Chapter 34

Wen Xin came downstairs to find the car already waiting outside.

It was an obviously luxurious vehicle, elegant in both its sleek exterior and high-end features. Though Wen Xin knew little about cars, even she could tell this one must have cost a fortune.

Why would someone this wealthy be driving for a ride-sharing app?

A flicker of doubt stirred in Wen Xin’s heart. She double-checked the license plate before finally climbing in.

There wasn’t much traffic at night, so the car soon pulled up to the hotel where Shi Qianyu was staying. Wen Xin got out and looked up. Under the glow of the streetlights, she spotted Shi Qianyu’s figure at once.

She wasn’t waiting inside. For some reason, she’d come out here.

Wen Xin saw that Shi Qianyu was bent over, fiddling with something, her movements nimble and deft. Drawing closer, Wen Xin realized the other woman was intently weaving a little rabbit out of wild grass from a nearby flowerbed. The humble weeds, so ordinary at first glance, had been transformed in her hands into something adorably lifelike, with long ears playfully swaying in the night breeze.

Shi Qianyu finished the final touch and handed the rabbit to Wen Xin. “You’re here.”

She curved her lips in a soft smile, her eyes sparkling brightly. “For you. Thanks for coming to pick me up.”

How well-behaved she was—her beaming expression even cuter than the rabbit.

Wen Xin took the gift with utmost care, afraid to damage the product of Shi Qianyu’s half-hour labor. “A-Yu, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Shi Qianyu nodded, the faint scent of alcohol drifting from her words.

Wen Xin could tell she was quite drunk. She reached out to steady her and helped her into the car behind them. “Why did you drink so much?”

Shi Qianyu leaned against her shoulder, eyes closed in repose, a pretty flush tinting her fair cheeks. “I met up with some old friends I hadn’t seen in years. Got a little carried away.”

Wen Xin blinked. She didn’t think Shi Qianyu was the type to get drunk easily. “Even so…”

“A friend’s parents passed away recently.” Shi Qianyu opened her eyes again, her voice soft. “She was heartbroken and drank a lot. We kept her company.”

Passed away.

Wen Xin’s gaze dimmed at the words. She understood that feeling all too well—after all, she had lost her own parents. The pain of losing someone dear was like knives carving into flesh, leaving wounds all over that never fully healed, always aching faintly whenever the memory resurfaced.

She couldn’t find more words of comfort. After a moment’s silence, she simply said, “Then you all should spend more time with her.”

“We will.” Shi Qianyu nodded and said no more.

The air grew quiet between them, filled only with the sound of Shi Qianyu’s steady breathing. Wen Xin thought the woman on her shoulder had fallen asleep, but moments later, Shi Qianyu spoke again.

“Wen Xin,” she murmured, “you must have felt that kind of pain once too.”

“I wish someone had been there with you back then.”

The words seemed disjointed, but Wen Xin understood. She was talking about Wen Xin’s parents—Shi Qianyu knew they’d passed away long ago.

Wen Xin was an introverted person in life, not one to open her heart easily or share her troubles. She hadn’t been in Qi Qing long and had never volunteered her family history to anyone.

But it wasn’t exactly a secret. Anyone determined enough could find out. Wen Xin just hadn’t expected Shi Qianyu to look into it.

They were only lovers, after all.

Wen Xin glanced instinctively at the woman beside her. Their eyes met, and in that moment, she saw the raw emotion in Shi Qianyu’s gaze—unveiled heartache and regret.

That look stung Wen Xin, making her nose tingle unexpectedly.

Then Shi Qianyu took her hand. Warm from the alcohol, her fingertips pressed gently against Wen Xin’s skin before clasping it tightly, as if entrusting her entire world—and herself—into Wen Xin’s keeping.

“From now on,” she said, “I’ll stay with you for a long, long time.”

“…”

She must truly be drunk. Very drunk.

Wen Xin closed her eyes briefly. A lover’s bond was fragile; she knew Shi Qianyu would leave her someday, plunging her back into solitude.

So she refused to dwell on it, refused to hope.

Until this sudden promise from Shi Qianyu.

