Song Yingqiu rolled over.
She was no naive little girl; she understood better than anyone what that sense of loss stood for.
But the thought, still half-formed, was one she didn’t dare examine too closely, especially after talking with Ning Wanmei.
That was Shao Yu. Not just anybody.
And besides, a sliver of luck still lingered in her heart.
Perhaps, in some fleeting moment, her heart had truly stirred for Shao Yu. But that flutter made up only the smallest fraction of it.
Mostly, it was her own childish side at work, her need to know whether Shao Yu had placed her in the most important spot.
That was why she couldn’t let go of an attitude that flipped so completely, of one small motion of distance.
That was it. That had to be it.
Exactly that.
And a fleeting crush would fade soon enough. It didn’t count as anything, wouldn’t touch what she and Shao Yu had.
A faint sound came from outside the door.
Shao Yu was home from work.
Song Yingqiu’s train of thought broke off. Lying there, she listened closely to the sounds beyond her door and from the next bedroom, and the clamor in her head settled little by little.
Before she knew it, she had drifted into an easy sleep.
In mid-April a cold snap struck, and temperatures in Lingguan plunged lower than in early spring.
Several spells of drizzling rain fell, chilling to the bone.
Before heading out, Song Yingqiu layered a pale-brown wool coat over her cream knit top, hair loose about her shoulders, a matching pearl set glowing softly against her skin. She looked every bit the picture of poise and elegance.
Pleased with her reflection, she picked up another coat, this one light gray, and carried it to the living room for Shao Yu.
Song Yingqiu gestured for her to take it. “Here, wear this.”
Shao Yu didn’t reach out, so Song Yingqiu simply pressed the coat into her arms.
“Your jacket’s too thin. Fine for the drive to the hospital, but you’ve still got a walk once you’re out of the car… Anyway, you didn’t bring anything warm, so you’re wearing mine these next few days.”
Shao Yu glanced over the coat. No obvious luxury logo, but the quality was superb; one look said it was expensive.
Then again, expecting Song Yingqiu to own anything cheap would be a stretch.
Song Yingqiu urged her to put it on for a look. Paired with what she had on underneath, it was bound to be striking.
Shao Yu obediently swapped out her jacket and put on the coat.
She straightened the cuffs and looked up. “How is it?”
Song Yingqiu gave her a measured once-over, the picture of composure. “It’ll do. Fits well.”
The two left together, Shao Yu driving, dropping Song Yingqiu at the company first.
Song Yingqiu stayed busy the whole drive, taking calls, reviewing documents, yet still found breath to nag Shao Yu about odds and ends, playing the eldest sister to the hilt.
At headquarters, she got out and stood there a moment.
The chill morning air jolted her mind awake. Facing away from the car, she drew a deep breath. That’s your little sister. That’s Shao Yu. You may not covet.
Of late, Song Yingqiu had wound herself up like this countless times.
She strode briskly toward the building, zeroing out the thoughts she shouldn’t be having and funneling her focus into work.
Out of the elevator, Song Yingqiu picked up a call from Song Zhuozong.
As she walked toward her office, a hushed conversation drifted from the open pantry nearby:
“…You run into the marketing department’s heartthrob every single day. How have you not landed him yet?”
“You make it sound easy. But you know how it is: the more I can see him and not have him, the more I want him.”
Song Yingqiu’s mind wandered, just a little.
