Chapter 77: Side Pair Vibes

“If you come over, I might not have time to spend with you.” Meng Chuning gazed at her and said, “The schedule for this three-day business trip is packed tight. Will you stay home obediently and wait for me, okay?”

Jiang Xiaoyi frowned slightly as she looked at her. Meng Chuning coaxed her a few more times. “I promise I’ll call you the moment I have free time, alright?”

“But, Sis, will someone be with you when you get there?” Jiang Xiaoyi asked, still a bit worried.

Meng Chuning turned the camera around. “Assistant Shen came with me.”

Assistant Shen Ling was driving. When she heard Meng Chuning mention her name, she quickly greeted Jiang Xiaoyi. “Xiaoyi, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of President Meng.”

“Thanks, Assistant Shen.” Jiang Xiaoyi felt much more reassured seeing that an assistant was tagging along. The camera turned back.

Laughter from Little Dumpling drifted in from outside the bedroom.

Meng Chuning’s beautiful eyes curved into a smile. “Why’s Little Dumpling so happy?”

It wasn’t just Little Dumpling’s voice—Ye Yiwen’s laughter mixed in too. The two of them were really hitting it off.

Jiang Xiaoyi smiled and said, “Ye Yiwen is playing with Little Dumpling.”

“Ye Yiwen has already made it to our house?” Meng Chuning said, genuinely underestimating her. “Even Little Dumpling likes her now.”

Jiang Xiaoyi nodded. “Seems like it.”

Meng Chuning pictured the five of them living under one roof and couldn’t quite accept it. “Xiaoyi, when I get back, let’s move.”

“Huh?” Jiang Xiaoyi couldn’t make sense of it. “Why?”

Meng Chuning explained, “Ye Yiwen will definitely come over to see Sis all the time from now on—it won’t be convenient. And also…”

Jiang Xiaoyi prompted her. “Hm?”

“I want to live with you.” Meng Chuning said it so naturally, as if she’d rehearsed it a thousand times until it slipped out without a trace.

Jiang Xiaoyi’s heart raced a little. “Okay.”

Only after marriage could they live together openly. While Meng Chuning was away on her trip, Jiang Xiaoyi consulted Su Jiuyue over the next few days about how to propose.

Su Jiuyue snapped fully awake from her drowsiness. “You’re getting married?!”

Her voice was so loud it made Jiang Xiaoyi’s ear ring. “That surprising?”

“Of course!” Su Jiuyue was utterly shocked. “You’ve only been together a short time—how are you already thinking about marriage?”

After the shock wore off, she whined pitifully. “I’m still single over here. I’ve had enough of solo buffets. Starting tomorrow, I’m hunting for a big sis too.”

Jiang Xiaoyi was speechless. “…”

“Su Jiuyue, help me think about the proposal first,” Jiang Xiaoyi said.

Su Jiuyue scratched her head. “I’ve never planned something that high-level. The proposals in my Flower Market Story all happen in bed—probably not much help for you.”

Fine, wrong person to ask.

Jiang Xiaoyi decided to figure it out herself. “I’ll hang up then.”

“Wait, Xiaoyi!” Su Jiuyue stopped her hurriedly. Jiang Xiaoyi paused. “Got an idea?”

“No…” Su Jiuyue asked hesitantly, “Do you still have Song You’s WeChat?”

There was a rare hint of shyness in her tone. Jiang Xiaoyi drawled, “What for?”

“Oh come on, what else? I want to catch up with her.” Su Jiuyue’s face flushed as she said it. “Does she have a girlfriend?”

Jiang Xiaoyi remembered now—back in high school, Su Jiuyue had exchanged a few words with Song You, but hardly enough to warrant “catching up.”

“I don’t know.” Jiang Xiaoyi reminded her, “Are you sure you want to catch up? She might not even remember you.”

Su Jiuyue chuckled. “She will soon enough, right?”

Jiang Xiaoyi was speechless again. “…”

For a while after that, Su Jiuyue peppered her with questions about Song You. Jiang Xiaoyi felt a twitch at her temple. “Jiuyue, you’d learn faster checking out her Super Topic.”

“Oh, right!” Su Jiuyue said excitedly. “Gonna hang up now.”

The call ended with a few beeps. Jiang Xiaoyi laughed in exasperation at Su Jiuyue. She knew Su Jiuyue wasn’t the most reliable, but this took the cake.

No advice on her proposal—instead, Su Jiuyue had lined up her own target big sis.

Song You had said it was fine to share her contact, so Jiang Xiaoyi forwarded it to Su Jiuyue.

Xiao Yi: 【WeChat contact card.】

Xiao Yi: 【Good luck.】

Su Jiuyue: 【Aaaah Xiaoyi you’re so efficient!!】

Su Jiuyue: 【Proposal goes smoothly!】

A knock came at the bedroom door. Ye Yiwen stood outside. “Xiaoyi, I made some late-night snacks. Want to come out and have some?”

Chatting with Su Jiuyue that long had left her hungry. Jiang Xiaoyi set down her phone and opened the door. “Sure. What yummy stuff did you make?”

Ye Yiwen walked ahead. “Baked some cookies and made sushi.”

