Chapter 63: How Scorching is the Noonday Sun?

The noonday sun blazed mercilessly.

Not a single shadow lingered on the playground.

Even the boys who usually skipped class to shoot hoops had vanished.

Huddling under the tree shade offered no relief—the fierce sunlight beat straight down on her face.

Xia Zhuxi wore her summer school uniform, sweat trickling from her cheeks into her collar.

A nearby classroom window slid open, and the homeroom teacher poked his head out, bellowing, “Had enough standing yet? Get back here and write your self-criticism! And call your parents!”

Xia Zhuxi shot him a cold glance and ignored him.

Her punishment spot was right next to the teachers’ office, where the AC unit rumbled, blasting out hot exhaust.

When the bell rang, the homeroom teacher hauled her into the office. Refreshing cool air washed over her.

He ordered her to keep standing against the wall while he berated her nonstop.

Xia Zhuxi stared at his flapping lips, but his words blurred into incoherence in her ears.

After a while, someone hurried in.

Facing the wall, Xia Zhuxi heard high heels clicking from behind. The teacher called out, “Xia Zhuxi’s parent!”

High heels? Xia Zhuxi was stunned. Mom would never come to school. Mom never gave a damn about her—at most, Dad would show up and give her a beating.

Xia Zhuxi’s “parent” spoke with ringing authority: “Teacher, I think you’re being unfair. What gives you the right to blame our Xiao Xi for other kids’ dropping grades? Do you even know her classmates are isolating her? Why don’t you show my Xiao Xi the same concern you give everyone else?”

Xia Zhuxi’s eyes widened at the wall. This wasn’t Mom. Mom would never defend her—she’d apologize to the teacher and then tear into Xia Zhuxi afterward.

The “parent” approached in those high heels, footsteps drawing nearer.

