BSG - Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The movie started. Popcorn and cola were essential. Yun Youqing behaved herself the entire time. Those cliché romantic moments that should have happened at this time all fizzled out. Right—after all, Shen Wenxin wasn't her romantic interest. She only saw her as a friend. And I see her as a friend, too. Yun Youqing told herself this.
The two friends shared popcorn and peacefully watched the entire movie through to the end.
After the credits rolled, Yun Youqing checked the time. 16:07—still early. She stood by the railing, looking down at the entire mall, then turned her head to look at Shen Wenxin. "Do you have other things to do today? Like, work stuff?"
Shen Wenxin shook her head. "It's Saturday. I don't work during rest time."
Yun Youqing happily linked arms with hers. "That's wonderful! Let's go shopping? After all that popcorn, I'm so full. Shopping will help digest, and when it's mealtime, we'll go eat!"
Shen Wenxin had no objections. She just glanced down at their intimately twined arms. She looked up, bringing up a topic from before they entered the cinema. "Do we really not need to keep some distance?"
Yun Youqing still stuck to her argument. "Would you keep your distance from your friends?"
Shen Wenxin said, "No." Then added, "Because my friends don't like me."
Yun Youqing: "Ah? How could they not like you? You're so wonderful and outstanding, how could they possibly not like you?"
"..." Shen Wenxin couldn't help but smile, raising her hand to pinch her face. "Playing dumb, are we, Yun Youqing?"
Yun Youqing sobered up, her gaze burning with self-righteousness. "But you said we could be friends. If we keep our distance, how can we even be friends..." As she spoke, she even looked a bit wronged. It was this downcast, wronged look that Shen Wenxin always found so pitiful. Once that pity arose, she couldn't say anything harsh.
Yun Youqing just liked her. Not getting a response, she just wanted to be closer friends. What was wrong with that? Her liking her wasn't even close to being a bother. Indulging her a little seemed... fine.
But— "Don't you find yourself very contradictory?"
Yun Youqing understood Shen Wenxin's meaning almost instantly. "Contradictory? How could I not be..." Saying she wanted to let go, yet involuntarily getting closer, creating physical contact. In this constant closeness, could she really let go? She didn't know. It was just... her heart wanted to do it, so she did it...
Seeing her also caught in a dilemma, Shen Wenxin, out of goodwill as a friend, asked, "How did you get over straight girls before?" Since there was a precedent, they could learn from past experience.
Yun Youqing answered without hesitation. "Because they turned out to be jerks."
Shen Wenxin was puzzled. "?"
Yun Youqing counted on her fingers. "One immediately ran off when she found out I was a lesbian. Anyone would think I eat people. The other looked at me all pitifully, held my hand, and said if only I were a guy. Ugh—I don't want to be a stinky man!" She shook her shoulders as if shaking off something filthy. These off-putting words and actions instantly killed her feelings. With the feelings dead, she no longer liked them. Seeing them again, her heart was like still water. After all, she had no desire to be a man for any woman!
Shen Wenxin: "..." These past experiences... no point learning from them... She sympathetically stroked Yun Youqing's head.
Yun Youqing turned her head, looking at her from under her hand. Their eyes met for a moment.
Yun Youqing spoke. "I know what you mean. But just be yourself."
"Hmm?"
"Changing your behavior just so others won't like you—that's unfair to you, too." Why should she? Shen Wenxin hadn't invited her to like her. Why should Shen Wenxin have to change herself so Yun Youqing could let go? Wasn't this a form of coercion? What should change had always been only that beating heart.
Shen Wenxin was stunned by what she heard.
Then Yun Youqing collapsed, covering her head and leaning on the railing. "What am I doing? I can't let go of you, and here I am telling you this..." Clearly, she should let Shen Wenxin help kill her heart, yet she couldn't bear to see Shen Wenxin change herself, and couldn't bear to keep her distance from Shen Wenxin... She was a tangled ball of yarn, getting messier the more she rolled. And worst of all, she really liked this current state. Being able to interact with Shen Wenxin like this, she really liked it...
It's over. She thought in despair, I might be a bit of a masochist. What is this painful yet joyful existence!
Just then, a soft laugh came from beside her. Her meltdown paused. She turned her head to look. Shen Wenxin was indeed laughing. Her lips, her eyes—all filled with mirth.
"What are you laughing at?"
The amusement in Shen Wenxin's eyes deepened. "Laughing at how cute you are."
"Yun Youqing, you're very cute." This was the first time Shen Wenxin had candidly voiced this thought. The person before her eyes was cute. The moon could be hidden, the sun could be hidden, but Yun Youqing's cuteness couldn't be concealed. Yun Youqing was both cute and amusing.
Yun Youqing: "?" She blinked in a daze. Too beautiful. How can someone look this good even when complimenting me? All her inner conflict and gloom were masked by her pounding heart at this moment, delight surging forth. Yun Youqing's mischievous side bubbled up again. She wanted to flirt with the pretty older sister again. "You say I'm cute. You like me. You want to marry me!"
Shen Wenxin: "?"
Yun Youqing stuck out her chin like a proud peacock, extending her hand. "Let's get married. You may now put the engagement ring on me."
