~~~
Four pairs of eyes turned simultaneously toward Shen Lanyan. Accustomed to the gaze of thousands, the few surprised looks from these people were nothing compared to the dozens or hundreds of staff members and cameras on a film set.
When a scene didn’t go right, they reshot it. This time, it was Wen Wanyuan who had slipped up—her costar not sticking to the script. Shen Lanyan wasn’t just a pretty face; she adjusted her performance on the fly.
“I’m not actually Miss Wen’s girlfriend. Jiuwei and I are just friends. She mentioned that Miss Wen was troubled about not finding a girlfriend, and I couldn’t bear to see Jiuwei worry about her, so I played along with the act.” Shen Lanyan’s words rang with sincerity as she apologized to Mama Wen and Papa Wen. “I hope Uncle and Auntie don’t mind the joke.”
When did I ever worry about not finding a girlfriend?!
Wen Wanyuan opened her mouth to retort, but seeing her own parents watching her, she swallowed the words.
She couldn’t let Mom and Dad know she had no interest in dating.
“By the way, I just heard Miss Wen call Jiuwei ‘Ah Mu’?” Shen Lanyan’s interest was clearly piqued by Ning Jiuwei. “Is that the ‘mu’ from ‘morning and evening’? Jiuwei’s nickname?”
The question was directed at Wen Wanyuan, but Shen Lanyan’s gaze shifted to Mama Ning and Papa Ning.
Mama Ning smiled, faint lines crinkling at the corners of her eyes as she explained. “Yes, Jiuwei’s nickname is Ah Mu. The name Ning Jiuwei comes from the ancient phrase meaning ‘how could one long dwell in lowly obscurity.’ We chose Ah Mu for her hoping first that one day she would soar like a roc with boundless prospects, and second that she would always have someone by her side, morning and night, to keep her happy.”
“Ah Mu.” Shen Lanyan smiled as she said the name. “Then should I start calling her by her full name, Ning Jiuwei, from now on?”
Mama Ning laughed, amused. “No need for formalities, Miss Shen. Call her whatever you like.”
Outside the door, Ning Jiuwei took a deep breath, regretting that she’d left early.
Whoever left first became the topic of everyone’s conversation.
Su Jinglan lightly held Ning Jiuwei in her arms. She’d heard every word Mama Ning said. Tilting her head, her gaze fixed on Ning Jiuwei’s face, taking in her every reaction and committing it all to memory.
Ning Jiuwei suppressed the urge to go back in, removed the arm around her, and strode away on her long legs.
“Miss Shen, you’re a good friend of both Jiuwei and Little Su. Do you know anything about their situation?” Mama Ning seized control of the conversation, cutting straight to the heart of her daughter’s love life.
Su Jinglan, who had been about to leave, heard her own name and halted her steps, slowing her breathing.
“It’s better if Auntie asks Jiuwei directly about that.” Shen Lanyan showed no trace of a celebrity’s arrogance. “I’ve only known Jiuwei for a short time, and as for her relationship with Su Jinglan…”
Mama Ning’s expression changed, and she cut her off. “Su Jinglan? That colleague of hers you just mentioned, her name is Su Jinglan?”
One of an actor’s basic skills was reading the room. Noticing something odd in Mama Ning’s attitude, Shen Lanyan smiled and confirmed, “Yes.” Then she turned the question back. “Is there a problem?”
Mama Ning glanced at Wen Wanyuan for confirmation. Wen Wanyuan shook her head.
It wasn’t that person.
Relieved, Mama Ning broke into a beaming smile, brushing off her momentary lapse with casual ease. “I just wanted to confirm the name of Jiuwei’s colleague. Miss Shen, try some of this Longjing Shrimp. It’s light and not greasy at all—perfect for you.”
Convinced that Ning Jiuwei wouldn’t have some illicit romance with a mere colleague, the topic shifted away from her and back to Wen Wanyuan.
Left to fend for herself among the four elders, Wen Wanyuan felt time crawling by, each second dragging on like years. Beside her, Shen Lanyan ate slowly and deliberately, showing no intention of coming to her rescue.
“Designer Ning, it seems Auntie knows about me.” Su Jinglan had only caught Shen Lanyan’s question—”Is there a problem?”—when Ning Jiuwei, returning from her walk, pulled her away.
