Chapter 41: Side Story 5 Part 1

That evening, Luo Qingmeng was in the bookstore tallying inventory with the clerk when halfway through, that familiar feeling came over her.

She set down the form in her hand and glanced outside. Qiu Shuxue was standing there waiting for her, her gaze resting on Luo Qingmeng as she leisurely savored this quiet moment. Luo Qingmeng went back to counting the books on the shelves.

Outside, Qiu Shuxue received a reply: 【Can you see clearly now?】

Qiu Shuxue had a touch of nearsightedness and wore glasses during overtime work. Scrolling up in their chat revealed a bunch of steamy exchanges between the two of them.

She replied: 【I want to come in and take a look.】

Luo Qingmeng didn’t respond. Qiu Shuxue stood at the door for a bit before walking inside. Just like before, she browsed the shelves, picking out books.

The bookstore was mostly quiet, and the clerks didn’t usually recommend titles to customers. Qiu Shuxue walked over to her side and planted a kiss on her cheek.

It was discreet, silent, and no one saw.

After months of dating, Qiu Shuxue rarely made it over here. It was still the same old issue—their homes were too far from this area. Now Luo Qingmeng’s work was more flexible than hers, so she got home earlier and always prepared dinner ahead of time. She had a real knack for timing it just right, so by the time Qiu Shuxue reached the door, Luo Qingmeng could open it right away, and the scent of home-cooked food greeted her.

You have to give something up to gain something else. Qiu Shuxue sometimes wanted to play around after work—you pick me up, I pick you up, make things romantic—but that meant sacrificing the warm homemade meal waiting from her sister the moment she got home. She just couldn’t give up that cozy family vibe.

Luo Qingmeng carried the form deeper into the store, and Qiu Shuxue leaned in. When no one was around, she pinned her against the corner of the wall. “Help me take off my glasses.”

Luo Qingmeng didn’t want to indulge her, but she couldn’t help responding. She reached up, removed the glasses from Qiu Shuxue’s nose bridge, and playfully scraped her knuckles along it twice to make her behave.

In that hidden corner, the two of them brushed their lips together, and then Luo Qingmeng put the glasses back on her.

Qiu Shuxue said, “There’s surveillance here, right?”

Luo Qingmeng’s eyes widened slightly. No one came to this area, but the bookstore had cameras in every corner. She was about to scold her for being improper when she suddenly remembered her own days as a clerk. She used to see those young couples buying books—you pick one for me, I’ll pick one for you—then the taller one would lean down for a kiss on the shorter one’s cheek.

Back then, Luo Qingmeng had watched with envy in her heart. Now Qiu Shuxue leaned down and kissed her cheek, and it wasn’t just a fantasy anymore—it was real.

Qiu Shuxue didn’t say a word, but her eyes were full of sweet nothings.

Luo Qingmeng pushed her back with her arm to hide her own shyness and pretended to check the form.

The message was clear: Cut it out.

Qiu Shuxue grabbed her fingers and seized the chance for another kiss on her cheek: One more.

Luo Qingmeng tilted her head up to look at her, took off the glasses from her nose bridge again, and hooked them into the pocket on her own chest. She felt utterly helpless against her and pressed her lips to Qiu Shuxue’s.

“Mm.” Qiu Shuxue, satisfied, took the three books from the top of her head and went to check out.

Qiu Shuxue thought she might be a little twisted. She not only enjoyed teasing Luo Qingmeng but also loved that gossipy vibe when others paired them together, the curiosity people had about her and Luo Qingmeng.

The cashier clerk clearly picked up that she and Luo Qingmeng had something going on. Her eyes strained not to glance her way. Only after Qiu Shuxue walked out with her bag of books did the clerk’s gaze turn bold.

Outside, Qiu Shuxue rummaged through her book bag. No freebies.

Luo Qingmeng finished verifying the book list and said to clerk Xiao Chen, “The book shipment will arrive tomorrow afternoon around three. I’ll remind them to be on time, and you all make sure to coordinate.”