Xia Zhuxi started to turn, but suddenly a hand clamped over her mouth from behind. That parent’s voice whispered, “Daydreaming in class… were you secretly fantasizing about me?”

~~~

The soft pad of flesh against her lips felt far too real.

Xia Zhuxi’s eyes snapped open. Shen Jingsong’s lovely face hovered inches away. Like a cat caught with the cream, she darted back.

Shen Jingsong’s plump, rosy lips flashed past Xia Zhuxi’s vision.

Xia Zhuxi snapped to her senses.

It had all been a dream.

The hand in the dream was fake.

In reality, Shen Jingsong had stolen a kiss while she was still asleep—that was why the sensation on her lips felt so vivid.

The covers were toasty warm. Shen Jingsong still wore last night’s nightgown, nothing underneath, her body dotted with telltale red marks.

She lay with her back to Xia Zhuxi, tapping away on her phone and letting out soft chuckles.

“Jingjing, what are you up to?” Xia Zhuxi rolled over, wrapped her arms around her, and peeked at the screen over her shoulder.

Shen Jingsong had posted a photo diary on the dating app.

【Starting today, I’ll record moments with Xiao Xi. I tried to snap the stolen kiss, but it came out blurry.】

Xia Zhuxi peered closely at the picture. Shutter shake had smeared their faces into ghostly afterimages, but that very blur made their lips seem tantalizingly close, evoking a dreamy allure.

Hugging her tight, Xia Zhuxi’s fingers brushed hers as she tapped into the phone’s interface. “What’s this app?”

Shen Jingsong snuggled deeper into her embrace. “Little Love—a couples’ app. This is the one-on-one mode; only the paired account can see the shares.”

Xia Zhuxi asked, “You signed up by yourself?”

Shen Jingsong replied, “Want to accept my invite?”

Xia Zhuxi fished under the pillow for her phone. Sure enough, there was Shen Jingsong’s invitation in QQ.

She accepted.

The couples’ home screen read:

Xiao Xi, Jingjing

You’ve been together 1 day

Xia Zhuxi said, “Only one day?”

Shen Jingsong nodded. “We just signed up.”

She showed off the app’s features. “This calendar logs events with little icons in the date boxes. Like, a flame for arguments, two hearts for dates.”

Xia Zhuxi pointed to the icon on their single day together: “What’s this one—two female symbols merged?”

Shen Jingsong slid under the covers, hiding half her face, her eyes sparkling. “That’s what I just added. Last night, we made love.”

Xia Zhuxi: “……”

Aaaah!

Xia Zhuxi yanked the covers over her head.

Shen Jingsong vanished beneath them too.

“Xiao Xi, it’s so stuffy in here.”

“Can’t breathe?”

“Mm……”

The blankets rustled and shifted.

In the warm darkness, slivers of morning light seeped through. Xia Zhuxi rolled over and planted a kiss on Shen Jingsong’s lips. “Haven’t brushed yet—no tongue.” She blew softly.

Shen Jingsong giggled and hugged her tight. “I can breathe now.”

They got up, freshened up, and Xia Zhuxi drove Shen Jingsong to the set.

Film City was bustling, so Xia Zhuxi drove a low-key black sedan and parked it in a corner on the B2 basement level.

Most cars were up on B1, leaving B2 feeling vast and empty, with only a handful of vehicles scattered about.

Xia Zhuxi cut the engine and asked Shen Jingsong roughly when she might get off work.

Shen Jingsong thought for a moment. “Give me a kiss, and I’ll tell you.”

Xia Zhuxi grabbed the plush toy from Shen Jingsong’s car and tapped it against Shen Jingsong’s cheek on the side with the big-head sticker. “There. Now spill.”

Shen Jingsong pouted. “You’re playing dirty.”

Xia Zhuxi grinned. “Remember how you’d use that squirrel plush to fake-kiss me? Well, now I’m fake-kissing you with my sticker photo.”

Shen Jingsong leaned in quick and pecked her on the cheek with a loud smooch, her lips soft and glossy.

Xia Zhuxi froze.

Shen Jingsong hopped out of the car. “Eight o’clock tonight!” She flashed a grin, dashed into the elevator, blew her a flying kiss, and waved goodbye.

Xia Zhuxi waved back, then glanced up at the rearview mirror. Her lips tugged into an unstoppable smile, and there was a smudge of lipstick on her right cheek.

She snapped a selfie with her phone, posted it to her dating app, rummaged in the glove box for a wet wipe, and wiped the mark off while checking the mirror.

At the mirror’s edge, a dark shadow flickered past the concrete pillar around the corner.

Xia Zhuxi whipped her head around. The shadow was gone, vanished under the cold spill of white light across the empty expanse of floor.

What was that? A random passerby? Or… paparazzi?

Ever since Shen Jingsong signed with Di Chen Company, her star had risen fast, and the evening tabloid rumors had multiplied. A single candid shot could rack up tens of thousands of shares.

Xia Zhuxi frowned and powered up the window, reminding herself to stay on high alert from now on.

Back home, she sprawled on the sofa, scrolling entertainment news. Nothing juicy, so her nerves eased a little.

She tapped into a Di Chen Video preview clip for 《Dynasty 5》, and the top-liked one showed the Queen—playing hostage in the enemy kingdom—bantering with the enemy Princess.

The comments section was a warzone.

Shen Jingsong’s fans were clashing with the Empire Princess’s fans.

The Empire Princess’s actor stans gushed: Jingjing pairs so well with our baby! Gentle big-sis receiver and bubbly little guy—adorable overload~

Squirrel Army fired back: Buzz off! Stop leeching our fairy’s fame! Jingjing belongs to Xia God!

Xia Zhuxi nodded vigorously in agreement, liking a bunch of the Squirrel Army’s comments.

Bubbly little guy, her ass. Didn’t she have a big sister of her own?

The nerve of these people, eyeing her wife!

Ding-dong. The intercom chimed.

Xia Zhuxi got up for a look. Who’d drop by in the middle of the day?

“Coming.” She ambled over and buzzed the door open.

“Xia Zhuxi?” Lu Guanlan stood there in a crisp blue-and-white blouse, her makeup sharp and precise. “Sorry to intrude. Is Shen Jingsong home?”

They lived right above and below each other, and Lu Guanlan prized efficiency—face-to-face chats over calls unless she had no choice.

After a year as neighbors, Xia Zhuxi knew the drill. “She’s on set today. What’s up? I can pass it along.”

“No need, thanks.” Lu Guanlan was all business. “When’s she due back?”

Xia Zhuxi shrugged. “Hard to say.”

“Got it. Won’t bother you.” Lu Guanlan turned and left without another word.

Xia Zhuxi blinked in confusion. All that rush, but no details? In a hurry or what?

And with her and Shen Jingsong’s rapport, relaying a message should’ve been no big deal.

Whatever. Not her circus, not her monkeys.

Xia Zhuxi dove back into the clips, liking Squirrel Army posts and thumbs-downing the rivals.

She’d accomplished zilch all day except binge Shen Jingsong videos and prowl #Summer Squirrel#. Some of those fan-edited CP pics were straight-up feast for the eyes.

Around seven that evening, Xia Zhuxi geared up to fetch Shen Jingsong. Pausing at the door, she remembered that morning’s creepy shadow in the garage and hesitated before dialing her.

“Jingjing, can Momo bring you home tonight?”

“Where you headed?”

“I’m home. Pretty sure I spotted paparazzi in Film City’s garage this morning.”

“Oh! Roger that. I’ll text you when I head out.”

“See you soon.”

Xia Zhuxi hung up and wandered to the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window. The garden below glowed under the lights as Lu Guanlan walked home holding Lulu’s hand. The girl was in her school uniform, head down as she fiddled with her red neckerchief.

The window was cracked open, letting in voices from downstairs.

Lu Guanlan said, “If you think the teacher was unfair, tell godmom. I’ll go with you to sort it out.”

Lulu mumbled, “Teacher says good kids do what she says.”

Lu Guanlan replied, “Good kids do what’s right. Teachers aren’t always right. Listen up, Lulu—you’ve got Mommy and godmom in your corner. Right or wrong, we’ll always love you.”

Xia Zhuxi thought back to that morning’s dream: her schoolgirl self getting her parent called in.

The “Xia Zhuxi parent” from the dream? Had to be Shen Jingsong.

What on earth was Xia Zhuxi daydreaming about during class?

Compared to the fantasies of the past, her current life felt more like a dream.

Xia Zhuxi sank into the sofa and hugged the squirrel plushie tight, taking a deep sniff.

Shen Jingsong’s scent still lingered on it.

