Chapter 66

Shen Tingwan rarely agreed with something Wei Xue had said: once you liked someone, all principles went out the window. She had abandoned her principles for Sang Ning far too many times.

But she was different. Sang Ning’s heart pounded, yet it also felt grounded.

Shen Tingwan rubbed her lower abdomen for her, tilting her head to kiss the corner of her mouth soothingly.

Sang Ning lowered her eyelashes, exchanging intermittent kisses with her. She had been feeling down from the menstrual cramps earlier, but now everything was fine. Shen Tingwan always expressed her affection so straightforwardly. Being with her made Sang Ning feel constantly wrapped in sweet gentleness.

She had grown accustomed to the world not treating her kindly, but then she met the gentlest lover.

Shen Tingwan continued massaging her lower abdomen, kissing her slowly as she drawled, “Is it better to be friends, or girlfriends?”

Sang Ning felt her heart itch from the teasing, but she couldn’t do anything about it. Finally, she grumbled, “You’re so petty…”

“Yes,” Shen Tingwan laughed, tickling her waist. “I can hold a grudge for a lifetime.”

Sang Ning burst into giggles instantly, feeling a warm flow surge below. She didn’t dare laugh too hard. She loved hearing Shen Tingwan talk about “a lifetime.”

The two playfully fooled around before bed like children, then held each other and slept through a warm night.

The next day, Shen Tingwan had to catch a flight, while Sang Ning dragged her suitcase to the high-speed rail station.

The station was adorned with all sorts of big red decorations and posters, thick with the flavor of the New Year.

Chinese New Year’s Eve was approaching, and another year was about to end.

Thanks to Shen Tingwan, this had been the least ordinary year in Sang Ning’s otherwise mundane life.

Sang Ning’s Spring Festivals were usually much the same, but this one was a little different. After spending New Year’s Eve at home, they planned to visit nearby attractions for a few days.

It was Sang Mingjing who had suggested it. She couldn’t stand the relatives at home and wanted some peace during the holiday.

The three single women in their family always faced overly enthusiastic relatives during New Year, with all their “caring” inquiries making singledom feel like a crime.

On New Year’s Eve, Sang Ning gathered with her mom and little aunt to eat the reunion dinner and watch the gala.

The room was filled with the simple, unpretentious smell of home-cooked food. This was the kind of plain, steady happiness in which Sang Ning had spent year after year.

During the reunion dinner, Sang Ning recorded a short video and sent it to Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan’s reunion dinner was at a hotel—a grand family banquet with a huge crowd.

A WeChat notification popped up on her phone. Shen Tingwan glanced at it and smiled. Her “good baby” was reporting in on time. She recorded a video of her side and sent it to Sang Ning.

Sang Ning watched the video while smiling.

Sang Mingjuan glanced at her daughter a couple of times and reminded her from the side, “The food’s getting cold. Eat already.”

Sang Ning looked down and saw two chicken mid-wings added to her bowl. She didn’t like drumsticks, only mid-wings, and there were always exactly two for her.

As usual, the family stayed up for the New Year. That night, Sang Ning received three big red envelopes: one from Sang Mingjuan, one from Sang Mingjing, and one from Shen Tingwan.

Sang Ning accepted them with a beaming smile and sent a red envelope back to Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan collected the red envelope and replied: You’ve latched onto a little rich girl.

Sang Ning laughed happily.

The two chatted idly on WeChat, keeping each other company across the distance. Before they knew it, it was almost midnight.

A few minutes before midnight, Shen Tingwan asked if she wanted to see fireworks and started a video call.

Sang Ning hurried upstairs first, eagerly connecting. The screen showed Shen Tingwan’s face. She stood on the rooftop terrace, with a brilliant night sky behind her, but the smile on her face was more captivating than the night itself.

Shen Tingwan smiled and said, “It’s about to start.”

Sang Ning stared at the screen, her longing swelling. She admitted she was pathetic—they hadn’t been apart long, but right now, she wanted to hold Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan looked at the smiling, crinkled eyes on her screen and wasn’t much better off, separated by an untouchable distance.

Neither said they missed each other, but their feelings were all in their smiling gazes.

