Chapter 42: MAMA-42 Part 2

Mi Shanxin always lacked energy. Cleaning could cost her half her life, so she simply didn’t bother. After all, her grandparents were gone, her parents never visited. Jian Wanji was her only guest, and she came and went in a hurry. As long as her body was ready, she didn’t need to get anything else into shape.

Exhausted, she quickly closed her eyes and fell back asleep. When she finally got up around noon, she saw the breakfast on the table.

Combined with Jian Wanji’s WeChat messages, it seemed the woman had left in the middle of the night and come back again in the morning.

[I have to go on a business trip. Fastest I’ll be back is four days from now.]

Mi Shanxin was sprawled on the bed, having completely forgotten when she’d been put back here.

It had probably been Jian Wanji who bathed her. She’d struggled a lot, but the other woman had said, “You didn’t complain when I was drinking, so what’s there to refuse now?”

The other woman had likely gotten soaked too. In the end…

Mi Shanxin’s memory was blank. She asked Jian Wanji on WeChat: [Did you sleep at my place last night?]

Jian Wanji happened to be about to board the plane. She glanced at the time. Mi Shanxin had actually slept until now?

Her mood was very conflicted. On one hand, she was happy for Mi Shanxin’s sleep quality. On the other, she worried about her becoming dependent. What would happen in the future?

Using this behavior to promote sleep was ultimately unhealthy.

[No. With that tiny bed of yours, who could even squeeze in?]

[Then I’ll buy a bigger one.]

Mi Shanxin replied instantly. Jian Wanji typed and deleted repeatedly, feeling cornered with no place to retreat.

[No need. I drive home very quickly.]

[In the middle of the night. Not safe.]

Mi Shanxin threw her own earlier words back at her. The woman stared at her phone, completely helpless. A colleague traveling with her rarely saw her like this and couldn’t help guessing what exactly was the “situation” everyone at the company had recently hinted about the big boss.

If that girl the other day was the boss’s daughter, she was a bit too old. If she was a girlfriend, she seemed too young. No one believed it.

There were bold ones who occasionally asked Sui Yuqian when she dropped by the break room. The other boss was evasive, saying there wasn’t even the first stroke of the character “eight” written yet.

But at least the ink brush had touched the paper! How hard a project was Jian Wanji to crack? It was practically legend within the industry.

They said she appeared to be a player on the surface, but no one could ever truly win her over. Some rumors even claimed she was “all body, no heart”—a complete scumbag.

As a staff member who had worked with Jian Wanji for years, this colleague had refuted the scumbag rumors long ago.

In her view, Jian Wanji actively cultivated that flashy, gaudy image partly to deter anyone genuinely interested.

Business occasions were all toasts and small talk, where people chatted about everything and seemed close to everyone. But it was also the most honest proof that deep waters ran between hearts.

Jian Wanji navigated these waters with ease. They always said colleagues shouldn’t date colleagues, and she seemed to fit that mold.

But dating a college student was still too young! Even if the boss kept herself well and her mature charm was hard to hide, standing next to a fresh-faced little sister, the contrast was huge.

Probably because the colleague had stared too long, Jian Wanji looked up from her WeChat messages and asked, “What’s wrong? Need to switch seats?”

Going on a business trip with Jian Wanji was everyone’s favorite. Everyone got upgraded to business class, so there wasn’t much to switch.

Being on her team meant the whole trip was relaxed as long as targets were met, completely unlike the high-pressure environment of the other team.

Jian Wanji was even the kind of boss who would shoulder the bulk of the responsibility herself. Even those who disliked her joking, flirtatious attitude still admired her ability to bring projects to fruition.

This sudden trip was to clean up someone else’s mess. The partner there had specifically requested Jian Wanji in person, which had cut into the Chinese New Year holiday.

If it went smoothly, she could still make it back for the holiday. If not, she might be stuck there until after.

“No, no!” The staffer quickly waved her hand. Even in business class, people worked. The flight didn’t stop productivity, especially with internet access.

Jian Wanji couldn’t handle Mi Shanxin’s outwardly calm but inwardly chaotic and cutting questions. Using boarding and airplane mode as an excuse, she hurriedly ended the conversation, saying she’d talk when she landed.

Mi Shanxin stared at Jian Wanji’s final “Talk later” for a long time. Then, a WeChat call suddenly popped up, from the person who owed her money.

She thought for a moment, then answered.

“Mi Mi, good afternoon.” Wen He’s voice wasn’t as clear and smooth as Jian Wanji’s. If you hadn’t seen what she looked like, you might imagine a gentle senior sister with long flowing hair.

“Can I help you?” Mi Shanxin’s tone was ice cold. “If it’s about paying for the damage, just transfer me the money.”

She remembered the receipt for her phone. “I bought the official genuine version. It’s a bit expensive. I can show you the receipt.”

“Oh, the official genuine version. Then let’s go to the official store for the after-sales service.” The other party seemed surprised that the Mi Shanxin of now would actually refuse someone. Before, she’d been so silent, so easy to bully. “I’ll come pick you up.”

“No need.” Mi Shanxin paused. “I’ll look for the official store.”

“I’ll do it. Are you still living in the same place as before?”

Wen He seemed to be outside; it was a bit noisy. Seeing that Mi Shanxin wasn’t answering, she said with a laugh, “Then I’ll wait for you at the 7-Eleven entrance, okay?”

