PANT - Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Shi Ning had never thought she would one day have to experience something like this.
Having dinner with her wife and her ex-girlfriend (AKA first love).
Granted, this “wife” wasn’t exactly a wife with a fully confirmed relationship, and this “first love” wasn’t technically her first love.
But no matter how she thought about it, it felt awkward.
Especially since her first love had already given her a heads-up that she was going to steal her wife…
Shi Ning suppressed her emotions, trying her best to appear like a mature adult.
A mature adult, by definition, was someone who could skillfully handle women with whom she had emotional entanglements without letting any unnecessary thoughts get in the way.
She put on a good act.
All day, she remained perfectly calm in front of Su Tianxue.
But this mature facade completely crumbled that evening when, just before they left, she saw Su Tianxue go into the bedroom and emerge in a different outfit.
Shi Ning was a little unhappy. “Wife, what are you wearing?”
Su Tianxue no longer corrected Shi Ning’s form of address.
She raised her hands and spun around in place, glancing down at the hem of her skirt. “Clothes.”
Shi Ning pressed her lips together.
Su Tianxue: “You bought them.”
Of course, Shi Ning knew she had bought them.
If she had known, she would have ripped this dress to shreds, into tiny little pieces, that day in the dressing room.
It would have been best not to leave a single scrap behind.
Su Tianxue was far too alluring in this nude-gold dress.
The words “coldly beautiful” and “bewitching” were not at all contradictory on her.
Su Tianxue herself was cool, her skin glowing with a pearly white light, appearing almost translucent under the lamp. Yet her gaze was provocative.
It didn’t provoke Shi Ning’s anger, but her desire.
She stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Su Tianxue’s waist.
The sides of the dress’s waist had cutouts, and Shi Ning’s arm landed right on Su Tianxue’s fine, smooth skin. If she were to pinch it, fingerprints would surely be left on that snowy skin.
Shi Ning wanted to kiss her but was blocked by Su Tianxue’s hand.
Shi Ning pouted. “No kisses?”
Su Tianxue: “I have lipstick on.”
Shi Ning was practically bubbling with jealousy. “Oh, so you get all dressed up in a skirt and put on lipstick to go drinking with Mo Lingyuan. Su Tianxue, how come I’ve never seen you dress up so nicely for me?”
Su Tianxue didn’t speak, but Shi Ning rambled on, “Why? Why is that?”
Shi Ning: “Am I not worthy?”
Su Tianxue knew that if she let the woman continue, Shi Ning could probably talk until tomorrow morning.
She reached out and pinched Shi Ning’s cheeks, making her lips pucker up. She looked like a little goldfish, which was especially funny, and a little cute.
Shi Ning whimpered, looking pitifully at Su Tianxue. Her mouth was still moving; if you put her in water right now, she could probably blow bubbles like a goldfish.
Su Tianxue: “Still talking?”
Shi Ning shook her head.
Su Tianxue glanced at her and slightly loosened her grip.
But the moment her hand relaxed, Shi Ning’s mouth started running again. “I’m so heartbroken. My wife got all dressed up for Mo Lingyuan and won’t even let me talk and also—”
This time, Shi Ning really couldn’t speak.
Because Su Tianxue had cupped her chin, leaned in, and kissed her.
This kiss was a bit much for Shi Ning to handle.
Her hands started acting up again.
They almost slipped through the gaps in the dress—
Su Tianxue reached out and slapped her wandering hand away with a crisp smack.
It was a hard slap, and the sound was sharp and clear.
Shi Ning felt terribly wronged.
She squeezed her eyes shut, but found she couldn’t produce any tears.
At that moment, she was a little envious of Su Wanxing’s ability to cry on command.
Su Tianxue made a soft sound and squeezed Shi Ning’s cheek. “Not crying anymore?”
Shi Ning: “I can’t cry.”
Her acting skills were just too poor.
Su Tianxue: “Can you shut up and be good now?”
Shi Ning pushed her luck, puckering her lips. “No, unless my wife kisses me twenty more times.”
Shi Ning thought Su Tianxue would be too lazy to bother with her, but to her surprise, Su Tianxue leaned in from that same position, her lips pressing against hers. Softness met softness, again and again.
With every kiss, Su Tianxue even counted.
Her voice was cool and clear, a stark contrast to her fiery kisses.
“One.”
“Two.”
…...
“Nineteen.”
