Chapter 52: Bitter to Death Part 2

As Jiang Ruoning opened her mouth with eyes still shut, she sensed breath approaching. Thin lips pressed down without warning, heavy and airtight on hers. Jiang Ruoning’s eyes flew open with a muffled sound. Her lashes, misted from the toner, blurred everything. She squinted, wanting to push Shi Sui away. As she raised her hands, Shi Sui grabbed both wrists and pinned them back. Jiang Ruoning was fixed firmly to the makeup chair. She lifted a foot, but at the moment her legs parted, Shi Sui wedged her own leg in between.

Their bodies aligned—one standing, one seated, one above, one below—perfectly fitted.

Jiang Ruoning was forced to tilt her head up. Shi Sui’s kiss was aggressive, as if venting all the unhappiness of late, or dissatisfaction with their earlier talk, carrying a hint of punishment, dominating her breath. Yet it felt familiar to Jiang Ruoning.

Back when they fought, Shi Sui always used this move to “subdue” her.

Later, she even developed a twisted kink for it—angering Shi Sui led to intense emotions, including in bed.

But not now.

Seeing she couldn’t budge Shi Sui, Jiang Ruoning bit down hard on her tongue tip. Shi Sui grunted in pain but didn’t let go, demanding even more fiercely. Jiang Ruoning, who had been using her tongue to block Shi Sui’s intrusion, was sucked dry like a husk. Her mouth went numb, her tongue numb; she lacked the strength to bite again. The hand pinning her arms gradually loosened, shifting to one cradling the back of Jiang Ruoning’s head, the other hugging her waist. As fingers brushed her side, Jiang Ruoning jolted awake from the haze and shoved Shi Sui away.

Shi Sui leaned back against the vanity, lips swollen red, cheeks faintly flushed.

Jiang Ruoning raised her hand as if to hit her. Shi Sui leaned her face forward. Seeing that punchable expression, Jiang Ruoning gritted her teeth and swung—but lightly, just grazing Shi Sui’s cheek.

Just like old times.

Shi Sui said, “Is Miss Jiang this merciful to her bedmates?”

Jiang Ruoning wanted to curse her as crazy, but when she glanced at her red and swollen lips, she held back her breath and ignored her.

Shi Sui continued to do her makeup, her movements skilled. Since neither of them spoke, the room felt very quiet. Jiang Ruoning discovered that Shi Sui’s makeup skills weren’t bad at all—at least not inferior to yesterday’s makeup artist. The makeup Shi Sui applied was very translucent and natural, bringing out the strengths of Jiang Ruoning’s face to the fullest.

For the first time, Jiang Ruoning felt that makeup could fit so perfectly.

Seeing those eyes staring straight at her hand holding the cosmetics, Shi Sui explained, “I’ve done makeup for many artists abroad.”

Jiang Ruoning was slightly surprised. “You’ve done makeup for artists too?”

Shi Sui said, “Yeah, back when I was in school, I worked with a styling team and handled a lot of artists.”

No wonder she was so proficient, and her fashion sense was good too. Jiang Ruoning thought of what Jiang Nuan had said about Shi Sui’s tough life abroad. She bit the tip of her tongue and asked, “To make money?”

Shi Sui gripped the powder brush tightly, lowered her eyes, adjusted the color on the back of her hand, and said in an unhurried tone, “Yeah, working to earn money.”

Jiang Ruoning pursed her lips. “You’ve got quite the wild side.”

She had even joined an artist’s styling team.

Shi Sui said, “A senior classmate worked there and introduced me.” Before Jiang Ruoning could ask, she added proactively, “My senior is already married.”

The corner of Jiang Ruoning’s mouth twitched. “I didn’t even say anything.”

“Mm.” Shi Sui applied color under her eyelids and said, “I’m just afraid you’d misunderstand.”

Jiang Ruoning shifted as if to stand up, but Shi Sui pressed her back onto the makeup chair. Jiang Ruoning’s eyes widened as Shi Sui said, “Not done yet.”

