IBPASMA Chapter 92

Having lived with Gu Siyuan for so many years, Gu Qingtong naturally knew her sister was angry again.

But hadn’t Gu Siyuan just signaled her willingness to reconcile?

Most of the time, Gu Siyuan’s sulking silence didn’t differ much from her usual quiet demeanor. But when she truly started questioning someone, especially when she called out “Gu Qingtong” in that tone, it was strikingly reminiscent of their father scolding someone.

Startled, Gu Qingtong instinctively darted behind Yan Chi, carefully clutching the fabric of her waist. Her timid eyes peeked out from behind Yan Chi, cautiously observing the currently fuming Gu Siyuan.

She racked her brain to review what she’d just said. There shouldn’t have been any problems, right? She had only shared her effortless victories from the past year in the entertainment industry.

Though she didn’t understand what had provoked her sister, her reflex to apologize had already kicked in.

“Yuanyuan, I was wrong! Next time, I’ll tell you right away…”

Next time? Did she really think something like this could happen again?!

Gu Siyuan took a deep breath. Arguing with her elder sister felt as fruitless as punching a pillow. Forget it—this idiot wouldn’t understand even if she explained. Gu Qingtong simply didn’t get it.

So, Gu Siyuan pursed her lips in silence, her steps quickening. Despite her annoyance, Gu Siyuan wouldn’t break her word about having dinner together.

The restaurant was one that Yan Chi had picked—Fushan, a spot Gu Qingtong had been clamoring to visit recently. Yan Chi had even inquired about Gu Siyuan’s preferences and dietary restrictions beforehand, only to realize that both she and Gu Siyuan were already shaped by Gu Qingtong’s whims.

Consequently, the dishes were ordered to cater to Gu Qingtong’s tastes.

Fushan was located at the very top of a skyscraper in City A’s high-priced city center. While not as renowned as Jinlian, it was even harder to book. The restaurant specialized in refined Japanese cuisine, with its Spanish chef skillfully blending Western elements into traditional dishes.

It was the perfect choice for helping Gu Siyuan, who had just returned from Europe, slowly adapt her palate again.

But Gu Qingtong hadn’t come for the high-end Japanese cuisine; her real goal was the Salt Flower Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream. To her, the rest of the meal was just fluff—an extravagant way to chase the dessert.

The private room wasn’t very large but emphasized privacy, featuring the traditional Japanese tatami style. The décor was classical and luxurious, with large ukiyo-e[mfn]Japanese art[/mfn] paintings adorning the walls. Their vivid colors balanced well with the cool tones of the room’s furniture, creating a surprisingly harmonious effect.

Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi sat side by side, kneeling on the tatami, while Gu Siyuan sat across from Gu Qingtong. The silence between the three of them somehow gave the atmosphere a peculiar awkwardness.

Gu Qingtong glanced at Yan Chi, then at Gu Siyuan, before awkwardly lowering her gaze to the menu in front of her.

By this time, both Yan Chi and Gu Siyuan had removed their masks, revealing faces that could easily stop passersby in the street. The server delivering their dishes couldn’t help but widen her eyes in amazement, stealing glances repeatedly at the two, clearly captivated by their appearance.

“Excuse me, what’s this? It smells amazing.”

Gu Qingtong’s attention was drawn to a bottle of drink on the table, its enticing fruity aroma wafting toward her even from a distance. When she’d idly skimmed the menu earlier, she hadn’t noticed this particular item listed. Curious, she looked up and asked the server standing before her.

It was the server’s first time seeing such strikingly vivid beauty up close, a beauty that was already dazzling enough on-screen. Momentarily stunned by the sight, the server was so overwhelmed that she stumbled over her words.

With her cheeks instantly flushing under the weight of Gu Qingtong’s intense peach-blossom gaze, she stammered, “Ah, th-this is our chef’s, um, house-brewed plum wine. It’s a seasonal special, reserved as a complimentary gift for VIP guests.”

