Chapter 38: The Unexpected

Gu Liuguang scowled. “Not guessing.”

Ye Qingying saw that she was angry and stopped teasing her. She just smiled and said, “Answer the question first, then I’ll tell you what their relationship is.”

Gu Liuguang eyed her suspiciously. “Really?”

Ye Qingying smiled faintly. “What would I gain by lying to you?”

Even if the other woman didn’t tell her about the relationship between Gu Shuang and Lin Shixia and only answered one question, Gu Liuguang had nothing to lose.

She really wanted to know why Ye Qingying was asking this, but after spending so long in the bar and being teased by Ye Qingying for ages, even her good patience had worn thin. She thought for a moment before speaking up.

“Sister Gu Shuang is prettier.”

She meant it from the bottom of her heart.

She knew that to better complete the plot, no matter what Gu Shuang and Lin Shixia’s relationship was, she should show mad enthusiasm for Lin Shixia to gain her favor later on.

But just then, Gu Liuguang couldn’t hold back her whimsy for a moment. Even if it was just one question, she revealed her true thoughts.

Hearing the answer, Gu Shuang’s hand tightened around her glass. She glanced at Gu Liuguang, as if she hadn’t expected her to say that.

She looked toward Gu Liuguang, who happened to be looking back at her. In the dim lighting, her beautiful fox-like eyes revealed a hint of vulnerability—a fragile gleam. The soft light reflected in her eyes, creating a watery shimmer, like the mournful cry of a lonely soul by a serene summer lake at night.

That soft glow vanished in an instant, as if Gu Liuguang had imagined it. She shifted her gaze away, looking at Ye Qingying with unfriendly eyes. “That satisfy you now?”

Ye Qingying’s surprise faded from her eyes. She wore a smiling expression, relaxed and even pleased, as she nodded. “Very satisfied.” Then she pressed, “Was that sincere? I thought you were a fan of Lin Shixia…”

“Because you seemed so invested,” Ye Qingying drawled slowly, as if they weren’t in a bar but out camping in the suburbs. “You came down the moment I reached out. I thought you’d mistaken Gu Shuang for Lin Shixia.”

Gu Liuguang didn’t reply. She glanced at Ye Qingying, picked up her drink, and started on her second one for the night. After a sip, she said irritably, “Are you done talking?”

Ye Qingying put on a hurt expression at the right moment. “No one’s ever spoken to me so harshly before. Liuguang Baby, you really hurt my feelings.”

Gu Liuguang held back, then looked toward Gu Shuang. Her irritation eased a bit.

Ye Qingying chuckled twice. Once Gu Liuguang turned her head, she spoke leisurely, glancing sideways at Gu Shuang’s expression with the corner of her eye. “There’s nothing you can’t say, right? You were just about to tell her anyway…”

“Hey, doesn’t that answer feel amazing?” She teased, looking at Gu Shuang.

Both of them thought Gu Shuang wouldn’t respond to Ye Qingying, but Gu Shuang just sat there, nodded, and said very naturally, “Very much so.”

Gu Liuguang felt something was off, a strange discomfort creeping over her.

Ye Qingying across from her felt just as awkward, like watching a familiar friend act possessed. Her mouth hung open stupidly for a moment before she snapped her jaw shut. A bit puzzled, she started to speak.

Gu Shuang glanced at her. “You’re not happy that Gu Liuguang complimented my looks?”

Ye Qingying: “Huh?”

Gu Shuang ignored her. Ye Qingying rubbed her chin, her gaze landing on Gu Liuguang. Thinking about it, she realized it was true.

Gu Liuguang: What a weird feeling. I really want to leave.

Ye Qingying cleared her throat lightly and smiled as she spoke. “They’re aunt and niece.”

Satisfied by the shocked look on Gu Liuguang’s face, Ye Qingying continued with a smile. “It’s normal not to guess it. Their ages aren’t that far apart, and their relationship… well, it’s pretty good.”

She checked Gu Shuang’s expression after every few words before continuing confidently. “If you get on good terms with this sister here, getting Lin Shixia’s autograph will be easy. You might even get her WeChat…”

With that, she winked her left eye at Gu Liuguang.

“I can’t make Lin Shixia come meet you, but your Sister Gu Shuang can.”

Gu Liuguang’s wide fox-like eyes slowly returned to their normal shape. She wasn’t very clear on how relatives addressed each other, and her own family had simple relations anyway, so she had no reference.

She sorted it out in her mind: Gu Shuang and Lin Shixia were aunt and niece. Was Gu Shuang Lin Shixia’s father’s or mother’s sister?

“Why different surnames?” Gu Liuguang asked her burning question first once she figured it out.

Ye Qingying looked at Gu Shuang. Gu Shuang took a sip from her wine glass before answering, “Changed it for some reasons.”

Gu Liuguang said “oh,” thinking Gu Shuang looked stunning as she drank. A faint blush spread like a thin layer of pink pearl powder on her skin, shimmering with fine sparkles like diamonds. “So, you and Lin Shixia are really close?”

