Chapter 64

By the time the rehearsal finally wrapped up, it was already past midnight.

Exhaustion hung in the air everywhere, a palpable weariness settling over the group. Xu Yueliang emerged from the dressing area in her casual clothes, her performance outfit neatly folded, looking surprisingly energetic and bright-eyed.

Lin Qimian took the bag from her hand. “Not tired yet?”

Xu Yueliang shook her head and stubbornly grabbed the heavier bag from Lin Qimian’s other side. “Not at all. We did so much today, but I’m too excited to feel sleepy.”

Lin Qimian smiled and ruffled her hair.

They headed out together. Xu Yueliang chattered on, mapping out their plans: “The hotel’s not far. We can cut through the alley, grab some late-night snacks to take back—way more comfortable. There’s a chain supermarket right downstairs. If you’re beat, go up to the room first, and I’ll handle the shopping…

“Call time tomorrow is one in the afternoon, with styling on-site, so we’ve got plenty of time. We can sleep in…

“The gala starts late. From the looks of today, it’ll run past midnight tomorrow too. No red-eye flights for us—let’s stay an extra night.”

“Day after…” Xu Yueliang trailed off, stepping out of the Broadcast Building into the deep, velvety night. “The moon’s so beautiful tonight.”

“Yeah, it really is.” Lin Qimian stepped ahead of her and zipped up her jacket all the way to the top. “It’s getting chilly.”

Xu Yueliang met her gaze. Lin Qimian’s cool demeanor blended seamlessly with the autumn night, but the warmth blooming in Xu Yueliang’s chest chased away any hint of cold.

It felt like a cluster of tiny campfires had been lit inside her, crackling lazily, hot enough to melt the glaciers of winter.

“Not cold,” Xu Yueliang murmured.

They kept walking, Xu Yueliang edging closer and closer until their arms brushed with every natural swing.

Each touch sent a soft tremor through Xu Yueliang’s heart.

Each brush sprinkled a sweet candy from the night sky.

She fell quiet, lips pressed together, simply savoring the magic of the moment.

Lin Qimian glanced down at the girl beside her—delicate as jade, her lashes fluttering, the corners of her mouth curved in delight.

She was immersed in her own quiet joy, leaving Lin Qimian with an itch she couldn’t quite scratch.

Following Xu Yueliang’s itinerary, they picked up late-night snacks in the alley and stocked up on essentials at the supermarket.

Lin Qimian wasn’t tired in the least and stayed by her side the whole time. Xu Yueliang, though, felt guilty about it, lingering forever in the personal care aisle and even shooing Lin Qimian away on purpose.

The hotel was nothing fancy, and their room was a standard double. Lin Qimian had no idea what Xu Yueliang’s exact income was, but her spending habits were plain to see: frugal, never extravagant.

The moment they stepped inside, Xu Yueliang bolted for the bathroom. By the time she emerged, the supermarket bag was nearly empty.

Lin Qimian went to wash her hands and peeked sideways into the bathroom. The rack now held fresh towels, shampoo, and body wash—and the shampoo was the exact brand Lin Qimian always used.

Clearly, those two days staying at her place, Xu Yueliang had paid close attention and remembered plenty.

Lin Qimian felt her lips curve and couldn’t hold back the words. “Baby, thank you.”

“Ah…” Xu Yueliang let out a soft, startled sound.

Lin Qimian shut off the faucet and stepped out. Xu Yueliang stood frozen at the table, chopsticks in hand, her movements stalled.

As Lin Qimian’s footsteps drew near, she sprang back to life, swiftly setting out the bowls and utensils. “Doctor Lin, you eat first—I’m going to take off my makeup,” she said, then darted past her into the bathroom.

Lin Qimian caught only a fleeting glimpse of the light in her eyes—like stars in motion, brilliant yet tender.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Lin Qimian sat down at the table and pinched her fingertips together.

She didn’t start eating. Her hunger for food paled next to her craving for… something more.

Maybe it was the special circumstances of the day—Xu Yueliang’s eager requests, her willing hugs, her insistence on sharing a room—that had awakened a greedier side of her.

She wanted Xu Yueliang right there across from her. In the hush of the night, she wanted to greedily soak in every smile, every subtle gesture. She wanted those smiles to be for her, those touches to land on her skin.

The water kept running, but Xu Yueliang didn’t keep her waiting long.

She must have known Lin Qimian wouldn’t eat without her, because she moved with purpose. As she sat down, a single droplet clung to her bangs, tracing a slow path down her cheek.

