BSG - Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Shen Wenxin couldn't quite put her finger on why she was unhappy. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze landing on the nearby sofa. The gifts she'd bought for Yun Youqing were sitting right there, conspicuously. Worried that Yun Youqing hadn't been contacting her because she was angry, she'd even bought gifts to cheer her up. And now Yun Youqing had run off to a party to meet new friends! Shen Wenxin lowered her eyes, a cold glint in them, a low-pressure aura surrounding her.
Suddenly, she understood. It was precisely because Yun Youqing had cast aside her as a friend, ignoring her to go meet new people, that she felt displeased. Someone who had claimed she wanted to be her best friend had turned her back so quickly—who would be happy about that? It was her friend-possessiveness acting up. She didn't want to be treated so casually by Yun Youqing. Yun Youqing was, to some degree, a bit heartless.
But... was Yun Youqing really just going to make friends?
At this thought, Shen Wenxin calmed down. Her gaze moved back to the screen, landing precisely on Jin Hanshuang's words, "can also meet a girlfriend." Can meet a girlfriend... Yun Youqing needed a girlfriend right now. So, could it be that Yun Youqing was also making an effort to stop liking her? Was that it?
[Shen Wenxin]: Did she meet a girlfriend?
[Jin Hanshuang]: It's hard for an outsider to know about these things. I'm not that close to her.
Everything Jin Hanshuang knew about Yun Youqing came from Shen Wenxin. Even the photos of Yun Youqing were sent to her by Shen Wenxin, taken from Yun Youqing's Moments. That was when they were trying to find a romantic partner for Yun Youqing, but sadly, it hadn't worked out. But it did mean she knew what Yun Youqing looked like, which was how she recognized her at the party today.
[Jin Hanshuang]: But I did see her chatting very happily with someone quite pretty. Xiao Meng said that woman is a designer.
Xiao Meng—Jiang Rumeng, Shen Wenxin's good friend. Jin Hanshuang had a great personality and liked making friends. To Shen Wenxin's friends, she was like an older sister, just seven years older. This party was Jiang Rumeng dragging Jin Hanshuang along. Anyway, Jin Hanshuang was free at home with nothing to do; it was fun to go out and join the buzz.
"... "
Shen Wenxin raised an eyebrow lightly. Good-looking, huh. Wasn't that exactly Yun Youqing's type?
[Shen Wenxin]: Does that designer like women?
At this very moment, she actually found herself hoping for a positive answer from Jin Hanshuang. If the designer was a lesbian, her orientation would align with Yun Youqing's; there would be a chance for a romantic development. This would at least prove that Yun Youqing was going there with the intent of finding a girlfriend—that she wasn't giving her the cold shoulder while simultaneously finding new friends. It would prove Yun Youqing still had some conscience.
Jin Hanshuang replied. She said: [Don't know.]
Shen Wenxin: "?"
[Jin Hanshuang]: Mom isn't close to her either.
Shen Wenxin: "... " She put down her phone. Her eyes fell on the gifts. Her hand pressed against her chest. Shen Wenxin furrowed her brow. Why is it getting tighter and tighter here...
Yun Youqing had indeed gone to the party. An all-female party. She went to make new friends—or potentially, to meet a future girlfriend. It all depended on fate. Tao Fangran took her along. Tao Fangran encouraged her to expand her social circle; that was the only way to create endless possibilities. Stuck at home all day, stuck in Shen Wenxin's WeChat—how could a new romance ever bloom? Now that she, Tao Fangran, was back, she absolutely wouldn't let her friend suffer any more from love!
Yun Youqing hadn't wanted to go at first, but thinking of Shen Wenxin, she still went. She had been enduring without contacting Shen Wenxin this whole time because Shen Wenxin was busy with her business trip. She'd already held back for over ten days; she couldn't let all that effort go to waste. Maybe she really could start a new romance from this?
And it hadn't been a wasted trip. She met a woman at the party—a designer. The other party was named Liu Zhao. She was beautiful, witty, and she even knew who Yun Youqing was. Liu Zhao said she really liked her painting style and had bought a painting to collect at home. Liu Zhao also said she hadn't expected to meet her here. And Liu Zhao was very direct. "Do you like men or women?"
Yun Youqing: "?" Wow. Even more direct than me. "What about Miss Liu?"
Liu Zhao's fox-like eyes curved into a smile. "Women. I like women like Teacher Yun."
Yun Youqing: "... " Wow, that really is direct! I wasn't even this direct with Shen Wenxin back then! Oh, wait, after Shen Wenxin found out I liked her, I was pretty direct too... Yun Youqing inexplicably started comparing herself to Liu Zhao, ending up with her mind full of Shen Wenxin again. After a moment, Yun Youqing snapped back to reality. "... " What am I doing? A beautiful lesbian is right in front of me, and I'm thinking about that iron-straight straight girl?! Yun Youqing, what are you doing, ahhh!!!
Liu Zhao noticed her distraction, smiled gently, and said softly, "Teacher Yun seems a bit off. Something on your mind?"
Yun Youqing stammered, "Ah, I... mm." She really couldn't bring herself to tell Liu Zhao: I'm looking at you, but thinking of someone else. A straight girl, at that. She'd be laughed to death.
"Let's exchange contact info," Liu Zhao said, her eyebrows and eyes curved. "Make a friend. We can hang out together sometime."
"Okay." Yun Youqing didn't refuse. Why should she? Shen Wenxin didn't like her anyway. Why should she remain chaste for a straight girl!
