A sudden bolt of thunder seemed to strike down, leaving Yu Weiwan’s mind in a complete daze.
Zhao Ying’s bombshell declaration was so shocking that Weiwan even began to suspect whether the bartender had held a grudge against her and tricked her into drinking a high-proof cocktail. And now, she was drunk and dreaming.
Oh, Weiwan remembered a beat too late, she hadn’t actually drunk much of that glass. Most of it had ended up in Qichi’s stomach.
The hypothesis was invalidated.
The harsh reality she couldn’t escape left her head throbbing.
Zhao Ying said, Are you that surprised? Right now, the way you’re looking at me is like you’re staring at an alien.
Weiwan would honestly prefer it if the person standing here were an alien. At least an alien wouldn’t be trying to flirt with her like this…
Weiwan struggled to organize her thoughts into words. It’s hard not to be surprised. After all, this is the very first time we’ve ever met, and you’re already… um… asking me to consider you… Isn’t that a bit too sudden?
She placed heavy emphasis on the words very first time.
Faced with Weiwan’s tactful skepticism, Zhao Ying shrugged, looking thoroughly confident. Fate between people is a funny thing. For some, meeting once is enough, while for others, no amount of meetings will ever make a difference. Between you and me, it’s clearly the former.
As for you and Qichi… She let her voice trail off into a sudden silence, leaving her sentence hanging like a hook that dragged one’s thoughts down into speculation.
Before Weiwan could speak, a cool female voice rang out: What are you two chatting about? Mind if I join?
Surprised, Weiwan turned her head and saw Qichi standing not far away.
It was obvious that Qichi hadn’t bothered to tidy herself up. Her hair was still damp from dancing in the club, with a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks, and tiny beads of sweat on her skin caught the faint white glimmers of light.
Even so, she was still so breathtakingly attractive that it stole one’s breath away.
Weiwan felt a flare of apprehension in her chest, uncertain how much of their conversation Qichi had overheard.
The thrilling sensation of a secret hanging precariously on the verge of exposure made Weiwan’s heart race, pumping blood through her veins at a frantic pace.
Under Weiwan’s gaze, Qichi strode over, squeezing herself right between Weiwan and Zhao Ying to push them far apart.
Then, she used one hand to half-cover her mouth, putting on an utterly theatrical expression of apology: Oh dear, why did you two stop talking the moment I walked up? Am I interrupting you? I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to.
Yu Weiwan: … No, you showed up at just the right time.
Just in time to end a dangerous topic.
Please, keep chatting! Talk about whatever you like, don’t mind me at all, just treat me like air, Qichi said, displaying immense enthusiasm for their conversation.
Yu Weiwan: …
Better not. With a whole human being standing right there, no one, no matter how thick-skinned, could possibly carry on the conversation.
As the other party involved in getting caught red-handed, Zhao Ying exchanged small talk as if nothing had happened: We were just passing the time with a casual chat, that’s all.
Then, shifting the conversation, she added: Speaking of which, Qichi, your dancing earlier was fantastic. The performance on the day of the competition will surely be even more breathtaking. What a pity I missed it. I really envy Weiwan for being able to witness the whole thing in person.
There will be other opportunities in the future, Qichi replied, her expression cooling down.
Zhao Ying’s smile brightened even more. She opened her mouth to say something else, but was cut off by a call from afar: Tsk, what a shame. Someone’s calling me over, so I can’t stay to chat.
Before leaving, she intentionally gave Weiwan a quick wink with her left eye: Weiwan, see you next time.
Weiwan’s head ached, and she merely gave a nod.
Once the person was gone, Qichi crossed her arms over her chest and mocked sarcastically, mimicking her tone: Weiwan~ see you next time~
She snorted coldly. If she was so reluctant to leave, she should’ve just stayed. Why bother saying ‘see you next time’?
After venting her annoyance, Qichi turned around to settle the score. She glared at Weiwan: Yu Weiwan! I told you to stay away from her! How did you end up chatting with her the moment I turned my back? You silly fool, think about it, you’re straight! If she actually manages to turn you gay, what are you going to do in the future?
Pausing, she gritted her teeth and added: And she even called you ‘Weiwan’! Is ‘Weiwan’ a name someone like her gets to call you?
Qichi’s clear eyes were ablaze with anger, bright and fierce. Her cheeks puffed out in a cute, rounded curve from her frustration, making her look just like a little kitten extending its claws, ready to scratch someone.
Weiwan’s thoughts drifted aimlessly as she thought to herself: Even without Zhao Ying, I’m already gay. I’ve been gay for six or seven years, and I’ll stay gay for another sixty or seventy years.
This just goes to show that sexual orientation is objective and doesn’t change based on willpower.
Weiwan said with utmost sincerity: Mm, I’ll keep that in mind. From now on, I will definitely keep my distance from her. If I see her, I’ll walk the other way.
