Chapter 5

Outside the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows stretched an entire panorama of Hong Kong’s nightscape.

It was too high up; the view lost its proper grandeur, leaving only scattered specks of starlight that could not be seen clearly.

Wei Shuyu stood by the window, silent for a long time.

From the bathroom came the sound of trickling water as Jin Yizhu took a bath. An uncontainable fragrance seeped out from the bathroom—it seemed to be a milk bubble bath.

The buzz from the Martini had already faded. Wei Shuyu stood in the hotel room, feeling a faint, almost imperceptible regret.

She shouldn’t have said so much to Jin Yizhu, and she certainly shouldn’t have gone along with the mistake by coming to the hotel with her. Even though it was a suite with several beds, so there was no need to share one. But that didn’t guarantee nothing would happen.

She couldn’t quite grasp Jin Yizhu’s intentions.

Polite and measured, calling her a friend wasn’t wrong. Yet she always felt there was something extra in between.

Would normal people invite friends to a hotel? Even if it was her family’s hotel.

Moreover, they really weren’t that close. This was only their second meeting.

But if Jin Yizhu had other intentions…

She hadn’t said it outright, not even hinted.

Should she? Wei Shuyu felt lost and helpless, able only to gaze at the nightscape outside, lost in thought for a long time.

If she were to ask her own heart, she could only say she didn’t mind.

But if she kept letting her thoughts run wild like this, she wouldn’t know what expression to use when facing Jin Yizhu later.

Wei Shuyu simply stood up, pulled open the door of the minibar, grabbed a can of draft beer at random, popped the tab with a click, and took a big gulp.

“Why are you drinking alone?”

Jin Yizhu emerged wrapped in a bathrobe, revealing a pair of long, straight legs.

“Drinking like that isn’t good for your stomach. Want to order room service?”

“It’s fine. I’m only having a little.”

Wei Shuyu’s gaze fell on her legs—skin almost as white as snow, knees glowing with a healthy pink, ankles slender, and she obediently wore the disposable fluffy slippers provided by the room.

“If you don’t like it, I won’t drink.”

“Why wouldn’t I like it?” Jin Yizhu asked, puzzled. “Drink if you want to.”

She took a bottle of apple juice, sipped a small mouthful, sat down beside her, and asked,

“The night view is beautiful, right?”

“Mm…” Wei Shuyu nodded. “I didn’t expect it to be so pretty.”

“Top floor, 37th story—the view feels different from here,” Jin Yizhu said. “That’s why this is my favorite room.”

The glass bottle gave off a slight chill in her palm, and the apple juice emitted a faint fresh scent, but it couldn’t mask the sweet, cloying aroma wafting from the bathroom.

Jin Yizhu tilted her head, looking at the woman before her.

Under the influence of alcohol, Wei Shuyu’s face held a touch of pink.

Her eyelashes were very long, the outer corners of her eyes slightly downturned, giving her a somewhat dazed look whenever she focused on something.

The hand gripping the beer can had slender, beautiful knuckles, nails trimmed neatly round and clean—simple and unadorned, just like her skirt, without any flashy elements.

Feeling her gaze, Wei Shuyu pulled her eyes from the nightscape and met hers.

“Which room do you want to sleep in?” Jin Yizhu asked her.

“Me?” Wei Shuyu let out a slight breath of relief. “Either is fine. Which one do you usually sleep in?”

“Then you take the guest room, over there.”

Jin Yizhu pointed to a door by the TV wall, her tone a bit colder than before.

“Tomorrow, once you’re up, we can see where to go play.”

Wei Shuyu caught the subtle displeasure in her voice. She was angry.

Perhaps she shouldn’t have answered that way, but Wei Shuyu had no intention of stopping. Instead, she asked an even more infuriating question:

“Tomorrow? Don’t you have to work?”

“I don’t want to,” Jin Yizhu lifted her eyes, staring at her. “Got a problem with that?”

“No,” Wei Shuyu replied. “Just asking.”

“Tomorrow, Tokyo Disneyland,” Jin Yizhu stood up with her apple juice. “Get some early sleep. I’ll wake you tomorrow.”

She didn’t glance at Wei Shuyu again, and Wei Shuyu watched her back until she entered the bedroom. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and asked, “You want to go to Tokyo Disneyland?”

“Mm, any problem?” Jin Yizhu asked her. “Or do you not want to go?”

“It’s fine. I’ll go with you.”

The bedroom door closed, leaving Wei Shuyu alone in the living room, giving a wry smile to a potted plant.

She knew very well that she had probably upset Jin Yizhu.

That night, Wei Shuyu did not sleep soundly.

Whether it was because the bed in the bedroom was too soft or because she had too many worries on her mind, before the bizarre dreams could end, someone gently knocked three times on the door.

“I’m awake!” Wei Shuyu jolted awake, not yet oriented to where she was, and already shouted back loudly, “Getting up right now!”

“…”

The knocking stopped, and Jin Yizhu’s voice rang out, surprisingly gentle.

“No rush. It’s fine to get up late.”

Wei Shuyu gradually came back to herself and opened the bedroom door. “Sorry.”

“Why apologize?” Jin Yizhu looked down at her with lowered eyes. “I was the one who disturbed you.”

In the hazy morning light, the still half-asleep Wei Shuyu stood in the doorway, her hair a bit messy with a few strands of bedhead sticking up at the top.

Jin Yizhu’s gaze shifted downward. She wasn’t wearing slippers, her bare feet stepping on the carpet.

The deep brown shag carpet set off her skin, white to the point of lacking blood color, like porcelain crafted from jade that would shatter at a touch.

