Chapter 49

The wine in the glass shimmered with an alluring glow under the lights.

Wen Xin held her breath and linked arms with Shi Qianyu under everyone’s watchful eyes. The private room’s air conditioning was on, keeping the temperature low, but she still broke out in a thin sheen of sweat. She felt hot all over, especially her cheeks, which burned fiercely.

Her mind felt a little oxygen-starved too. The wine she’d drunk not long ago was taking effect now, filling her with both excitement and tension. The glasses in their hands clinked together with a clear, pleasant ding.

“Let’s drink together,” Shi Qianyu said softly, her gaze quietly fixed on Wen Xin.

“Okay,” Wen Xin whispered in agreement. Together with the woman before her, she tilted her head back and drank from the glass.

The wine was slightly bitter with a hint of spiciness—different from the red wine she’d had earlier. Wen Xin drank too quickly, her hand trembling as she struggled to hold the glass steady. After just a few gulps, she started coughing.

Wine splashed from the glass, soaking the hem of her clothes. Crimson stains spread outward.

“Are you okay?” Shi Qianyu set down her glass and looked at her with concern.

“I’m fine.” Wen Xin’s cheeks flushed deep red as she shook her head lightly.

“Let’s head back so you can change,” Shi Qianyu suggested gently. “Wine stains are tough to clean once they’ve set.”

“That sounds good.” Wen Xin fell silent for a few seconds before agreeing. She glanced apologetically at the group. “Sorry about this.”

“No worries at all.” Though Wen Xin hadn’t been at Qi Qing’s for long and tended to be quiet and reserved, her earnestness and honesty made her likable. Everyone spoke highly of her.

The group showed the appropriate concern. One guy who had a crush on her even volunteered like a gentleman, hoping to escort her back. “You’ve had quite a bit to drink. Can you manage on your own? Do you need me to take you…”

“I’ll take Wen Xin back.” Shi Qianyu cut him off midsentence. She stood with a faint smile. “I happen to have some work to handle anyway. Keep having fun, everyone—no need to wait for me.”

“Okay then, goodbye, Director Shi.”

“Get some rest soon, Director Shi!”

The game was in full swing; they couldn’t just stop on a dime. It was a shame to see the two of them go, but it didn’t dampen the mood. After saying their goodbyes, everyone turned their attention back to the fun.

Shi Qianyu steadied Wen Xin’s arm and pushed open the heavy door of the private room. They left side by side.

Together, they made their way through the dimly lit corridor toward the brighter lights. Wen Xin’s steps staggered a little—she really couldn’t hold her liquor today. Just a few drinks, and she was already tipsy.

But Shi Qianyu beside her seemed to notice something. She paused for a few seconds before speaking softly. “So… where are we headed next?”

Wen Xin froze and glanced sideways at the woman beside her.

Shi Qianyu’s eyes were beautiful and profound, as if they could see right through her. Wen Xin pursed her lips on instinct. Shame twisted inside her, making her hesitate for another moment. “What are you talking about, A-Yu? Of course we’re going back to the room to change clothes.”

At that, Shi Qianyu’s lips curved into a smile. “I see.”

Her eyes crinkled with laughter, her voice dropping low like an intimate whisper. As she spoke, a natural smile lit her face. “I thought Sister had deliberately spilled the wine on herself to find an excuse to slip out of the room early and do something else.”

“…”

She’d seen right through it. Wen Xin had thought she’d pulled it off seamlessly.

She rarely lied growing up, and under the weight of prolonged, heavy pressure, she’d gradually lost touch with herself. She’d learned to read people’s faces and developed a people-pleasing personality.

Just moments ago, even though she hadn’t wanted to play that game, she’d joined in because everyone else enjoyed it and she didn’t want to spoil the mood. She should have stayed until the end like the others, but then Shi Qianyu had drawn that card.

The crossed-arm toast—they had to link arms and drink together in front of everyone.

For an instant, Wen Xin had wanted to run. But in the next instant, she’d wanted it to go on. Her thoughts swung back and forth until she looked into Shi Qianyu’s eyes.