“Got it,” Xiao Chen said. “Sister Siwen’s coming by this afternoon. You waiting for her?”

“I’ve got something to do; can’t wait.” Luo Qingmeng’s current store manager was a man who kept things strictly professional. The previous one, though—this woman—often dropped by to chat, and they’d become like girlfriends.

Once Luo Qingmeng finished up and stepped out, Qiu Shuxue asked her, “You used to always sneak me freebies here, but no gifts now? So stingy.”

“I’ll mention it to them tomorrow, give you special privileges…”

She was about to say those had been her favoritism when the store manager approached from afar, holding her kid’s hand. She greeted Luo Qingmeng from a distance, then spotted Qiu Shuxue. The store manager still didn’t like her much. She looked her up and down and said, “Dressed like that—are you dealing with another rival again?”

Luo Qingmeng said, “I think she looks good like this. I told her to wear it.”

Qiu Shuxue wrapped her arms around Luo Qingmeng’s waist and looked at the store manager’s kid. The little boy tugged at the store manager’s hand and said seriously, “This big sister is so pretty.”

Qiu Shuxue smirked and glanced at Luo Qingmeng. “Mommy, this little brother is super handsome too.”

Luo Qingmeng had been talking to the store manager and pressed her lips together hard. She patted Qiu Shuxue’s forehead. The store manager was speechless too and said, “That Hermès of yours hasn’t gained any maturity with age; your brain must still be stuck at preschool level.”

Qiu Shuxue smiled slyly and tilted her head. “Mommy, hurry up and tell them if I’ve grown up. Repeat what you said praising me this morning.”

The store manager couldn’t bear to watch. Luo Qingmeng couldn’t either. She turned sideways, covered Qiu Shuxue’s nonsensical mouth with her hand, and told the store manager, “We’ll head out then.”

But Qiu Shuxue pulled her hand away, crouched down a bit, and said to the little boy, “I graduated from a top university, so study hard…”

Luo Qingmeng grabbed Qiu Shuxue’s hand and pulled her away, not letting her ramble on. The store manager’s son looked puzzled and asked, “Is she Sister Qingmeng’s baby? She’s huge. Sister Qingmeng’s already a mommy? Feels like she’s fibbing.”

The store manager shook her head. This Qiu Shuxue… She patted her son’s head. “Ignore her, but she’s right—you need to study hard.”

The store manager went inside to check the foot traffic and the cashiers. After Luo Qingmeng left, she always felt like the store was missing something, short on flavor.

Xiao Chen curiously asked the store manager about their relationship. The store manager said, “Yeah, same-sex partners.”

“She’s already twenty-five, and you still call her little? Saying she’s like a little sister?”

The store manager hesitated for a long time, wanting to say something but holding back. “Maybe it’s love. Love makes people look younger.”

“Could be.”

The store manager still disliked Qiu Shuxue as much as ever, but she had come to accept the two of them together. She was starting to think they suited each other perfectly.

Luo Qingmeng had grown more confident because of Qiu Shuxue, learned to dress up, and was worlds apart from that timid clerk at the start of the year.

Now when they talked, Luo Qingmeng carried herself with poise and presence. Whether Qiu Shuxue was truly immature at twenty-five didn’t matter; Luo Qingmeng had grown tremendously—and not just in years.

The store manager thought about it and smiled.

This wasn’t her store anyway, so she couldn’t linger. After checking the arrangements, she stepped out and glanced at the “Manager’s Recommendation Today” display at the door. Reading the words there, she realized she’d found that missing touch of flavor…

She took her kid to Lego Mall. Luo Qingmeng jogged over with a cup of milk tea for the little one and another for her. Luo Qingmeng pointed at Qiu Shuxue and told the kid, “That sister bought them.”

