Xiao Ning glanced around the coffee shop. A few customers were sneaking furtive looks their way, yet those two were still wrapped up in their sweet, intimate moment.
She really couldn’t stand it any longer. Clearing her throat loudly, Xiao Ning let out a pointed, “Ahem.”
Li Yunli snapped back to reality at the sound, jerking her body away as if awakening from a dream. Mortified beyond words, she instinctively grabbed Ji Zhenshi by the collar and buried her entire face in it.
To think she’d let Ji Zhenshi talk her into fooling around like this in public.
Way too reckless. Couldn’t this girl hold back for even a minute?
Her face burned like it was cooking, cheeks blooming with a vivid blush. Li Yunli seized the hand at her waist, too reluctant to pinch it but still fuming at Ji Zhenshi’s antics. With a firm shove, she pushed her away.
“Xiao Zhen!” Li Yunli’s lips pressed into a thin line as she shot Ji Zhenshi a warning glare.
“I… just needed a cup…” Ji Zhenshi wrapped her arms around the back of Li Yunli’s head, panic flashing in her eyes as she glanced at Xiao Ning—who had already averted her gaze. Deluding herself that all was fine, she stretched to snatch a random cup from the shelf.
Their eyes met awkwardly. It wouldn’t have been so bad if she hadn’t been caught, but now a strange wave of shame washed over her.
“It was Sister A-Yun who threw herself into my arms,” Ji Zhenshi muttered, her gaze dodging away, unable to meet Li Yunli’s eyes—though she couldn’t resist defending herself.
Sister A-Yun had dived straight into her embrace earlier. All talk and no truth.
“Ji Zhenshi! Don’t touch me again.” Li Yunli shot her a lightly scolding glare, a mix of feigned anger in her eyes. She pushed at Ji Zhenshi’s shoulder but smoothly took the cup from her hand, quickly whipping up a glass of lemon water.
Their exchange was seamless, perfectly in sync.
Ji Zhenshi knew better than to cling any longer. Any minute now, she’d get another lecture. Feigning nonchalance, she carried her lemon water past Xiao Ning.
Seeing her so diligently washing cups, Ji Zhenshi cleared her throat and couldn’t resist adding, “Ahem. Strictly within the bounds of a proper relationship—totally harmless.”
She’d successfully claimed the top spot now. A little cuddling with her wife wasn’t against the law.
Glancing back, she watched Li Yunli bury her embarrassment in busywork. A thrill surged in Ji Zhenshi’s chest. She loved that instinctive reliance.
Xiao Ning had done her utmost to fade into the background. She hadn’t said a word earlier, so everyone could pretend nothing happened and avoid the awkwardness. But Ji Zhenshi, oblivious as ever, had to rub it in right in front of her.
Narrowing her eyes, Xiao Ning replied, “Yes, congrats to Xiao Ji on successfully climbing the ranks and getting exactly what she wanted, right?”
“What do you mean ‘climbing the ranks’? Why does it sound so sleazy coming from you?”
“But I think it fits Xiao Ji perfectly.”
Ji Zhenshi had schemed for ages to finally win her place. They’d known each other for six years now—who knew when she’d first started plotting? It was premeditated, through and through.
Ji Zhenshi was left speechless, suddenly tasting the sharp sourness of her lemon water.
Sister A-Yun hadn’t added any sugar!
Definitely on purpose.
Her face twisting at the tartness, Ji Zhenshi turned to Xiao Ning. “How am I the one who climbed ranks?”
“Don’t you know better than anyone? Your little crush was obvious to everyone except Yunli Sis herself. The person involved is blind while the bystander sees clearly.”
Ji Zhenshi pondered that, finding some truth in it. After mulling it over, she nudged Xiao Ning’s arm and asked earnestly, “Was I that obvious before?”
She’d thought she was a master of subtle pining.
Yet not only had Xia Siyuan figured it out—Xiao Ning had known all along?
Xiao Ning nodded emphatically. “Totally. You were one step away from blasting it over a megaphone to the world. Your acting sucks. I figure the only reason Yunli Sis didn’t notice for so long is she was fooling herself into believing it was just pure sisterly friendship.”
They clearly liked each other but refused to break that window paper.
Everyone around them had been dying of impatience.
Ji Zhenshi thought for two seconds before earnestly countering, “You don’t get it. Sister A-Yun is super innocent—way more pure than you think.”
She’d hidden in an embrace just from getting caught kissing.
“Oh, probably.” Xiao Ning smiled meaningfully.
Somehow, “innocent” seemed to fit Ji Zhenshi even better.
“Tch, what would a single dog like you know?” Ji Zhenshi bit her straw smugly, openly mocking Xiao Ning without a hint of shame.
“…”
Xiao Ning ground her molars, seriously tempted to quit this job on the spot.
Her cup-washing grew heavier, turning into outright venting. “You’ve barely been out of singledom for a few days, and you’re already this smug?”
She couldn’t hide her glee at all. Who could forget the girl getting smacked around by Li Yunli just months ago?
