Chapter 31: Biting Dead Part 1

Jiang Ruoning saw the message and nearly jumped up from the toilet. She stared wide-eyed and sent Shi Sui: [??????]

Her inner shock was overwhelming, so she fired off several question marks in a row.

This stood in stark contrast to Shi Sui’s calm demeanor.

Realizing what she was doing, Jiang Ruoning smacked her forehead hard. Wincing in pain, she long-pressed the screen.

Shi Sui watched as the screen popped up: [The other party has withdrawn a message.]

[The other party has withdrawn a message.]

[The other party has withdrawn a message.]

[The other party has withdrawn a message.]

In fact, Jiang Ruoning could be pretty quick on the draw sometimes.

Shi Sui found wry amusement in the midst of her bitterness.

Jiang Ruoning wasn’t in the mood for games. She asked Shi Sui directly: [What do you mean?]

Shi Sui: [Can we meet?]

Jiang Ruoning had zero interest in seeing her and shot back: [No.]

She added unnecessarily: [President Shi, I think it’s best if we don’t meet outside of work matters.]

Shi Sui: [It’s work-related.]

Yeah, right.

Who was she trying to fool? Showing up at her building late at night to discuss work?

Had she drunk so much that her brain wasn’t working?

Then Jiang Ruoning remembered the faint smell of alcohol on Shi Sui when she’d leaned in close in the car earlier.

Who knew how much she’d had.

Drunk like this.

But what did the amount have to do with her?

Jiang Ruoning ignored Shi Sui, didn’t reply, turned off her phone, cranked the hairdryer to max, dried her hair, and stepped out of the bathroom. Jiang Qin was busy with something in the kitchen. She soon emerged carrying a black trash bag. When Jiang Ruoning saw her head to the door and open it, she immediately asked, “Mom, what are you doing?”

Jiang Qin said, “Throwing out the kitchen trash.”

Jiang Ruoning stammered, “Downstairs?”

Jiang Qin burst out laughing. “What else? Throw it from upstairs?”

“No, I mean…” Thinking of Shi Sui waiting downstairs, Jiang Ruoning steeled herself. “Let’s throw the trash out tomorrow.”

Jiang Qin said, “Leave it at the door for a day? Let it stink up the entrance? I wasn’t home, you didn’t cook, and you didn’t take out the trash.”

As she brushed past Jiang Ruoning’s shoulder, Jiang Ruoning snatched the bag from her hand. “I’ll take it.”

Jiang Qin eyed her curiously. “Aren’t you the type who won’t get off the sofa unless she absolutely has to?”

Jiang Ruoning: …

She wasn’t that lazy.

Jiang Ruoning said, “Consider it exercise. Go back inside.”

Jiang Qin figured it was because of her fainting spell earlier that day and didn’t think much of it. She smiled. “Got it. Swing by the little supermarket downstairs and grab a bottle of rice vinegar on your way back. Not the dark kind—the fragrant one.”

Jiang Ruoning replied absentmindedly, “Got it.”

Phone in one hand, trash bag in the other, slippers on her feet, she headed downstairs. As the elevator descended, she glanced down and realized she hadn’t changed shoes. Then it hit her—she hadn’t changed clothes either.

Whatever.

This sloppy look would scare Shi Sui off.

That’s what she told herself, but before the elevator doors opened, she straightened her pajamas, smoothed her long hair, checked her reflection in her dark phone screen four or five times, took a deep breath, and stepped out.

No one was there.

Had she left?

Jiang Ruoning frowned and glanced left and right. No sign of Shi Sui. She dawdled over to the trash bin, tossed the bag, then turned toward the nearby supermarket. After a couple of steps, someone called, “Ruoning.”

She looked up to see Lin Mei holding a little child’s hand, smiling at her. “Out for a stroll?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Grabbing something from the supermarket.”

Lin Mei said, “We’ll head home then.”

Jiang Ruoning smiled too, winking playfully at the child, who giggled. The sound lifted Jiang Ruoning’s spirits, her eyes curving into crescents. Then, by a flower bed, she spotted Shi Sui.

Her smile froze on her face.

Shi Sui had seen her too.

Shi Sui had noticed her the moment she came downstairs.

But she’d also seen Lin Mei with the child and held back, not wanting to upset Jiang Ruoning.

Now their eyes met, and neither spoke.

Other residents strolled by in the dim light, shadows flickering.

Shi Sui stood and took two steps toward Jiang Ruoning. Jiang Ruoning threw up a hand. “Stop, stop, stop!”

She looked at Shi Sui. “Whatever you want to say, say it from there.”

Too close.

She might not resist the temptation.

Shi Sui ignored her and kept approaching. Jiang Ruoning whipped her head away and speed-walked outward. Her legs were long; Shi Sui’s weren’t short either. She quickly caught up and walked beside her.

Jiang Ruoning waited left and right for her to speak, but nothing came. She glanced over and found Shi Sui staring at her.

In that instant, Jiang Ruoning recalled that online phrase about a dog’s devoted gaze.

So this was it.

Without the drama of the past couple days, she definitely would’ve snapped a photo to send Qin Zheng. But the current Jiang Ruoning had no time for that. She had even less patience for some dramatic love-hate play with Shi Sui. She cut straight to it. “What exactly do you want, President Shi?”

Shi Sui saw her patience had run out from her irritated tone—and it felt familiar.

The old Jiang Ruoning had been the same.

No patience.

Shi Sui said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it from you.”

