Chapter 38: MAMA-38 Part 1

MAMA-38: Her crime deserved a thousand deaths.

Mi Shanxin thought she was steadfast enough to surely beguile Jian Wanji into using her mouth instead of her hands. She didn’t expect the woman would only make a feint before quickly dropping Mi Shanxin’s skirt back down.

The indoor heating devices were set very high. Mi Shanxin’s room, so cramped it couldn’t even fit a bookcase, couldn’t hold the many clothes Jian Wanji occasionally sent over.

She still hung up these expensive clothes, unimaginable to her before, so that when they met every day, she could look a little different from the day before.

It was a pity the girl wasn’t good at sweet talk. Someone else might have messaged Jian Wanji on WeChat to claim credit, saying, Look, I properly implemented your thoughtful wishes.

“You don’t regret it, I will.” The woman sat back down at the foot of the bed, her gaze sweeping over Mi Shanxin’s method of hanging clothes, which looked like a street vendor’s stall. She laughed again. “Hanging clothes this high—can you reach them? You’ll need a grabbing pole.”

Mi Shanxin felt a bit deflated. Her deliberate attempt at seduction had minimal effect on Jian Wanji, making her feel even more that she utterly lacked charm.

Most likely, this woman with the vibrant social media life had long since savored far more alluring scenery. Not to mention a myriad of charms, Mi Shanxin didn’t even possess one ten-thousandth of it.

“I can reach them by stepping on the bed.” Mi Shanxin turned her face away, her tone clearly angry. She even kicked the blanket off. Jian Wanji covered her back up, and the girl simply lifted a leg and kicked her.

“Angry already?” Jian Wanji laughed until her eyes narrowed. Unfortunately, the lecherous squint Mi Shanxin had hoped for didn’t appear, once again proving the girl’s first impression of her was wrong.

“No.” Mi Shanxin turned her head back. “Then go buy them. The time spent buying counts as overtime service too.”

“You’re a much better calculator than I am.” Jian Wanji understood. “Why isn’t there a penalty clause?”

“You should have brought them in the first place.” Mi Shanxin sat up from the bed and, right in front of Jian Wanji, took out something Sui Yuqian had slipped into the box of clothes Jian Wanji sent before. The buzzing vibration made Jian Wanji’s head ache. The little mother on the bed just inserted it into herself like that, so casually.

“Seriously? You’re just going to start playing by yourself?” Jian Wanji’s smile froze. “Do you even need me then?”

“You go buy your stuff.” Mi Shanxin regretted not writing more details about this aspect into the additional contract, so it could be in black and white demanding Jian Wanji provide more sleep guidance. “Get lost.”

“No respect for your elders.” The woman being cursed at wasn’t angry. She obediently got up to go buy them. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to cover Mi Shanxin’s exposed parts. “Careful you don’t get roasted.”

The girl on the bed faced away from her. “Even if I’m roasted, it’s none of your business.”

After Jian Wanji went out, she stood in the wind for a while. After buying what she needed, she stood at the doorway for a long time.

Winter break was already approaching the New Year. Even before eight in the evening, there were old folks in the alley who hadn’t gone to sleep.

Jian Wanji was tall, a figure in a long coat standing under the lamplight in the dark night. Compared to the elderly women in padded jackets, she towered over them by a large margin.

There were also tourists dragging suitcases to their BnBs around here. Seeing her behavior didn’t quite match, one person walked past then backtracked to ask, “Are you a relative of Shanxin’s?”

Startled by someone suddenly speaking, Jian Wanji hummed an acknowledgment and smiled at the old woman. “You’re Shanxin’s neighbor?”

“Yes. Which side of her family are you from?”

“Her mother’s side.”

The old woman’s brow furrowed even deeper. “Seriously. Her dad still hasn’t come to visit the child.”

Jian Wanji: “Still won’t come for New Year’s either?”

…

By the time Jian Wanji returned with the items, Mi Shanxin in the room had played with herself so much the blanket was nearly on the floor. Her voice was full of agony, whimpering and groaning.

