The room was quiet, and Tang Tianman had only just begun to fully relax and savor their intimate moment when a knock at the door interrupted them.
To be precise, it wasn’t a knock—it was pounding.
The entire door shook with a deafening clang from the person outside. Tang Tianman jumped in fright, half-convinced it was a fire or an earthquake.
Zheng Xiyu reacted much faster. While Tang Tianman was still frozen in shock, Zheng Xiyu had already slipped away from her and strode toward the door.
“Check it out before you open it!” Tang Tianman called out.
“Mm-hmm.” Zheng Xiyu acknowledged, already at the door.
Through the peephole, they saw a woman’s face. When no one answered or opened up, she started yelling, “You shameless thing! Get out here! Get out here!!”
Tang Tianman: “……”
Zheng Xiyu: “……”
The woman: “Don’t hide in there pretending you’re not home—I know you’re in there!”
Tang Tianman: “……”
Zheng Xiyu: “……”
The woman: “You wretch, slaving away at home raising your kids while you blow our money on some mistress! Get out here so I can claw that vixen’s face off!!!”
Tang Tianman: “……”
Zheng Xiyu: “……”
Tang Tianman got up and sidled over to Zheng Xiyu, whispering, “Looks like she has the wrong room.”
Zheng Xiyu patted her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll call the front desk.”
“Mm-hmm.” Tang Tianman tiptoed up to the peephole for a peek—just as the woman outside leaned in to peer through from the other side. The fish-eye lens distorted her wide eyes, giving Tang Tianman a start.
Tang Tianman shrank back and double-checked the door lock to make sure it was secure.
Zheng Xiyu called the front desk, calmly and concisely explaining the situation. After hanging up, she returned to Tang Tianman’s side. “They’re sending someone right over.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Zheng Xiyu: “So what now?”
Tang Tianman: “We probably shouldn’t, but the entertainment’s been delivered right to our door. Might as well watch the show.”
Zheng Xiyu: “Mm-hmm.”
The two of them stood in the entryway, listening to the tirade.
Fortunately, hotel staff arrived quickly.
Tang Tianman pressed her face to the peephole and reported back to Zheng Xiyu. “Looks like three… no, four of them. Two security guards, a manager-type young lady, and a really good-looking guy.”
Zheng Xiyu: “Mm-hmm.”
“They’re pulling the big sis away now—oh, and there are two other people with her. Things are getting heated.”
No need for Tang Tianman to narrate; they could hear every word from inside.
The big sis refused to believe the hotel staff’s claim of a mix-up. She kept ranting and weeping, impervious to their soft coaxing. Eventually, she looked ready to plop down on the floor and refuse to budge.
Tang Tianman sighed. “Let’s open the door and let them take a quick look.”
“Sure.” Zheng Xiyu had no objections. She pointed to the far end of the room. “You go over there.”
Tang Tianman ducked behind her. “It’s fine.”
“Inside.”
Her tone was stern.
Tang Tianman pouted and retreated farther in.
Hmph, getting all bossy on me. I’ll deal with you later. She hid behind the sofa, peeking out at Zheng Xiyu.
Zheng Xiyu opened the door. The security guards entered first, shielding the room’s occupants.
The big sis was actually quite striking, dressed in pricey clothes with an ostentatious gold ring on her finger that screamed wealth.
She reared back from a distance, as if winding up for a slap.
But when she saw Zheng Xiyu, her hand froze mid-air, her expression turning dazed.
Tang Tianman couldn’t hold it in—she burst out laughing.
The big sis peered into the room and spotted Tang Tianman. Her eyes lit up.
Tang Tianman’s eyes widened. What the—? Xiyu doesn’t look like the mistress type, so does that mean I do?
Zheng Xiyu turned and strode back to her, tugging her close.
“Wrong room,” Zheng Xiyu stated—the same fact the hotel staff had repeated eight hundred times.
The big sis had calmed down by now. She directed her two companions inside; the guards couldn’t stop them as they searched the entire room.
It was a small space anyway—nothing to hide behind.
When they found no one, the big sis’s face flushed with embarrassment. The manager lady kept apologizing profusely to Zheng Xiyu and Tang Tianman. Zheng Xiyu waved it off. “No harm done. Just a mix-up.”
