BSG - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Wait a minute!" Yun Youqing scrambled out of bed in a fluster. Hearing her, Shen Wenxin turned around, only to see Yun Youqing rush out hastily, then suddenly restrain herself halfway, looking left and right as she carefully walked toward her while clutching the water glass. Like a thief.

"What are you doing?" Shen Wenxin was deeply puzzled.

Yun Youqing lowered her voice worriedly. "I'm afraid of disturbing Uncle and Auntie!"

Shen Wenxin only found it amusing, yet she also learned to speak in a hushed tone. "At this hour, Uncle and Auntie have long been up."

Yun Youqing immediately started looking around again, her voice tense with suppressed breath. "Where, where? Did I embarrass myself in front of them?!"

The smile on Shen Wenxin's face deepened. She couldn't help but raise her hand and pinch Yun Youqing's cute face, speaking with a mysterious whisper. "They're not here."

Yun Youqing looked at Shen Wenxin, head tilted, face still being pinched. "?" Seems like she really doesn't remember anything from being drunk last night. Shen Wenxin's voice returned to normal as she explained with a smile, "I live here alone. My parents live elsewhere, not here. Besides, bringing a drunk friend back to my parents' house late at night and disturbing their rest—what kind of behavior would that be?"

Upon hearing the elders weren't around, Yun Youqing's spine immediately straightened again. "Ah, good then. Good. Hehe."

"Silly." Shen Wenxin put on her coat. "I'm off. You rest well. Finish the honey water and eat your meal."

Yun Youqing bobbed her head obediently and asked, "Are you really that comfortable leaving me alone in your home?"

Shen Wenxin raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

Yun Youqing put on a super pervert grin. "Aren't you afraid I'll do bad things in your house?"

"What bad things?" Shen Wenxin asked. "Bite the puppy's butt?"

Yun Youqing started looking around again. "Is Xiaoba here, too? Where, where? I haven't seen him in so long! I miss him so much!"

Shen Wenxin smiled and reached out, turning her head back to face her. "Not here. He's at my stepmother's place." Her stepmother's place at her nemesis's home.

Yun Youqing was instantly disappointed. "Then I can only bite something else..."

Shen Wenxin said, "Suit yourself." She adjusted her coat collar with composure. "If you break something, I'll naturally call the police." Then, meeting Yun Youqing's clear, bright eyes, she added with steady reliability, "Don't worry. I know the number for the police."

Yun Youqing: "... " Yun Youqing: "So clever. Shall I applaud?"

"Applaud," Shen Wenxin said. "Make it vivid."

Yun Youqing downed the honey water in one gulp, then performed a passionate symphony of hand-clapping right then and there. She clapped so hard her hands turned red.

Shen Wenxin asked, "Does it hurt?"

Yun Youqing said, "It hurts."

Shen Wenxin smiled and left. Before she left, she also patted her head. Whether because she found her cute or what, she wasn't sure. "Ah, right," Shen Wenxin stopped at the door and turned back. "Miss Tao called you. I took the liberty of answering it. Remember to call her back."

Yun Youqing understood. "Got it."

"Hey, wait!" Yun Youqing called out to her again. "Are you coming back?"

Shen Wenxin said, "Yes."

Yun Youqing was delighted but also a bit puzzled. "You're not spending time with Uncle and Auntie?"

"I am," Shen Wenxin said. "I'm heading out now to have a meal with them." Then added, "I'll come back later to be with my friend—the one who's heartbroken, cried so pitifully, and needs company."

Yun Youqing blinked.

Hand on the door handle, Shen Wenxin turned back and smiled at her. "Uncle and Auntie also told me to spend more time with you."

Yun Youqing watched Shen Wenxin leave. Watched the door close. And then, it finally dawned on her— Ah! Even her parents know I cried so miserably?! So embarrassing!!! Yun Youqing, mortified, scurried back to the room and plunged into the covers like an ostrich, unwilling to face the world. Very thankful she was alone right now.

Oh, right. Must reply to Fangran! And tell her the bad news... The ostrich Yun emerged from its hole, found the phone, and then retreated back under the covers, opening WeChat. Tao Fangran had left a message: Call her back once she was awake. She actually knew she was sleeping... Probably Shen Wenxin told her. Yun Youqing dialed the number.

"Hello? Ranran?"

"Awake?" Tao Fangran's concern came through. "How'd you sleep?"

Yun Youqing gave an objective review. "Great. Very comfortable. Just a headache upon waking."

Tao Fangran needed only a strand of hair to guess the reason. "Drink less, you. Good thing you at least remembered to call someone to accompany you. Knowing Shen Wenxin was there with you put my mind at ease."

Speaking of which, Yun Youqing adjusted her position, her curiosity instantly piqued. "She answered your call?"

Tao Fangran: "Mm."

Yun Youqing was intrigued. "What did she say to you?"

