Chapter 24 Part 2

That morning, Wen Zenian formally announced the Lifesaving Team wouldn’t face cuts. Pass the post-New Year fitness test, and everyone stayed.

Qi Xiao breathed the deepest sigh of relief.

Only when everyone turned expectant eyes to Wen Zenian did Meng Ning finally dare look at her too.

Whether it was the effect of her makeup or not, Wen Zenian had clearly only slept two or three hours the night before, yet she looked radiant.

After all, she was a dream—the perfect embodiment of everything beautiful. Just as she refused to let Meng Ning see her without makeup, no one could spot the dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, the hangover fatigue, or the faint, vulnerable confusion lingering after their night of passion.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Even her speech was flawless: “Safety is the foundation of our profession, especially for those of us in the hotel industry…”

Her voice, paired with her impeccable uniform, embodied every eager fantasy of what a hotel manager should be. No one could have imagined how, just last night, that same voice had murmured Meng Ning’s name in soft abandon.

“Meng Ning. Meng Ning…”

In the final second of Wen Zenian’s speech, Meng Ning pulled her gaze away. In that last glance, she saw Wen Zenian raise her arm and lightly rub her left shoulder.

The captain asked with careful concern, “Is it a strain?”

Everyone knew Wen Zenian had been swamped with work lately.

“It’s nothing,” Wen Zenian replied coolly.

She appeared utterly detached from Meng Ning—as if the only connection between them was the breeze that had tousled the hair at her temple and brushed across Meng Ning’s wrist. No one in the world but Meng Ning would ever know how stunningly beautiful that smooth, snow-white shoulder of hers looked, marked by a faint trail of blood and teeth marks.

Like an angel. Like a demon.

And both had one thing in common: devoted followers.

After the team dismissed, Wen Zenian lingered to exchange a few more words with the captain. Meng Ning headed toward the staff showers with Qi Xiao.

“Meng Ning.”

Meng Ning turned back. Wen Zenian’s expression was all business: “Do you have a minute?”

Meng Ning hesitated. “Sorry, I’m on the first shift today—running a bit tight on time.”

She turned away, but Qi Xiao was still rooted in place until Meng Ning tugged her sleeve. “Come on, let’s go.”

Qi Xiao hurried to catch up in a couple of strides. “What’s up with you two?”

“What’s up with what?” Meng Ning unfastened the pedometer from her wrist.

“She was looking for you—why dodge her?” Qi Xiao asked. “Maybe she wants to talk about your resignation?”

Meng Ning shook her head. “No.”

Wen Zenian’s eyes often left her puzzled, but she was certain of one thing: this wasn’t about resignation.

What was there to discuss about quitting? If she left voluntarily, the group wouldn’t need to pay her out three months’ salary. She wanted nothing, so Wen Zenian just needed to check “approved” on her resignation letter.

Wen Zenian watched Meng Ning’s retreating back.

The captain asked, “Something with Cara?”

“Nothing major,” Wen Zenian said indifferently. “I’ve seen her at a few morning trainings—she stands out. I just wanted to ask her a couple of questions.”

“I’ll arrange some time for you, then.”

“No need.” Wen Zenian shook her head. “Whenever there’s an opening.”

But when did the hotel ever have openings?

When Meng Ning got busy, she was truly busy. On nights when the coastline was closed, she could help colleagues wax surfboards. When Wen Zenian inspected the staff cafeteria, Meng Ning had just finished her pita wrap, cleared her tray, and rushed out.

Perhaps brushing right past Wen Zenian’s shoulder.

Soon after, Wen Zenian’s name got tangled up in some gossip.

Qi Xiao said mysteriously, “Gwyneth’s ex-girlfriend showed up.”

They were in the dorm at the time. Qi Xiao was curled up on the bed with one leg tucked under her, painting her toenails indigo. Meng Ning leaned against the headboard, idly flipping through a plant encyclopedia.

It was a souvenir from C Hotel given to every employee. After returning that Norwegian sci-fi novel, she hadn’t borrowed anything else from the library—and had no plans to read any more novels.

Plant encyclopedias were better. She could stop on any page, set it down forever, and it wouldn’t matter. She wouldn’t dream about whether tree ferns and staghorn ferns could grow in the same forest.

In the end, true disinterest meant she could drop it anytime.

Qi Xiao’s words made Meng Ning’s page-turning hand pause for a beat before continuing. “What happened?”

No deliberate avoidance, no burning curiosity.

Qi Xiao eyed her. “Are you interested, or not?”

Meng Ning smiled. “No more, no less than you.”

It seemed that even if Wen Zenian had intentions, Meng Ning wouldn’t pursue anything further.

Only then did Qi Xiao elaborate: “Today, this total bombshell showed up looking for Gwyneth. Tall, long legs, model figure—wide-shouldered suit, slim-leg trousers, one sharp bob haircut to the shoulders.”

Then she suddenly asked, “What do you think—Gwyneth a top or a bottom?”

“Huh?” Meng Ning’s page-turning actually faltered this time.

“I… I don’t know,” she said.

Qi Xiao declared categorically, “I originally pegged her as a top—one of those seductive tops. But after hearing about this other bombshell, now I think she’s definitely a bottom.”

“You didn’t see her?” Meng Ning asked.

“Like you, I’m on the Lifesaving Team—always patrolling the coastline, never going inside the hotel. Where would I see her?” Qi Xiao said. “It was a tip from a colleague in the group chat. They say her looks rival Gwyneth’s.”

“But how do they know she’s the ex?”

