Chapter 20: Swallowing

“Huh?”

Seeing Ding Sishu’s clueless look, the corners of Nian Qiao’s lips curled even higher. Through the mask and sunglasses, Ding Sishu couldn’t read Nian Qiao’s expression. She felt like she understood what Nian Qiao meant, and yet didn’t. One hand holding her bag, she touched her own rear with the other.

From the moment they’d come downstairs, Nian Qiao had been teasing this little sheep before her. During the shopping trip, she’d noticed the “little tail” swaying on Ding Sishu’s backside. Chatting with the old folks, beaming from ear to ear — that “little tail” seemed to wag even harder. Adorable.

This trip to the supermarket was mainly for daily necessities. Before coming, Nian Qiao hadn’t given much thought to groceries. First, she couldn’t cook. Second, she couldn’t cook. Third, she couldn’t cook. On the matter of cooking, Nian Qiao had no intention of tormenting herself. If not for Ding Sishu, Nian Qiao figured she wouldn’t have wandered into the food section at all. Nian Qiao watched Ding Sishu talk while sorting ingredients into their proper places in the fridge. A big bag in her left hand, a big bag in her right — she somehow managed to squeeze it all in. The fridge was now packed. Finally, Ding Sishu pulled out a fresh lemon.

“Miss Nian, would you like some lemon water?” She’d originally wanted to buy soda. Soda was her love — not Nian Qiao’s. Nian Qiao didn’t like carbonated drinks; at most she’d drink a little juice. Water on a daily basis, tea when she had leisure time, and light salt water when she was tired. Old-school.

Ding Sishu genuinely felt she couldn’t live without soda abroad. She’d loved it before going overseas, and loved it even more after.

“Sure.” Nian Qiao looked at the beads of sweat on Ding Sishu’s forehead. “Would you like to rest a bit?”

Since this morning, Ding Sishu had cooked breakfast, accompanied her to the supermarket, and hadn’t rested at all.

“Sure. You take a seat, Miss Nian. I’ll finish the lemon water and come right over.” Ding Sishu said.

A diligent little bee. The diligent little bee fluttered into the kitchen. The kitchen was warm, and soon her back was soaked. Ding Sishu had on a dark short-sleeve shirt, the fabric clinging to the small of her back. She lifted her shirt, revealing a sliver of her waistline and the edge of her underwear. At home, she probably wouldn’t wear a shirt at all. Nian Qiao didn’t particularly like people who walked around shirtless. Back when the crew wrapped in the middle of the night and went out for street-side food stalls, Nian Qiao always declined — even if she went, she wouldn’t eat. Everyone drenched in sweat, who knew where their droplets might fly. But the little sheep was different. Nian Qiao was actually looking forward to the girl taking her shirt off. Ding Sishu flapped the hem of her shirt, apparently trying to cool down, but quickly lowered it again.

By the time Ding Sishu came out, Nian Qiao had already gone to take a shower. It was high summer — the outdoors felt like a steamer, even though they’d spent most of the time in the supermarket and car.

“Are you going to shower?” Ding Sishu had just sat down when a gentle voice drifted down from the second floor. Ding Sishu took a sip of lemon water and looked up at Nian Qiao. Maybe she’d added too much honey — her tongue was sweet. Nian Qiao’s slender arm rested on the wooden railing, her long hair draped over her shoulders, the tips still damp. Her face was fair, the corners of her lips curving in a smile. Ding Sishu swallowed. Her tongue still tasted sweet. She must have used too much honey.

“What are you standing there in a daze for?” Nian Qiao said.

Ding Sishu lowered her head, staring at her glass, and muttered: “Too much honey.”

Her cheeks were slightly flushed — probably from the heat. At any rate, Ding Sishu avoided looking at Nian Qiao again. Nian Qiao soon came downstairs. “Go shower in the first-floor bathroom. You’re covered in sweat.”

“Huh?” Ding Sishu sniffed herself. Did she smell?

At Ding Sishu’s gesture, Nian Qiao’s lips curved again. Whether intentional or not, her fingers brushed against Ding Sishu’s when she took the glass. Ding Sishu’s reaction was dramatic — she snatched her hand back. “But I don’t have a change of clothes.”

“Wear mine.” Nian Qiao took a sip of the lemon water and walked past Ding Sishu.

Nian Qiao’s move left no room for objection. Ding Sishu scratched her ear. “Oh.”

“Thank you, Miss Nian.” Ding Sishu said.

Ding Sishu’s instincts told her something was wrong. After Nian Qiao closed the door, she stepped out from under the showerhead and went through the clothes Nian Qiao had brought. It was a dress. Damn it.

Wearing a dress, Ding Sishu felt extremely awkward. Last time she’d worn formal wear, it was for the engagement banquet. This time there was no occasion. She’d never worn a dress in her daily life. She felt like Nian Qiao was messing with her. And the dress was on the short side. Well, not that short — knee-length. Either way, Ding Sishu felt awkward; anything above the knee counted as short. She conveniently forgot that before, when she saw girls in short skirts, she’d thought knee-length was too conservative and wished they’d go shorter. Shorter, and even shorter. The beach was Ding Sishu’s happy place.

Setting down her documents, Nian Qiao spotted Ding Sishu peeking around the corner. “Why are you hiding? There’s no one else here.”