Seeing that Weiwan promised so genuinely, Qichi was only then barely satisfied. That’s more like it.
Restoring her affectionate way of speaking, she wrapped her arm around Weiwan’s: Silly Fishy, you forget things even after hearing them. How are you going to manage without me?
Yu Weiwan: Then I can only trouble our Zaotang to take extra care of me and keep a close eye on me.
Qichi let out a long sigh, putting on a helpless act: You really have me wrapped around your finger. But what can I do when I care about you so much?
After returning to their booth, the music gradually swelled louder. The lute and sanxian grew increasingly lively, and shifting lights of blue and purple swept through the room as the dance floor hit its peak climax.
The night at the club was moving into its late phase. At the most exciting moment, people flooded onto the dance floor one after another, letting loose and sweating freely.
Weiwan spotted several familiar side profiles, the group of people who had played games with her earlier had all gone down to dance.
Since they were all from the dance academy, their moves were naturally impressive, attracting a small crowd of men and women around them. However, the most dazzling person of all was still sitting beside her, looking thoroughly bored.
The class monitor bounced her way over while dancing, shaking her head and stomping her feet while calling out loudly: Come dance together! You’re at a club to have fun and get hyped, what’s the point of just sitting there?
The music was so loud that unless you strained your throat to shout, the other person wouldn’t hear a thing.
Listening to the monitor’s raspy, straining voice, Weiwan quickly waved her hands in refusal.
The monitor shifted her focus to Qichi: If Student Yu isn’t dancing, you come!
Qichi pointed her index finger across the air at Weiwan, then waved her hand as well.
The monitor stopped moving her waist entirely: ?
Wait, are you two sitting there growing mushrooms together or what?
Qichi pulled Weiwan close and gave her a loud, firm kiss right on her cheek: Go away, go away. Fishy is my wife! I have to stay here and keep my wife company. A single dog like you wouldn’t understand.
Class Monitor: ?
Yu Weiwan: ?
The classmates who witnessed this scene: ?
Weiwan felt a intense sense of familiarity, as if she had been transported back to that day at the cafeteria.
Next time you want to kiss me, could you give me a heads-up first so I can mentally prepare myself?
The monitor laughed out of sheer exasperation: If you don’t want to dance, at least come up with a better excuse. Did you ask Student Yu’s permission before kissing her like that?
Qichi raised her head proudly: Fishy would never reject me, of course. Like I said, she’s my wife. Not only can I kiss her whenever I want, but I can also do even more intimate…
Before she could finish, Weiwan quickly covered Qichi’s mouth with her hand, letting out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness I made it in time. Otherwise, she really didn’t dare to imagine what other wild, uninhibited words Qichi might blurt out.
With a friend like this around, life was guaranteed to never be ordinary. The monitor gave her a look filled with pity: You’ve had it tough.
Weiwan remained silent for a brief moment, her eyes replying: We share the pain.
The class monitor walked away in mock despair.
Having something she wanted to say but not wishing to strain her voice, Weiwan pulled out her phone to send a text:
Yu Weiwan: Shifu is at its liveliest right now. You really don’t want to go down to the floor?
A sudden weight settled on her lap. A soft citrus-woody fragrance drifted past her nose as Qichi laid herself down across her thighs.
Seeming dissatisfied with the feel beneath her head, Qichi shifted back and forth a few times. Her smooth skirt wrinkled against Weiwan’s elastic muscles, which cradled her head comfortably. Once satisfied, she stopped moving.
Qichi: What’s so fun about being squished in a crowd? It wasn’t easy picking out these clothes today; I can’t let them get crumpled into pickled cabbage.
The lights flashed erratically, shifting between bright and dark, making it an absolute torture for the eyes to look at a phone screen in such an environment.
Having received her answer, Weiwan was about to put her phone away when a new notification popped up.
Qichi: Besides, we’ve been sticking with the group all day today. Getting to spend the last bit of time in our own little world of two with Fishy is super awesome, okay!
Qichi: Wife Kissing.jpg
Staring at the phrase world of two for a few seconds, a strange sensation churned and collided inside Weiwan’s chest.
Misusing words again, talking nonsense again.
Weiwan thought that she really should drag Qichi to a language tutor or sign her up for a speech arts course so she could properly improve her mastery of language.
At the very least, she needed to understand who she was actually allowed to call wife.
Qichi: Wife Kissing.
Qichi: Wife Kissing.
Qichi: Wife Kissing.
Several identical sticker notifications flooded the screen.
Qichi: I’ve kissed Fishy so many times already, why hasn’t Fishy kissed me back?
Qichi: I’m going to throw a tantrum.
Qichi: Wife Kissing.
Weiwan’s fingertip hovered over the screen for a long while.
Yu Weiwan: Wife Kissing.