Chapter 60: Wanwan Just Like You Part 2

Girlfriend felt too casual, lover too intense, partner not quite right.

Outside, a fierce storm raged, turning the world dark and wild.

In their tiny shelter, Yan Muyu realized she had no easy label for Qiu Chao.

Over the more than ten years they’d been apart, she hadn’t forgotten her either.

Before Qiu Chao, Yan Muyu’s relationships had never gone that far.

Even Shen Tianqing had no clue that Yan Muyu’s four-month fling had been all talk and no action. She’d assumed Yan Muyu was out carousing and chasing skirts every night.

Yan Muyu herself wasn’t sure later if it had been spite or revenge.

She’d met so many people, dove headfirst into every flavor of emotion with sincerity, yet none hit as hard as what Qiu Chao stirred in her.

She couldn’t deny it: she’d been marked.

No running away, not to the ends of the earth.

The skirt pooled on the ground, the water rinsing away its stains.

Qiu Chao still clung to Yan Muyu, but now her fingers fumbled at the buttons of Yan Muyu’s shirt.

Outside, the wind howled fiercely, sending leaves rustling like whispers.

“Bath time,” Yan Muyu said. “Can you behave for once? Are you actually sober?”

Qiu Chao whined and tried to nuzzle against Yan Muyu’s leg.

Yan Muyu rinsed her off in a rush. While helping her into fresh clothes, she asked, “I’ve already kissed you, so when did you meet Qiu Siyuan?”

Under the glare of those high-intensity live-stream cameras, even small talk felt illicit. By nightfall off-air, Yan Muyu was usually too exhausted.

And with Qiu Chao being so damn seductive, things always fizzled out unfinished.

Better to pry now, while Qiu Chao was under the weather.

Qiu Chao’s pajamas hung loose on her frame. Yan Muyu had Xi Xi fetch an extra cover-up too, and Qiu Chao lifted her arms cooperatively to slip it on.

But the moment Yan Muyu posed her question, Qiu Chao leaned in close. She looped her arms around the neck of Yan Muyu—who was half-crouched—and nipped at her earlobe.

Yan Muyu had worn earrings the first couple of days here but had since abandoned them entirely.

Liu Song was slacking off in the same way, practically living in flip-flops.

These past two days, the tan lines on Liu Song’s feet clearly outlined the thong straps—earning her a scolding from Xi Xi and forcing her into proper shoes.

Qiu Chao really was out of it; otherwise, she would’ve milked the bath for all it was worth.

A beat later, she mumbled, “Oh… a long time ago.”

“Were you with my brother then?” Yan Muyu pressed.

She vaguely recalled a banquet that year. They’d invited Qiu Siyuan’s parents, but that irritating impostor had shown up instead.

Qiu Chao shook her head.

Now in dry clothes, she wasn’t allowed to hug Yan Muyu—not while she was still dripping.

Yan Muyu fussed over her like a nanny, conditioning her hair before wrapping it in a towel.

Her voice turned coaxing. “So, when?”

“Kiss me once more,” Qiu Chao said.

Even in her haze, she remembered to steal a little advantage. Yan Muyu fell silent.

In the end, she obliged.

But this time, Qiu Chao seized control. She cupped Yan Muyu’s face and pulled her into a deep, probing kiss.

Boneless as a rag doll, she melted against her, guiding Yan Muyu’s hand to explore her own body.

She was like a love-starved puppy—if she had a tail, it would’ve been wagging furiously.

Qiu Chao’s kiss lacked finesse but burned with raw hunger.

Kisses and embraces always betrayed true feelings.

A reluctant kiss held no fire. Yan Muyu still recalled Xu Xue admitting she didn’t love her.

Yan Muyu had confessed she’d never loved at all.

Yet Xu Xue had wanted her to feel loved anyway.

That girl had even blamed herself for it.

Yan Muyu hated disappointing people. Every romance ended on good terms, and if it fit, they stayed friends afterward.

If not, a few rounds of mahjong did the trick—the loser and winner alike groaning over the score before Yan Muyu called her a ride home.

Did Qiu Chao handle her others the same way?

