Han Xuan’s fingers paused, not touching it, but Chu Susu instinctively felt an itch at the corner of her lips.
What was this?
Before Chu Susu could ask, Han Xuan smiled softly and said gently, “Your lipstick shade is so pretty. How about giving it to me?”
…So she had misunderstood.
Chu Susu thought about it and figured with Han Xuan’s personality, she probably wouldn’t do something like that.
“Sure.” She agreed readily. “I’ll buy a new one and give it to you in a couple days.”
“No need for a new one.” Han Xuan shook her head. “Just give me the one you’ve been using.”
Chu Susu had just gotten back, and her bag on her shoulder hadn’t been set down yet. For some reason, the zipper wasn’t fully closed, revealing just a bit of the lipstick cap.
She took it out and showed it to Han Xuan. “It’s all used up. Forget it.”
How could she give this away? It was too shabby.
“It’s fine.” Han Xuan said understandingly.
Chu Susu lowered her gaze and saw the boots peeking out from under Han Xuan’s skirt hem. They were obviously well-worn, with the toes scuffed—very noticeable at a glance, and somehow heartbreaking.
Was it because she was so frugal, unwilling to spend money on herself?
With that thought, Chu Susu felt that saying more might embarrass Han Xuan, so she didn’t refuse again. She simply placed the well-used lipstick in her palm.
In that moment, the items in their hands were exchanged.
The cherry on the cake was bright red and tempting. Chu Susu examined it for a moment before biting it into her mouth. The sweet fragrance instantly filled her entire oral cavity.
After she smiled and nodded, just before turning to leave, the person behind her said, “Want to watch a movie together after work?”
Chu Susu’s footsteps halted.
“Consider it a birthday treat for me.”
Han Xuan added cautiously.
Even without turning to look at her, Chu Susu could sense the hopeful gleam in those eyes. The word “no” stuck in her throat, impossible to say.
Fine, she’d agree. After all, it was her birthday.
There was a popular romantic comedy with great reviews lately. Chu Susu had thought they’d need to rush for tickets, but once inside the theater, she found no one around them front, back, or sides.
In the pitch black, Han Xuan sat quietly to her left. While others laughed at the plot, she remained completely unmoved.
Chu Susu munched on popcorn and asked her, “Don’t you think it’s funny?”
Han Xuan answered honestly, “I don’t really get the jokes.”
Since no one was nearby to disturb them, she leaned in close and whispered explanations of the movie’s gags.
They were all hot internet memes, and Han Xuan clearly wasn’t familiar with them. She seemed to half-understand but stayed silent, listening attentively.
She stared at Chu Susu, as if tracing those vibrant brows and eyes with her gaze, then softly said, “You’re so beautiful.”
Their fingertips brushed by the popcorn—merely a fleeting touch, yet it felt like an electric shock, tingling and numbing.
Han Xuan’s eyes held a pool of water, and Chu Susu felt like a little boat on the waves, swaying unsteadily with the wind.
She could feel Han Xuan’s hand sliding slowly down her index finger, over the pad, along the base, then to her palm, where it gently scratched the most ticklish spot.
Then it curled up, tucking away the naughty fingertip, and used the knuckle to rub gently instead.
It was just fingers touching, yet somehow laced with an inexplicable tease and desire from who-knows-where.
Chu Susu felt a stir from the friction and promptly grasped that disobedient hand.
But unexpectedly, once intertwined, Han Xuan gripped back harder than she had.
Her palm was cool, like ice radiating chill, pressed tight without a gap.
Chu Susu had never known Han Xuan had such strength.
As she thought that, she saw the other lift her gaze. Still that timid face, making Chu Susu suddenly forget how tightly she was held.
The beginnings of many things happen naturally, in a flash.
Like right now. She saw Han Xuan lean in slowly. Before their lips met, her nose tip rubbed against Chu Susu’s first.
At such close range, Chu Susu could almost feel the other’s lashes fluttering gently, then catch a faint scent—the familiar sage.
Usually overfamiliar and a bit pungent, but now it was like drops of catalyst, making hormones explode.
With such immense temptation before her, Chu Susu held back no longer and pressed her lips forward onto hers.
Han Xuan’s taste was just as imagined—soft and plump, sweetly mild, even better than the cake she made.
A faint, soft whimper escaped from her nose, audible only to Chu Susu.
She then felt the heat on Han Xuan’s cheeks, responding to her kiss with scorching, intoxicating fervor.
She looked green and clumsy, body stiff, but actually not—her lips and tongue were nimble, no less skilled than hers.
Realizing this, Chu Susu felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head, suddenly recalling that unsightly kiss mark.
