besides, these days, graduating from a prestigious university didn’t guarantee finding a job. Having savings seemed more advantageous than having a job. She could get money and also sleep well. It was all benefits.

“Fine, then when will it be okay?” Mi Shanxin looked at Jian Wanji. Her gaze wasn’t so dull now. As if Jian Wanji’s nod had ignited some desire, she urgently wanted Jian Wanji to soothe her right now.

The woman took a wary step back. Seeming to realize her defense was excessive, she laughed awkwardly twice. “In any case… let’s eat first.”

She once again took Mi Shanxin’s heavy backpack. “Do you have anything else later?”

“No.”

“Then stay in my office. I’ll take you with me after my meeting.”

“Didn’t you say we were eating?” Mi Shanxin followed Jian Wanji, puzzled. The other closed the door and picked up the tablet from the sofa, confirming the dishes Mi Shanxin had ordered. After the girl nodded, she said, “Someone will deliver it. You eat first. Someone’s still waiting for me.”

“I see your computer is very laggy. You can use this.” Jian Wanji took out the packaging of a laptop, still sealed in plastic, from the cabinet behind her. Seeming to read the question in Mi Shanxin’s eyes, she added, “A new model a friend gifted a while ago. I don’t need it.”

She didn’t forget to point to the office supplies on her desk, all novel in Mi Shanxin’s eyes, including a monitor stand she’d never seen before, far superior to the one Li Yin wanted.

“The contract is already drafted. I’ll send you the electronic version on WeChat. You can look it over first.”

She said nothing superfluous, gave a few instructions, then left. Not long after, an administrative staffer brought the delivery upstairs.

Mi Shanxin sat in Jian Wanji’s office, staring at the packaging of the private home cuisine dishes for several seconds. Probably because it was too different from last time, Mi Shanxin still chose to take a photo and send it to Jian Wanji.

[Does this packaging need to be returned?]

Jian Wanji replied instantly: [No.]

Mi Shanxin replied with an oh.

Waiting for Jian Wanji in the reception room was an investor she had cooperated with before. The person was a few years older than Jian Wanji. Having collaborated for a few rounds, chatting about non-work topics was normal.

Perhaps this person had gone downstairs during the mid-session break and ran into Mi Shanxin being led up by Jian Wanji’s secretary. Now, smiling, they asked, “I heard you have a daughter?”

Jian Wanji shook her head, also seeming to find it funny. “How could that be possible.”

“Then a girlfriend?” The investor’s smile was meaningful. “Your hobbies are more niche than I imagined.”

“That’s even more impossible.” Thinking of Mi Shanxin’s terrible additional condition, Jian Wanji didn’t dwell on it and changed the topic.

She was rarely distracted. This conversation was an exception. Fortunately, the matters needing discussion were settled. She refused the invitation to go for a drink and returned to her office under several teasing gazes.

The girl had already finished eating. Jian Wanji had told her to unpack the computer herself, but Mi Shanxin hadn’t touched it. She was using her heavily patinaed second-hand laptop, doing something unknown, wearing headphones. She hadn’t even noticed Jian Wanji’s return.

Jian Wanji stood behind her watching for a while, unable to resist saying, “That transition is so tacky.”

Only then did Mi Shanxin jump in fright, hurriedly taking off her headphones.

At this moment, she showed none of that posturing relying on Jian Wanji absolutely needing her. Her eyes took a few seconds to focus. “Scared me to death.”

Yet her tone wasn’t trembling at all. This made Jian Wanji want to laugh even more. “Were you really scared? So focused.”

Not only was Mi Shanxin’s backpack battle-damaged, so were her headphones. Jian Wanji picked up her wired earbuds, staring at the missing earpiece on the left side. “You couldn’t buy another pair?”

“They work.”

Jian Wanji’s ears ached just looking at them. She put the earbuds back in place and said, “Then let’s go.”

Mi Shanxin asked, “Go where?”

It was almost eight o’clock. For Jian Wanji’s usual schedule, the evening was still long, but this old-fashioned college student slept early.

Sleeping early… yet having a sleep disorder, very abnormal.

Unwanted memories surfaced again. Jian Wanji pinched her brow, right as Mi Shanxin caught her frustration. The girl asked, “Go to my place?”

Jian Wanji: …

She rarely evaded anything. Now she realized the pain of a pig about to leave its pen. “That’s not good, the contract isn’t signed yet.”

Mi Shanxin didn’t want to let her off. Like an express delivery urgently needing to be opened, she urged, “I already looked it over. Let’s sign it now.”

One would think Mi Shanxin was the one who initiated this transaction. Jian Wanji was anxious, yes, but not to this point at this moment. Now it seemed Mi Shanxin was the most anxious.

If she hadn’t been the one who provoked Mi Shanxin initially, Jian Wanji would suspect this was a premeditated set-up within a set-up.

