Chapter 39: Don’t Be So Mean to Me Part 2

Mu Shanyi said twenty minutes, but it took just over ten. The tavern door pushed open, and Jiang Jingjing looked up to see her.

The real person drew the eye even more than the photo.

On this chilly winter night, Mu Shanyi wore a dark, structured long coat with matching wool trousers, her long hair neatly low-bunned at the nape, revealing her flawless face. Her presence was subdued yet commanding, her bone structure and features naturally striking. In the tavern’s lively, earthy vibe, she stood out inescapably.

The resident singer crooned folk songs on stage; Miao Zhu propped her cheeks, dozing off.

Mu Shanyi approached, assessed Miao Zhu’s state. Miao Zhu’s drunken eyes were hazy; seeing her brought no reaction.

Mu Shanyi asked Jiang Jingjing: “How much did she drink?”

Her tone polite and refined, no accusation, but Jiang Jingjing instinctively cleared herself: “I didn’t force her—she downed them one after another. …Around four or five glasses?”

Mu Shanyi nodded: “Sorry for the trouble tonight. Are you heading back now, or…?”

Jiang Jingjing grabbed her bag: “I’m going to the hotel too.”

“Good.” Mu Shanyi signaled the server for the bill, picked up Miao Zhu’s coat, and draped it over her.

Miao Zhu grumbled discontentedly as she was dressed: “What’re you doing…”

“Picking you up.” Mu Shanyi tucked her loose hair behind her ear, met her eyes: “Weren’t you willing to come with me?”

“…Oh.” Miao Zhu stood, but wobbled unsteadily, flailing her arms. Mu Shanyi caught her, and she toppled straight into Mu Shanyi’s arms.

!

Jiang Jingjing’s mind exploded with They’re way too perfect together…!

Mu Shanyi half-supported, half-carried Miao Zhu, with Jiang Jingjing following. Outside the tavern, Mu Shanyi’s car waited curbside; the driver from last time opened the rear door.

“Join us.” Mu Shanyi invited Jiang Jingjing.

Jiang Jingjing had that much sense: “No need, the hotel’s close—walking takes just minutes. Good chance to walk off the drinks.”

Mu Shanyi didn’t press. She bundled Miao Zhu into the back seat, then asked Jiang Jingjing: “What time’s your work tomorrow?”

Jiang Jingjing: “Rehearsal in the afternoon.”

Mu Shanyi: “See you then.”

“See you!” Jiang Jingjing waved goodbye, watching the sedan vanish from sight.

—These two really weren’t dating?

One drowning sorrows in booze, the other chasing thousands of miles. If this wasn’t love, what was!?

A cold gust brushed her face; Jiang Jingjing shrank her neck as the wind whipped past her, pursuing the departing car.

The sedan’s doors and windows sealed tight, warmth blooming inside like spring.

Miao Zhu leaned back with eyes closed. Drunk, she never caused a fuss; Mu Shanyi thought she slept. But as the car crossed the bridge, jostling the chassis, Miao Zhu clutched her head groggily: “It’s gonna spill…”

“What?” Mu Shanyi leaned over, puzzled.

“The booze,” Miao Zhu half-opened her eyes, lips parting slightly, “it’s gonna spill…”

Her face flushed with alcohol glow, gaze unfocused. Mu Shanyi watched a moment, then flicked her forehead lightly: “Is your head full of booze?”

“Mm…~” Miao Zhu kept clutching her head. “No more shaking. Can’t shake.”

Mu Shanyi chuckled lightly—drunk talk, surely—but instructed Lu Zheng anyway: “Drive slower, steadier.”

Lu Zheng arrived smoothly at the hotel. After half an hour’s ride, Miao Zhu blinked a bit, seeming slightly clearer. She no longer claimed her head brimmed with booze and even shut the door upon entering the room.

