Chapter 76: Room

The beauty’s head gently hung low, the back of her neck forming a graceful curve. Both hands were raised high, resting on her fair, slender back. Her shoulder blades protruded, like wings poised to take flight.

Slender fingers fumbled at the center of her shoulder blades for something, but couldn’t find it. In her fluster, another section of skin on her back was exposed, her slender waist fully visible, her back dimples alluring.

“Xunxun, help me fasten it.”

Gu Yu had been admiring the view on her own and hadn’t moved. Only after Jiang Bomu spoke did she shift her gaze and ask lazily: “Fasten what?”

“The buttons.” You asked a question you already knew the answer to.

“You should’ve said so earlier,” Gu Yu laughed. “I thought you were dancing.”

Jiang Bomu: “…”

Gu Yu approached her again and lifted that thin piece of fabric, her fingertip brushing the creamy white skin with a touch so light it seemed accidental. Jiang Bomu immediately stiffened, her back straightening even more, fleeing from her hand.

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand to wear something nice?” Gu Yu seemed completely unaware of what she was doing and sighed. “I wore just a basic sweater and jeans. Not formal at all.”

As she spoke, her hand remained on the back, touching here, tapping there. An extremely light movement, but it magnified in Jiang Bomu’s perception. The tickle turned into a tingling numbness, a small electric current rising ceaselessly along her spine. She was forced to lean forward, not daring any further contact.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t have been a surprise.” Pausing, she asked, “Still not done?”

“It’s a bit hard to fasten,” Gu Yu said. “How did you put it on?”

“In front of the mirror.”

Finally, it was fastened. She immediately stood up, not looking at Gu Yu even once, heading straight for the door.

“I’m going back to the bedroom first to tidy up. It’s a bit messy.”

“I don’t believe you,” Gu Yu followed. “When you stay in hotels, your room is never messy.”

Jiang Bomu had run out of excuses. Biting her lip, she said: “Then you’re not allowed… allowed to laugh at me.”

Gu Yu glanced at her in surprise. Why would she laugh? Was it really that messy?

She had imagined a pigsty, but upon entering, she stood rooted to the spot in shock.

Completely the opposite of what she envisioned, the entire room was pink. The walls were a Morandi color, like a pink veiled in a thin mist. The curtains were dusty pink. To one side hung a wooden swing chair, the throw pillows and blanket on it also pink.

The canopy bed in the center was even more exaggerated, even having lace trims. Every corner was filled with plush toys: LinaBell, StellaLou, Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear, Kuromi…

Gu Yu suddenly recalled the first day she slept with Jiang Bomu, the disposable bed sheet laid on the hotel bed—pink plaid, so girlish. She had always thought it was Tao Tao’s choice, but now it seemed…

The scent of tea drifted into the air, sobering Gu Yu a bit. She looked at the constrained Jiang Bomu in disbelief.

Having known her for so long, Gu Yu naturally knew her style of dress. Mostly minimalist black, white, and gray. Even her formal gowns rarely featured bright colors. But her room…

Gu Yu was silent for a long time. It was hard to imagine a wardrobe in a princess style filled entirely with such ascetic-style clothes.

Even harder to imagine was Jiang Bomu sleeping every night in such a maidenly room.

“You’ve seen it, let’s go out,” Jiang Bomu blocked Gu Yu’s line of sight, forcing herself to sound composed. “Let’s go.”

“I haven’t seen enough yet.”

Gu Yu hooked her arm and walked inside, sitting together on the swing chair big enough for three. It was soft and plush, like sitting on a fluffy cloud.

A light tap of her toes, and the swing chair gently swayed back and forth, slowly rocking. Gu Yu loved this feeling, like the swing she played on as a child, only safer and more comfortable.

“No wonder you wouldn’t let me into your room,” Gu Yu huffed. “Were you afraid I’d steal your swing chair?”

Jiang Bomu had expected her first words to be mockery; she had never imagined she’d speak in such a joking tone. She was stunned, not knowing how to respond. A lump formed in her throat, and she suddenly felt like crying.

Tears of shame, for having thought so poorly of Gu Yu—and tears of joy, for being understood.

The two intertwined, and a teardrop rolled down. She turned her face away, hastily wiped it, and smiled: “I’ll buy you an identical one later.”

“That’s not necessary,” Gu Yu winked playfully. “This way, I’ll have a reason to come play in your room.”

The swing chair continued to rock leisurely, but Jiang Bomu’s heart settled. She tilted her head slightly, leaning on Gu Yu’s shoulder, and murmured: “Thank you, Xunxun.”

“Thanking me for stealing your swing chair?” Gu Yu hooked her chin. “If you really want to thank me…”

She leaned close to Jiang Bomu’s ear and whispered something.

The numbness spreading from her earlobe hadn’t even fully reached her before Jiang Bomu was shocked by her bold words. She bolted up as if scalded.

“What’s wrong?” Gu Yu enjoyed the swing chair all to herself, watching her with keen interest. “Sister, what are you so shy about?”

Jiang Bomu’s face was hotter than it had ever been before. She didn’t need a mirror to know just how red it was. Embarrassed, she let down her updo and used her long hair to shield her cheeks, blocking Gu Yu’s line of sight.

As if, as long as Gu Yu couldn’t see her, her face wasn’t red.

The flimsy attempt made Gu Yu laugh. She’d almost forgotten that Jiang Bomu was twenty-seven. This kind of childish behavior was clearly something an eight-year-old would do.

“From now on, don’t say things like that to me.”

Their thoughts seemed to have synced up. Jiang Bomu finally remembered she was the older one and spoke with feigned authority.

