While clearing the dishes after dinner, a sudden peal of thunder crashed outside the window.
Wen Xin glanced worriedly toward the sound. The rain hadn’t started yet, but she wasn’t entirely reassured. She pulled out her phone and checked the weather forecast, confirming there wouldn’t be any changes for the next hour or two.
“It’s getting late,” Shi Qianyu said. She’d clearly heard the thunder too, and with the hour growing late, it felt impolite for her as a guest to linger any longer. “I should head out.”
“Okay,” Wen Xin replied, stepping out from the kitchen. She’d eaten quite a few of the sweet rice balls fermented with rice wine earlier, and now her head felt a bit heavy, her steps unsteady. Worried that Shi Qianyu might be in the same state, she couldn’t help asking, “Director Shi, how are you planning to get home?”
“Want me to call you a designated driver?” she offered. “You can’t drive yourself right now.”
“No need.” Shi Qianyu shook her head. “I didn’t drink.”
“But those sweet rice balls…” Wen Xin blinked, only just realizing Shi Qianyu was right—she hadn’t touched them at all. “You didn’t eat any?”
“Nope.” Shi Qianyu stood, slipped on her coat, and walked to the door. She turned with a smile, glancing sideways at her. “You liked them so much, I couldn’t bear to eat any. I saved them all for you~”
It was just teasing, like calling her “Sister” earlier, but with Wen Xin’s head fuzzy and her thoughts sluggish, she took the words at face value.
Regret washed over her. How embarrassing—she must seem so greedy and pathetic.
Feeling ashamed, Wen Xin didn’t want Shi Qianyu to think she was some glutton. She quickly spoke up to salvage the situation. “Those rice balls were pretty good. Let me buy you some another day, Director Shi.”
“No need, I was just kidding.” Shi Qianyu picked up on her shift in mood and paused before opening the door. Most people got wild and emotional when tipsy, crying or ranting like mad, but Wen Xin was endearingly silly.
Amused, she decided not to rush off. Instead, she reached out and gently looped her arm around Wen Xin’s neck, just like she had that night at the bar. Her voice was soft. “But seriously, you’re really not going to ask me to stay?”
Those words froze Wen Xin in place.
The moment felt eerily familiar.
Suddenly, Wen Xin recalled that night. She’d been utterly wasted, barely able to stand, swaying uncontrollably. Shi Qianyu hadn’t needed much effort—just a light pull, and she’d drawn her right into her arms.
After that, neither had spoken. They’d only embraced and kissed. But things were different now—they were boss and subordinate. And tonight, Wen Xin was only mildly buzzed, her mind still sharp enough to think straight.
Her cheeks burned red. She stammered for what felt like ages before managing, “W-what did you say…”
Nerves made her revert to the formal “you.”
Shi Qianyu seemed a touch displeased. She leaned in and repeated herself. “Sister, you’re really not going to ask me to stay?”
“There’s thunder outside again. Listen, it’s so loud. I’m scared.” Her tone turned coquettish as the arm around Wen Xin’s neck tightened. Their foreheads touched.
Wen Xin wanted to pull away, but Shi Qianyu pressed closer, relentless as a serpent coiling tighter and tighter. Escape was impossible. Forced into full awareness, Wen Xin breathed in her scent, felt the warmth of her breath, and stared into those alluring eyes.
Even now, she’d thought she’d forgotten that night. Drunken memories were fragmented at best—scattered pieces here and there. She’d told herself not to dwell on them, hoping that would make them fade.
But she realized now she couldn’t forget. Not even the tiniest details. Wen Xin wasn’t known for her iron will, and Shi Qianyu’s coquettish teasing was devastatingly effective. She nearly crumbled right then.
Just then, a melodic ringtone shattered the intimate tension between them.
“Sorry, let me take this call.” After a moment, Shi Qianyu withdrew her arm, lowered her gaze, and fished her phone from her pocket. It was her mother.
A call this late at night probably meant something urgent. Shi Qianyu answered promptly, speaking kindly and asking a few questions before hanging up.
“Is everything okay?” Wen Xin hadn’t recovered her composure yet. She avoided Shi Qianyu’s eyes, forcing a change of subject.
“Something like that.” Shi Qianyu nodded. She’d been planning to leave anyway. Wen Xin was introverted and timid, timid as a hamster. Shi Qianyu couldn’t push too hard—everything needed balance and timing.
Without that call, she might have lingered longer. As it was, she had no choice but to say goodbye quickly. “I’m off. Get some rest.”
“Okay.” Wen Xin let out a quiet breath of relief. She waved, watching until Shi Qianyu stepped into the elevator before turning back.
But no sooner had she closed the door than a message from Shi Qianyu popped up. Even through the screen, Wen Xin could almost hear the playful, wheedling tone.
Shi Qianyu wrote: 【Good night, Sister~】
Shi Qianyu added: 【If I’d held out a little longer, would you really have asked me to stay?】
~~~
The phone felt like a hot potato. Wen Xin had no idea how to reply and simply shoved it aside, pretending not to see.
The earlier encounter had left her already muddled mind in even greater chaos. Tonight, uncharacteristically, she skipped logging into her game. Instead, she headed to the bathroom for a shower and hurried into bed.
She’d thought sleep would make her stop thinking about Shi Qianyu. But she dreamed—and the dream picked up right where reality had left off. In it, she agreed to Shi Qianyu’s plea. Shi Qianyu didn’t leave. She leaned in for a kiss, and before long, they were tangled together again.
It was a fleeting dream, absurd and fantastical.
“…”
Wen Xin jolted awake in the dream, staring at the ceiling and panting softly. The scenes had felt so real. Shame flooded her—not just her flushed face, but a thin sheen of sweat on her skin. A strange sensation deep in her body reminded her she’d had a very stimulating dream, full of sweet, alluring springtime passions.
The alarm rang. It was just past six-thirty. On a weekend with no work, she would normally laze in bed a while longer.
But today, she broke habit. She got up quickly, grabbed fresh clothes, and headed back to the bathroom.
—The shower from last night had been for nothing. Now she had to take another.