“Twenty.”
By the final count, she had really kissed her exactly twenty times.
Shi Ning’s lips were now stained with Su Tianxue’s lipstick.
Su Tianxue raised an eyebrow. “Satisfied now?”
Shi Ning squirmed like a bashful new wife. “It’s okay.”
Su Tianxue: “Just okay?”
Shi Ning: “But I want more.”
Su Tianxue: “...Speak properly.”
Shi Ning: “Didn’t you tell me not to speak?”
Su Tianxue truly couldn’t be bothered with her anymore. She reached out, placed her hand on Shi Ning’s mouth, and pushed her away.
Shi Ning planted a loud kiss on Su Tianxue’s palm.
That little flame of jealousy from before had long since transformed into a different kind of fire during their kisses.
In order not to anger her wife, Shi Ning stopped looking for trouble. She grabbed her jacket and followed Su Tianxue out the door.
As she walked, she savored the memory of those twenty kisses.
Mm.
From now on, Shi Ning decided, twenty should be her lucky number.
In the car, Mo Lingyuan kept sending Shi Ning messages.
Without a second thought, Shi Ning presented her phone to her dear wife.
Shi Ning: “Wife, for your review.”
Su Tianxue: “It’s your phone, your private information. It’s not appropriate for me to look.”
Shi Ning quickly shook her head. “No, no, no, Wife. What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine. We are the legendary you-in-me and me-in-you, like… water… and… milk… perfectly… blended…”
She was getting more and more ridiculous.
Even the worldly driver couldn’t help but glance back at Shi Ning.
Shi Ning winked at him. “Sir, watch the road, not me.”
The driver chuckled and said okay.
Su Tianxue was turned, looking at the scenery outside the window. The streetlights cast swaying shadows, and as the car moved, the city at night was dragged into a mesmerizing, cyberpunk aesthetic.
Shi Ning’s playful banter filled her ears.
Su Tianxue smiled imperceptibly, a smile that, like the streetlights outside, quickly vanished in the flickering glow.
Shi Ning unlocked her phone and glanced at Mo Lingyuan’s messages.
They were almost all asking if they had arrived yet and where they were.
A moment later, Mo Lingyuan sent another message, saying she was afraid the three of them wouldn’t have enough fun, so she had invited others.
…...
Others.
Shi Ning felt like she was about to run out of breath and collapse right there in the taxi.
Su Tianxue noticed Shi Ning’s strange reaction and asked, “What is it?”
Shi Ning said listlessly, “Mo Lingyuan said she invited other people tonight.”
Su Tianxue: “Hm? And?”
Shi Ning: “There is no ‘and’.”
Su Tianxue: “Then why are you unhappy?”
Su Tianxue: “You don’t want others to disturb us?”
Shi Ning: “No, I just think this whole situation is weird. If more random people show up, I’m afraid it’ll get even weirder.”
After voicing her thoughts, Shi Ning turned to look at Su Tianxue, blinked, and asked, “Wife, what did you mean by that just now?”
Su Tianxue: “Which part?”
Shi Ning: “The part about being disturbed.”
Su Tianxue: “I meant it literally.”
Shi Ning grinned. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous of Mo Lingyuan?”
Shi Ning expected Su Tianxue to deny it, but to her surprise, Su Tianxue said very seriously, “Can’t I be?”
Su Tianxue felt her jealousy was perfectly justified, very rational, and not at all emotional.
Her confession hadn’t been completely successful yet, and Mo Lingyuan was a woman who had been in a relationship with Shi Ning.
She wasn’t pinned in Shi Ning’s contacts, but Mo Lingyuan was currently messaging her.
Su Tianxue had also secretly messaged Su Wanxing from the bathroom for advice on the matter, and Su Wanxing had agreed with her idea: that, from a certain perspective, Mo Lingyuan could be considered a worthy experimental control group. Oh, she meant, a rival.
So Su Wanxing had given her an idea, telling her that when she went to the bar tonight, she had to wear something special.
Shi Ning wasn’t wrong about one thing.
She had dressed this way to see Mo Lingyuan.
As for why…
Su Tianxue found the feeling very awkward.
She had never experienced these emotions before. For the first time, she felt competitive about something like this, with an urge to compare herself.
One part of her felt it was wrong, but the other part still followed Su Wanxing’s advice.
Feelings were truly such a troublesome thing.