“Upstairs…” She slumped against the door. “Play with Princess Grace a bit…”

Not sober at all—she’d forgotten they weren’t in Cloud City, thinking it was Tower Shadow Sunny River.

“We’re at the hotel.” Mu Shanyi had no patience explaining to a drunk. She fetched slippers, placed them by Miao Zhu’s feet: “Change shoes.”

Miao Zhu wore knee-high boots. At the command, she obediently bent to unzip them. Mu Shanyi left her to it, walked inside, shed her coat onto the solid wood rack in the living room, then went to the bathroom, turned on the tub faucet, and adjusted the temperature.

When she returned, Miao Zhu sat on the carpet right there, defeated by the boots, face buried in her down jacket, sweating profusely.

Mu Shanyi’s voice was neutral: “Why sit on the floor?”

Miao Zhu lifted her face sluggishly, gaze fixed on Mu Shanyi.

From their meeting till now, Mu Shanyi wasn’t impatient, but lacked her former gentleness—a distant, measured air.

The entryway light intensified Miao Zhu’s dizziness, a sense of weightlessness; she sank into whirling quicksand: “Mu Shanyi…”

Lashes drooping, her breaths mingled with a sigh: “Don’t be so high and mighty…”

Mu Shanyi’s expression unchanged, she knelt, silently unzipped the boots, removed them, set them neatly by the shoe stool, then peeled off Miao Zhu’s down jacket.

Miao Zhu cooperated until the buttons of her cardigan came undone one by one, skin bared to the air. Then she squirmed: “Don’t…”

“Don’t what?” Mu Shanyi’s single question stilled her. “Not even take a bath?”

“Take it.” Miao Zhu obediently draped over Mu Shanyi’s shoulder.

Mu Shanyi scooped under her knees, carried her to the bathroom.

Steam filled the bathroom; comfortable warm water enveloped her body. Consciousness swaying, Miao Zhu floated dreamlike, drifting on clouds.

Mu Shanyi’s fingers trailed her skin—she felt bliss and ache, craving closeness, but Mu Shanyi pushed her away.

The next moment, Miao Zhu sat on the edge of the bed. Mu Shanyi lifted the hem of her shirt, revealing her fair and taut waist and abdomen in Miao Zhu’s hazy vision. Mu Shanyi peeled off her damp top and tossed it aside onto the bed.

Then Mu Shanyi parted her knees and knelt astride Miao Zhu’s legs. She cupped Miao Zhu’s face and lowered her head to suck on her lips.

A faint, tingling electric current crawled up her spine.

The kiss lasted a long time, yet it also felt like only an instant. Mu Shanyi bit down hard on Miao Zhu’s lower lip.

“Wu…” The pain made Miao Zhu recoil. She broke free from Mu Shanyi’s grasp and flopped dizzily back onto the bed. “Why did you bite me…”

Mu Shanyi leaned down low, and Miao Zhu pushed at her in a panic.

“No hiding,” Mu Shanyi said softly.

Terrified of another bite, Miao Zhu ignored her. She clumsily rolled toward the other side of the bed, desperate to put some distance between them. In the next second, Mu Shanyi grabbed her ankle and yanked her back. “No more hiding.”

Alcohol amplified the emotions churning in her heart. She was already so miserable—why did Mu Shanyi have to bully her like this?

Miao Zhu covered her mouth in a defensive posture, her throat tightening with sobs. “Don’t be so mean to me.”

Tears welled from the corners of her eyes. Her freshly washed face, now streaked with them, looked like pear blossoms battered by rain, her eyes brimming with unspoken grievances.

“…Don’t be so mean to me.” Mu Shanyi released her hand, picked up the clothes that had gotten soaked from all the splashing during the bath, and turned to tidy up the disastrous mess in the bathroom.

Miao Zhu shed a few heartbroken tears but couldn’t fight the growing weight of her exhaustion.

Darkness swallowed her whole. She curled up in a haphazard ball and fell asleep.