“You… mmh… why are you only back now…” The girl’s voice was intermittent, her bangs damp with sweat. Her gaze as she looked at the woman closing the door held some reproach.

“Your neighbor stopped me to chat.” Jian Wanji set the things down, tore open the packaging, and placed them one by one on the table. Then she pulled something else from her own bag and went back outside.

It was very quiet here. Mi Shanxin heard the sound of water—Jian Wanji was washing her hands.

The thing inside her body was only so much. The cold implement, even warmed by body heat, was still an implement, ultimately falling short of the satisfaction of an embrace or a caress.

She averted her eyes, only then noticing what Jian Wanji had bought.

She recognized the finger cots, but what was the other thing?

She got up to pick up the two boxes: Mint Biscuit and Grape Wine… what and what…

At that moment, Jian Wanji walked back in, drying her hands as she came. Seeing the girl’s profile from the side, she looked even more terribly thin. She thought it’d be better if she were plumper; having no flesh at all meant if she ever got seriously ill, there’d be no fat reserve to sustain her. Too fragile.

“Choosing grape?” Jian Wanji sat down on the stool, watching Mi Shanxin release her grip, her face flushing red. She finally felt a sense of regained satisfaction. “Isn’t this what you, the boss, requested?”

She wasn’t calling her ‘Mama’ at this moment; it sounded more like a task Mi Shanxin had assigned.

“You said earlier you’d regret it.” Mi Shanxin’s gaze fell on Jian Wanji’s freshly wiped hand. The ring, which was both a disguise and decoration, had been taken off, probably tucked into the pocket of the woman’s coat. Earlier, when Jian Wanji took something from her pocket, she’d also pulled out a jade ring, not cheap either. Because it was treated so carelessly, Mi Shanxin’s distress was fully displayed. The ring ended up on Mi Shanxin’s thumb, with Jian Wanji laughing as she put it on, like a jade thumb ring.

Mi Shanxin had no use for such things. She stored it deep in the cabinet. Even if she and Jian Wanji separated, even if she fell into dire poverty, she would never sell it.

The expensive things her parents never gave her, Jian Wanji gave her all of them. She wanted to take them to the grave.

“Regret it or not,” Jian Wanji said, taking off her coat while reading the packaging box. “I’m afraid you’ll get angry, say you have insomnia again, and call me over in the middle of the night.”

“I have a very important meeting tomorrow. I can’t stay up late.”

So it was still for work. Mi Shanxin felt a few seconds of disappointment. She asked, “Is the person in the meeting very important?”

“Very important. It’s quite an important project for the end of the year.” Jian Wanji knew Mi Shanxin was too lazy to listen to her ramble about work. Conversely, Jian Wanji also didn’t understand the girl’s stuff—the stone and metal inscriptions, antiques, seal carving. She only put some effort into understanding it when she had to send gifts. “Don’t worry, it’s a man.”

“None of my business.” Mi Shanxin lay back down. “I’m not that wicked as to call you over in the middle of the night.”

“Not sleeping well is also torment.” Jian Wanji had also suffered from insomnia. “If you’re in a good state, it’s better for work.”

Her attitude was good, but it didn’t hit Mi Shanxin’s heart.

Even though she had expressed things to Sui Yuqian, Mi Shanxin still felt some hesitation when facing Jian Wanji.

For now, reason held the upper hand. She repeatedly stressed that sleep was more important, yet closing her eyes, all she saw in her mind was Jian Wanji wearing that mouth guard.

Unable to resist, she opened her eyes. A hand reached over, covering her eyes. Shh.

“Your place has terrible soundproofing. Keep your voice down when you moan.”

Jian Wanji’s hand was still a bit cold. Mi Shanxin’s eyes felt chilly. She asked, “You’re not turning off the light?”

Jian Wanji’s voice, muffled by the thing on her mouth, was somewhat slurred. “…otherwise, I can’t see clearly.”

“Oh…”

“Tell me if it’s uncomfortable.” The muffled voice accompanied the soft rustle of fabric, then her waist was propped higher, the warm breath of exhalation brushing across the most secret place.

“Be good. Don’t move.”

