The neon lights of the entire street shimmered brilliantly, weaving together the sleepless night of the bustling city center.
At the crowded intersection, Lu Zhiming quietly positioned herself slightly ahead and to the left of Bai Qingrang.
Bai Qingrang, who paid close attention to details, easily noticed the subtlety and gently tugged at her arm, teasing, “Relax, you’re off duty now.”
The tension in Lu Zhiming’s spine snapped with those few words. She slowed her pace and sighed helplessly, “When there are too many people around, I can’t help but slip into work mode, always thinking about shielding my employer.”
“Is it necessary to stand specifically to the left?” Bai Qingrang showed genuine curiosity as they discussed the security profession.
Pointing to her chest, Lu Zhiming replied with her usual brevity, “To protect the heart, especially in case of a shooting.”
“Then please walk beside me instead of in front. It feels safer that way.” Bai Qingrang’s words slipped into Lu Zhiming’s ears, inexplicably stirring a restless itch in her heart.
Lu Zhiming’s response, however, was utterly unromantic: “But as you said, I’m off duty now.”
“Is being clueless about romance one of your defining traits?” Bai Qingrang pouted, slowly letting out a breath.
Even her complaints felt like soft cotton, with zero offensive power. As Lu Zhiming pondered Bai Qingrang’s way of speaking, a thought surfaced in her mind she wanted to understand her better. “Are you always this easygoing at work too?”
“It’s different.” Bai Qingrang had only managed three words when her phone rang, interrupting her. “Sorry, I need to take a work call.”
“Go ahead,” Lu Zhiming replied, slowing her steps to fall behind, showing respect for her privacy.
“Hello?”
“…”
“The first team’s design drafts must be redone. I’ll only say this once, I want to see the new versions tomorrow, or I’ll reassign the project.”
Lu Zhiming inadvertently overheard the conversation. Bai Qingrang’s tone was icy yet laced with gentleness, dismissive yet leaving no room for argument.
It seemed that in the workplace, she was an uncompromising workaholic, likely the kind of boss employees would call a “tyrant.” This perfectly aligned with the three words she’d just uttered, “It’s different.”
After hanging up, Bai Qingrang turned to Lu Zhiming with an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry, but I have to rush home to work overtime. I can’t continue our walk.”
“No problem, let’s head to the parking lot together.”
Back in the garage, their cars weren’t far apart, and their farewell was brief, reduced to just “See you next time.”
Lu Zhiming got into her car but didn’t start the engine. Instead, she rested her hands on the steering wheel, silently watching Bai Qingrang’s direction.
Just as she began to wonder why the other woman hadn’t left yet, Bai Qingrang got out and circled her car, as if something was wrong with it.
Lu Zhiming had already guessed what happened. She slammed her car door shut and strode over to Bai Qingrang. “All four tires have been slashed, it’s definitely deliberate. Let me take you home first, and I’ll handle the rest.”
Faced with the troublesome situation, Bai Qingrang was mentally mapping out solutions, but Lu Zhiming seemed like a prophet, deducing the outcome without even asking for details.
Bai Qingrang’s gaze was both surprised and admiring. “How did you know all four tires were slashed?”
“I even suspect it’s a cheap trick pulled by your blind date, and he probably tampered with the car before he even started bothering you.”
“My car has been parked here all afternoon, and he did show up out of nowhere.” The realization sent a chill down Bai Qingrang’s spine. She felt a wave of fear, grateful that she had run into Lu Zhiming today otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
“Don’t worry, he won’t bother you again.” Lu Zhiming’s assurance grew firmer as he naturally took Bai Qingrang’s bag, an act that seemed overly intimate for their current relationship. “Let’s go, get in my car.”
“Won’t this trouble you too much? You could just drop me by the roadside, and I’ll take a taxi back.”
Hearing Bai Qingrang’s polite reserve, Lu Zhiming swayed the small bag in his hand. “If you keep being this formal, I might not return your bag.”
“Alright then, I can’t refuse such kindness.”
Settling into the passenger seat, Bai Qingrang scanned the interior clean, minimalist, and devoid of decorations, much like the car’s owner, neat and efficient.
“Give me your address so I can set the navigation.” As he asked, Lu Zhiming leaned over to fasten Bai Qingrang’s seatbelt. “I often forget to buckle up when I’m in the passenger seat too, it’s a bad habit.”