Qiu Shuxue waved at them with a smile. Luo Qingmeng smiled too and said, “She’s just teasing kids. She’s usually very proper.”

The store manager said, “Proper, my foot. I get it—you’re jealous, right?”

“Jealous? Jealous of what?” Luo Qingmeng didn’t catch on, looking a bit confused. The store manager shook her head and led her kid away.

Luo Qingmeng felt like her relationship with the store manager was pure friendship now. Qiu Shuxue could tell too—nothing to be jealous about. She went back, took Qiu Shuxue’s hand, and asked, “What are you jealous of?”

Qiu Shuxue said nothing, just squeezed her hand tighter, and they wandered the mall and grabbed dinner.

They used to come to this mall every day, and months later, nothing had changed. They were getting bored of it. Luo Qingmeng walked from the upper floor down to the lower one, then doubled back to keep browsing.

Qiu Shuxue held her hand and asked, “Sis, are you punishing me? Dragging me around on purpose to wear me out.”

“Of course not.” Luo Qingmeng wasn’t that mean. She’d been about to head upstairs, hit the up button on the elevator, then pulled her aside to wait for the down one instead.

Both elevators arrived at the same time. Luo Qingmeng pulled her into one and whispered, “I just think you look so good dressed like that. Wanted to walk a couple extra laps.”

The doors were about to close when Qiu Shuxue blocked them with her hand, pulled her out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and leaned into her. “Just a bit tired. You gotta take good care of me, sis.”

After another loop around, Qiu Shuxue suddenly leaned to her ear and whispered, “…Because you almost became that kid’s mommy. I’m really mad about it.”

She planted a couple of kisses on Luo Qingmeng’s cheek.

Luo Qingmeng’s mind went blank for a moment. She really was helpless against her. Her face slowly heated up again. So she was jealous after all.

Back home, Qiu Shuxue brought up the camping trip with Xiao Ninghe and asked Luo Qingmeng’s opinion. If she didn’t like it, they could say no. Luo Qingmeng had a good impression of Xiao Ninghe and said it was fine.

The evening grew warmer and stuffy, so Luo Qingmeng turned on the AC. Qiu Shuxue sat on the sofa. When Luo Qingmeng came over to unwind, Qiu Shuxue crossed her legs around Luo Qingmeng’s waist, and they savored their after-work moment together. Luo Qingmeng lowered her gaze to stare at her chest. She wanted to ask about the tattoo but worried it’d get her too riled up late at night. After hesitating, curiosity won out.

Qiu Shuxue first rubbed her cheek against Luo Qingmeng’s face, then asked, “Sis, staring so entranced—are you into my chest, or the bite mark right on it?”

Luo Qingmeng replied softly, “It’s Xuexue I like.”

Qiu Shuxue gazed at her, that alluring depth of affection turning into a sweet smile. She let out a “Wow,” her tone whiny and coquettish as she said, “I like Dreamy Sis too.”

Luo Qingmeng always found the various pet names coming from her mouth so novel, so endearingly shy-making. She felt that no matter who she ended up with in this lifetime, no one could call her every endearment with quite the same tender lilt as Qiu Shuxue did.

She looked at her chest and said, “What happened to your tattoo from before?”

Qiu Shuxue looked puzzled and asked in genuine confusion, “You only just noticed I don’t have a tattoo?”

“…Ah, right.”

Luo Qingmeng’s earliest intimate moments with her had been filled with such shyness and fear that she always ended up in tears, too embarrassed to see anything beyond Qiu Shuxue’s face.

By the time she noticed the lack of a tattoo, it was on Qiu Shuxue’s birthday, when she insisted on eating a navel orange off her belly. Only in that dazed haze did she realize there was no tattoo on Qiu Shuxue’s chest anymore.

But by then, her heart was already moved. When Qiu Shuxue rocked her body, she only thought about how good it felt; when they weren’t moving, she kept searching online for ways to deal with a scumbag without hurting Qiu Shuxue.