Chapter 31: I’m a Good Girl Too Part 1

The next day, the rain had cleared, and the sky was bright.

When Mu Shanyi tried to get out of bed, a soft body wrapped around her from behind.

“Sister A-Heng…” A lazy, coquettish morning voice slipped into her ear. “What time is it?”

“Still early.” Mu Shanyi turned back as she spoke. “No more full names?”

?

Miao Zhu’s hazy sleepiness was instantly chased away by that sentence.

Mu Shanyi still remembered it—which meant she also remembered Miao Zhu fussing over Meng Shiyi?

Mu Shanyi even knew she’d stolen glances during the performance!

So embarrassing.

…Was Mu Shanyi really drunk? Or just pretending?

“Mu. Shan. Yi.” Miao Zhu turned her face away and muttered, staking her position.

She was still propped on the pillow, and the motion of turning exposed the elegant line of her neck, like a ribbon of soft silk extending slowly from behind her ear to her collarbone.

Her complexion was excellent, a faint pink flush on her cheeks, her jet-black hair pressed beneath her, her skin white as snow.

Mu Shanyi’s lips pressed against that warm, fragrant silk. She unceremoniously opened her mouth and bit down, but restrained herself in Miao Zhu’s protesting hum, leaving no mark.

The first day of the main summit had ended. After finishing last night’s performance, the Cloud City Symphony Orchestra completed their assignment and took the bus back to Cloud City.

The bus rocked along, and those who had gotten up early dozed off. Jiang Jingjing kept her volume in check as she chatted with Miao Zhu. “…Didn’t I tell you Xie Dasu still had his ex’s mom’s number saved? Xie Dasu’s parents are both executives, always flying around, so they didn’t spend much time with him. During those six years he dated his ex, her mom took good care of him. She even looked after him during his appendectomy. So they broke up amicably, but he still sees her mom as an elder and keeps in touch on holidays.”

“I can’t blame Xie Dasu for that. It’s part of his past I can’t be involved in. I know that past made him who he is today… But I’m not that magnanimous. I can’t pretend not to mind at all.”

“We’ll take it one step at a time. Look, Mia—even normal relationships come with their share of headaches.” Jiang Jingjing sighed.

Miao Zhu agreed. Getting along with people meant constantly encountering problems and solving them.

Jiang Jingjing changed the subject. “Since you’re willing to be my sounding board, I won’t pry into whatever’s going on between you and your sister. If you want to vent—happy stuff or not,” she patted her chest, “I’m your girl. I’ll cheer you on, share your outrage, and keep it zipped!”

Miao Zhu laughed at her bold demeanor. In that sense, Jiang Jingjing was just like Emma—barely any moral expectations of her.

There was a performance over the weekend, so once back in Cloud City, everyone split up for rehearsals in the practice hall. Miao Zhu and the other cello section members busied themselves all afternoon before she returned to Moon Reflection Villa, where Miao Ling cornered her at the dinner table.

“Xingran postponed her return?” Miao Ling eyed Miao Zhu across a table of fine dishes. “Your Aunt Ni said she made some competition shortlist. Is that true? Or did something go wrong between you two, so she made up an excuse not to come back?”

Miao Zhu set down her chopsticks. “Mom, Xingran has plans for her career. This competition means a lot to her.”

Miao Ling wasn’t swayed. “Doesn’t have to do with Emma?”

Emma?

Miao Zhu couldn’t fathom how Emma factored in. “What does this have to do with Emma?”

“You just saw Emma, and now she’s rushing back to Cloud City? Nothing going on between you two?” Miao Ling’s suspicious gaze bore down relentlessly. “Did Xingran sense something off?”

Miao Zhu: “…………”

Miao Zhu took several deep breaths. “Mom.”

Her hands clenched into fists under the table, nails digging into her palms, but she still couldn’t suppress the surging nausea. “Emma’s back for work. She’s just a friend.”

“She’d better be.” Miao Ling had only been probing anyway; she didn’t really think anything was up between Miao Zhu and Emma. She raised a brow. “I’m just reminding you—don’t stir up trouble for everyone at a time like this.”

“Also, I’ve checked out a few brands for you. Wedding rings, dresses—we’ve got some initial ideas. Contacting venues for the engagement too.”

“Since Xingran doesn’t have time, you’ll need to put in the effort. Pick some. She’ll like whatever you choose.”

“Let’s eat.”

“Has your weight fluctuated lately? Make time for stretching, watch what you eat. A thicker waist won’t look good in the dress.”

Miao Zhu lost her appetite entirely, the food tasting like wax.

Back in her room, her mood still wouldn’t settle.

She opened a shopping app, picked out several sets of lingerie, and placed the order using Moon Reflection Villa’s address.

Time flew to the weekend performance day, which coincided with the World Energy Summit’s official close.

Over those few days, Mu Shanyi occasionally messaged Miao Zhu—sometimes a simple photo of her work meal, sometimes an interesting new product from the expo. But she didn’t suggest meeting up.

At seven that evening, before the performance started, Miao Zhu reached out to Mu Shanyi first.

[Mia: The person I want to see won’t ask me out]

During intermission, Jiang Jingjing asked if Miao Zhu wanted to grab barbecue afterward. Miao Zhu lit up her phone screen, where an unread message waited.

[Mu Shanyi: [Location Sharing]]

[Mu Shanyi: Want to come?]

Miao Zhu tapped the location share. At this hour, Mu Shanyi’s pin was still at the office—overtime, apparently.

She waved her phone at Jiang Jingjing.

Jiang Jingjing got it immediately. “Have fun, Teacher Miao. Enjoy your weekend.”

Mu Shanyi had Lu Zheng pick Miao Zhu up from the theater.

In the car, Miao Zhu kept glancing at her phone. The location sharing stayed on, just like last time. Their avatars drew closer and closer as the distance shrank.

Closer and closer…

Miao Zhu suddenly wondered if Mu Shanyi watched the gap between them too.