“Oh, it’s wine.”

Gu Qingtong’s disappointment was palpable as she muttered under her breath. After all, her well-documented history with alcohol was plain to see for those seated at this table. Neither Yan Chi nor Gu Siyuan would allow her so much as a sip.

Still, the intoxicating aroma was too tempting for her to resist, and eventually, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Can I…?”

She deliberately left out any specific address, her gaze flitting ambiguously between the two of them, appearing neutral and tactful in her approach. It was impossible to tell who the question was directed toward.

But before she could finish speaking, both Yan Chi and Gu Siyuan had already anticipated her request.

“Tongtong gets drunk the moment she takes a sip,” Yan Chi said gently.

“No,” came Gu Siyuan’s curt and firm response.

The two spoke simultaneously, their tones distinct: Yan Chi’s warm and calm, Gu Siyuan’s cold and terse. It was as if whoever answered first assumed the role of the person Gu Qingtong had addressed.

Once the words left their mouths, they both subtly glanced at each other across the table, as though silently sizing each other up.

At some point, the masks of detachment and probing curiosity started to slip away, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Just as Gu Qingtong expected, neither of them had any intention of agreeing to her request.

Perhaps it was because her expression now resembled a wronged little wife, staring wistfully at the plum wine like she was determined to keep trying. Even the server who was about to leave couldn’t resist speaking up on her behalf:

“Although it’s technically wine, it’s brewed by our chef and has a very low alcohol content. It’s unlikely to cause intoxication, so the guest can try it without worry.”

After thanking the departing server, Gu Qingtong seemed to gather her courage. She eagerly poked Yan Chi, who was sitting closer to her, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. Her long eyelashes fluttered as her eyes sparkled with unmistakable anticipation. Her soft, pleading voice took on an even more coquettish tone, so sweet and endearing that it could melt anyone’s heart: 

“Big sister, they said it won’t get me drunk….let me have just a taste, please?”

Yan Chi knew all too well how unstoppable Gu Qingtong’s cravings could be when she got fixated on something. Though her heart had already melted under Gu Qingtong’s current expression, she still planned to offer a gentle but firm rejection.

But before Yan Chi could respond, Gu Siyuan’s sharp gaze locked onto Gu Qingtong. With her expression blank, she flatly asked:

“Gu Qingtong, why are you only asking her and not me?”

“…Huh?”

Gu Qingtong blinked in confusion, her mind stuck for a moment before she realized the issue. Earlier, she had directed her request to both of them, but now, she was only seeking Yan Chi’s permission. This discrepancy clearly upset Gu Siyuan.

Why was Gu Siyuan unhappy about this?

After a brief moment of reflection, Gu Qingtong figured she must still be quietly stewing over her own grievances, using this as an excuse to nitpick. With that thought in mind, Gu Qingtong quickly forgot her earlier conciliatory tone, now pouting in dissatisfaction as she mumbled:

“Weren’t you the one who said my antics wouldn’t work on you? With that cold ‘no’ from before, of course, I’ll only act spoiled with my wife!”

She placed extra emphasis on “my wife” as if flaunting it triumphantly in front of Gu Siyuan.

Gu Siyuan had to hold back the urge to knock out her foolish sister, bundle her into a sack, and take her away. She knew that continuing to sulk would only drive Gu Qingtong closer to Yan Chi. Meanwhile, Yan Chi, though silent, exuded a composed air, the dominance from earlier subtly subdued as she presented herself as gentle and accommodating.

Gu Siyuan cursed her sister internally for being so cunning—acting like she was the only one who could pull this off…

While thinking this, she stiffly opened her mouth and said, “Since you won’t get drunk, then just drink.”

The tone made Gu Qingtong think she had said something awkward again, but it wasn’t until a moment later that she realized what Gu Siyuan was really saying.

The joy came second; her first reaction was to immediately accept this “permission.”

