Jiang Rou looked at Shen Wanli’s face and fell into deep thought.
When Qin Miao appeared, she admitted that she felt a strong sense of crisis.
However, she knew her plan could not be interrupted just yet.
After all, if she did not force Shen Wanli to recognize her own inner heart, the issue between the two of them would never be resolved.
“Do not leave me.”
Shen Wanli murmured softly, the sorrow in her voice spilling over completely.
This left Jiang Rou somewhat bewildered.
Do not leave me, could she possibly be talking about me? She probed tentatively.
“Does elder sister not want to leave whom?”
Shen Wanli was completely saturated with alcohol, losing all of her usual defense mechanisms as she gently called out the name she had always hidden deep within her heart: “Do not leave Xiaorou.”
Jiang Rou froze, completely unprepared for such an answer.
Surprise burst open directly in her heart.
It wasn’t until the housekeeper came to call for Jiang Rou, telling her that Mrs. Jiang had decided to let Mrs. Shen and Shen Wanli stay over at their house for the night, that Jiang Rou felt she had never longed for Shen Wanli quite like this moment.
She felt extremely happy about Mrs. Jiang’s decision, especially since today’s gathering was something she had begged for through exhaustive efforts.
Mrs. Jiang had always doted on her daughter, granting her every request without hesitation.
She figured Shen Wanli certainly wouldn’t refuse such a family dinner.
Perhaps longing for it so deeply, Jiang Rou found even this method of meeting deeply comforting.
“Xiaorou, the guest room has been cleaned up for you,” Mrs. Jiang said.
Seeing Shen Wanli lying on her bed, Jiang Rou didn’t want to miss such a golden opportunity. She turned to Mrs. Jiang and said, “Let me stay in the same room with Wanli-jie.”
Mrs. Jiang hesitated slightly. She knew a thing or two about the history between the two of them.
Yet, meeting Jiang Rou’s earnest gaze, Mrs. Jiang felt she couldn’t refuse her daughter’s request.
“Would that be a bit inappropriate, Xiaorou?”
Mrs. Jiang asked.
After all, a month ago, her daughter had returned home one day completely crestfallen, her expression so dark nobody dared to look at her.
Jiang Rou hadn’t answered when asked about it, keeping silent until several days later.
Originally, Mrs. Shen and Mrs. Jiang were close childhood friends, but because both had undergone secondary differentiation into alphas, the arranged childhood marriage between their families became void.
However, hearing Mrs. Shen mention having intentions with the Han family, hoping to give the two children time to properly interact, who would have thought that upon returning, Shen Wanli announced she and Han Qing would remain only friends.
Naturally, Mrs. Shen worried about Shen Wanli’s marriage. Back when Jiang Rou was still in the picture, she had expected the two to marry after graduation, but an unexpected twist broke their engagement.
Shen Wanli wasn’t getting any younger, and as a mother, Mrs. Shen desperately wanted her daughter to settle down soon.
Without knowing who else to confide in, Mrs. Shen had brought up the matter to Mrs. Jiang.
Mrs. Jiang remembered that the day Mrs. Shen mentioned Shen Wanli coming back single was the exact same day Jiang Rou had returned home looking utterly distraught.
She guessed the two girls must have had a falling out.
She had wanted to probe Jiang Rou indirectly, but whenever questions regarding Shen Wanli came up, Jiang Rou would seal her lips tightly.
Unable to pry anything out, Mrs. Jiang had eventually dropped the subject, never expecting that tonight Jiang Rou would actively request to sleep in the same room as Shen Wanli.
“Mother, Wanli-jie drank heavily and might feel unwell in the middle of the night. If I am here, I can take good care of her.”
Jiang Rou said.
Knowing Jiang Rou’s hidden feelings, when Jiang Rou readily agreed to invite the Shen family over for dinner without a second thought, Mrs. Jiang had understood.
Faced with Jiang Rou’s stubborn persistence, Mrs. Jiang didn’t have the heart to say anything more. After all, it was better to let the children resolve their own matters.
Securing her mother’s approval, Jiang Rou closed the door with a deep sense of satisfaction.
Watching Shen Wanli lying on her bed, Jiang Rou felt a burning warmth in her chest. Even if nothing romantic could possibly happen tonight, just having Shen Wanli sleeping right beside her was enough to make her blood race.
Jiang Rou gently switched off the lights, tucked the blanket securely around Shen Wanli, and slipped into bed right next to her.
The air was filled with the faint scent of coconut milk, unintentionally drifting from Shen Wanli as a result of her intoxication.
This scent held an immense, intoxicating pull over Jiang Rou.
Jiang Rou released her own pheromones, tightly wrapping them around the coconut milk fragrance, her desire for absolute possession unmistakable.
Elder sister, what am I supposed to do with you? She wondered into the dark night.
Earlier today, the person she sent to gather news from the banquet hall had informed her that Qin Miao had gone to Shen Wanli’s company.
She knew this was a new strategy Shen Wanli had come up with after she left the firm.
Clearly, all of this stemmed from her own actions, yet she felt utterly helpless.
Because Jiang Rou knew that even if she stayed at Shen Wanli’s company longer, it wouldn’t change the outcome between them.
In the dead of night, Jiang Rou pulled Shen Wanli tightly into her embrace, finding a sliver of solace and security in the gesture.
Shen Wanli let out a soft, unconscious murmur of protest, as if complaining that Jiang Rou was holding her too tightly. Instead of loosening her grip, Jiang Rou pulled her even closer, feeling that only this could grant her a complete sense of safety.
After all, the excuse of a family gathering couldn’t be used forever. Nights like this where she could hold Shen Wanli were precious.
She knew that after tonight, there was no telling when the next opportunity would arise.
Jiang Rou stayed wide awake all night, watching the moonlight spill through the window and illuminate Shen Wanli’s face.
Inhaling the soft scent of coconut milk, she felt her entire world concentrated entirely on this single face.
When Shen Wanli woke up the next morning, a splitting headache pounded through her skull, the inevitable aftermath of heavy drinking. Suddenly feeling a heavy, possessive warmth wrapped around her body, she froze.
Looking up, she was shocked to find Jiang Rou right there.
Shen Wanli checked their clothing and felt a wave of relief upon discovering everything was completely intact.
Nothing inappropriate had happened during her drunken state yesterday. Seeing the faint dark circles under Jiang Rou’s eyes, Shen Wanli realized Jiang Rou must have stayed awake all night.
Could she have taken care of me all night, which is why she looks so exhausted? Shen Wanli wondered.
Watching Jiang Rou’s sleeping profile, Shen Wanli’s heart unconsciously softened.
As Jiang Rou’s eyes fluttered open, Shen Wanli panicked, hastily straightening her posture and putting on a defensive front. “Why am I here?”
Her voice sounded thoroughly guilty.
Anticipating this exact reaction upon waking, Jiang Rou had already mentally prepared herself for how Shen Wanli would act this morning.
As expected, last night’s vulnerable intimacy only existed under the influence of alcohol, while a sober Shen Wanli would forever refuse to face her own heart.
“Uncle and Auntie stayed over last night. Seeing how badly you were intoxicated, I had you stay in my room.”
Jiang Rou replied with an innocent expression.
Hearing Jiang Rou’s calm explanation, Shen Wanli realized pushing the issue further would only make a mountain out of a molehill.
She hastily moved to get up and get dressed, only to be stopped by Jiang Rou’s hand catching her wrist.