BSG - Chapter 21
Chapter 21
After finishing breakfast, Yun Youqing returned to her room to change. Once dressed, she went to the study door and knocked lightly. After getting Shen Wenxin's permission, she quietly opened the door and poked her head in.
The moment Shen Wenxin looked up, she noticed she wasn't wearing pajamas. "You're leaving?"
Yun Youqing nodded. Shen Wenxin asked, "Why not stay a bit longer?"
Yun Youqing said sheepishly, "I've bothered you for two nights already. If I stay any longer, I'll monopolize your entire three-day holiday. Where would your free time go?"
Shen Wenxin was amused by the phrase "free time." "Isn't it normal to hang out with friends during the holidays? Anyway, if it's not with you, it would be with other friends."
A surge of jealousy suddenly rose in Yun Youqing's heart. Right. Shen Wenxin has other friends. Friends more important than her. She wasn't Shen Wenxin's best friend, and she couldn't be her girlfriend, yet she had fallen in love with her. Why was her fate so bitter!
Seeing Yun Youqing not respond, Shen Wenxin assumed she was set on leaving and could only say, "Then wait a moment. Let me finish this task and I'll drive you."
Yun Youqing immediately opened the door and stepped in. "In that case, by all means." Who would refuse spending a little more time with their crush? "Can I wait for you in your study?"
"Be my guest." Shen Wenxin pointed to the large rocking chair by the window. "That chair is very comfortable. Try it out."
Yun Youqing beamed and whooshed over. Shen Wenxin rested her chin on her folded hands, her eyes following Yun Youqing from the doorway to the window. It was like watching a little squirrel scamper past.
The little squirrel took off her coat and sat down, leaning back, then pulled her feet up as well, sitting cross-legged, rocking gently to and fro. Her expression was blissful. Shen Wenxin's eyes curved. So cute.
The rocking chair was large and soft. Yun Youqing felt like she was sinking into a cloud, her whole being weightless and incredibly comfortable. She lay on her side, saying to Shen Wenxin, who was watching her, "So comfy." She added, "I have a rocking chair at my place, too. It's also very comfy. You should come lie in it sometime."
What was this, a rocking chair exchange gathering? Shen Wenxin laughed. "Alright."
Yun Youqing obediently took out her phone. "You work. I'll play on my phone for a bit. I won't disturb you."
"Mm."
Shen Wenxin dove into her work with lightning speed. So fast, so focused. As if even if the sky fell, she would only glance at it once before continuing to calmly handle the tasks at hand. Yun Youqing could also be that focused—when painting or playing on her phone. But not right now. Right now, she was more interested in the other person in the room than her phone.
She lay facing Shen Wenxin, holding her phone as if playing on it, but actually watching her. Watching Shen Wenxin's serious expression as she worked. Watching Shen Wenxin's beautiful profile. Watching Shen Wenxin's posture, watching her elegantly crossed legs. Her eyes watched, but her heart was tracing, sketching, as if wanting to imprint this image even deeper into the softest part of her heart. Shen Wenxin... I like you so much... Why can't you like me back? Yun Youqing felt miserable again.
But one thing could comfort her: Shen Wenxin didn't like her, but she also wouldn't like anyone else. President Shen, focused on her career, seemed to refuse everyone indiscriminately. Right? Probably? Yun Youqing thought uncertainly. It was true for now, but who knew about the future. What if one day Shen Wenxin held someone's hand and stood before her, announcing she had given her heart to another? Heavens, a horror film! No, no, can't think about it anymore!! Yun Youqing hastily shook her head, banishing the image of Shen Wenxin holding that blurry figure's hand. She forced herself to look at her phone, to distract herself.
Yun Youqing scrolled through many videos of cats and dogs, watching them muted. As she watched, she yawned. Scrolling herself to sleepiness. She glanced at Shen Wenxin. Still working. She looked back at her phone and continued watching videos. But the longer she watched, the sleepier she got. She was already sleep-deprived, and lying down after a full meal was simply lethal. It was all because she went to bed too late last night, and this chair was just way too comfortable...
Ten minutes later, Shen Wenxin closed her laptop. Work was over. Her first reaction was to look at Yun Youqing. And what she saw was a sleeping squirrel. Shen Wenxin quietly walked to Yun Youqing's side, hands behind her back, looking down at her.
Yun Youqing was curled up in the rocking chair, breathing evenly, her expression peaceful and serene. So good, indescribably good. She didn't wake her, just gazed at her quietly. What's this, Yun Youqing? You can fall asleep to the sound of typing? You're clearly so tired, yet you didn't sleep in this morning. A smile of fondness curved Shen Wenxin's lips. She tilted her head, observing Yun Youqing from a different angle. As she watched, she suddenly discovered something—Yun Youqing wasn't just sweet when she smiled. She was also very sweet when she wasn't smiling. Very sweet, very cute.
Yun Youqing woke up. In bed. —Bed?! She jolted fully awake. Wasn't I in Wenxin's study? How did I end up in bed? Did I sleepwalk?! Or... She threw off the covers and got out of bed, rushing to find Shen Wenxin. She spotted her the moment she left the room.
"Awake?" Shen Wenxin smiled meaningfully.
Yun Youqing first gave an embarrassed laugh, then asked hesitantly, "Um, that... wasn't I in your study?"
"Mm. I carried you back to the room," Shen Wenxin said, utterly calm. "Lying in bed is more comfortable."
