Chapter 1

Wen Xin drained the last sip of wine from her glass.

Shi Qianyu happened to brush past her just then—a fleeting moment. Wen Xin couldn’t make out her features clearly, but she caught the faint, refreshing fragrance clinging to the ends of her hair.

It smelled wonderful. Wen Xin instinctively took several deep breaths.

The scent of white tea.

Wen Xin loved that aroma, so in the next instant, she turned her head without thinking, lifting her gaze to stare at Shi Qianyu’s retreating back. She saw that Shi Qianyu was wearing a long black dress with an elegant tie-back design across the shoulders and cutouts at the waist, revealing glimpses of her fair skin. Her thick hair was very long, with curled ends—some strands draped over her chest, others cascading down her back.

So sexy, yet with a dignified allure. It was as if Wen Xin’s soul had been hooked; she couldn’t tear her eyes away for a long time.

Until Shi Qianyu gently turned her head.

“Want to buy me a drink?” she asked. The bar was noisy and dimly lit, but the area around the counter was relatively bright. Amber lights poured down from overhead like spotlights on a stage, perfectly framing the protagonist who had arrived fashionably late and captivated everyone.

Yes, in that moment when Shi Qianyu turned, everything around her seemed to dim by comparison. Wen Xin knew such a description might sound exaggerated for anyone else, but for Shi Qianyu, it fit perfectly.

Wen Xin had never seen anyone so beautiful, so she fell uncharacteristically silent, unable to speak for a long while.

After a moment, Shi Qianyu gave the woman before her another chance. She curved her lips in a soft smile. “If you’d rather not, I’ll be on my way.”

Her voice was lovely, laced with a hint of sweetness. It didn’t sound like an ultimatum at all—more like a playful whine.

Finally snapping out of it, Wen Xin shook her head. Perhaps from nerves, even her voice trembled slightly. “No, no, I’d love to.”

“I’ll… I’ll buy you one.”

She said softly a few seconds later.

~~~

Wen Xin had no idea how she ended up in a taxi with Shi Qianyu. She only remembered that Shi Qianyu smelled divine. The excess alcohol made her head swim, but inhaling that fresh white tea scent brought some relief.

“What brand of shampoo do you use?” Wen Xin asked, gazing blearily at Shi Qianyu’s profile.

“Do you like it?” Shi Qianyu turned to look at her, a faint smile in her eyes. “I can recommend it to you later.”

“Mm.” Wen Xin nodded, about to say yes, but then realized they probably wouldn’t have a “later.” She changed tack and grumbled softly, “Never mind.”

Shi Qianyu fell silent after that. The air grew a bit awkward from the refusal, but Wen Xin had no energy to guess what Shi Qianyu might be thinking. She simply felt awful.

Luckily, the car twisted and turned before finally pulling up to the residential complex ahead. The moment she breathed in fresh air, Wen Xin felt much better. She got out, following Shi Qianyu into the complex, up the elevator, and to her apartment door.

Suddenly, Wen Xin hesitated. A one-night stand was too thrilling for her—a woman who’d been single for over twenty years. Following a stranger home felt like something out of a fairy tale.

But Shi Qianyu didn’t give her time to waver. Noticing the woman behind her hadn’t followed, she turned back, leaning halfway against the doorframe as she reached out to drape an arm around Wen Xin’s neck.

With a gentle pull, she drew her close.

Shi Qianyu’s fingertips were cool, but against Wen Xin’s flushed, alcohol-heated skin, they created the perfect spark. The soft pads of her fingers felt heavenly as they stroked her. Wen Xin looked up, meeting Shi Qianyu’s gaze. Their eyes locked, followed by their lips.

After that, things spiraled completely out of control. Shi Qianyu shut the door casually, and the two stumbled into the bedroom in an intensely intimate embrace. Wen Xin was wearing a crisp white blouse that day, easy to unbutton. Soon, most of it was open, exposing swathes of skin. As she undid the buttons, Shi Qianyu murmured breathlessly, “Want to take a shower first?”

Her voice, interspersed with gasps, was impossibly seductive.

“I showered before heading to the bar.” Wen Xin mumbled in response. Shi Qianyu’s body temperature ran cooler than average—pressing against her felt amazing. Wen Xin wanted to get closer, and Shi Qianyu clearly felt the same. They tumbled onto the soft bed together, exchanging kiss after deepening kiss.

Only then did it hit Wen Xin that she’d forgotten something crucial. “Oh, right—I never asked your name.”

In the heat of passion, you had to say something, and calling her “you” or “hey” just felt rude.

“Just call me A-Yu.” Shi Qianyu parted her lips, holding her gaze in the dim, sensual light. “And you?”

“Yu An.” Since Shi Qianyu wasn’t giving her full name, Wen Xin wouldn’t share hers either. In this day and age, everyone guarded their privacy and safety online, so “Yu An” was what she went by.

Shi Qianyu frowned slightly in dissatisfaction. “That’s a mouthful. Pick another.”

Was it? Wen Xin thought for a second—yeah, a netizen had once teased that “Yu An” sounded like “wronged” if you said it fast.

A few seconds later, she leaned down to kiss Shi Qianyu’s earlobe. “How about… you call me Sister?”

She couldn’t tell Shi Qianyu’s age or if she was older, so it was a tentative suggestion. She probably should have thought longer, but the alcohol had her too far gone to care about alternatives.

Besides, “Sister” was perfect for the bedroom—intimate and teasing in just the right way.

After a pause, Shi Qianyu laughed. “Sure.”

She accepted without protest, utterly compliant. But the hand at Wen Xin’s waist grew restless again, slowly undoing the remaining buttons one by one.

Then she looked up at Wen Xin, her eyes brimming with innocence and softness.

“Sister, why aren’t you kissing me yet?”

