Chapter 37

With Fang Nianchen gone, Qiao Yan was left alone to face Yu Wan, awkwardly wishing she could be knocked out and carried away.

Even worse, Tao Zhixing wasn’t here either. She really had no idea how to extricate herself.

This afternoon, she’d sworn to Fang Nianchen with absolute confidence that Director Yu was a straight woman, only to run into her at the les bar that very night.

No matter if the encounter was accidental or not, President Yu was sitting there perfectly composed. It was obvious she didn’t care if others knew her sexual orientation was towards women.

People do slip up, and horses do stumble…

Qiao Yan let out an awkward laugh. Just thinking about those two howls she’d let out earlier made her cringe with embarrassment. She formally greeted, “Good evening, President Yu.”

“Mm. Good evening.” Yu Wan’s greeting was exactly the same as usual at the company—serious and straightforward. Being stared at by her made Qiao Yan feel uncomfortable all over.

Not to mention she was dressed in a full suit, looking more like she was there for a meeting than to drink.

“What a coincidence… haha.” Freezing up around the boss wasn’t a good habit, but what was she supposed to talk about? Qiao Yan racked her brains.

Express surprise at Yu Wan’s sexual orientation? Didn’t expect an old lady like you to like women?

No, no, that would come off as discriminatory.

Fang Nianchen, get back here!!!

Unable to come up with anything, Qiao Yan just stared in the direction Fang Nianchen had left.

She’d just dragged away a woman. The lights were dim, but it was clear the woman matched President Yu in both temperament and beauty.

The two obviously knew each other. Really, Fang Nianchen had such great luck with women—why was she so hung up on that one Senior?

That mature older sister from earlier didn’t seem straight at all. A little development there might just turn into a beautiful romance.

At the very least…

Qiao Yan glanced back at Yu Wan. She was silently sipping from her glass, completely uninterested in everything going on around her.

At the very least, now that she knew Director Yu liked women, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Fang Nianchen to try developing something with President Yu.

Anyway, she wasn’t in HR anymore. She couldn’t even brush up against office romance territory.

While inwardly complaining about Fang Nianchen, Qiao Yan was also brainstorming ways to get Fang Nianchen to stop obsessing over her Senior. She didn’t notice Yu Wan looking her way again.

Their eyes suddenly met.

“The company doesn’t restrict employees’ sexual orientations. Don’t worry.”

Was she comforting me? Qiao Yan was shocked and nodded her head vigorously.

Fang Nianchen came running back at top speed. She bumped into a few people along the way but didn’t stop.

Yin Chi followed behind her, apologizing to those she’d bumped into. She shot Fang Nianchen a look of disdain: How so reckless?

Soul flew away the moment she saw Yu Wan?

Back at the bar, Fang Nianchen saw Qiao Yan winking at her like mad.

Qiao Yan: Say something!

Receiving the signal, Fang Nianchen swallowed hard. But before she could open her mouth, Yu Wan spoke first. “Together?”

“Ah…” All the words Fang Nianchen had prepared got stuck in her throat.

The person who’d been standing there for a drink had left, leaving the bar counter quite empty.

“Actually, we have another friend.”

“With a friend, that’s perfect to join. Drinking is more fun with more people, right?” Yin Chi chimed in with a rotten idea. “In that case… let’s find a booth.”

Fang Nianchen couldn’t help glaring at her. She had no idea what medicine Yin Chi was selling in her gourd tonight—everything felt so strange.

What exactly was Yin Chi up to?

Ignoring her gaze, Yin Chi smiled and asked Yu Wan, “Miss Yu, does that work for you?”

Yu Wan nodded, so she turned to Qiao Yan. “Little sis, you okay with it?”

Qiao Yan thought, Not okay, super ultra mega not okay!

She usually suspected she’d done something bad and was getting karmic payback whenever she ran into her boss outside work. Drinking with the boss was even worse. What if she got drunk and made a fool of herself? That would be a disaster.

