Chapter 6: Not Fun Part 1

Miao Zhu had just taken a few sips of ice-cold beer earlier. The alcohol content was low, but the buzz inexplicably hit her face at that moment, her breath carrying a warmth. The mirror reflected her cheeks flushed with a rosy glow and her eyes shimmering with moisture.

Mu Shanyi walked over and stopped behind Miao Zhu. “Been drinking?”

“A little.” Miao Zhu turned her face sideways to reply. She wore a backless dress that day, and to remove the necklace, her silky long hair had been gathered to the front of her chest, leaving her entire back exposed to Mu Shanyi’s view.

From years of playing the piano, her arm lines were beautifully defined.

Her shoulders were level, her waist slender, her skin like congealed cream.

And below her right shoulder blade, a small red mole.

Mu Shanyi raised her hand. Her hovering fingertips brushed past that little mole before lightly touching the skin of Miao Zhu’s neck, hooking the necklace.

“Having fun?” This time, the voice sounded right by Miao Zhu’s ear.

They stood too close—Miao Zhu was practically in Mu Shanyi’s embrace. This wasn’t normal social distance. Or rather, from the moment Mu Shanyi had offered to help, they had already exceeded the bounds of their usual interactions.

Miao Zhu faced the mirror, where her gaze met Mu Shanyi’s reflection.

She realized she no longer felt the same awe toward Mu Shanyi as before.

The sunset blazed fiercely on the distant horizon, golden afterglow spilling over the white walls and drenching them both.

“Not fun.” Miao Zhu gave a soft smile to the woman in the mirror.

Miao Zhu’s features appeared cool and distant when she wasn’t smiling, but framed by her alcohol-flushed, delicate skin, her smile carried an indescribable liveliness and allure.

Mu Shanyi curved her lips silently. The necklace clasp came undone. She pinched one end and slowly drew it out, the chain gliding over Miao Zhu’s collarbone before she caught it between her fingers.

Footsteps sounded from beyond the wall.

Miao Zhu turned around, subtly stepping half a pace to the side to create distance from Mu Shanyi while extending her right hand to take the necklace.

Her fingertips were pink and moist, her palm lines clear. Mu Shanyi glanced down and loosened her grip slightly. The necklace fell steadily into Miao Zhu’s soft palm under gravity’s pull.

“Sis?” Sheng Xingran rounded the wall and saw Miao Zhu standing with Mu Shanyi. She looked surprised. “What a coincidence. You came over here today too?”

Mu Shanyi: “A-Wen invited me.”

That made sense. Sheng Xingran continued walking as she said, “What were you two talking about?”

Miao Zhu: “Sister A-Heng helped me out with something. Were you looking for me?”

Both acted perfectly natural, as if Mu Shanyi had merely lent a hand with a trivial task.

With Mu Shanyi present, Sheng Xingran didn’t press further and only asked, “Done washing your hands?”

Miao Zhu: “Yeah.”

Sheng Xingran took Miao Zhu’s hand and turned to Mu Shanyi. “We’re having dinner over there. Have you eaten, Sis? Want to join us?”

Sheng Xingran’s attitude toward Mu Shanyi had always been like this—respectful and polite, but not intimate.

Mu Shanyi’s gaze dropped briefly to their joined hands before withdrawing. “No need. A-Wen and I have plans.”

Sheng Xingran: “Alright, we’ll head over then.”

“Okay.” Mu Shanyi gave a slight nod, without looking at Miao Zhu again.

Miao Zhu didn’t look at Mu Shanyi either. She let Sheng Xingran lead her along. They walked in silence for a stretch before Sheng Xingran spoke again. “Longlong, don’t be upset.”

Sheng Xingran thought she had gone to wash her hands because she was unhappy and had used it as an excuse to leave the table? Why? Because of Li Li?

Miao Zhu went along with her words. “I’m not upset.”

Sheng Xingran slowed her pace until she stopped. She released Miao Zhu’s hand. “Always like this—aren’t you tired?”

The words carried some weight, and Miao Zhu was momentarily stunned.

She was her entourage, her friend, but never her girlfriend.

Sheng Xingran had never given her the standing or identity to feel “upset” over something like this.

They were accustomed to pretending ignorance despite knowing the truth, shelving issues when they arose and acting as if they never happened. So why was Sheng Xingran acting out of character today? Was it because of her earlier answer?

Facing Sheng Xingran’s suddenly cold expression, Miao Zhu still spoke softly. “Xingran, is there some misunderstanding? I’m really happy to come here with you. If you’re talking about Li Li, if I said I was upset, would you cut ties with her for my sake?”

Miao Zhu was always so calm, even on sensitive matters like this, showing no emotional fluctuations.

As a child, Sheng Xingran had liked her personality—it wasn’t fawning like Miao Ling’s, and being around her felt comfortable.

Only after growing up did she realize Miao Zhu was just accommodating her, no different from Miao Ling at the core. She could never see Miao Zhu’s true heart.

Miao Zhu acted too much; Sheng Xingran couldn’t tell what was real and what was fake.

The more she thought about it, the more disappointed she became. Sheng Xingran walked off without a word.

It was rare for them to part on bad terms like this. Reason urged Miao Zhu to go to the observation deck and coax Sheng Xingran, but instead, she headed in the opposite direction, back to her own room.

The necklace in her palm had warmed from her body heat. Miao Zhu set it on the edge of the bed. She sat quietly for a moment before hearing the doorbell ring.

Miao Zhu went to open the door.

“Hey! I have something to say to you.” Li Li stood outside with her arms crossed.

Miao Zhu shut the door directly.

Panic flashed in Li Li’s eyes. She braced the door with her hands and feet. “…Miao Zhu! I have something to say!”

Only then did Miao Zhu relent, holding the door and widening the gap.

“I didn’t come specifically for you. I just came back to my room for something and saw your light on, so I stopped by on the way.”

Miao Zhu: “Oh.”

“Since we’re here, you have to clear this up for me today—what exactly is your relationship with Xingran?” Li Li puffed out her pretty cheeks as she scrutinized Miao Zhu. “I’m stating this upfront: I absolutely won’t be a third wheel!”