Shen Wenyi knew she should be more clear-headed, but her reason, in the deep of night, in front of Jiang Shiyang, was gradually losing its strength.
The things that had seemed so clear during the day now began to waver.
After all these years, she understood Jiang Shiyang. Even if Jiang Shiyang had truly approached her with ulterior motives, she would absolutely never do the things that happened in that cabinet.
Jiang Shiyang was vengeful and hated to lose, but she had principles. To fight her, Jiang Shiyang might lower her moral standards, justifying them as all being fair in war, but Jiang Shiyang would never break her bottom line just to fight her.
The incident in the cabinet, no matter how she thought about it, was strange. It didn’t seem like something Jiang Shiyang could do, unless there was a reason she would die if she didn’t.
But how was that possible? How could she die if she didn’t kiss her? Besides, Jiang Shiyang hadn’t just kissed her, she had also…
That narrow, sealed, pitch-black space had blocked her sight but amplified her hearing and touch. She clearly remembered every one of Jiang Shiyang’s actions, every kiss. The more she tried to forget, the more she couldn’t.
Why had Jiang Shiyang done that? Her heart had been in chaos all day.
Reason told her it was all just her own wishful thinking. Maybe Jiang Shiyang had done it on purpose. After all, as people age, their bottom line constantly lowers. In the five years she and Jiang Shiyang had spent more time apart than together, she had no clear idea how low Jiang Shiyang’s bottom line had sunk.
She looked at Jiang Shiyang standing before her with closed eyes and subconsciously pressed her hand to her chest. Jiang Shiyang’s body heat seemed to linger there still, even though it had been through layers of royal palace attire at the time, unable to be blocked.
She knew that warmth was most likely just an illusion, but the pressing sensation had been absolutely real.
So, Jiang Shiyang, did you do that kind of thing to me because your bottom line lowered? Or do you really, towards me…
She raised her hand, reaching for Jiang Shiyang. This alluring, gorgeous face—she had yearned for it, day and night, for over ten years. As her fingertip gently touched it, her heart trembled along with it.
Jiang Shiyang, how could you do this…
The five-year deadline was almost here. She had already given up hope, had truly given up hope. Why did you have to come and disturb her at a time like this?
What was she supposed to do with you?
To just let go like this… she suddenly felt unwilling. She clearly thought it was impossible, yet she still wondered: what if? What if you weren’t playing me? What if there really was some chance encounter that made you discover you actually… liked me?
Just try once. Just this once. Consider it closure for all these years of stubbornness.
Shen Wenyi, just this once.
Jiang Shiyang didn’t reject her light touch, giving her immense courage.
She looked at the obediently closed eyes, the long lashes lowered in a way that tugged at her tear ducts and even more at her heart. She cupped Jiang Shiyang’s face, stood on her toes, and gently kissed those long eyelashes.
Jiang Shiyang… didn’t reject it.
Didn’t reject it.
The corners of her eyes felt vaguely hot and swollen; her tears were a little out of control. She lifted her head, took a deep breath, and forcefully held them back, her gaze falling on those red lips she had never dared to dream of.
She had written nearly a million words of fanfiction, countless scenes of kisses between her and Jiang Shiyang—some tender and lingering, some fierce and crazy. But before today, she had never known what the real taste was like.
Jiang Shiyang had kissed her in the cabinet without her consent, so wasn’t it reasonable for her to take one back now?
—Everything I want to say is right here.
She held Jiang Shiyang’s face, her heels slowly lowering to the ground. She only needed to tilt her neck up to kiss those crimson lips.
They were… soft, but not entirely the marshmallow-like softness she’d described in her writing. It was a softness with a hint of resilience, a pliability that captivated her.
The hands holding the face tightened involuntarily. In just an instant, she quickly let go and retreated two steps, pressing her lips together to suppress her disordered breathing, not daring to let herself get lost in it.
One step later, and she didn’t know what she might have done.