“Because she brought roses. Gwyneth didn’t look thrilled—dragged her straight to her office and locked the door, apparently. Of course, colleagues overheard that part.”

“…They must’ve eavesdropped pretty closely.”

“Gwyneth is hotel legend, after all.” Qi Xiao twisted the nail polish cap shut. “Turns out she’s just low-key. So if she’s been quietly dating, that means nothing with the big boss?”

Meng Ning lowered her head to read how the encyclopedia described “staghorn fern spores shaped just like a plum deer’s antlers.”

Qi Xiao asserted, “Those two definitely won’t get back together.”

“Why?”

“You could tell from Gwyneth’s face. Speaking of which—” Qi Xiao suddenly clapped her hands. “After their talk, Gwyneth probably has to see her off the island! Wanna sneak a peek at what she looks like?”

“Huh?”

“Who knows the coastline better than us? We can slip over—they’ll never spot us.”

Meng Ning shook her head. “Nah.”

Qi Xiao thought it over. “Yeah, you’re right. Too gossipy, not cool.”

For a while now, Meng Ning hadn’t gone swimming or strolling the coastline after dark. Tonight, figuring Wen Zenian wouldn’t be in the mood for the beach, she slipped into her uniform and headed there.

To her surprise, someone was there.

“Sorry.” She turned to leave at once.

“It’s fine,” the woman said, taking her last drag on her cigarette. “I’m heading out now.”

Meng Ning hadn’t expected to stumble upon the legendary “ex-girlfriend” of Wen Zenian.

The woman gave her a polite nod and turned away. Only then did Meng Ning notice Wen Zenian’s temporary assistant waiting by the C Hotel beach area, ready to ferry the woman off the island by speedboat.

The night was murky, visibility low—Meng Ning didn’t get a striking glimpse of the woman’s looks.

But the clear melancholy on her face drew more attention than her features. Meng Ning had doubted the rumors before, but now she believed them.

The woman seemed so rational and capable—yet here she was, acting on impulse.

Meng Ning mulled it over and found it understandable. She’d once thought that if you truly fell into a beautiful dream like Wen Zenian, waking up would make reality feel chillingly barren.

Two days later, Meng Ning and Qi Xiao had their day off and took a speedboat off the island.

Qi Xiao chattered on the boat, “Crayfish, here I come!”

Following their day-off routine: home-cooked lunch, afternoon cleaning, then a casual movie. Qi Xiao had bought a new projector and hauled it into Meng Ning’s room.

“These projectors are awesome now—no screen needed, just project on the wall. My room’s too cluttered with posters and paintings, so we’ll watch in the living room or your room from now on.”

“Sure,” Meng Ning said, indifferent.

That evening, they hit up Qi Xiao’s group-buy crawfish spot. Song Xiao was on extended annual leave from back home and hadn’t returned yet, so it was just the two of them.

Qi Xiao had gloves on both hands, sleeves rolled up, ready to dive in: “I don’t get people who eat crawfish without the roe. Something about heavy metals? Without the roe, what’s even the point?”

“Qi Xiao.”

“Yeah?”

“Fitness test’s coming up soon. Cut the fat this period—this is your last crawfish feast for a while.”

Qi Xiao wailed, “Are you a demon? Why bring it up now?”

Meng Ning laughed. She seemed to have no appetite, just peeling the claws off a crawfish to fiddle with. “I’ll train long-distance with you for a bit—you’ll hit the mark no problem.”

Qi Xiao asked, “You really set on quitting, then?”

Meng Ning nodded.

Qi Xiao sighed. “No one to cram long runs with me next year. And who knows if I’ll get along with the next roommate.”

“You’re such an E—no worries.”

She stared at Meng Ning for a long moment, mouth opening twice before closing. “Nope, can’t say it—’I’ll miss you’ just won’t come out!”

Meng Ning elbowed her. “So cheesy.”

She elbowed back. “That’s why I didn’t say it!”

The two dissolved into laughter and horseplay.

Meng Ning thought such a friendship was just right—good for passing time, without the deep bonds that made parting tug at the heartstrings.

“Why does this thirteen-spice crawfish feel spicy tonight?” Qi Xiao sniffed. “Anyway, whatever— we’ll see each other again someday.”

Meng Ning just smiled.

Qi Xiao asked, “So, plans after quitting?”

Meng Ning gave the standard answer: “Travel.”

“Where?”

“Not decided. Somewhere far.”

“Bring me a souvenir, then.”

“Want a piranha?”

“Damn, Africa?”

They chatted idly. Past the New Year, the night breeze felt even warmer. The foam on their old-school glass-bottle beers was thick and rich, as if sitting there would soon lead them into a spring full of hope.

“Meng Ning.”

Meng Ning snapped back. “Hm?”

“Zoned out?”

“Oh.” Meng Ning lightly rubbed the back of her neck. “Maybe just tired lately.”

Qi Xiao took a swig of beer. “You’ve always zoned out like that, even before.”

“Have I? Never noticed.”

“When you do, it’s like…”

“Like what?”

Qi Xiao scratched her head. “Hard to describe. Like no one can get close to you.”

Meng Ning joked, “You got close enough—you live next door, and these old walls are paper-thin.”

“Screw you,” Qi Xiao laughed. “Big shot, huh? Even the lesbian circle hottie couldn’t flirt you into bed.”

After they finished eating, the two headed upstairs. Qi Xiao suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right—what are you going to do with this place?”

“Sublease it. Find a single girl to take over. I’ll post the listing online first.”

Meng Ning’s phone rang right then, just as she opened her laptop to draft the ad.