"President Shen was very polite," Tao Fangran stated. Indeed, very polite, yet it had also given her a bit of a shock. Because Yun Youqing hadn't been replying to messages, Tao Fangran, worried she was suffering alone, had called her. Who knew the person who picked up would be Shen Wenxin! "Hello?" The unfamiliar female voice came through the phone speaker. Tao Fangran had looked at the screen with suspicion. It was Youqing's number, no doubt. "...Who is this?" "My surname is Shen." "Ah, so it's President Shen." "Miss Tao knows of me." "President Shen also knows of me." "Youqing's contact name says so." "Right. Where is she?" "Asleep." "Huh?" Tao Fangran had been utterly confused at the time. Yun Youqing was asleep, and Shen Wenxin was answering her phone? Whose place were they at? What was going on? "She's drunk," Shen Wenxin had said concisely over the phone. "Is there something Miss Tao needs?" Then Tao Fangran had understood. Yun Youqing had drunk a lot after the first breakup, too, and would just fall asleep when drunk. Sleeping was good; it meant she didn't have to think about this crap. And Shen Wenxin was there. Knowing Shen Wenxin was by Yun Youqing's side put Tao Fangran even more at ease. "Nothing urgent. Let her sleep. I'll find her tomorrow." "Okay." "Thank you for looking after her, President Shen." "It's only right." And then she'd hung up. Very concise conversation.

Listening to Tao Fangran's recollection, Yun Youqing felt like the hazy memories from last night were slowly resurfacing. Shen Wenxin had come to be with her. Shen Wenxin was so gentle. Shen Wenxin had even stroked her head and said good night. Shen Wenxin is so wonderful. I really like Shen Wenxin—Oh no, I really like Shen Wenxin!!!

Tao Fangran heard a wail of grief suddenly erupt from the phone. Puzzled, she asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm done for. I'm really, completely in love with her—I'm done for!!!" She had just dug out the remnants of obsession her ex left in her heart, and Shen Wenxin had moved right in. A scumbag woman, a straight woman—was her fate just this bitter!

The sound of banging came from Tao Fangran's phone. No need to guess, it was definitely Yun Youqing kicking the bed in despair. She couldn't help but sigh and shake her head. Such a bitter fate.

"Let's not talk about Shen Wenxin first," Tao Fangran changed the subject. "How are you now? Still hurting inside?"

Yun Youqing calmed down and said softly, "Not anymore." She had cried, she had been drunk. Now that she was sober, it was time to completely let go. From now on, she would never again give Tang Yue a single shred of her joy or sorrow! "Whether Tang Yue lives or dies from now on, or how many questions are left behind, I don't care about any of it. Whoever wants to care, can care!"

"Good!" Tao Fangran was immensely relieved. "That's the spirit! Not cherishing you is her loss. She has no taste. Our great painter will meet someone even better in the future!"

Yun Youqing instantly wilted. "I already have..." And she's a straight girl. Sob, straight girl.

Tao Fangran: "So pitiful. Pat pat."

"Come back soon!"

"Alright, alright, alright. I'll be back soon— Oh, Sister Chen is calling me. Gotta go. Message me if anything."

"Mm, go, go..."

Hanging up, Yun Youqing listlessly got up to wash and eat.

In the evening, Shen Wenxin returned. She brought Yun Youqing dinner, still warm. Yun Youqing was so moved she offered herself in matrimony. Shen Wenxin was equally moved and expressed: "No."

Yun Youqing: "Hmph. Tasteless Shen Wenxin." She turned around and cheerfully dug into her dinner. One at the dining table, one on the sofa, not disturbing each other.

Halfway through her meal, Yun Youqing piped up, "Wenxin, I'm sorry."

Shen Wenxin paused, puzzled, and turned back to look at her. "For what?"

Yun Youqing said sheepishly, "You finally got to spend time with your parents, and I went and ruined it..."

Shen Wenxin understood and said indifferently, "You're overthinking it. I can see them anytime I want." Her parents' work schedules weren't flexible, but hers was. President Shen did whatever she wanted.

Yun Youqing: "... " Seems I felt guilty for nothing.

Shen Wenxin added, "I'll drive you home after you finish eating."

Yun Youqing paused mid-chew. Go back? But I don't want to leave so soon... A plan formed in her mind. She took her food and ran to sit next to Shen Wenxin, looking at her with sparkling eyes. "Can I stay the night at your place today?"

Shen Wenxin looked up at her, her gaze appraising, as if asking: Why?

Yun Youqing: "I'm currently a wounded soldier, urgently needing company."

Shen Wenxin: "Wounded soldier?"

Yun Youqing said righteously, "A love wound is also a wound!"

Shen Wenxin: "...Fine."

Yun Youqing wriggled closer, inch by inch, until she was beside Shen Wenxin, beaming. "So can I stay the night? Having you here makes me so happy. Please?"

The current Yun Youqing was completely different from the Yun Youqing of last night. Shen Wenxin couldn't see any sign of a "wounded soldier." She spoke. "You can." President Shen was truly very accommodating.

"Yes!" Yun Youqing was thrilled. She returned to the table with her food, joyfully enjoying her meal. Love required effort. Even if she couldn't win Shen Wenxin's heart, she could at least win more time by her side!

Shen Wenxin watched Yun Youqing all the way back to the dining table. She saw her eating happily, her eyes curved, even the corners of her lips curved. Her little dimples had made their appearance again. Very sweet, very cute. Shen Wenxin couldn't help but chuckle softly, shaking her head as she turned back to her phone. Her finger happened to slide to Yun Youqing's WeChat contact and stopped. She glanced back at Yun Youqing again. Withdrawing her gaze, she felt as if possessed as she tapped into Yun Youqing's contact name and added a parenthetical note after "Yun Youqing": (smiles very sweetly) The cute Magic Youth should smile more often.

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