Chapter 66: I Want You to See

Little Chuning: 【Why are you sending so many question marks?】

Jiang Xiaoyi cleared her throat lightly. 【You’re still young. Don’t think about this stuff all the time…】

Little Chuning: 【I’m an adult now, okay? Just tell me how I can get into bed with Jiang Xiaoyi.】

Hearing that lively, childish voice in her mind say something like that made it hard for Jiang Xiaoyi to keep a straight face.

She could hardly imagine how Meng Chuning had been so outgoing before, but one thing hadn’t changed: her directness.

Jiang Xiaoyi paused for a moment. 【Actually, you could just tell… her straight up.】

Little Chuning shot back immediately. 【No way!】

Little Chuning: 【Xiaoyi’s so innocent. She’d freak out if I asked something like that.】

Jiang Xiaoyi was indeed startled. 【Then why can you tell me?】

Little Chuning: 【You’ve been through a hundred battles under my training. Are you still shy?】

Jiang Xiaoyi: 【…】

Little Chuning: 【The other me must be having the time of her life.】

Jiang Xiaoyi: 【…Stop talking.】

Little Chuning: 【Xiaoyi~ Please, if you won’t tell me that, at least teach me how to chase Xiaoyi?】

Teaching Little Chuning how to chase herself sounded utterly ridiculous.

Jiang Xiaoyi rubbed her forehead. Don’t act spoiled in my head. She couldn’t keep chatting with Little Chuning like this—who knew what bombshell she’d drop next?

Meng Chuning reached out and cupped Jiang Xiaoyi’s cheeks. “What’s wrong? Does your head hurt?”

It didn’t hurt. It just felt a little numb.

Jiang Xiaoyi lifted her eyelashes and asked softly, “Sister, were you really bubbly back in high school?”

“A little, I guess.” Meng Chuning didn’t know that before her mom had planned to send her abroad, she’d been pretty lively. But those few years alone overseas had turned her reclusive, quiet, and a bit aloof.

She could say her personality now was a far cry from high school.

Jiang Xiaoyi smiled lightly. It seemed like more than just a little.

“Sister.” Jiang Xiaoyi reached out and hugged Meng Chuning’s waist. “I really want to know what you were like in high school. I feel like I missed out on so much.”

With her chin resting on Meng Chuning’s shoulder, Jiang Xiaoyi’s voice was full of regret. Meng Chuning hugged her back. “Xiaoyi, why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

“It just came to me.” Jiang Xiaoyi was a bit envious of the other her. “I was wondering, if we’d met in high school, what would we do every day when we saw each other?”

Her own high school life had been dull. She went to school and came straight home every day, her only hobby swimming to unwind. Her only friend was Su Jiuyue. Jiang Xiaoyi couldn’t even imagine how exciting high school would have been with Meng Chuning around.

Little Chuning couldn’t help but pipe up in her mind. 【Jiang Xiaoyi, are you really that curious?】

Little Chuning’s tone was cheerful. 【Your grades weren’t great in high school. Every time I tutored you, I wanted to kiss you senseless. How could anyone get such simple problems wrong?】

As Meng Chuning listened to Jiang Xiaoyi, her eyes grew a little misty. “We’d probably tutor you every day. Get one wrong, and I’d kiss you senseless once.”

Oh my god, they were thinking exactly the same thing.

Jiang Xiaoyi mumbled, “I’m not actually that dumb.”

…

YN Group had some urgent business come up, so Meng Chuning headed back to the company first.

On her way back to the dorm alone, Jiang Xiaoyi spotted Ye Yiwen sitting by herself on the stairs at a landing.

From the moment the guest rankings were announced, Ye Yiwen’s expression had been off. Had coming in dead last hit her that hard?

“Yiw…” Jiang Xiaoyi paused mid-step when she saw someone coming down from upstairs.

Upstairs were the temporary dorms for the variety class teacher. At this hour, the only one who could be coming down was Meng Fanyu.

“Ye Yiwen?” Meng Fanyu spotted Ye Yiwen huddled unhappily in the corner. Only when she called out did Ye Yiwen lift her teary eyes.

