“Changing a dressing is one thing, but this is different.”
Sheng Qingshan still refused to look at her.
“How is it different?” Sheng Yunshu was relentless. She stood on her tiptoes to lean in closer, her nose almost brushing against Sheng Qingshan’s. “You just do not want to look at me, right?”
She hooked her arm around Sheng Qingshan’s neck and applied a little pressure, drawing the distance between them closer and closer.
In truth, Sheng Qingshan only needed a bit of effort to push her away and escape.
However, if she actually took action, she would have to deal with the fallout tonight, or rather, for the next month.
Sheng Qingshan sighed softly, lowered her gaze, and locked eyes with hers. “I will sleep with you. Stop making a scene, okay?”
Sheng Yunshu curled her lips and jumped into her arms. “That is more like it. Come on, carry me to bed.”
Sheng Qingshan held her up, having no energy to correct her wording anymore.
The moment Sheng Yunshu lay down, all the lights in the bedroom went out.
Sheng Qingshan had originally been worried about seeing something she should not, but she had forgotten that ever since her last injury, Sheng Yunshu had become afraid of the dark.
Feeling her wrist being grasped firmly, a sense of apology rose in Sheng Qingshan’s heart. She leaned down to hug her while turning on the bedside lamp.
“Sorry, is this better?”
The moment the light came on, Sheng Yunshu loosened her grip on her hand, but did not let go completely.
The dim, warm light of the lamp was soft, enough to see each other’s faces clearly without being too blinding. Sheng Yunshu’s eyelashes trembled, and her fingertips tapped against her pulse.
“You scared me.”
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with moisture.
Even knowing she was acting, Sheng Qingshan’s heart softened. She hugged her again and patted her back.
Sheng Yunshu did not know when to stop. She buried her face in the crook of her neck, her lips brushing against her skin as she rubbed back and forth.
It could not quite be called a kiss. If one said she was doing it unintentionally, even a ghost would not believe it.
The warm, soft sensation rubbed against her neck repeatedly, like a cat marking territory with its cheek, carrying an almost instinctive, unreasonable intimacy.
Sheng Qingshan wanted to pull back, but Sheng Yunshu was hanging off her entirely. Pushing was not an option, and hugging was not either.
“Sheng Yunshu.”
Her voice dropped an octave, carrying a warning tone.
But the person in her arms turned a deaf ear, even escalating the behavior. Her lips slid from her neck to her collarbone, paused for a moment, and then nibbled gently.
Sheng Qingshan abruptly gripped her shoulders and pulled her away.
Under the light of the lamp, the moment Sheng Yunshu was pushed away, she wore an aggrieved expression. Her lips were slightly pouted, the layer of water in her eyes had not dissipated yet, and she looked utterly pitiful.
The thin strap of her nightdress slid down a bit more due to that movement, and the skin below her collarbone looked almost transparent under the light.
Sheng Qingshan pulled the quilt over her, her expression filled with a sense of helplessness and annoyance. “Is this really necessary?”
The two of them had clearly agreed to be partners in name only, and that they would not cross any boundaries in their daily lives. Why did she always have to do things that left them both in an awkward position?
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Sheng Yunshu turned over, facing away from her, and said nothing.
However, after a short while, a distinct sound of sobbing echoed in the bedroom.
Sheng Qingshan clenched her fists and did not look at her.
But as the commotion behind her grew, she could not hold back anymore.
“Yunshu, stop crying.”
Sheng Qingshan lifted the quilt and lay down behind her. Her hand had just landed on her shoulder when it was slapped away.
“Do not touch me!” Sheng Yunshu did not even look at her. “Stay away from me. Do not dirty Councilor Sheng’s hands!”
“…”
Sheng Qingshan glanced at the red mark on the back of her hand.
She really did have quite a bit of strength.
Knowing she was truly angry, Sheng Qingshan did not move again. She lowered her eyes, contemplating how to handle this.
But after waiting a while without hearing a sound, Sheng Yunshu became even angrier. She turned over to face her, her wet, red eyes glaring fiercely.
“You are really not going to coax me?”
Sheng Qingshan pursed her lips. “Did you not say you did not want me to touch you?” Verbally, Sheng Qingshan still had not figured out how to coax her.
If it were Sheng Yanzhou, giving her something nice would suffice, but that trick did not work well on Sheng Yunshu.
Hearing this, Sheng Yunshu felt a pain in her chest from anger.
“You are so dense!”
Sheng Yunshu threw herself into her arms, tilting her face up. “Wipe my tears!”
Sheng Qingshan was familiar with this task.