Jiang Ruoning blinked, not following her train of thought. She frowned. Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Shi Sui continued, “I recognized you but didn’t tell you who I was. I’m sorry.”

Hearing such a sincere tone, half the anger Jiang Ruoning had bottled up upstairs dissipated.

Was her heart too soft?

Jiang Ruoning resented herself for not being made of stone.

Or maybe, having forgotten that chunk of memory, she’d also forgotten their past love and hate. All that remained were her feelings from their first encounter up to now.

Her feelings of liking Shi Sui.

So she naturally leaned toward her.

Naturally softened.

Jiang Ruoning resigned herself. “It’s not your fault.”

Shi Sui looked at her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

Jiang Ruoning said, “It was my choice.”

At the airport, Shi Sui hadn’t approached first—it was her. Later at Xiao Man’s door, she’d recognized Shi Sui as the airport stranger and felt her heart race. In all those flirty probes, she’d been eager and proactive.

Sure, Shi Sui hadn’t told her the truth.

That was wrong.

But falling for Shi Sui was her own mistake too.

Jiang Ruoning said, “So we’re even.”

Shi Sui gazed into her calm eyes. “What if I don’t want us to be even?”

Jiang Ruoning laughed in exasperation. “Then what do you want?”

Shi Sui said, “I want to fix our problems.”

Jiang Ruoning nodded. “I heard we broke up because your mom didn’t approve. So, has your mom changed her mind now?”

Shi Sui fell silent.

Jiang Ruoning shrugged. “So you’re going to fix your mom?”

Shi Sui said, “I can handle it.”

“No, no, no.” Jiang Ruoning said, “I don’t have that kind of pull. And even if you handle your mom, I can’t handle mine.” She added, “Shi Sui, I love my mom.”

Shi Sui said, “I know.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Then you should know I won’t go against her wishes. Call me a mama’s girl or weak, whatever—I won’t do anything to hurt her.”

Shi Sui lowered her eyes, her voice faint. “I never wanted to hurt Auntie either.”

Jiang Ruoning sighed helplessly. “But your showing up has already hurt her.”

Just hearing Shi Sui’s name triggered Jiang Qin.

She dreaded to think what seeing her would do.

Dating wasn’t a must in life.

But Jiang Qin was.

Shi Sui looked at her. “I can—”

“You can’t.” Jiang Ruoning cut her off, speaking evenly for the first time, devoid of emotional waves. “You can’t let her know you’re back. You can’t let her hear your name. You can’t let her see you.”

Jiang Ruoning met Shi Sui’s eyes, her gaze clear and intense. “So after this shoot, we go our separate ways.”

Shi Sui’s eyes locked with hers. She stepped forward; Jiang Ruoning instinctively retreated two steps, keeping distance. Shi Sui watched the motion—like a chasm between them. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t reach.

But she didn’t want that.

Shi Sui pressed forward, ignoring Jiang Ruoning’s retreat.

Jiang Ruoning sensed the burning heat in her gaze—like potent wine awakening from dormancy, emotions so thick they could melt a person. Her feet felt nailed in place. She barely managed two steps back; Shi Sui closed three or four.

Standing right in front of her.

People came and went.

They stood in the shadowed corner by the complex entrance.

Jiang Ruoning’s one relief: no light here. It was dark.

From afar, just two silhouettes.

Especially Shi Sui’s.

Blocking her.

Covering her.

Jiang Ruoning was nearly pressed against the wall.

Shi Sui stood too close—close enough that when Jiang Ruoning looked up, she saw her eyelashes. Shi Sui still wore heels. This woman was so tall—why heels? To be a telephone pole?

Jiang Ruoning in slippers was suddenly shorter. She straightened, tiptoed, face cold for more presence. But Shi Sui reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and yanked her into an embrace.

Jiang Ruoning never expected such audacity. Her eyes widened, lips parting. Before curses escaped, Shi Sui dipped her head and bit her lip.

Wet and warm.

Reckless.

Entangling.

Jiang Ruoning’s tongue tip flooded with sweet flavor and a hint of alcohol, fogging her mind. Her body reacted faster than her brain—before pushing, she clutched Shi Sui’s clothes. Then reason kicked in; she shoved hard.

But her strength was feeble.

She couldn’t budge her.

Had this woman glued her mouth with super glue?

So sticky.

Furious, Jiang Ruoning bit Shi Sui’s lip—hard. Shi Sui winced in pain. Seizing the moment, Jiang Ruoning shoved—and succeeded this time.

Shi Sui staggered back a step.

Jiang Ruoning’s face burned red from the kiss—anger or embarrassment, she wasn’t sure. Her eyes gleamed in the dark, meeting Shi Sui’s. Pushed back, Shi Sui still leaned in. Without thinking, Jiang Ruoning shoved her shoulders and slapped her across the face!

Shi Sui’s head snapped aside.

Her long hair swung over her body, draping across her chest.

Swaying in the wind.

Shi Sui lowered her eyes. “Ruoning.”

“Jiang Ruoning,” she corrected, refusing a second glance. She turned and left.

Ducking into the supermarket, she scrubbed her lips furiously with the back of her hand, expression still stormy. How could she do that? Kiss without consent? Playing some domineering force fantasy?

Way over the line!

Fuming, Jiang Ruoning reached the daily goods aisle when someone patted her shoulder. Thinking it was Shi Sui, she whipped around irritably. “You again—”

The person behind smiled lightly at her.

Jiang Ruoning reined in her temper, voice softening. “Lawyer Zou?”