So beautiful, so gentle and serene. Wen Xin’s gaze lingered on her face for several seconds, drifting from those bright eyes down to her enticing red lips.

It hit her like an arrow. She knew she probably shouldn’t, but she lost her senses all the same. The idea of fleeing took shape in her mind—not just for herself, but taking the woman before her along.

So she’d deliberately spilled the wine and started coughing on purpose. Her heart pounded wildly now, but so did the thrill and joy that came with it.

She wasn’t sure if Shi Qianyu would want to leave with her. She’d meant to test the waters, but Shi Qianyu had stood up on her own and walked out shoulder to shoulder. For such a carefully laid plan, Wen Xin had been thrilled at first. But now that Shi Qianyu had seen through her, shame flooded in.

She knew she couldn’t fool the woman before her, so she gave up struggling. “You’re right, A-Yu. Just now… that was on purpose.”

“Was it that obvious?” She glanced awkwardly at the woman beside her, terrified that others might have noticed too. “Did everyone else figure it out?”

She gripped Shi Qianyu’s hand tightly, meeting her eyes with nervous tension. “What do we do?”

She looked both adorable and pitiable.

“No,” Shi Qianyu said softly after a pause. “You did it really well. No one else would notice but me.”

“We’re on the same wavelength, actually. I was planning to find an excuse to leave early too.” Perhaps to spare her further embarrassment, Shi Qianyu shared her own thoughts to ease her mind. “But you beat me to it.”

With that, she circled back to the question. “So, where to next?”

They stepped into the elevator together. Encouragement shone in Shi Qianyu’s eyes, urging Wen Xin onward—as long as she said it, Shi Qianyu would go along.

That gaze spurred Wen Xin on. People had to go a little wild sometimes, whether it was sheer nerve or the booze talking.

“I want to go… to A-Yu’s room.”