Jiang Shiyang’s lack of rejection was like silent permission to do anything. She… she wasn’t the person with fantastic self-control her fans praised. She had no self-control at all.
She steadied her breathing for a moment, her gaze fixed on Jiang Shiyang, who had obediently kept her eyes closed from start to finish, never once opening them.
At least this proved Jiang Shiyang didn’t hate her kiss, right?
My answer has already been told to you. Can you tell me yours now?
As long as your answer matches what I think, whether you’re deceiving me or it’s real, I’ll take it as real. After ten-plus years of being stubborn over you, even if you deceive me, I haven’t lost anything. There’s still at least a fifty percent chance you’re not lying.
She took a deep breath and said to Jiang Shiyang, “Alright, you can open your eyes now.”
Jiang Shiyang opened them at the sound, glanced around, then looked back at her.
“Didn’t you say one for three? Where’s your one?”
What did that mean?
“Haven’t I already… told you?”
Jiang Shiyang smiled. “Are you kidding me? I didn’t hear a single word.”
Looking at Jiang Shiyang’s smile, she couldn’t tell if it was a joke or if she was truly being mocked.
She curled her fingers, forcefully propping up her heart as it plummeted bit by bit. “Haven’t I already expressed myself very clearly? What’s your answer?”
Jiang Shiyang glanced toward the door. “Alright, Shen Wenyi, trying to get something for nothing doesn’t work with me. I’m out of time. That’s it, whatever it is, we’ll talk tomorrow. I’m leaving. Sleep well.”
Jiang Shiyang turned and left. She instinctively reached out to grab her, but couldn’t hold on. Her fingertips only brushed across Jiang Shiyang’s clothing.
Jiang Shiyang walked very fast, reaching the door in a few steps, opening it to leave, and locking it behind her without looking back.
She stood at the bathroom doorway, and surprisingly, she didn’t feel disappointed. Truly not disappointed. Truly. Something that held little hope from the start—how could she be disappointed?
It was just that her steps felt so weak, as if treading on clouds. She was having trouble… standing steady.
Jiang Shiyang, holding the bone-setting liniment, strode quickly back to her own room. The moment the door locked, she leaned against the door panel, carelessly setting the liniment on a nearby shelf.
Just moments ago, she’d wondered if Shen Wenyi was leaning against the door panel in panic when she closed it. Now it was her turn?
Was this the legendary instant karma?!
Heavens above, earth below, all the divine buddhas!
She was wrong, she was truly wrong. She shouldn’t have only said half and left half unsaid. She should have… should have bitten her tongue and not said a single word!
She had been so naive, thinking she could get Shen Wenyi to help her complete the task on her own. Had she gone crazy?
Look, she hadn’t said anything yet, and Shen Wenyi already couldn’t control her restless heart, kissing and touching her. If Shen Wenyi found out she couldn’t function without her, wouldn’t she be crying herself to death in Shen Wenyi’s bed the very next second?
Too terrifying. Although Shen Wenyi’s lips were quite soft, and she didn’t seem very experienced—it was about like the fleeting, superficial kisses during filming. She probably hadn’t fooled around with anyone and was still quite pure.
But was this a matter of purity or not? She was very pure too, alright?
But what did purity mean? It meant no experience, it meant knowing nothing!
Imagine it: someone who knows nothing but is full of energy, secretly listening to audio dramas in the middle of the night. Once the person she likes falls into her hands and can’t be without her, how will she crazily apply her immature theoretical knowledge on the one she likes?
Too terrifying! She absolutely didn’t want to be Shen Wenyi’s test field!
No, no, no. The battle plan had to change. She wouldn’t entice Shen Wenyi anymore. There would always be a way to handle the task; things would work out. Back when she only had five minutes of human form duration, hadn’t she smoothly completed tasks too?
A man without distant care must have near sorrow. Although lacking Shen Wenyi’s help would be mentally taxing and unsettling, it was still better than being Shen Wenyi’s test field, right?