At the corner, they passed a server on the way. Ning Jiuwei let go of Su Jinglan’s hand.
She had no idea what had been said during that brief moment she’d been gone. Even if something had come up, it couldn’t have been much in so little time. Ning Jiuwei quickened her pace toward the exit.
A few steps outside the dining room brought them to the elevators. They waited together to go down. Su Jinglan brought up the subject again, her gentle smile laced with clear intent. “Isn’t Designer Ning curious what I heard?”
Ning Jiuwei clenched her fist. She wasn’t wearing a coat—just a single ink-blue shirt—so her balled-up hand hung openly at her side, reflected clearly in the elevator’s mirrored wall and caught by Su Jinglan’s eyes.
Ning Jiuwei was nervous.
Noticing this, Su Jinglan smiled, amused and intrigued as she teased her. “Auntie thinks we’re a good match.”
Ning Jiuwei fell silent for a long moment before responding. “It’s not just President Su. She thinks I’m a good match with everyone. President Su shouldn’t take it to heart.”
Parents of a certain age fretted over their children’s marriages. These days, with same-sex marriage legal, gender was no longer an obstacle. As long as it was a person—same sex or opposite—they could pair up.
Su Jinglan tentatively reached out, crooking her pinky finger around Ning Jiuwei’s little finger. “You’ve got me hooked, Teacher Ning.”
There weren’t many people in the descending elevator. Ning Jiuwei pulled her hand away from the one stirring up her emotions. As soon as the doors opened, she stepped inside.
The car was parked in the underground parking lot. Ning Jiuwei pressed the button for the first floor, planning to hail a cab home. Su Jinglan watched her every move. When they reached the first floor, she deftly caught Ning Jiuwei’s hand, stopping her from getting out.
“Our car is on Basement Level 1,” Su Jinglan said in an intimate tone.
Ning Jiuwei wanted to leave but couldn’t.
The elevator doors slid shut, continuing downward. They arrived in the empty parking lot, and Su Jinglan spoke softly. “Wherever Designer Ning is headed, I’ll give you a ride. If it’s home, we’re going the same way anyway.”
Now that they were next-door neighbors, Ning Jiuwei had no reason to refuse.
“Home,” Ning Jiuwei said, skipping pointless protests.
She had a good memory and remembered where Su Jinglan’s car was parked. When they reached it, she noticed the black nanny car in the adjacent spot looked familiar.
The parking lot lights were bright. In the driver’s seat of the nanny car, Ah Xiao was hunched over her phone. Sensing eyes on her from the glow of the screen, she looked up and glanced over.
Their gazes met through the windshield. Ah Xiao nodded in greeting, and Ning Jiuwei returned a mild smile. After Su Jinglan unlocked the car, Ning Jiuwei opened the back door and slipped inside.
A message from Assistant Tan arrived unexpectedly.
Ning Jiuwei leaned back in her seat to reply. Glancing up casually, she saw Su Jinglan texting as well.
“Designer Ning,” Su Jinglan said, as if she had eyes in the back of her head and knew Ning Jiuwei was watching. “Lanyan’s coming down soon. Let’s wait for her here.”
Just as she finished speaking, Ning Jiuwei received a message from Wen Wanyuan.
Wen Wanyuan: You all left me alone to face four sets of parents!
With her schedule packed with gigs, Shen Lanyan had made an excuse about work and slipped away easily.
Ning Jiuwei replied to Wen Wanyuan: You were supposed to handle it alone.
Before long, two figures appeared in view. Shen Lanyan wore her face-obscuring mask and polarized night vision glasses. She and Wen Wanyuan approached Su Jinglan’s car, one behind the other.
Compared to the spacious nanny car, the sedan’s interior was cramped. Shen Lanyan pulled open the back door and spotted Ning Jiuwei in the seat. A smile flickered in her eyes, though it was indistinct through the polarized lenses.
“Why didn’t Designer Ning take the front passenger seat?” On her way over, Shen Lanyan had noticed it was empty and assumed Ning Jiuwei had left alone. She hadn’t expected her to still be in Su Jinglan’s car.
She started to climb in, but Wen Wanyuan grabbed her. “Please, Miss Shen, take the front.”
“I want to sit with my Designer Sister. The front can go to Little Wanyuan the designer.”
