Chapter 61

Everyone’s gazes gathered around, and Sang Ning’s cheeks and ears instantly burned.

Wei Xue was usually flamboyant, but after drinking, she became completely unrestrained, blurting out whatever came to mind. Shen Tingwan looked at her. “You’ve had too much.”

Wei Xue laughed drunkenly, adopting a spectator’s stance.

“I’ll drink.” Sang Ning immediately picked up the can nearby and took a bold sip.

Shen Tingwan stopped her. “You’ll get dizzy again.”

Fruit fragrance and a faint alcoholic taste spread in her mouth, and Sang Ning felt fine. She smiled at Shen Tingwan. “The alcohol content isn’t high. It’s okay.”

Shen Tingwan said, “Don’t push yourself.”

“Mm.” Sang Ning didn’t want to ruin the fun because of herself, and with Shen Tingwan there, she wasn’t afraid even if she passed out. In the past, she definitely wouldn’t have touched alcohol.

They played a few more rounds.

Sang Ning had overestimated her tolerance. After more than half a can of fruit wine, her cheeks flushed with drunkenness, and she began to feel lightheaded again.

Shen Tingwan regretted not stopping her. She really was the type who couldn’t handle even a drop.

“Drunk again?” Wei Xue, ever the instigator, laughed so hard her whole body shook. “What kind of curse is this? You always get drunk whenever you come to my place.”

Shen Tingwan shot Wei Xue a glance. “And you’re laughing?”

“It’s my fault too.” Wei Xue put on a wronged expression. “Shen Tingwan, you’re too biased.”

A friend teased, “Of course she’s biased toward her girlfriend.”

“…” Wei Xue was speechless. She recalled that even before they were together, Shen Tingwan had always favored this junior. Everything made sense now.

Sang Ning took a sip of water.

Shen Tingwan asked worriedly, “Are you okay?”

Sang Ning blinked and hummed, “I’m fine.”

She was already dazed, and Shen Tingwan was both exasperated and amused. She whispered to her, “You never learn.”

Sang Ning pursed her lips, just staring at her.

Wei Xue, experienced with this, asked from the side, “Do you want to lie down in the guest room?”

“No need. I’ll take her back.” Shen Tingwan checked the time—it wasn’t early anymore. She let Wei Xue and the others continue playing while she took the drunkard home first.

Shen Tingwan had drunk too, so she couldn’t drive and called a substitute driver.

The drunk Sang Ning was obedient. She lowered her head when told and bent down when instructed. Shen Tingwan half-supported and half-carried her into the back seat of the car.

As soon as Shen Tingwan sat down, her waist was encircled. Sang Ning hugged her impatiently. Shen Tingwan smiled wryly and turned sideways to let her hold on.

Sang Ning nestled into her embrace, burying her head in the crook of Shen Tingwan’s neck, murmuring softly, “Senior…”

Shen Tingwan didn’t catch what she said at first. Then Sang Ning’s lips brushed her ear, her breath warm as she whispered, “Senior…”

She kept nuzzling, not behaving at all. Shen Tingwan quietly took a breath and asked patiently, “What?”

Sang Ning didn’t respond, just pressing closer into her arms.

The substitute driver was a young woman who glanced back through the rearview mirror and suppressed a laugh. Even though they were both women, she could sense the intimacy.

The car drove steadily along the highway, still six kilometers from their destination.

Sang Ning hugged tighter and tighter.

Shen Tingwan indulged her, lowering her head with a smile. When she felt a kiss land on her neck, she leaned to the drunkard’s ear and whispered a reminder, “Behave. We’re not home yet.”

Sang Ning replied with an “Mm” and went still, falling asleep in her arms.

They stayed like that the whole way. Shen Tingwan gazed down at the flushed face, stroking her hair and touching her cheek, smiling all the way.

She dragged the person home again.

The drunk Sang Ning was easy to care for, much like last time—no fussing, just quiet. But this time, she was much clingier. After all, their relationship was different now, and she had no reservations with Shen Tingwan.

As Shen Tingwan stood at the door unlocking it, Sang Ning hugged her from behind.

Once the door opened, Sang Ning still clung from behind, her cheek against Shen Tingwan’s shoulder blade, following her steps closely, shuffling slowly into the house.

Shen Tingwan was helpless; her back felt like it was stuck with a big piece of taffy.

After entering and turning on the lights, Sang Ning vaguely looked around. “Where is this? Not my place…”

Shen Tingwan wanted to laugh. She turned her head. “You don’t want to come home with me?”

“I do.” Sang Ning took the chance to rub her face against Shen Tingwan’s cheek.

Shen Tingwan smiled outright. She had guessed the drunk would be clingy and coquettish, but not to this extent—it seemed she had held back last time. She turned around, and Sang Ning immediately hugged her face-to-face, unwilling to separate.

