Chapter 12: Then, Who Do You Like?

Gan Xun wasn’t easily shy.

She and Cui Can had met in middle school. Back then, middle schoolers were still into playing on Tieba forums. One weekend, someone started a gay-themed thread in the Experimental Middle School campus forum.

That was a huge taboo at the time—and still was.

Class teachers regularly patrolled the forums, hunting for suspects.

So the post was quickly deleted, but Cui Can unexpectedly befriended Gan Xun from Class 7 and added her contact info.

They were in the same grade, but Gan Xun was a full two years younger than her.

Gan Xun’s name was familiar; Cui Can had first heard it back in middle school when everyone was starting to develop crushes. Schoolwork wasn’t heavy yet, so they had time on their hands and began ranking the school’s hottest girls and guys.

Gan Xun was on that list. She wasn’t just ordinarily pretty; she was Class 7’s— that joke was lame, but it spread far and wide.

Back then, ways to surf the internet were limited, and people didn’t know much about mixed-race features. Gan Xun’s looks weren’t strikingly exotic either.

No one knew who started the rumor that Gan Xun was mixed-race, but after hearing it, Cui Can easily noticed her lighter-colored pupils and the straighter bridge and brow bone of her nose.

That made her not necessarily the prettiest girl in school, but always the most unique. She never lacked attention.

Ever since they became friends, Cui Can had often witnessed guys chasing after Gan Xun.

Gan Xun turned everyone down without a second thought, utterly unmoved.

She wasn’t interested in guys, and while women caught her eye, she didn’t dare try.

Cui Can had been baffled at first and thought she might be asexual.

So this was the first time Cui Can saw Gan Xun stammering and fidgeting awkwardly in front of someone.

Gan Xun couldn’t handle Zhao Chiyun and bossed her around: “What are you laughing at? Hurry up and order your food!”

Cui Can pouted. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ll order quick so you two can finish eating and go home to whisper sweet nothings.”

Cui Can’s mouth was sharp, but her hands weren’t idle. She picked out dishes in no time and let them add or change whatever they wanted.

There was a menu on the table too. Zhao Chiyun opened it and saw the appealing photos.

Gan Xun said anything was fine. After studying the pictures for a while, Zhao Chiyun closed the menu without commenting.

Gan Xun knew full well she wasn’t satisfied with any of it; she just wasn’t comfortable with any either, so she decided to go with the flow.

The Cantonese restaurant offered black tea. Seeing Gan Xun and Cui Can both drinking it, Zhao Chiyun took a couple sips too.

“How is it?”

Zhao Chiyun said flatly, “Barely good enough to rinse your mouth.”

Gan Xun had thought it was pretty good before, but now she could barely swallow it.

Cui Can used the tea as a stand-in for alcohol and toasted first: “Glad that’s finally over with. Still, thanks to both of you today.”

She glanced at Gan Xun’s hand. “That must’ve hurt.”

“We have to put it behind us.” Gan Xun solemnly reminded her, swallowing her pride.

“Of course. It’s not like I’m undesirable. We’re done, whatever. I felt our relationship cooling off at the start of the year. She wasn’t as attentive as before. Last time I had the flu and was bedridden for days, she said she was busy and didn’t take care of me even once—no messages either.”

Gan Xun said irritably, “No wonder you two broke up so fast. Turns out you were dating trash like that.”

“I didn’t want to date her either. We chatted a few times, she wouldn’t agree to break up, kept crying and whining. I thought she really cherished me. But this time I caught her cheating—doubt she’s got the face to come crawling back.”

Gan Xun could only comfort her with the idea that a short pain was better than a long one.

Zhao Chiyun asked, “Since Miss Cui had already pledged her life to her, is there a procedure for the separation?”

Gan Xun was intrigued. “You guys have that?”

“Naturally. A divorce requires a contract.”

Gan Xun smiled. “They’re not married, just dating. Dating means you get together if you want and split if you want—no procedures or contracts needed.”