Thinking of this, Su Tianxue felt a tightness in her chest. When she turned and saw Shi Ning’s face, which was beaming with joy after hearing she was jealous, she grew even angrier.
Anger flared up from nowhere, and she kicked out at Shi Ning’s shin.
Shi Ning took it, still smiling brightly.
Su Tianxue couldn’t stand seeing her like this and questioned her, “What are you smiling about?”
Are you happy to see me jealous?
Are you happy to see me acting unlike my past, usual self?
Seeing that Su Tianxue was probably genuinely angry, Shi Ning reached out, took her hand, squeezed her palm, and said coaxingly, “Wife, don’t be angry.”
Su Tianxue’s expression was frosty.
Shi Ning explained, “I’m not happy because you’re jealous. Well, that’s not quite right. In short, I’m not happy just because I see someone acting this way for me. It’s just that your unhappiness, your displeasure, proves something. And that something makes me happy.”
Su Tianxue: “Hm?”
Shi Ning’s fingertip drew circles on Su Tianxue’s palm.
Round and round, one after another.
A tingling, slightly itchy sensation spread through her hand.
Shi Ning said with a smile, “It means you care about me, doesn’t it?”
“Su Tianxue, maybe you haven’t even realized it yourself, but you’re already starting to want to possess me.”
Her thoughts laid bare by Shi Ning, even someone as frank as Su Tianxue found it a little hard to bear. She awkwardly averted her gaze and pulled her hand away from Shi Ning’s grasp.
Shi Ning didn’t pursue it. She just scooted her butt a little closer to Su Tianxue.
Shi Ning: “Su Tianxue, are you like this with your other friends?”
Su Tianxue glanced at Shi Ning, not wanting to say more, reveal more information, or show more of her hand just to make Shi Ning feel smug.
Shi Ning wasn’t in a hurry. She smiled and said, “Anyway, I feel the same way about you.”
Only after hearing this did Su Tianxue turn her head slightly, gracing Shi Ning with a sliver of her attention.
Shi Ning said softly, “I care too. I get jealous too. And I want to possess you too.”
She leaned close to Su Tianxue’s ear and said in a volume the driver couldn’t hear, “Especially with you dressed like this today, Su Tianxue. I really want to hide you at home and not let you go anywhere.”
“Oh, no, that’s not right.”
“The balcony, the kitchen, the study.”
“You can go to every part of the house.”
Su Tianxue’s temper flared at her words, and she reached out to pinch Shi Ning’s thigh.
Shi Ning cried out in pain.
Hearing the commotion, the driver glanced back and said with a chuckle, “You two young ladies really have a great relationship.”
Shi Ning pouted. “Sir, didn’t you see I just got hurt?”
The driver spoke with the tone of an experienced man, “Serves you right for teasing your wife. Young people, you’re just too young. You don’t understand that your status in the family is destined from the start.”
A certain someone, now seen as having a very low family status, thought to herself: Hmph.
She didn’t care about that stuff!
Knowing when to bow your head is a sign of doting on your wife!!
It’s not because I’m a coward!!!
…...
When the car arrived at the designated location, Shi Ning said goodbye to the driver, got out first to open the door, and then helped Su Tianxue out.
The place Mo Lingyuan had chosen for drinks was a famous nightclub in City A.
Besides a DJ that was wild as hell and blinding 3D lights, the club also featured runway shows and a dance floor like a trampoline.
This was why this nightclub was able to stand out among several similar establishments.
They arrived just as the club was starting to heat up.
There weren’t many people outside the entrance, but among those coming and going, some inevitably cast their gazes upon Su Tianxue.
The woman was tall and slender with long, beautiful hair. Her snowy back was straight, her curves perfect. Paired with that alluring dress, her every move exuded a captivating charm.
The two had only taken a few steps toward the entrance when a passerby came up to ask Su Tianxue for her contact information.
The funniest part was, for some reason, this young girl said to Shi Ning, “Hi, excuse me, could I get your friend’s contact information?”
Shi Ning was so angry she almost laughed.
She took Su Tianxue’s hand, interlaced their fingers, and then waved them in front of the young girl’s face.
The young girl blinked in confusion.
Shi Ning emphasized each word, “Sorry, this is my girlfriend.”
The young girl was stunned. She looked at Su Tianxue, then back at Shi Ning, and asked blankly, “But aren’t you both Alphas?”