In the end, that’s how she answered the woman before her.

~~~

The vast room had all its curtains drawn. Steam filled the bathroom, and warm water cascaded from the showerhead overhead, drenching them and sending uncontrollable shivers through their bodies.

But Wen Xin had no time to worry about the changing water temperature. In the rising steam, their bare skin pressed together as they kissed passionately. Their long-restrained desires bubbled to the surface, mad with need, laid bare in their eyes for the other to see.

Wen Xin finally kissed Shi Qianyu’s lips as she’d wished. A faint trace of wine lingered there—not bitter, but rather sweet, different from the liquid in the glass.

Wen Xin hadn’t liked the taste of that bottle much at first, but the crossed-arm toast had given it meaning. It hadn’t seemed special while drinking, but now it felt unforgettable.

She recalled its name—a string of French words, hard to pronounce. Wen Xin wasn’t sure how to describe it. In a brief pause between kisses, she asked softly, “A-Yu, what’s that wine called?”

The question was vague, but Shi Qianyu understood. She pronounced the French name softly.

Her French was beautiful—elegant and melodic. Wen Xin listened carefully and memorized it on the first try.

Mimicking Shi Qianyu’s pronunciation, she repeated the words. She didn’t say them perfectly, but Shi Qianyu didn’t laugh. Instead, she asked, “Why the sudden interest?”

Wen Xin rested her forehead on Shi Qianyu’s shoulder and murmured, “That wine tastes so good.”

“Want more?” Shi Qianyu kissed her ear.

Wen Xin nodded. “Can we?”

“In a bit, I’ll call room service to send some up, okay?” Shi Qianyu agreed, her eyes soft with a gentle smile. “I’ll drink with you.”

“Mm.” Wen Xin smiled back. “Sounds good.”

After their shower, they didn’t have to wait long before the wine arrived.

Shi Qianyu slowly poured it into a decanter to let it breathe, then returned to the bathroom to blow-dry Wen Xin’s hair. She’d come over so suddenly tonight that she hadn’t brought a change of clothes, so Shi Qianyu lent her one of her spare pajama sets.

The styles matched, like a couple’s set. Shi Qianyu stood behind her and looked at their reflections in the mirror. They suited each other perfectly, as if made for one another—everything matched.

Shi Qianyu lingered on the sight. She cherished every second with Wen Xin. Tonight’s initiative from her had put Shi Qianyu in a great mood. She could feel Wen Xin’s care, her dependence. The heart she’d held so warmly was finally shedding its hard shell, beating softly for her now.

She picked up the hairdryer, ready to switch it on, when a knock sounded at the door again.

Wen Xin froze for a second and exchanged a glance with Shi Qianyu. Panic flickered in her eyes. “Who could that be?”

“It’s fine.” Shi Qianyu gave her a light kiss on the lips, signaling her to relax. “Wait here for me, okay? I’ll go check.”

“Okay.”

Shi Qianyu left the bathroom and opened the door, coming face-to-face with Assistant Wang.

“Director Shi, are you alright?” The game must have wrapped up, or perhaps Assistant Wang was worried about her boss handling work alone and had left early. Not wanting Shi Qianyu to overwork herself, she’d come out of professional courtesy to offer help. “How’s the work going? Is there anything I can assist with?”

“No need. I can handle it myself.” With those words, Shi Qianyu curved her lips in a faint smile and said calmly, “It’s almost done.”

“Has the game ended?” she asked.

Assistant Wang shook her head. “No, everyone’s still playing. I was worried you’d be too tired handling it alone, so…”

Before she could finish, her gaze suddenly fell on the wine glasses in the room. Director Shi seemed to be in quite the mood; she’d already drunk some in the private room earlier, yet here she was, drinking more.

But clearly, she wasn’t drinking alone. There were two glasses.

In that instant, Assistant Wang seemed to understand something. Having worked at Qi Qing for years, she knew Shi Qianyu’s mind well enough to grasp what should be done and what shouldn’t. She swiftly changed tack. “You said it’s almost handled?”

“Mm,” Shi Qianyu replied. “That’s right.”

“Then get some early rest. I’ve had a bit too much to drink tonight, so I’ll head back to my room first.”

“Alright.” Shi Qianyu smiled. She knew Assistant Wang had figured it out but chose not to point it out. “See you tomorrow. Sweet dreams.”

“You too.” Assistant Wang nodded in agreement and left quickly.

Shi Qianyu watched her retreating back for a long moment before relocking the door.

Wen Xin was still waiting for her in the bathroom, her hair damp and cascading over her shoulders, her eyes glistening with moisture. A soft pink flush colored her cheeks, and one strap of her nightgown had slipped down, baring her smooth, pale shoulder.

She hurried toward Shi Qianyu and asked in a soft voice, “Was that Assistant Wang?”

“Mm,” Shi Qianyu confirmed.

Wen Xin tensed up at once. “Did she notice anything?”

Shi Qianyu gave her an ambiguous answer. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

“If she really figures out that our relationship isn’t so simple, what will you do, Sister?” She smiled, meeting Wen Xin’s gaze and tossing the dilemma her way.

Wen Xin fell silent for a moment, then spoke with earnest resolve, as if she’d made up her mind. “If she tells anyone, I’ll say I seduced A-Yu myself—that it has nothing to do with you—and I’ll resign voluntarily…”

In just a few short seconds, she’d already thought that far ahead.

Shi Qianyu knew how important this job was to her. But the fact that Wen Xin could offer such an answer meant Shi Qianyu’s place in her heart was perhaps even more vital.

It touched her and filled her with affection. “I wouldn’t bear to let you,” she said softly.

“Don’t worry, she won’t say anything.” Shi Qianyu shook her head, her fingertip brushing over Wen Xin’s cheek. It was rare for the woman before her to have such bursts of courage, but they were always for Shi Qianyu’s sake.

“Wen Xin, are you afraid of what she thinks?” she asked gently, her lips parting.

Truth be told, Wen Xin had been afraid at first.

But Shi Qianyu’s gaze was so tender, brimming with amusement and sincerity. “If there’s any risk, I’ll bear it with you, alright?”

Those words gradually soothed Wen Xin.

She trusted the woman before her and was willing to go along with it. No matter what happened, she’d face the risks together—just as she’d thought earlier, a life lived was one that went a little wild now and then.

And so, she changed her mind.

“I’m not afraid,” she said.

“I’m not afraid at all.”