Sang Ning’s ears were too ticklish, so she tilted her head, but her arms still circled Shen Tingwan’s waist, keeping them close. She was reluctant to let go.
Shen Tingwan handed the choice to her. “Tell me, how do you want me to coax you?”
Sang Ning’s heart melted at the gentle tone, but she was someone with no demands. Actively making requests was a monumental challenge for her. “This is fine.”
Shen Tingwan asked, “You’re satisfied just like that?”
Sang Ning grinned. “Satisfied.”
Shen Tingwan knew she was the type who was easy to please. Even when she liked someone, just seeing them was enough to satisfy her—no other desires.
After a moment of silence, Shen Tingwan said seriously, “You don’t have to be so easily satisfied around me.”
Sang Ning fell quiet. She always aimed for contentment, but Shen Tingwan told her she didn’t need to settle so easily. In front of Shen Tingwan, it seemed okay to be willful.
Shen Tingwan hugged her tighter, coaxing her silently.
It turned out grievances could dissipate like this. Sang Ning smiled faintly, like a cat that had basked in the sun for too long. She rested her chin on Shen Tingwan’s shoulder, her eyes narrowing in bliss.
Shen Tingwan rubbed her arm. “Were you tired from shooting all morning?”
Sang Ning replied, “Not tired.”
Shen Tingwan looked at her, unable to hide her heartache. “You never get tired.” Just like how she liked her.
Sang Ning didn’t catch the subtext and zoned out watching Shen Tingwan’s lips move.
Shen Tingwan’s gaze softened. Her palm slid to the back of Sang Ning’s neck, pinching it gently, her fingertips brushing her hair lightly.
Sang Ning kept her composure, but her heartbeat faltered. She remembered how Shen Tingwan loved to rub the back of her neck during kisses.
The embrace was tight, the distance close, but someone knocked on the door. Sang Ning had to let go of her arms and said softly, “I should get back to work too.”
Shen Tingwan planted a light kiss on her lips. “Go ahead.”
Sang Ning steadied herself. As she prepared to leave, she remembered something. Blushing, she turned her head and earnestly returned a kiss on Shen Tingwan’s lip corner. No matter how reserved she was, she always responded to Shen Tingwan.
The soft touch vanished in an instant. Shen Tingwan watched the quiet retreating figure, smiling for a long time.
Sang Ning walked out of the office with light steps. She was skilled at regulating bad moods, and with Shen Tingwan’s hug and kiss, by afternoon, not a trace of negativity remained.
In the evening, the sky shifted from clear to cloudy, and soon rain began to fall.
The rainy weather persisted until New Year’s Eve.
Shen Tingwan’s New Year’s work event ran late, so they couldn’t spend it together. Sang Ning went with Yu Shuang.
Birch City was a popular tourist destination. On New Year’s Eve, crowds of tourists flooded into the downtown area.
Yu Shuang loved the bustle and had planned to celebrate outside, but the bad weather made it inconvenient. Crowds in the rain would be a disaster.
After discussion, they decided to have hotpot at Yu Shuang’s place with three or four friends.
The TV broadcast various New Year’s galas. Two friends were fans who had checked the schedule ahead and switched channels on cue, letting out excited squeals now and then.
Sang Ning didn’t follow celebrities and paid no attention to things she didn’t care about. She even had a bit of face blindness. Glancing at the TV occasionally, she felt like the same person had just sung on one channel and now appeared on another.
Yu Shuang had drunk some alcohol that evening, and with the hotpot steam, her cheeks were flushed. Spotting a female celebrity, she tugged Sang Ning. “Hey, doesn’t she look like your wife?”
Sang Ning, who hadn’t drunk, still felt her face heat up. Wife? She glanced at the TV and shook her head. “Doesn’t look like her.”
Yu Shuang insisted she did.
Sang Ning stubbornly said she looked nothing like her. Shen Tingwan was simply Shen Tingwan.
While Sang Ning ate the steaming hotpot, Shen Tingwan was at the event venue, walking the red carpet for photos, followed by a schmooze-filled cocktail party.
Sang Ning saw photos and a video Shen Tingwan sent her. In it, Shen Tingwan sat at a long banquet table, her poised smile captivating.
Shen Tingwan wore a light-colored long dress that evening, hugging her beautiful, slender figure. Her standout aura made her glow amid the crowd.
Sang Ning saved the photos and video.
Her heart fluttered again as she watched them repeatedly…
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Yu Shuang saw her staring at her phone and urged, “The meat’s getting cold.”
“Mm.” Sang Ning absentmindedly ate some beef from her bowl.
They’d prepared a lot of meat, thinking it might go to waste, but as they chatted and watched TV, they ate most of it.
“Blanch the shrimp.”
Another plate of prawns went into the pot.
Sang Ning filmed a video of the hotpot and sent it to Shen Tingwan. Soon, Shen Tingwan replied, “I want to eat some too,” with an emoji.
Sang Ning chuckled quietly. The emoji clashed a bit with Shen Tingwan’s elegant vibe that night.
Shen Tingwan must have had a moment to spare and called her.
The dinner table was noisy, so Sang Ning stepped out to the balcony. Rain pattered outside.
Shen Tingwan asked, “Having fun?”
Sang Ning smiled. “Yeah, we’re stuffed.”
Shen Tingwan said, “I really want some too.”
