BSG - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Why? Why was she unhappy that Yun Youqing was going out to eat with Liu Zhao? Yun Youqing actively resolving the issue was clearly a good thing. What exactly was she unhappy about? Could it be she was afraid Yun Youqing's attempt to cultivate feelings would fail, and she'd just end up friends with Liu Zhao?

Shen Wenxin didn't understand. She was still pondering it even after she got home. Holding a mug, hugging Xiaoba on the sofa, she was completely baffled.

Jin Hanshuang emerged from her room and saw this scene. Oh, and Xiaoba was drinking water from her mug. Amused, Jin Hanshuang walked over, took away her mug, picked up Xiaoba, and tapped the puppy's nose. "You can't drink from sister's cup." Then she looked up at Shen Wenxin. "What are you thinking about? You look so dazed."

Shen Wenxin snapped out of it and casually replied, "Nothing."

Jin Hanshuang added, "I picked out your gown for the evening gala. Remember to look it over and let me know if anything needs altering."

Shen Wenxin nodded. Jin Hanshuang, remembering something from the party, asked out of goodwill, "Did you ask Miss Yun how things are developing with that designer?"

Shen Wenxin looked up. "What?"

Jin Hanshuang smiled. "Didn't Miss Yun want to meet a girlfriend? I heard that designer is also a lesbian. If they get along well, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Shen Wenxin: "... " Jin Hanshuang looked at her daughter. "What's wrong? You don't look too happy."

Shen Wenxin was startled. "That obvious?"

Jin Hanshuang said worriedly, "You really aren't happy? What happened? Is it something at the company?"

Xiaoba also left its mother's embrace and walked over to nuzzle its sister. Shen Wenxin lowered her eyes and stroked the dog's furry head. She suddenly thought of Yun Youqing, of how Yun Youqing would pet the little dog's head the same way when she was feeling down. Pet the dog's head, all worries are shed. Shen Wenxin's hand paused. Why was she thinking of Yun Youqing again? But thinking of Yun Youqing inevitably led to thinking of Liu Zhao. Yun Youqing and Liu Zhao were probably eating together right now, weren't they? Both were creators, so they'd definitely have plenty to talk about. The conversation must be very pleasant, right?

The more Shen Wenxin thought, the unhappier she became. But she couldn't control her own mind. She lifted her eyes to look at her perceptive stepmother and spoke softly. "I am unhappy. But it's not about the company."

"What is it, then?" Jin Hanshuang put on the gentle posture of a listener. "Do you want to tell Mom about it?"

Whenever Shen Wenxin had worries in the past, Jin Hanshuang would ask like this. She would accompany Shen Wenxin, guide her, brainstorm with her, until Shen Wenxin's smile returned. Shen Wenxin was her only child; naturally, she had to love her well.

Shen Wenxin sighed. "Xiao Ma."

"Mm?"

"I can't figure myself out."

"How so?"

Shen Wenxin supported her forehead and rubbed her temples. "Whenever I think of Miss Liu, I get unhappy."

"Liu Zhao?"

"Mm."

"Why?"

"I don't know why either. That's why I'm bothered."

Jin Hanshuang sat cross-legged, facing her, with a resolute expression that said, "Mom will definitely help you sort this out today." "Alright, let's retrace. First, let's see under what circumstances thinking of her makes you unhappy."

Shen Wenxin thought for a moment. "Today. I originally wanted to invite Youqing out to dinner, but she said Liu Zhao had already invited her first, so she refused me."

Jin Hanshuang raised an eyebrow. "And that made you unhappy?"

Shen Wenxin sullenly hummed an agreement, then hesitated. "Am I becoming petty?" Yun Youqing just refused dinner this one time, and she was this upset. If that wasn't petty, what was? Shen Wenxin continued, puzzled, "And then I took it out on Miss Liu?"

Unexpectedly, after hearing her words, Jin Hanshuang's worried expression relaxed. She propped her chin on her hand, her whole demeanor becoming leisurely. Shen Wenxin was instantly confused.

Jin Hanshuang smiled. "First, tell me—is Miss Yun planning to be friends with this Miss Liu, or develop into girlfriends?"

Shen Wenxin answered without hesitation. "The latter. She said if they can't be girlfriends, then they'd be friends."

Jin Hanshuang asked again, "And do you support her liking someone else?"

Shen Wenxin nodded. "She should."

Jin Hanshuang: "Oh?" She confirmed once more. "You really support her liking someone else?"

Shen Wenxin said seriously, "Her liking me won't lead anywhere. Liking someone else sooner means she can be free sooner. Isn't that a good thing?"

"It won't lead anywhere?" Jin Hanshuang suddenly smiled. She looked her daughter up and down. Under her daughter's confused gaze, she smiled and stroked her head. "You, my dear, either you like Miss Yun, or your possessiveness as a friend is acting up." She didn't state it too definitively. "Perhaps you're afraid Miss Yun will really fall for someone else. Or perhaps you're afraid that Miss Yun not only won't succeed but will also end up with a friend closer to her than you."

Shen Wenxin: "?" Afraid of Yun Youqing liking someone else? Shen Wenxin said decisively, "I think it's the latter."

"Is that so?" Jin Hanshuang said these two words very gently, in a way that made it impossible to discern her meaning.

Just then, Jin Hanshuang's phone rang in her room. Jin Hanshuang glanced toward the room, then back at her daughter and smiled. She stood up, smiling as she stroked her daughter's head. "Anyway, you care deeply about Miss Yun. Exceptionally so."

