BSG - Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Yun Youqing went quickly and returned quickly. Almost as soon as Shen Wenxin finished one pack of the crispy cookies, she was back. She'd also brought an extra pack of wet wipes, for Shen Wenxin to use.
Sitting in the passenger seat, she was panting. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she'd just finished a 100-meter dash. Shen Wenxin found it amusing, telling her to catch her breath first. She also noticed moisture at her hairline, as if she'd even washed her entire face. Smiling, she pulled out a tissue and handed it to her. "There's still some water on your hair."
Having recovered, Yun Youqing took the tissue, flipped down the sun visor, and wiped her hair while looking in the mirror. After wiping, as if performing magic, she pulled a small comb from her bag and meticulously combed it, tucked her hair behind her ears, and re-clipped her hairpins. Done, she turned her head, examining herself from left to right. Somewhat satisfied, she flipped the sun visor back up and turned to Shen Wenxin, leaning slightly in her direction.
"Help me check if there's any more paint."
Shen Wenxin complied. Her fingertips gently touched Yun Youqing's face, checking this side, then that side. The fair skin was smooth as porcelain, clean and fresh. Nothing there. That streak of red had vanished completely. Unexpectedly, their eyes met. Yun Youqing lifted her chin slightly, her lips glossy and moist. Her eyes were half-lidded, her long lashes like fluttering butterfly wings—rising and falling, her gaze shimmering, vividly alluring.
Shen Wenxin's hand was gently holding her chin, and she had no idea how her own gaze had trailed over her lips and up to her eyes. Somewhat strange. Without a change in expression, Shen Wenxin withdrew her hand. "It's gone."
Yun Youqing adjusted her collar and asked, "Aren't I pretty?"
Graciously, Shen Wenxin said, "Yes, very pretty."
Satisfied, Yun Youqing sat up properly to buckle her seatbelt and straighten her dress, her brows and eyes filled with a smile. "Let's go, time to eat~"
Shen Wenxin glanced at her, placed her hands back on the steering wheel, and started the car. Someone seemed to be in a good mood.
After finishing the meal and leaving the restaurant, Shen Wenxin heard Yun Youqing humming a tune. Not only was she humming, but she was also swinging her bag as she walked—her mood was brilliantly bright. When her mood was good, everything looked good. The night breeze was good, the moon was good. Of course, the best was the person beside her.
Seeing her so happy, Shen Wenxin felt infected, the corner of her lips curving up. She smiled and said, "So happy?"
Like a little rabbit, Yun Youqing gave two light hops, walking backward to face her. "Yep~" She even flashed her a smile.
Shen Wenxin was curious. "Something good happened?"
Yun Youqing bobbed her head. "Yep."
Shen Wenxin: "Do tell?"
Yun Youqing's smile widened. "You asked me out to eat."
Shen Wenxin couldn't help but laugh. "Just that?"
Yun Youqing wagged her finger. "This is very important. It proves you weren't avoiding me, that you don't want to cut ties."
Shen Wenxin was confused. "When did I say I wanted to cut ties with you?"
Yun Youqing stopped walking. "Hehe." She first let out an embarrassed laugh. "You never said it. I just assumed."
"You assumed?" Shen Wenxin was puzzled. "Because no matter how I asked you out lately, you couldn't come! And you even said things like 'seeing each other less isn't a bad thing.' So I misunderstood..." Yun Youqing lowered her head, too embarrassed to look at Shen Wenxin, but also carrying a tiny bit of grievance. "I thought I'd done something to upset you..."
She hung her head, wilted. Shen Wenxin suddenly remembered the little squirrel she'd drawn. When the little squirrel was dejected, its ears and tail would also droop sadly, looking pitiful, just like how pitiful she looked now.
Without knowing why, Shen Wenxin sighed and reached out. Yun Youqing's head was poked. Shen Wenxin's voice landed near her ear. "What are you imagining?"
Yun Youqing looked up, tilting her head to look at Shen Wenxin. She saw her say very seriously, "I really was extremely busy lately and didn't have time to go out with friends. It wasn't that I was avoiding you. Besides, why would I avoid you?"
Yun Youqing even answered seriously. "Forcibly helping me 'quit' you?"
Shen Wenxin: "Makes sense. I'll head back now, then."
"No, no, no, I was wrong, I was wrong!" Yun Youqing quickly hugged her arm, pressing close, and flashed her an extra-sweet smile. "Don't go back. Keep me company a little longer. Our Wenxin is the best~" She was even acting cute with her now.
As if discovering the joy of teasing Yun Youqing, Shen Wenxin smiled slightly as she asked, "Will you wildly guess next time?"
Yun Youqing immediately shook her head, resolute. "No more wild guessing!" She raised three fingers. "I swear, I'll never doubt our firm friendship again!"
She and Shen Wenxin were each other's bestie! Tao Fangran was also her bestie!
"That's better. Don't doubt yourself for no reason." Shen Wenxin poked her cheek. "We get along perfectly fine and have no conflicts. How could I possibly cut off contact with you for no reason?" She wasn't the type of person to just leave without explanation.
Yun Youqing was suddenly struck right in her wound, murmuring softly, "Even when everything seems fine, someone can still just leave..."
Shen Wenxin suddenly remembered Yun Youqing's ex. She looked at her. The latter's brows and eyes were lowered, her earlier cheer replaced by melancholy.