No way to refuse now. Mi Shanxin gave an “Oh” and hung up.

Perhaps because she’d demanded too much from Jian Wanji yesterday, she felt a bit sore from the biting.

And even when she’d desperately begged the other woman to touch her chest, Jian Wanji still hadn’t complied. Kissing, either.

She was still adhering to the contract, nothing more.

This teasing kept Mi Shanxin hanging. Even though she could fall asleep, it was a surface-level satisfaction that never fully gratified her.

Still, Mi Shanxin could somewhat sense that Jian Wanji had repeatedly pressed her fingers along the lower outline of her chest. The marks left by ill-fitting bra underwires were long gone.

Mi Shanxin was flat-chested, so thin it was almost negligible. Lying down, it was practically non-existent. Even if she tried her hardest to gather something, it still had less substance than a handful of snow.

And yet, Jian Wanji loved tracing her underbust with her fingertips. Several times, Mi Shanxin was certain Jian Wanji had wanted to kiss her there but had held back.

If only she had a bit more stamina. She could have lasted a little longer, not been knocked unconscious by the intensity.

Before, Mi Shanxin had considered exercising, but trying to work out while sleep-deprived would only burn her out faster.

Any kind of fitness required at least adequate sleep. Not Mi Shanxin’s previous state of passing out from sheer exhaustion.

Now things were different. She could sleep her fill. Yet, it wasn’t for health that she wanted to build up her strength, but to see another person’s unrestrained passion.

Mi Shanxin thought: If Li Yin knew, she’d cuss me out.

But she just really liked Jian Wanji. Just like that first meeting—before the woman even reached her side, her gaze had already followed her through the glass.

The more time they spent together, the more she liked her. If only she could have her completely.

Wen He’s car was parked across from the 7-Eleven. She’d arrived ages ago, watching Mi Shanxin shuffle slowly to the alley entrance, then the 7-Eleven door. She stared at the polar bear mascot for a long time before just standing there, dazed, seemingly ignoring her phone entirely.

Wen He was a senior this year, set to graduate fully next semester. Mechanical engineering was what she’d wanted, but her mother also handed her a restaurant and hotel business and told her to try managing it, saying a mechanical engineering degree was too impractical and she might as well inherit the family business.

Her initial interest in mechanics had actually been because of Mi Shanxin.

Looking at the girl’s blank expression, she probably never even thought about her. Even though Wen He had very deliberately swiped her scarf.

Mi Shanxin was utterly clueless, just as she had been before.

Wen He didn’t know if she would ever be attracted to women. She’d planned to approach her properly after graduation but hadn’t expected to run into her so soon.

But she still hadn’t come out to her family. Her mother only had her, one daughter, and placed many demands on her.

If it came to needing an heir, she could bear the child herself. That wasn’t the core issue. The core issue was Mi Shanxin.

She was so tiny, so pitifully fragile. Her boldness seemed more like a missing survival instinct. Would suddenly confessing her feelings scare her off?

Seeing Mi Shanxin still spacing out, Wen He decided to get out of the car, cross the street, and walk right up to her.

“You don’t look at your phone?”

The girl jumped, startled. The leaves on the winter sycamores had long fallen. The air was biting cold.

Mi Shanxin’s nose was red from the chill. Her mind full of Jian Wanji, she instinctively imagined the woman appearing before her. When she saw it was the girl from yesterday, she deflated with disappointment. “Oh. You’re here.”

“Why so unhappy?” Wen He still found her amusing. “Come on, my car is parked across the street.”

“Have you eaten?”

The girl’s speech was as slow as ever. “I just woke up.”

Wen He let out an “Eh?” “Slept till almost 1 PM? Your sleep is pretty good then.”

Mi Shanxin didn’t tell her the secret. Wen He was a stranger to her. Even if this person had snatched her scarf, causing Li Yin to curse up a storm over it.

“Just okay. You’re the one who came looking for me.” Jian Wanji’s leftover breakfast was still at home. Mi Shanxin had put it in the fridge, planning to eat when she felt like it. The phone screen was more important.

“Then let’s go eat first.” Wen He turned the car. Mi Shanxin vehemently refused. “To fix the phone screen protector.”

“Sorry, you’ve been kidnapped by me. You have to listen to me.”

Mi Shanxin wasn’t much of a curser. She just sat quietly in the passenger seat. Wen He kept glancing at her at every red light, asking, “Where are your grandparents?”

“Both dead.”

Wen He nearly slapped herself. She said sorry, then asked, “So you live alone now?”

Mi Shanxin nodded without any extra words.

“Then who was that woman who picked you up last night? Your mom?” Yesterday, Jian Wanji had retreated so quickly. Wen He only caught the sense that Mi Shanxin was very dependent on her, without getting a clear look at her face.

“No.” Mi Shanxin kept her head down. “That’s my girlfriend.”

The car almost ran a red light. Wen He stared in shock. “What?”

Afraid she’d cause an accident, Mi Shanxin frowned. “If you can’t drive, I’ll just walk.”

She was so utterly deadpan, yet her face was overly cute. Anyone would want to pinch it.

“Wait, am I hearing this right? Girlfriend? That old a girlfriend?! Don’t joke with me.”