Chapter 62

“Female friend, fine—just say female friend. Girlfriend? Do you have to put it so bluntly?” Ming Qisang said with a cheerful laugh. He pointed to the empty seat next to Ming Ye. “It’s so late. Don’t go bothering other people. Hurry up and sit down to eat. The whole family’s waiting for you.”

Sang Wan’s dark eyes deepened. She looked as if she’d just heard the funniest thing. The whole family waiting for her? The three neatly arranged sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table were a clear reminder that this so-called family apparently didn’t include her.

Perhaps noticing her gaze, Ming Qisang shot Qin Yan an awkward glance. She caught on immediately and headed to the kitchen to fetch a fresh set of bowls and chopsticks, placing them at the empty spot.

“Little Wan, look—Auntie was so flustered she completely forgot. You showed up out of nowhere, and Auntie didn’t even react in time. It’s all Auntie’s fault. Don’t be mad at your dad.” Qin Yan’s kind words flowed like a string of pearls, and Ming Qisang’s expression softened a bit.

“Little Wan, come on down and eat. We’ve got your favorite dishes.” Ming Qisang tossed her an easy out, and Sang Wan took it.

Sure enough, Sang Wan descended the stairs. Ming Qisang beamed as he used the serving chopsticks to place a helping of beef into her bowl. His words kept coming. “You’ve only come home once in months. Your dad has missed you so much. Stay and chat with me tonight?”

Sang Wan’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. Her pale fingers lightly gripped her chopsticks as she transferred the beef from her bowl to Ming Ye’s. “Eat up. Gotta grow big and strong.”

She had no intention of eating someone else’s leftovers.

The heavy atmosphere at the table had Ming Ye too scared to touch his chopsticks. In a small voice, he said, “Thank you… sis.” He hesitated before adding the last word.

Sang Wan set down her chopsticks and tilted her head up slightly. “You’re welcome.”

Her gaze shifted to Ming Qisang. Her delicate brows and eyes slowly traveled upward, landing on the middle-aged man’s affectionate face.

Still so hypocritical. Sang Wan was done pretending. She wanted to go find Little Bai.

“Dad, you guys eat. I’m not coming back tonight,” Sang Wan said softly.

She still hadn’t mentioned her relationship with Yue Bai. At least, there was no need for Ming Qisang to know right now.

“Alright then. Be safe,” Ming Qisang cautioned.

Sang Wan curved her lips into a smile and walked out the door.

She stood at the front gate for a bit until her ride-share arrived.

“Yo, little miss, calling a cab around here isn’t easy,” the driver said with a grin.

The neighborhood was full of wealthy elites and celebrities. Hardly anyone needed to call a ride, so most drivers didn’t bother cruising the area.

Sang Wan slid into the back seat. “But you still picked up my order, didn’t you?”

“I just happened to drop someone off nearby,” the driver replied cheerfully.

The conversation died there.

Sang Wan had planned to ask Li Shu for a ride if no car showed up. But with night falling, she didn’t want to trouble him.

“Little Bai, do you miss your Senior Sister?” Sang Wan texted.

Yue Bai had just finished blow-drying her hair and was lounging crookedly on the sofa when the message popped up. Without hesitation, she replied, “Yes, super miss you.”

“How much?” Sang Wan followed up unhurriedly.

“I miss you so much I want to see you right now—pin you down on the bed and kiss you.” Yue Bai’s response came lightning-fast.

Sang Wan lowered her eyes. She read the short message over and over, unable to stop a laugh from bubbling up.

Her little junior had gotten so bold since getting home.

She forced her lips into a straight line, holding back any hint of emotion.

The driver caught her twitching lip corners in the rearview mirror and chuckled. “Go ahead and laugh, miss. Don’t hold it in—Uncle won’t tease you for it.”

Sang Wan: “…”

Her typing paused for a long moment before she hummed in acknowledgment and continued: “How about your Senior Sister comes to find you?”

“Really?” Yue Bai replied, bubbling with joy.

“Really,” Sang Wan confirmed.

“Yay!” Yue Bai was even more excited.

“Will you come pick me up? I’m out front of the complex you sent me to today,” Sang Wan texted after getting out of the car.

She had no idea of Yue Bai’s exact address.

“I’m on my way, Senior Sister,” Yue Bai shot back instantly. She grabbed a puffy jacket from her closet and headed out.

Sang Wan stood straight at the side of the complex’s main gate, her slender hand tugging at her zipper. Half her face was buried in the collar.

Her silver-rimmed glasses sat primly on her nose bridge, fogging up slightly with each breath before slowly clearing, over and over.

Soft light spilled from the security booth at the gate. A few guards were chatting and laughing inside.

One of the younger ones spotted her standing outside. He said something to the others and came out.

“Are you waiting for someone?” the young guard asked.

Sang Wan turned her head, peeking her face out from her collar. Politely, she said, “Yes.”

The young guard eyed her delicate features and youthful age. It was such a cold night, and she stood there all alone. His heart went out to her, but without word from a resident, he couldn’t just let her in. “Did you call your friend inside?”

“I messaged her. She’ll be here any minute,” Sang Wan replied.

Just then, a voice called from not far inside the gate: “Senior Sister!”

Sang Wan waved at her.

Yue Bai came running up, thoroughly winded even though she was still ten meters from the gate. Breathing lightly, she walked the rest of the way. “Senior Sister.”

Seeing someone inside to meet her, the guard naturally let Sang Wan through.

Up close, Yue Bai threw herself into Sang Wan’s arms, nuzzling affectionately. “Senior Sister.”

“Good girl.” Sang Wan gently ruffled her hair.

Only after releasing her did Sang Wan take a proper look at the girl in front of her. Her black hair was tousled behind her—clearly from the run. The black puffy jacket hung loosely over a thin sleepshirt.