Shi Ning: “So? Can’t an Alpha and an Alpha be in a relationship?”
The young girl shrank back, shook her head, and then asked weakly, “So can I have her contact info?”
Shi Ning: “Do you not understand human language?”
The young girl: “You’re a dignified Alpha, don’t be so petty, Jiejie.”
Shi Ning thought: Kids these days are really wild.
Su Tianxue said coldly, “Sorry, it’s not convenient.”
She pulled Shi Ning inside.
Shi Ning didn’t forget to turn back and make a face at the young girl.
Did you hear that!
You brat!
My wife said it’s not convenient!!
Su Tianxue tugged on Shi Ning’s wrist. “Don’t be so childish.”
Shi Ning huffed. “In the end, it’s because our romance show isn’t popular enough! If it were popular enough, the whole world would know we’re a couple! Then this kind of thing wouldn’t happen!”
What was the problem?
Did she and Su Tianxue look more like bros than a couple when they walked together??
Hmph!
Kids these days!
They have no sense of decency!!
Shi Ning took two steps, still fuming. Unable to stand it, she said to Su Tianxue, “Wife, wait for me a second.”
She took off her white suit jacket, draped it over Su Tianxue’s shoulders, and then turned back without hesitation.
She strode quickly up to the young girl from before.
The young girl was dumbfounded to see Shi Ning approaching so menacingly.
The young girl: “Jie-Jiejie?”
She swallowed and said, “Actually, if I can’t have your wife’s contact info, I’ll take yours.”
Shi Ning smiled. “Do me a favor and search online for a variety show called Love Bus 2.”
The young girl: “???”
Was this some new promotional tactic in the entertainment industry?
Shi Ning: “After you watch it, you’ll understand just how rude your behavior was.”
Shi Ning: “Goodbye.”
Shi Ning spun around crisply once more.
As she returned, Su Tianxue tilted her head and saw that the young girl was frozen in place, petrified.
Su Tianxue said helplessly, “Shi Ning, how old are you?”
Shi Ning said unhappily, “I just don’t like it. Why do people just assume Alphas can’t be with other Alphas? Why do they demand that Alphas have to act a certain way? Gender is gender, a person is a person. Who I fall in love with and whether I’m generous or not has nothing to do with my gender.”
She couldn’t stand these people who ran around the world with their stereotypes.
They never set limits on their own thinking but were always setting limits on other people’s lives.
What was wrong with them!
Of course, Su Tianxue understood what Shi Ning meant.
Although she still didn’t approve of the intimidating way she had just gone over to speak to the young girl, but…
Su Tianxue reached out and gently patted Shi Ning’s head.
Su Tianxue: “Little kid, not angry anymore?”
Shi Ning blinked. “Wife, that doesn’t feel like you’re comforting a child. It feels like you’re comforting a dog.”
Su Tianxue: “You’re not that different from a dog.”
Shi Ning was displeased. “Is a dog as pretty as me?”
Su Tianxue: “A dog doesn’t bite people as much as you do.”
Hearing this, Shi Ning actually smiled.
She took the initiative to link her arm with Su Tianxue’s, lowered her head slightly, and leaned close to her ear. “Mm, I only bite you.”
The security guard at the club entrance really couldn’t take it anymore.
If he watched any longer, even his titanium-alloy dog eyes would be blinded.
He drew out his words, “Are you two coming in or not?”
If you’re not coming in, then hurry up and go home. Don’t stand here shoving your romance in people’s faces.
Aren’t security guards human?
It was bad enough being a security guard in his own love story.
Why did he have to come to work today and be a security guard for someone else’s love story too?
Damn it!
Shi Ning smiled, took Su Tianxue’s hand, and headed inside.
Once they passed the security check, it was as if the world inside and the world outside were separated by a single door.
…...
Before entering, although the bar street was already steeped in an atmosphere of red lights and green wine, with the colorful signs of each establishment swaying in the dark night to create a psychedelic effect, there was still a sense of reality.
The concrete roads with cars coming and going, the glass of the office buildings still lit up in the distance—all of it indicated that beyond this street, people were still living ordinary lives.
Even at this hour, some were still working overtime.
But once inside, everything changed.
The lights would dazzle your eyes and mesmerize your mind. The cacophony of noise, the frantic screams, would overwhelm your reason.
It was still just the warm-up period, yet it was already as chaotic as another world.
Shi Ning figured she was probably getting old.