The big sis shot Zheng Xiyu a sheepish glance and turned to leave.
Security and the handsome guy followed her out, but the manager lady lingered, still looking apologetic.
Tang Tianman called out, “Any chance of compensation?”
The lady bowed slightly. “To make it up to you, we can offer a complimentary stay voucher…”
“No thanks on the lodging,” Tang Tianman said. “And don’t bother waiving tonight’s fee. Dinner’s about now—how about some meal vouchers instead?”
“Of course, that works.” The lady agreed readily.
Tang Tianman grabbed the menu and ticked off a few dishes she’d eyed earlier. “These, please.”
The lady took it with a wink. “No problem at all.”
Tang Tianman flashed her an OK sign with a grin.
The lady left to arrange the food, leaving just Tang Tianman and Zheng Xiyu alone again.
Zheng Xiyu smiled. “You little clever clogs.”
Tang Tianman cracked up. “The tournament organizers are covering the room anyway. Why let the hotel off the hook when we can score a free dinner instead?”
Zheng Xiyu pulled her onto the sofa. “It didn’t ruin your mood?”
Tang Tianman: “Nope. I’m in too good a mood to let it get to me.”
Zheng Xiyu: “Really no effect?”
Tang Tianman: “Really. Honestly, I feel kinda bad for the big sis.”
Zheng Xiyu: “No effect at a—”
Tang Tianman leaned in and pecked her on the lips. “Okay, okay, I get what you’re driving at.”
Zheng Xiyu laughed.
That was exactly her point.
If it hadn’t soured the mood, they could pick up where they’d left off.
But Tang Tianman had kissed her, and who knew when dinner would arrive? Another interruption might leave a bad taste.
So they kept it light. Zheng Xiyu kissed Tang Tianman’s forehead in return, and they snuggled into the sofa to chat.
They met up or texted every day, yet they never seemed to run out of things to say.
It was all trivial stuff—classroom drama, quirky teachers, friend antics, funny things spotted online. Zheng Xiyu listened quietly, fully engaged, always knowing just when to chime in.
Sometimes Tang Tianman felt like a total chatterbox, but she couldn’t help herself. Zheng Xiyu never showed a hint of annoyance; she watched with genuine delight, like Tang Tianman was some precious treasure.
Who could resist that? She was just a babbling little treasure, after all.
Tang Tianman finished regaling her with a story just as the doorbell rang. Room service had arrived with their meal.
Even though it was a freebie at the hotel’s expense, Tang Tianman hadn’t gone overboard.
Portions for two and a half—Zheng Xiyu had a hearty appetite.
They flicked on the TV and watched a variety show over dinner, laughing the whole time in easy contentment.
After eating, Tang Tianman wandered to the window to admire the city lights. It seemed a shame to waste such a perfect evening cooped up inside.
She beckoned to Zheng Xiyu. “Wanna go for a stroll?”
Zheng Xiyu: “Sure, but it’s pretty chilly out. You okay with that?”
Tang Tianman bounced off to grab her clothes. “I’ll bundle up. We walk around campus every night, don’t we?”
Zheng Xiyu: “Hat, mask, gloves—all of it.”
Tang Tianman giggled. “It’s not that cold here—no need!”
Still, she picked out a thick coat.
Zheng Xiyu flipped up the hood and inspected her. She looked like a little brown bear. Satisfied, she grinned.
She fished two unopened masks from the suitcase and tucked them into her pocket before taking Tang Tianman’s hand and heading out.
But as soon as they rode the elevator down to the lobby, that familiar tirade rang out again.
Tang Tianman’s eyes went wide. Clutching Zheng Xiyu’s hand, she stepped out—and there was the chaotic scene in the hotel lobby.
It was the big sis, the mistress-hunter.
And this time, it looked like she’d caught her prey.
A man with bird’s-nest hair and a face red as a pig’s liver stood at the center.
A young woman, under siege, clutched her face and sobbed.
Overwhelmed, the hotel staff had retreated to the perimeter, offering half-hearted mediation.
Some bystanders were filming on their phones. Tang Tianman’s fingers twitched, gripping Zheng Xiyu’s hand tighter.
