She had been staying in a hotel before, but recently, after finalizing the collaboration with Jing Group and being unable to contact Ji Fan, Dan Wuyan had no choice but to rent a private villa again.
She planned to return to Switzerland once these matters were settled.
The villa belonged to a friend of Chen Ran’s. A few years earlier, that friend had moved abroad, leaving the European-style house vacant.
When Chen Ran brought her to see the place, its style was so similar to the attic in Songxue Bay from three years ago that Dan Wuyan rented it without hesitation.
The surrounding environment was relatively quiet, with the building nestled amid artificially planted greenery. The front yard featured a spacious garden, the two-story house had a large pool that could be used for swimming.
Night had fallen, enveloping everything in silence, and now a light drizzle began to patter outside.
The villa’s lights were hidden in the darkness, as if swallowed whole by some massive beast.
Dan Wuyan rolled up her shirt sleeves to mid-forearm, laid out the ingredients one by one, and placed her phone on the kitchen island while listening to the person on the other end report on Deep Color’s recent progress at Jing Group.
“President Dan, I’ve already sent the technical report to President Jing’s email,” Julia sighed. “But no reply yet.”
Dan Wuyan carefully sliced the salmon. “Okay, got it.”
After Julia hung up, Dan Wuyan let out a breath from her chest and lowered her eyes to continue with her task.
The torched salmon California roll tasted better. She lit the blowtorch and swept it back and forth over the top.
The orange fish flesh emitted a toasty aroma as hot smoke rose.
Her phone buzzed—Fu Lianzhi was calling. They’d exchanged numbers after their last encounter, and when Dan Wuyan saw the caller ID, she briefly thought Fu Lianzhi had made up her mind and wanted to join Deep Color.
Dan Wuyan washed her hands and dried them, then picked up the phone and tucked it between her ear and shoulder. Before she could speak, the other side said, “I’ve got someone here—do you want to come pick her up?”
It was probably Jing Yan.
The name the other person mentioned matched her guess.
Dan Wuyan dialed Julia. “Do me a favor.”
She didn’t go herself but had Julia safely escort the drunk Jing Yan home.
An hour later…
The doorbell rang.
Julia held Jing Yan’s jacket over her arm and supported the thoroughly intoxicated woman beside her. Though it was a light rain, both had gotten somewhat wet.
Dan Wuyan was puzzled. “Didn’t I tell you to take President Jing home?”
No matter how much she’d calculated, she hadn’t expected Julia to bring her here.
Julia laughed with a look of utter misery. “President Dan… can I come in first?” Jing Yan’s arm was clamped around her neck, half her body weight leaning on Julia, who was flushed red from the strain.
She’d wanted to take Jing Yan home, but with her this drunk and incoherent, Julia had no choice but to bring her to her boss.
They were both women, after all—it would be safe.
Dan Wuyan reached out to help, and Julia slipped away, leaving so quickly that Dan Wuyan couldn’t even call her back.
En Lin often came over to play, so Julia was naturally familiar with the place.
Dan Wuyan crouched down halfway and scooped up the woman whose disheveled hair covered half her beautiful face. She carried her effortlessly a few steps and laid her on the sofa.
Jing Yan’s black silk shirt hid the large wet patch on her chest from view, but when Dan Wuyan had lifted her earlier, there had been clear rain stains on her front and back.
She went to the bathroom, started filling the tub, turned on the room’s heating in advance, and then walked back toward the sofa.
Drunk like this and soaked in the rain—Jing Yan’s thin lips were pale. Dan Wuyan placed her fingertips on her palm to check her skin temperature.
Unusually cold.
Dan Wuyan gently brushed aside the hair on her forehead and softly called, “Jing Yan?”
She’d never dared to imagine calling this name before, but now it slipped from her lips effortlessly in her presence.
She paused for a moment, then turned to check if the tub was full yet, planning to wake her for a hot bath later.
In that instant as she turned, Jing Yan grabbed her, her pale lips murmuring something.
Dan Wuyan didn’t leave, letting the tub overflow.
She called out again, “Jing Yan?”
The woman’s eyes were still red at the corners on the sofa.
“Wake up? You need to take a bath right now.”
Her body was soaked and cold, the scene striking Dan Wuyan with memories of herself in that rainy night three years ago.
Dan Wuyan’s throat tightened.
Half-drunk and half-dreaming, she had no idea what the woman was saying. Dan Wuyan leaned down but couldn’t make it out.
Jing Yan shifted, and their lips brushed. Dan Wuyan quickly pulled back, feeling restless.
Since she couldn’t wake her, she’d have to help.
Dan Wuyan pulled out her phone, turned on the recorder, cleared her throat seriously, and asked, “President Jing, you’re drunk. Do you need me to help you bathe?”
Jing Yan nodded vaguely and shook her head.
Dan Wuyan frowned. “Do you need it?”
Seeing the nod, Dan Wuyan stopped the recording.
This was her consent— she’d recorded the evidence.
Even if the sober Jing Yan questioned her tomorrow, necessary or not, she’d have a way out.