…

Since childhood, Mi Shanxin had rarely had the chance to make active choices. She knew she was powerless. Saying she didn’t regret it was also because her options were so few.

But in this matter, the next day, she did somewhat regret it.

She should have asked Jian Wanji to do this for her much earlier. She seemed to have slept even better.

When Jian Wanji burrowed under her skirt, Mi Shanxin felt a sensation she’d never experienced before.

Her legs seemed like oars, with Jian Wanji gripping the oars, pouring more pleasure into her body.

Should’ve shaved earlier.

On the way to work, Mi Shanxin was somewhat distracted. Downstairs at the company building, she waited ages for the elevator; it was a colleague who pressed the button for her.

“Teacher Mi, did you not sleep well again?”

The institution’s part-time teaching assistants weren’t many, most from prestigious schools. Although there were alumni, Mi Shanxin wasn’t familiar with them.

The sudden conversation startled her. Mi Shanxin looked blankly at the speaker: the teacher who taught math to the little kids. She was from the math department at Peaceful University.

“…Mm? It’s alright.” Mi Shanxin watched her press the elevator button and added a thank you.

She thought she had no presence, but in private, the part-timers often talked about her.

Maybe it was the inherent aloof aura of her major, or Mi Shanxin’s dazed and listless appearance, yet because of her striking good looks, she drew attention.

Mi Shanxin never posted in the group chat. Someone proposed a team outing, but she didn’t respond.

The New Year was approaching fast. The institution’s training programs went on holiday earlier than regular office workers. Everyone was thinking of getting together.

Staff turnover at the institution was exceptionally high. For part-time teachers, there was no guarantee there would be a next time.

“Teacher Mi, are you free on your day off class?”

What was the math teacher’s surname again? Mi Shanxin had seen her a few times. A very smart-looking appearance, not much small talk.

Still, Jian Wanji also looked very smart. If she wore a pair of silver-rimmed glasses in a video, she wouldn’t lose to those professional-dress long-haired glasses-wearing women Mi Shanxin saw in her morning feed. She might even be more expressive.

“Day off class… is that the holiday day?” Inside the elevator, Mi Shanxin finally saw the other’s work badge. Surname Zhou. She sighed in relief inwardly, glad she wouldn’t have to awkwardly ask ‘What’s your honorable surname?’

“Yes. We’re all part-timers, there’s a small group. Wanted to ask if you’d like to join the gathering.”

“I… I won’t go.” Mi Shanxin shook her head.

“Alright.” The other didn’t press further. “Although I guessed your answer, it’s still a bit sad to be rejected by you.”

The other had a great figure; her knitted dress inner layer showed off her shape well.

Although now Mi Shanxin’s clothes were all arranged by Jian Wanji, they still followed the sweet-but-cool style, completely unrelated to sexiness.

Perhaps people always chase what they don’t have, just like she was abandoned by her mother too early, unconsciously seeking the shadow of a mother figure during her formative years.

That was an impolite projection. Mi Shanxin knew it very well, so she never overstepped.

Jian Wanji was outside the rules, but inside the boundary line.

Their meeting wasn’t too early or too late. Any earlier, and Mi Shanxin would have been a minor. Any later, maybe Mi Shanxin wouldn’t have been working here part-time, and they wouldn’t have met.

“I’m sorry.” Mi Shanxin apologized. The other waved her hand. “I didn’t mean to pressure you, but I really hope you can come.”

The alumni winked. “Honestly, everyone’s very curious about you.”

Mi Shanxin: “Me? Why?”

Before, she always wore that gray sweater, her hair black, hanging past her shoulders. Not the traditional bob cut; the ends curled out, obviously not meticulously styled, yet because of her looks, it had a rare, manga-like feel.

But Mi Shanxin was clearly immersed in her own world—eyes fixed straight on her way to work, and after work, she didn’t seem in a rush to eat, just walking towards the subway station with a heavy backpack.

She had a thick sense of story about her. Just like the clothes that had suddenly changed a few days ago. When colleagues saw her coming and going, they were very surprised. The teacher in charge of admissions even felt the child had finally ‘awakened’ and was deeply moved.