Chapter 89

The two directors sat to one side, silently eating their skewers while watching the drama unfold.

Leng Xiang sat between Jiang Sisi and Luo Pi. Jiang Sisi had been focused on picking food for her and putting it into her bowl, but when she heard their conversation, she suddenly lifted her head. She looked at Leng Xiang, then at Luo Pi.

Leng Xiang wasn’t usually one to be so outspoken, so why had she suddenly been so direct?

Last time in front of Xiao Yue, she had even said they were just friends.

But back then, they really hadn’t been together yet.

Jiang Sisi felt that something was off and didn’t dare to speak.

Afterward, neither Leng Xiang nor Luo Pi said anything more. They each ate their late-night snacks.

Leng Xiang scooted even closer to Jiang Sisi, chatting with her from time to time and picking food for her to eat. She showed off their affection completely oblivious to those around them.

The two directors sat together, while Leng Xiang and Jiang Sisi sat together, effectively isolating Luo Pi on her own.

Luo Pi: “…”

What had she done to deserve this?

Jiang Sisi glanced at the innocent Luo Pi, who looked back at her with a hint of helplessness.

Jiang Sisi finally realized what was going on and suddenly burst out laughing.

Jiang Sisi gazed at Leng Xiang with affectionate eyes, smiling tenderly as she picked more food for her.

Leng Xiang looked at her in bewilderment. “Why are you grinning so sinisterly?”

Jiang Sisi’s smile froze for a moment, the curve of her lips looking oddly mischievous no matter how you looked at it.

She said, “It’s nothing. Eat more.”

After they had eaten their fill, it was already past ten.

The two directors had watched the drama for a while and had been secretly gossiping under the table with their friends via phone about the undercurrents at the table. Once they finished eating, they retreated contentedly.

Jiang Sisi and Leng Xiang stood at the entrance of the barbecue shop, waving goodbye to Luo Pi.

Jiang Sisi said, “Do you want me to give you a ride back?”

Leng Xiang secretly pinched Jiang Sisi’s waist, but before she could even put any strength into it, Jiang Sisi firmly grabbed her hand, preventing her from pulling away.

Luo Pi watched as their hands gradually intertwined, and she smiled. “No need. My boyfriend is coming to pick me up. His car can’t come in here; it’s parked up ahead.”

Leng Xiang’s eyes widened as she turned her head to look at Jiang Sisi.

Jiang Sisi smiled. “In that case, we won’t see you off. Take care.”

After Luo Pi left, Jiang Sisi held Leng Xiang’s hand and walked forward. “Let’s go. Shall I walk you home?”

She said she would walk her home, but she showed no intention of doing so. Instead, she just held her hand and strolled along the street.

Leng Xiang didn’t say anything, letting Jiang Sisi lead her along.

A short walk from the barbecue shop, around a bend, led to a quiet residential neighborhood. It was past ten, and there were hardly any people outside.

This neighborhood had been built years ago and had an old-fashioned feel. Tall trees lined both sides of the road, their lush foliage making the area even more serene.

From there, it was about a ten-minute walk to Jiang Sisi’s apartment.

The night, the moonlight, the swaying shadows of the trees, the still air.

Jiang Sisi held her hand as they walked slowly forward together.

Jiang Sisi asked, “Were you a bit unhappy tonight, girlfriend?”

The end of her sentence lilted upward, carrying a hint of delight.

Leng Xiang felt glum. She knew she had misunderstood tonight and felt a bit embarrassed, so she ignored her.

Jiang Sisi, sharp as ever, had probably figured it out from her tone long ago.

After stewing for a long time, Leng Xiang finally said, “I misunderstood Luo Pi. It was my fault.”

“But people say you have a harem of three thousand in the industry, men and women alike, and that you’re close to everyone. Luo Pi was even the inspiration for your Youth Tour. What’s wrong with me being a little upset?”

They stopped at the entrance to a small alley.

