“Hmm?” The smile lingering at the corners of Yueyi’s eyes faded slightly as her fingers, resting against the fabric of her suit trousers, curled inward.
She could tell at a glance that the young woman before her was flustered. Inwardly, she sighed at the girl’s pure and harmless nature, where every emotion was written plainly across her face, while simultaneously worrying that she might easily be taken advantage of.
“If you go out to bars, do not drink anything given to you by strangers, and never let your drink out of your sight, understand?” Yueyi gently cautioned.
“Sister,” Yan Nianyi called out coyly, a faint flush creeping up the roots of her ears.
“Director Yue,” Shao Yihan called out politely as she walked over from the direction of the parking lot.
After settling her friends, she had turned back to walk toward the two of them. Catching sight of the other friends still lingering near the hotel entrance, she had quickly hurried over to provide cover for Yan Nianyi.
She shot a meaningful look at the bewildered person standing by the hotel doors. “You go on ahead first.”
“Oh, oh, right.” The young woman blinked in confusion and walked away.
“I did not expect to run into you here,” Shao Yihan smiled.
“Miss Shao,” Yueyi nodded in acknowledgment.
Once that was settled, Shao Yihan turned her attention to Yan Nianyi. “Did you not say we were going to the movie theater near the bar? When are we leaving?”
Yan Nianyi lifted her gaze to meet the speaker’s eyes, caught the intent behind the words immediately, and went along with it. “We are heading out soon.”
“Right, sounds good.” Shao Yihan watched the other’s feigned composure and could not help internally complaining.
So fake.
“Are you going to the cinema?” Yueyi asked warmly. “I thought you were going to a bar.”
After all, the other girl had explicitly mentioned going to a bar earlier.
“Nianyi, go to a bar?” Shao Yihan chuckled, raising an eyebrow as she bantered with Yueyi. “I rarely ever see that happen.”
“I rarely go to bars,” Yan Nianyi lowered her gaze demurely, seizing the opportunity to explain. “It is just that the cinema we are going to happens to be near a bar, so we planned to head over together.”
“Alright, have fun,” Yueyi smiled. She lifted her wrist to check the time, intending to head home.
“Oh no!” Shao Yihan suddenly picked up her phone and let out a small, startled gasp. Her fingers flew rapidly across the screen before she looked up with a dead-serious expression. “Nianyi, I cannot accompany you to the cinema anymore. Something came up at home suddenly, and I have to rush back.”
With her back turned to Yueyi, she blinked frantically at the person standing in front of her.
“Family matters come first, we can always watch a movie another time,” Yan Nianyi caught the signal being transmitted.
“Can I borrow your car? I did not drive here, and I am in a rush to get back,” Shao Yihan added.
Yan Nianyi cast an unnoticeable glance toward her red sports car, which the valet had parked in a stall before dinner, and fished the keys out of her pocket, not forgetting to warn, “Be careful on the road.”
“Got it,” Shao Yihan replied. She turned with a troubled expression toward Yueyi. “Director Yue, I might have to trouble you with sending Nianyi back.”
“It is just a small favor, go handle your matters first,” Yueyi had no objections.
“Then I will have to trouble Director Yue.” Shao Yihan offered another apologetic expression of gratitude.
Taking the keys, she turned and left. First, she walked over to say a few words to the friends waiting in the car, and before long, the vehicles began driving away one by one.
“Are you still going to watch the movie?” Yueyi tucked a few strands of stray hair falling across her forehead behind her ear. “Shall I drop you off at the cinema?”
Gazing deeply, Yan Nianyi shook her head in refusal, her expression turning unprovokedly forlorn. “Going to the movies alone is far too lonely. Let us just go home instead.”
She was vaguely anticipating something. After speaking, she cautiously used her peripheral vision to observe the dignified-looking woman standing before her.
“Going to the movies alone?” Yueyi smiled softly. “It is indeed quite lonely. If you do not mind, I can accompany you.”
The woman tilted her head slightly, the twilight of the setting sun spilling lavishly across her face like a portrait of a beauty interlaced with orange-yellow light and shadow.
Yan Nianyi’s breathing stalled for a few seconds. She subconsciously took half a step closer, momentarily forgetting to answer Yueyi as she stared fixedly and intensely at the woman in front of her.
“Have you decided?” Yueyi, receiving no reply and assuming the other wasn’t keen, pulled her car keys from her bag and gave them a gentle jingle. “Or should I take you home now?”
Yan Nianyi’s thoughts were abruptly yanked back to reality. She steadied her composure, suppressing the surging tides of intense possessiveness and the urge to pull the other into her embrace.
“I want to go see the movie,” Yan Nianyi lowered her tone slightly. She twisted her hands together, perfectly portraying the innocence unique to a young girl.
Yueyi’s expression softened as she gripped her car keys. “Then let us go. Which cinema?”
“The one closest to here will do,” Yan Nianyi said.
“Alright.” Yueyi took a few steps forward before suddenly turning back around. “Have you been smoking?”
“Ah, yes.” Yan Nianyi blinked in surprise before nodding along.
“Smoke less, it is bad for your health,” Yueyi admonished.
“I only smoke once every few days,” Yan Nianyi pinched the back of her hand, leaving faint bruised marks against her fair skin.
“Let us go.” Yueyi reached out her hand, gesturing toward the black vehicle parked on the opposite side as a few cars passed by in front of them. “You drank, right? Hold onto me so you do not accidentally walk into traffic.”
“Okay.” Yan Nianyi had wanted to say she hadn’t drank that much, but looking at the hand extended toward her, the words stuck in her throat and dissolved into a cheerful reply.