Unfortunately, it could no longer intimidate anyone. Unafraid, Gu Yu stretched out her long arm and pulled her over to sit on her lap, planting a loud kiss on her hot cheek.

“Childish Miss Little Ai,” Gu Yu laughed again. “I’m going to say it. Not only say it, I’ll do it too.”

Frightened, Jiang Bomu sprang up again and sat on the farthest corner of the bed. Her eyes were panicked. Although she slightly suspected she was joking, she didn’t dare gamble on it.

Seeing Jiang Bomu was truly scared, Gu Yu said helplessly: “Alright, I was just playing. Come sit over here, let’s just talk a while.”

All she’d said was she wanted to do it on the swing chair. Just a flirtatious remark—how did it scare her like this?

Jiang Bomu remained half-doubtful: “We can talk just like this.”

Although they were now together, she was a traditional person in her thinking. Hugging and kissing anytime was fine, but anything further needed to be taken step by step.

“Fine then,” Gu Yu said cheerfully. “Let’s talk about whether or not you accept premarital intimacy.”

She had originally wanted to just bluntly say ‘having sex’, but feared Jiang Bomu couldn’t accept that term yet, so she switched to a more formal phrase. Although she couldn’t keep the atmosphere heating up, having a serious discussion about this wasn’t bad either.

“No,” Jiang Bomu said decisively. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Mm,” Gu Yu pretended to think for a second. “Then I’ll go steal the household register. We can go abroad and get married tomorrow.”

Jiang Bomu: “…” That’s really not necessary.

Seeing the atmosphere become much lighter, Jiang Bomu also relaxed. Gu Yu finally asked the question: “Sister, is your room full of pink things because of your childhood experiences?”

Jiang Bomu lowered her eyes and picked up a LinaBell doll to hug. Even if Gu Yu hadn’t asked, she had planned to say it. She had already been phrasing it in her mind for a long time, so at least she wasn’t stumbling over her words.

“It’s not just childhood. Before I turned twenty, I lived in a shabby rented apartment. My room was tiny, just enough for a bed and a desk. The only good thing was a window to let in air, but plush toys and things like that were beyond my wildest dreams.”

Jiang Bomu hugged her knees, curled up in the corner, her chin resting on her legs, and continued: “Actually, it wasn’t a big deal. I was just a little envious of my classmates. When I was little, they all had Barbie dolls. The first time I learned about Barbie dolls was at a classmate’s house. When I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Barbie dolls, but I didn’t dare tell Jiang Wende. So I sewed one out of rags and cotton and slept holding it every night. Later…”

She suddenly laughed: “Jiang Wende found out. He said I was making a voodoo doll to curse him. In his drunken fury, he yelled at me and slapped me across the face. How utterly absurd and ridiculous.”

Gu Yu’s gaze fell on her face, her heart aching for her.

Jiang Bomu smiled at her to show she didn’t mind and continued: “From then on, I thought, one day I had to have a pink princess room, filled with Barbie dolls and plush toys. Seven years ago, my wish came true, but I never dared to tell anyone. Xunxun, you’re the first person to ever enter my room. Thank you for not mocking my childishness.”

The mark from that slap had long since vanished, but the scar on her heart was so bone-deep it could never heal. Some people spend their whole lives healing their childhood; Jiang Bomu was one such person.

Gu Yu went over and hugged her, saying softly: “I only did what I should have done. What’s so strange about liking pink? I like it too. You can like it even when you’re old and toothless. Colors have never had an age limit; it’s just some ignorant people who impose limits on colors.”

After thinking for a moment, she added: “And this is also part of your gap moe. On the surface, a woman dressed all ascetic and cool, but in private, a pink and plushie fanatic. Who wouldn’t be dazzled?”

She drew her conclusion with a giggle: “I like Sister more and more!”

Jiang Bomu found some comfort and courage in her consolation. Yes, what was shameful about liking pink? It proved her heart was still young, that she still possessed a maiden’s heart—a belated maiden’s heart.

“Xunxun, getting to know you and growing close to you,” Jiang Bomu gazed at her tenderly, “is the luckiest thing that’s happened to me in twenty-seven years.”

Gu Yu was like the little girl in the red coat in that black-and-white film “Schindler’s List.” She was the single splash of color in a suffocating, cruel reality. Seeing her, life gained warmth and hope.

That splash of red was so vividly saturated, enough to soothe the rest of her life.

“And falling in love,” Gu Yu kissed her lips. “In the future, we’ll also grow old together, forever.”

An innocent peck, carrying no desire. Yet Jiang Bomu felt so much from it. She took the initiative to seek Gu Yu’s lips again, and this kiss changed its nature, the temperature steadily rising.

When their faces were flushed and their breaths hot, Gu Yu took the initiative to pull back. Panting lightly, she spoke: “I want to ask you something.”

Jiang Bomu came back to her senses, embarrassed by her own loss of control. She hurriedly said: “Ask.”

“These past few years, how did you spend the Spring Festival?”

The topic suddenly jumped here. Jiang Bomu paused for a moment before answering: “I spent it by myself.”

Apart from the days she needed to ask for money each month, she had almost completely cut ties with Jiang Wende. She also didn’t want to bother the Bo family. Though they were relatives, they weren’t that close. Why create unnecessary awkwardness? So every time Bo Shiyue invited her, she would refuse.

While every household was brightly lit for reunion, she was a complete family all by herself.

She knew it would be like this. Gu Yu’s heart ached. She solemnly invited: “This New Year’s Eve, would you be willing to come to my home and spend the New Year with us?”