Chapter 32: Unintentional Jealousy Part 1

Yan Muyu walked away. Qiu Chao watched her head over to chat with the unloaders, adjusting her hat and tearing open the red bean popsicle in her hand.

So many years had passed, and popsicles had gotten more expensive. The flavor didn’t quite match what she remembered from childhood. Back then, there had been a whole stick of red beans; now there was only half, the rest just sugary water.

【Some childhood memories.】

【I think they used to cost just a few cents.】

【Qiu Chao’s staring at Yan Muyu again wuwu.】

【Who knew Young Boss Yan was such a tsundere.】

【Prices around here are pretty cheap…】

Qiu Chao stood there for a moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a herbal medicine shop next to the popsicle stand and turned to head over.

From a short distance away, Yan Muyu appeared to be chatting with the unloaders, but her gaze stayed fixed on Qiu Chao.

She called out to her, “Where are you going? Don’t wander off.”

Qiu Chao turned her head. The tie-dye sunshade cloth on her woven straw hat fluttered in the air from the motion, giving it a cinematic feel on camera.

Qiu Chao: “Gonna buy something.”

The next second, a staff member off-camera reminded her, “You don’t have any money right now.”

Qiu Chao froze.

【Hahahahaha, bet you didn’t see that coming!】

【Where’d that thirty bucks per person from last night go?】

【Pretty sure it’s with Pei Wan.】

【So how’d Yan Muyu buy the hat and popsicle?】

It had been ages since Qiu Chao had felt this sensation of wanting something but having no cash. She let out a sigh, then walked back toward Yan Muyu.

Yan Muyu had realized the issue too. As Qiu Chao approached, she asked, “Got any money?”

Qiu Chao held out her hand. “Give it here.”

A towel still hung around Yan Muyu’s neck. She’d just rinsed it in cold water—maybe even washed her face too—leaving her looking damp and refreshed.

She took a bite of her popsicle. “This is my labor payment.”

Qiu Chao: “I’ll pay you back.”

Yan Muyu: “When?”

The two of them stood under the tree, the cicadas’ incessant chirping drilling into their heads.

Qiu Chao didn’t reply. Instead, she poked Yan Muyu’s shoulder with her finger. “Hurry up. I’m planning to make sour plum soup tonight.”

Yan Muyu let out an “oh,” probably too sweltered to bother with more chit-chat. She fished a twenty out of her pocket and handed it over. “This enough?”

Qiu Chao pursed her lips. “Dunno. Give it here for now.”

Her manicured nails gleamed like jelly on camera. The slow poke at Yan Muyu’s shoulder almost looked like flirting.

It actually hurt quite a bit. Yan Muyu knew from experience how those nails could scratch.

Qiu Chao: “Just twenty?”

Yan Muyu snorted and pulled out a fifty, handing it over.

“Thirty per trip. This is an advance.”

She added a ten-yuan note too. When their hands appeared in frame together, the contrast was stark.

Yan Muyu’s hands had the solid power of marble sculptures. Compared to Qiu Chao’s slender, soft ones with their pretty manicure, hers looked utterly plain.

No adornments whatsoever. Her nails were trimmed impeccably clean, catching the dappled sunlight and sparking all sorts of fantasies among the barrage viewers who knew not from where.

【Straight or gay, it’s crystal clear now.】

【I saw Yan Muyu’s INS video of her homework once—she’s got skills in a ton of stuff… and never wears jewelry.】

【She has worn some. Saw it reposted somewhere. End-of-term fashion show for clothing majors, I think the model was Yan Muyu. Red bishop vibes. She doesn’t smile, it’s kinda unapproachable.】

【How many faces does this woman even have?】

【You’re all analyzing nails? I’m just thrilled they’re so broke! Dying over here.】

【Hahahaha these two feel like they’ve been together forever. Sister Qiu, that poke was way too natural! Why poke at all?】

Qiu Chao actually grumbled, “So stingy.”

Yan Muyu was at a loss. “Am I the stingy one? That’s all we’ve got.”

Qiu Chao let out an “oh.” “Neither of us has a way to make money.”

Yan Muyu had no patience for the act. She urged her on. “They’re about to leave.”

Qiu Chao headed off.

Yan Muyu stood in the tree’s shade, popsicle in her mouth, messing around on her phone.

In the distance, Xia Yuanyuan felt deeply unsettled.

She thought: Sister Qiu and I go way back! I never knew she could make sour plum soup!!

Why didn’t Young Boss Yan bat an eye? Had she tried it before?

Just how did these two get along back in the day?

Qiu Chao returned quickly, handing Yan Muyu some change.

The goods were unloaded by then. Yan Muyu turned the car around and asked Qiu Chao, “Straight to the embroidery workshop?”

Qiu Chao murmured her assent.

She watched Yan Muyu drive with focus. But on the road, she couldn’t hold back and asked, “When did you get a license for this?”

Yan Muyu: “While you weren’t paying attention.”

Her phone was playing music from a playlist—probably on random. The tune was pretty sweet.

Yan Muyu wasn’t singing along. As she made a turn, she couldn’t grab her phone and told Qiu Chao, “Skip the song.”

【It’s Xuan Zhelu’s song!!】

【Damn! Her single—what’s it called, Vigil of the 22nd Century?】

【I remember Yan Muyu took the album photos.】

【They dated, 100%.】

【This album style is so not Xuan-jie’s usual. In the group, she was all cool captain vibes.】

Skipping was just a button tap, but it let Qiu Chao glimpse the song title and artist.

Xuan Zhelu.

Qiu Chao thought of the woman she’d seen at the bar that day.

And years ago, on a guest spot for a period drama, the boasting she’d overheard in the dressing room.

Yan Muyu is so great.