Dan Wuyan’s fingertips pinched the top button of the shirt and undid it. Before she reached the third, it popped open on its own. The shirt parted, revealing most of her black lace bra to the air.
Though Jing Yan was on the slimmer side, her figure was excellent—full and ample breasts. Dan Wuyan couldn’t help recalling the places her lips and teeth had once claimed, her face heating up.
Her thoughts unsettled, she undid the last button. The shirt fell open, exposing a section of her smooth waist.
Dan Wuyan lifted her back with one hand and removed the shirt, setting it aside.
Next came… more private areas waiting to be undone.
Only after stripping off all her clothes and carrying her into the hot bathwater did Dan Wuyan relax.
Drunk like this, she was easy prey.
The bathroom filled with steam. Jing Yan’s lower body was submerged, and Dan Wuyan quietly squatted beside her, gently patting.
Perhaps the hot water stimulated her; her body temperature warmed, a flush spreading across her face. Jing Yan lazily lifted her eyelids.
The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was Dan Wuyan. Remembering all the things she’d said, the words taking deeper root and hurting more, she’d drowned her sorrows in alcohol. Now, to face her so calmly—she couldn’t do it.
She glanced at her, then looked down and realized she was completely naked in front of her. Embarrassed beyond endurance, Jing Yan swung her dripping lotus-like arm through the steam, but the next second, Dan Wuyan stopped her.
She held up her phone, and her own voice echoed in the humid air.
Meaning her current naked state had been pre-approved.
Knowing she’d pull this, Dan Wuyan had come prepared to avoid getting slapped.
In a flash, she still got slapped.
?
Crazy woman…
Utterly unreasonable…
She clutched her face in stunned silence, accusing, “President Jing, you agreed to this. Why hit me?”
Jing Yan’s eyes reddened, staring at her as if regretting the slap.
Seeing her lost in thought, Dan Wuyan stood and said coolly, “Since President Jing is sober, finish your bath and go home.”
“Why are you chasing me away…” As Dan Wuyan took half a step, Jing Yan’s desolate voice came from behind. “And… why did you delete my WeChat…?”
Dan Wuyan didn’t turn. “We’ll talk after your bath…”
It wasn’t convenient here. Since Jing Yan was sober, there was no need for her to stay.
Jing Yan wasn’t hers anymore—just a business partner, or at most an ex.
Dan Wuyan casually picked a fingertip Rubik’s Cube from the display case in the figurine area and fiddled with it, curling up in the single-seater sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting as her long fingers moved deftly.
She pondered her lines, how to say something mutually beneficial when Jing Yan came out—words that wouldn’t hurt her but clearly expressed her true feelings now.
Bluntly say she didn’t love her anymore? Impossible, when the house was still stocked with her favorite sodas and coffee beans.
Say she loved her?
But so many things between them were unresolved, unclear. She couldn’t muster that resolute demeanor from last time again.
Jing Yan emerged wrapped in the white bathrobe Dan Wuyan had prepared. Hearing the bathroom sounds, Dan Wuyan ducked her head. Their eyes met.
Dan Wuyan guiltily looked away, her fingers spinning the cube rapidly. Jing Yan’s fragrance wafted closer and closer until she abruptly stopped.
“Um… it’s late. President Jing, you can leave in the morning too.”
Jing Yan: “Dan Wuyan, is that all you have to say to me?”
Dan Wuyan propped her elbow and countered, “Anything else?” What she said now had nothing to do with what she’d planned.
“If you think we have no ties left, I disagree…” Her eyes were deep, rippling like water.
Dan Wuyan’s heart panicked, fearing tears again. She hastily grabbed tissues, clutching them tightly, staring at her poised to act.
A tear slid from Jing Yan’s eye, and she wiped it away. Dan Wuyan’s palm covered the back of her hand; she paused, not pulling back in time.
How could she not soften toward someone she loved…
Despite all the hurtful words that night, her emotions were still at Jing Yan’s mercy. It was wondrous, yet painful.
“Let’s start over, okay…” Jing Yan’s tone was almost pleading.
To Dan Wuyan, she’d only seen Jing Yan this humble in love with others.
Dan Wuyan’s hand was still held; she lowered her head silently.
After a while, she said with red eyes, “Jing Yan… our relationship ended three years ago… let go…”
Compared to that night’s hysteria, Jing Yan feared this calm, steady tone more—like telling an irrelevant cold joke.
Jing Yan’s chest felt heavy; she gripped her hand tightly. Dan Wuyan half-heartedly pulled free.
For now, this was truly the best choice for both. No more chasing an love that wasn’t hers…
Considering Jing Yan had drunk and would be thirsty after the bath,
Dan Wuyan stood to fetch water, hoping to ease the atmosphere. She placed a bottle in front of Jing Yan, then suddenly recalled it was her favorite and snatched it back—but Jing Yan had seen everything.
The panicked retraction replayed slowly in Jing Yan’s eyes. Thinking it over, it wasn’t like only she could drink this brand of soda, so Dan Wuyan handed it over openly.
They’d broken up—what did her habits have to do with her anymore?