Yun Youqing let out a "Wah," her eyes lighting up. "You carried me?! No, wait—impressive! You can actually carry me!"
"Easily," Shen Wenxin smiled calmly. "Little sister, your big sister here actually works out regularly."
The scheming little sister spread her arms wide. "Little sister doesn't believe you. Quick, recreate it for little sister."
Shen Wenxin maintained her smile and held her off with a single finger. Rejected. Yun Youqing wrinkled her nose glumly, deeply regretful. Still wanted to be held in big sister's arms, to look at big sister from within big sister's embrace... Being carried princess-style by her, that would feel completely different... "Tsk, tsk."
Yun Youqing suddenly made that sound. Shen Wenxin heard it very clearly, and it even sounded a bit regretful. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Never mind. No need to ask; she knew what Yun Youqing was regretting.
"Still sleepy?" Shen Wenxin spoke again. "If you're still tired, sleep a bit more. You can go back later."
Yun Youqing was full of energy and flashed a super sweet smile. "I've slept enough! I had a super comfortable sleep. Thank you~" Shen Wenxin's bed was also very soft and comfortable to sleep in. What surprised her even more was that Shen Wenxin, so she could sleep more comfortably, had actually carried her back to the room. So thoughtful, so lovely. Oh no, I love her even more. "Can I come to your place to sleep again next time?"
Shen Wenxin chuckled softly. "Coming to my place just to sleep? Is my home a hotel?"
Yun Youqing didn't bat an eyelid. "Yes, your home is a ten-star hotel. I love it."
Shen Wenxin played along. "Staying at a hotel requires payment."
Yun Youqing said sweetly, "I'll mortgage myself to Sister~"
Shen Wenxin: "Then I'll have to get a sign made."
Yun Youqing: "For what?"
Shen Wenxin: "To write 'No Entry for Yun Youqing'."
Yun Youqing: "... Personal attack. Bad review for you!"
After sufficient teasing, Shen Wenxin changed the subject with a smile. "Hungry? Time for lunch."
Yun Youqing said, "Starving." Then she latched onto Shen Wenxin's arm. "Let's go. Aunty will treat you to a big meal!" She had troubled Shen Wenxin for the past two days; it was time for her to give a little back.
Shen Wenxin changed, and they headed out. Walking out of the elevator, Yun Youqing suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no!"
"What's wrong?" Shen Wenxin asked.
Yun Youqing said, belatedly, "I ate, then slept. Slept, then ate. Doesn't that make me a pig?!"
Shen Wenxin immediately burst into laughter. "Right. You're a pig. A squirrel pig." After saying this, she laughed and walked on ahead.
Yun Youqing stared at her back in astonishment. "What the heck!" She followed after her.
After eating, Shen Wenxin drove Yun Youqing to pick up her car—the car its drunk owner had heartlessly abandoned in the parking lot. Shen Wenxin parked outside and jutted her chin toward the lot. "Go on, Squirrel Pig."
"Tch!" Yun Youqing voiced strong dissatisfaction and glared at her. "Don't call me that! I'm a sweet girl, you know!"
Shen Wenxin's brow furrowed slightly. She was a sweet girl, no doubt, but—"When this word is used to describe you, it somehow doesn't quite suit coming from your own mouth."
"Why?"
"I'm used to you calling yourself aunty."
"Okay, then I'm a Sweet Aunty." What ready compliance.
Shen Wenxin also complied readily. "Go on then, Sweet Aunty. Your car is waiting for you."
Yun Youqing looked back at her, eyes brimming with profound emotion. "Aunty can't bear to leave you."
Shen Wenxin: "Get out."
Yun Youqing: "You're being mean to me!"
Shen Wenxin: "You're slandering me."
Yun Youqing got cocky, puffing out her chest. "So what? Gonna arrest me?"
"Arrest," Shen Wenxin said. "And sentence you to wife-less imprisonment. No wife for you."
Yun Youqing's pupils constricted in shock. "So hurtful! Help, I'm wounded..." She clutched her heart and got out of the car. Then she weaved dramatically all the way into the parking lot.
Shen Wenxin just watched, a smile still on her lips. She saw Yun Youqing's scarf and long hair suddenly lifted by the wind. Yun Youqing stood still for a moment, then sneezed. She was freezing. Shen Wenxin also froze. The smile on her lips solidified, a flicker of worry appearing in her eyes.
Yun Youqing stopped acting and bolted into the parking lot. Cold, so cold! Gotta get back to the car, fast! A new generation of actress thus concluded her performance on this cold winter day.
Seeing that Yun Youqing still had the energy to sprint, Shen Wenxin finally relaxed. But thinking of Yun Youqing's acting antics, she still found it utterly hilarious. Day in, day out, how can there be so many tricks? Shen Wenxin took out her phone and tapped into Yun Youqing's WeChat: [I'm leaving. Message me when you get home.]
Yun Youqing didn't reply. Probably looking for her car. Shen Wenxin's gaze accidentally brushed over the contact name she'd set for Yun Youqing and then returned to it. Yun Youqing (smiles very sweetly).
Looking at this contact name, Shen Wenxin's mind was filled with images of Yun Youqing from these past few days. The acting Yun Youqing, the Yun Youqing asleep in the rocking chair... After a moment of silence, Shen Wenxin tapped into Yun Youqing's contact name again and added an amendment within the parentheses: also sweet when not smiling.
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