But in this situation, even her one reliable ally Fang Nianchen had been neutralized. Qiao Yan could only resign herself with a fake smile. “I’m fine with whatever. Up to you guys.”

“Then it’s happily decided.”

The bartender recognized Fang Nianchen and Qiao Yan. He put in their orders for them and said he’d have them delivered shortly.

The four of them found a booth in the corner. Qiao Yan stuck close to Fang Nianchen, while Yin Chi and Yu Wan sat opposite.

Fang Nianchen had never imagined that this group of people, who shouldn’t have any connection at all, could end up sitting together drinking.

Why? Because of her?

Yeah, that made sense. If she thought about it, the only common thread between them was that they all knew her.

“You seem pretty familiar with the bartender here. Regulars?” Yin Chi, unwilling to let the silence linger, started a conversation.

“The bar’s owned by my friend.” Fang Nianchen looked up to meet Yin Chi’s eyes, but she still didn’t dare look at Yu Wan.

Whenever her gaze was about to drift her way, she yanked it back sharply, fixing it on her own shoetips instead.

“You never even told me you had a friend this fun.” Yin Chi freely voiced her dissatisfaction.

Logically speaking, since Fang Nianchen knew she liked going to bars, she should’ve mentioned on their very first meeting that she had a friend who’d opened this bar with great taste in decor, music style, and drinks.

Of course, not to mooch off her or anything—Yin Chi just saw it as basic human interaction. For their relationship, it wouldn’t be inappropriate at all.

“Forgot.”

Forgot? More like on purpose!

Yin Chi “hmph”ed but decided not to pursue it.

Silence descended quickly. Yu Wan knew she was largely to blame. Back when she was a lowly employee, she’d been terrified of going out to eat or karaoke with her bosses. Now that the positions were reversed, it was only natural for Qiao Yan to be scared of her.

As for Fang Nianchen… she was probably just embarrassed.

She recalled how that afternoon, Fang Nianchen had sworn to Xiang Xiaoyun with utter conviction that she was straight. Her tone had been so certain it almost convinced even Yu Wan herself.

But then they ran into each other here. Self-exposed.

Maybe she shouldn’t have suggested drinking together just now.

Some things, she could clearly foresee the outcome, yet she still gambled on that slim possibility.

But the moment she saw Fang Nianchen, she didn’t want to let her go.

Besides, Yin Chi had just told her a lot—things about Fang Nianchen’s past that she’d never known.

Some made her happy; others tugged at her heart.

It made her feel the need to have a proper talk with Fang Nianchen.

Silence intertwined with the pulsing music as the drinks were brought over.

Qiao Yan was just about to say “thanks” when she saw it was Tao Zhixing delivering them. Her expression soured instantly.

“Take ’em. What’re you spacing out for?” Tao Zhixing didn’t care how many people were around and hollered, “I’m not your personal server or anything.”

Qiao Yan took the drinks without a word, still refusing to look at her.

She admitted that in the second she’d been left alone with Yu Wan, she’d hoped Tao Zhixing would show up.

But only for that one second. Now that she was here, she was just annoying.

After handing over the drinks, Tao Zhixing scanned the group. “President Yu?”

Of the two strangers, she only recognized Yu Wan and greeted her.

Yu Wan responded politely. “We meet again.”

Tao Zhixing was still muddled from anger and took a moment to place it. Wait a minute—if she was in her bar, that meant… she was bent?!

“Ah!”

Tao Zhixing let out a weird yelp and looked at Fang Nianchen. She decided Yunqi must be some kind of company; from the boss down to the employees, they were all a chain of lesbians.

“What’re you yelling like an idiot for…” Qiao Yan said in disgust, yanking her to sit down.

So noisy, like she’d never seen a woman before.

Tao Zhixing plopped down right next to Qiao Yan, sitting on the edge of her skirt. She reached down to tug it free, and Qiao Yan whipped her head around, eyeing her warily. “What’re you doing?”

