Chapter 71

After Shen Tingwan teased her a few times, she tugged at her slipping cardigan, still maintaining some propriety. “I’m not teasing you anymore. Go ahead and get busy.”

“…” Sang Ning felt utterly helpless and obediently hummed in response. But even after agreeing, she didn’t get up. Instead, she kept holding onto Shen Tingwan.

Seeing Sang Ning cling to her and refuse to let go, Shen Tingwan curved her lips into a smile.

Sang Ning silently deepened the embrace, lowering her eyes to kiss the smile at the corner of Shen Tingwan’s mouth.

Shen Tingwan slightly opened her eyes and leaned in to plant a few light kisses on Sang Ning’s lips.

Sang Ning kissed her intermittently, her arms wrapping tighter around Shen Tingwan’s smooth waist and back, pulling their bodies into intimate closeness.

The kisses weren’t deep, but they were lingering and tantalizing, with no sign of stopping. Shen Tingwan let out a soft breath as they held each other and gazed into one another’s eyes for a moment. She asked, “Isn’t work urgent?”

“Mm…” Sang Ning nodded, her gaze greedily dropping back to Shen Tingwan’s lips.

The first time Sang Ning got drunk, she had looked at her just like this. Shen Tingwan couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Do you always stare at my lips because you want to kiss me?”

Caught staring, Sang Ning never lied and admitted honestly, “Mm.”

Shen Tingwan’s heart burned with desire. Smiling, she leaned in and delivered a scorching kiss.

Sang Ning’s palms gently caressed the smooth curve of her lower back. She parted her lips, letting Shen Tingwan kiss her. The enthusiastic kisses overwhelmed her senses, and she slowly closed her eyes as the sweetness spread from their lips to her heart.

Shen Tingwan lingered on her lips and tongue with gentle kisses for a long time before ruffling her hair. “Do you like it?”

“I like it.” Sang Ning watched as Shen Tingwan responded to her every move, her heart pounding. As soon as the words left her mouth, she eagerly kissed back.

Shen Tingwan no longer held back. She continued to tease and provoke with her lips and tongue while her fingers trailed over the warm, soft curves beneath Sang Ning’s nightgown, wandering and caressing lightly.

Sang Ning panted softly with sighs, her body going limp with pleasure. Her face flushed red as one hand hooked around Shen Tingwan’s neck, pressing their lips together in ever-deeper kisses. Her other hand tugged at Shen Tingwan’s nightgown.

By now, they were nothing like before—everything had become tacit and familiar.

Both of them were attentive and considerate by nature, always quietly remembering each other’s preferences, even in matters of intimacy—like which kisses and caresses brought the most pleasure.

That night, they stayed in the study for a long time. A single floor lamp illuminated two entwined, pale bodies.

When Shen Tingwan held her and laid her back onto the desk, Sang Ning’s face and ears were flushed bright red. Though embarrassed, she didn’t tell Shen Tingwan not to do it there. As long as it was what Shen Tingwan wanted, she was fine with anything.

Shen Tingwan brushed aside her hair, revealing her burning cheeks, then pulled her arms up over her head and pinned her wrists.

Sang Ning’s breathing grew erratic, her chest heaving with restless agitation. The flush spread to her neck. Shen Tingwan was indeed different from what she’d imagined, even in moments like this.

Shen Tingwan gazed at her face and smiled. She had always loved teasing her until she blushed, but now she had even more ways to do it.

Sang Ning bit her lip lightly. Beside them stood a wall of bookshelves, and doing this in a study filled with the scent of books felt especially embarrassing. Her heart raced wildly.

But soon, nothing else mattered. Her soft pants grew urgent, spiraling completely out of control.

It was early spring, and the study was filled with an amorous atmosphere.

After two rounds of lovemaking, Sang Ning panted as she flipped over, pinning Shen Tingwan against the desk in turn. She learned from her example, gripping her wrists and refusing to yield.

Shen Tingwan smiled and went along with it, reaching up to touch her feverishly hot cheeks. Before long, her eyes softened into a daze, her low moans repeating from her nose.