The hands she had clasped together in front of Yan Chi instantly turned toward Gu Siyuan, and she even added a playful wink:

“Thank you, Yuanyuan! I knew you were the best to your sister!”

The most impressive thing about this little troublemaker was her ability to spread the burden. If she could trouble more people, she’d never just aim for one target. Quick to grab any opportunity and even quicker to act cute, her charm knew no bounds.

In the process, she had no idea that the very targets of her request were on the verge of starting a fight.

Yan Chi, who had just been about to coax Gu Qingtong not to drink, fell into silence, and the atmosphere around her turned a bit chilly.

Gu Siyuan, on the other hand, imitated Gu Qingtong’s style. Despite her stubborn personality, she finally pinched her nose and learned how to act—it was her first time pretending to be something she hated, but she managed to win this round.

Watching Yan Chi’s gaze darken as it fell more deeply on Gu Qingtong, Gu Siyuan felt particularly satisfied. The petty grudge she had been holding onto evaporated.

When Gu Qingtong finally pressed the carved wine glass to her lips and took a small sip, smacking her lips in satisfaction, Yan Chi still didn’t say anything that might ruin the mood.

After all, Yan Chi knew better than anyone that her little wife would always follow whoever gave her a taste of “candy.”

When pampered, Gu Qingtong could be completely unreasonable. Only when she realized she had caused trouble would she tuck her tail between her legs, pitifully and cautiously coming to admit her mistakes.

Of course, apologizing was one thing—whether she’d repeat her mistakes was another.

Otherwise, how could Gu Qingtong, who had already suffered from drunken mishaps twice, still willingly jump into the pit a third time?

A classic case of “remembering the sweet but forgetting the lesson.”

Because Yan Chi knew Gu Qingtong too well, she wouldn’t make the same mistake Gu Siyuan had at the start by pushing her into someone else’s arms.

So instead, Yan Chi simply looked at Gu Qingtong—her favor clear for all to see—as the girl grew even more spoiled and impossible. She said nothing.

During the meal, it was obvious that neither Yan Chi nor Gu Siyuan had much of an appetite, whereas Gu Qingtong focused intently on her food.

In front of a table filled with delicacies like sea urchin, caviar, and truffle dishes, what caught Gu Qingtong’s interest the most was the sweet, creamy milk ice cream.

One serving wasn’t enough, so when no one was paying attention, she even quietly swiped Yan Chi’s portion. After all, Yan Chi never ate frozen foods, and during past meals, anything icy usually ended up in Gu Qingtong’s stomach.

But her sneaky theft was spotted by Gu Siyuan.

Just as she was about to scoop into the cup with her little silver spoon, another ice cream cup was pushed in front of her the next second.

“I… I can’t finish three of them,” Gu Qingtong muttered around her spoon, puzzled. She wasn’t sure what was going on with Gu Siyuan today, only that her sister’s unexpected thoughtfulness didn’t feel like her usual cold, unyielding self.

Though Gu Qingtong rarely dieted like other actresses because of her naturally small frame, even she couldn’t stomach three calorie-packed ice creams in one sitting.

Gu Siyuan persisted. “Just eat mine instead. Stop stealing.”

“It’s fine. Sister Yan doesn’t eat ice, anyway. I always help her finish it.”

Gu Qingtong had no idea why Gu Siyuan was so upset and simply tried to explain.

“Suit yourself,” Gu Siyuan replied tersely, withdrawing her gaze and ignoring her completely.

But she made no move to take back the ice cream.

Gu Qingtong quickly finished her second serving. Eyeing the third cup, she licked her lips, clearly tempted.

Before she could decide, Yan Chi—silent until now—spoke in a measured voice:

“Tongtong, don’t you remember eating three cones last time and having such a bad stomachache that I had to rub your belly all night?”

Yan Chi didn’t need to say anything more. Gu Qingtong immediately recalled the pain and shrank back in fear, placing the spoon down with a dejected look.

Not understanding why these two “children” were suddenly annoyed, Gu Qingtong sighed in defeat and took a small cup of plum wine in her hands, sipping nervously to calm herself.