Zhao Chiyun was puzzled. “Even if they live together?”

“It’s just cohabitation. Doesn’t mean anything official.”

Zhao Chiyun found it hard to understand. Was “dating” just playing around? So casual?

Cui Can chimed in with a grin. “Yeah, just cohabiting. You two are doing the same right now.”

Gan Xun objected. “How is that the same?”

Zhao Chiyun said, “I’m merely a guest.”

“But your home only has one bed, right?”

Gan Xun immediately declared, “I sleep on the sofa.”

As if she’d share a bed with a strange woman!

Cui Can clutched her chest dramatically, pained. “But every time I visit, I get the sofa treatment.”

Zhao Chiyun explained mildly, “You are but a commoner.”

Gan Xun parroted her. “You are but a commoner.”

Cui Can yanked the imaginary arrow from her heart and sang, “I’m strong, I can stand in the rain, keep walking through the rain…”

“Quiet down.” Gan Xun demanded.

She composed herself. “It’s fine, County Princess. Don’t worry, I can handle it. I’ve dated plenty, and this isn’t my first breakup. I’ve got experience, haha.”

Her laugh gave Gan Xun a headache. Pretending it was no big deal—who was the one crying buckets just now?

Zhao Chiyun was surprised. “Wasn’t that Miss someone your first lover?”

“Her? Please. I’m 26 already—lost my first love back in middle school.”

Gan Xun added, “She doesn’t know about middle school.”

“Like, fourteen or fifteen.”

Zhao Chiyun lowered her voice. “With another woman too?”

A server walked by, and Cui Can paused.

Then she continued. “Yeah, I’ve only ever liked women.”

Gan Xun clarified, “She’s a lesbian.”

With Gan Xun’s help as translator, Zhao Chiyun learned a bunch of new things—useless once she returned to Mirror Country.

Cui Can also quickly bonded with Zhao Chiyun. Her questions were more direct and from unique angles, so Gan Xun overheard even more personal details.

For instance, in Prince Qi’s household, there were two daughters and one son total. Zhao Chiyun was the youngest. Her big sister and brother were both married with kids.

So after turning twenty, Zhao Chiyun had been constantly nagged to marry.

Her fiancé was the little general from a martial family—noble background, handsome too. But Zhao Chiyun just didn’t like him.

“Guys who love sports just sound gross.”

Cui Can said.

Zhao Chiyun’s expression shifted slightly, and she nodded. “That’s exactly what I said, but my Big Sister told me men are like that. If men were like women, everything would be chaos.”

Cui Can sighed. “Your Big Sister is so traditional, just like my mom.”

Gan Xun asked, “How much older is your Big Sister than you?”

“Five years.”

Not much difference. Gan Xun had thought fifteen.

“You don’t like that dashing little general. Then who do you like?”

Cui Can asked her.

Cutting off her escape route. “Don’t say no one. Unless you joined some sect back in ancient times and cultivate the Emotionless Dao.”

Over twenty and no one you like? Who’d buy that?

Zhao Chiyun smiled lightly, thought for a moment, but didn’t answer or deny it.

She just lowered her head and took a sip of tea.

She made the mouth-rinsing tea taste like tribute brew, her expression veiled like a noble peony shrouded in an invisible mist.

Gan Xun stood outside the mist.

But she understood. Someone was hidden in Zhao Chiyun’s heart.

In an era of parental orders and matchmaker’s words, for royalty like her—maybe even an imperial decree—she couldn’t refuse.

Gan Xun wasn’t deeply invested in others’ private affairs, but she really wanted to know what kind of person someone with Zhao Chiyun’s personality would fall for.

How did she console herself, unable to get the one she wanted and forced to marry another?

Their relationship wasn’t close enough to ask that yet.

For some reason, Gan Xun suddenly felt down. She didn’t know why.

They’d only known this ancient person for one night and half a day—they weren’t close, which was only natural.

She lowered her head and drank some tea too.

Yeah, bitter.