Wen Wanyuan: “…”
Who are you calling Little Wanyuan!
“Jiuwei, I drove here,” Wen Wanyuan said, skipping the banter. Her gaze passed over Shen Lanyan to meet the eyes of the person inside.
Ning Jiuwei made a snap decision and got out of the car. “Thanks, President Su. I’ll ride home with my friend.”
Wen Wanyuan flashed a triumphant smile and let go of Shen Lanyan.
No matter the front or back seat, sitting with Ning Jiuwei was off the table now.
Wen Wanyuan pulled out her phone to find her parking spot. She’d snapped a photo of the spot number earlier, afraid she’d forget after parking.
Finally in her own car, Wen Wanyuan grabbed Ning Jiuwei’s arm and leaned over the center console to demand, “Ah Mu, why did you hire an actress to play my girlfriend!”
“An actress is more professional than me,” Ning Jiuwei said reasonably. She pried off the grabbing hand, pulled down her seatbelt, and added, “Take me home, Miss Wen.”
“No matter how professional, my parents still figured out she’s a fake girlfriend.” Wen Wanyuan started the engine. “Ah Mu, only you can pull it off.”
Ning Jiuwei didn’t hide the truth. “I heard it from outside. You said it yourself.”
“You were eavesdropping out there!” Wen Wanyuan multitasked, checking both sides before easing out of the spot. “How much did you hear?”
“Not much.” Ning Jiuwei leaned back, closed her eyes to rest, and steadied her churning emotions.
In the parking lot lights, Wen Wanyuan glanced at Ning Jiuwei. Her calm expression gave nothing away. After a moment’s hesitation, Wen Wanyuan didn’t mention Su Jinglan’s name.
They entered Xitang Mansion without issue and pulled up in front of Building 6. Wen Wanyuan made an excuse to go up with Ning Jiuwei.
“You didn’t eat enough tonight. Make me something, Ah Mu.” While Ning Jiuwei unbuckled her seatbelt, Wen Wanyuan tugged her sleeve. “Whatever Sister Ning makes, I’ll eat.”
“Go home. I’ll order you some takeout.” Ning Jiuwei refused to let Wen Wanyuan come upstairs. As she got out, she glanced toward the residential complex entrance.
Ning Jiuwei headed upstairs alone.
Wen Wanyuan, still sitting in the car, slowly let the smile fade from her face. She opened WeChat and tapped into her chat with Ning Jiuwei to send a message.
Ning Jiuwei stepped out of the elevator and received the message, but she didn’t reply right away. Instead, she noticed that the door to the apartment across the hall—Room 2201—was ajar, with light spilling out from inside.
Su Jinglan couldn’t possibly have come up this quickly, which meant someone else was in there. Ning Jiuwei slipped into her own home and, once safely behind the door, finally messaged Wen Wanyuan back.
The thick door muffled all sounds from the hallway. She couldn’t hear any footsteps and had no way of knowing if Su Jinglan had returned. Ning Jiuwei changed into her house slippers and headed to the study to keep working on her design drawings.
The study door stood wide open. By now, several tens of minutes had passed since she’d come home, yet the doorbell hadn’t rung, and there were no messages from Su Jinglan.
She stared at the design drawings, which still had quite a bit left to finish. Setting her pen down, Ning Jiuwei closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind, slowly sketching out the remaining details in her head.
But she couldn’t focus. Su Jinglan’s words kept echoing in her ears, a reminder that she wouldn’t be sleeping alone this week.
Then the doorbell rang. The moment she’d been waiting for had finally arrived.
Su Jinglan stood at her door, one hand supporting her lower back. “Designer Ning, I’m here to hold you responsible again.”
Ning Jiuwei hadn’t noticed any back pain from Su Jinglan at dinner. Steadying her emotions, she replied in a calm, measured tone, “President Su’s back looks perfectly fine to me. I don’t think you need me to take responsibility.”
“Whether a back is fine or not isn’t something you can tell just by looking—you have to try it out.” Su Jinglan smiled warmly. “Would Designer Ning care to give it a test?”
She was only teasing Ning Jiuwei, fully confident that the other woman wouldn’t dare take the bait.
After a brief pause, Ning Jiuwei surprised her by agreeing. “Sure.”
~~~