Gu Shuang lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows. Gu Liuguang couldn’t read her emotions, only hearing her calm voice. “It’s okay.”

Gu Liuguang thought for a moment, then turned to Ye Qingying. “Can I make my request now?”

She shot Ye Qingying a quick sideways glance and saw no obvious emotion on her face before speaking. “Make me meet Lin Shixia.”

Ye Qingying had a point—getting along with Gu Shuang would let her meet Lin Shixia. But after saying Gu Shuang was pretty earlier, having Gu Shuang introduce her would feel weird.

Ye Qingying laughed out loud. Her slender hand rested on her knee as she pondered for two seconds. “Meeting once isn’t hard, so it won’t count as your request. You can save the chance.”

“As for Lin Shixia… when are you free?”

…

These two could really hold their liquor. Gu Liuguang sat with them in the bar for a long time. During that, Ye Qingying stepped out to take a call.

Once Ye Qingying left, Gu Liuguang scooted closer to Gu Shuang. She wanted to ask more about Lin Shixia.

Gu Shuang had been drinking, so a faint alcoholic scent wafted toward Gu Liuguang whenever she spoke. But the bar was too noisy, so they had to lean in close to talk.

Gu Liuguang asked if Gu Shuang and Lin Shixia lived together. Gu Shuang seemed not to hear and tilted her head slightly toward her, her loose long hair falling to one side, adding a touch of allure to her perfectly sculpted features.

Gu Liuguang paused, hesitating at the pale pink ear in front of her before leaning in—but not too close, keeping some distance. “Do you and Lin Shixia live together?”

Gu Shuang didn’t react after she spoke. Just as Gu Liuguang leaned in closer to repeat it, Gu Shuang suddenly turned her head with a puzzled look, as if about to say something. Her pale lips parted slightly.

Gu Liuguang didn’t have time to dodge. Their lips brushed lightly and quickly—so fast that Gu Liuguang didn’t even register the sensation before her body instinctively pulled back a step, startling her against the sofa back.

Gu Shuang hadn’t expected it either. It was like she forgot what she wanted to say. She raised her hand, her beautiful fingers—like a work of art—gently touching the spot that had been brushed.

Gu Liuguang’s cheeks burned hot, but her eyes stared straight at Gu Shuang. As Gu Shuang touched her own lips, her gaze lingered on Gu Liuguang.

She quickly lowered her hand, as if brushing off what just happened. She pulled Gu Liuguang up to sit straight again before asking, “What did you say?”

Gu Liuguang’s heart was still pounding. She wanted to touch the spot too but thought it would look weird and held back.

Her mind kept replaying it anyway. She vaguely remembered the feeling: soft lips brushing, still a bit moist from the wine.

Maybe there was still some wine left on her lips.

Gu Liuguang forced herself not to dwell on it and opened her mouth to repeat the question. But meeting Gu Shuang’s eyes made her recall how Gu Shuang had mentioned Ye Qingying’s constant scandal-mongering.

It felt like only she was shocked by the accidental brush.

As soon as she spoke, her dissatisfied tone bubbled up uncontrollably. “Don’t you have no romantic experience? Or do you brush lips with people in bars all the time…”

She trailed off toward the end. It was just an accident—calling it a kiss would be making a big deal out of nothing. Gu Shuang’s reaction was the normal one.

Gu Shuang waited for her to continue. Gu Liuguang felt mortified and waved it off. “Forget I said anything. I wanted to ask…”

“That was my first kiss.” Gu Shuang suddenly spoke, cutting off Gu Liuguang mid-sentence.

Whoa… isn’t that too pure? It was just a brush—not a real first kiss.

That’s what she thought, but when Gu Liuguang met Gu Shuang’s gaze, her heart skipped a beat. Then she just stared blankly at Gu Shuang, wondering whose heartbeat was so loud.

Gu Shuang blinked, her eyes fixed on Gu Liuguang’s. Moments later, they drifted uncontrollably to her lips.

Gu Liuguang froze, only seeing Gu Shuang drawing closer, her face growing larger—even tilting slightly. So close that Gu Liuguang could almost smell her perfume: a light, warm scent, not overpowering, and surprisingly unlike her.

“Close your eyes.” Gu Shuang said.

Her thick lashes trembled nonstop. Gu Liuguang stared at Gu Shuang, forgetting to breathe, until the reminder made her nervously shut her eyes.

Even with them closed, she felt Gu Shuang’s hand on the sofa back by her shoulder, followed by an approaching warmth that nearly made her dizzy.

“What are you two doing?”

Ye Qingying returned from her call. From her angle, she only saw them facing each other like they were talking. She plopped back into her seat, thinking it was about time to head out.

She glanced over and saw them still chatting, so she reached out and poked Gu Shuang’s shoulder, asking aloud.

Ye Qingying kept looking because something felt off. Then she saw Gu Shuang’s forward-leaning body straighten up and lean back against the sofa. Gu Shuang shot her a very cold glance.