But the girl before her was so thin and small, utterly unrelated to the word ‘mother’. It was Jian Wanji who seized upon the resemblance in her brows and eyes, stubbornly wanting to keep her.

“Are you really in this much of a hurry?” Jian Wanji had no choice but to sit down. Since Mi Shanxin had already eaten, she didn’t mind chatting with her longer; stalling for time was fine.

While unpacking the laptop’s packaging, the woman asked, “What if I’m not good at it?”

Mi Shanxin didn’t quite understand. “You’re this old, how could you still be bad at it?”

Jian Wanji didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “What does this have to do with age? It’s a matter of experience.”

“Didn’t you ask me last time? I said I can’t, do you still doubt it?”

“Just because you don’t touch yourself doesn’t mean you can’t touch others.” The girl spoke with clear logic, not as hesitant and probing as last time. It was more like asking for a precise answer. “You’re this old, how could you have no experience?”

Mi Shanxin had asked Jian Wanji before if she had ever been married, if she had children, then circled back to whether she had a girlfriend. It all seemed to push towards her being very experienced.

Jian Wanji knew she was misunderstood. Of course, many people misunderstood her this way. She didn’t mind.

Now the situation was too different.

The woman older than Mi Shanxin spoke vaguely, unable to produce a complete sentence for a while.

Mi Shanxin stared at her tangled, messy hair, reminiscent of a big-eared dog shaking its fur. She couldn’t resist reaching out to touch those two strands of Jian Wanji’s curly bangs that, with the hair gel losing effect, had finally drooped down a few clumps.

It seemed only Jian Wanji’s bangs and hair ends were curled; the middle strands were very sleek. Mi Shanxin didn’t understand fashion, knew nothing about styling, nor did she have the means. She only knew Jian Wanji was good-looking, smelled good, and absolutely needed her. That was enough.

In this regard, Mi Shanxin didn’t have many options. Even if classmates from other departments at university added her on WeChat, exchanges fizzled out after a few words.

A classmate in the same course said they probably wanted to develop something, and not to be sad if there was no follow-up.

Mi Shanxin was the kind of person who looked easy to corral yet actually drifted on the periphery, like a sardine swimming against the current, but also without direction, just drifting.

The sea has no end, and neither did her world.

Although her friend didn’t attend the same university, Li Yin would ask on WeChat about Mi Shanxin’s college life, inevitably curious if any romance was involved.

Mi Shanxin said no. Li Yin said that shouldn’t be the case; our Shanxin is so good-looking and cute. These people have no taste.

Perhaps Li Yin also misunderstood Mi Shanxin’s major, thinking calligraphy department students were all ethereal, free from worldly desires.

In fact, quite a few classmates, despite heavy coursework, had boundless hobbies. Some even formed bands and sent links in the class group, hoping everyone would come support them when free.

No matter where she attended school, Mi Shanxin still exuded a ‘don’t come near me’ aura. Even if someone was curious about her, a few shallow chats felt dull, and things were shelved.

Discovering that only this could give her good sleep, Mi Shanxin had briefly considered the idea. She tried finding someone on apps, but current same-sex dating apps were full of abbreviations she couldn’t understand, and some had standards as strict as recruitment software.

Mi Shanxin didn’t like taking selfies and didn’t want to upload photos. Those younger than her held no interest, older ones didn’t fit her aesthetic. She also didn’t want first meetings in hotels, or having to help her date watch their kids during outings. So it fizzled out.

Jian Wanji was different. She was the one who proactively wanted me.

The moment Mi Shanxin’s fingertip touched the edge of Jian Wanji’s hair, her hand was grabbed tightly by the woman, forbidding her from continuing.

The girl stared at Jian Wanji’s face, suddenly enlightened. “So you have none.”

Jian Wanji was almost sweating. Gritting her teeth, she retorted, “Is that so strange?”

Mi Shanxin gave her no face at all. “Very strange. You have the face of someone who’s had many women.”

That didn’t sound like a compliment.

If it came from Mi Shanxin, perhaps there was another meaning.

Jian Wanji’s lips parted and closed, at a loss for words.

Mi Shanxin was very close to her. She could see the intricate lines on Jian Wanji’s lips. She wondered what it felt like to lick them open.

Would she be as obedient in bed as she was about changing her perfume just for me?

Or would she want me to praise her?

Jian Wanji was tall. Sitting on the patent leather sofa, her blouse with gathered cuffs was court-style. The earrings matched the blouse perfectly. Even though her aura was relaxed, her refinement was from head to toe, clearly demanding high quality of life. Everything about her was utterly different from Mi Shanxin.

Mi Shanxin occupied only a small spot on the sofa, like a little dog curled up into a ball yet unable to achieve large volume. Her nearly unglued sneakers contrasted sharply with Jian Wanji’s pointed leather shoes. They were clearly not the same kind of person.