Shen Wenxin: "?" She watched her stepmother return to her room, Xiaoba also scampering in after her, leaving her sitting alone. After a long while, her frown deepened. Care...? She picked up her phone and tapped into Yun Youqing's WeChat interface, remaining silent.

Listening to her phone, Jin Hanshuang poked her head out and asked, "Wenxin, is there anything you'd like to eat? Yunshu said she can bring us some takeout later."

Shen Wenxin waved her hand, her eyes not leaving her phone for a second. Jin Hanshuang understood and turned back. "We've both already eaten. No need to deliver takeout. Have fun with your friends. Mm-hmm, see you tomorrow. Xiaoba misses you, too~"

---

Yun Youqing and Liu Zhao were still eating. The two got along harmoniously and happily, sharing many common topics in the creative field. Like what to do when you couldn't paint, or how your hair fell out in clumps the moment you started creating... Yun Youqing was trying very hard to spark something with Liu Zhao, very hard to force herself to shift her focus and pay more attention to the beautiful woman before her.

But she couldn't do it.

Shen Wenxin wasn't in her eyes, but she was in her heart, in her memories, in her life. Liu Zhao said her hands were beautiful, and she thought of how she'd said the same to Shen Wenxin. Liu Zhao picked up a fork, and she thought of Shen Wenxin picking up a fork. Liu Zhao showed her her own collection, and she thought of Shen Wenxin, who had come specially to deliver her gifts. So many gifts, all incredibly cute. After Shen Wenxin left, she had placed them all carefully on the shelf, adding them to her little world. And then she thought further, to how Shen Wenxin had apologized to her. Shen Wenxin had noticed she wasn't chatting and was even worried she was angry. Heavens, how can Shen Wenxin be so cute? Oh, right, had Shen Wenxin eaten dinner yet? Yun Youqing's thoughts took a leap. She checked the time. Past seven. Shen Wenxin should have eaten by now. Such a grown adult, could she starve herself?

Yun Youqing put her phone down again. Liu Zhao noticed her movement and considerately asked, "What's wrong? Do you have something on later?"

Yun Youqing shook her head. "Nothing." Then, meeting Liu Zhao's concerned gaze, she couldn't help but sigh, her face full of guilt. "I feel like I've done you a bit of an injustice."

Liu Zhao propped her chin on her hand and looked at her with keen interest. "How so?"

Yun Youqing was brutally honest. "Sitting here chatting with you, but my mind is on someone else. Not being sincere."

Liu Zhao was instead charmed by her candidness. Not only did she not mind, but she even smiled and asked, "Who are you thinking about? Could it be someone you like?"

Yun Youqing hesitated for a moment. After a few seconds, she resignedly nodded. There was no way around it. Facing Liu Zhao, her heart remained utterly still, let alone letting go of Shen Wenxin. Especially after Shen Wenxin had delivered those gifts—it was as if Shen Wenxin had taken up direct residence in her heart, and no matter how she tried to chase her out, she wouldn't leave. Under these circumstances, there was no need to keep it from Liu Zhao and let her waste her efforts. Deceiving someone was also wrong.

Liu Zhao immediately looked regretful. "Ah? Did I arrive too late?" She added, "My friend asked Fangran, and she said you were single. That's why I dared to approach. Seems the intel was wrong."

Yun Youqing scratched her cheek. "Ah, the intel wasn't wrong. It's not really about being too late or not. We're not together... I have an unrequited crush."

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhao became interested. "She doesn't like you? Why? Does she not think you're cute?" Yun Youqing was adorable just by looks alone, and even more so when she opened her mouth to speak.

Yun Youqing sighed. "She does think I'm cute. She's even complimented me on it several times."

Liu Zhao: "Then why doesn't she like you?"

Yun Youqing: "Because she's straight."

Liu Zhao: "?" Liu Zhao: "... " She reached out and gently patted Yun Youqing's shoulder. "My condolences." Then she consoled her, "It's okay. I'm here now. I like you. I'm not straight. I'm super bent."

Yun Youqing was amused into laughter. In this moment, she felt so relieved. "Don't. Unrequited love is bitter. I'm in the thick of it; don't you join this sea of bitterness. Run while there's still time."

Liu Zhao, propping her cheek on her hand, suddenly reached out and very gently tucked a strand of Yun Youqing's hair behind her ear. Their eyes met, understanding passing between them—a little test.

Liu Zhao: "Really, not even a little feeling?"

Yun Youqing: "She's done this gesture to me before."

Liu Zhao suddenly laughed. "Oh god, you're done for."

Yun Youqing also laughed. "Yeah, I'm done for." They just laughed like that. Their relationship became purer and purer amidst the laughter, thoroughly settling into friendship. Yun Youqing had known it all along—she was done for. She simply couldn't gently push Shen Wenxin back into the friend zone like this. She was done for, thoroughly marinated by Shen Wenxin!

Now, she could only fall back on the first method—ignoring Shen Wenxin. But deep down, she couldn't help but pray: Come find me, come find me. Shen Wenxin, take the initiative to come find me... No one in the world could be more conflicted and torn than her right now!

The next second, her phone vibrated. She picked it up and looked. The heavens were kind. Shen Wenxin really had come to find her!

[Shen Wenxin]: When are you free?

[Yun Youqing]: What's up?

[Shen Wenxin]: Making a reservation in advance. Vying for it, even.

Yun Youqing couldn't help but smile. [You even have to fight to make a reservation?]

[Shen Wenxin]: Mm. Because I feel. No follow-up. Yun Youqing was so curious she couldn't help but type: [Feel what?]

[Shen Wenxin]: I want to see you. I don't know why I've become like this. But I know, I want to see you.

Yun Youqing was slightly stunned. Her heart had been struck.

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