Chapter 52

Sang Ning hugged the person she had been thinking about day and night tightly, but she really wanted to cry. She held back as best she could, yet in the end, tears still welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Shen Tingwan reached out to wipe away her tears, her heart aching and softening all at once. She was used to seeing Sang Ning’s tough and optimistic side, as if she never cried. But now, she cried because of her.

Sang Ning let Shen Tingwan wipe her tears, gazing at her from close up, unable to hold back the sting in her nose. “I thought… you wouldn’t want to see me anymore…”

It wasn’t about fearing rejection; it was the fear of not being able to meet at all. Shen Tingwan murmured “silly” again in a low voice, then held her even longer to soothe her, patiently repeating near her right ear, “I like you.”

Shen Tingwan understood her so well. After hearing “I like you” several times, Sang Ning buried her head against her, feeling happy and content. “Mm.”

A beautiful dream she had never dared to hope for had come true. She would never say she wasn’t lucky again.

In the dark night, under the warm light, the two of them stood in the entryway, hugging for a very long time—

They decided to have dinner at home. Cooking themselves or going out would be too tiring, so they ordered delivery from a nearby restaurant.

“You rest. I’ll go take a shower first.” Shen Tingwan took off her coat. Washing up was always the first thing she did after a business trip.

Sang Ning had the same habit. She nodded at Shen Tingwan. “Mm.”

Shen Tingwan looked at her and smiled for a moment.

Sang Ning smiled too and asked what was wrong.

Shen Tingwan said nothing, just smiled and touched her face before turning to go to the bedroom to shower.

Sang Ning stood there in a daze. That small gesture made her heart flutter for a long time.

Dinner wouldn’t arrive for a while, so Sang Ning walked out to the balcony to look at the night view. The brilliant city lights filled her eyes, but her mind was full of Shen Tingwan.

She was together with her senior alumna now.

The thought kept popping into her head.

About twenty minutes later, the delivery arrived, but Shen Tingwan still hadn’t come out. Sang Ning waited patiently until the phone on the coffee table rang.

It was Shen Tingwan’s phone. Sang Ning glanced at the caller ID note—it seemed like a work call. They missed the first one, and the caller tried again.

Worried it was urgent, Sang Ning picked up the phone and headed toward the bedroom.

Remembering the nearly open-style bathroom inside, Sang Ning didn’t open the door right away. Instead, she knocked first from outside.

Shen Tingwan’s voice came from within. “Come in. The door’s not locked.”

Sang Ning hadn’t caught the exact words and hesitated, but the door soon opened.

Shen Tingwan had already finished showering, dressed in a casual at-home outfit—a light-colored robe. Her makeup was completely removed, revealing soft, beautiful features.

Sang Ning’s gaze grew bolder than before, staring straight at her, which left her momentarily dazed on the spot, nearly forgetting about the phone.

Amusement flickered in Shen Tingwan’s eyes as she teased softly, “Does your girlfriend look good?”

Girlfriend. Sang Ning, still adjusting to the new label, felt her heart pound like a drum at the reminder.

Shen Tingwan laughed outright after teasing her. She blushed just like that?

Sang Ning smiled shyly too, awkwardly saying, “There’s a call. It seems pretty urgent.”

Shen Tingwan hummed an “mm” and took the phone, replying briefly to the work message.

Sang Ning noticed the robe was thin. “…Senior.”

Still calling her “senior” so properly. Shen Tingwan smiled helplessly. The new relationship needed time to settle in—for both of them. Suddenly, one person had become two.

Sang Ning felt a bit odd calling her that too, but it was habit. “Put on a jacket.”

Shen Tingwan was still replying to the message. “There’s one in the closet. Grab it for me.”

Sang Ning walked further into the bedroom and found a long cardigan Shen Tingwan had worn before. She glimpsed the bathroom still steamy and transparent, her face heating up.

Dinner was a couple’s set meal: three dishes, two soups, perfectly balanced.

There were white-boiled shrimp. Sang Ning put on gloves to peel them, placing the shelled shrimp meat onto Shen Tingwan’s plate.

Shen Tingwan saw it. “Let me do it. You eat.”

Sang Ning wouldn’t let her. “I’ll do it. Don’t get your hands dirty.”

Shen Tingwan looked at her with mixed emotions. She used to think Sang Ning was just naturally kind, not realizing she had been the recipient of such favoritism all along. No wonder Sang Ning remembered every casual thing she said—even a joking complaint about feeling unwell had brought her running right away…

If she hadn’t spoken up, would Sang Ning have just quietly liked her as a friend forever?

Sang Ning looked up. “Why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Tingwan gazed at her warmly. “You’re so silly.”

Sang Ning understood but brushed it off with an easy smile. Now that her long-held secret was out, she worried her years of affection might burden Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan, seeing the softness in her eyes, recalled so many past moments. All the signs of affection had been there.

Sang Ning changed the subject. “This soup is good.”

The two soups were different. After a few sips, Shen Tingwan asked, “Want to try mine?”

Sang Ning absentmindedly said “mm.”

Shen Tingwan scooped some soup with her small spoon, blew on it, and thoughtfully brought it to Sang Ning’s lips.

Sang Ning froze at first, then parted her lips under Shen Tingwan’s encouraging gaze, taking the warm soup into her mouth. She barely tasted it—her mind was filled with the fact that Shen Tingwan’s lips had touched this same spoon, making her lips tingle with numbness as they met it.

Shen Tingwan asked, “Is it good?”

Sang Ning licked her lips. “Mm, it’s good…”

Shen Tingwan smiled and continued drinking her soup.

Sang Ning’s gaze swept over her face. Without makeup, the fatigue was obvious. Shen Tingwan caught her looking and met her eyes openly.

