Let’s turn back the clock to about ten-odd minutes ago.
On the other side, Yu Nian, who had returned home and tidied herself up, was sitting in her study looking over project reports.
Unfortunately, she simply could not get into them no matter what.
There is a type of person in this world for whom work occupies almost every corner of their lives; once they step out of their working state, they momentarily find themselves at a loss as to how to enjoy their personal time.
Yu Nian was currently in this exact state. She even felt compelled to pull out the book Thirty-Six Stratagems for Online Dating that Yu Qiu had gifted her and began reading it.
After reading two pages, Yu Nian made the decision to tuck the book into a corner to gather dust.
As for why she didn’t throw it away, it was because it was a gift from Yu Qiu.
“Even if I throw away something I don’t want, it is still my thing”—this was one of the creeds of life that Yu Qiu lived by.
Furthermore, this book wasn’t something Yu Qiu had discarded, but something she had given to her.
If she truly couldn’t suppress that restless impulse in her heart, she would likely be held to account for it later.
Finding herself momentarily unsure of what to do, Yu Nian opened her phone again and scrolled through the messages sent by Mai Suisui.
She scrolled from the initial sentence about being unhappy all the way to the part about buying a few cans of beer to drink.
At that moment, a thought suddenly popped into her head that would have absolutely never germinated in the past.
She stared inexplicably at her phone and murmured to herself, “Otherwise… how about meeting up?”
No sooner said than done. Having made up her mind, Yu Nian sent a message to Mai Suisui requesting a meeting.
Although she didn’t really want to reveal her identity, in this mood, she couldn’t care about hiding anything.
Of course, she would still make some preparations.
If she truly were discovered, she would seriously apologize to Mai Suisui.
However, if Mai Suisui was unwilling, she would not force it.
After all, she understood Mai Suisui’s concerns; in her eyes, Yu Nian was just an internet stranger she had never met, so it was normal to be on guard.
Buzz buzz.
After waiting for about a few minutes, the other party finally sent a reply.
Yu Nian clicked it open and took a look.
【Max: Okay!】
One word, simple and direct.
…
By the time she had changed her clothes and walked out of the house, Mai Suisui was hit by a gust of cold wind, causing her alcohol-muddled brain to shudder into clarity!
Mai Suisui, are you crazy!
Standing on the street near her home, staring down at the word “Okay” she had sent on her phone screen, Mai Suisui desperately wanted to turn around, grab the nearby lamppost, and bang her head against it.
She didn’t know what she had been thinking at that moment back in the house.
It was just that while she was feeling that drinking alone was very boring, she happened to see such a message, and for some reason, her sister’s previous advice echoed in her mind.
Then, as if possessed, she sent that reply out.
No, no, that’s not right. She must have misread it!
She had mistaken the message from that person as a message from Shen Qingqing.
Yes, that must be it!
But as soon as Mai Suisui looked at the contact name on her phone, which bore no resemblance to the name “Shen Qingqing” and wasn’t even on the same messaging app, she fell into silence.
After a long while, she finally held her forehead with one hand and whispered, “I won’t be kidnapped and have my kidneys harvested, will I?”
In truth, Mai Suisui knew very well that she was drunk. Even if her logical thinking seemed normal at this moment, she knew she was intoxicated.
Otherwise, how could she have committed such an absurd act tonight?
The pressure from work was already immense, and she hadn’t expected life to present her with one difficult problem after another.
Mai Suisui realized that, just as her sister had said, she truly and desperately needed someone to talk to.
They could sit down and chat about the bitterness in their hearts while drinking.
However, the only person around her with whom she could confide without reservations was Shen Qingqing.
But talking to Shen Qingqing about random things?
Jin Enna would likely know about it a minute later.
So, regardless of whether it was a coincidence or not, when Mai Suisui saw that message from Ms. Nian San, she couldn’t stop her heart from wavering.
She admitted she was definitely having a drunken fit; she admitted she was doing something crazy.
But… tonight, she really wanted to do this.
She hoped there was someone who could accept her unreserved venting… even if it was someone she still hadn’t met.
And so, she was now standing on the street. Despite the alcohol going to her head, basic logic still halted her steps.
Should she go or not? Break the appointment, or keep it?
Mai Suisui hesitated for a long time until her phone received another message.
【Nian San: Where shall we meet?】
Mai Suisui stared at this message for a few seconds. Immediately after, she took a deep breath and quickly sent a reply back.
…
Half an hour later.
After taking a car to the agreed-upon location, Mai Suisui found a quiet spot to sit down. First, she declined the shopkeeper’s service and curiously turned her head to look around.