When she was younger, she quite enjoyed finding fun in places like this, joining the crowd, and going as wild as she could.
Now, for some reason, the moment she stepped inside, she felt like her ears were about to explode.
It felt like ten million sound waves were rushing directly into her ears, almost piercing her eardrums.
She kind of hated this feeling.
And right now, only by standing next to Su Tianxue could this feeling be somewhat alleviated.
This was also Su Tianxue’s first time in a place like this. The moment she entered, she subconsciously frowned.
Shi Ning asked a staff member who was approaching them, “Where is the table Miss Mo Lingyuan booked? Can you take us there?”
Led by the staff member, Shi Ning and Su Tianxue finally escaped the trouble of being squeezed in the crowd.
They arrived at a booth on the upper floor.
Mo Lingyuan was sitting there alone. On the table was an opened bottle of vodka, and a quick glance told Shi Ning that Mo Lingyuan had already drunk more than half of it by herself.
Mo Lingyuan’s mood must be at rock bottom, Shi Ning thought.
That’s why she was drinking here all alone, and had even invited her, and others.
Hearing the commotion, Mo Lingyuan looked up. Seeing them, she revealed a smile. “You’re here.”
She was like a flower about to wither in the dark night, swaying precariously in the wind, making one hesitate to even speak harshly to her.
But Shi Ning’s tone was anything but gentle. She said through gritted teeth, “I’m here, and my wife is here too. Are you satisfied now?”
Mo Lingyuan let out a derisive laugh.
She tilted her chin slightly, gesturing for the two of them to sit on the sofa opposite her. Then she picked up the bottle, placed two glasses in front of them, and poured them drinks.
“I’d be even more satisfied if you’d have a drink with me,” Mo Lingyuan said with a smile.
Shi Ning replied bluntly, “If that satisfies you, does that mean we can leave after this drink?”
Mo Lingyuan scoffed. “What’s with you? You got a wife and forgot all about your ex-girlfriend.”
Shi Ning’s head was about to explode. She thought, Isn’t that the logic of a normal person?
Why would she still be thinking about her ex-girlfriend when she has a wife? It’s not like she wanted to get back together with her!!
Besides, in a way, Mo Lingyuan wasn’t even her ex-girlfriend.
“Cut the crap,” Shi Ning said coldly.
Hearing Shi Ning’s blunt words, Mo Lingyuan turned to Su Tianxue and said pitifully, “Wife, look, she’s being mean to me~”
Shi Ning’s eyes widened, and she almost slammed the table. She snapped at Mo Lingyuan, “Who are you calling wife?”
Mo Lingyuan let out a sound of realization and shook her head to clear it. “Sorry, wrong person.”
Su Tianxue: “Are you in a bad mood?”
Her tone was calm.
But at this moment, it sounded like a cool breeze blowing into Mo Lingyuan’s feverish heart, capable of soothing her tormented mood and softening the scorched parts of her soul.
For some reason, she just had a good feeling about Su Tianxue. It wasn’t a romantic feeling, but rather, from the first moment she saw this person, she knew she didn’t dislike her.
Perhaps it was because Su Tianxue also had that older-sisterly aura about her?
How pitiful she was.
Mo Lingyuan thought, I can’t love my own sister, yet I’m secretly envious of someone else’s.
Mo Lingyuan stood up and made a move to sit on Shi Ning’s lap.
Shi Ning was startled and immediately scooted aside. But that move was a mistake; it gave Mo Lingyuan an opening.
Mo Lingyuan seized the opportunity to sit down, squeezing herself between Shi Ning and Su Tianxue.
Shi Ning quickly stood up.
She wanted to sit on Su Tianxue’s other side, but when she walked over, she realized the sofa wasn’t that long, and there was no space on the other side. With no other choice, she leaned against the back of Su Tianxue’s seat, resting her hand on Su Tianxue’s shoulder, directly declaring her sovereignty to Mo Lingyuan.
She thought, Is Mo Lingyuan acting so crazy today because she wants to steal my wife??
Sitting next to Su Tianxue, Mo Lingyuan picked up the glass she had just poured and offered it to her, asking obediently, “Su Jiejie, do you drink?”
Su Tianxue shook her head.
Faced with rejection, Mo Lingyuan didn’t get angry. She just smiled.
“Then I’ll drink this for you.”
She raised her hand and downed the glass in one go.
