Chapter 34

“Shen Tingwan, let’s go.”

Sang Ning heard the voice and saw Wei Xue walking over. Only then did she realize that Shen Tingwan wasn’t alone.

Wei Xue sauntered over slowly before stopping in her tracks.

“Sister Wei…” Sang Ning greeted her with a smile, feeling a bit awkward inside. It seemed like her earlier words had been unnecessary—Shen Tingwan already had company.

Wei Xue smiled too, silently sizing up the two of them before turning to Shen Tingwan with a meaningful grin. “Are we going or not?”

Sang Ning glanced at Shen Tingwan, preparing to say goodbye.

Shen Tingwan looked up at Wei Xue. “You go ahead. I’ll sit a bit longer.”

Wei Xue pursed her red lips and tilted her head, at a loss for words. Then, in a coquettish tone, she teased, “Now that you have a junior around, you don’t need me anymore? I’m going to be heartbroken.”

Shen Tingwan was speechless and shot her a stare.

Sang Ning listened to Wei Xue’s teasing and glanced at Shen Tingwan again. Afraid of interrupting their original plans, she politely smiled and said, “Senior Sister, I’ll head out first.”

“I was just joking—why take it seriously?” Wei Xue laughed and called Sang Ning back. She was afraid that letting her leave like this would make someone “resent” her.

Now Sang Ning neither wanted to leave nor stay.

Shen Tingwan glanced at Wei Xue. “Stop teasing her.”

“Fine, I won’t tease your junior.” Wei Xue had a good eye for the situation and raised her brow. “Then I won’t walk you home?”

Shen Tingwan: “Mm.”

Wei Xue turned to Sang Ning. “Keep your senior sister company. She hasn’t been in a great mood lately.”

Shen Tingwan helplessly interrupted her. “Wei Xue…”

Wei Xue flashed a smile and sauntered off carefree.

Sang Ning listened quietly. Sure enough, it seemed her mood wasn’t great.

After Wei Xue left, Shen Tingwan gave a faint smile. “Don’t mind what she said. If you have things to do, go ahead. I don’t need company.”

Sang Ning replied the next second, “I’m free. Nothing going on.”

Shen Tingwan looked at her quietly, knowing her concern was genuine.

Sang Ning asked her again, “Did you have plans for tonight?”

“No.” Shen Tingwan shook her head. She had come to the café after a dinner that evening, and since she’d drunk some alcohol, it wasn’t convenient to drive. She had planned to have Wei Xue drop her off.

They sat for a little longer.

Shen Tingwan looked up at her across the table. “You’re going to keep me company tonight?”

Sang Ning replied with a soft “Mm.”

Shen Tingwan didn’t stand on ceremony. “Accompany me to a movie, then.”

Sang Ning agreed simply. “Okay.”

Shen Tingwan asked first, “Any you want to see?”

Sang Ning said any would do. She didn’t like crowded places or ones with dim lighting, so she rarely went to the theater.

Shen Tingwan happened to have a movie in mind. She booked two tickets for the session in half an hour. The theater was right across from the café, so there was no rush.

Sang Ning was still thinking about her bad mood and awkwardly took the initiative to ask, “Because of work?”

Shen Tingwan was vague. “I’ve been pretty tired lately.”

Sang Ning didn’t press since she wasn’t volunteering more. Some people liked to vent when in a bad mood, others didn’t—she understood that.

Shen Tingwan seemed thoughtful for a moment, then looked at her brows and eyes. “Do I annoy you with my messages and calls usually?”

Sang Ning looked at her seriously. “No.”

Shen Tingwan thought of what she’d said earlier about “not seeing any messages from you,” so she asked with a half-smile, “Were you waiting for my message?”

“No…” Sang Ning felt awkward, her heart beating a few beats faster. It was because her thoughts had been seen through—and because the words sounded a bit flirtatious.

Shen Tingwan smiled it off and checked the time. It was about time to head out. She picked up the jacket draped over her arm and stood. “Let’s go.”

Sang Ning walked beside her. At the door, she glanced at the jacket on Shen Tingwan’s arm. “It’s a bit windy outside. Put it on first.”

Shen Tingwan smiled down. She really was thoughtfully attentive.

It only took a few minutes to reach the theater and pick up the tickets.

Sang Ning bought two fruit teas, inserted the straws, and handed one to Shen Tingwan. It would help sober her up—she was sensitive to the smell of alcohol and caught the faint trace on Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan took a gentle sip, sweetness filling her mouth.

After ticket check, the staff stretched out an arm to guide them. “Straight ahead.”

The screening room was pitch black. Sang Ning slowed her steps as soon as she entered, steeling herself to walk.

Shen Tingwan stopped and turned to look at her.

Sang Ning vaguely heard Shen Tingwan say something but couldn’t make it out or see her lips clearly. She asked into the darkness, “What did you say?”