There’s you. Isn’t you being here enough? Ding Sishu lowered her head and slowly, reluctantly, came out. “Um, Miss Nian, is there a place to hang clothes?”

“Huh?” Seeing the clothes in Ding Sishu’s hands, Nian Qiao was taken aback. The “particular” Nian Qiao hadn’t expected anyone to do laundry while showering. Weren’t showering and laundry two completely separate things? Standing before her was practically a boy.

Ding Sishu had no idea what Nian Qiao was thinking. She’d always done it this way. At home, she’d maybe just wash her underwear. In the military, to save time, she’d scrub her clothes while showering. Ding Sishu considered herself fairly clean — her other comrades used the stomp-and-stomp method.

“Out there.” Nian Qiao pointed to the garden outside.

After Ding Sishu went out, Nian Qiao checked the time. Five minutes. Ding Sishu had showered and done her laundry in five minutes? Did she even get clean? Nian Qiao, not usually a clean freak, wanted to drag Ding Sishu back into the bathroom and scrub her down herself. She’d scrub every inch. Nian Qiao watched Ding Sishu through the window. Unaccustomed to skirts, Ding Sishu kept her head down, lifting the hem. It gave her a somewhat reserved quality. While Ding Sishu hung the clothes, Nian Qiao watched a little longer. That’s right. A girl should be like this. Soon Ding Sishu came back in. It was scorching outside, and her damp hair ends had nearly dried in an instant. Her cheeks were flushed. “Miss Nian, do you have any casual clothes?”

“Hm?”

“Skirts aren’t practical. I can’t protect you properly in this.” Ding Sishu said.

“Miss Nian?” When Nian Qiao didn’t respond, Ding Sishu called again.

“Walk through that again.” Nian Qiao had been lounging on the sofa, but now she sat up straight.

“Huh?”

“From the door.” As Nian Qiao spoke, Ding Sishu moved to leave. Nian Qiao called her back. “No need to go out.”

“Oh.” Ding Sishu tugged at the skirt. With Nian Qiao watching, she couldn’t be as bold as usual and restrained herself a bit. Old habits were hard to break, but she did her best.

“Relax.” Nian Qiao said.

It felt like Nian Qiao had found a new form of amusement. Ding Sishu thought her job as a bodyguard was truly not easy. Besides protecting Nian Qiao, she had to keep her entertained.

After two more rounds, Nian Qiao’s gaze softened. “Feeling like a woman yet?”

“…I was always a woman.” Nian Qiao’s comment threw Ding Sishu off stride.

Nian Qiao smiled. “You could be more womanly.”

“In this line of work, being too womanly doesn’t work. No strength.”

Nian Qiao crooked her finger at Ding Sishu.

Nian Qiao pinched Ding Sishu’s cheek. “A woman’s strength lies in deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces.”

“We’re not undercover agents. We don’t need to trade… favors with people.” Saying that probably wasn’t appropriate. “When we see an ‘enemy,’ we take them down first and ask questions later.”

“So would you take me down too?” Nian Qiao said.

Nian Qiao’s long finger traced across Ding Sishu’s bobbing throat.

At Nian Qiao’s touch, Ding Sishu’s swallow grew louder — she could hear her own gulp.

Danger. Wasn’t the Nian Qiao before her a walking hazard? But Ding Sishu didn’t dare “take down” Nian Qiao.

“A woman’s strength is limited, after all. But there are many things a woman has that a man doesn’t.” Nian Qiao slowly withdrew her hand, her fingertips grazing Ding Sishu’s neck one last time.

Wasn’t Nian Qiao just trying to mold Ding Sishu into a proper woman?

Ding Sishu thought Nian Qiao made a good point. Pretty people always sounded reasonable. But on reflection, it was completely wrong. She was a bodyguard; her job was pure explosive force. Could she seduce her opponents? Without their “savagery,” how could the big stars live at ease?

At dinner, Tiantian ordered takeout again. It arrived quickly and was very elaborate. Ding Sishu didn’t know takeout could be this high-end. Working with Nian Qiao, the happiest moments were mealtimes. Nian Qiao ate so little that Ding Sishu basically finished everything.

Sure enough, after a few bites, Nian Qiao set down her chopsticks. Full. She’d barely touched her rice. Ding Sishu suspected these stars all had pigeon-sized stomachs.

Hearing a familiar background tune, Ding Sishu bit down on her chopsticks. “Miss Nian, you’re watching ‘Bayonet Squad’?”

“Yeah. You like it too?” Nian Qiao said. “Want to watch together?”

“Sure!” Ding Sishu started wolfing down her meal.

“Don’t rush.” Nian Qiao paused the video. “Eat slowly, or your stomach will suffer.”

“Mhm mhm.” She could have stopped eating, but Ding Sishu couldn’t bear to waste the fried fish. The fried fish was just too delicious. As she ate, she glanced at Nian Qiao. Nian Qiao lounged on the sofa in silk loungewear, her long legs stretched out — an especially languid sight.

“Stop staring. I’m not an appetizer.” Nian Qiao didn’t even look up.

Ding Sishu’s ears turned red. Who says? I think you’re the perfect appetizer.

Gorgeous enough to whet the appetite.