Chapter 47

Wen Xin’s kiss worked wonders, quickly easing the furrowed brow of the person before her.

“Mm, now it’s completely fine.” Shi Qianyu finally stopped teasing her, lifting the corners of her lips as she softly responded to Wen Xin’s words.

Wen Xin feared she might say one thing and mean another. Still nervous, she asked again: “Really?”

Shi Qianyu nodded sincerely. “Really. No fooling you.”

That was a relief. As long as A-Yu wasn’t angry anymore, all was well.

Wen Xin quietly exhaled, mirroring Shi Qianyu’s smile. The two of them lingered behind the rock a little longer. Wen Xin showed her the photos she’d taken, marveling at how beautiful the seaside scenery truly was.

“Yours turned out beautifully too.” Shi Qianyu had already seen them once before, yet she patiently flipped through the album again with Wen Xin. Noticing how much the other woman loved the sea, she added, “Next time we get the chance, let’s come back together.”

Wen Xin turned to her in agreement, not quite grasping the deeper meaning. “Next team-building trip?”

Shi Qianyu shook her head. “No, any time.”

“Just the two of us next time—no one else.” She smiled. The sea changed with every season: lively and bustling at times, serene and elegant at others. No matter what, it was always beautiful. Since Wen Xin loved it so much, Shi Qianyu didn’t want her to miss out.

Just the two of us.

Wen Xin’s thoughts drifted at the idea, a flicker of anticipation stirring in her heart. The suggestion was too tempting. She adored the sea and naturally hoped to return—especially alone with Shi Qianyu.

Half the team-building trip had already passed by now. If Wen Xin searched her heart, she was more than satisfied. Qi Qing had provided only the best: exquisite food and drink, luxurious lodging, seamless transportation. It was a rare chance for such a perfect vacation, and she was overjoyed.

Yet something still felt missing. At breakfast, she’d tried the steamed dumplings Shi Qianyu had recommended, and they were indeed delicious. She’d wanted to share the joy with her, but Shi Qianyu had sat so far away that Wen Xin suppressed the impulse.

Even while photographing the seascape, Shi Qianyu had come to mind. There had been a stunning cloud in the sky, and Wen Xin had angled her phone desperately for the perfect shot to show her in all its glory. But a sudden gust of wind had scattered it, leaving her without that flawless moment.

If Shi Qianyu had been right there, Wen Xin wouldn’t have needed to fuss with angles. They could have simply lifted their gazes together and admired it side by side.

Moments like that had piled up—dating back to that morning when she’d woken to find the person who’d slept beside her gone for hours.

If the two of them came alone next time, free from prying eyes, perhaps none of these little frustrations would occur.

Shi Qianyu waited a moment before prompting her gently. “What do you say?”

Wen Xin nodded, already starting her enthusiastic agreement. “Mm, we…”

But a familiar voice cut her off. Gao Qiu and Tao Qing had somehow wandered over here too. With crowds all over the beach, they still managed this uncanny coincidence. “Hey, isn’t that… Director Shi and Wenwen!”

Gao Qiu waved excitedly at them, tugging her boyfriend along as she jogged over. “What are you two doing here?”

It was an unusual duo, but Gao Qiu didn’t dwell on it. “Just bumped into each other?”

“Yeah.” Gao Qiu’s painful history made her extra sensitive to anything between women. Fearing she’d pick up on something, Wen Xin nodded quickly. “I ran into Director Shi while strolling nearby. We walked for a bit, got tired, and decided to rest here.”

“I took some seascape photos just now and was showing them to Director Shi. Want to see?” To steer the conversation away, she held out her phone to Gao Qiu. She had only one photo of herself with Shi Qianyu—the one from that rainy day, with Shi Qianyu cradling flowers and kissing her cheek. Wen Xin couldn’t bring herself to delete it, so she’d hidden it away in her private album, safe from prying eyes.

“Sure! These are gorgeous.” Gao Qiu took the phone and scrolled through carefully. It suddenly dawned on her, and she muttered aloud, “We’ve been having way too much fun these past couple days. If you hadn’t reminded me, Wenwen, I wouldn’t have realized I haven’t snapped a single photo myself.”

“You know, this rock is pretty cool.” She handed the phone back and glanced at the nearby reef. On impulse, she turned to Tao Qing. “Want to take a few pics here, just us?”

Tao Qing didn’t mind. He struck a dashing pose on the spot. “Sure. How’s this one look?”

“Such a show-off.” Gao Qiu laughed and swatted his arm playfully. She turned back to the other two, about to ask Wen Xin for help. “Can you…”

“I’ll take them for you.” Shi Qianyu spoke up before she could finish.

Gao Qiu was thrilled and flustered. “We can’t trouble Director Shi with that!”