Before they’d even gone downstairs, Little Dumpling’s voice rang out, clutching her bunny-shaped cookies. “Little auntie, look! Little Ye Auntie made these for me!”

The kitchen smelled amazing. The table was laden with all sorts of cookies, and Jiang Xiaoyi marveled, “Wow, Yiwen, your baking skills are incredible.”

Ye Yiwen felt shy from the praise. “It’s actually pretty simple.”

Little Dumpling had watched with starry eyes the whole time Ye Yiwen baked, praising everything no matter how it turned out.

Meng Fanyu smiled as she watched them. “Yiwen, I never knew you could make these before.”

Ye Yiwen murmured in agreement. “I couldn’t before. I learned after I started living on my own.”

Ye Yiwen’s common sense had been zilch back then. Leaving Meng Fanyu, she wouldn’t have known how to take care of herself. Meng Fanyu had no idea how much hardship Ye Yiwen endured to grow up.

Meng Fanyu took a bite of a cookie, the sweetness blooming on her tongue. “Yiwen, this is delicious.”

It was just a normal compliment, but Ye Yiwen heard something more in it—the same words Meng Fanyu had said to her that night at the Hot Spring Villa.

Ye Yiwen rubbed her earlobe. “If Sis likes it, I’ll make more in the future.”

Little Dumpling looked up at them, little hand over her mouth as she giggled secretly. Jiang Xiaoyi pinched her cheek. “Baby, you’re so happy, huh?”

“Little auntie.” Little Dumpling leaned in close to Jiang Xiaoyi’s ear with a mischievous glint. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”

Jiang Xiaoyi scooped her up. “Of course. Shall we go to bed now?”

“Okay.” Little Dumpling nodded obediently, then said goodnight to Meng Fanyu. “Mommy, I’m going to sleep with little auntie.”

Meng Fanyu looked at her. “Baby, not with me?”

“Nope, I want little auntie.” Little Dumpling hugged Jiang Xiaoyi’s neck and nuzzled her. Jiang Xiaoyi chuckled. “Sister Fanyu, I’ll take Little Dumpling upstairs first. I’ll look after her.”

Meng Fanyu wasn’t worried about that. “Xiaoyi, thanks for the trouble.”

Little Dumpling waved. “Goodnight, Mommy. Goodnight, Little… Ye Auntie.”

Ye Yiwen squeezed her little hand. “Goodnight, Baby.”

“Off we go.” Jiang Xiaoyi carried Little Dumpling upstairs and got her some clothes for a bath.

Jiang Xiaoyi carried Little Dumpling out of the bathroom. “All clean now! Let me sniff—do you smell nice?”

Little Dumpling was pink and chubby and soft. She giggled. “Baby smells super nice.”

“Yeah, you really do.” Jiang Xiaoyi poked her little belly. “Time for bed.”

Little Dumpling’s round eyes stayed wide open, wide awake. “Little auntie, will Little Mom still be here when we wake up tomorrow?”

Jiang Xiaoyi paused. “Who?”

…

Down in the kitchen, only Ye Yiwen and Meng Fanyu remained.

Ye Yiwen lifted her gaze. “Sis, can I sleep with you?”

“Are you Baby?” Meng Fanyu smiled softly, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

Ye Yiwen felt drawn in despite herself. She tilted her chin up and leaned closer. “That’s what you used to call me.”

Their height difference was slight; Ye Yiwen just had to tiptoe a little to kiss her. Meng Fanyu lowered her eyes, watching Ye Yiwen’s lips draw near.

“I’ve wanted to kiss Sis since I walked in the door. Held back until now.” Ye Yiwen’s arms wrapped around Meng Fanyu’s waist as she rose on her toes.

Meng Fanyu’s warm palms cupped her face. She bent her head slightly to meet her, their soft lips brushing the corner of Ye Yiwen’s mouth. “Just kiss me?”

“No…” Ye Yiwen opened her mouth eagerly. “I also want to do it with Sis.”

Meng Fanyu pulled back with a smile. “Think about that later, then.”

“Huh?” Ye Yiwen’s pink tongue peeked out, her eyes dazed and hazy, the corners damp like she’d been thoroughly kissed.

Meng Fanyu blinked. “…”

Just one kiss, and Ye Yiwen was giving her that look. Was it on purpose?

“Sis…” Ye Yiwen gasped lightly, still dazed, when her waist was gripped and pressed back against the counter. Meng Fanyu’s lips claimed hers, teasing her tongue as she murmured, “Who taught you to look at people like that?”

Ye Yiwen arched her neck, swallowing messily. “No one…”

Her breathing grew ragged in her ear. Meng Fanyu’s body pressed lower against hers, nipping at her pale jawline. “No dodging.”

“Wait, Sis.” Ye Yiwen felt exposed in the open kitchen. “Can we go to the room?”

Meng Fanyu pinched her waist. “No one’s coming. Open up.”

“Mm…” Ye Yiwen’s breath was sealed again.

…

The next morning, when Jiang Xiaoyi got up, she saw Ye Yiwen emerging from the guest room. They hadn’t slept together last night, then.