“Your skirt. I sat on it.” Tao Zhixing explained in a bad temper.

Qiao Yan smacked her hand away. “Lift your butt first.”

Everyone watched the two of them tussle for a good while before Tao Zhixing finally sat properly and the commotion died down. Things fell quiet again for no reason.

A few people drank in silence. Thankfully, Tao Zhixing launched into all the funny stories from her first month running the bar, keeping the atmosphere from getting too awkward.

Yin Chi came from a family of businesspeople. Upon hearing about Tao Zhixing’s recent tweaks to her business model, she offered some proactive advice. Tao Zhixing listened in a daze, nodding along in agreement nonstop.

Qiao Yan listened idly too, occasionally muttering under her breath that Tao Zhixing was “dumb.”

By comparison, the two at the diagonal, Fang Nianchen and Yu Wan, were much more subdued. They didn’t join in the conversation at all—not even with eye contact.

Fang Nianchen was nursing a headache over Yin Chi’s motives, leaving her drink untouched.

What gave her an even bigger headache was Yu Wan’s reaction. She didn’t seem surprised at all that she’d come to a les bar. Had Yin Chi already told her?

Yin Chi knew that Yu Wan was the Senior she liked. Could it be…

Fang Nianchen suddenly had a ridiculous yet plausible idea, but she had no way to confirm it with Yin Chi right now.

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly spotted Yu Wan across from her standing up.

She had no idea how much Yu Wan had drunk before she arrived. The bar was packed tonight—even in a place full of girls, she still had to watch out for people with bad intentions.

Somewhat uneasy, Fang Nianchen glanced at the chatting crowd. Seeing no one paying attention, she slipped away too.

Yu Wan headed straight for the bathroom. Fang Nianchen spotted her and immediately halted her steps.

Why follow someone to the bathroom?

It felt like she was up to no good. An inexplicable sense of shame washed over Fang Nianchen.

By the wall, a pair of guests—whether a couple or just smitten with each other—were locked in a passionate kiss. Fang Nianchen stood there for a few seconds, realizing how awkward her situation was. Frowning, she passed by the two of them and kept her head down as she walked forward.

The shop run by Tao Zhixing had bathrooms that put 99% of the nation’s bar restrooms to shame in terms of cleanliness. Cleaners came by to tidy up every hour.

Fang Nianchen finally understood why Yin Chi had said those floral and fruity air fresheners were so commonplace that day. The bathroom was filled with the same familiar scent.

Yu Wan was simply standing at the sink. She spotted the person behind her in the mirror. “The music outside is way too loud—it’s giving me a headache. I came here to get away from it.”

“I’m just here to wash my hands.” Fang Nianchen couldn’t admit she’d deliberately followed Yu Wan, so she put on an act and turned on the faucet.

There wasn’t much to say between the two of them. With their sexual orientations exposed right here, there was nothing left to hide.

“Tonight over dinner and chat, Miss Yin brought up how you two were roommates back when you were doing your master’s in the UK.”

Fang Nianchen’s heart skipped a beat. She hoped Yin Chi hadn’t said anything else.

“Actually, we weren’t really roommates. The house was hers.” At this point, Fang Nianchen figured she might as well be honest.

“The house was huge but pretty remote. The only upside was that it was close to your school.” Yu Wan leaned half a step closer to her to grab the tissue right in front of her.

“She told you all that in such detail…” Fang Nianchen’s heart raced up and down. She had a feeling that any second now, Yu Wan would bring up how Yin Chi had once liked her.

Yu Wan nodded and continued, “So during your first semester of grad school, burglars broke into the house, and to protect Miss Yin, you fought them off?”

The water was still running over her fingertips as Fang Nianchen turned her head in confusion.

She hadn’t realized when Yu Wan had gotten so close.

Seeing her lift her hand toward her own head, Fang Nianchen knew exactly what she was about to do. She didn’t even have time to turn off the water before trying to block it with her wet hands.

