The meeting must have reached a topic Mu Shanyi cared about; the car was utterly quiet, external noise unable to penetrate.
Miao Zhu mentally calculated how to report her plans to Mu Shanyi. If this counted, she wouldn’t see Mu Shanyi again before leaving with Sheng Xingran.
…She found it hard to say. She knew Mu Shanyi minded mentions of Sheng Xingran—they had just reached an understanding about it a few days ago.
But proactively informing her was better than causing waves later.
Miao Zhu turned the words over in her mind. She was sure she wasn’t the indecisive type—why hesitate on this small matter? Because she needed Mu Shanyi and didn’t dare risk depleting her fondness?
Mu Shanyi listened for over a minute before turning her attention back to Miao Zhu. Noticing Miao Zhu’s furrowed brows and hesitant expression, she asked, “What’s wrong? Something you want to tell me?”
Miao Zhu hesitated and nodded.
“What is it?” Mu Shanyi removed her left earphone too, leaning toward Miao Zhu to listen seriously.
“Is this okay?” The meeting was still going.
“It’s fine. Go ahead.”
Miao Zhu opened her mouth… but delaying a few more days wouldn’t hurt. Tonight wasn’t the right time—they both still had work, especially Mu Shanyi, whom she was already interrupting.
She made her decision: “This doesn’t count, Sister A-Heng. I still want to see you.”
Mu Shanyi didn’t respond immediately, lost in thought.
Miao Zhu said softly, “Shall we make another time to meet?”
“Mm,” Mu Shanyi nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll wait for your message~”
They had met, and scheduled another meeting. She was here for the gown, so she should go. But Miao Zhu felt a bit reluctant.
She wasn’t content for the night to end like this, lingering on the kiss that hadn’t happened.
Following her impulse, Miao Zhu whined lightly: “Not even a kiss.”
She stood, her knee pressing against Mu Shanyi’s, and cupped half of Mu Shanyi’s face with one hand.
Mu Shanyi looked up, their eyes meeting.
Miao Zhu found an earphone on the table, distinguished left from right, and slipped it into Mu Shanyi’s ear.
“I’ll disturb you for one more minute.” Miao Zhu leaned down to kiss her, but Mu Shanyi leaned back against the seat. Miao Zhu pursued, ending up straddling her lap.
No one timed it precisely. When Miao Zhu had her fill, she slid off Mu Shanyi’s lap. Mu Shanyi held her waist, breaths entwining: “What’s the rush?”
…
Miao Zhu returned to Xie Dasu’s Music Studio carrying the bag with the gown.
Jiang Jingjing glanced at her: “Someone delivered something for you?”
Miao Zhu answered half-truthfully: “The performance gown. It was sent for cleaning before.”
“That’s pretty good service—delivering this late.” Jiang Jingjing pulled out a tissue and handed it to Miao Zhu.
“Hm?”
“Wipe your lipstick. It’s smudged.”
“…” How had Miao Zhu never noticed before that Jiang Jingjing was so emotionally intelligent?
In the following days, Miao Zhu and Mu Shanyi didn’t meet again until the day before Miao Zhu left for Southern France. Mu Shanyi contacted her, saying she could meet that evening but not too early, depending on when her social engagement ended.
Miao Zhu was busy too. Her orchestra’s close-knit colleagues had a tradition of gathering whenever a season ended. That night, after dinner, they moved to karaoke. Miao Zhu sat in the corner, checking her phone occasionally.
“Not playing? You look all distracted. Waiting for a call?” Jiang Jingjing’s sharp eyes caught it.
The phone screen lit up. Miao Zhu glanced at the message and immediately grabbed the beer can in front of her, downing the last two gulps: “I’m heading out.”
“You didn’t drink at dinner, but now you do,” Jiang Jingjing said puzzled. “Don’t drink and drive.”
Miao Zhu: “Someone’s picking me up.”
Hearing that, Jiang Jingjing made some appropriate assumptions: “…Oh, okay. Take care.”
Miao Zhu freshened up a bit in the restroom, her cheeks already flushed.
One can of beer wouldn’t cloud her mind, but it relaxed her nerves.
Miao Zhu took the elevator down and left the resplendent lobby of the venue.
“Miao Zhu?”
Someone called her name from behind. The voice sounded familiar, so she turned to see He Zizhou hurrying after her, pushing up her glasses.
“It’s really you!” He Zizhou said delightedly. Miao Zhu’s fair skin glowed red, her face alluring. She instinctively averted her gaze. “I was afraid I’d mistaken you… We haven’t seen each other in so long. What a coincidence, running into you here.”
“Yeah, long time no see. You here to have fun?” They stood in the venue’s entrance hall, people passing by. Miao Zhu looked down—Mu Shanyi’s car was already there.
He Zizhou: “With colleagues. We just won an award, here to celebrate.”
“Congrats! That’s impressive, winning an award!”
Flattered by the praise, He Zizhou pushed up her glasses midway: “…But you’re leaving now?”
Miao Zhu: “Yeah, my friend’s waiting.”
He Zizhou glanced aimlessly outward: “…Oh, okay then. See you next time.”
“Sure, bye for now. Catch you later.”
Miao Zhu descended the steps. The waiting nanny van opened its rear door. Seeing Mu Shanyi, she immediately curved her eyes into a smile: “Sister A-Heng.”
He Zizhou watched from the steps as Lu Zheng started the car and pulled back onto the road.
Mu Shanyi asked Miao Zhu: “11 p.m. curfew?”
“Yeah. Where are we going now?”
“Drop you home?”
“Oh…” It was nearly nine, just two hours—awkward wherever they went.
Miao Zhu turned to the window. Tall, neat sycamores lined the streets, their lush leaves blocking the streetlights, casting the road in alternating light and shadow.
There was a park nearby, with people strolling on the paths.
In the dimness, she hooked her finger with Mu Shanyi’s, glanced at Lu Zheng up front, and invited softly: “Sister A-Heng, shall we get out and take a walk?”
Mu Shanyi didn’t refuse.
Lu Zheng parked and let them out on the street. Mu Shanyi gave a location for Lu Zheng to wait, saying they’d walk there in about half an hour.