Jiang Sisi held back as long as she could but finally couldn’t contain her laughter.

She laughed until tears nearly came out. “A harem of three thousand, men and women alike? That’s hilarious. Who told you that? I’ll give them a raise.”

Leng Xiang glared at her angrily.

Jiang Sisi looked at her face, her eyes full of tenderness.

“Luo Pi is an orphan. Her boyfriend grew up with her in the orphanage. They have a deep bond—one I could never come between.”

Leng Xiang glared at her. “And you wanted to come between them?”

“Pfft.” Jiang Sisi couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud again.

“Xiangxiang, you’re too adorable.”

Jiang Sisi looked at her and said softly, “If we weren’t out here, I’d want to kiss you.”

Leng Xiang’s face flushed red. Her gaze drifted for a moment, and with her peripheral vision, she spotted the secluded alley entrance.

She parted her lips to speak but was pulled by the wrist into the alley by Jiang Sisi before she could say anything.

It was deep into the night, and the street was empty, save for the occasional meow from some unknown corner.

A spring night, at the mouth of a small alley.

Leng Xiang leaned against the wall, Jiang Sisi’s slightly cool body in front of her and the cool wall behind. She was pinned between Jiang Sisi and the wall, utterly defenseless.

But she had no intention of dodging anyway.

Jiang Sisi pressed against her, their lips meeting, their ragged breaths intertwining.

A tongue tip slipped past her lips, captured by another pair, gently probing until they entwined tightly, not stopping until they were both breathless.

Leng Xiang really couldn’t hold her breath any longer. She pushed Jiang Sisi away and wiped her lips with the back of her hand, looking at her. “How are you so skilled at this?”

Jiang Sisi said, “It’s called talent.”

Jiang Sisi looked at her face, bathed in the night and moonlight, which cast a faint silver glow over it. Her breath quickened as she turned her head, the silver light rippling like waves on a lake or a leaf dropping into the sea.

Jiang Sisi smiled and leaned in toward her lips again.

Her lips were so close—just a little closer, and they could kiss.

Leng Xiang lowered her gaze to look at her, watching as Jiang Sisi’s lips curved into an arc.

She knew Jiang Sisi was beautiful, but in an entertainment industry full of stunning faces, she wasn’t exceptionally standout.

Leng Xiang herself had an exceedingly beautiful face and had been called the “Cold Beauty” or “Unattainable Flower” in the industry since childhood, so she wasn’t particularly fixated on others’ looks.

This was the first time she found Jiang Sisi under the moonlight to be so breathtakingly beautiful.

Leng Xiang’s breath hitched. Her lips moved as she took a step forward and initiated the kiss.

Her lips were very sweet.

Jiang Sisi responded naturally, kissing her lips once more.

After the kiss, both of their breaths were unsteady.

Jiang Sisi held Leng Xiang. Leng Xiang felt a bit awkward and said, “Didn’t you say you were walking me home?”

Jiang Sisi laughed softly. “What should we do? Suddenly, I don’t want to let you go home at all.”

Leng Xiang looked up at her, her eyes like autumn water.

Leng Xiang said softly, “Then…”

Jiang Sisi leaned down for another quick kiss. “Come to my place.”

…

Jiang Sisi’s apartment was not far away—a ten-minute walk.

Jiang Sisi led Leng Xiang inside, one after the other, through the apartment door.

Leng Xiang had been here once before, right before filming for Luxury Goods began. She had gone to Black Pool Bar for drinks and suddenly received a call from Jiang Sisi asking her to come over.

She had stormed over in a huff but still went.

Now, stepping inside again, she and Jiang Sisi were actually together.

Things had changed, evoking a sense of emotion.

Jiang Sisi’s living room still had a huge, thick carpet laid out, with a circle of square-backed cushions.

Xiangxiang was curled up sleeping in a pile of pillows in the corner of the living room. Its little ears twitched at the sound from the entrance. It crawled out of the pillow pile and trotted to the foyer.