Ye Yiwen had barely slept, dark circles under her eyes. “Morning, Xiaoyi.”

“Morning.” Jiang Xiaoyi pointed at her eyes. “Didn’t sleep well?”

Ye Yiwen shook her head. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Last night, Meng Fanyu had kissed her into a frenzy and then left her hanging. Ye Yiwen was about to explode from frustration, tossing and turning all night in agony.

Meng Fanyu must have done it on purpose—accusing her of that look when Meng Fanyu was the real tease.

Little Dumpling came pattering out barefoot and happily pounced on Ye Yiwen when she saw her. “Little Ye Auntie!”

“Only Baby’s good to me.” Ye Yiwen scooped her up. “Want Little Ye Auntie to make you breakfast?”

Little Dumpling planted a smacking kiss on Ye Yiwen’s cheek. “Thank you, Little Ye Auntie!”

Meng Fanyu saw the scene and couldn’t help smiling.

“Little Dumpling’s so affectionate.” Jiang Xiaoyi had overheard Little Dumpling call Ye Yiwen “Little Mom” last night and was shocked.

She could have guessed Ye Yiwen was Little Dumpling’s little mom, but she hadn’t expected Little Dumpling to know—and to switch to “Little Ye Auntie” so as not to startle her.

Little Dumpling was too clever. Wonder who she took after.

“Xiaoyi, come down for breakfast,” Meng Fanyu called from downstairs.

Jiang Xiaoyi watched the family of three, a twinge of envy hitting her. “Sister Fanyu, you guys eat first. I’ll be down in a bit.”

Back in her room, Jiang Xiaoyi video-called Meng Chuning. The ringtone went a few seconds before it connected.

Meng Chuning was lying on her side in bed, still groggy and half-asleep as she held up her phone. “Morning, Xiaoyi.”

“Sis, were you up late last night?” Jiang Xiaoyi felt a pang seeing Meng Chuning’s tired face on screen. “What time did you go to bed?”

Meng Chuning lightly furrowed her brows before smoothing them out. “I crashed not long after checking into the hotel last night. I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

Does this look fine? She was wiped out after just one day on the trip.

Unable to actually touch her through the phone, Jiang Xiaoyi could only trail her finger across the screen. “Sister, you should get a little more sleep.”

“Can’t. I’ve got a meeting with the producer in half an hour.” Meng Chuning rubbed her throbbing head and turned toward the camera. “Xiaoyi, can you help wake me up?”

“Huh?” Jiang Xiaoyi clutched her phone. How was she supposed to wake her sister up over the phone?

A hazy smile curved Meng Chuning’s eyes. “Pant for me.”

Before, Jiang Xiaoyi might have blushed and stammered that no one woke up that way. But now…

“Sister hasn’t kissed me, so I can’t pant.” Jiang Xiaoyi murmured, adding softly, “Only if Sister rubs my waist can I make it sound good.”

Those words were even more enticing than any actual panting. Meng Chuning had tried to tease, only to find herself the one teased. “Xiaoyi… Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me right now?”

“I think so…” Jiang Xiaoyi watched as Meng Chuning’s eyes reddened, her slender neck flushing beyond the screen’s edge. She’d only said that one line—how had it unraveled her sister like this?

Meng Chuning endured it in silence for a moment, remembering that Jiang Xiaoyi had confiscated her Little Orange toy. She couldn’t use a thing.

“Sister, switch your phone to vibrate mode,” Jiang Xiaoyi said, her cheeks burning.

Meng Chuning pulled herself together and obediently made the change. “Then what?”

“Then tuck it right against your heart.” Jiang Xiaoyi opened their chat window. “I’ll send you some messages.”

Such a delicate way to put it. Meng Chuning let out a low chuckle and wiped the phone clean before settling back.

“Sister?” Jiang Xiaoyi watched the camera jolt, then caught sight of Meng Chuning propped against the headboard. Her silk nightgown had ridden up to her waist, baring her midriff so close to the lens that the soft skin dipping below her waistline was just visible.

The phone’s view was now from an overhead angle—as if clamped between her thighs.

Meng Chuning glanced down. “Not putting it on my heart.”

The sensation hit Jiang Xiaoyi like familiar facesitting, and she knew exactly where she “was” now. Her breaths came ragged. “Sister…”

Meng Chuning pressed the phone snug against herself. The view drew closer, blurrier; glancing up, Jiang Xiaoyi could see Meng Chuning’s face—expectant, dazed.

“Xiaoyi.” Meng Chuning parted her thighs a little impatiently, her voice husky and soft. “Send the messages now.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xiaoyi licked her lips and tapped at the screen.

Xiao Yi: 【Sister.】

The phone buzzed once. Onscreen, Meng Chuning’s body quivered in a daze.

Xiao Yi: 【Sister, I love you.】

Xiao Yi: 【Sister, I miss you.】

Two buzzes. Jiang Xiaoyi watched Meng Chuning’s waist and abdomen clench.

Her own face heated as she stared. This actually seemed to work.

Xiao Yi: 【Seductive beckoning finger x999】

Amid the relentless buzzing, Meng Chuning clamped down on her lip, her eyes drifting out of focus.