Chapter 27 Part 2

Meng Ning rolled her eyes in abject exhaustion, drawing a peal of laughter from Qi Xiao.

Just then, someone rapped lightly on the door.

By that point, Meng Ning already knew who had come: Wen Zenian. No matter what Wen Zenian did, she was always so restrained in her movements, never giving more than necessary—just a light tap of her knuckles against the wooden door.

It was like some special melody.

Qi Xiao seemed to have a premonition too. This time, she didn’t panic or fluster. She stood up and greeted politely, “Hi, Gwyneth.”

Wen Zenian nodded, and Qi Xiao said, “Well then, I’ll head back to the Lifesaving Team.”

She sidestepped with a smile as she passed Wen Zenian, then slipped away like a shadow.

Wen Zenian stepped into the room. Meng Ning glanced at the glucose IV bag hanging above her and figured it must be a little past eight in the morning. But the gauzy curtains in the break room were gentle enough, dusting the fierce morning sun with a touch of gray, softening it into something like a sunset glow.

Wen Zenian sat down in the chair Qi Xiao had just vacated. Her metal waist chain accentuated her slender waist, which curved sharply inward below her ribs before flaring out to connect with full hips. As she sat primly, her pencil skirt gathered elegant folds at her thighs.

But that prim business uniform hadn’t looked so proper last night.

Meng Ning felt a touch of discomfort and tugged lightly at the corner of her mouth.

Wen Zenian, ever perceptive, caught it right away. “Don’t be nervous. I’m here for a perfectly legitimate reason.”

“I heard at breakfast that one of the beach lifeguards had fainted. The C Hotel doesn’t mistreat its employees, and it’s rare for someone to pass out on the job. So I figured I’d come check on you.”

She called that a legitimate reason. Meng Ning couldn’t help wondering what an illegitimate one might be.

Wen Zenian seemed to read her mind. “The illegitimate reason? To see just how amazing I am.”

“Hey!”

Wen Zenian’s lips curved into a smile.

She glanced up at the glucose bag on the IV stand and checked the drip rate. “Feeling any better?”

“Mm.”

“Eaten anything?”

“Not really hungry.”

That was the typical stress response after low blood sugar—the stomach still felt off.

Wen Zenian gave a soft “mm” of understanding and moved to sit on the edge of Meng Ning’s bed. Her posture was always so graceful; she smoothed the hem of her pencil skirt first, making sure it lay flat over her long legs.

But Meng Ning had seen the view under that skirt last night—legs sheathed in sheer stockings, straight and perfectly proportioned, stirring the deepest kind of longing.

Meng Ning added another piece of evidence to her growing suspicion that Wen Zenian had some kind of magic. With a pinch of her fingertips, she produced a piece of chocolate out of nowhere.

Meng Ning recognized it immediately: the C Hotel’s signature chocolate, wrapped in gold foil with a subtle silver sheen. The elegant “C” logo appeared only on the understated sticker on the back.

Rumor had it this was a proprietary recipe from the founding family, available only in limited quantities to the island’s most esteemed guests. Countless people online offered top dollar for it, but the C Hotel’s brand management was ironclad—no proxies on the Orange App or anywhere else.

Wen Zenian unwrapped the chocolate and held it to Meng Ning’s lips. “Just one bite.”

Her voice was so alluring, especially when she gave a command—it made obedience feel irresistible.

Meng Ning parted her lips and took a bite.

Even as an employee, Meng Ning rarely got to taste this chocolate. And though she wasn’t big on sweets, it had once wowed her palate: restrained sugar without the tartness of typical dark chocolate, just a rich, mellow bitterness.

Seeing Meng Ning eat it, Wen Zenian praised her with, “Such a good girl,” then neatly folded the gold foil wrapper. “I won’t stay long. Time for me to go.”

As she rose to leave, Meng Ning felt herself relax a little.

Meng Ning joked, “Visiting a sick employee and you didn’t even bring flowers.”

Flowers were everywhere on C Sea Island, utterly ordinary, which made it safe to tease like that.

Wen Zenian was straightening her shirt collar, preparing to stand, when she shot Meng Ning a glance. “Who said I didn’t bring flowers?”

She leaned in slightly, her graceful figure softening. “I brought jasmine, lily of the valley, and gardenia.”

Meng Ning’s heart skipped a beat.

Those were the base notes of the perfume behind her ear—fresh enough to tempt even the ill to take a greedy whiff.

She stood up. “The nurse will be by soon to remove the IV. Rest well.” And with that, she really left.

Meng Ning lay back, gazing at the sunlight filtered through the curtains into sunset-like patterns dancing across the ceiling.

Wen Zenian was restrained from start to finish. Even visiting the sick, she hadn’t taken the chance to brush Meng Ning’s lips.

She brought no flowers—but as she left, she left behind a lingering fragrance in the room.

Once the glucose drip finished, Meng Ning was fine. She went to find the team captain first, assuring him she could return to duty and there was no need to adjust the schedule. He urged her to rest another day, but she politely declined.

Idle time like that was just too hard to bear.

When she returned to the beach control room, she unconsciously licked her lips.

She observed for a bit first. Her colleagues’ gazes weren’t strange at all. “Cara, you okay now?” “You scared us this morning.”

