Xu Yueliang stared at Lin Qimian for a good long while.
Lin Qimian was grateful for her habitual poker face, which allowed her to hold steady even now.
Xu Yueliang dropped her gaze, resting her hand back on Lin Qimian’s arm, and the two continued forward as naturally as before.
Xu Yueliang stepped precisely from one tile to the next. “Doctor Lin, that acquaintance of yours… he’s pretty impressive.”
Lin Qimian shrugged. “Eh, not bad.”
Xu Yueliang went on, “Doctor Lin’s work badge…”
Lin Qimian cut in smoothly. “Also courtesy of an acquaintance.”
Xu Yueliang shot her a glance but let it drop.
Once they were in the lounge removing makeup and changing clothes, Xu Yueliang emerged as if she’d already forgotten all about the “acquaintance” business.
She fussed with her hair in the mirror, then her eyes lit up. “Mianmian, let’s go for a drive!”
“Sure.” Lin Qimian was more than happy to oblige.
They stepped out of the Broadcast Building, where the supercar gleamed under the night lights like a jewel.
A fair number of people were exiting the building by then, drawing a small crowd around the car—including a couple of actors fresh off their performances, eyeing it from a distance.
Xu Yueliang faltered for a step at the sight.
But when Lin Qimian glanced her way, she picked up her pace again.
Lin Qimian murmured, “Does all this make you uncomfortable?”
Xu Yueliang tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, her toes tapping lightly. “Nah, I’m just… a little nervous.”
“No worries,” Lin Qimian said. “I’m nervous too.”
Xu Yueliang blinked at her. “???”
Lin Qimian explained, “It’s a rental. What if I scratch it?”
Xu Yueliang: “…”
By the time they reached the car, the gawkers admiring it hadn’t paid them much mind.
That changed when Lin Qimian hit the key fob. The lights flashed, startling the onlookers into taking a collective step back.
Suddenly, every gaze—brimming with shock, envy, and awe—locked onto Lin Qimian and Xu Yueliang.
Xu Yueliang ducked her head, her ear tips burning red with real embarrassment.
Lin Qimian swung open the door. The stunning butterfly wing rose as if the car might take flight right there, drawing soft gasps from the crowd.
Her palm settled warmly on Xu Yueliang’s back, giving a gentle nudge. “Hop in.”
Xu Yueliang scrambled inside. Lin Qimian shut the door for her, then circled to the driver’s side.
Once seated, Xu Yueliang twisted this way and that, fumbling for the seatbelt.
Lin Qimian leaned over and tugged it free. “These cars have X-shaped harnesses for safety. Kind of a pain…”
She clicked the left side secure, then the right. Xu Yueliang sat frozen, body arched back, elbows held awkwardly high so as not to get in the way.
When Lin Qimian finished and looked up, she found Xu Yueliang’s face entirely flushed.
Even the delicate point of her chin, so close now, bore a soft pink tint—irresistibly biteable.
Lin Qimian’s throat worked as she murmured, “Don’t be scared.”
Xu Yueliang’s eyes fluttered like a fragile bloom in a gale.
“No one can see inside,” Lin Qimian assured her. “Once the doors are shut, it’s just us. We can do whatever we like.”
“Mm~” Xu Yueliang hummed softly, catching her lower lip between her teeth.
Lin Qimian withdrew, drawing a steadying breath.
Xu Yueliang turned to her at once. “Mianmian, if you’re not used to it, take it easy. We’ll go slow.”
Lin Qimian smiled. “Mm.”
She slotted the key into the center console. A ring of green light swirled around it, sleek and mesmerizing.
Xu Yueliang breathed, “Wow.”
Lin Qimian fired up the engine. Truth be told, she wasn’t all that familiar with it—she’d bought the car but barely driven it.
Picked up in B City, it had stayed parked with a friend there ever since, who handled all the maintenance and occasional use.
She might not have even remembered it if Young Master Zhou hadn’t been flexing that morning.
Her friend had hustled it over the moment she mentioned needing it; her lunch was still half-eaten when it pulled up precisely at the Broadcast Building’s staff entrance.
That kind of eager efficiency could easily pass for a top-tier rental service.
The car eased out, puttering through the TV Station grounds like a timid lamb.
Xu Yueliang clutched her seatbelt, eyes glued dead ahead, bracing for every speed bump like it was a battlefield.
Any flicker of heat Lin Qimian had felt fizzled away, overtaken by pure, delighted amusement at the sight.
“You can’t really cut loose in the city anyway,” she said. “Safety’s solid, though.”
“Mm!” Xu Yueliang nodded vigorously, utterly earnest. “I trust your driving, Mianmian.”
Lin Qimian: “…”
She cranked the wheel, swinging out of the grounds onto Route 26. “Just my driving? You’d believe anything I told you?”