She slowly leaned back, ending the kiss, and gazed into Han Xuan’s dazed eyes before softly saying:
“I didn’t know you liked women too.”
Though it had been obvious for a while; they just hadn’t addressed it.
Han Xuan said nothing, nodding awkwardly under her gaze.
Chu Susu couldn’t quite name her feelings, but kept a smile on her face. “Have you dated before?”
The other shook her head innocently.
“Or done… this with anyone else?”
A nod.
Her smile unchanged, though faintly dimmer: “I won’t be the first, will I?”
The first one to kiss her.
Han Xuan shyly lowered her head. “Yeah.”
“Really? Even if not, it’s totally normal.”
“It’s true.”
A trace of indistinct disappointment flickered in Chu Susu’s eyes.
Others might not notice, but having been with plenty of women, she knew how to tell.
Given Han Xuan’s skill, it clearly wasn’t her first kiss—yet she’d lied again.
Chu Susu didn’t mind her past, only one thing: deception.
A sense of incomprehension welled up in her. Even if Han Xuan told the truth, it wouldn’t change anything—why lie?
Though Chu Susu thought maybe her caring so much was because Han Xuan had the face she liked most.
If it were someone she wasn’t that into, none of it would matter.
Ambiguous with others? Whatever, no real feelings, no jealousy.
Lying? No big deal; she might not be fully honest either.
But Han Xuan was different.
She couldn’t pinpoint why, just that Han Xuan shouldn’t be like this. Shouldn’t do those things, shouldn’t lie to her.
…But then it seemed ridiculous. Everyone lies and hides things—so why expect more from her?
Still, the disappointment lingered.
Han Xuan bit her lip. “It’s true, I’m not lying. I… would never lie to you.”
Seeing Chu Susu didn’t believe her, she grew anxious and murmured, “I can swear.”
That lipstick she’d called pretty hadn’t even been applied before it left its mark another way on her lips, now messily swollen and pitifully red.
Looking at that tear-streaked face, Chu Susu ultimately softened, gently stroking her lip with a finger and saying warmly, “Mm, I know.”
Damn it. She cursed herself inwardly.
She really was a face-connoisseur through and through. If it were anyone else, she wouldn’t be acting like this.
Only Han Xuan. Why did she have to have this face?
As the project neared completion, the client decided to treat everyone to a wrap-up banquet next month and brought good news—
Thanks to their great work this time, the client was adding funds and entrusting another project to them.
Great news for everyone—except Jack.
Since that incident, the tasks left for him were only peripheral ones. He could still oversee others, but had lost real chances to shine.
With the project ending, his room to perform was nearly gone.
As the nominal project lead with no standout achievements from him, it would hurt badly in evaluations and promotions.
But everyone else was thrilled. After working so hard for so long, they could finally rest a bit. Foreign companies were humane with leave—time off after each project.
While they celebrated, Chu Susu was in the office taking a video call from her cousin Fang Chen.
After the usual greetings, she noticed his background was different: “Bro, where are you?”
“At your place.” Fang Chen shifted the camera to show her, then slapped his forehead. “Oh right, the house got renovated recently. You haven’t been back, so you wouldn’t know.”
The snow-white walls were painted sky blue, clashing with the original furniture.
Chu Susu could guess with her toes: Chu Zhen was too stodgy for this color; the siblings must have wanted it.
“Mm.” She let out a cold snort from her nose. “The new setup is very childish.”
Chu Susu remembered that when she was little, there was a time she wanted to buy a slightly expensive toy. Chu Zhen would definitely scold her over the phone for being extravagant and wasteful.
In the end, it was Chu Qingyang who used her own pocket money to buy it for her.
And now, for the two kids Chu Yifan and Chu Tingting, the walls at home got painted without a second thought.
But she wasn’t clueless about these things—she had long since learned not to care.
Fang Chen: “I’m video calling to tell you there’s a birthday banquet next week, and I want to take you along.”
“Birthday banquet? Whose?”
“The daughter of Fucheng Enterprise. You’ve probably heard of the company—they do real estate, and it’s been listed for ages.”
Chu Susu let out an “oh.” She had indeed heard of it; it had quite the reputation as a massive family-run business.
Fang Chen: “It’s called a birthday banquet, but it’s really just a front for an early tender. Our company wants in on the bid, so they’re sending me to check things out.”
Chu Susu: “I see.”
Fang Chen: “If you’re interested, come with me. It’ll be a good chance to network—might help with future jobs.”
Chu Susu naturally wouldn’t turn down something like that: “No problem, thanks, bro.”
She hung up the video call and immediately spotted a few WeChat messages from Han Xuan.
Come to think of it, ever since that kiss at the movie theater that day…