Even Su Tianxue, who wasn’t good with alcohol and rarely drank, was surprised by her boldness and felt a flicker of concern.
Su Tianxue glanced back at Shi Ning. Shi Ning’s hand on her shoulder gently patted it, reassuring her, “Don’t worry, she won’t drink herself to death.”
Her memories told her that Mo Lingyuan could hold her liquor well.
This girl had probably been a drunkard since she was a child.
But thinking about what she had learned the other day, Shi Ning felt she could almost understand why Mo Lingyuan was drinking so crazily.
Perhaps for Mo Lingyuan, only by numbing herself with alcohol again and again, by losing her senses in it, could she stop thinking about that woman?
At this thought, Shi Ning couldn’t figure it out.
What was so great about Mo Qi to love?
She couldn’t hold back. Forgoing the name, she asked directly again.
“Are you still upset because of her?”
Mo Lingyuan: “Me? Of course.”
It was fine that Shi Ning had seen through her. She had been hiding it for so many years and was a little tired. She said with feigned nonchalance, “Isn’t it a common occurrence for me to be unhappy because of her?”
Shi Ning: “I can’t figure out what you like about her.”
This was the second time Shi Ning had asked this question.
Perhaps it was because she had been drinking today, or perhaps Mo Lingyuan had been provoked.
Mo Lingyuan’s attitude was completely different from the other day. She gave a bitter smile and repeated Shi Ning’s question, “Right, what on earth do I like about her?”
Mo Lingyuan murmured, “I know she’s timid, weak, and incompetent now. Sometimes she’s a bit vain, too. But in my memory, she was the kindest and gentlest person to me. When I threw tantrums, she would put up with it. When I was unhappy, she would cheer me up. I was afraid of the dark, so she would walk me home every night and then leave by herself. When I was always alone, she would stay home with me. When it thundered and I couldn’t sleep, she would tell me bedtime stories. I think people are so strange. So many years have passed, and she’s grown older, but every time I see her, it’s as if I’m only seeing the her from all those years ago.”
Shi Ning really wanted to say, Didn’t the original “Shi Ning” do all these things for Mo Lingyuan?
But she couldn’t say it.
Mo Lingyuan: “Am I not normal?”
Su Tianxue couldn’t answer this question. Her research on love was limited to books. This question seemed to be beyond the scope of her knowledge.
Shi Ning, however, answered with ease.
Her hand resting on the back of the chair tapped lightly. “Any person who loves you could probably do the things you mentioned.”
“Mo Lingyuan, have you ever considered that what you’re desperately clinging to isn’t her, but just that memory? Also, I’m going to be blunt, but do you sometimes think that by loving like this, by going against the world, you’re being particularly amazing, resolute, badass, and even noble?”
After hearing this, Mo Lingyuan silently downed a few more glasses of alcohol, tilted her head, and said softly, “Maybe.”
“I just feel like some things have become a habit. A habit of reminiscing about her good qualities, and a habit of the pain she gives me. In all my wounds, I’ve actually found happiness. Counting my scars one by one can actually become a form of commemoration.”
Mo Lingyuan let out a long sigh, put down her glass, and wiped her face. “Forget it, let’s not talk about me. Let’s talk about you two.”
Shi Ning: “There’s nothing to say about me.”
Mo Lingyuan glared at her. “I don’t want to talk to you. I want to talk to Su Jiejie.”
Su Tianxue was inexplicably pulled by the hand by Mo Lingyuan, who then asked her a question.
“Su Jiejie, do you think you could love one person forever? For what reason would you love someone forever?”
Shi Ning glanced at Su Tianxue, a little curious to hear her answer.
Under Shi Ning’s gaze, Su Tianxue lowered her eyes slightly and spoke softly, “I don’t know either. Perhaps it’s when the other person can grow with me.”
“Grow?” Mo Lingyuan looked bewildered by this word. “You like childhood sweethearts?”
Su Tianxue explained, “I don’t mean growing in terms of age. Although the word ‘love’ sounds a bit ethereal and distant from life, it actually happens within life and is closely related to every aspect of daily life. If the person I love can only stay in one place while I move forward, or if she moves too fast for me to catch up, our lives will inevitably drift apart. If that happens, the two people… will one day lose their balance, right?”
Su Tianxue: “But this is just my initial thought. I haven’t put it into practice.”