At the stroke of midnight, fireworks bloomed wildly.

Sang Ning’s side erupted with New Year’s Eve fireworks right on time, blending with those on Shen Tingwan’s end.

Their world was a riot of color.

After the fireworks, Sang Ning received another call from Shen Tingwan. As soon as she picked up, a pleasant voice came through: “Baby, Happy New Year.”

Sang Ning paused slightly, her heart bursting like the midnight fireworks. With a full smile, she softly replied, “Happy New Year… baby.”

The earnest word made Shen Tingwan’s smile linger. “So sweet tonight?”

Sang Ning whispered, “Learned from you.”

Shen Tingwan suddenly murmured very softly, “I want to kiss you.”

Sang Ning’s heart ignited like a prairie fire, a bit restless. She always took Shen Tingwan’s words seriously. After thinking, she said, “Mm, wait till I get back.”

Shen Tingwan laughed. She was always so proper, and yet that’s exactly what Shen Tingwan loved.

During the Spring Festival holidays, Sang Ning was highly dependent on her phone. Shen Tingwan reported her schedule, Jiang Yunchun sent videos of Lanlan, and Yu Shuang was driven crazy by marriage pressure, venting to her daily.

From the updates, Shen Tingwan seemed exhausted these days, with back-to-back social banquets and packed itineraries.

Sang Mingjing saw her glued to her phone all day and teased, “Chatting with someone nonstop?”

Sang Ning vaguely replied, “A friend.”

Sang Mingjing shot Sang Mingjuan a look, then probed meaningfully, “Just a regular friend?”

Sang Ning brushed it off with a smile. She hadn’t figured out how to tell them about the relationship yet. She wasn’t sure if her family could accept her liking women, but she felt Sang Mingjuan would respect her choice—she always had, from childhood…

After Sang Ning left, Sang Mingjing quietly told Sang Mingjuan, “Sis, your precious daughter seems to be in love.”

Sang Ning had been on calls every day, and on New Year’s Eve, she’d snuck back to her room. It was obvious.

Sang Mingjuan glanced at Sang Mingjing, staying silent, and quietly sighed.

Sang Mingjing: “What’s wrong? You’re not happy she has someone?”

Sang Mingjuan remained quiet, her brows slightly furrowed.

That afternoon, Sang Ning received a bunch of messages from Yu Shuang—seven or eight long voice notes, each at least thirty or forty seconds. She converted them to text for easier reading.

Yu Shuang: Oh my god, you can’t imagine how bizarre it is. I only saw stuff like this online. I wasn’t even awake in the morning when the blind date crew showed up at my door. I came out of the bedroom, and whoosh—seven or eight pairs of eyes staring at me…

Her rant was vivid and immersive. Sang Ning thought Yu Shuang was wasting her talent not being a storyteller.

Yu Shuang: I really envy you—no marriage pressure at all.

Yu Shuang knew Sang Ning had a never-married little aunt who could fend off all the family nagging single-handedly.

Sang Ning truly had no such pressure. Aside from nosy relatives, Sang Mingjuan never pushed her. Sometimes, Sang Ning even felt like her mom didn’t want her to date.

…

Shen Tingwan stayed at the Shen family home for three days, handling necessary socializing. On the fourth day, she went traveling with Wei Xue, as she usually did.

Though their personalities differed greatly, they synced on this: neither could stand the New Year’s social obligations. They always escaped together for a trip.

This time, Wei Xue brought her sister Wei Zi along. Wei Zi had just returned from studying abroad. Shen Tingwan and Wei Xue were childhood friends, and she often ran into Wei Zi, occasionally looking after her.

Wei Zi’s personality resembled Wei Xue’s a bit—rebellious young miss temperament, straightforward and blunt.

With limited holiday time, Shen Tingwan didn’t go far, just to another city to unwind. They arrived at the hotel in the evening, checked in, and she called Sang Ning first to report she was safe.

Sang Ning had just returned to her hotel too. These days, she’d been out playing with family and had hiked a mountain today, burning incense and praying. Her legs ached from all the stairs.

She picked up Shen Tingwan’s call: “You there?”