After adding each other, Liu Zhao heard a friend calling her. She turned to Yun Youqing with a gentle smile. "Teacher Yun, my friend is looking for me. I'll head over first." She raised her phone and waved it. "It's an honor to be able to add the great painter."
Yun Youqing returned the smile. "The honor's mine, adding the great designer."
Liu Zhao smiled and walked away. Beautiful women were indeed pleasant to look at when they smiled. Pleasing to the eye. But for Yun Youqing, it stopped at "pleasing to the eye." Her heart didn't stir in the slightest. No sign of it speeding up whatsoever.
"So?" Tao Fangran returned to Yun Youqing's side only after confirming Liu Zhao was gone. "You two chatted pretty well, didn't you? A designer, just like us in the creative field. You'd have plenty to talk about later."
But Yun Youqing shook her head. She pointed to her heart. "Here. Not a single ripple." She said it expressionlessly, uncertain if it was because her heart was too dead to make an expression.
"Oh," Tao Fangran suddenly said, surprised, "Shen Wenxin."
"Where, where?!" Yun Youqing's heart instantly revived, pounding.
Tao Fangran immediately went cold. "Just fooling you."
Yun Youqing smacked Tao Fangran lightly.
Tao Fangran put on a "I knew it" face. "Your heart isn't dead yet. You're still thinking about her."
Yun Youqing was self-righteous. "So what? So what? Thinking doesn't break any laws!"
Tao Fangran crossed her arms and hit the nail on the head. "Then is she thinking about you?"
Yun Youqing was struck dumb. "... "
Tao Fangran nudged Yun Youqing with her elbow. "Why aren't you talking, great painter?"
Yun Youqing opened and closed her mouth. "Not talking. I'm naturally not a talkative person."
Tao Fangran reached out and pinched her cheek. "Wake up, Yun Youqing." She tapped the phone where Yun Youqing had just added a pretty older sister's contact. "Don't forget why you came here. If you can seize an opportunity, then seize it properly, okay?"
Yun Youqing first sighed, then took a breath and gathered her spirits. "Fine! I'll try!" She poked at her phone to show Tao Fangran. "I'm very clear-headed! At least I didn't refuse to add the pretty older sister's WeChat." Her feelings for Shen Wenxin hadn't reached hopeless-lovesick levels yet. Of course, Shen Wenxin hadn't given her that opportunity, either.
Tao Fangran nodded approvingly, then said, "I saw Jiang Rumeng."
Yun Youqing: "Who?"
Tao Fangran: "Shen Wenxin's friend. Really close."
Yun Youqing: "Oh..."
Tao Fangran: "Shen Wenxin's mom is here, too."
Yun Youqing: "Ah?!"
Tao Fangran covered her ear. "Stepmom. What were you thinking?" She pointed toward a corner. "There. Right there."
Yun Youqing followed Tao Fangran's finger and looked over. She saw a beautiful woman. A head of wildly beautiful curly hair, elegant and poised, her features bright and stunning. How stunning? She had to look twice before noticing Jin Hanshuang was also wearing earrings and a necklace. "Wow, so gorgeous..."
"Right?"
Yun Youqing's voice dropped to a whisper. "Her stepmom also comes to these parties?"
Tao Fangran nodded. "She does. It's lively here, right? An extrovert's paradise. Her stepmom's definitely an E."
Yun Youqing: "How do you know?"
Tao Fangran said matter-of-factly, "A lot of the wealthy madam clients for Minghai Jewelry were cultivated by her stepmom. So I figured her social skills must be top-notch. Total E!"
Yun Youqing nodded in understanding. "Makes sense." Good, learned a bit more about Shen Wenxin!
After saying it, Tao Fangran caught herself. "Tch. Why am I telling you all this? It's all your fault."
"? Blame me for what?"
"Blame you for constantly thinking about Shen Wenxin, to the point that whenever I hear anything about her, I want to tell you."
"Then blame Shen Wenxin first."
"Blame her for what?"
"Blame her for being impolite and moving into my heart without even saying hello."
"... Ugh—" Tao Fangran rubbed her arms. "So cheesy, can't stand it!"
It was cold. Yun Youqing wanted to go home. She had things to do tomorrow and couldn't stay too late. But Tao Fangran wanted to play a bit longer. Conveniently, they'd both driven separately, so they happily parted ways.
Yun Youqing walked out of the main entrance, wrapped her scarf tighter, and headed toward her parked car. Remembering she'd left something behind, she stopped abruptly and turned back. When she got close to the entrance, she suddenly spotted someone—Jin Hanshuang. There was another woman with Jin Hanshuang. They were very intimate. Jin Hanshuang was adjusting the woman's coat, and the woman smiled and kissed Jin Hanshuang on the forehead... and on the lips. An incredibly sweet scene.
"... "
Yun Youqing stared dumbfounded. She instinctively ducked behind a dimly lit tree to the side, staying hidden until Jin Hanshuang and the woman walked away hand-in-hand in another direction. She recognized that woman. After Tao Fangran had given her that little crash course on Shen Wenxin, she'd searched for this woman online. Lu Yunshu... Ah, Shen Wenxin's sworn enemy, Lu Yunshu!!! Yun Youqing was utterly stupefied. Lu Yunshu kissed Jin Hanshuang... Shen Wenxin's sworn enemy kissed Shen Wenxin's stepmom... Oh my god, have I just accidentally stumbled upon a massive secret?!
Comments
Post a Comment