After wiping that wet little face clean, Sheng Qingshan looked at her again, waiting for further instructions.
Sheng Yunshu was amused by her look of waiting for orders.
“You… what do you want me to say about you?” She reached out and poked Sheng Qingshan’s heart, pressing harder with each poke. “You are so articulate when you are outside; why do you become a mute when you are with me?”
Sheng Qingshan let her poke, neither dodging nor blocking.
“Speak!” Sheng Yunshu was anxious.
“I am thinking.”
“Thinking about what?”
“Thinking about how to coax you.” Sheng Qingshan paused, her tone very serious. “I have not figured it out yet.”
Sheng Yunshu opened her mouth, suddenly unsure whether to be angry or to laugh.
Sheng Qingshan, a person who was decisive and flawless in her work, became a wooden block unable to speak when it came to emotions.
“Whatever you used to coax Ji Xi, do that to me now,” Sheng Yunshu blurted out.
She regretted it the moment the words left her mouth.
Sheng Qingshan’s expression did not change much, but her eyes clearly turned cold.
“Sorry.” Her arrogant demeanor completely vanished. Sheng Yunshu lowered her head and whispered an apology, hugging her tightly for fear she would leave.
After a long time, Sheng Yunshu felt her back being patted, and the woman’s voice came from above:
“Do not mention her again. Both of you are very important to me; there is no need to compare.”
But she is more important, isn’t she?
Sheng Yunshu only dared to think this in her heart; she did not dare to continue the topic.
“Sister, you can turn off the light.”
Sheng Yunshu rubbed against her, a smile appearing on her face again. “If you stay with me, I will not have nightmares.”
Sheng Qingshan looked at her. Her gaze was very light and weightless, but Sheng Yunshu felt she had been seen through.
She buried her face in Sheng Qingshan’s neck, her voice muffled. “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a beauty before?”
Sheng Qingshan’s eyes were tinged with a smile, and she reached out to turn off the light. “Yes, I have never seen one as good-looking as you.”
With just a few words, the matter was considered over, and Sheng Yunshu’s heart was no longer tense.
“Sister.”
“Hmm?”
“Is it comfortable to hold me?”
“Hmm, go to sleep.”
“Hmph, you are so perfunctory! I cannot fall asleep; you did not say goodnight to me.”
“Goodnight.”
“That is not how you say it!”
“How should I say it?”
“You have to kiss me, and then say ‘Goodnight, my treasure’.”
“…”
After waiting for a long time without seeing her move, Sheng Yunshu puffed up her cheeks and decided to give her a goodnight kiss. In the darkness, a warm breath suddenly leaned in close.
Before Sheng Yunshu could react, a gentle kiss landed on her forehead.
“Goodnight, Yunshu.”
Sheng Yunshu was stunned for a moment, then a wide smile blossomed on her face, and she rubbed against Sheng Qingshan’s arms like a puppy.
“Am I your treasure? Right, right! That is what you meant! I love you! I love you so, so much.”
Sheng Qingshan could not handle this sudden burst of enthusiasm and instinctively raised her hand to block her lips. Her slightly raspy voice sounded somewhat pitiful in the darkness:
“Stop making a scene.”
Her eyes curved, and Sheng Yunshu took her hand, leaving a soft kiss on her palm:
“Goodnight, I really love you so much.”
Early the next morning, Sheng Qingshan woke up a minute before the alarm went off.
Just as she was about to get up, the weight on her shoulder made her stop.
Sheng Yunshu was still fast asleep, her long pink hair spread across the bed. Perhaps because she had cried last night, her eyelids were slightly red, and her mouth was slightly open. Her sleeping posture could not exactly be called graceful.
Sheng Qingshan tried to pull her arm out, but as soon as she moved, Sheng Yunshu’s eyelids fluttered as if she would wake up the next second.
But Sheng Qingshan had a strict schedule every day and could not afford to be delayed.
Just as her arm was freed, Sheng Qingshan rubbed her sore arm and was about to get out of bed when movement came from beside her.
“Sister…” Sheng Yunshu narrowed her eyes, groggily leaning over to hug her waist. “What time is it?”
“Six-thirty. Sleep a bit longer.”
“Are you not working at nine?” Sheng Yunshu was not yet fully awake, her speech incoherent. “Take me with you. I want to go to work with you. Hug me.”
Sheng Qingshan ruffled her hair. “No more scenes, go to sleep.”
Sheng Yunshu was rubbed until she felt very comfortable; she let out a few hums and then lay still.
After a while, confirming she was asleep, Sheng Qingshan took her hand away and tiptoed out.