Wen Xin didn’t want to question its sincerity. Drunk words weren’t to be trusted. She didn’t even dare entertain the faintest hope, forcing herself not to speculate on how much truth lay behind them.

She just squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, and opened them again.

Turning her head aside, she leaned against Shi Qianyu in turn. They held each other up like that, the moment peaceful and serene. “Thank you…”

True or not, hearing those words was enough to make her happy.

~~~

The car soon arrived downstairs. Wen Xin helped Shi Qianyu out and up to the apartment.

The cramped rental suddenly felt a little livelier with a guest. Wen Xin poured her a glass of water and settled her on the sofa before heading to the bedroom to make the bed.

Shi Qianyu was in no state to leave, so she’d be staying. Once the bed was ready, Wen Xin meant to fetch a towel from the bathroom to help her freshen up.

“No need.” To her surprise, Shi Qianyu followed her into the bathroom. “I can manage washing up myself.”

“Really?” Wen Xin clearly wasn’t convinced.

Shi Qianyu nodded. “Really.”

Wen Xin hesitated for a moment before relenting. “…All right, then. I’ll wait outside for you, A-Yu.”

“Be careful. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.” Shi Qianyu smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Don’t worry.”

Her lips were just as warm from the alcohol.

Wen Xin instinctively touched the spot, then stepped out to wait. Her fingertips seemed to carry Shi Qianyu’s warmth too.

Shi Qianyu was right—she handled her ablutions just fine.

Wen Xin found some pajamas for her and listened attentively to the sounds from the bathroom: the water running, then stopping, replaced by the whir of the hairdryer.

Soon Shi Qianyu emerged, dressed in Wen Xin’s pajamas.

She smelled wonderful, just like Wen Xin—same shampoo, same body wash, even the same color sleepwear.

Unlike Wen Xin, though, Shi Qianyu had undone a few buttons at the collar. Her figure was stunning: slender waist, perfect curves. Wen Xin didn’t dare look too long, afraid her imagination might run wild.

“Time for bed.” The rental had only one bedroom, so they returned together and squeezed onto the narrow mattress.

The room was dimly lit, with only moonlight filtering through the window. Wen Xin rolled onto her side and gazed at Shi Qianyu’s face in the silvery glow. “Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

She felt shy, still unused to sharing a bed with Shi Qianyu.

But Shi Qianyu seemed oblivious. She parted her lips, making it worse. “Because I’m looking at you.”

Wen Xin stammered a little. “W-what are you looking at me for?”

Shi Qianyu smiled and drew closer in the moonlight. “How is my Sister so adorable? So cute, so beautiful.”

She was praising her, with genuine sincerity—even calling her “my Sister.”

Heat flooded Wen Xin’s cheeks. Drunk Shi Qianyu was still so good at this, so skilled with sweet nothings. Mortified, Wen Xin averted her eyes, unable to meet that gaze.

But Shi Qianyu had ways to draw her back. She leaned down to kiss Wen Xin’s forehead, trailing down to her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally her lips.

Her lips were scorching, her breath too. The kiss stirred Wen Xin deeply, as if she’d gotten drunk herself.

It had been so long since they’d been intimate. Though neither said it aloud, their bodies craved it. Under those tender kisses, Wen Xin reacted, tears glistening in her eyes.

She wrapped her arms around Shi Qianyu’s neck, her body going soft, tense with anticipation for something even more intimate. But when the lingering kiss ended, Shi Qianyu merely nestled against her neck.

“So sleepy,” she whispered, as if on the verge of drifting off.

Wen Xin hadn’t recovered yet and couldn’t muster many words. She watched as Shi Qianyu lay back down and slowly closed her eyes.

“Good night,” she murmured, her breathing evening out into steady rhythm—utterly unaware of how immoral it was to tease and then bail.

Clouds veiled the moon, plunging the room into deeper shadow.

…

Wen Xin didn’t catch the upward curve of Shi Qianyu’s lips, nor realize the woman beside her wasn’t actually asleep.

Otherwise, Shi Qianyu’s list of naughty deeds would surely gain a couple more entries.