Speaking of which, this Random Five Senses Blocking Talisman was truly hateful. When she didn’t need it, it was always there. Finally, when she could use it, it was gone?!
If only it could have lasted a few minutes longer, she wouldn’t be so panicked.
Truly, what use were you?!
She would rather dance joyfully on the edge of a cliff than walk cautiously on flat ground. This was truly… like thorns in her back, like a fishbone in her throat. Too uncomfortable.
She closed her eyes for a moment. Somehow, the image of Shen Wenyi’s red-rimmed eyes flashed through her mind.
Did it seem like Shen Wenyi was about to cry?
It was… quite possible.
Before she had turned into an object, if someone told her Shen Wenyi liked to hide and cry alone, she wouldn’t have believed it. She had always thought Shen Wenyi was hateful and ruthless, a hard-hearted person.
But now…
Seeing it with her own eyes, she had to believe it.
At this moment… was Shen Wenyi crying?
Wait, why was she concerned about this? Even if she was crying, she couldn’t go comfort her. Even if she comforted her, she couldn’t take responsibility. Why think about these irrelevant things? Short pain really was better than drawn-out pain.
Sigh, Shen Wenyi. We’ve been archrivals from elementary school until now for so many years. Can you stop making me go soft like this all the time?
Actually, burying the hatchet with you isn’t impossible for me. I don’t absolutely have to compete with you for superiority; I can let you have it. But… letting you win is one thing, letting you sleep with me is not. Me being the top doesn’t work either.
Sexual orientation—this issue really is a huge problem. I don’t discriminate against you, so don’t you come and try to bend me. I snap as soon as I’m bent. Not curved, but broken.
Besides, my mom would beat me to death.
Besides, I’m an actress, a public figure. I have to be mindful of my private life. I don’t have a mine at home; if I’m not an actress, I can’t earn enough money. Who would pay back the huge hole my dad created from his failed business venture?
You’re a wealthy heiress, and I’m a poor little flower in debt. Although it seems melodramatically well-matched, there really won’t be a story between us. Because my dad isn’t a bloodsucker—his business failure was still the fault of me, his spendthrift daughter.
And…
She tilted her head back against the door panel, her heart feeling inexplicably bitter.
And you’re an only daughter, someone with a throne to inherit. Auntie Kang is so traditional, and I’ve heard your dad’s health hasn’t been great these last two years. You’d better turn back to the shore soon.
Heh.
Why was she letting her thoughts run wild like this? Wasn’t it just being touched and kissed by Shen Wenyi?
No big deal. It wasn’t too bad yet; she could still call “cut” in time.
Calm down, Jiang Shiyang. Go to sleep now. Wash your mouth… uh, face. Wash your face and get into bed.
She stepped toward the bathroom. After just two steps, her legs suddenly went weak. Damn! She’d been so preoccupied with her panic and confusion that her time was up!
No! Wait! At least let me crawl onto the bed before I go!
Thud!
The moment her consciousness detached, she heard the sound of her body hitting the floor.
When she opened her eyes again, it was pitch black all around. She was lying somewhere hard, with only a straight line of light slanting from above. The light was very faint, like a bedside lamp.
Ding!
[Task (6): Please have Shen Wenyi use you up within seven days. Task success reward: 5000 points, human form duration: 240 hours.]
Use her up? What had she become?
Using that single line of light before her, she strained to look up and examine herself. She could vaguely make out that she seemed to be a bottle, and one with a pump dispenser too.
Could it be something like shampoo?
But shampoo was usually kept in the bathroom, and this clearly wasn’t the bathroom.
Wait, she remembered now!
When she was a Bluetooth earbud before, Shen Wenyi had put her, along with the charging case, into the bedside table drawer. She remembered there was a large bottle of body lotion lying sideways in the drawer.
She had turned into Shen Wenyi’s… body lotion?!