~~~

The night passed quickly. For some reason, Wen Xin woke unusually early that morning.

She had a habit of keeping her phone under her pillow, and last night had been no exception. Groggily, she reached under the pillow, fumbling for it.

But she couldn’t find it. And the pillow felt completely different from usual. She froze, then hurriedly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was a strange woman.

“…” Wen Xin instinctively drew in a sharp breath. Memories of the night before flooded back in an instant.

She’d gone home with this woman she’d just met. Not only had they kissed and embraced intimately—they’d gone several rounds. Contrary to what she’d expected, Wen Xin had thought she’d take the lead, but Shi Qianyu had been the one in control. She was incredible, utterly masterful. Those few calls of “Sister” had left Wen Xin dazed and compliant, practically forgetting her own name.

By the time she realized it, it was far too late.

Wen Xin reached back to rub her waist. Maybe it was psychosomatic, but it ached terribly. The Shi Qianyu before her looked so harmless, yet in bed, she’d been like a wild thing. Wen Xin didn’t need to check to know her neck was covered in marks from her kisses.

That said, last night had been mind-blowing. Now sober, waves of tension and panic crashed over her. She couldn’t imagine the awkwardness of saying good morning to a one-night stand. Fortunately, the woman was still asleep. She had time to slip away from the scene.

They probably wouldn’t cross paths again anyway.

Sitting in the taxi, Wen Xin sighed inwardly. That passionate night with Shi Qianyu had been the boldest thing she’d ever done. Recalling their entwined bodies, her cheeks flushed anew.

…Just treat it like a dream.

~~~

A few days later, Wen Xin had finally recovered at home—not just her body, but the shame that came with sobriety.

Over a month ago, she’d been fired from her job. She’d sent out resumes to similar companies on a whim, drifting through hazy days until Qi Qing’s offer came.

It made sense. With no parents or close friends, work had been her only way to kill time. Stripped of that, all that remained was endless boredom and stupor.

Except for that one night with Shi Qianyu—the sole surprise in her life. If she hadn’t drunk so much, if they hadn’t brushed past each other, if Shi Qianyu hadn’t turned back… things might have turned out differently.

Shi Qianyu was like a beautiful pebble skipping across the still, dull surface of her heart, sending up a tiny splash.

Wen Xin took a deep breath and lightly knocked on the director’s office door. Today was her first day reporting to Qi Qing. She’d been supposed to meet the department director during the final interview, but they’d had something come up and asked another leader to stand in. So they’d never actually met.

Now that she was officially on board and the director was in the office, it would be rude not to say hello.

“Please come in.” A clear, bright female voice drifted from behind the door. It belonged to the legendary director—a stunning beauty renowned for both her exceptional looks and her outstanding abilities.

For some inexplicable reason, Wen Xin felt that the voice sounded faintly familiar.

But she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she raised her hand and pushed open the door before her. If their first encounter could be likened to a moment of breathtaking allure at first sight, then this reunion was like catching another glimpse of that elusive splendor.

Unlike that evening, Shi Qianyu was dressed quite formally today. Her light khaki business suit was strikingly elegant, accentuating her figure. Her beautiful curls were swept up, exposing the slender, pale curve of her neck. She wore the latest earrings from the Chiblier Flower Series, and a classic Bailer watch adorned her wrist. Even the brooch pinned to her chest was from some prestigious brand, but with time so short, Wen Xin didn’t have a chance to make out its label.

The Shi Qianyu standing before her was perusing her resume. Leisurely, she spoke. “Long time no see. And welcome aboard.”

With those words, she met Wen Xin’s eyes. Affection warmed her gaze as it curved into a beautiful smile, her amber irises shimmering with faint amusement. “So, how should I address you this time—Wen Xin? Or… Yu An?”