“Yep.” Xu Yueliang didn’t hesitate. “No reason for you to lie to me. I’ve got nothing you’d want to trick me out of.”
Lin Qimian smiled. “Silly.”
Xu Yueliang leaned forward a little. “I’ve got an even sillier thing to say.”
“Go on,” Lin Qimian said.
“This car costs a fortune, but it’s not comfortable at all,” Xu Yueliang said. “The space is so cramped, the seats are rock-hard, it’s noisy as hell, and it bounces around everywhere…”
Lin Qimian nearly died laughing.
She patted the steering wheel. “You’re absolutely right. I couldn’t agree more.”
Xu Yueliang grinned sheepishly. “But I know it’s a sports car. It’s not made for this kind of thing…”
“It’s a total waste using it to go eat shrimp tails,” Lin Qimian said. “We need to find a spot that’s easy to park.”
“We’re still getting shrimp tails?” Xu Yueliang asked.
“Of course,” Lin Qimian replied. “We said we would.”
“I figured we’d drop the car off first.”
“Drop it off? We rented it for a full day, and that’s what we’re getting—not a single hour less. That’s five hundred bucks.”
Xu Yueliang stared at her, blinking.
Lin Qimian cleared her throat. “Ahem. Let’s put on some music.”
The speakers erupted with heavy metal rock—perfectly suited to the car’s vibe, but so loud it made Lin Qimian’s ears ache.
Xu Yueliang burst out laughing, completely at ease. “The sound system’s killer.”
They tore through the city streets, blowing past every speed limit sign.
By the time they reached the restaurant, Lin Qimian hadn’t even finished parking when Xu Yueliang fished a hat out of her bag and yanked it onto her head.
With her long hair spilling out and the brim shadowing her cheeks, she was virtually unrecognizable.
“Hey, big star, what’s that about?” Lin Qimian asked.
Xu Yueliang pitched her voice low, her chin the only part moving as she spoke. “The big star’s keeping a low profile. Low profile~”
“Doctor Lin wants to keep a low profile too,” Lin Qimian said.
Xu Yueliang gazed at her, declining the request for once. “I’ve only got one hat. Doctor Lin and this car? Perfect match. Go ahead and shine~”
Lin Qimian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Sure enough, the moment she stepped out of the car, countless eyes turned her way.
Xu Yueliang darted off with her head down, but Lin Qimian caught up, seizing her slender shoulder and drawing her close. “No escaping on your own.”
“I wasn’t escaping! Hahaha…” Xu Yueliang protested.
Lin Qimian tightened her hold. “You’re stuck with me now. Locked in. If we’re making fools of ourselves, we do it together.”
Xu Yueliang dissolved into laughter.
B City’s famous Crayfish Shop was packed, buzzing with chatter and thick with the spicy, savory scent of fresh seafood.
They’d arrived late and snagged a tiny corner table—barely enough room for the two of them, let alone an extra bag.
Xu Yueliang’s beloved stir-fried shrimp tails hit the table. She slipped on gloves and attacked them, devouring until her face flushed red and sweaty, her lips puffing up like they’d doubled in size.
Lin Qimian poured her a drink and passed tissues; Xu Yueliang dropped peeled shrimp into her bowl. They worked in seamless tandem, a perfect team.
With the tension gone and good food in front of her, Xu Yueliang turned chatty.
It was all light, scattered talk of daily life—what had happened that day, how she felt about it. When her eyes crinkled up at Lin Qimian, it felt like they’d known each other for years.
Strangers separated by so much time. Just these two months together, and the bond was already too precious to betray.
The spice overwhelmed her. Xu Yueliang chugged most of a glass of soda, peeled off her gloves, and stood. “Gotta wash my hands.”
“Mm.” Lin Qimian watched her go, eyes tracking her until she vanished from sight.
Xu Yueliang hustled back and plopped down, propping her hands upright with her fingers dangling and twitching wildly.
“What’s up?” Lin Qimian asked, eyeing those ten pale, delicate digits.
“Spicy,” Xu Yueliang said with a grimace that was half agony, half amusement. “Not just my mouth—my fingers are burning too. Those gloves were paper-thin…”
Lin Qimian started to raise her hand for the waiter, aiming to order some ice water.
But before she could speak, Xu Yueliang popped one finger into her mouth and sucked on it.
Every sound lodged in Lin Qimian’s throat.
The fingertip emerged glossy and wet. Xu Yueliang’s plump lower lip stayed pursed as she frowned deeply, turning to Lin Qimian with clear dissatisfaction. “It really is spicy. It’s pickled right into the skin.”
“…”
“But I can’t tell if that’s my mouth’s spice or the finger’s~~” Xu Yueliang added.