Her tone was serious, but Jiang Ruoning felt uncomfortable all over. Finally, she broke the ice. “Can you just talk normally?”

Shi Sui picked up an eyebrow pencil from the table, turned Jiang Ruoning to face her, leaned down, bent at the waist, and loomed right up to her face. Shadows slanted over her as Jiang Ruoning pressed her back hard against the makeup chair, her hands digging into the leather. Shi Sui’s voice remained steady. “I am talking normally.”

Jiang Ruoning looked up, her eyelashes tracing an arc. Because of Shi Sui’s closeness, they trembled slightly, like a butterfly in the rain fluttering its wings. Shi Sui hooked her index finger along her lashes, making them tremble even more. Jiang Ruoning wanted to swat her hand away but felt like she was overreacting, so she simply ignored Shi Sui.

Shi Sui started chatting again. “Why did you lie to me?”

The question came out of nowhere, and Jiang Ruoning had no idea what she meant. As she furrowed her brows, Shi Sui tapped her fingertip on her forehead. “Don’t frown.”

So damn bossy!

Jiang Ruoning said, “Lie about what?”

Shi Sui said, “You haven’t dated anyone in these years. Why lie to me?”

Jiang Ruoning had no idea which meddlesome friend had told Shi Sui that. She opened her mouth. “You believe whatever others say? How do you know I haven’t dated? I’ve secretly dated a bunch of them, and they just don’t know.” She asked Shi Sui, “Who told you? Was it Yun An?”

It had to be Yun An!

Hearing the gritted-teeth tone as she mentioned Yun An, Shi Sui’s expression softened with pleasure. She shook her head. “Not her.”

Jiang Ruoning was puzzled. “Then who?”

Qu Lele? Zhou Yueqing? It couldn’t be Ye Yu or Qin Zheng anyway.

Shi Sui didn’t answer her.

Jiang Ruoning said, “I don’t keep in touch with them much, so it’s normal they don’t know. I even dated one earlier this year—a big star. Her team required confidentiality, so no one knew. I didn’t even tell Qin Zheng.” She had no idea what she was saying anymore; her brain had short-circuited, and she blurted out whatever came to mind. “She’s so beautiful, great figure, and so good to me. She—”

Her chin was seized and lifted. Shi Sui kissed down onto her thin lips, already coated with lipstick, sucking gently.

The sweet scent of the lipstick moistened their tongues. Jiang Ruoning cried out, “Are you crazy?!”

What was wrong with her today? First the forceful dominant love, now forced kisses. Shi Sui had never been this overboard before. Jiang Ruoning glared at her indignantly. Shi Sui wore no makeup, her bare face pale from illness, her naturally bloodless lips now stained irregularly red by Jiang Ruoning’s lipstick, making her whole face come alive.

It had a seductive allure, as if waiting for Jiang Ruoning to taste her freely.

Shi Sui was right—she was seducing her, and damn it, she fell for it every time.

Jiang Ruoning was speechless and choked up. She gritted her teeth, wiped her lips, and footsteps sounded outside the door. Shi Sui grabbed a facial wipe from the table, wet it, and carefully wiped the smudged lipstick from the corners of Jiang Ruoning’s mouth. Then she meticulously touched up her makeup. She wiped the used side of the facial wipe on her own lips, folding it over to use the clean side.

Talk about thrifty! An indescribable awkwardness surged in Jiang Ruoning’s heart. Every time she tried to pull away from Shi Sui even a little, Shi Sui hit back with an even fiercer attack, always striking precisely at her weak spots. She had no power to resist and could only watch herself fall deeper.

Shi Sui was simply a devil.

Jiang Ruoning glared at the other person in the mirror. Voices sounded at the door again—it was Wu Jie, knocking and calling, “Ruoning?”

She shouted back toward the door, “Coming.”