Although it was Friday night and she didn’t have to work tomorrow, so logically the food stalls should be crowded, today seemed exceptionally quiet because it was so late; there weren’t many people.
A dozen or so folding tables were set out on the open ground. Customers were sitting in twos and threes. Some were talking loudly, but the overall environment was decent.
At least Mai Suisui was somewhat satisfied after scanning the area.
There were people, but not many.
Safe and quiet!
She was truly a little genius.
She took out her phone and was about to send a message when, suddenly, she felt her back being lightly touched by someone.
Just as she was about to turn around to look, a pair of slightly cool hands suddenly cupped her cheeks from behind, stopping her movement.
Mai Suisui suddenly panicked and subconsciously said with a hint of a sob in her voice, “Don’t kidnap me, I’ll give you however much money you want!”
Yu Nian: “…”
Yu Nian couldn’t help but let out a laugh, but she immediately used the voice-changing technique she had learned from Yu Qiu to suppress her voice into a low muffle:
“Don’t turn around… Let’s just… talk back-to-back. Each of us will have our own drink. What do you think?”
Hearing this low, muffled whisper that was deliberately pitched down near her ear, Mai Suisui—knowing she had made a fool of herself—had no time to feel embarrassed as a familiar fragrance wafted into her nose.
She used her peripheral vision to glance at her shoulder; a strand of smooth black hair had fallen upon it.
The person behind her was cupping her face and hiding behind her with great tension.
The night air always carried a hint of faint coolness.
The two people sitting in the corner were in a strange state, appearing completely out of place with the overall environment of this food stall.
Over there, people were drinking heartily, while here there was silence, and the atmosphere was even somewhat awkwardly indescribable.
Mai Suisui had always been good at using her own senses to remember others, such as the fragrance she currently smelled.
It was just that she really wasn’t used to being “treated” this way by someone.
In Shen Qingqing’s words, that would be—are you sure you aren’t acting in an idol drama?
After the other party boldly cupped her face from behind, Mai Suisui could feel those hands seem to shrink back uncomfortably for a fleeting moment.
Mai Suisui could guess her mental activity. When two people truly make physical contact, even if they are familiar with each other, the subtle reaction produced when two different skin temperatures collide is indeed very easy to make one retreat or, rather, feel shy.
Moreover, the two of them were not familiar at all right now.
“Nian San… Ms. Nian San?”
After about two or three seconds, having recovered from her daze, Mai Suisui softly called out that name she was not yet very well-acquainted with.
After hearing her voice, the figure hiding behind Mai Suisui remained quiet for a while before hesitantly opening her mouth to respond:
“…Yes.”
She was still deliberately suppressing her voice, and coupled with the obstruction of the mask, if Mai Suisui hadn’t been listening intently, she might not have been able to hear her response clearly.
“Nian San, you don’t need to be so nervous.”
Mai Suisui noticed the bewildered look the shopkeeper auntie cast their way from the side, but she did not act rashly. She remained sitting upright, maintaining this weird posture with the other person, allowing the stranger behind her to cup her face.
“I can understand your concerns. Since you want to converse this way, I will respect your opinion. Tonight, let’s just… talk back-to-back.”
To be honest, after seeing the other party’s performance of being very considerate of her, Yu Nian—whose mind was surging with various thoughts—actually felt a surge of emotion.
Following that, the atmosphere between the two of them finally softened somewhat.
Yu Nian sat down in the seat behind Mai Suisui. Both of them occupied a table alone, looking like two separate parties who had come to drink individually, which caused the shopkeeper auntie, who was bringing the alcohol, to once again look at the two of them with a peculiar expression.
“Uhm, have you two had a fight? If more customers come later, you’ll probably still have to sit together.”
A fight?
Yu Nian was just about to speak up to deny it, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she remembered it wasn’t convenient for her to speak. She pursed her lips and listened for movement behind her, only to find that Mai Suisui, sitting behind her, also chose not to refute it.
What does this mean? Does she think explaining is too much trouble?
“I’m sorry.”
Just as Yu Nian was wondering what to do, she heard Mai Suisui’s voice ring out behind her: “My friend and I have a bit of a special situation… If we are hindering your business, I will pay an extra portion of money later.”
Immediately, Yu Nian, wearing a mask and sunglasses, couldn’t help but reach up to pull down the brim of her baseball cap and lowered her head to bite her lip.
She felt very embarrassed; it was clearly her own unreasonable behavior, yet she had to let Mai Suisui explain for her.
She hesitated for a moment but still tentatively reached her hand backward and, using her finger, lightly tapped the other person’s back.
Unexpectedly, before she could even speak, a low whisper that remained calm drifted into her ears.