After washing up, Sheng Qingshan went downstairs for breakfast. She had barely taken a few bites when she heard footsteps behind her.
Turning her head, she saw Sheng Yunshu wrapped in a cardigan, walking over while rubbing her eyes and yawning.
“01, I want to eat wontons and pan-fried dumplings.”
She moved her chair closer to Sheng Qingshan’s side. After sitting down, she tilted her head and rested it on Sheng Qingshan’s shoulder.
“Why are you up?” Sheng Qingshan looked at her exhausted face and wanted her to go rest.
“Because I want to see you more.”
Sheng Yunshu’s expression was natural. “I can catch up on sleep in the afternoon; I will not be tired.”
Sheng Qingshan looked at those bright eyes, suddenly not knowing what to say.
When it was time for Sheng Qingshan to go out, Sheng Yunshu saw her to the door, hugged her, and pressed her lips to the side of her face.
“Come back early. I will wait for you at home.”
Perhaps it was because she was not fully awake early in the morning, or perhaps because she had been kissed so many times, Sheng Qingshan did not show much repulsion toward the act of kissing her cheek.
In any case, she did not push Sheng Yunshu away today.
For the next period, the two maintained this rhythm of life.
Sheng Yunshu had a flexible work schedule; she usually returned home half an hour before Sheng Qingshan got off work, and gave her a big hug the moment she opened the door.
Sheng Qingshan would not complain about work matters to her—complaining would not help anyway. But Sheng Yunshu would tell her everything she did during the day, good or bad; in any case, she would not let her ears have any quiet.
Just as Sheng Yunshu liked to be close to Sheng Qingshan, Sheng Qingshan liked listening to her speak.
No matter how dull a matter was, it became vivid and interesting when spoken by her. Every time Sheng Qingshan watched her gesturing enthusiastically beside her, her mood would improve.
Meanwhile, two major events occurred that week.
The project had made progress; although it could not be tested on humans yet, this result brought Sheng Qingshan hope, and she contacted Sheng Yanzhou to increase the investment.
There was another thing: Sheng Yunshu found a month-old cow-print kitten near the film set.
Sheng Qingshan had no feelings for this kind of creature because it looked dirty at first glance. She did not want Sheng Yunshu to touch it; what if she caught a virus?
“How can you be so exaggerated!”
Sheng Yunshu picked up the kitten that was running around on the blanket. “Besides, our Tuan Tuan has already taken a bath! It smells very nice, okay? Tuan Tuan, let Mommy give you a kiss.”
To cooperate with Mommy, the kitten let out a meow toward Sheng Qingshan.
Sheng Qingshan: “…”
Watching Sheng Yunshu addicted to cat-sniffing, Sheng Qingshan put down her book, walked over, picked up the kitten from her hands, and looked at it.
“Where is it cute? When it grows up, you will have to take it for sterilization. Do you not find it troublesome?”
“Oh, be gentle. Do not hold it like that! It is still a baby!” Sheng Yunshu quickly snatched the kitten back from Sheng Qingshan’s hands, protected it in her arms, and rubbed it with a look of heartache. “Tuan Tuan, do not be afraid. Mommy is bad; Mommy loves you.”
Sheng Qingshan looked down at her own hand.
Bad Mommy?
Why would she want to be a mommy to a cat?
“I was just looking,” she said.
Sheng Yunshu looked up at her, suppressing a smile at the corners of her mouth: “You can just look; why pick it up? You will scare it. Look at its little arms and legs; what if you break it?”
Sheng Qingshan glanced at the creature Sheng Yunshu called “little arms and legs”—the kitten was lying on Sheng Yunshu’s chest, clawing at the buttons of her nightdress with its paws, its tail held high, looking completely fearless.
It did not look scared at all.
“It will not break,” Sheng Qingshan said. “Cats are all held like this.”
“That is a stray cat! Our Tuan Tuan is a house cat; it is very precious!” Sheng Yunshu said righteously, lowering her head to kiss the kitten’s head. “Right, Tuan Tuan? You are Mommy’s little treasure, the cutest kitten in the whole world.”
The kitten let out a “meow” and rubbed its head against Sheng Yunshu’s chin.
Sheng Yunshu laughed as she was rubbed. Her whole body collapsed into the sofa, her long hair spread over her shoulders, and a black-and-white little fur ball nestled in her arms. The scene looked soft enough to melt a heart.
Watching the bright smile on her face, Sheng Qingshan sat back on the sofa and picked up her book to read quietly.
Forget it, just raise it if she wants to.