Sang Wan’s pretty brows furrowed. She pulled Yue Bai’s jacket tighter around her. “Cold?”

“Not anymore, now that Senior Sister’s here.” Yue Bai grinned dopily.

Feeling the chill in those hands, Sang Wan covered them protectively. “Let’s head back first.”

“Mm.” Yue Bai nodded vigorously.

The guard behind them rubbed his nose. “Do students have relationships this close these days?”

Back at Yue Bai’s place, the blast of warm air from the open door instantly thawed them out. Sang Wan’s glasses fogged up completely, so she took them off.

After changing into slippers, Sang Wan finally had a chance to survey Yue Bai’s home. It was standard-issue—much like any other family’s—but bigger, with fancier decor.

“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai called out crisply again. She tugged Sang Wan to sit down and grabbed a tissue to wipe her glasses. “I thought you weren’t coming tonight.”

Sang Wan chuckled lightly, leaning back comfortably. “Some little sister hooked my soul away. Had to come see for myself.”

“Senior Sister~” Yue Bai’s face flushed bright red. How could Senior Sister throw her own afternoon words right back at her?

“What’s wrong? Shy now?” Sang Wan teased with a sly smile.

“I still remember someone begging me to kiss her—like she couldn’t wait,” Sang Wan drawled on.

Yue Bai wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and crawl into it. Sure enough, face-to-face with Senior Sister, she could never say it out loud.

“What to do, hmm?” Sang Wan laughed as she pulled Yue Bai’s wrist over, deftly shrugging off the bulky jacket with one hand. “Can we kiss now? Though I remember you still owe me nine more. All at once… or take our time?”

Yue Bai’s ears turned pink. She looked up at Sang Wan shyly, her bright eyes shimmering with unspoken feelings.

Sang Wan’s throat tightened at the sight. She tugged Yue Bai closer onto her lap, two fingers lifting her chin. “How about we start with fulfilling Senior Sister’s request first? A phone kiss doesn’t count without the real touch. Okay?”

Her tone carried an irresistible coaxing lilt, and Yue Bai went along with it. “Okay.”

Their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss.

When it ended, Sang Wan pulled back.

Yue Bai gazed at her in a daze. Her grip on Sang Wan’s sweater loosened a bit as she rested her head against Sang Wan’s chest. Her eyes drifted to the dining table in the living room—she’d eaten not long ago. “Has Senior Sister eaten?”

“Not yet,” Sang Wan answered honestly.

“Then have something, or you’ll be hungry in the middle of the night.” Yue Bai slipped off Sang Wan’s lap and pointed to the uneaten dishes on the table. “If you don’t mind, I’ll heat them up.”

“Mm.” With the warmth in her arms gone, Sang Wan flexed her arm soundlessly.

Ten minutes later, Yue Bai came out carrying the reheated dishes. She ladled a bowl of rice for Sang Wan and a bowl of soup for herself to keep her company.

“Tastes great,” Sang Wan said after a bite.

“Hehe, of course. Auntie Long’s cooking is second to none,” Yue Bai said, sipping her soup.

“Auntie Long?” Sang Wan murmured in surprise.

“Hehe.” Yue Bai rubbed her nose, watching Sang Wan’s expression carefully. Tentatively, she said, “Senior Sister, I’ve got something to tell you.”

“Mm?” Sang Wan had a pretty good guess but set down her chopsticks and feigned ignorance. “Go ahead.”

Yue Bai fidgeted for a moment, her fingers twisting the hem of her sleepshirt.

She gathered her words. “Do you know about Moonlight?”

“Mm, I do,” Sang Wan said.

Yue Bai looked even more conflicted. Her lips moved. “Well… Moonlight’s boss is my sister…”

Sang Wan latched onto two key words and couldn’t help curving her lips. Boss? Did Yue Yi know she was described that way?

“Yeah, she’s my sister,” Yue Bai explained. “I just never mentioned it to you before.”

“No big deal. I haven’t told you about my family situation either,” Sang Wan said, unperturbed.

“It’s not that. I’m worried my sister might come looking for you in a few days.” Yue Bai fretted. “She’ll be afraid someone’s tricking me.”

Sang Wan thought to herself, “…She’s already come looking.”

“Afraid your sister will come find me?” Sang Wan asked with a laugh.

“Yeah…” Yue Bai hesitated. “Back in high school, I got too close to a guy classmate once and got suspected of puppy love. My sister dropped everything at work to track me and that boy down. Once she realized it was a misunderstanding, she finally left, relieved.”

“Too close to a male classmate? How close do you have to get to raise suspicions of puppy love?” Sang Wan’s attention had zeroed in on an entirely different detail.

Yue Bai pursed her lips. “We just went to the art studio together to talk about painting. That was it—nothing more.”

“Ohhh~” Sang Wan drew out the syllable teasingly.

“Senior Sister!” Yue Bai cried, equal parts embarrassed and annoyed.

“Alright, alright, no more teasing,” Sang Wan said. She leisurely picked up her chopsticks and took some vegetables for her bowl. “Truth is, your sister already came to see me this afternoon. But I think she was satisfied with me.”

“She’s already been here?” Yue Bai’s mouth twitched. Was her sister’s speed really this fast?

“Mm-hmm.”

“She didn’t give you a hard time, did she?” Yue Bai ignored Sang Wan’s follow-up entirely. The mere thought of her sister’s decisive, no-nonsense ways made her scalp prickle.

“No.” Sang Wan smiled. “When the chance comes up, I’d like you to meet my family too.”

“Ah, Senior Sister’s dad?” Yue Bai blinked in surprise. She wasn’t ready for that yet.

“No, I mean meeting the Sang family.” Sang Wan’s expression remained unchanged.