Li Yunli rarely even gave cold stares. She seldom got angry. In all the time Xiao Ning had worked here, no matter how troublesome the customers, she’d never seen Li Yunli’s face darken. She always wore that springlike smile—her temperament was unrealistically perfect.
Only Ji Zhenshi could rile her up to the point of losing control.
Ji Zhenshi sauntered around with one hand in her pocket, glass in the other, until she reached the display shelf lined with her trophies and honor certificates. Squinting, she fiddled with one of the trophies.
They now sat behind a glass door, arranged left to right by year and date. Many had photos from the award ceremonies, carefully laminated and framed.
No one but Li Yunli would cherish her achievements with such care.
Turning back, Ji Zhenshi gazed at Li Yunli’s focused profile behind the counter. She couldn’t help but smile.
She would love Li Yunli until it drove her mad.
After lingering downstairs a bit longer, Ji Zhenshi finally headed upstairs at a leisurely pace.
“Sister A-Yun, I’m going up to shower.”
“Mm. I bought you two thicker pajama sets. Grab them yourself, and close the window tight—don’t catch a chill.”
“Got it. Thanks, Sister A-Yun.”
Ji Zhenshi glanced back every few steps. After her shower, she sat cross-legged on the sofa in her pajamas, tablet in lap. She meant to study the violin performance videos Tang Xien had shared, but as soon as she opened one, her eyes darted mischievously.
Tonight, her focus just wouldn’t stick to the violin.
Rubbing her eyes, Ji Zhenshi’s gaze drifted to the empty entryway.
Li Yunli wouldn’t come up so soon. The shop was still open downstairs, and once Xiao Ning clocked out, Li Yunli would be alone. She’d wait until after nine to close up and head upstairs.
Since Li Yunli wasn’t coming yet, she could sneak a peek.
Propping her chin, Ji Zhenshi conjured a dozen excuses in her mind.
So, could she seize the chance to “study” a little?
Maybe. What if she needed it someday?
Having talked herself into it, Ji Zhenshi closed the video, guiltily drew the curtains, and took a deep breath to steel her nerves.
Even so, the ever-curious Ji Zhenshi didn’t dare ask Xia Siyuan for resources. Instead, she tried searching keywords in the browser. After fumbling through several, she finally found something—and the thumbnails jumping out at her left her pupils dilating in shock.
Her mind blanked for a second, body going rigid as she frowned.
This didn’t look anything like what was on Xia Siyuan’s computer.
Her first time doing this with Li Yunli nearby made her heart race wildly. She half-expected to get reported for watching contraband any second.
Ji Zhenshi’s peripheral vision stayed glued to the entryway, only donning her headphones once she confirmed no one was there. But barely five minutes in, a payment prompt popped up.
She clicked around, but it insisted on payment. Puzzled, she muttered, “Why’s it so expensive? Didn’t Xia Siyuan say these sites were free? Is this a legit one that charges?”
Even with mosaics, her face flushed crimson.
The real kicker was her mental substitute: Li Yunli. Just imagining her brought an overwhelming rush of tingling thrill—which was exactly why she’d always avoided this stuff. She couldn’t control linking it to Li Yunli.
Back then, Ji Zhenshi had hated herself for it—perving on Li Yunli like some creep.
Her shameless thoughts had made her unable to face Li Yunli, feeling like she’d sullied something pure. So she’d deliberately stayed away.
Now, it was pure, overflowing shame. Her temperature spiked, blood rushing hot, until she shrugged off her outer layer, left in just a plain black long-sleeved top.
Rolling up her sleeves, Ji Zhenshi told herself not to quit halfway. Gritting her teeth, she scanned her phone to pay sixty-eight bucks.
Unsure if that bought membership, she force-downloaded several apps amid endless redirects before the video resumed.
She picked a tutorial-style one. Even at low volume, the moans leaking from the headphones felt mortifying. Ji Zhenshi stared intently; the over-ear headphones immersed her so deeply that she completely missed Li Yunli coming upstairs.
The video hadn’t even finished when another recharge prompt appeared.
“What the heck? Isn’t this a tutorial? Why more money?” Ji Zhenshi eyed the payment reminder strangely. She’d just shelled out sixty-eight—now it wanted another? Endless greed?
But it was at the good part. Desperate to learn, she gnashed her teeth. “Fine, you win.”
Foolishly scanning another sixty-eight, the cluttered interface finally settled. Ji Zhenshi leaned in close, absorbed.
Then she caught a whiff of familiar perfume. Before she could react, Li Yunli’s profile emerged slowly from the side. “Xiao Zhen, what are you watching? I asked if you’d showered, and you wouldn’t even look at me.”
Whipping her head toward the voice, Ji Zhenshi’s pupils blew wide. Without thinking, she leaped to her feet. “Ah! I’m done!”
The headphones flew off with the force, and in blind panic, she hurled the incriminating tablet away. Scrambling backward, she put distance between them.