~~~

Thanks to Xia Zhuxi’s reminder, Shen Jingsong stayed on high alert.

She had her company switch out the car and drove it past the production team’s security line. From now on, there would be no more picking up or dropping off Xia Zhuxi for work.

Momo pulled the car into Silver Moon Bay and was about to head down to the underground garage when she spotted someone standing guard at the door.

“Whoa, Teacher Shen, check it out.” Momo jumped in surprise. “Someone’s blocking the way? Paparazzi?”

Shen Jingsong rolled down the window for a look. “It’s fine. Just my neighbor.”

Momo let out a sigh of relief. “Phew, that’s better. Go on ahead, Teacher Shen. I’ll park the car.”

Shen Jingsong murmured her agreement and walked over to Lu Guanlan. “Boss Lu?”

Lu Guanlan replied, “I’ve been waiting for you all day.”

Shen Jingsong blinked in surprise. “Me?”

Lu Guanlan invited Shen Jingsong inside. Lulu gave her a quick wave hello before hugging her doll and heading off to bed.

“Have a seat.” Lu Guanlan set down a glass of water. Her black hair fell across her face, and when she looked up, her clear black-and-white eyes fixed on Shen Jingsong.

Feeling a little awkward, Shen Jingsong glanced around. “Bemben’s not home?”

Lu Guanlan leaned back into the sofa. “She’s away on a business trip.”

Shen Jingsong nodded. “She’s got a packed schedule.”

The study walls were covered in children’s drawings, with one section dedicated to displaying awards: “Shang Lusheng from Class 1(6) has shown outstanding performance and is hereby commended.”

Lu Guanlan straightened up. “Shang Mingrong and I were only apart from ages fifteen to eighteen before we turned twenty-two.”

Shen Jingsong hadn’t expected Lu Guanlan to dive straight into the topic. Her eyes went a little blank.

