Time flew by, and evening arrived before they knew it.
Wen Xin slowly packed up her things, not rising from her seat until all her colleagues around her had left. Only then did she make her way to the door of Shi Qianyu’s office.
She raised her hand and knocked lightly. After receiving Shi Qianyu’s permission, she stepped inside—obedient and proper, utterly unlike the bold version of herself from that morning.
~~~
She had been far too daring back then. Too daring, perhaps.
Shi Qianyu had agreed so readily, seemingly oblivious to the deeper implications in Wen Xin’s words. Only Wen Xin herself understood that what she truly desired went well beyond simply watching a movie together.
So what else did she want?
Wen Xin didn’t want to dwell on it. There were some things she couldn’t bring herself to say aloud, things that even thinking about in secret made her blush with embarrassment. She had always sensed that she shouldn’t be this insatiable, this greedy. Yet reality had delivered a harsh punch all the same.
It turned out she truly needed Shi Qianyu—more deeply than she had ever anticipated.
After twenty-eight years of life, Wen Xin suddenly gained a whole new understanding of herself.
“…”
Shi Qianyu was already packing her things.
Rain still pattered outside, having fallen steadily all day with no sign of letting up. To avoid soiling the flat shoes Wen Xin had given her, Shi Qianyu deliberately switched back to the pair she’d worn that morning.
Wen Xin stood there watching her change shoes, her emotions a tangled whirlwind. She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice Shi Qianyu stand and approach her slowly.
Today’s heels were a bit high, so Wen Xin had to tilt her head up slightly to meet her gaze.
Wen Xin must have had tea just before coming over, because her lips still glistened faintly with moisture. The way she tilted her head up made her look inexplicably alluring, as if she were offering her lips for a kiss.
Shi Qianyu lowered her eyes and leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Wen Xin’s lips. Her smile was sweet and clear. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Let’s go.” They had already bought their movie tickets over WeChat at lunchtime. There was still plenty of time for dinner. “Shall we grab something to eat?”
“Okay.” Wen Xin nodded, lowering her eyes as she fell into step beside Shi Qianyu.
Shi Qianyu drove them to a hotel near the cinema. Wen Xin wasn’t good at hiding her feelings, and she spent the whole ride distracted and restless. Fortunately, Shi Qianyu was focused on the road and didn’t notice anything amiss.
A dozen minutes later, they pulled up at their destination. It had rained all day, leaving the evening air bitterly cold. A hot soup for dinner seemed just right.
“This place makes a great duck soup. I think it’ll suit your taste.” Shi Qianyu stepped out of the car and held an umbrella over Wen Xin. It was large enough for both of them, but perhaps worried her companion might still get wet, she stayed pressed close the entire time.
The warmth and scent that were uniquely Shi Qianyu’s enveloped her, scattering Wen Xin’s thoughts. She couldn’t calm her mind and barely registered what Shi Qianyu was saying, managing only vague responses: “Mm.” “Okay.” “You’re right.”
It was so out of character that Shi Qianyu soon turned to look at her.
“Does Sister not want to eat with me?” After a moment, she began to tease in that affected tone of hers.
The shift in her voice was unmistakable, finally pulling Wen Xin back to the present. “What?”
Shi Qianyu fixed her gaze on Wen Xin’s eyes, sharp and probing. “You have something on your mind.”
“What are you thinking about?” She drew out the words, leaning in closer and asking softly.
“…” Wen Xin couldn’t meet her eyes and quickly looked away. “Nothing.”
“Nothing what?” Shi Qianyu clearly had no intention of letting it go.
Wen Xin resorted to a clumsy lie. “Just thinking about what to order later.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
With that, Shi Qianyu arched a brow slightly. Her gaze lingered on Wen Xin’s face, intense enough to see right through her.
Under that scrutiny, Wen Xin grew tense without realizing it, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.
They held like that for a few tense seconds. At last, Shi Qianyu looked away, took Wen Xin’s hand, and led her into the hotel. “I see. Then let’s order plenty of the signature dishes.”
“I’ve been here a few times before. The food’s excellent.”
She believed her.
“Okay.” After a beat, Wen Xin nodded softly, finally exhaling in relief.
As Shi Qianyu had promised, the food was outstanding. The duck soup was especially exceptional—rich and fragrant on the tongue, with a lingering sweetness and tender, full-bodied meat that had no trace of gaminess.
Wen Xin was indeed hungry, and with Shi Qianyu constantly piling food into her bowl, she didn’t want to waste it. Before she knew it, she had eaten far more than usual.
After the meal, Wen Xin hurried downstairs to pay, only to learn from the front desk that Shi Qianyu had already settled the bill.
“You didn’t have to spend money on this again.” Wen Xin felt terribly awkward.
“It’s fine.” Shi Qianyu rummaged in her bag for a tin of mints, offering a few to Wen Xin before popping two into her own mouth. “This is just returning the favor. You already treated me to the movie.”
Wen Xin blinked, protesting softly. “But you bought me snacks before that.”
Shi Qianyu had a ready reply. “We don’t need to keep score so precisely between us.”
That left Wen Xin speechless.
Shi Qianyu was such a good person, always so attentive to her needs. Wen Xin hated owing too many favors and was always trying to reciprocate. But the more she tried to balance things, the deeper in debt she felt, trapped in a vicious cycle.
It didn’t sit right with her. She wanted to do more for Shi Qianyu in return. After a moment, she ventured, “But…”
Shi Qianyu understood her intentions and, this time, went along with them. “How about you buy me some flowers, then?”