Jiang Xiaoyi quietly slipped down the stairwell. It was better to let Teacher Meng Fanyu comfort the underperformer right now. She had just lifted her foot to leave when she heard Ye Yiwen say in a coquettish tone, “Sister, don’t you think I’m stupid too?”

Meng Fanyu looked down at her. “I don’t.”

Jiang Xiaoyi keenly caught the whiff of gossip. There was definitely something between them. Why else would Ye Yiwen use that soft tone with Meng Fanyu?

She really wanted to eavesdrop, but wouldn’t that be rude? Fighting her curiosity, Jiang Xiaoyi backed out of the stairwell. She couldn’t do anything impolite.

“…” Ye Yiwen lowered her head, her chin on her knees, lips pressed tight to hold back tears. Meng Fanyu’s tone was too cold. She didn’t have the courage to show her this vulnerable side again.

She’d taken Jiang Xiaoyi’s advice and tried acting pitiful to test if Meng Fanyu still cared. The result was obvious—Meng Fanyu didn’t.

During volleyball, she’d been hit so many times, but Meng Fanyu never asked if she was okay. When her finger got cut, Meng Fanyu just handed her a Band-Aid and left, not even bothering to put it on. And now…

Ye Yiwen steadied herself and stood, forcing a smile as she asked, “Sister, have I started to annoy you?”

If Meng Fanyu said yes, Ye Yiwen swore she’d never show up in front of her again.

After a few seconds of silence with no reply, Meng Fanyu suddenly stepped closer, her breath a bit heavy as she pinned Ye Yiwen against the wall. “If I said yes, would you run away again?”

“…” Ye Yiwen’s heart sank. There was nowhere to retreat. She looked up, her voice trembling. “W-What?”

Meng Fanyu’s eyes flashed with anger. She’d finally gotten a chance to spend time with Ye Yiwen, and now after just two days, she was thinking of pulling back again.

“Nothing.” Meng Fanyu pulled away from her. Ye Yiwen quickly grabbed her wrist. “Sister, wait. I won’t run…”

Ye Yiwen had always been timid and sensitive. Meng Fanyu took one step back, and she’d take ten. Any word from Meng Qinglan could become a time bomb between her and Meng Fanyu. And Ye Yiwen had indeed retreated many times.

Meng Fanyu tried to shake off her wrist, but Ye Yiwen’s grip tightened from her sweaty palms. Afraid she’d really pull free, Ye Yiwen simply wrapped both arms around Meng Fanyu’s waist.

Meng Fanyu’s nose filled with the familiar, soft scent from Ye Yiwen. Stunned as the woman burrowed into her arms, she said, “I… didn’t say you could hug me.”

“Just ten seconds. I’ll let go quick.” Ye Yiwen whispered pleadingly by her ear, counting in her head. One second, two…

At the tenth second, Meng Fanyu felt the arms around her waist tighten. Not pushed away, Ye Yiwen got bold. “Can I have ten more seconds?”

…

Jiang Xiaoyi wandered around campus before heading back to the dorm. The stairwell was empty now.

What exactly was the deal between Sister Fanyu and Ye Yiwen? How had she never noticed before? And that Night Dream CP the netizens mentioned—surely it was about these two?

She suddenly felt like shipping them, but remembering Meng Chuning didn’t like Ye Yiwen made Jiang Xiaoyi drop the idea instantly.

After pushing open the dorm door, Jiang Xiaoyi glanced at Ye Yiwen.

Ye Yiwen’s eyes were bright as she smiled and chatted with Liju. She looked to be in a great mood.

What good thing had happened to make her this happy?

Little Chuning popped up indignantly in her mind. 【My sister’s dating now. When can I date Xiaoyi?】

Jiang Xiaoyi jumped. Hearing that info bomb, she replied: 【Can you ask your sister who she’s dating?】

Little Chuning: 【Some D-list celeb named Yiwen or whatever. Looks even younger than me.】

Jiang Xiaoyi sucked in a breath. So Meng Fanyu and Ye Yiwen had known each other for ages. They’d dated, broken up badly, which was why Meng Chuning disliked Ye Yiwen.

Little Chuning asked lazily: 【Xiaoyi, are you taller now than in high school?】

Jiang Xiaoyi hummed. 【Of course.】

Little Chuning perked up. 【So are your fingers longer too?】

Jiang Xiaoyi: 【…How do I unbind this, Sister?】

She couldn’t have Meng Chuning’s voice asking stuff like that in her head all the time.