It seemed Qi Xiao’s cry of “Oh no, oh no! She came and fainted!” hadn’t sparked any real speculation.

Meng Ning let out a breath of relief and walked to the island counter in the back. Qi Xiao, off duty, was sitting there playing on her phone. She looked up as Meng Ning approached. Meng Ning sat down beside her and whispered, “How’d you explain away what you shouted this morning?”

Qi Xiao whispered back, “Someone asked what I meant, and I said she misheard. I actually yelled, ‘Oh no, oh no! How’d she faint like that!'”

“Things were so chaotic this morning—who’s gonna remember exactly what I said?”

Meng Ning nodded at last.

Qi Xiao grinned mischievously. “Don’t worry, I’m the only one who knows you passed out from doing it.”

Meng Ning: …

No way to clear her name now.

That evening after work, Meng Ning accompanied Qi Xiao to pick up a package. Back in the dorm, Qi Xiao opened it, revealing a hand-care kit. She invited Meng Ning, “Come on, do it with me.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Come on, it’ll be boring otherwise.”

Meng Ning had long noticed Qi Xiao hated being alone. She wasn’t one for makeup or spa routines herself, but she didn’t mind. She offered her hands. “Fine, let’s do it.”

The aloe cream felt cool on her skin. Once they put on the gloves and steamed, it grew warm. After washing her hands clean and applying the final lotion, Qi Xiao sighed. “Ning, your hands are gorgeous—long, slender fingers, even the knuckles are perfectly shaped.”

“Too bad you’re a bottom! What a waste of those hands!” Qi Xiao laughed uproariously.

Meng Ning shot her a look. “Ah, so that’s what you’ve been waiting for.”

Qi Xiao burst into another fit of laughter, stowing the kit and tucking one leg under her as she perched on the bed’s edge. “I never thought I’d back the wrong horse. Gwyneth has this commanding presence, but… well, she’s got this subtle seductiveness. And with everyone saying her ex was such a total top…”

She cut herself off abruptly.

The words had slipped out before she could think.

Meng Ning dragged over a pillow and flopped onto the bed. “It’s fine, go on.” She quirked her lips. “I’m not dating her or anything. What’s it matter if you mention her ex?”

Qi Xiao eyed Meng Ning cautiously.

Meng Ning’s usually cool features held a faint smile, showing no real emotional ripple.

Emboldened, Qi Xiao continued. “Everyone said her ex had that total top energy. You seem so laid-back, but who doesn’t think you’re ice-cold aloof at first? You always saw yourself as a top, and even I assumed you were one.”

“So that’s why I told you last time—I didn’t expect it.”

“Didn’t expect it the first time, but what about the second?”

“The second time, I still wasn’t sure. Besides, it all felt so… natural with her.”

Qi Xiao let out a “whoa.” “Gwyneth went full top for love.”

Hearing that word “love,” Meng Ning felt a slight twist in her chest, but nothing major.

She and Qi Xiao both knew this “love” wasn’t that “love.” With Wen Zenian, neither should overthink it—just enjoy the dreamlike pleasure.

Qi Xiao delved into serious analysis. “Do you think a natural bottom like her can actually get satisfaction going top for love?”

The question left Meng Ning stumped.

The past couple of days had started with brief morning sun before clouding over with rumbling thunder. Meng Ning couldn’t night-swim, so she took walks along the coastline instead. Without more exercise, her sleep would only worsen.

After their relationship reached this point, Wen Zenian stopped coming to the beach at night.

Meng Ning listened to the waves crashing ashore, mulling Qi Xiao’s question—

Did Wen Zenian get any satisfaction?

She recalled Wen Zenian’s appearance: legs slender and straight in sheer stockings, one knee kneeling on the sofa. The suit jacket unbuttoned, shirt collar open—from Meng Ning’s supine view, she could see a black lace bra strap slipping off her shoulder.

Her hair, pinned up all day, hung in disheveled strands along her jaw, then dipped into her open collar, brushing her straight collarbone. Utterly sensual.

But the sexiest part was her expression.

Even then, she didn’t smile—her striking features radiated intensity. She watched every inch of Meng Ning’s face intently, capturing every subtle reaction. Sometimes Meng Ning would open her eyes, only to close them again under that gaze, heart pounding.

Some gazes could flirt all on their own.

A moment later, she couldn’t help but open them again.

When Meng Ning frowned, Wen Zenian mirrored it, a faint sheen of sweat beading on her elegant nose.

Did Wen Zenian get satisfaction? Meng Ning wasn’t sure.

Back in the dorm, Qi Xiao was still binge-watching dramas. Meng Ning prodded her. “Time for bed—we’ve got long-run practice tomorrow morning.”

“Fine.” Qi Xiao reluctantly set aside her tablet.

Once the lights were out, the darkness seemed to blanket away all embarrassment. Meng Ning pressed into her pillow and murmured, “Qi Xiao.”

“Mm?”

“Do you know… where to get those?”

Qi Xiao matched her hushed, sneaky tone. “Finger condoms? Yeah, there are massage ones and scented ones now.”

She sighed inwardly: Meng Ning’s such a hopeless top. Looks like Gwyneth provided the ones before.

“No.” Meng Ning hesitated slightly. “I mean the learning materials you mentioned last time.”