Mo Lingyuan seemed to only half-understand, but Shi Ning already grasped Su Tianxue’s meaning.
She suddenly felt like having a drink too, so she asked Mo Lingyuan for a glass and downed it in one gulp.
The spiciness of the alcohol traveled down her throat and into her lungs.
This spiciness reminded Shi Ning that her life had not yet found a direction for growth.
Shi Ning changed the subject. She asked Mo Lingyuan, “Didn’t you say you invited other people? Where are they?”
Mo Lingyuan looked around, then stood up and leaned over the second-floor railing to look down.
She saw a familiar figure and waved.
A moment later, Shi Ning heard a very familiar voice.
She turned to see a woman in a sequined tank top rushing over excitedly, greeting them with enthusiasm, “Wow!!!! We meet again!!! It’s me, Xin Ya, I’m back!!”
And behind her, Zhou Lu, wrapped up like a sack of potatoes, followed slowly.
Seeing this, Shi Ning was surprised. “When did you all become friends?”
Mo Lingyuan tilted her head up. “I’m a pretty likable person.”
She warmly invited Xin Ya and Zhou Lu over. They all sat and chatted for a while. Xin Ya insisted on going down to dance and even dragged Zhou Lu with her.
If it were just the two of them going down, it would seem a bit awkward.
So Mo Lingyuan took charge and suggested everyone go down to the dance floor for a bit.
Shi Ning was actually reluctant. She felt Su Tianxue’s outfit today wasn’t suitable for dancing. And she suddenly disliked this way of dancing, squeezed among a crowd of people.
Clubbing was too tiring.
She was old.
But unexpectedly, whether because she had something on her mind or for some other reason, Su Tianxue also got up to go down. With no other choice, since her wife was moving, she had to move too.
Before they even reached the legendary trampoline dance floor, another voice cut through the noisy music. That person called out Su Tianxue’s name.
Su Tianxue seemed to freeze in place. She turned around with a look of disbelief.
Before this, Shi Ning had never seen such an expression on her face.
Shi Ning looked over with her and saw the owner of the voice.
It was a woman who was bright and beautiful, full of energy, and seemed very easy to get along with.
She was about the same age as them.
The woman was probably favored by time, as there wasn’t a single wrinkle on her face. She looked even younger than Shi Ning and the others, with a natural baby face, like a student who hadn’t lost her youthful innocence.
The other person excitedly hurried over and stopped in front of Shi Ning and Su Tianxue.
The woman smiled gently and said in a surprised tone, “It really is you, Su Tianxue! I thought I saw wrong! After all, given your personality, you don’t usually come to places like this!”
Su Tianxue didn’t say anything. She looked like she wanted to smile but couldn’t quite manage it.
Shi Ning heard the familiarity in the other person’s tone and the implication of “I know you.” She felt a strange feeling in her heart but didn’t let it show on her face.
“It’s really been a long time,” the woman said with emotion.
The woman had no discernible pheromone scent, but Shi Ning’s intuition told her she was probably an Omega.
Su Tianxue also replied softly, “Long time no see.”
The woman glanced at Shi Ning and smiled warmly at Su Tianxue. “This must be your wife, right? I’ve seen the show.” After saying that, she turned to Shi Ning. “Hello, my name is Shen Qingtang.”
She paused and then added, “You probably haven’t seen me before, but I’m a good friend of Su Tianxue’s.”
Standing beside Shi Ning, Su Tianxue softly added two words, “From high school.”
The woman pulled Su Tianxue away to catch up. Su Tianxue didn’t refuse, so Shi Ning couldn’t either.
Watching them walk off to the side.
Seeing Shen Qingtang laughing heartily, while Su Tianxue, though her expression was cool, was still listening intently…
Shi Ning’s expression couldn’t help but darken slightly.
Mo Lingyuan stood beside her and said in a tone of someone enjoying a good show, “Wow, a love rival has appeared.”
Shi Ning: “They’re just good friends.”
Mo Lingyuan scoffed, her tone carrying a warning. “Shi Ning, I might be wrong about other things, but… I have to tell you, in that Shen-something’s eyes, there’s something I’ve seen countless times over the years. Do you know what it is?”
Shi Ning pressed her lips together, silent.
Mo Lingyuan’s lips curled. “It’s what I see in my own eyes every time I look in the mirror—that look of longing for the unattainable, of wanting something you can never have.”
“I’m not mistaken.”
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