Because of their height difference, Lu Zhiming’s lips brushed past the tip of Bai Qingrang’s nose, a fleeting proximity.
A sudden, inexplicable tension arose. Bai Qingrang pressed against the seatback, lowering her lashes to scrutinize the slightly pursed lips before her. Following her gaze, she noticed Lu Zhiming’s jawline was as sharp and defined as a blade’s edge.
Lu Zhiming carried himself with ease, justifying his forwardness with plausible excuses, teasing without fully committing, tugging at heartstrings.
“Thank you.” Bai Qingrang’s gratitude carried a hint of shyness. She pretended nonchalance, repeatedly switching between untouched chat windows on her phone.
Lu Zhiming sensed the blush of ambiguity blooming wildly in the confined space of the car, but recognizing it without speaking was the best form of protection.
“Address.” Breaking the silence, Lu Zhiming asked again.
“Linshitai Villa District.” The mention of the location caught Lu Zhiming’s attention. “So you live there?”
“Have you been?”
“No, but I wanted to ask did they hold an auction exhibition there recently?”
“Yes, I actually received an invitation, but I was too busy to attend. I heard it was quite grand.”
Soft piano music played through the car speakers.
Bai Qingrang hugged her arms and dozed lightly, while Lu Zhiming’s fingers tapped the steering wheel to the rhythm, deliberately slowing the car to avoid disturbing her rest.
Coincidentally, they hit a red light. Lu Zhiming took his suit jacket from the backrest and draped it over Bai Qingrang.
His movements were gentle, careful not to disturb her in the slightest.
The 60 seconds waiting for the green light felt like a prolonged moment of quiet admiration even without interaction, the atmosphere remained pleasantly comfortable.
The ride was smooth all the way until the community name “Linshitai” came into clear view.
Security in the upscale community was strict. As the car approached the gate, the guard needed to verify the resident’s identity before allowing entry.
This meant Bai Qingrang had to be woken. Lu Zhiming gently patted her shoulder. “Miss Bai, we’re at the community gate.”
Bleary-eyed, Bai Qingrang let out a contented sigh and lazily propped her head up to provide the details: “A29, Bai Qingrang, ending in 1694.”
After verifying the information, the guard greeted, “Welcome home,” and opened the gate.
Just inside the community was a Y-intersection. Bai Qingrang pointed to the left. “Turn left and go straight to the end.”
Lu Zhiming, steering with one hand and resting his cheek with the other, couldn’t help but laugh.
Leaning against the window, Bai Qingrang squinted at his smiling profile and asked in her still-languid tone, “What are you laughing at?”Laughing at how severe your morning grumpiness is.”
Such a definition jolted Bai Qingrang awake instantly. She straightened her back and retorted, “I don’t.”
“You do. You spit out words one by one, never beating around the bush.”
“I don’t.” Bai Qingrang insisted she had no such minor flaw, her face flushed as she muttered repeatedly.
As they reached the end of the road, Lu Zhiming parked the car and humorously mimicked the script of a ride-hailing driver: “Passenger, you have arrived at your destination. Please take your belongings, rate my service, and welcome to ride again next time.”
Bai Qingrang wanted to say something to express her gratitude, but the words were stuck in her throat, unable to come out. Something seemed to hinder her from leaving.
The car was pitch dark, with the streetlights outside casting a glow through the windows. Lu Zhiming’s face was half-hidden in the shadows, half-gilded by the dim, yellowish light.
So she had a sense of contrast, Bai Qingrang thought, her mind wandering, feeling apologetic for that resolute “I don’t.”
“What are you thinking about?” Lu Zhiming asked, showing no intention of urging her to leave.
She was simply curious about what the woman before her was pondering.
Bai Qingrang didn’t hide her thoughts and began to redefine, “I suddenly realized you have a sense of contrast.”
“Tell me more.” Lu Zhiming was drawn into the topic, lingering as if unwilling to leave.
Bai Qingrang picked up her handbag, which happened to align with her intentions, and extended an invitation: “Since we’re already at my doorstep, wouldn’t it be impolite not to invite my savior in for a cup of tea?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working overtime?” Lu Zhiming was considerate and didn’t want to burden Bai Qingrang.