Her voice carried a tipsy lilt from the alcohol, more coquettish than usual. Sang Ning’s heart skipped. “Next time, we can make it at home.”
Shen Tingwan laughed. Hearing Sang Ning speak like that always made her heart feel steady and warm. After chuckling, she asked lazily, “Peeling shrimp for others again?”
The topic jumped abruptly. Sang Ning blinked. “Huh?”
Shen Tingwan commanded softly, “No more peeling for anyone else from now on…”
“Mm, I didn’t peel for anyone else. I ate them myself.” Sang Ning caught on and smiled. Hearing the jealous tone, she asked worriedly, “Are you drunk?”
Shen Tingwan replied, “No, I’m pacing myself. Don’t worry.”
Sang Ning lowered her head. Every word from Shen Tingwan that night felt like coquetry… She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I’ll come pick you up later.”
Shen Tingwan laughed first. “No need. Have fun with your friends.”
But tonight, she wanted to see her. So badly. Sang Ning fiddled with her fingers, unable to voice such sappy words. She just repeated glumly, “I’ll come pick you up…”
It was late at night in the rain, and Shen Tingwan didn’t want her going to trouble, but she wanted to meet too. After thinking, she said warmly, “Send me the address. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
Sang Ning worried about her drinking and felt a bit eager. “I can just come get you.”
Shen Tingwan’s heart swelled with sweetness and a touch of soreness. She thought of the time Sang Ning brought her jam, waiting at the hotel without complaint, insisting on seeing her home—everything so sincere… Her affection had been so obvious; how had it taken her so long to realize?
Sang Ning stayed at Yu Shuang’s for nearly another hour. Timing it right, she borrowed an umbrella from Yu Shuang and prepared to leave.
Yu Shuang knew she was picking up Shen Tingwan and didn’t try to keep her.
Sang Ning took a cab to the event hotel.
After the cocktail party ended, Shen Tingwan walked out, surrounded by people. They were all sharp operators, flattering each other with chatter and laughter.
Rain still fell outside.
Foggy, miserable weather.
The moment Shen Tingwan stepped out, she spotted Sang Ning, who had waited who-knows-how-long. The gloomy weather brightened. Staring at the quiet figure in the distance, she smiled. Perhaps her feelings for her junior had stirred earlier than she imagined.
Sang Ning saw others around her and, fearing she wasn’t done, didn’t approach right away.
Shen Tingwan immediately said goodbye to them.
Someone offered enthusiastically, “Teacher Shen, I arranged a driver. Let’s go together.”
Shen Tingwan smiled brightly and said generously, “No need. My girlfriend is here to pick me up.”
The surroundings were noisy, and they were at a distance, so Sang Ning couldn’t hear clearly, but she was adept at lip-reading. She saw Shen Tingwan say “girlfriend.”
Shen Tingwan walked over step by step in her high heels.
Sang Ning’s heartbeat quickened with each approaching step. She stared at Shen Tingwan without blinking.
Shen Tingwan asked, “Did you wait long?”
Sang Ning said stubbornly she hadn’t, that she’d just arrived.
Shen Tingwan, slightly tipsy, raised a brow. “I don’t believe you.”
Sang Ning: “…”
Shen Tingwan took Sang Ning’s hand—it was a bit cool. She’d been in the warm indoors and had drunk, so she was much warmer.
Sang Ning watched her gently warm her hand and slowly revealed her dimples in a smile. Though Shen Tingwan wore a coat, it wasn’t thick. “Let’s head back. It’s windy out here.”
Shen Tingwan had the hotel call a business car.
They got in, and the driver asked for the address. Sang Ning fluently gave Shen Tingwan’s, having been there many times.
In the car, Shen Tingwan relaxed against Sang Ning, their hands clasped in an interlocking grip, palms pressed together.
Sang Ning glanced down. She’d secretly admired Shen Tingwan’s hands many times—the shape of her nails was familiar—but she’d never imagined holding them like this.
The drive was long. Shen Tingwan played with her fingers. Sang Ning’s were pretty—slender and even, nails neatly trimmed, pale and clean.
Their long fingers intertwined. Sang Ning’s heart warmed. Shen Tingwan must be drunk to play with her hands so childishly.
Shen Tingwan dozed the whole way.
Sang Ning adjusted to let her lean comfortably and quietly watched her the entire time—
They arrived home past eleven. Shen Tingwan unlocked the door with her fingerprint. Sang Ning followed her in, staring at her back, lost in thought.
Once inside with the lights on, Sang Ning’s heart raced. Without even changing shoes, she silently wrapped her arms around Shen Tingwan’s waist from behind, pulling her into a warm embrace.
Shen Tingwan stiffened for a moment, surprised at how proactive she was.
Sang Ning figured Shen Tingwan needed a hug right now. Offering it proactively would surely make her happier.
Shen Tingwan looked down at her and smiled.
Sang Ning didn’t look away. Shen Tingwan still wore her high heels, so she tilted her head up to meet her gaze. Raised in a loving but reserved environment, she never knew how to express affection, bottling it up silently. Liking someone meant being unconditionally good to them—pretty clumsy.
But Shen Tingwan had taught her so much: how to express liking someone both gently and passionately.
Sang Ning deepened the hug to ease her fatigue, her palm lightly rubbing her hair. Then she leaned in, tilting her head up to kiss her red lips…