Shen Tingwan didn’t repeat herself. Instead, she directly took her hand.

This time, it was even gentler and more intimate than before. Sang Ning stood still, her heart pounding fiercely in the darkness.

“Be careful.” Shen Tingwan leaned close to her right ear and spoke, then led her toward the back row.

“Mm…” Sang Ning followed in a daze. She was afraid of the dark, but with the cover of darkness, she felt bolder. This time, she couldn’t help but grip Shen Tingwan’s hand in return, rather than just letting herself be led.

In the darkness, the sense of touch was especially acute. Shen Tingwan noticed the subtle initiative, their palms interlocking in a somewhat ambiguous way… She smiled faintly. She really was afraid of the dark.

After they sat down, their hands naturally parted, lingering warmth between them.

Sang Ning stared blankly at the screen. Fortunately, there were a bunch of ads, or she would have missed the start of the plot.

It was a suspense film, fast-paced and gripping. It wasn’t until more than ten minutes in that Sang Ning’s attention focused on the movie.

Shen Tingwan watched seriously too.

Some scenes were quite gory and violent. Shen Tingwan saw Sang Ning sitting straight with no reaction and thought she wasn’t scared. But on closer look, her eyes were quietly closed.

Shen Tingwan smiled. She was always so quiet about everything.

Hearing the movement end, Sang Ning cracked her eyes open and found that Shen Tingwan had shifted closer. Their shoulders brushed lightly, giving her a greater sense of security.

The film didn’t fizzle out—it was logically tight, building suspense early on. The twists in the final half hour paid off the setup without contrived mystery, worth the over two hours in the theater.

It was around ten-thirty when they exited. Shen Tingwan asked, “Did the movie scare you?”

Sang Ning said, “It’s okay.”

Shen Tingwan smiled, seeing through it but not saying. “It’s late. I’ll walk you back.”

“I wasn’t scared.” Sang Ning countered, “I’ll walk you. You drank.”

“Your nose is that sharp?” Shen Tingwan hadn’t mentioned drinking tonight. “It’s fine. Just a little.”

After a brief standoff, they each headed back on their own.

Sang Ning wasn’t very brave. Normally, scary scenes would replay in her mind over and over. But not tonight—the movie had been watched with Shen Tingwan, and thinking of her left no room for anything else.

Two sunny days passed.

That day wasn’t busy. After lunch, Sang Ning rested a bit longer, zoned out, then idly opened an app to search “how to cheer up a friend.”

A bunch of varied answers—she skimmed through without finding anything useful.

She wasn’t usually good at cheering people up and didn’t think much of it, but with Shen Tingwan, she felt herself too clumsy and dull.

After scrolling her phone a while, Sang Ning slumped over her desk at the office, drowsy.

Yu Shuang knew she was on her period and saw her listless. “Go home and rest. The work isn’t urgent anyway. I can handle the afternoon here.”

They always helped each other out. Sang Ning really had no energy today—her condition was off, and the photos wouldn’t come out right. “Mm, I’ll head back then.”

Yu Shuang: “Go, go.”

Sang Ning took a ride back to her apartment. It was past one in the afternoon, and she planned to nap.

But a sudden WeChat notification woke her drowsiness a bit. Shen Tingwan had messaged her again—maybe her mood was better.

Shen Tingwan sent a photo of her meal: takeout potato beef.

【Sang Ning】Eating so late?

【Shen Tingwan】No time at lunch

【Shen Tingwan】Gotta get back to work soon

Shen Tingwan noticed that whenever she messaged during a break, Sang Ning replied right away.

Sang Ning sent back an emoji.

The deputy editor eating with her glanced at the leftovers in Shen Tingwan’s box. “Teacher Shen, you’re not eating more?”

“Not very hungry.” Shen Tingwan smiled. She was picky about food, and this didn’t taste great. After a couple bites, she set down her chopsticks.

【Shen Tingwan】No appetite

【Shen Tingwan】Not very tasty

Sang Ning saw a lot of potato beef left in her bowl from the photo.

【Sang Ning】You ate too little

【Sang Ning】Even without appetite, eat a bit

The deputy editor saw Shen Tingwan start eating again and didn’t say more.

She barely finished half her lunch when Shen Tingwan saw the new message.

【Sang Ning】My potato beef is pretty good

Shen Tingwan smiled at the sudden self-praise—the implication was obvious. She took the bait: Make some for me?

【Sang Ning】Sure

【Sang Ning】When do you want it?

Always so accommodating. Shen Tingwan lowered her gaze quietly. With anyone else, she’d suspect they were pursuing her. Who would pursue her? She smiled helplessly. Running into such a gentle, attentive junior was something to be happy about…

Sang Ning lay listlessly on the sofa waiting for a reply. It didn’t take long.

【Shen Tingwan】Tonight