Su Chuiyun had imagined countless ways her secrets might be exposed, but she never expected Ming Shu to press her for the truth about the wedding dress in this manner.
Ming Shu’s elegant hands lifted Su Chuiyun’s calf, her lips pressing against the back of Su Chuiyun’s knee. Every kiss sent a shiver through her pores. The sweet cream spread on her skin felt icy and tingling, making her scalp numb.
“Why aren’t you talking?” Ming Shu leaned in closer. “A-Yun, as long as you give me an explanation, I will believe it.”
Even though Ming Shu was currently in the dominant position, she couldn’t help but soften her voice in front of Su Chuiyun, adopting a submissive posture. If Su Chuiyun spoke, Ming Shu would believe her. It was as if she were born without the mental circuitry required to dislike Su Chuiyun.
Su Chuiyun felt as though a large dog was pouncing on her if Ming Shu had a tail, it would surely be wagging back and forth. The “big dog” just wanted to cuddle and didn’t realize how intimidating she was being. Ming Shu obediently used the tip of her tongue to lick away the cream on Su Chuiyun’s leg.
“A-Yun,” Ming Shu called out coaxingly. “Could it be that you’re still thinking about her?”
When mentioning Song Xi, Ming Shu’s voice carried a hint of gritted teeth.
Su Chuiyun replied, “Does Sister think I look like I like Song Xi? I was young and went astray before. I hope Sister can forgive me.”
Su Chuiyun pulled Ming Shu into her arms, the scent of cream lingering between their lips. The high-quality antique canopy bed groaned only slightly. Outside, the sun dipped low as a bright moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the bamboo forest. The cat on the windowsill peeked inside curiously before flicking its tail and heading off to eat its canned food.
In a daze, Ming Shu heard a meow. “You told me before your cat could do a backflip. Let the little guy perform.”
Su Chuiyun had only said that offhandedly back then; now she felt awkward, not expecting Ming Shu to remember. “I’ll catch the cat tomorrow and have him perform for you.”
Outside, the cat seemed to sense an ominous aura, it let out a sharp meow and bolted.
Su Chuiyun: “…”
Ignoring the cat and the sound of a flowerpot breaking, Su Chuiyun pressed her lips behind Ming Shu’s earlobe. “Sister, I can’t see… will you teach me again?”
Despite Ming Shu still being in a period of mourning, she completely disregarded social conventions, letting sweat soak her long hair. Ming Shu, usually so cold and composed, was now flushed a vivid red. She snapped, embarrassed, “A-Yun!”
Su Chuiyun loved her this way. “I’m really not practiced at this. As the elder, Sister has a responsibility to guide me.”
“My leg hurts… use your waist more, don’t press on my leg.”
Ming Shu: “…”
Ming Shu was forced to take Su Chuiyun’s hand. “This is the last time. If you don’t want to do it next time, we won’t.” Her fair face was redder than a monkey’s bottom. She knew Su Chuiyun was bullying her on purpose, this woman was truly wicked.
“Sister, aren’t you going to wear your glasses? Can you see?”
“A-Yun!”
Who wears glasses while doing that!
Ming Shu was in total disarray, nearly biting through her lip. She cursed Su Chuiyun in her heart for having so many “tricks.” Behind the lenses, her phoenix-like eyes were watery and pleading. But her plea did not yield the result she wanted.
“Teacher, you can’t daydream in class.”
With all the distractions, the matter of the wedding dress was pushed to the back of Ming Shu’s mind. It wasn’t until the sound of the shower running in the dead of night that she regained a sliver of her senses.
Su Chuiyun sighed. The bathtub looked large, but it felt cramped with two people squeezed inside. They really needed a bigger one.
Ming Shu, drifting in and out of consciousness, didn’t know how she got from the bed to the tub. It seemed Su Chuiyun had carried her, but how could someone with bad legs carry her?
The next morning, Su Chuiyun slowly opened her eyes. The space beside her was already empty. On the nightstand sat freshly made sliced fish porridge, a small dish of refreshing pickles, and steamed egg custard. Under the sky-blue Ru ware porcelain bowl was a sticky note written in fountain pen.
Don’t forget to eat breakfast. Something came up at the company, so I left first. Ming Shu
The handwriting was forceful and elegant, showing years of calligraphy practice.
“You’re awake?” Chen Yue knocked twice on the wooden door while leaning against the frame. “Since you’re up, I’m coming in.”
Su Chuiyun scrambled out of bed, struggling to comb her messy hair. A stray tuft stuck up. She flattened it. It popped back up.
Su Chuiyun: “…”
Chen Yue held a stack of contracts already signed by Ming Shu. “Take a look at the equity transfer documents. If there’s no problem, sign them.”
Chen Yue had already read through them and found no loopholes. On the contrary, the terms were incredibly generous, heavily favoring Su Chuiyun.
Su Chuiyun was dazed. “What documents?”
Chen Yue explained, “Ming Shu inherited her grandfather’s estate, including shares in the Ming family business. With the family enterprise in turmoil, Ming Shu intends to manage it. Combined with the 27% stake she bought at a low price from relatives, she is gifting it all to you.”
Because Su Chuiyun wasn’t the legal representative, she wouldn’t be liable for any future issues; she could simply sit back and collect the money. Of course, if she wanted to participate in management, Ming Shu would welcome it.
Su Chuiyun: “!”
Chen Yue looked at Su Chuiyun with a complex expression. “Ming Shu said she was very satisfied with your performance last night.”
Su Chuiyun: “…” She really had become someone living off a “sugar mommy.” She felt a headache coming on, sensing that Chen Yue had misunderstood something then again, looking at Chen Yue’s eyes, maybe there was no misunderstanding at all.
Chen Yue asked, “What kind of love potion did you give her?”
Su Chuiyun replied, “Couldn’t it just be my personal charm?”
Chen Yue didn’t believe a word of it. “By the way, Ming Shu set a condition. You get 30% upon signing now. Another 40% is granted after six months of consistent eye treatment. The final 30% is yours once your vision is fully restored.”
Su Chuiyun was silent for a moment. “What if I said I can see right now?”
Chen Yue glanced at her smokey-grey eyes that lacked any focus. “Your attending physician would be fired for medical incompetence. Don’t frame the doctor; they haven’t done anything to you.”
Su Chuiyun: “…”
Seeing her hesitation, Chen Yue asked, “Should I tell Ming Shu you don’t want this gift?”
Su Chuiyun said righteously, “I earned this with my own body. Why shouldn’t I take it?”
Chen Yue was speechless.
While Su Chuiyun was eating breakfast, a security guard knocked. “Miss Su, an invitation has arrived.”
Su Chuiyun took the invitation, and Chen Yue read it aloud: “Mrs. Qiao, the collector, is hosting a cocktail party. She hopes you and your partner can represent the Su family.”
The phrase “your partner” was quite meaningful.
Noticing Su Chuiyun’s confusion, Chen Yue explained, “Mrs. Qiao was at the cemetery that day. Her husband passed away five years ago.”
Su Chuiyun suddenly had a bad feeling.
Chen Yue confirmed, “You guessed right. Mrs. Qiao saw you and Ming Shu pulling and pushing each other. It was… quite a scene.”
Su Chuiyun: “…We’ve lost face even in front of the dead.”
Chen Yue added, “In any case, Miss, you must not drink. Your body doesn’t handle alcohol well, bad things happen. Please be careful.”
“Am I allergic?”
Chen Yue’s expression turned subtle, as if remembering something unpleasant. Before leaving, she repeated, “It’s not an allergy, but do not drink.”