With their relationship confirmed, even without words, the atmosphere grew subtly intimate and ambiguous.

Sang Ning asked with concern, “Haven’t slept well these past few days?”

Shen Tingwan already had low energy, and with emotional matters plus rushing for the business trip, she sighed. “Mm, I’m worn out. Too tired to sleep well.”

Sang Ning hesitated, wanting to offer to stay the night but feeling it was too soon. As friends, it had been easier to suggest…

Shen Tingwan saw through it. “Something you want to say?”

Sang Ning phrased it as a question. “Would I help you sleep better if I stayed?”

She really remembered every word. Shen Tingwan smiled and nodded. “So, you’re not leaving tonight?”

“Mm.” Sang Ning agreed quickly. Besides worrying about Shen Tingwan’s sleep, she had her own selfish desire to spend more time together.

Sang Ning was already familiar with staying over here. Her toiletries were still there, and Shen Tingwan handed her pajamas.

They got along much like before, but the details differed—Sang Ning cherished these little changes, like the pajamas Shen Tingwan gave her now being ones she wore regularly, not new ones.

As expected, Sang Ning urged her to bed at bedtime. Before sleep, Shen Tingwan followed her old habit and poured herself a bit of wine.

Sang Ning saw it. “Drinking again?”

“Just a little.” Shen Tingwan glanced at her. “Don’t want me to?”

Sang Ning tried whispering a gentle scolding. “That’s not a good habit.”

Shen Tingwan promptly set down the glass. “I’ll quit.”

Sang Ning smiled.

Did her words really hold that much sway?

Sang Ning told Shen Tingwan to go to bed first while she showered in the guest bath. After, as she blow-dried her hair noisily, Shen Tingwan soon walked in.

“You’re not sleeping?” Sang Ning turned off the dryer and looked back at her.

“Can’t sleep. Waiting for you.” Shen Tingwan took the dryer from her hand.

Sang Ning instinctively said, “I can do it myself.”

Shen Tingwan stared at her silently.

Sang Ning smiled sheepishly and stood still in front of her, letting Shen Tingwan blow-dry her hair.

They didn’t talk while she did it, but their eyes met in the mirror, and they kept smiling.

Once her hair was dry, Shen Tingwan examined her eyes. “They’re still red…”

Sang Ning could hear the heartache in her voice, but she didn’t want Shen Tingwan feeling that way. She turned to face her. “Senior.”

Shen Tingwan smoothed her fluffy hair. “Mm?”

“Don’t feel burdened because I had a crush on you.” Sang Ning was serious, fearing Shen Tingwan might feel indebted.

“I’ve always been fine with it. I was never upset or heartbroken about the crush. I’ve been so lucky to meet you—every time I see you, I’m happy. You bring me so much joy.”

Sang Ning wasn’t great at expressing emotions. She’d rehearsed these words in her heart for a long time, saying them slowly and earnestly.

Shen Tingwan listened, speechless for a moment, wanting to call her silly again. She pulled her into a hug and whispered near her ear, “I’m so lucky.”

Sang Ning’s heart raced as she looped her arms around her waist, thinking, No, I’m the lucky one.

The embrace carried them to the bed. They no longer kept their usual distance.

At first, Sang Ning stayed proper, but Shen Tingwan reached out first.

Sang Ning responded eagerly to the hug, her body tense as they shifted into a new position, pressed close together. Her heart pounded wildly.

The embrace was warm enough, filling Sang Ning with an unprecedented, wondrous feeling—restless excitement on one hand, solid security on the other. She buried her face in Shen Tingwan’s shoulder hollow, clumsily confirming bit by bit, savoring the body heat and scent—the moon was hers now.

Shen Tingwan seemed to understand her thoughts again, deepening the hug tenderly in the darkness.

Sang Ning closed her eyes happily, hugging tighter, her tense body gradually relaxing into pure indulgence.

Shen Tingwan slept a warm, sound sleep that night. When she woke in the early morning, they were still nestled together.

With her guard down, Sang Ning slept messily—one arm draped over Shen Tingwan’s waist all night, instinctively snuggling into her embrace several times.

Shen Tingwan leaned closer, pulling the arm tighter around her waist. She brushed aside the hair blocking Sang Ning’s cheek, revealing half of her clear, serene profile.

She stared at Sang Ning’s side profile for a long time. She’d thought accepting someone into her life would be hard, full of practical considerations and hesitation. But with Sang Ning, everything felt effortlessly right—even exciting.

Sang Ning murmured, “Senior…”

Shen Tingwan smiled. Dreaming of her even in sleep? Her breathing quickened subtly. The hand around her waist was getting bold, stroking her back and lower waist.

The alarm had rung once already. Shen Tingwan checked the time—fifteen minutes past. She pinched Sang Ning’s nape to wake the sleepyhead. “Get up. The alarm went off.”

Sang Ning was half-asleep, her ears missing the soft words entirely. Her hand still rubbed Shen Tingwan’s waist as her head nuzzled into her shoulder.

Shen Tingwan’s breath grew hot, amused by the clinginess beyond her expectations. She parted the hair and leaned close to her right ear. “Sang Ning.”

Sang Ning hummed “mm” first, Shen Tingwan so close that her warm breath tickled the sensitive ear.

Hearing the soft, whiny hum, Shen Tingwan rubbed her nose tip against Sang Ning’s earlobe, then brought her lips near to call again, “Time to get up.”

Sang Ning woke fully, her body a mess of tingles—Shen Tingwan kissing her ear to wake her…

She gazed at Shen Tingwan hazily. “Senior.”

Such a sweet call. Shen Tingwan’s heart fluttered first thing in the morning. Seeing Sang Ning’s flushed cheeks, she wanted to tease her—So innocent.