Lu Guanlan’s voice was clear and resonant. “The Shang Family and Lu Family were old family friends. Shang Mingrong and I were born in the same hospital, had the same preschool teacher, went to the same kindergarten, elementary school, and junior high—always together.”

“Then the Shang Family crossed the Chu Family, and it all came crashing down.” Lu Guanlan’s eyes filled with helplessness as she let out a quiet sigh. “Uncle Shang and Aunt Shang passed away one after another. Grandma Shang took her from Shengjing to Liu Lin for high school. She didn’t leave me even a single minute of those three years.”

“I defied my parents, gave up studying abroad, and applied to the same university as Shang Mingrong. When I saw her at Z Drama Academy, her personality had changed so much.”

Lu Guanlan leaned toward Shen Jingsong. “You were Shang Mingrong’s high school desk mate. I want you to tell me what happened during those three years we were apart. What did she go through to turn from that pure, cheerful little goofball into someone so quiet and withdrawn?”

The words struck a chord in Shen Jingsong’s heart. She understood what Lu Guanlan was after.

Shen Jingsong had always found Shang Mingrong odd too. The Shang Mingrong of today was exactly like the girl she’d met at the start of high school—no sign of growth at all.

Shen Jingsong said, “But she’s the same as she was back then—pure and cute.”

Lu Guanlan replied, “Because she lost her memory.”

Shen Jingsong was stunned, her mind going blank for a moment.

Lu Guanlan continued, “She only remembers things up to university, and even some of her high school memories are missing. What exactly happened in high school that forced her to abandon those memories just to escape the pain?”

Shen Jingsong fell silent, her thoughts drifting back to the past.

After a moment, she spoke softly. “It must have been that incident.”

Lu Guanlan listened intently, her brows furrowed the whole time.

Shen Jingsong took a deep breath, her voice low. “Back in high school, Bemben thought she liked boys.”

Lu Guanlan nodded. “I know.”

Shen Jingsong lowered her eyes. “In our senior year, there was a girl in our class who had a crush on her. Because of her… it blew up big time, but the school covered it up. After that, she got really depressed.”

Lu Guanlan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Shen Jingsong sniffled. “Bemben said she’d never forgive herself. She transferred schools soon after, and we gradually lost touch. I don’t know what happened after that.”

Lu Guanlan was about to ask more when Shen Jingsong’s phone rang. She picked up to Xia Zhuxi’s voice—loud and urgent.

“Jingjing, where are you?! I’m downstairs! I don’t see you!”

Lu Guanlan’s expression flickered with surprise for an instant. Shen Jingsong smiled.

Lu Guanlan said, “Sorry for keeping you.”

Shen Jingsong hurried home. Before leaving, she told Lu Guanlan, “Losing her memory might not be such a bad thing. Bemben’s happier now, and your home feels happy too, doesn’t it?”

Lu Guanlan nodded and saw her out. “Shen Jingsong, please keep our conversation confidential. Don’t tell Bemben or Xia Zhuxi.”

Shen Jingsong agreed. “Of course.”

The moment the door swung open, Xia Zhuxi was blocking the entrance, her face hanging low and her expression unreadable.

It looked thoroughly sullen, in any case.

“The minute you knocked this afternoon, I knew something was off,” Xia Zhuxi said to Lu Guanlan. “It’s so late—what are you doing looking for my wife?”

Lu Guanlan smiled faintly.

Shen Jingsong slipped her arm through Xia Zhuxi’s. “Xiao Xi, let’s go home first.”

Xia Zhuxi shot Lu Guanlan a couple of glares before Shen Jingsong pulled her into the elevator.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to her place!”

“Boss Lu was waiting for me downstairs. I figured it wouldn’t take long before I headed back up—sorry, I was wrong. I should have told you first, no matter the situation.”

The instant they stepped inside the apartment, Xia Zhuxi pinned Shen Jingsong against the wall in the corner, leaning in close. “What did Lu Guanlan want with you?”

Shen Jingsong draped her arms around her neck. “Nothing happened. We just talked about some things.”

Xia Zhuxi: “What things?”

Shen Jingsong: “I promised Boss Lu I’d keep it confidential.”

Xia Zhuxi: “Hmph!!!!!”