Leng Xiang changed into slippers and entered. Xiangxiang rubbed against her feet, lifted its head, and looked up at her with its glass-bead-like eyes, extremely well-behaved.

Leng Xiang bent down, picked up Xiangxiang, and walked into the living room.

After the ten-minute walk on the street and the heated kiss at the alley mouth, that restless feeling gradually calmed.

Jiang Sisi went to the kitchen, brought out a glass of water, and placed it on the small tea table.

Leng Xiang sat cross-legged on the fluffy carpet, holding Xiangxiang in her lap.

The warm yellow wall lamp emitted soft light, spilling over her.

Jiang Sisi looked at the scene and sighed. “I feel like such a winner in life.”

She had a car, a house, a career, a girlfriend, and a cat. She felt like her life was complete.

Leng Xiang and Xiangxiang both turned to look at her.

Leng Xiang: “Hm?”

Xiangxiang: “Meow?”

Jiang Sisi couldn’t help but chuckle.

Jiang Sisi said, “Want to watch a movie?”

Leng Xiang remembered that the last time she came here, they had also come to watch a movie.

And lying on the carpet watching a movie was genuinely comfortable.

Leng Xiang said, “Sure. What are we watching?”

Jiang Sisi: “Anything.”

Xiangxiang slipped out of Leng Xiang’s lap and went off to play on its own.

Jiang Sisi walked to the opposite wall in the living room and pulled aside the large curtain covering it.

Last time she had come to watch a movie here, the lights had been off the whole time, so she hadn’t paid much attention to this wall.

Once Jiang Sisi pulled back the curtain, Leng Xiang realized it was a massive bookshelf extending from the top of the wall down to the carpet—a whole wall of shelves densely packed with discs layer upon layer. There was even a small ladder in the corner to climb up.

Leng Xiang couldn’t help but gasp in surprise.

This was… too impressive.

Jiang Sisi casually pulled a disc from the shelf and inserted it into the player.

A huge projection screen descended from the ceiling.

The film Jiang Sisi selected was an old one from thirty years ago, full of nostalgic vibes.

Leng Xiang and Jiang Sisi sat on the carpet watching the movie.

The gentle, slow-paced art film was incredibly soporific. Less than half an hour in, Leng Xiang started feeling sleepy.

She slumped her head onto Jiang Sisi’s shoulder, burying her face there.

Leng Xiang nuzzled against her shoulder, her voice already a bit groggy. “Let’s go to sleep.”

Jiang Sisi ruffled the head buried in her shoulder, treating her just like Xiangxiang.

Leng Xiang lifted her head, blinking dazedly at her with a hint of accusation in her eyes.

Jiang Sisi laughed. “No rush. Before we sleep, there’s one thing we still need to do.”

Leng Xiang was puzzled. “What?”

Jiang Sisi placed a hand behind her head and gently pushed, laying her flat on the carpet.

Leng Xiang lay on her back on the carpet, blinking up at her.

Jiang Sisi said, “Where did we leave off last time?”

Leng Xiang was still confused. “Leave off what?”

Jiang Sisi pressed down on top of her and took her hand, licking her finger in a very suggestive manner.

Leng Xiang: “…”

She remembered.

Take it slow, slowly.

If you can’t accept it all at once, we can take it slow.

For example, let me kiss your hand today, your shoulder tomorrow, your leg the day after. Someday, I’ll kiss every inch of you.

Leng Xiang: “…”

Leng Xiang panicked a bit and tried to sit up from the carpet, but her calf was held down by Jiang Sisi, and her hand was still clasped in hers. She couldn’t struggle free.

Leng Xiang swallowed, her face turning completely red.

Her fingers gripped the thick pile of the carpet, but as if suddenly remembering something, she let go.

It was too embarrassing.

Leng Xiang gave up, lifted the back of her hand to cover her eyes.

Her voice was very soft, her face flushed through.

“At least… not here.”