The cinema wasn’t far from the restaurant. To aid digestion, they decided to walk, sharing the umbrella in the rain. Right then, a flower shop happened to be nearby.
Lovers might not have a tradition of exchanging flowers, but Wen Xin was eager to even the scales and agreed without a second thought. “Okay.”
She said her name. “A-Yu, what flowers do you want?”
Shi Qianyu seemed a touch displeased at that. “Shouldn’t that be for the person giving the flowers to decide?”
Fair enough.
Wen Xin felt a little embarrassed, murmured her agreement, and quickly turned to enter the shop. Shi Qianyu didn’t follow, simply standing in the doorway with an amused smile as she watched.
Wen Xin rarely bought flowers and knew nothing of their meanings. She simply picked what looked pretty and suited Shi Qianyu’s vibe.
In the end, she chose a few roses and some little daisies, asking the shop assistant to arrange them nicely. Once they were wrapped, she cradled the bouquet happily and presented it to Shi Qianyu.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling with anticipation and delight. “A-Yu, these are for you.”
“Thank you.” Shi Qianyu accepted them, lowering her head to inhale their scent. “They smell wonderful. I love them.”
They stepped out of the shop side by side and turned into a narrow alley. The cinema was just ahead, only a few dozen paces away.
But Shi Qianyu suddenly stopped. “Wen Xin, do you know the meaning behind these two flowers?”
Wen Xin didn’t, so she shook her head.
Shi Qianyu’s lips curved gently upward. “They mean a secret crush.”
She looked into Wen Xin’s eyes, her voice slow and deliberate. “Are you secretly crushing on me?”
Wen Xin’s face flushed crimson at once, her reaction intense. “Ah?”
Afraid Shi Qianyu might misunderstand, she shook her head frantically. “I didn’t— I didn’t think that much when I picked them. No, really.”
Shi Qianyu let out a soft hum. “Why deny it so quickly? Is having a crush on me something to be ashamed of?”
Of course not.
Wen Xin met her gaze. Shi Qianyu was young and accomplished, with a wonderful personality and stunning looks. Plenty of people admired her from afar—even someone as oblivious as Wen Xin could tell that many colleagues at the office harbored secret crushes on her.
Yet Shi Qianyu hadn’t chosen any of them. She had become intimate with Wen Xin alone. It filled Wen Xin with an inexplicable joy, but also unease and a hint of inferiority.
She often wondered: If not for that chance one-night stand, if not for their hidden shared past, would Shi Qianyu have ever approached her at all? Would she have given her a second glance?
Wen Xin knew her place. Being lovers with someone so unattainable was more than enough. She wouldn’t dare dream of anything more.
She fell silent for a long while, the air growing awkward.
After a moment, Shi Qianyu sighed lightly and changed the subject. “Don’t worry about it. I was just joking.”
“Take a photo of me with the flowers.” She hugged the bouquet closer, her tone soft and coquettish as she wheedled at Wen Xin. “It’s the first time I’ve gotten such beautiful flowers. We have to commemorate it.”
Wen Xin was surprised. “You’ve never received any before?”
Shi Qianyu shook her head. “Nope.”
Whether someone offered was one thing; whether she accepted was another. She only wanted flowers from Wen Xin. Anyone else’s could be ignored.
Wen Xin obligingly pulled out her phone and aimed the camera. But Shi Qianyu suddenly changed her mind, insisting they take a photo together.
Wen Xin didn’t refuse. She stepped up beside Shi Qianyu, swiveled the camera around, and hit the record button.
In that instant, Shi Qianyu leaned in suddenly and planted a kiss on her cheek. The photo froze the moment in perfect intimacy.
A rainy day in a hidden alley, fresh flowers cradled in her arms, Shi Qianyu smiling softly—and that close, tender kiss.
The light in the alley was dim, casting shadows over the picture, but the two subjects were so strikingly beautiful, each in her own captivating way, that they lifted the image entirely. Even the murky lighting took on an artistic ambiance.
Wen Xin glanced instinctively at the woman beside her. Shi Qianyu looked breathtaking right then—more radiant and lovely than the flowers themselves, her eyes brimming with blatant flirtation and affection.
She was doing this on purpose. She was seducing Wen Xin, who simply couldn’t resist her allure.
The narrow alley stood empty on that rainy afternoon, the wide eaves overhead shielding them from the downpour. At some point, Shi Qianyu had discarded her umbrella. Now she pinned Wen Xin gently against the wall, her kisses slow and lingering.
Wen Xin tilted her head to meet them, bolder than usual. Deep down, she felt a flutter of nerves and panic at the thought of someone stumbling upon them.
Yet she couldn’t bear to pull away. She craved more. Shi Qianyu’s kisses were too exquisite, too intoxicating; Wen Xin would gladly surrender herself completely to the woman before her, sharing the thrill—and the risk—of discovery.
Shi Qianyu murmured softly into her ear, her warm breath brushing Wen Xin’s sensitive skin. “Want to go to a hotel?”
Wen Xin understood her meaning at once. A tingle raced across her scalp. “But the movie’s about to start…”
“Does Sister really want to see the movie?” Shi Qianyu kissed her ear lightly, her voice a teasing lure. “I don’t think so.”
“I know what you’re thinking.” She smiled, her tone feather-light. “Didn’t I tell you? You’re terrible at lying.”
She had seen right through Wen Xin’s impure motives from the start.
Wen Xin felt utterly exposed, a flush of embarrassment rising as she countered, “When did you figure it out?”
Shi Qianyu blinked innocently, answering in a soft voice. At last, her sly nature came to light.
“From the moment you invited me.”