“…”
Xu Yueliang caught her stare and yanked her hand back. “Sorry, that was kinda gross… But I washed them! Super clean…”
Lin Qimian turned away, the torment hitting hard.
Just like last night.
If this was the torment intimacy brought, Lin Qimian suddenly wondered if it was worth it.
“Server…” Lin Qimian’s voice was a little hoarse as she spoke.
She ordered a bottle of ice water anyway—not for Xu Yueliang, but for herself.
After dinner, the two of them returned to the car.
This time, Xu Yueliang buckled her own seatbelt with practiced ease, no help from Lin Qimian required.
Stuffed full from the meal, she brimmed with excitement and jabbed a finger ahead. “Lin Qimian! Let’s go racing on Xinyang Road!!!”
Lin Qimian arched a brow.
Xu Yueliang went on, “I heard them talking about it—that road’s been paved all the way up to the mountainside, but there’s nothing up top, so it’s basically a dead end. Super remote spot, perfect for letting loose~~ It’s a rare chance. A car this sweet would feel way too cooped up cruising around the city…”
Lin Qimian started the engine. “Beg me.”
Xu Yueliang slapped her thigh. “Argh!!!”
The corners of Lin Qimian’s lips curved upward. “Fine. You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Xu Yueliang stared at her, a mix of shyness and irritation flushing her cheeks, her eyes glittering brightly.
Once they left the city limits and hit the open road with no speed limit, the car revealed its true potential.
Lin Qimian floored the accelerator, and they rocketed past in a blur.
At first, Xu Yueliang thought about rolling down the window to feel the night breeze whipping by. But as the speed climbed, that idea vanished entirely.
Her mouth hung open, her body plastered to the seat by the g-forces, twisting this way and that. She didn’t even dare try to speak to Lin Qimian.
Truth be told, Xinyang Road wasn’t the ideal spot for racing. As an abandoned stretch winding up the mountain, it lacked any streetlights—pretty hazardous stuff.
Lin Qimian eased off the gas, letting Xu Yueliang catch her breath before asking, “So, how was it?”
Xu Yueliang managed, “I… holy shit…”
Lin Qimian cracked up. “Didn’t know you had a mouth like that.”
Xu Yueliang clapped a hand over her lips. After a long moment, she said, “It’s so fast. The acceleration’s insane. It was flying…”
Lin Qimian hummed in agreement. “Mm~”
Xu Yueliang added, “All I’ve got in my head right now are four words: speed and passion…”
Lin Qimian pointed out, “That’s five.”
Xu Yueliang: “…”
She sat there in a daze, like a rabbit that had lost its soul.
Lin Qimian couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into laughter.
They pulled over at the mountainside overlook and came to a stop.
From there, the whole city sprawled below in a dazzling sea of lights. Above, the night sky glittered faintly with stars.
Lin Qimian pushed open the door and stepped out.
She stood quietly, soaking in the nightscape for a moment, but Xu Yueliang didn’t follow.
A gentle night breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and earth.
Lin Qimian glanced back to find Xu Yueliang reclined in her seat, eyes closed, limbs stretched out in total relaxation.
The wind toyed with her long hair, sending a single strand fluttering across her lips.
Lin Qimian asked, “Not coming out to take a look?”
Xu Yueliang shook her head, a smile playing at her lips. “Nah~ I’m just gonna savor the taste of money for a bit~~~”
Lin Qimian smiled and circled around to her side. She leaned in, her fingertip delicately tucking that errant lock of hair behind Xu Yueliang’s ear.
Xu Yueliang’s eyes fluttered open, locking straight onto hers.
“Doctor Lin~~” she drawled, wriggling a little. “Don’t I kinda look like~~~”
Lin Qimian’s gaze drifted, settling on Xu Yueliang’s fluttering lashes. “Like what?”
Xu Yueliang promptly squeezed her eyes shut—though her lashes still quivered faintly.
She twisted her arms behind her as best she could, arching her back to make her posture ramrod straight. The black seatbelt crossed prominently over her chest.
“Like what you said this morning~” Her pink lips parted and closed enticingly. “Tie me up, lash me to the bedframe, blindfold me… and see if this little mouth of mine keeps yapping away~~~”
Lin Qimian’s breath hitched.
Xu Yueliang’s lips curved in smug delight. “I’m not scared at all. You haven’t gagged me yet~~ So I’ll just keep talking. Blah blah blah blah~~~”
The night was utterly still, but Lin Qimian’s mind felt scoured barren by a raging gale.
She reached out and clapped a hand over Xu Yueliang’s mouth. Those soft, warm lips pressed against her palm, carrying a damp, fragrant warmth.
Lin Qimian threw in the towel. “I’m not staying with you tonight. I’ve got urgent business—gotta head back.”