“I-I-I was just browsing randomly! Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Sister A-Yun must’ve seen wrong—I wasn’t watching anything!” Legs buckling, Ji Zhenshi crashed back down, propping herself on her hands behind her. Eyes wide with terror on Li Yunli, she swallowed hard, her mind a whirlwind.
Done for. Sister A-Yun would think her head was full of filth.
She wanted to die!
“Sister A-Yun… believe me, I’m innocent.” Ji Zhenshi forced a shaky laugh, lips trembling.
Even she found it ridiculous. Wasn’t this lying straight to Li Yunli’s face?
Li Yunli frowned suspiciously. The tablet had flashed by too quickly for her to see clearly. She’d only wanted to ask why Ji Zhenshi was dressed so scantily—wouldn’t she get cold?
She hadn’t expected such a panicked freak-out, like trying to pin down a jack-in-the-box.
Perplexed by the reaction, Li Yunli probed, “What’s wrong? What were you just watching? So ‘innocent,’ huh?”
“N-Nothing! Why’re you up so early? Isn’t the shop still open?” Ji Zhenshi’s heart hammered in her throat, words stumbling out.
Getting caught red-handed had blanked her brain, leaving only one useless thought.
Never again!
“No customers left. I thought I’d come keep you company—didn’t you say you’d be unhappy otherwise?” Li Yunli replied calmly, bending to pick up the tossed tablet.
What had she been watching to react like that?
Not dwelling on it, Li Yunli had just grabbed it when Ji Zhenshi swooped in like a protective mama bear, clutching it to her chest. “Oh oh, I’m not unhappy! Super happy—always happy!”
Ji Zhenshi barely registered Li Yunli’s words, mumbling absently. Her peripheral caught the phone on the coffee table, payment record glaring.
In a fluster, she clutched the tablet tighter—accidentally maxing the volume. The moans blared through the headphones into the deathly quiet space between them.
Li Yunli seemed to realize something. Picking up the headphones, she listened. An evocative feminine voice purred out.
Arching a brow faintly, Li Yunli dangled the headphones from her fingertips. “This is what gets you so ‘happy’?”
No wonder the huge reaction. Who wouldn’t be thrilled watching that? Dressed so lightly—gotten too hot?
Ji Zhenshi, you dark horse.
Ji Zhenshi slapped her forehead, wishing for a portal to vanish. Resigned, she flipped the tablet over. “I was just browsing casually. Didn’t even enjoy it—the room’s too warm.”
“Casually browsing cost you sixty-eight? Hmm?” Li Yunli chuckled, setting down the hot potato headphones. Her gaze flicked to the payment info, her gentle expression sharpening meaningfully. “Oh… make that more than one.”
The screen continued its lesson. Ji Zhenshi wailed inwardly, “If I say it’s my first offense, would you believe me, Sister A-Yun?”
“What do you think, Xiao Zhen?” Li Yunli sat on the sofa, chin slightly raised.
Bracing herself, Ji Zhenshi shook her head. She felt like she’d never live it down, like a guilty kid hanging her head. “Sorry, Sister A-Yun. It’s not like I only think about that stuff. I just…”
She couldn’t even explain. Her face burned beet red.
Li Yunli watched her with an amused smile. Such a good attitude now—after being so engrossed earlier.
Adorable.
Li Yunli didn’t see it as a big deal, really. Young and full of vigor—it was normal. But seeing Ji Zhenshi like this made her want to tease, so she stayed silent on purpose.
Clutching the tablet’s edge for dear life, Ji Zhenshi opened her mouth sincerely. “But I think they’re not as pretty as Sister A-Yun.”
Li Yunli’s gaze darkened. “Comparing them now?”
So Ji Zhenshi had ogled multiple girls’ bodies to judge.
Remembering the basis for that comparison—the blackout incident—Li Yunli awkwardly rubbed her nose.
She’d claimed to see nothing, but really, she’d seen it all.
Little liar. Ji Zhenshi was a little liar.
Her flattery falling flat, Ji Zhenshi clamped her mouth shut, hunching to escape reality.
Then, before her eyes, the tablet went black. Gibberish code flooded the screen. Stunned, Ji Zhenshi poked at it. “Whoa?”
Virus? Just like that?
All for a tutorial! And after two sixty-eights, not even half an hour in?
Wasn’t she a VIP now? This treatment for VIPs?
No integrity!
Ji Zhenshi frantically tried to shut it down and salvage, but after wrestling futilely, the tablet fully crashed.
With a long sigh, she gave up.
Drooping limply, tablet in hand, she met the eyes of Li Yunli—who’d been watching the struggle with arms folded. Mortified, she muttered, “It’s done for. Seems like it got infected—won’t even turn on.”
Li Yunli couldn’t hold back a laugh, beckoning her over.
Ji Zhenshi slumped beside her in defeat, hiding her face in shame. She could never face Li Yunli again.
Li Yunli soothingly ruffled the head leaning on her shoulder, smile unstoppable. “Xiao Zhen, don’t watch that stuff anymore.”
Come to me instead. No charge, no virus risk.