The big sis swung a fierce slap at the man’s forehead.
The argument had devolved into thick dialect, hard to make out, but the occasional curse word painted a clear enough picture.
Fights like this were the same the world over.
Tang Tianman sighed. Earlier she’d joked about free entertainment, but now that it was in full swing, she couldn’t stomach watching.
She murmured to Zheng Xiyu, “Let’s go.”
“Mm-hmm.” Zheng Xiyu nodded.
They were at a distance from the crowd and moved quickly past. But fate had other plans—they were apparently tied to this mess.
The young woman spotted a gap and bolted, flapping toward them like a panicked bird.
Tang Tianman was a beat slow to react, but Zheng Xiyu was always vigilant. She yanked Tang Tianman aside and stepped forward to block.
So the young woman crashed right into Zheng Xiyu’s arms.
Zheng Xiyu frowned.
Phone cameras from nearly everyone present whipped toward Zheng Xiyu. The young woman, unable to flee, was still crying as Zheng Xiyu tucked Tang Tianman behind her.
The young woman clutched the hem of Zheng Xiyu’s clothes, sobbing pitifully. “It’s got nothing to do with me. Let me go.”
Zheng Xiyu gazed down at the top of her head, her expression ice-cold. “It’s got nothing to do with me. Let me go.”
The young woman jerked her head up to stare at her, muttering under her breath. Her voice was soft, but Tang Tianman caught it anyway.
“A woman?”
The tone of those two words was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.
Tang Tianman suddenly darted out from behind Zheng Xiyu. She grabbed the young woman’s sleeve and yanked her away. “Get lost.”
Tears streamed down the young woman’s cheeks.
Tang Tianman shouted at the older woman over there. “Sister, don’t let a single one of the people who bullied you get away! I’m rooting for you!!!”
Tears streamed down the older woman’s face too. She charged forward and seized the back of the young woman’s shirt, nearly hoisting her off the ground.
“Show everyone your face! Show them! You don’t even want this face anyway!” The older woman bellowed, her voice thick with righteous fury.
Tang Tianman grabbed Zheng Xiyu’s hand and strode away in long steps.
As they exited the hotel, she glanced back and finally got a good look at the young woman’s face.
Young and beautiful. Even in her disheveled state, with tears streaking her cheeks, she was strikingly lovely.
Tang Tianman’s brows knitted even tighter. “A girl like her could have anyone she wants. Why go after someone with a family?”
Zheng Xiyu lifted a hand to cover her eyes, gently turning her little head back around. “We’ll never understand the way people like that think. Don’t look—it’s just upsetting.”
“Mm.” Tang Tianman blinked up at her from within Zheng Xiyu’s palm, her eyelashes brushing lightly against Zheng Xiyu’s skin like tiny feathers.
Zheng Xiyu released her hold and drew her closer into her embrace. She wrapped her coat around half of Tang Tianman’s body once more and ambled out onto the street.
“You’re going to get cold like that,” Tang Tianman said.
“I won’t,” Zheng Xiyu replied. “You’re nice and warm.”
“Then only half of me is warm. The other half is freezing.” Tang Tianman poked at the exposed side of her own belly.
Zheng Xiyu simply gripped her shoulders and pulled her fully into her arms, holding her snugly from the front.
“Hahahaha!” Tang Tianman burst into laughter. “I can’t walk like this!”
Zheng Xiyu bent down, rubbing her chin against the top of Tang Tianman’s head. “No problem. Just follow my lead—I won’t step on you.”
“Okay.” Tang Tianman peered down at her own feet.
“Left foot,” Zheng Xiyu said, amusement lacing her voice. “Right foot. Left again, right. Good—keep that rhythm.”
“Hahahahaha!” Tang Tianman dissolved into another peal of laughter.
It was like a three-legged race, except they were down to two legs between them.
She craned her neck to peer up at Zheng Xiyu’s face. “We could tie our two feet together.”
“Mm-hmm,” Zheng Xiyu agreed.
“Our two hands too,” Tang Tianman said.
“Mm-hmm.”
“The two of us—tied right together!”
Zheng Xiyu let out a soft sigh, her tone tender yet helpless. “I want to tuck you inside me, let us melt into one.”