Shen Wenxin couldn't help but sigh. She'd forgotten about that... "Yun Youqing."
"Mm?"
"Lift your head."
Yun Youqing obediently complied.
"Look at me carefully," Shen Wenxin stared into her eyes, expression serious. "Am I her?" Was she that person who hurt her? That woman who stabbed her heart ruthlessly and then heartlessly left?
Yun Youqing was firmly captivated by Shen Wenxin's beautiful eyes. Shen Wenxin's eyes were as deep as ink, possessing a profound charm that seemed capable of pulling someone in. Yun Youqing involuntarily sank into them, falling continuously, until at some point she suddenly snapped awake, as if Shen Wenxin had pulled her back to reality.
She wasn't. That person would leave without a word; Shen Wenxin wouldn't. Shen Wenxin genuinely considered her a friend... "You're not," Yun Youqing answered.
"So, you don't need to be afraid. Just feel at ease," Shen Wenxin said. She wasn't that person, and she wouldn't treat her the way that person did. She could rest assured. Always rest assured.
The gloom on Yun Youqing's face vanished instantly. She smiled brightly, her eyes curving beautifully. Smiling, she said, "I'm sorry." Then added, "After all, I was hurt like that once." Once bitten, twice shy was the saying, and that described her perfectly. She practically had PTSD!
President Shen was very magnanimous. She just glanced at her and said, "You're forgiven." She could understand what Yun Youqing had gone through. She hadn't intended to hold it against her anyway. If blame was to be placed, it should be on that ex of Yun Youqing's, the one who left without reason. Although she didn't know all the specifics, if Yun Youqing said it was inexplicable, then inexplicable it was. Yun Youqing wasn't a liar; she believed her.
"Then you should also pay attention from now on," Yun Youqing suddenly said.
Shen Wenxin: "?" Confused, she humbly asked for clarification. "May I ask what I should pay attention to?"
Yun Youqing said very seriously, "You can't casually say things to me like we should see each other less."
"Did I say that?" Shen Wenxin had completely forgotten.
"No," Yun Youqing said with a smile. "What you said was, 'Seeing each other less is not necessarily a bad thing.'"
Shen Wenxin: "... " She couldn't help but raise her hand and pinch Yun Youqing's cheek again. "Don't casually misinterpret my words." She only said it might not be a bad thing; she didn't say they should see each other less. This was slander.
"Alright, alright~" Yun Youqing was still smiling even as her face was being pinched. And her smile only grew brighter. "Hehe." She even sounded silly. Shen Wenxin looked at her, feeling both helpless and fond. She poked her forehead. "So silly."
"It's because I'm happy!" Yun Youqing hugged Shen Wenxin's arm tighter, her eyes, bright as stars, fixed unblinkingly on her. "Exceptionally happy~"
Shen Wenxin wasn't that ex-girlfriend who'd leave without saying a word. Shen Wenxin wasn't avoiding her and wasn't cutting off contact. Good. This was truly wonderful!
Yun Youqing was so happy she jumped up and threw herself into Shen Wenxin's arms, hugging her neck tightly. "Thank you!" Her heart, that heart that had been torn open—after Tao Fangran, someone had finally come along to help sew and mend it. This time, it was the person she liked. A particularly, wonderfully good person.
Shen Wenxin was caught off guard. She steadied herself, momentarily stunned. She was surrounded by Yun Youqing's fragrance. Yun Youqing's joys and sorrows were very close in this instant, within reach, so vividly alive. They could also be very far away. If she pushed her away. She slowly raised her hand.
"You know," Yun Youqing's voice suddenly landed by her ear, incredibly light. "It was because of you that I put down my phone and went to paint this afternoon. At that time, I really thought you didn't want to see me, but I didn't know what I'd done wrong. I was so depressed. But I never expected you'd call me so many times because you were worried, and even came to pick me up for dinner. I'm so happy. So glad it was all just a misunderstanding. This is great!"
Wonderful! She was really, truly so happy!
Shen Wenxin: "... "
The raised hand landed on Yun Youqing's head, stroking very, very gently, the corner of her lips carrying a smile she wasn't even aware of. "So silly."
In the end, she still didn't push her away. Just this once. Just this once, and no more.
Taking advantage of Shen Wenxin not pushing her away, Yun Youqing pushed her luck and hugged her heartily. Shen Wenxin's fragrance was so, so fragrant, so gentle and tender, just like Shen Wenxin herself. She really, really liked Shen Wenxin!
Hugged enough, she naturally took Shen Wenxin's hand and walked alongside her. "Where should we go next? Want to check out the newly opened night market? They have lots of cultural and creative merchandise! I want to take a look!" Yun Youqing's enthusiasm was sky-high. She was full of energy now and could do so many things with Shen Wenxin and play for a long, long time!
Shen Wenxin responded with noncommittal "whatever," "anything" - like answers, her expression composed.
Until they reached the middle of the parking lot. Shen Wenxin looked down at their interlocked fingers.
"... "
She finally realized it. Yun Youqing's palm was suddenly empty. Then, the back of her hand was slapped.
"Ow!" She touched her hand in pain.
"No pushing your luck." The iron-faced, impartial President Shen said.
Yun Youqing rubbed the back of her hand resentfully. Damn, caught! Damn, this hateful straight girl! Damn! Why does Shen Wenxin have to be straight!!
Comments
Post a Comment