“Don’t move.” Yu Wan’s breath was right there, carrying a dizzying faint whiff of alcohol.

Her hand got there first. As she gave the order, it gently pressed against Fang Nianchen’s forehead.

Warmth enveloped her, and Fang Nianchen obediently froze in place.

The water pooled into a little droplet at her fingertip, hanging there without falling.

In the shifting light and shadows, Yu Wan’s once-blurry features sharpened into focus.

Yu Wan’s fingertips were cool as they touched her forehead, brushing aside the hair covering the scar.

In the light, only a faint trace was visible.

Fang Nianchen had suffered a severe injury—an hour ago, right when they’d arrived at the bar, Yin Chi had told her about it.

Just hearing the description had made Yu Wan’s heart ache terribly.

Fang Nianchen taking on two men by herself, beating them, and driving them off—this was a side of her Yu Wan had never seen.

She didn’t think it made Fang Nianchen some great hero. She just thought she was really foolish.

And she was so relieved the wound hadn’t been deeper, hadn’t threatened her life.

Yu Wan gently covered the scar with her thumb, frowning. “Was it sliced by a knife?”

“Gardening shovel.” The kind with an extremely sharp tip—one you could grab from any hardware store.

“Weren’t you scared?”

Fang Nianchen recalled the scene. Those two were the kind of mentally unstable teens you saw everywhere in the UK. Malnourished and skinny as rails, she’d barely managed to overpower them.

The police caught them later. Under interrogation, it came out that they’d been stalking Yin Chi. Seeing her frequent the bars, they’d decided to rob her for both money and sex. On that rainy night, they’d smashed the window and climbed in.

That’s why Yin Chi had always blamed herself.

Fang Nianchen had never told anyone about the incident. It wasn’t pleasant and not worth mentioning.

But with Yu Wan asking about it proactively, gently touching her scar and peering into her past, she felt no aversion at all.

On the contrary, she quite enjoyed her concern, her gentle scolding.

Fang Nianchen shook her head lightly.

She hadn’t been thinking much at the time. Her gut instinct had just told her that if she didn’t fight back, things would end badly.

She couldn’t rely on the inefficient British police.

“No more doing stupid stuff like that, got it?” Yu Wan gazed into her eyes, speaking earnestly. “You can only protect others if you’re okay yourself first.”

Fang Nianchen blinked and softly replied, “Got it.”

“It didn’t even hurt much. Healed up in a few months.”

“Fine.” Yu Wan smiled helplessly. “You’re a superhero—pain doesn’t faze you.”

The praise somehow hit just right, lifting Fang Nianchen’s mood a bit. She figured Yin Chi definitely hadn’t spilled any overly embarrassing details to Yu Wan, or she wouldn’t be reacting like this.

She didn’t even notice the brilliant smile already gracing her lips.

Yu Wan’s hand lingered without pulling away, while Fang Nianchen’s dangling fingers by her side had mostly dried.

“Cough.” Unsure how to remind her, Fang Nianchen let out a light cough.

Right then, someone walked in. Yu Wan caught it out of the corner of her eye and smoothed out the hair she’d mussed up.

Suddenly, she recalled that intimate moment between Yin Chi and Fang Nianchen the other day.

Yu Wan’s hand hovered in mid-air for a moment before reaching forward again. She gave the top of Fang Nianchen’s head a not-too-light, not-too-heavy ruffle. “Your hair was messy.”

“All good.” With that done, she withdrew her hand, flashing a gentle smile as if nothing had happened. “I’ve recovered—heading back first.”

Her actions left Fang Nianchen’s brain buzzing with blood rush. Even after Yu Wan left, she stood there dazed.

Blank-faced, she reached up to touch her neck—burning hot.

Her hands slid to her cheeks. Cupping her face, she slowly squatted down.

Yu Wan had patted her head…

So embarrassing…