Sang Ning smiled too, lowering her head to greedily stare at Shen Tingwan’s face, occasionally dropping sticky kisses. She loved how they expressed their love so thoroughly like this—loved how Shen Tingwan deliberately breathed against her right ear when aroused.

The originally cool desk grew hot under them, a tangled mess.

Their disordered breaths spread from the study to the bedroom. The night was long, and as long as their passion for each other burned hot enough, the pleasure could go on endlessly.

They changed several positions on the bed until Shen Tingwan’s waist went limp. She pinched Sang Ning’s ear and teased her with a laugh, “You’re getting less shy.”

Sang Ning wanted to give her the best of everything. Though usually quiet and reserved, she never hesitated when it was time to let go.

Suddenly, the phone on the bedside table lit up, vibrating and ringing. It rang twice.

The two were still passionately entwined, too occupied to answer.

Half an hour later, the phone rang again.

Shen Tingwan had sweat beading on her forehead, exhausted and sunk into the sheets, still catching her breath. She guessed it was Jiang Yunchun calling.

Sang Ning picked up the phone. Sure enough, it was Grandma. She must have been worried since the calls hadn’t connected.

Shen Tingwan touched her waist, her voice slightly hoarse. “Answer it for me.”

Sang Ning did.

Shen Tingwan knew someone wasn’t good at lying, so she hugged her from behind and whispered in her ear first, “Say I’m taking a bath.”

“Grandma, it’s me.”

Jiang Yunchun heard Sang Ning’s voice. “Little Ning, why didn’t Wanwan pick up?”

Sang Ning explained, “She’s taking a bath.”

Jiang Yunchun paused for a moment. It wasn’t early anymore. “Are you staying over at Wanwan’s tonight?”

Far more than just staying. Sang Ning’s back pressed against a warm, soft body, her waist tightly embraced. She forced herself to stay calm and asked, “Mm, is there something you need, Grandma?”

Jiang Yunchun was even more surprised. Shen Tingwan had actually brought a friend home to stay—truly a rare bloom from an iron tree. “Nothing much. I just wanted to ask if she’s been drinking before bed lately.”

“She hasn’t had any recently,” Sang Ning answered definitively. “She’s quit.”

Shen Tingwan smiled silently upon hearing that. Since they started living together, her sleep quality had improved greatly—no more relying on alcohol. Probably because she had other ways to relax before bed now.

Jiang Yunchun: “That’s good.”

“Grandma.” Sang Ning held Shen Tingwan’s hand under the covers, smiling softly. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Jiang Yunchun chuckled happily. “Good, good. She listens to you.”

After the brief call ended, Sang Ning set the phone down. She turned back to find Shen Tingwan gazing at her.

Without a word, they kissed again in perfect sync.

They continued.

…

Spring rain fell continuously for several days.

Shen Tingwan caught a cold from getting chilled.

Sang Ning had gone out of town for a two-day shoot. When she returned, Shen Tingwan’s cold hadn’t improved. Knowing her appetite was poor, Sang Ning busied herself making meatball soup and specially stewed some ginger tea.

Shen Tingwan felt sorry for her bustling around.

Sang Ning just smiled and said she wasn’t tired.

Shen Tingwan pulled her into a hug. The warmth in her arms made her feel much better. She’d never been this dependent on anyone before.

The ginger tea was pungent, and Shen Tingwan hadn’t wanted to drink it at first. But under Sang Ning’s soft gaze, she endured half a bowl.

Sang Ning propped her chin on her hand, watching her and grinning.

Shen Tingwan furrowed her brows with a smile and nudged her leg under the table.

It was rare for both of them to get off work early that day. They sat on the sofa watching a movie. Shen Tingwan had taken cold medicine, her head foggy, so she leaned on Sang Ning’s shoulder.

Sang Ning naturally fed her a strawberry.

They had fully integrated into each other’s lives. Shen Tingwan felt inseparable. The past two days alone at home had left her feeling empty; only now did she feel settled.

Sang Ning wiped the juice from her lips. Two days apart, she’d missed her constantly. She leaned in to kiss her.

Shen Tingwan dodged at the right moment, her voice nasal. “My cold isn’t better yet. I don’t want to infect you.”