“You’re more important than work.” Dropping a line that was both assertive and thought-provoking, Bai Qingrang stepped out of the car first.
Lu Zhiming raised an eyebrow this woman was more interesting than she had imagined.
Bai Qingrang’s small villa stood out in the entire community.
The modern minimalist design maximized stark contrasts, completely erasing any atmosphere of material opulence, achieving a result where practicality came first and aesthetics played a supporting role.
“If I remember correctly, Miss Bai’s company specializes in panoramic and interior design,” Lu Zhiming said, standing in the garden and admiring the view. “It has a very personal touch.”
“Of course, I designed my own home. That’s the only way to achieve the effect I’ve always dreamed of.” Entering the code and pushing open the double doors, Bai Qingrang led Lu Zhiming into the living room. “What would you like to drink? Oh, right, you can’t have alcohol, you’re driving.”
“You’re working overtime, so you can’t drink either.” Lu Zhiming always knew how to keep the banter going, making the atmosphere even more relaxed.
Bai Qingrang headed toward the open-concept Western-style kitchen and called out, “I’ll prepare some hot tea. You can sit and rest for a bit.”
But Lu Zhiming followed her. “Let me help you.”
Taking out the black tea from the storage cabinet, Bai Qingrang teased with a smile, “Are you a hyperactive child who can’t sit still?”
“I guessed there’s a 70% chance you’d ask for my help,” Lu Zhiming’s reply was peculiar.
As Bai Qingrang boiled water and prepared the teapot, she suddenly understood what she meant and leaned against the counter, joking, “I think even if you weren’t a bodyguard, you could find a good line of work like Lu the Fortune Teller or Sai the Immortal, something along those lines.”
“Am I that amazing?” Lu Zhiming stood in front of Bai Qingrang, unable to suppress a grin at the praise. “Maybe I am that amazing.”
“Do you know what I want?” Bai Qingrang deliberately asked, wanting to test whether this little fortune teller was truly that impressive.
Lu Zhiming glanced up at the wall-mounted cabinet above her head, peering through the glass at the delicate teacups inside, a sly smile playing on her lips.
The height of the teacups was just out of Bai Qingrang’s reach even if she stood on tiptoe, but for Lu Zhiming, it was effortless.
Taking a step forward, Lu Zhiming deliberately blocked Bai Qingrang’s path, pretending not to notice as she reached for a teacup and teased, “I think your suggestion is a good one. When we’re old, we can set up a fortune-telling stall. If you want a reading, I’ll give you a discount, the kind that leaves you with a shattered fracture.”
Bai Qingrang sensed the subtle probing. As they drew closer, she noticed that Lu Zhiming’s figure was not only tall and well-proportioned but also carried an allure that made her want to embrace her.
As her collar was tugged firmly by the woman in front of her, Lu Zhiming’s hands instinctively braced against the counter, and Bai Qingrang found herself completely enveloped in her embrace.
Straining on her tiptoes, Bai Qingrang’s gaze fixed on the slightly pursed lips before her, which had already unsettled her heart several times. She longed to discover just how sweet they were, but the height difference stood in her way.
Lu Zhiming bent down, obliging with a smile, fulfilling all her expectations.
After several tentative, fleeting kisses, each brief separation only deepened the next kiss. Finally, she tasted the soft, yielding sweetness, and the lingering dance of their tongues, understood without words, became an inseparable tangle.
Her arms wrapped around the slender waist, and with a surge of strength, Bai Qingrang was lifted, eliciting a gasp of weightlessness.
When she regained her senses, Bai Qingrang found herself seated on the counter, now at nearly the same height as Lu Zhiming.
Embracing each other as they wished, their kisses no longer required effort.
Lu Zhiming admired Bai Qingrang’s increasingly dazed expression so enticing, like cherries glistening with dew, tempting her to savor their sweet and tangy flavor.
The cunning probing and carefully measured groundwork throughout the evening had led each to believe they held the upper hand as the predator, yet in tacit understanding, they had captured each other. How could this kiss feel abrupt?
Side CP: We’re all about straightforward moves.
Main CP: We proudly uphold the banner of children’s literature.
Ji Nanchan took a deep drag of her cigarette: The bed next door is shaking apart, and here I am teaching the little maid how to wash underwear.