Her wrists, ankles, neck, collarbones—all impossibly slender, and the waist and back hidden under her nightgown were probably just as thin, without much weight.

She exuded a certain fragility, like a startled little bird, making Jin Yizhu hold her breath extremely lightly.

Why? Jin Yizhu wondered. Had she had a nightmare?

“Did you have a nightmare?” Jin Yizhu asked abruptly. “Want to catch some more sleep?”

“I’m fine,” Wei Shuyu shook her head, trying to make her eyes clear. “Are we going for breakfast now?”

She really wasn’t used to waking early. Being roused by an alarm was tolerable, but a knock at the door was different. It wasn’t that Jin Yizhu had done anything wrong; she just hated that method.

It reminded her of past things—the scoldings and insults that followed the knocking, or being dragged out of bed. As for the time… time wasn’t important. Day or night didn’t matter; whenever they didn’t want you sleeping, even 3 a.m. meant getting up. It was just a way to assert power.

“Sleep a bit more.”

Jin Yizhu couldn’t quite describe her own feelings. She just thought that making Wei Shuyu get up right now would be cruel, and she didn’t want that.

“I’ll stay with you.”

Her hand landed on Wei Shuyu’s back, patting it lightly.

It was a weightless motion, gentle enough, but Jin Yizhu clearly felt the spine beneath her fingers tremble sharply.

“Really, I’m fine.”

Wei Shuyu snapped awake, regaining that faint, elusive sense of distance.

She took a step back, subtly avoiding Jin Yizhu’s hand.

“Give me a moment. I’ll be ready soon.”

As she turned, Jin Yizhu saw a sheen of thin sweat on her forehead—clearly not feeling well.

Why reject someone’s kindness? Jin Yizhu didn’t understand. She had never met anyone like this. What she was more familiar with were the greedy types who couldn’t get enough, eager to claim every bit of goodwill for themselves.

Ten minutes later, Wei Shuyu reappeared before her, her smile warm and soft. “Shall we go for breakfast first?”

Jin Yizhu looked at her. The style was similar to yesterday, just with the skirt color changed to light purple, which made her face look even more refined.

“Take one of the keycards,” Jin Yizhu said. “You can come back anytime if needed.”

Wei Shuyu took the card from her hand. “Thanks.”

Jin Yizhu gave her another look.

She guessed Wei Shuyu had run into some trouble, inconvenient to stay at her original place. Finding an apartment in Hong Kong was troublesome, and booking a hotel wasn’t easy either. Staying here was the best option.

But had she accepted willingly, or just gone with the flow, seeing no reason to refuse?

Jin Yizhu rarely pondered such questions—or rather, there was no need. No one ever refused her; people even schemed openly and covertly for her favor.

She found it novel, and interesting.

“The restaurant is on the 16th floor,” she said. “Press it.”

Wei Shuyu nodded and pressed 16. In the warm glow of the elevator, she couldn’t help but let out a small yawn.

“I told you you’re not awake yet,” Jin Yizhu’s hand fell on her back, pulling her shoulder closer. “Sleep more in the car later.”

“I’ll have an Americano in a bit,” Wei Shuyu’s voice was thick with sleep. “Otherwise, you’ll be so bored.”

She was very aware of her role as a companion.

She had nothing much to do anyway. Jin Yizhu needed her, was willing to solve her troubles—as long as she played the part of an accessory, accompanying her to eat, drink, and have fun—then in return, she’d be a pleasing accessory to make Jin Yizhu happy.

“But that would make you suffer,” Jin Yizhu said. “How can you enjoy playing if you haven’t slept well?”

“Coffee will wake me up,” Wei Shuyu yawned again and simply took her hand, shaking it lightly. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. Later, I’ll go with you to see Mickey Mouse.”

“I’m not seeing Mickey Mouse,” Jin Yizhu said, her heart softening from the shaking. “I want to buy Stellalou.”

“Then buy my share too,” Wei Shuyu said with a squinty smile. “You buy me Pluto.”

“Sure, we’ll see what new keychains there are later.”

Talking about this, Jin Yizhu showed a rare girlish demeanor, her eyes even brighter.

“I got fast passes. After buying keychains, we can go straight on the rides.”

Wei Shuyu nodded with a smile. Though she hadn’t slept well, going to Tokyo Disneyland was fun after all.

Especially with spending power—buying keychains, riding Dumbo, watching fireworks, taking photos, skipping the lines, leaving only joy.

They entered the restaurant, and Wei Shuyu first poured herself a cup of coffee, adding five ice cubes. In less than two seconds, condensation formed on the cup.

She took a plate with half a slice of toast, half a serving of scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon, a bit of ham and fruit—her breakfast quite healthy.

Jin Yizhu waited for her at a window seat, hadn’t gone for the buffet, and was saying something to the waiter.

“Want to add anything? You can order a la carte.”

Jin Yizhu handed her the menu, pointing to a line of VIP exclusives.

“I ordered yangchun noodles. See if you want something hot too.”

The waiter still stood by, bent at the waist.

Wei Shuyu thought for a moment. “Eggs Benedict, poached yolk, not runny.”

Once she finished ordering, the waiter finally stepped back.

Jin Yizhu called him back. “Espresso for me, use good beans. If not, get some from upstairs.”

What a demanding woman.

Wei Shuyu thought. The waiter seemed pretty patient, though.

Jin Yizhu followed her gaze and saw it land on the waiter, feeling inexplicably irritated.

“What, you like this type?” she asked. “Want me to call him back for a closer look?”

“No need,” Wei Shuyu came back to herself and gave her a gentle smile. “I don’t like men.”