Yan Muyu is so good to me.

Every word dripped with envy-inducing smugness, stirring up every shred of possessiveness in Qiu Chao.

She couldn’t control her jealousy at all. From that woman’s saccharine tone, she pictured Yan Muyu’s gentle coaxing.

The kind Qiu Chao had experienced at the Yan family.

How many times more would Yan Muyu be like that with her girlfriend?

This woman would surely pull her straight into an embrace without a second thought, let her sit on her lap.

Did they interlace fingers? Did she twirl her hair while chatting about everyday things?

What a pity.

I’ve never gotten that.

Even though it had only been four months. Even though Qiu Chao and Yan Muyu had spent four years as sister-in-law and sister-in-law.

She finally understood the difference between sleeping together and not.

Yet once their relationship crossed that line, Qiu Chao would never get what she truly wanted from Yan Muyu.

After all, telling her that her marriage to Yan Kai was contractual wouldn’t help. Yan Muyu seemed carefree and heartless on the surface, but her boundaries lay right there.

Qiu Chao had been her sister-in-law, so she was forever disqualified from being her bedmate.

That was why Qiu Chao had no intention of telling the truth. She wanted Yan Muyu to hate her while endlessly sleeping with her.

But still.

She couldn’t help being jealous.

Right now, in that instant, Qiu Chao even felt the cicadas’ noise fade away.

Her ears still echoed with Xuan Zhelu’s boasting on set.

“Qiu Chao.”

“Qiu Chao! What are you spacing out for?”

Yan Muyu called to her.

Qiu Chao snapped back with an “oh” and skipped to the next track.

Only to find it was still a Xuan Zhelu song.

【Why’s the vibe suddenly awkward?】

【Feels like getting caught cheating, total cringe.】

【Yan Muyu… loves her that much?】

【These two are basically officially official, right? Xuan Zhelu’s connections are too strong. Every interview or variety show, she name-drops Yan Muyu. Friends, sure. Lol.】

【This album still bugs me as a group fan… Not saying Xuan Zhelu failed as an idol, but…】

【Way too lovestruck.】

【Several tracks blew up as hits. She wrote and composed them herself—no feelings, no way it’d be this full.】

【Hahaha even as an actress now, Xuan Zhelu totally keeps tabs on Yan Muyu.】

【Every time on INS, I spot her liking Yan Muyu’s posts. Who gets it.】

【Your likes still love her.】

【Her playlist still loves you… light shippers’ delight.】

Qiu Chao: “You really like her?”

Her question came straight out, no preamble.

It nearly made Xia Yuanyuan in the back hiccup. She thought: Oh no, Mai Chen watching the live is gonna blow a fuse.

Yan Muyu: “Isn’t the song good?”

【Sensing undercurrents.】

【So direct!! Does Sister Qiu know all these rumors too?】

【Come on, aunt-in-law and sister-in-law for a decade—how could Qiu Chao not know her little sis-in-law likes girls!】

【Now I’m curious about this playlist.】

Qiu Chao: “You think it’s that good?”

The woman in sunglasses gripped the wheel on the winding mountain road, looping curve after curve. “It’s good.”

Qiu Chao: “Then why skip it?”

Xia Yuanyuan thought: Sis, are you latching on too hard? Mind your position!!

【Why do I feel like my sis is grilling her husband on cheating?】

【Yan Muyu in shades… kinda scummy.】

Yan Muyu: “Wanted to hear something else.”

She frowned. “If skipping a song for you is that painful, forget it.”

She gave a short laugh. The car had just crested the hill, and Yan Muyu turned toward the embroidery workshop.

Qiu Chao: “Just curious, that’s all.”

She recalled the way Xuan Zhelu had looked at Yan Muyu that day—pure intent to claim.

But what about Yan Muyu?

Did she even know how to love? Then why not push her away?

If I didn’t go, would she end up sleeping with Xuan Zhelu again?

The next song was in French, perfectly matching the current weather—it was the kind that evoked images of summer, beaches, and surfing.

Yan Muyu let out a laugh. “Xuan Zhelu and I are friends.”

She put heavy emphasis on the word “friends,” and anyone could tell something was off.

Yan Muyu continued, “But that’s all in the past.”

There was an effortless nonchalance in her tone, which perfectly suited the nickname Qiu Siyuan had given her.

Xiaoxiao.

Though she wasn’t the rain of twilight.

Yan Muyu was the torrential downpour over endless pastures. Her affections were always fleeting; once the storm passed and the skies cleared, she withdrew without a hint of hesitation.

Leaving behind puddles everywhere, all born from the longings she had stirred up.

But the person at the center of it all acted oblivious, moving on to the next grassland, the next stretch of ocean.

【That’s basically an admission, right?!! She and Xuan Zhelu were a thing!】

【Honestly, I really want Xuan Zhelu to join this variety show!! Flying guest, let’s go.】

【Don’t they have those? Like flying guests showing up for meals and stuff.】

【I’ve already pictured it—Xuan Zhelu would have great chemistry on a show.】

【We could invite Xi Xi’s ex-husband, or Qiu Chao’s old boyfriend. Wow, total drama.】

【Is Liu Song the only one here without an ex?】

【Have you all forgotten Liu Song has the ultimate ship?】

【Ding Yingxue doesn’t have one either, right…?】

【What? Does Pei Wan have an ex?】

【Pei Wan is over thirty, and she’s this gorgeous—does it even make sense if she’s never been with a peony?】

【There was that anonymous post claiming Pei Wan was about to get married, but Ding Yingxue ruined it by catching the guy cheating.】

The cargo truck dropped Qiu Chao off at the intersection, but Yan Muyu still needed to turn around—a tricky maneuver in this spot.