Little Chuning giggled. 【Probably the day you and Xiaoyi hook up.】

Jiang Xiaoyi couldn’t wrap her head around it. She’d bound to a romance system, not a hookup system.

Though the two didn’t seem that different.

Jiang Xiaoyi took a breath. 【Or you pin her down tonight and we unbind ASAP.】

Little Chuning whined. 【Xiaoyi’s got training tonight and can’t hang with me, so I had to come to you.】

Jiang Xiaoyi: 【…】

I’m my own replacement.

Jiang Xiaoyi didn’t remember any post-graduation training in high school. Maybe the other her’s life path diverged from now.

Just as her curiosity peaked and she wanted to ask, a WeChat notification popped up.

M: 【Picture x8】

M: 【Xiaoyi, do you like these eight qqny outfits?】

Meng Chuning had sent photos of herself in eight full cosplay sets. Jiang Xiaoyi panicked and leaned back on the bed, glancing at the camera. It shouldn’t have caught her.

In her quick glance, Jiang Xiaoyi had only made out the fifth one Meng Chuning sent—a maid outfit.

In the photo, Meng Chuning had her back to the camera, one strap slipped off her shoulder down to her wrist. Her shoulder blades and dimples at the small of her back stood out, thigh-high stockings digging into her flesh with a soft give. Her slightly perked rear hiked up the skirt, revealing the underside.

One look told Jiang Xiaoyi that Meng Chuning was only wearing the skirt and stockings.

M: 【Why so tense? Your face is all red.】

Jiang Xiaoyi knew Meng Chuning was watching the variety show live broadcast. She tried to act natural.

Xiao Yi: 【Of course I’m tense when you send me these, Sister.】

Xiao Yi: 【Sister, didn’t you go handle work?】

M: 【Yeah, finished it and heading back now. Meet me in the garage in ten minutes.】

No way. Did Sister want to do it in the car?

Jiang Xiaoyi realized joining this live variety show had really frustrated Meng Chuning. She’d just casually read a novel Su Jiuyue wrote, and Meng Chuning actually bought eight sets to role-play and satisfy her.

There was still an hour until the evening live broadcast. Jiang Xiaoyi stood to head out when Ye Yiwen suddenly asked, “Xiaoyi, where are you going?”

“Just stepping out for some air.” Jiang Xiaoyi stretched in the hallway. Seeing no one around, she headed downstairs to the garage.

The garage lights were dim and yellow. It was summer break, so few cars and even fewer people.

As soon as Jiang Xiaoyi walked in, a black luxury car in the corner flashed its lights twice.

“Sister.” Jiang Xiaoyi hurried over, her eager footsteps echoing in the empty space.

The car faced the wall. Meng Chuning turned from the driver’s seat. “Xiaoyi.”

“Sister, why didn’t you get out?” Jiang Xiaoyi figured the driver’s seat wasn’t ideal. She opened the door to find Meng Chuning’s cheeks a bit flushed, her trench coat belt undone, revealing the outfit underneath.

Once Jiang Xiaoyi saw it clearly, she felt heat rush through her. “Sister, how did you go out dressed like this?”

Meng Chuning had slipped into the eighth outfit from the photos. The slit black stockings hugged her snow-white legs, while the open windbreaker failed to conceal the tantalizing pink vista before her.

“I wanted to wear this one over here for you to see,” Meng Chuning explained. Having tried on eight outfits in a row, she could barely contain herself any longer. She was dying to let Jiang Xiaoyi take it all in right away. Without a second thought, she threw on a windbreaker and drove straight over.

“See… what?” Jiang Xiaoyi actually wanted to suggest they could look later once they got home. She hesitated for a moment before planting herself firmly in front of the car door. Reaching out to fasten Meng Chuning’s windbreaker, she found her wrist pinned in place.

“The waterfall.” Meng Chuning turned sideways, parting her legs to hook them around Jiang Xiaoyi’s waist. Her black stockings parted slowly along with them.

Jiang Xiaoyi’s gaze dropped, landing on a glimpse of pink glistening with moisture. “……”