Shen Wenxin: "..." Shen Wenxin raised her hand again. Yun Youqing's face was pinched once more. "Not cute anymore."
"What? You're divorcing me already?!" Both sides of Yun Youqing's face were pinched. Shen Wenxin spoke, calmly uttering three words. "Yun Youqing." Imposing without anger.
"Whaaat." Yun Youqing instantly turned obedient, ceasing her antics. "It was just a joke..."
Shen Wenxin naturally knew it was a joke. Yun Youqing could still clearly see the mirth in her eyes—she wasn't angry. President Shen wasn't a petty person.
Shen Wenxin withdrew her hand. "I should find a way to get you a girlfriend." She would help however she could.
"Oh?" Yun Youqing's eyes lit up. "Do you know any other single lesbians?"
"I don't," Shen Wenxin said. "But the Lesbian Grandmaster does."
Yun Youqing: "Wow, the Grandmaster truly lives up to her name, she really has everything..." Yun Youqing: "May I be so bold as to ask if the Grandmaster can also tell my fortune in love and wealth?"
Shen Wenxin: "?" She laughed in spite of herself. "No." She actually still thinks her stepmom is a fortune teller.
Shen Wenxin asked, "Do you have any criteria for a partner?"
Yun Youqing thought for a moment, then said, "Has to be normal."
Shen Wenxin said, alright. "That's the bare minimum."
Yun Youqing looked at her and added, "Also, short hair. Has to be at least 170cm tall. The eyes, they should be the peach-blossom shape. Must have good fashion sense, can pull off a pine-green coat."
Shen Wenxin found it sounding more and more familiar. She glanced down at the color of her own clothes. "..." She looked up. "Why don't you just ask for my ID number?"
Yun Youqing looked perfectly sincere. "What is your ID number?"
"Yun Youqing."
"Hahaha, no more, I'll stop." Yun Youqing surrendered in a second, obediently hugging Shen Wenxin's arm, her voice sweet. "Let's go shopping~"
Shen Wenxin let her off lightly.
That very night, Shen Wenxin called Jin Hanshuang, thinking of finding Yun Youqing a romantic partner through her. She herself didn't know any single lesbians, but her stepmom did. Birds of a feather flock together. Her stepmom was a good person; the people around her wouldn't be bad either, at least normal humans who met Yun Youqing's basic criteria.
She couldn't refuse to help her daughter. Jin Hanshuang immediately got to work, first carefully inquiring about some details regarding Yun Youqing.
"What does Miss Yun look like?"
"Very good-looking. Very cute."
"Oh~ A sweet girl. How old is she?"
"A year younger than me, 27."
Jin Hanshuang noted this down. Her voice came through the phone's speaker. "Perfect. I have a friend who's just recently been wanting to date someone. Let me go ask her. Hold on, okay?"
"Okay."
Jin Hanshuang went off. Shen Wenxin put down her phone, scrolling through her work emails while waiting patiently.
After a while, Jin Hanshuang came back. "Wenxin."
Yun Youqing had just finished her shower when she picked up her phone and discovered Shen Wenxin had messaged her. She draped a towel over her head and unlocked the screen.
[Shen Wenxin]: I asked the Lesbian Grandmaster for you. She does have a friend who wants to date.
Yun Youqing raised an eyebrow. Didn't expect Shen Wenxin to actually play matchmaker for her. Yet she surprisingly didn't feel jealous or unhappy. Holding her phone, Yun Youqing's eyes drifted to the ceiling, repeatedly savoring the emotion she felt now. Yes, not unhappy. Even the thought of Shen Wenxin pushing her toward someone else didn't sadden her. But this was good; it fully showed her heart had always known they were impossible, that her feelings for Shen Wenxin hadn't yet reached the point of no return. Thank goodness for that; otherwise, they probably couldn't even remain friends. Way to go, Yun Youqing! Yun Youqing nodded firmly to herself in affirmation.
Her gaze returned to the phone, and she typed a reply: [Well? Is she good-looking?]
Shen Wenxin said: [Good-looking.]
Yun Youqing's interest was instantly piqued. Typing rapidly: [Really! As good-looking as you?]
Shen Wenxin raised an eyebrow. Tricky question to answer. Maybe I think so, but what if Yun Youqing doesn't? After pondering, she sent back: [Everyone's aesthetic is different. Perhaps you might think so?]
Yun Youqing's enthusiasm soared even higher. [Then I want to meet her! Send me her contact, thanks!] A beauty even better looking than Shen Wenxin? She absolutely had to broaden her horizons! And the other party happened to be a lesbian. What if, just what if, her wonderful love life was about to begin! Her life, her future, suddenly brightened up!
But then Shen Wenxin poured a bucket of cold water on her. [Can't send it.]
[Yun Youqing]: ?
The bright future switched off its lights.
[Yun Youqing]: Why not?
[Shen Wenxin]: Because your ages aren't suitable.
Yun Youqing: "...?" Hold on. The reason couldn't be—
[Shen Wenxin]: She doesn't like younger girls.
Yun Youqing: "..." I knew it!!!
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