Her palm was enveloped in warmth. Yan Nianyi lowered her gaze, watching their intertwined hands.
Yueyi’s hand was equally fair, yet set against Yan Nianyi’s lighter skin tone, it carried a faint, warm golden undertone. Distinct knuckles wrapped over the back of her hand, holding her fast.
The soft calluses on Yueyi’s fingertips brushed past, sliding over even softer skin.
Yueyi couldn’t help but inwardly marvel that Yan Nianyi truly lived up to her reputation as being delicately raised by the Yan family.
The distance wasn’t long. As they drew close to Yueyi’s car, Yan Nianyi, who had remained silent all the way, suddenly shook her wrist slightly. Looking as though she found it difficult to speak, a flush of shyness flitted across her tear-bright eyes.
“Sister, may I take a picture?” Yan Nianyi asked.
Yueyi recalled the afternoon when Yan Nianyi had taken a selfie using her phone and set it as their chat background. Curious about what she was up to this time, she asked, “A picture of what?”
“A picture of our hands holding.” Yan Nianyi rattled off the words holding hands softly and swiftly.
Yueyi paused. She didn’t say yes, nor did she say no, simply asking, “Why take a picture of this?”
“When I go out to play with friends, we usually take some pictures as keepsakes,” Yan Nianyi fabricated a reason smoothly without even blushing.
“Are you posting it on Moments?” Yueyi inquired.
Normally, she frequently saw friends recording their daily lives on Moments, posting things that happened recently or sharing scenery they found beautiful.
“Mm, is that alright?” Yan Nianyi nodded.
“You can take it if you like.” Yueyi had no objections. Catching sight of a car approaching from the side out of the corner of her eye, she took a few quick steps. “There is a car coming, let us get across first before taking it.”
Reaching the side of the car, Yueyi scanned the surrounding environment, and finding no other disturbances, she asked, “Is here okay?”
“Um.” Yan Nianyi hesitated, biting her lower lip. “Sister, can we take it inside the car?”
“Inside the car?” Yueyi looked puzzled.
“Yes, you sitting in the driver’s seat and me in the passenger seat, and then we hold hands and take a picture. Would that be okay?” Yan Nianyi blinked.
“Whatever you prefer, you decide,” Yueyi said gently.
She let go of their intertwined hands, walked around to the passenger side to pull open the door, and beckoned to Yan Nianyi, who was still standing aside in a daze, motioning for her to get in.
Then she walked around to the driver’s side, opened the door, and slid inside.
Once Yan Nianyi was seated and settled, Yueyi proactively reached out to take her left hand. “Is this alright?”
Her heart fluttering wildly, Yan Nianyi smiled. “It is fine.”
The front-facing camera opened. Yan Nianyi swallowed hard, framing the spot where their hands were joined. At the very moment she was about to snap the photo, she slipped one finger out of Yueyi’s palm and pressed it against the back of the other’s hand, flipping Yueyi’s hand so it faced upward instead.
Yueyi quietly allowed her to maneuver her, a faint smile lingering in her eyes.
After snapping the photo, Yan Nianyi didn’t pull her hand away immediately, maintaining the connection. Leaning her upper body forward, she shared the photo on her screen with the other woman. “Sister, take a look.”
Yueyi naturally leaned in closer.
In the photo, a tiny mole right near the base of her finger was immediately visible. The way their hands were clasped together was intimately close, and Yan Nianyi’s index finger resting atop the back of Yueyi’s hand looked less like a casual touch and more like a fond, lingering caress.
“It is a nice photo,” Yueyi didn’t think much of it.
“I think so too.” Figuring the timing was just right, Yan Nianyi let her index finger lightly brush across the back of Yueyi’s hand in a feigned accidental stroke before reluctantly letting go.
“Have you picked out which movie to watch?” Yueyi, oblivious to her small antics, started the ignition, turned the steering wheel, and slowly steered the car away from the hotel.
“Is there anything Sister wants to watch?” Yan Nianyi tapped open the app.
“I am fine with anything,” Yueyi replied.
“Then how about this one?” Yan Nianyi selected a title and held the screen out to ask for Yueyi’s opinion.
Yueyi glanced quickly at it; it was a romance film that had been quite popular lately.
“Alright,” she withdrew her gaze, refocusing her attention on the road.
“I will buy the tickets then.” Yan Nianyi tapped a few times on the screen, selecting the nearest available screening time. Checking the seating chart, she picked seats in the middle-to-back rows where the view was relatively good.
Once booked, she opened her photo album. Before she could even properly admire the picture, a notification popped up on her phone.
[Yan Nianyi, you better thank me a million times!]
Yan Nianyi raised an eyebrow. Using her full name and following it with an exclamation mark showed just how intense the other’s tone was.
Thus, she tapped open the message.
[Thank you.]
Knowing full well she owed this opportunity to Shao Yihan, she naturally wasn’t stingy with her gratitude.
[I am still waiting for a designated driver.]
A few angry emoji stickers followed behind.
Yan Nianyi tapped her screen and directly transferred twenty thousand over.
[Your designated driver fee is on me.]
[Thanks, Big Boss! Have fun on your date, Big Boss, and win over your beauty soon!] Shao Yihan cheerfully accepted the money and offered her blessings.
Twenty thousand was nothing to either of them, but since it was free money delivered to her doorstep, she would be a fool not to take it.
Yan Nianyi arched an eyebrow. Win over my beauty soon?
She wished she could.
It was just a matter of when Sister would finally realize her feelings and accept her.