Amid her drunken haze, Sang Ning stared unblinkingly at the person before her, calling softly, “Senior…”

Shen Tingwan gazed into her eyes too, momentarily dazed. That look reminded her of the time Sang Ning got drunk in the summer—clear eyes full of hidden thoughts and stories. She had been curious back then, but now she knew: all of Sang Ning’s secrets were about her.

Sang Ning’s gaze softened as she called again, “Senior…”

Shen Tingwan gently kissed her eyes and stroked her hair. “Can’t get enough?”

Sang Ning nodded at her, her eyes curving into a smile. “Can’t get enough…”

Shen Tingwan laughed too, leaning down to kiss her dimple, her heart racing out of control. She somewhat regretted not being thicker-skinned with her junior back in college.

Sang Ning tilted her head, brushing her lips against Shen Tingwan’s, kissing her in a daze.

Shen Tingwan kissed her back.

The kiss, laced with alcohol, was sweetly cloying. Sang Ning soon felt too dizzy to breathe.

Shen Tingwan turned to kiss her hair. “Go lie down and rest.”

Sang Ning, still drunk, agreed readily. “Okay.”

Shen Tingwan laughed at her appearance and ruffled her hair.

Sang Ning drank some hangover remedy. When she lay down on the sofa, she insisted on dragging Shen Tingwan with her, refusing to let go of her hand.

Shen Tingwan let her have her way, holding her and lying on the sofa together for a bit. Worried she might catch a chill, she pulled a blanket from the sofa to cover them.

“Senior.”

Shen Tingwan stroked her back. “Mm?”

Sang Ning said, “I haven’t chased you yet.”

Shen Tingwan chuckled softly by her ear. “You know that, huh? If you’re not chasing, then stop dodging me.”

Sang Ning hummed again. “I’ll chase you then…”

Shen Tingwan kissed her ear. “Okay.”

Sang Ning quieted down.

They nestled together on the sofa, bodies warming each other, in a simple yet romantic moment.

Shen Tingwan buried her face in Sang Ning’s hair, inhaling gently, a little infatuated. She wanted to keep her like this, never letting her go again.

But they couldn’t sleep on the sofa too long. After a while, Shen Tingwan touched her earlobe to wake her.

Sang Ning’s ears were sensitive, and she opened her eyes quickly.

Shen Tingwan brushed the hair by her ear and touched her cheek. “Go take a shower and sleep in bed.”

Sang Ning was truly muddled from the drink and felt no embarrassment. She showered right there in the master bedroom that night.

Shen Tingwan sat in the bedroom, a bit worried. She glanced toward the bathroom, where the frosted glass was lightly fogged, vaguely revealing a slender, pale figure under the shower…

She got up and went to the living room, pouring half a glass of cold water and drinking it down.

Sang Ning felt dizzy and sleepy, so she didn’t shower long before coming out.

Shen Tingwan went over to steady her, afraid she’d twist her ankle again, and carried her to the bed.

Fresh from the shower, Sang Ning was thirsty. Shen Tingwan held the cup to her lips promptly, and she drank several sips from it.

Some water trickled down her chin and over her neck. Shen Tingwan wiped it away, then dabbed at the corner of her mouth.

Sang Ning let out a soft hum.

Shen Tingwan asked, “Still feeling bad?”

Sang Ning stared at her intently, face red. “…Mm.”

Shen Tingwan met that ambiguously heated gaze, helplessly holding back. It was torturous. “Lie down and sleep.”

After Sang Ning lay down, Shen Tingwan went to the bathroom to shower.

Sang Ning lay on her side in bed, her gaze happening to catch the bathroom. She vaguely saw Shen Tingwan undressing, the misty silhouette beautifully curved. She immediately buried her face in the pillow, averting her eyes.

Only the bedside nightlight glowed softly in the bedroom, casting a warm light.

Shen Tingwan saw Sang Ning’s face half-buried in the pillow—not stuffy at all. She lay down on the bed. When Sang Ning hugged over, she realized the drunkard wasn’t asleep yet.

Sang Ning kissed her ear. “Senior.”

She’d been coquettishly calling “senior” all night, and Shen Tingwan couldn’t help saying, “Still calling me senior? When will you change it?”

Sang Ning murmured, “What should I call you then?”

Shen Tingwan fell silent for a moment, lowering her eyes and lightly biting her lip as Sang Ning kissed her earlobe.

Sang Ning whispered softly, “…Wife?”

Shen Tingwan’s body trembled at the word. Drunk and so shameless?

“Wife…”

Shen Tingwan turned sideways, pressing down the misbehaving head. She sighed by her ear, “No more calling that…”

Sang Ning didn’t speak, instead sealing her lips with a kiss, her palm wandering over waist and abdomen, holding her tight while kissing.

Shen Tingwan closed her eyes and sighed.

Sang Ning kissed her corners of the mouth, chin, cheek, ear root—wanting to touch everywhere she liked with her lips.

The kisses trailed down her nape to her collarbone, then probed into the slightly open neckline. Shen Tingwan’s breathing quickened. Her hand pressed Sang Ning’s nape, her chest rising and falling with each suckle—

Shen Tingwan opened her eyes, her voice hoarse. “Behave.”

