Chapter 18: Thousand Grasses

Chu Susu had never been afraid of coming out from a young age, with only two exceptions: her grandparents and people at work.

Colleagues might not become friends, and exposing her sexual orientation in the workplace would only bring unnecessary trouble. So even when some colleagues noticed she wasn’t interested in men and probed indirectly, Chu Susu would neither confirm nor deny it.

What did Rebecca mean by saying that? She immediately caught the implication. Was she suspecting Chu Susu was a lesbian, quietly reminding or testing her?

But Chu Susu didn’t care too much. If asked, she could just say it was her good friend bringing her lunch—girls hugging and being close was common anyway, so what was bringing lunch? If others gossiped, she had plenty of ways to brush it off.

It was just a minor interlude; she didn’t dwell on it and soon threw herself into preparing for the afternoon meeting.

It was an overcast day, with a drizzly rain starting in the afternoon. A thin layer of water had already accumulated on the ground, enough to wet the soles of shoes if one wasn’t careful.

The design team had recruited new members, and the workload wasn’t heavy these days. By around four, they were mostly done, and everyone started chatting idly.

Han Xuan sat by the window, listening to the others chat and nodding occasionally, but she rarely spoke.

The team leader couldn’t help but think this girl’s personality was a bit too introverted, but since they weren’t that familiar yet, it would probably get better later.

Fortunately, Han Xuan was just quiet; her emotional intelligence wasn’t low, and she wouldn’t make things awkward.

After chatting for a bit, the team leader checked the time and said to them, “You can get off work now; there’s nothing much left to do today.”

The other girls were thrilled to hear they could head home early—who among the corporate drones wanted to linger in the office?

Once most people had left, the team leader was about to pack up and slip away too, but glancing over, she saw Han Xuan still sitting there unmoving. She asked, “Aren’t you leaving?”

Han Xuan snapped back to attention and nodded. “I’m waiting for a friend.”

The team leader understood. “Waiting for Susu?”

“Yes.”

“They’re having a client meeting and reporting today; they’ll probably have to work overtime. The rain’s going to get heavier soon—better head back early.”

Han Xuan gave a faint smile. “Mm, thanks, Team Leader. Be careful on your way.”

She said that, but after everyone else in the office had left, she still sat there without moving.

From this spot, she had a direct view of the coffee shop downstairs. It wasn’t dark yet, so she could clearly see every figure coming and going.

But Han Xuan wasn’t looking outside.

In front of her was an open sketchbook, pencil in her right hand. She idly outlined contours, her calm gaze fixed intently on the paper.

The draft gradually took shape, vaguely capturing a lazy demeanor in the figure.

“3.”

Long, soft strands of hair.

“2.”

Upward-tilted eyes, glamorous and sharp.

“1.”

Han Xuan swiftly stood up, tucked the sketchbook into the drawer, and headed to the elevator without looking back.

At the same moment downstairs, a little beauty in water-splashing high heels happened to walk into the coffee shop.

—

Xia Zilu ordered an iced Americano on her phone, planning to drink it to reduce swelling so she could meet people looking pretty later.

She was always dressed to the nines, but today she broke her usual style with light makeup and more low-key clothes. Her expression soured as she recalled the purpose of this trip.

Chu Susu… She clenched her fist, letting her manicured nails dig red marks into her palm.

That day at the pet restaurant after “catching her cheating,” Xia Zilu lost her reason in a fit of vengeful rage. Egged on by her besties, she got hold of the video somehow and hired water army to promote it. Without a mishap, it would spread to Chu Susu’s parents too.

Chu Susu had come out to her family ages ago anyway—what was the big deal?!

Sure enough, the video blew up instantly, but when Xia Zilu saw it rack up six figures in likes, she panicked. Deep down, she still wanted to reconcile with Chu Susu; she didn’t want things to get this stiff.

She just wanted Chu Susu to turn back to her!

Thinking of this, Xia Zilu felt regret. But the spread was too wide—her own family saw it too.

Her parents were conservative and couldn’t accept homosexuality. They flew into a rage, cut off her allowance, and grounded her for two weeks, not letting her go anywhere. She begged and swore to the heavens that it was just a momentary lapse, that she’d never date girls again, before regaining her freedom.

Xia Zilu fumed just thinking about it. It was all that little bitch’s fault! With that innocent green tea look, even provoking her—how else would she have lost control?

Her girl squad advised her not to hang herself on one tree; the fallout was so big, the rift seemed hard to mend.

But Xia Zilu couldn’t let go. Chu Susu had been so good to her before; she really couldn’t bear to part. Why break up just like that?

But Chu Susu had blocked her across all platforms long ago—she couldn’t reach her at all. It left Xia Zilu aggrieved, crying for several nights.

Her besties, out of options, suggested she just wait downstairs at the company to intercept Chu Susu, play pitiful, apologize: “You hit her dog and made a huge scene—might as well swallow your pride.”

“But I suffered for her too—my parents tormented me for half a month.” They’d always spoiled her rotten; this was the first time they’d blown up like that.

“Don’t you know how to adapt? Look at that mistress, all tea and airs. You? Charging in with your temper.” Her besties were exasperated. “You’re so pretty—act cute and coquettish, who wouldn’t melt?”

Xia Zilu thought they had a point, so she decided to stake out the coffee shop.

There was only one exit from the park; anyone coming down from the office building had to pass the coffee shop door. She just had to wait.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate—the rain grew heavier, blurring the view outside the glass like a hazy filter. Few people passed, all huddled under umbrellas hiding their faces; she couldn’t make out who was who, not even silhouettes.

Xia Zilu reapplied nude lipstick, anxious as could be, and simply went to stand by the door to watch. But she quickly realized something crucial: her little sun umbrella wouldn’t hold up; she’d be drenched like a drowned rat the moment she stepped out.

Damn it, it was just a light sprinkle when she came!

As she frowned, wondering what to do next, she suddenly spotted a familiar-looking umbrella nearby. If she remembered right, she’d bought that model once as a gift for Chu Susu.

A huge weight lifted from Xia Zilu’s heart. She was finally here!

She was just about to call out, to tell her how long she’d waited, how tough the past while had been, when her peripheral vision caught a pair of black ankle boots—not the brand Chu Susu usually wore.

Then, a chill hit her ankle.

Xia Zilu looked up in shock, just in time to see the person leisurely folding the umbrella, flinging the dripping water from the edge right onto her expensive high heels.

Wasn’t this that innocent-faced mistress from that day? And she dared shake water on her shoes?!

“Isn’t this the umbrella I gave Chu Susu?” Xia Zilu’s eyes blazed with fury; she wanted to lunge and tear her apart. She demanded sharply, “How is it with you?”

Han Xuan stood expressionlessly opposite her, meeting her gaze yet somehow not regarding her at all. “Oh?”

Her limpid eyes seemed to shimmer with pity as she leaned close to Xia Zilu and said with a hint of surprise,

“Then why did I borrow it from the cleaning lady?”

Xia Zilu froze. “What?”

What cleaning lady?

Han Xuan pondered, then revealed a faint smile, her dimples making her eyes seem even deeper.

“Miss Xia, the cleaning lady only has one kind of thing there.”

“Stuff no one wants—trash.”