It glided along her slender neck and vanished into the neckline of her shirt.

“Eat up!” Xu Yueliang glanced at Lin Qimian before quickly dropping her gaze. She picked up her chopsticks. “This flatbread is amazing. I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard it’s incredible!”

“Mm.” Lin Qimian responded.

Xu Yueliang took a bite. “Wow, it really is delicious!”

Lin Qimian stared at the crescent-shaped bite taken out of the flatbread, then at the crumb clinging to Xu Yueliang’s lip.

A stir of impulse.

She blinked slowly. Xu Yueliang, ever the sensitive and perceptive girl, noticed something off and asked blankly, “Doctor Lin, what’s wrong?”

Lin Qimian decided to push the test further, advancing the process. “Didn’t you call me Lin Qimian all day today? Why switch back to Doctor Lin now?”

Xu Yueliang’s makeup-free face was fair and clean, but it flushed faster than any blush could manage. She stopped eating and stammered in a panic, “Wah… I-I got too excited today and overstepped…”

Lin Qimian: “Calm now?”

Xu Yueliang’s eyes darted around, her nose wrinkling in grievance. “Not calm at all. You scared me, Doctor Lin…”

“I’m not scaring you.” Lin Qimian picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks. “I’m just chatting with you.”

Xu Yueliang: “Oh…”

Lin Qimian: “The time when I was your doctor ended long ago. Now…”

Xu Yueliang jumped in immediately. “Now you’re my friend! A good friend!”

She spoke with utter conviction, as if desperate for Lin Qimian not to misunderstand—as if their bond wasn’t close enough yet.

Lin Qimian: “…”

Blushing furiously, Xu Yueliang added, “The very best kind. At least for me, it is. Not because we’re old classmates or from the same hometown. I don’t have any really good friends right now. Lin… Lin Mianmian is my best, best friend. No one’s ever… been this good to me…”

Xu Yueliang shook her head, setting her own rule. “From now on, I won’t call you Doctor Lin. I’ll call you Lin Qimian or Lin Mianmian—as long as you’re not mad!”

How could Lin Qimian possibly be mad?

Lin Qimian was probably a little mad.

But her anger wasn’t what Xu Yueliang imagined. Lin Qimian was annoyed at how earnest and innocent Xu Yueliang was—how her roundabout schemes had nowhere to land, forcing her to reflect on those sincere confessions.

To reflect on whether she herself was too wicked.

Lin Qimian’s lips curved slightly. “Are you handing me a nice guy card?”

Xu Yueliang: “Ah…”

She waved her hands frantically. “No, no, no! Definitely not that kind of nice guy card. I mean it from the heart. Lin… Mianmian is just too good…”

“I’ll show you my bad side someday.” Lin Qimian went back to her meal. “Xu Yueliang.”

“Sure~~” Xu Yueliang twisted in her seat, her voice soft and pliant. “Lin Qimian.”

After a moment, she added suddenly, “You can call me Xu Yueliang or Moon. I love it most when you call me Baby~~”

Lin Qimian, mid-sip of water: “Cough.”

Xu Yueliang’s eyes sparkled, her cheeks rosy as she gazed at her, holding up two fingers. “You’ve called me that twice. Once when you were still Doctor Lin, and once just now~~”

Lin Qimian: “…”

Meeting her gaze, Xu Yueliang’s voice dropped, sly and mischievous. “Your voice is so nice… When you say ‘Baby’… it’s so alluring… Ah…”

Lin Qimian: “…”

Lin Qimian tilted her head back and downed half a glass of water. “I don’t call you that all the time.”

Xu Yueliang nodded, grinning until her eyes crinkled. “I’ll work on it.”

The meal left Lin Qimian’s emotions swinging wildly, far from peaceful.

Once they finished, Xu Yueliang cleared the table and urged her on. “Lin Mianmian, you go wash up first. You must be exhausted—then you can sleep.

“I scanned the room with the detector when I got here. All clear~~

“The hairdryer’s in the bathroom cabinet. Make sure to blow-dry your hair after~~

“The hotel toiletries aren’t great. Use the ones I bought…”

She was so dutiful, so devoted—truly living up to her promise to care for and protect Lin Qimian.

“Got it.” Lin Qimian agreed to everything.

She headed into the bathroom and freshened up.

When she emerged, Xu Yueliang was propped against the headboard, phone in hand, already drowsy and on the verge of sleep.

Lin Qimian approached and gently patted her cheek. “Moon, are you washing up tonight?”

Xu Yueliang’s bleary eyes snapped open, her lungs filling with the damp, sweet steam.