Sang Ning, dizzy and barely hearing, held her shoulder with one hand, face against the rising softness, lips parting for a gentle, fervent kiss.

The night was so quiet that only their increasingly erratic breaths could be heard.

When Sang Ning finally kissed herself into a sleepy daze, her breathing gradually evened out. Shen Tingwan’s lips were dry, her neck to chest burning.

Shen Tingwan took another shower in the bathroom.

Returning to bed, she looked at Sang Ning’s drunkenly flushed, soundly sleeping face—helpless yet amused. Who exactly had suffered tonight?

They went to bed early and woke early too. The next morning around eight, both naturally awoke.

Sang Ning woke first, still buried in Shen Tingwan’s arms. The sleep robe’s neckline was loose and slightly open. Glancing at the various hickeys on Shen Tingwan’s chest, her cheeks burned red. Last night hadn’t been a dream.

Shen Tingwan opened her eyes.

In the morning light, they lay in bed gazing at each other.

There were a few conspicuous hickeys on her neck too. Sang Ning wanted to pull the blanket over her head but forced herself to stay calm. “Hungry? I’ll make breakfast.”

Shen Tingwan frowned and nuzzled into her neck, biting lightly—not too hard, not too soft.

Sang Ning: “…”

She really wasn’t suited for drinking.

Shen Tingwan was still sleepy and dozed a bit more. Sang Ning got up to make breakfast.

Sang Ning fried eggs and bacon, making whole wheat sandwiches.

Shen Tingwan smelled it from the bedroom. After washing up, she put on a jacket over her sleep robe and walked out.

Sunlight poured perfectly into the living room. Sang Ning lazily tied up her long hair, bustling in the open kitchen.

Hearing footsteps, Sang Ning turned. Her eyes immediately fell on the hickeys—too obvious.

Shen Tingwan was completely unabashed, not covering up at all, especially the cluster on her chest that peeked teasingly.

Sang Ning toughed it out. “Breakfast is ready.”

They sat face-to-face at the table. Neither mentioned the hickeys, but Shen Tingwan made no effort to hide them, exposing them openly—impossible not to feel awkward.

Sang Ning was distracted, but she was good at pretending.

Shen Tingwan noticed her averted gaze. “You were bold enough last night, but too shy to look today?”

“I… was muddled from the drink.” Sang Ning saw the marks were quite heavy; Shen Tingwan would probably need turtlenecks for days.

Shen Tingwan didn’t say much. She really hadn’t stopped her last night either…

They continued breakfast.

The fresh sandwiches were hot, the eggs and bacon crisped to perfection—better than any light food cafe.

Sang Ning asked, “Is it good?”

Shen Tingwan: “Mm.”

Seeing her enjoy it, Sang Ning smiled faintly.

Shen Tingwan ate her sandwich leisurely, watching her with a smile—so innocent. It didn’t match last night’s version at all. Was it the alcohol creating two faces, or had she always been holding back?

Sang Ning felt awkward under the stare. After breakfast, she changed clothes and said matter-of-factly, “I have a shoot today, so I need to head out.”

Before Shen Tingwan could speak, she added, “No need to see me off.”

Shen Tingwan watched her silently. Tease and run again? But work was work—no helping it.

The morning sun was lovely. Shen Tingwan lounged in the sunlight, flipping through a book, occasionally distracted. Thinking of last night’s scenes, she smiled thoughtfully. She had thought someone was too pure…

Sang Ning was busy for several days straight.

Shen Tingwan wasn’t idle either. Year-end events were many, and the magazine had its annual party in late January.

On Wednesday evening, Sang Ning was still working overtime in the studio, unable to find the right feel—her head ached a bit. She got obsessive at work, retrying until satisfied.

Time slipped away unnoticed. If not for Shen Tingwan’s video call, she wouldn’t have realized it was already ten, time to clock out.

Shen Tingwan saw she was still in the studio. “So late and not heading back?”

“Mm, about to leave.” Sang Ning noticed Shen Tingwan in pajamas, the hickeys not yet faded.

“Help me pick one.”

“What?”

“Which to wear to the annual party?” Shen Tingwan sent photos of several evening gowns.

Sang Ning smiled. “You look good in anything.”

Shen Tingwan glanced at her. “Is your mouth so sweet today?”

“It’s the truth.” Sang Ning wasn’t the type to sweet-talk and coax people; she simply stated facts.

Shen Tingwan gazed at her through the screen, feeling even less inclined to sleep alone. She leaned back slowly. “When are you free to come over? I’ll model it for you in person.”

Sang Ning’s heart stirred with excitement. She nearly blurted out that she was free tonight, but she held herself back. “I have two days off this weekend. We can spend them together.”

Shen Tingwan asked, “Really?”

Sang Ning nodded.

Shen Tingwan stared at her and smiled. “Give both days to me.”