Shen Tingwan sat on the sofa to rest. “Mm, resting a bit first. We’ll go eat later. Tired from the hike?”

“Harder than I thought. Took the cable car down at the end. Not going out tonight—resting at the hotel.”

“Remember to stretch…”

As they talked, Shen Tingwan heard a knock. She went to open the door and saw Wei Zi standing there.

The door opened, and Wei Zi walked right in, leaning close. “Sis, not leaving yet?”

Shen Tingwan hadn’t hung up. Sang Ning suddenly heard a woman coquettishly whining—

“Still early. Rest a bit more.” Shen Tingwan stepped back, habitually keeping some distance.

Wei Zi, bored, asked again, “Can I hang out here?”

Shen Tingwan said, “Sure.”

Sang Ning sensed it wasn’t convenient to talk on Shen Tingwan’s end and quietly asked, “Busy?”

“No,” Shen Tingwan walked to the balcony to continue. “That was just Wei Xue’s sister.”

Sang Ning pursed her lips slightly. After a moment, she softly asked, “You sharing a room tonight?”

She’d seen the hotel room photo Shen Tingwan sent earlier—only one bed, and a semi-transparent bathroom.

Shen Tingwan realized the misunderstanding and laughed, explaining, “I’m alone. She’ll just hang out a bit, then go eat with Wei Xue later.”

Sang Ning said, “Okay.”

Shen Tingwan continued reporting: “After dinner, heading to a bar. Might be back late.”

Sang Ning quietly said “mm.”

Shen Tingwan thought for a moment and asked, “Don’t like me going to bars?”

“No.” Sang Ning quickly said. Everyone relaxed differently, and Shen Tingwan liked a drink now and then. She was just worried. “Don’t get drunk.”

Shen Tingwan laughed. “Someone’s watching me. Won’t drink too much.”

Sang Ning smiled sweetly.

They dawdled before ending the call.

Wei Zi had been sitting nearby for a while. Once Shen Tingwan hung up, she said, “Workaholic even on vacation. Don’t overdo it.” From what she knew, only work got this much attention from Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan smiled faintly. “My girlfriend’s call.”

Wei Zi was stunned, thinking she’d misheard. Girlfriend? The word from Shen Tingwan shocked her. She widened her eyes, stared for a long time, then confirmed, “You have a girlfriend?”

Shen Tingwan nodded. “Mm.”

Wei Zi stayed shocked. “Aren’t you straight?”

Shen Tingwan smiled concisely. “Met a girl I like, so we’re together.”

Wei Zi: “…”

Soon, Wei Xue knocked, urging them to go eat.

All three loved to drink. After dinner, they hit a famous local bar, which had a live show that night.

The resident singer was good, crooning an English love song romantically. Shen Tingwan sipped her drink and recorded a clip, sending it out.

Wei Xue noticed. “Another one for your baby junior?”

Shen Tingwan openly admitted, “Mm.”

“You this whipped?” Wei Xue couldn’t stand it. So much for personal space—now every move was live-reported in her relationship.

Wei Zi, drinking, asked curiously, “Baby junior?”

Wei Xue explained, “Her girlfriend.”

“Curious. Got a photo? Let me see.” Wei Zi leaned over. “What kind of person could make you fall?”

Shen Tingwan didn’t pull up a photo, just smiled. “I’ll introduce you when I’m back.”

“Sure.”

That night, Shen Tingwan didn’t overdo the drinking, stopping at her limit. Wei Xue was half-drunk; Wei Zi lost control and got wildly silly.

Shen Tingwan watched Wei Zi cling to her drunkenly and helplessly called to Wei Xue, “Watch her. What a mess.”

Wei Xue watched the fun, laughing and even filming a video. Only then did she pull Wei Zi away. “Everyone’s staring. Embarrassing much?”

Wei Zi settled only after being half-dragged by Wei Xue, slumping motionless over the table.

Wei Xue amused herself with the video for a while, then posted it to Moments.

Shen Tingwan soon scrolled to Wei Xue’s Moments post and immediately grabbed her phone.

Wei Xue, tipsy, asked, “What’s up?”

Shen Tingwan: “Delete it.”