But Mi Shanxin wasn’t asking for a future with her. She just wanted to solve her own sleep disorder.

She rarely sought anything from others. This matter couldn’t be told to her good friend. Besides Li Yin being clueless about Mi Shanxin’s orientation and hobbies, it was even more impossible to tell her about this method of falling asleep.

Jian Wanji wasn’t from her world. They were many years apart, with no academic intersection, and professionally, none either.

The educational institution saw a revolving door of people. Even if Jian Wanji insisted on enrolling in classes, their one-on-one sessions would completely end when the course finished.

Jian Wanji wanted Mi Shanxin to be a stand-in daughter to fulfill her grandmother’s final wish. Mi Shanxin wanted Jian Wanji to satisfy her additional sleep-assistance service. That too had a deadline.

If Mi Shanxin slept well, she would work more energetically—a pure positive feedback loop.

When this relationship ended, she would get the money. She’d naturally find a way to get treatment then.

“…What ‘many women’?” Jian Wanji was repeatedly at a loss for words before Mi Shanxin, feeling rather like an old master beaten to death by random punches. She didn’t speak for a moment, then sighed, saying vaguely, “Anyway, not right now.”

Mi Shanxin still wanted to touch her stray bangs. Struggling, her fingers were held even tighter by the woman. The cold, icy hand was warmed by Jian Wanji’s palm. Mi Shanxin’s heart inexplicably softened. Leaning closer subconsciously, a low murmur escaped, “Then that’s so pitiful.”

“What’s pitiful about it? You’re the pitiful one.” Jian Wanji’s character wasn’t as steady as Zeng Baian’s.

Or rather, she was very playful, finding it enjoyable to play in the amusement park with elementary school students. Topics among peers bored her, too involved with mundane family matters. “This student, your sleep disorder is an illness. You need to see a doctor.”

She admitted defeat, but didn’t want to fall immediately. She was currently in a state of dying struggle. “I’ll take you to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up.”

Mi Shanxin shook her head. “Too expensive.”

Jian Wanji’s attitude was firm. “I will pay.”

Mi Shanxin raised her eyes to look at her. Knowing the answer, she still asked, “What if the doctor can’t do anything either?”

Jian Wanji: “Then I’ll accept my fate.”

Mi Shanxin said oh. “Then accept your fate. I have medical records.”

Jian Wanji refused to believe it. What was so necessary about doing this? Not even just doing it yourself but needing someone else’s help? She violently tore open the laptop’s paper packaging, placing the new machine in front of Mi Shanxin, declaring fiercely, “I want to confirm this personally.”

Mi Shanxin wasn’t afraid of her at all. Nodding, she said, “Then I also want to personally test-drive.”

Jian Wanji could barely maintain her usual composure. She asked incredulously, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Mi Shanxin said, “Test-drive you. Got a problem?”

“A big problem.”

Jian Wanji’s Smile-Lip was surgically done. Very few people knew. She spent a lot of money on her face every year. This was Wan Qingqing’s curse, turning her into a misshapen monster.

Even if Wan Qingqing was dead, when Jian Wanji looked in the mirror, she would still remember that year when the old woman stroked her face and said hatefully: You are Lingling’s bastard seed with that man.

You can’t look like your father. You must look like your mother.

The lipstick she wore had low saturation, deep lip lines, the lip bead stretching when smiling. Now, pressed tightly together, whether the deliberately softened brows or the gentle blush, neither could mask the sliver of ferocity that momentarily broke through her guise.

But it vanished in an instant. Mi Shanxin sensed something, but wasn’t sure.

“Student Shanxin,” Jian Wanji set up the new computer’s initial boot screen, placing it in front of the girl. It seemed even if Mi Shanxin didn’t want it, she couldn’t refuse. “Test-drive implies the possibility of return. I don’t accept test-drives.”

“I am not one of those gifts you’ve returned these past few days.” Even when not smiling, the corners of Jian Wanji’s lips lifted slightly. Her upper and lower face were contradictory and disjointed. Combined with her clearly expensive outfit, an ordinary twenty-year-old girl would likely feel intimidated.

Mi Shanxin’s heart, however, stirred restlessly. She couldn’t wait for this person’s sleep assistance.

She would probably also be happy in her dreams.

“The things you sent are flashy but useless. I can’t use them.” Mi Shanxin had indeed opened them. “The inksticks are all collector’s items, generally too precious to use.”

The girl sighed quietly. “A person like me, even carrying a bag worth tens of thousands, people would assume it’s fake.”

Jian Wanji had worked until now and considered herself insightful about gift-giving. Yet here she was, criticized as completely worthless. She wasn’t angry. She asked with sincere curiosity, “Then what gift does Teacher Shanxin like?”

The girl slowly smiled. Her gaze was like the crosshairs of a sniper scope. Jian Wanji had long been locked on.

“You.”