Sang Ning whispered, “It’s okay…”

Shen Tingwan still refused, kissing her ear instead. She didn’t want them both sick.

After watching the movie for a bit, Shen Tingwan got a call from Wei Xue.

Wei Xue hadn’t contacted Shen Tingwan in a while. She was too hard to pin down—either busy with work or spending time with her girlfriend.

“Shen Tingwan, you have to make time this time.”

A mutual friend’s bar was opening, and they were gathering to celebrate on Saturday. Shen Tingwan listened to Wei Xue and said, “Okay, see you then.”

“Bring your precious junior along.”

“I’ll ask if she has time…”

Shen Tingwan told Sang Ning about the bar gathering. Sang Ning checked her work schedule and said she was free and could go together.

The gathering was on Saturday night, all Shen Tingwan’s friends—some familiar to Sang Ning, some not.

Shen Tingwan introduced her simply and straightforwardly. Unaware friends showed shocked expressions.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Wei Zi.”

The bar was noisy and crowded, and Sang Ning’s hearing response slowed considerably. She didn’t catch Wei Zi’s greeting until Shen Tingwan tugged her hand to remind her.

“Wei Xue’s sister,” Shen Tingwan explained softly by her ear.

“Nice to meet you.” Sang Ning certainly remembered her. She smiled warmly at Wei Zi, who wasn’t far away. Afraid Shen Tingwan’s friends might mistake her for aloof or rude, she habitually explained, “I have a hearing impairment. Sorry, I didn’t catch that just now.”

Wei Zi hadn’t known. She was visibly stunned for a moment, then smiled. “No problem.”

Sang Ning returned a polite smile.

Wei Zi asked curiously, “Can you hear me clearly like this?”

Wei Xue tugged at her low-EQ cousin, shooting her a warning look.

Shen Tingwan: “She reads lips.”

Sang Ning was used to such situations and brushed it off with a smile. She didn’t drink alcohol and stuck to juice as usual.

With someone watching, Shen Tingwan drank less than usual, just a token amount.

Some at the table could really hold their liquor, getting wild with dice games, downing cup after cup.

Sang Ning didn’t play games that night. She listened to music or watched Shen Tingwan play cards, occasionally chatting with others.

“Sang Ning, your studio must be pretty big, right?”

“No, we just rent a photography studio and go solo with friends.” Sang Ning answered sincerely and factually.

Wei Zi drank a lot that night—impossible to stop. Wei Xue had a headache and warned, “If you drink any more, I’m not taking care of you if you pass out.”

Everyone laughed and watched the spectacle. Someone joked, “If your sister won’t look after you, I will.”

In the end, Wei Zi got thoroughly drunk and said she felt like throwing up. Wei Xue hurriedly supported her to the bathroom.

Sang Ning had seen Wei Zi drunk on video before, but tonight was even more exaggerated.

Shen Tingwan worried the noisy environment would wear on her after too long. She leaned close to her right ear. “Shall we head back too?”

Sang Ning: “You’re not playing anymore?”

Shen Tingwan checked the time. “It’s getting late.”

They also headed to the bathroom but heard Wei Zi causing a drunken scene inside before they even entered.

“…Sis, I don’t think she’s anything special. What exactly do you see in her? It must be pity for her bad ears, right? Feeling soft-hearted…”

The bathroom was quieter than outside, with echoes carrying the sound. Sang Ning heard clearly and knew the “she” referred to herself.

Shen Tingwan strode right in, her expression dark with rising anger. She loudly interrupted Wei Zi, “Don’t go too far!”

Wei Xue saw them approaching and felt mortified.

Shen Tingwan’s voice carried fury, startling everyone else in the bathroom.

This was the first time Sang Ning had seen Shen Tingwan lose her temper.

Wei Xue was stunned too. She’d never seen Shen Tingwan snap at a friend before—she’d thought a frown was the most she’d do.

Shen Tingwan couldn’t contain her rage. She was someone who cherished her carefully in the palm of her hand, unwilling to let her suffer even the slightest grievance. How could anyone speak of her like that?