Then she checked herself in the mirror several times to confirm everything was fine before opening the door. Wu Jie saw her changed clothes and completed makeup, looking a bit surprised and delighted. This makeup was even more translucent and bright than yesterday’s. Jiang Ruoning felt embarrassed under her gaze and changed the subject. “Has the photographer arrived?”

Wu Jie said, “Oh, yeah. This way.”

She led Jiang Ruoning into the shooting room. No one else was inside except the two of them. They greeted Jiang Ruoning and asked, “Ruoning, you’re pretty close with Director Xu, huh?”

Jiang Ruoning replied awkwardly, “We knew each other before.”

Worried she’d say too much, Wu Jie pulled her hand and handed her to the photographer. “Thanks for the trouble.”

The photographer stared at her makeup and said, “Ning-jie, you switched makeup artists? This look is great—fits perfectly, definitely photogenic.”

Jiang Ruoning knew Shi Sui was skilled, but she hadn’t expected even the photographer to praise it. She smiled. “Mm, a last-minute thing.”

The photographer said, “You should book her long-term.”

Jiang Ruoning’s mouth twitched.

The new makeup apparently inspired the photographer, who tirelessly tried several poses with her, not overlooking the slightest difference. Jiang Ruoning cooperated in front of the lens—chin lifted at the right angle, gaze directed precisely, neck tilted just so—every inch as the photographer instructed amid nonstop praise: “Perfect! OK! Excellent!”

The flashbulbs kept firing.

After finishing one outfit, Jiang Ruoning saw Wu Jie take a call. Once done, Wu Jie came over and said, “The styling teacher has arrived.”

Jiang Ruoning touched her earring.

Wu Jie added, “Assistant Jiang asked if we should have the stylist come or have President Shi continue.”

Jiang Ruoning paused.

Wu Jie said, “Ruoning, actually, I think your makeup today fits really well.”

Not just fitting—it was photogenic too. They said good makeup was as good as plastic surgery. While Jiang Ruoning’s wasn’t that exaggerated, it maximized her strengths and minimized flaws. Even the photographer had kept praising it: Ning-jie, your look today is on point. Jiang Ruoning pursed her lips. Though she didn’t want to admit it, her first reaction to hearing the styling teacher had arrived wasn’t joy. Now Wu Jie gave her an out, so she reluctantly said, “Then let’s trouble President Shi again.”

Wu Jie lit up. “I’ll contact Assistant Jiang.”

Shi Sui sat in the lounge next to the changing room, with Jiang Nuan standing beside her waiting for her to sign documents. Her phone pinged with a message. Jiang Nuan read it and showed Shi Sui the screen. Shi Sui closed the file as Jiang Nuan said, “Happy now?”

Shi Sui feigned ignorance. “Happy about what?”

Jiang Nuan said, “Happy that Miss Jiang picked you. But aren’t you afraid she’ll pick the new stylist?”

“Afraid of what?” Shi Sui said. “I never said who the new stylist is.”

Jiang Nuan blurted, “Isn’t it just…” She caught on. “Whoa!” Then, “Whoa whoa whoa!”

Shi Sui glanced at her.

Jiang Nuan teased without restraint, “Shi Sui, you’re so sneaky and cunning! Miss Jiang definitely can’t beat you!”

Jiang Ruoning rubbed her nose tip, unable to hold back a sneeze. Wu Jie tensed up. “Drink some hot water. The weather’s been weird lately—don’t catch a cold.”

Hearing “cold,” Jiang Ruoning felt guilty. She’d been hanging around a sick patient these past few days and had just been forcibly kissed. She bit her lip. “Wu-jie.”

Wu Jie turned. “Hm?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Have Miao Miao buy me an iced Americano.”

Wu Jie was stunned. “You’ll drink it? Don’t you think it’s bitter?”

Jiang Ruoning couldn’t stomach the taste of iced Americanos; she always frowned in agony when drinking them. But for the first time, she thought the bitterer, the better—ideally, so bitter it’d kill Shi Sui when she kissed her next!