“Yes.” She nodded vigorously.

“Good.” Lin Qimian pinched her cheek, applying a bit of pressure. “Then wake up. Don’t fall asleep in the bathroom.”

“No, no.” Xu Yueliang stood up and pointed to the other bed, which was neatly made. “Doctor Lin, you should get some sleep.”

Lin Qimian blinked. “Hm?”

Xu Yueliang laughed and bounced on her toes to shake off her fatigue. “Lin Mianmian, you should sleep!”

With that, she bounced into the bathroom.

Lin Qimian stared at the two beds for a moment before finally heading to the one Xu Yueliang had pointed out.

Water rushed in the bathroom as Lin Qimian lay on the bed, utterly unable to sleep.

Her gaze drifted to the other bed, just a meter away, and she couldn’t stop herself from picturing Xu Yueliang lying there.

Did she sleep flat on her back or on her side? If on her side, which way would she face—toward Lin Qimian, offering a view of her face, or away, showing only her back?

She had wondered about all this back when Xu Yueliang had stayed over at her place, and now the questions circled through her mind again.

But back then, Lin Qimian had had no way to confirm her guesses. The moment Xu Yueliang got out of bed, she would make the pink double bed with perfect precision, folding the covers into neat squares.

Now, though, she could see for herself.

Lin Qimian had rushed over with barely any preparation—just a few everyday clothes in the car—so all she had on was a long, soft shirt.

Xu Yueliang was different. She had prepared for this trip well in advance. What cute pajamas would she wear? What alluring glimpses of skin might she reveal…

Lin Qimian closed her eyes, ashamed of the thoughts racing through her head, but she couldn’t make them stop.

At last, the water shut off. The room was small, with poor soundproofing, so every movement Xu Yueliang made, every footstep, rang out crystal clear.

She emerged from the bathroom. She blow-dried her hair. She patted on her skincare with soft smacks. She shuffled out in slippers, then suddenly lightened her steps.

Lin Qimian shifted and turned to look at her.

Xu Yueliang’s pajamas… they were perfect. Long sleeves, long pants, plain solid color—the top-selling style on Taobao. No frills whatsoever, supremely warm and covering every inch.

They were really perfect. The vivid images in Lin Qimian’s mind vanished completely, and she even felt a bit more refined herself.

“All done washing,” Xu Yueliang said flatly by way of greeting.

To Lin Qimian’s surprise, it was Xu Yueliang who reacted with shock. She tied back her still-damp hair with a band and came over to Lin Qimian’s bedside, leaning down to press on the mattress. “Lin Qimian, why aren’t you asleep yet? Is the bed uncomfortable? Or was it that cup of coffee from earlier? Do you have trouble sleeping in new places?”

Lin Qimian hesitated. “…None of those.”

Xu Yueliang’s mouth fell open. “Ah, are you scared of the unfamiliar surroundings? Were you waiting for me?”

Lin Qimian fell silent.

She wanted to revoke Xu Yueliang’s right to call her by name. Whenever Xu Yueliang started using it, she turned into the big sister, the mom, the overly doting friend who treated her like a childish kid.

It was probably a lingering effect from the time she’d cared for Lin Qimian during her fake illness.

Lin Qimian’s lips parted as she started to say something, but Xu Yueliang suddenly pointed at her with a look of realization. “You want to sleep together, don’t you!”

Lin Qimian went quiet again.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but that wasn’t quite the point.

Seeing her silence, Xu Yueliang nodded knowingly and waved her over. “Come on, get up, get up.”

Lin Qimian obeyed and climbed out of bed.

Xu Yueliang lifted the bedside table wedged between the two beds and set it aside. Then, with effortless strength, she shoved Lin Qimian’s bed right up against her own.

She straightened the covers and pillows, transforming the twin room into a double.

Xu Yueliang beamed with pride, as if she’d seen through every one of Lin Qimian’s secret, unspoken wishes. “We said we’d sleep together, so here we are. I picked the standard room because it was on sale. Now it’s perfect.

“Don’t worry—I’ll put everything back before checkout~~

“This is way more comfortable. Back in college, our dorm would go on trips, book a standard room, push the two beds together, and it’d fit all four of us. We could even play cards right there on the bed. So much fun~~~”

Xu Yueliang flung herself onto the bed, rolling from one side to the other with peals of laughter. “Mianmian, come on~~~”

Lin Qimian let out a long breath. Her mind was a whirlwind of jumbled thoughts, a chaotic mess.

Xu Yueliang was going to ruin her brain.