“No trouble at all.” Shi Qianyu smiled warmly. “The whole point of a trip like this is to have fun. Don’t worry about it.”

That was music to her ears.

“Thanks so much, Director Shi!” With permission granted, Gao Qiu handed over her phone without further ado and began debating the perfect pose.

Once they’d settled on poses, she griped about the camera’s poor quality and dashed over to borrow Wen Xin’s instead. “Wenwen, can I use your phone for a couple shots? Yours has a better camera—photos always come out nicer.”

“Sure thing.” Wen Xin passed it over.

Gao Qiu thanked Shi Qianyu again and hurried back to pose with Tao Qing in front of the reef, throwing up heart shapes. The two of them were perfectly in sync, kindred spirits through and through—visibly happy and content.

Wen Xin watched from the side, a quiet envy blooming alongside genuine happiness for her friend. Gao Qiu had finally found someone who truly cherished her.

Shi Qianyu snapped several photos without a hint of complaint, each one coming out beautifully.

Gao Qiu scrolled through them eagerly, her delight plain to see. “These are perfect. I’ll get them all printed when I get home. Wenwen, send me the originals, okay?”

Wen Xin nodded. “Of course.”

Gao Qiu checked the time and suggested heading back. “Ready to return to the hotel?”

“Sure.” Wen Xin agreed readily. With Gao Qiu and Tao Qing along, it gave perfect cover—she could walk right beside Shi Qianyu without a care.

Gao Qiu turned to Shi Qianyu. “What about you, Director Shi?”

“That works.” Shi Qianyu agreed verbally but glanced at the reef instead.

Gao Qiu caught on immediately. “Want me to snap a few of you?”

Shi Qianyu hesitated politely. “Wouldn’t that be too much trouble?”

Gao Qiu waved her off. “Not at all! I’d love to!”

“Then thank you.” Shi Qianyu smiled, her gaze flicking to Wen Xin on impulse. She reached out and took her wrist. “Wen Xin, come join me.”

Her palm carried the sun’s warmth—comfortingly hot.

This was their first openly intimate gesture in front of acquaintances. Wen Xin didn’t pull away, forcing herself to stay composed as she stepped up beside her.

The two stood together before the reef: golden sand underfoot, the endless sea at their backs, a brilliant blue sky dotted with vast, fluffy white clouds. Sunlight danced through their hair. No need for careful staging—it was already picturesque.

Wen Xin and Shi Qianyu stood half an arm’s length apart, gazing toward the lens.

Gao Qiu waved her hand. “Closer! Get a little closer—some interaction will make it pop!”

“Got it.” Shi Qianyu shifted nearer without objection, until she took Wen Xin’s hand once more. A warm, elegant smile lit her face—intimate yet refined.

A breeze swept by, carrying Shi Qianyu’s scent. Wen Xin caught her quickening heartbeat. In the instant before Gao Qiu hit the shutter, she glanced at Shi Qianyu’s face.

The photo froze that perfect moment.

~~~

Lunch wouldn’t start for a while yet, so everyone headed back to their rooms for a brief rest.

Wen Xin remembered her promise. No sooner had she settled in than she opened her photo album and sent Gao Qiu the shots of her and Tao Qing, along with the group photos the four of them had taken together.

She saved the one of her and Shi Qianyu for last. In the moment, she hadn’t had time to truly look. Now, with nothing else pressing, she could finally take it in.

What struck her first was her own gaze.

The way she was looking at Shi Qianyu.

Eyes never lied. In her own, Wen Xin saw joy, admiration—even a spark of attraction and longing. With others present, she’d reined in her movements despite their closeness. Yet her gaze had given everything away. Gao Qiu, mercifully, hadn’t noticed a thing and had handed the phone back quickly.

Wen Xin breathed a sigh of relief, a touch of fear mingling with gratitude. But fresh doubts soon followed—tinged with unease.

Why had she looked at Shi Qianyu like that? And had Shi Qianyu noticed her secret in that moment?

For an instant, Wen Xin felt like she couldn’t read herself at all. She didn’t dare linger on the photo, afraid it might reveal even deeper, unacknowledged feelings. Instead, she turned inward, reviewing their relationship. Just recently, she’d lectured herself: Don’t rely on Shi Qianyu too much. Exercise restraint. Keep the proper distance between lovers.

Yet she hadn’t managed it. She’d gone and slapped her own face.

Wen Xin felt a wave of shame wash over her and was about to exit the photo gallery when Shi Qianyu’s message arrived hot on its heels, demanding the picture.

Terrified to send it over, Wen Xin refused, claiming she’d accidentally deleted it while transferring the file.

But she hadn’t deleted it. She’d lied. In the end, she quietly stashed the photo away in her private album.

Right alongside that earlier shot of Shi Qianyu kissing her.