How many hidden stories did she carry?

Not just the dry fragments from background checks, those stark black-and-white summaries.

Suddenly, Yan Muyu burned to hear it all from her lips.

That shared past.

At the same time, she knew something had shifted in her.

Only Qiu Chao ignited every spark of curiosity and wanderlust.

Right now, even as she gasped for breath, Qiu Chao kissed her again—like Yan Muyu was the sweetest candy she’d been craving.

And Qiu Chao the poor kid who’d never tasted sugar.

Though truthfully, Qiu Chao had it all now.

Qiu Chao gulped down air, oblivious to the tears streaming down her face.

Yan Muyu stared, transfixed.

She sighed, her own clothes filthy now too. She grabbed a fresh set from the basket and used it to dab at Qiu Chao’s tears.

“Dizzy, huh?”

Qiu Chao nodded.

“I thought you were a pro at kissing,” Yan Muyu teased. “Guess not.”

Qiu Chao’s eyes rimmed red, her whole body gone limp from that single deep kiss. Yan Muyu steadied her, fending off another clingy advance.

“I’m just dizzy… no energy, that’s all,” she defended in a small voice, not realizing how childlike she sounded.

Yan Muyu laughed softly.

“What are you laughing at?” Qiu Chao demanded.

Yan Muyu tugged up the fallen strap of her pajamas, then refastened her own half-unbuttoned shirt.

“Your technique’s terrible.”

“How is it…? I’m not—I’m actually really good,” Qiu Chao protested.

Yan Muyu spotted a missing button on her shirt and sighed. “Sure, very good. It suits your name.”

Qiu Chao didn’t catch on right away. The next moment, Yan Muyu shoved her gently out the door.

She called for Xia Yuanyuan to come give Qiu Chao some medicine.

The variety show’s big boss was slumming it in the countryside right then—sopping wet, propped against the doorframe, watching Qiu Chao glance back every few steps.

Yan Muyu called over to Xing Wen on the other side. “Grab me another bottle of shower gel.”

The audience missed this entirely; all eyes were on the eerie tension brewing in the main hall.

Xing Wen thought to herself, With that vibe, I half-expected her to ask for a bottle of booze.

She fetched a fresh bottle of shower gel and noticed the cut on Yan Muyu’s hand. “Doesn’t matter if it gets wet?”

“It’s almost healed. No problem,” Yan Muyu said.

The wound was on her palm, invisible unless one looked deliberately, yet once noticed, it stirred a pang of regret—like a faint blemish marring perfect white jade.

Yan Muyu asked, “How has Tianxing been lately? She hasn’t replied to my WeChat messages at all.”

Xing Wen replied, “The housekeeper said Miss Tianxing has been taking her classes very seriously.”

Yan Muyu wasn’t entirely convinced. She shook her head. “Go buy some of the new figures that just came out. The ones she likes are…”

Xing Wen had been saddled with a bunch of tasks by Yan Muyu. She hadn’t expected that even in a moment like this, Yan Muyu would still remember to buy gifts for her niece.

And the items she wanted were all so hard to get!

She wasn’t even allowed to throw money at the problem. No, they had to be snatched up during limited-time flash sales because of some special giveaway.

What was the deal? Even rich people had to deal with this?

Yan Muyu herself was a bit dazed too, though not quite to the point of fever. After showering, she returned to the living room and noticed Liu Song was missing.

Xi Xi had just swapped out the teapot for a fresh one when Ding Yingxue, ever the instigator who loved drama, turned to Li Xi and asked, “Do you and Song Bao still keep in touch often, Teacher Li?”

Liu Song had taken over cooking duties today. Pei Wan had been assisting her earlier, something about making bamboo tube rice. They were too busy to join the conversation.

Yan Muyu roughly blow-dried her hair. She felt exhausted and drowsy, but the urge to watch the drama unfold was too strong.

She had met Li Xi through a friend’s introduction, and the bar catered to people in their circle. The owner was an out-and-out lesbian, which made it a convenient spot for Yan Muyu to hang out.

Li Xi, however, wasn’t much for socializing, so few people even knew she was the boss.