Although Gu Siyuan never intended to let her sister eat that much ice cream, hearing Yan Chi step in again still rubbed her the wrong way.

Compared to the “old fox” Yan Chi, Gu Siyuan was far less composed. However, her stoic, expressionless face gave her an air of maturity that worked in her favor.

Yan Chi, appearing completely unbothered by the tension, calmly picked up a piece of snow-white shrimp sashimi with her chopsticks and placed it in front of the picky eater who only wanted ice cream—Gu Qingtong.

“Ah.”

At the soft sound of her voice, Gu Qingtong obediently opened her mouth, naturally accepting the food being fed to her.

Gu Qingtong was a picky eater—not only did she avoid certain foods, but when she liked something, she’d fixate on that one dish and ignore everything else. Green vegetables? She’d dodge them at all costs.

From a young age, Gu Siyuan had been the one to pile vegetables like carrots into her bowl, forcing her to eat them. Later, Yan Chi also discovered this habit and began feeding her every time they ate together.

But Yan Chi’s way was different—each time, she’d tenderly use her chopsticks to feed Qingtong directly, quietly watching her bite down, all obedient and trusting. Sometimes, Qingtong’s little tongue would accidentally graze the tips of her chopsticks, making Yan Chi’s gaze flicker.

Gu Siyuan froze mid-reach for food, her chopsticks trembling as she felt a wave of jealousy.

She could tolerate other things, but this? This used to be her exclusive privilege! She’d been “feeding this little cabbage” for so many years!

After wrestling with herself, Gu Siyuan couldn’t hold back anymore. Remembering that she was the one who used to take care of Gu Qingtong first, she dug in aggressively, too.

While piling food into Gu Qingtong’s bowl, she shot a disgruntled glance at Yan Chi and scolded Gu Qingtong,

“Gu Qingtong, how old are you now? Can’t you learn to take care of yourself?”

It was pure double standards, though—her own chopsticks never stopped moving as she piled even more food into Gu Qingtong’s bowl, seemingly unaware she was enabling the same bad habits.

Soon, Gu Qingtong’s bowl was stacked high with vegetables from Gu Siyuan, and her cheeks were stuffed full from Yan Chi’s hand-fed morsels. She felt both overwhelmed and confused.

What were they fighting over? Feeding her? Did they really think she was on the brink of starving?

Noticing the sharp undercurrent between the other two—even as they quietly went about their business—Gu Qingtong chose silence. She may have realized something wasn’t right, but being a coward at heart, she refused to comment.

To cope with the awkwardness, she sipped plum wine like it was water, continuously using it to “calm her nerves.”

It turned out, no matter how low the alcohol content, for Gu Qingtong, three cups was her limit.

Before the tense meal had even ended, the protagonist had already managed to drink herself tipsy in an attempt to steady her nerves.

The most obvious change was this: just moments earlier, Gu Qingtong had been timidly observing the two women, trying to gauge the situation. Now, however, her gaze wandered blatantly between Yan Chi and Gu Siyuan, as though she were trying to solve some great dilemma.

Even though she “looked” fine—her face wasn’t flushed, her breathing was steady, and she didn’t collapse like a pile of mush—Yan Chi and Gu Siyuan knew better.

Gu Qingtong had silently, stealthily gotten drunk again.

At this point, they both knew: she had brought this entirely upon herself.

When her unfocused gaze met theirs, a familiar thought floated through both Yan Chi and Gu Siyuan’s minds.

Whenever Gu Qingtong got tipsy, she had a habit—clinginess. The more she liked someone, the clingier she would become, her priorities unmistakably clear.

The few times Gu Qingtong had been truly, blackout drunk were almost always spent with either of them. 

Each time, she’d cry, pout, and demand hugs, refusing to let the other person out of her sight even for a second. She would latch on like an octopus, hanging on all night.

So now…who would Gu Qingtong choose to cling to?