At that moment, the live chat was filled with the wailing of old CP fans. Yan Muyu unapologetically opened the stream and nearly burst out laughing.

She even showed it to Xi Xi.

【Yan Muyu, you’re so wicked!!】

【I saw myself in the live chat… Wuuu, why won’t that Xi answer?!】

Li Xi sported a short haircut that looked like it had been gnawed by a dog—perhaps from drying it earlier. Even so, it didn’t diminish her aura one bit.

Back when she competed in that singing show, fans had jokingly dubbed her the Wandering Poet. Her voice carried a world-weary huskiness that Liu Song lacked, and their harmonies together were enough to cleanse anyone’s ears.

People still commented on their collab tracks even now, calling them a match made in heaven.

Of course, there were the exaggerated ones too, saying their blend sounded just like something else.

Fans had brought that up in the chat before.

Yan Muyu pressed, “If you don’t keep in touch, why are you here?”

Her eyelids looked heavy, like she could barely keep them open, but everyone knew she was just there for the show.

【Taking turns munching on the melon, huh?】

【This is getting good!!】

【Can’t wait for the Fish Lantern Festival finale!!】

Ding Yingxue wouldn’t dare ask something like that. She glanced nervously at Li Xi.

Li Xi replied, “Yeah, the production team reached out to me, so here I am. Young Boss Yan’s paying the bill.”

【Yan Muyu! You stirring up trouble again?】

【Nah, feels like the production team’s fault.】

Xi Xi chimed in, “How come I didn’t know you two were in touch? I remember Liu Song saying you’d blocked her for ages.”

The women sat casually around the room, but the atmosphere had grown tense.

Yan Muyu was loving every second of it. There was something blissfully satisfying about watching others’ drama. Before she could toss in another comment, Li Xi spoke up: “She’s the one who blocked me, not the other way around.”

She turned to Xi Xi. “Shouldn’t you know that better than anyone, Miss Xi?”

【Everyone’s got secrets!!】

【This show is called Pastoral Idyll? Feels more like Truth or Dare.】

【Damn! Why do I suddenly feel like Xi Xi and Liu Song don’t match anymore?!】

【Who’s the main wife here?!】

【Yan Muyu, quit grinning like that—Qiu Chao’s back.】

Yan Muyu was indeed thrilled, but then Qiu Chao returned, supported by Xia Yuanyuan. Qiu Chao looked all soft and limp, like she had scented Yan Muyu and come running.

She plopped right down next to Yan Muyu.

Yan Muyu asked, “You taken your medicine? Want to lie down for a bit?”

Over on the other side, Xi Xi ignored Li Xi’s question and excused herself to check on Liu Song’s cooking.

Li Xi turned to Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao across from her. “Have you two cleared up your misunderstanding?”

Li Xi’s features weren’t strikingly refined, but her smile had a different kind of maturity from Xi Xi’s—one that hinted at a life of wandering.

Li Xi added, “I remember that day, Miss Qiu, you said Young Boss Yan’s type was pretty cliché.”

【What’s this plot twist now?】

Yan Muyu said, “You mean the party that day?”

Just thinking about it made her bristle. “How could you do that to me? I’d already spent enough at your place to qualify as a premium VIP, and still…”

She couldn’t exactly air that on the live stream, so Yan Muyu just huffed.

Li Xi gazed at Qiu Chao leaning on Yan Muyu’s shoulder, recalling the glamorous celebrity who had negotiated with her that day.

Radiant and living up to the hype.

But her longing gaze toward Yan Muyu on the dance floor had been even more intriguing than her fame.

It was what made Li Xi agree so readily.

Li Xi said, “Couldn’t help it. Miss Qiu offered too much.”

Yan Muyu knew full well that Li Xi was stingy yet money-obsessed—which was why she never tried out for talent shows back then.

With nowhere else to vent her irritation, Yan Muyu pinched Qiu Chao where the cameras couldn’t see.

Unexpectedly, Qiu Chao let out a soft hum, barely audible over the patter of rain falling into the courtyard. Then she leaned into Yan Muyu’s ear.

Qiu Chao murmured, “So you can make it up to me in bed later, okay?”