The sound of high heels gradually faded away, but Fang Sushen remained rooted to the spot, stunned.
He processed the content of Que Yining’s words, then somewhat hastily walked out.
It was true that he was interested in Gu Shanxue; it could be said he admired her very much.
Whether it was her appearance, abilities, personality, or other aspects, he liked them all. So, he had made up his mind to pursue her, but unfortunately, the beauty was not easy to approach, keeping him at arm’s length.
He initially thought that was how things were, but then he suddenly realized that Gu Shanxue had never revealed anything about this matter to him. Perhaps Gu Shanxue herself was unaware?
It didn’t take him long to find Gu Shanxue, who was conversing with someone in the crowd. He didn’t rush over immediately but waited a moment, composing himself.
Once the person Gu Shanxue was talking to left, Fang Sushen approached with a smile on his face. Then, feigning a casual joke, he said to Gu Shanxue, “I just heard something very interesting. Someone said you and Miss Que are a couple. It was said so convincingly, I was taken aback and almost believed it. Isn’t this joke quite amusing? It turns out even when girls are close, people will gossip about them.”
As Fang Sushen spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Gu Shanxue’s expression, his heart pounding.
This was the moment that would determine if he still had a chance, but Gu Shanxue’s expression disappointed him.
Gu Shanxue merely smiled and didn’t reply, but that smile already said a lot.
Fang Sushen was disappointed internally but still maintained his composure externally. He didn’t continue this topic, instead shifting to another. He didn’t stay by Gu Shanxue’s side for too long; after a while, he found an excuse and tactfully left.
Gu Shanxue lowered her gaze to the floor, which reflected the light, wondering who was spreading this rumor. It was indeed accurate.
Que Yining, watching from the side, nodded in satisfaction. This potential rival was somewhat discerning. She walked over to Gu Shanxue with a wine glass in hand, accompanying her in socializing.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and toasts, time trickled by.
By the time Que Yining and Gu Shanxue left, both had drunk quite a bit at the banquet.
Que Yining used to have a high alcohol tolerance, but the original owner’s body hadn’t been deliberately trained, so her tolerance was average. She felt a little lightheaded as she walked out the door with Gu Shanxue.
She had already sent her driver home earlier. She very naturally sat in Gu Shanxue’s car and went home with her.
“Where’s Ningning? Why don’t I see him?”
Que Yining had grown accustomed to a cat greeting her when she opened Gu Shanxue’s door, but today, when the door opened, Ningning was nowhere to be seen.
“I had to go on a business trip for a while, so I boarded him at a pet store. I’ll pick him up tomorrow.”
Gu Shanxue usually went on business trips for two or three days. In such cases, she would arrange for someone to feed the cat on time. If the trip was longer, she would board Ningning at a trusted pet store to prevent him from being too lonely at home by himself.
“I see…”
Que Yining responded, sitting down on the sofa and placing her handbag to one side.
“I’ll go help you tidy up the guest room first.”
Gu Shanxue noticed her somewhat weary appearance and planned to prepare the room for Que Yining first.
Que Yining had no intention of sleeping in the guest room, so she deliberately let out a cry of pain.
“What’s wrong?”
Gu Shanxue walked closer, asking with some nervousness.
“Maybe it’s because I walked and stood too much today, so my leg hurts a little. Can you rub it for me?”
Que Yining grabbed Gu Shanxue’s hand, puffed her cheeks, and wheedled in a soft voice.
Gu Shanxue didn’t refuse. She sat down next to Que Yining, lifted Que Yining’s previously injured leg onto her own, and began to massage it gently.
What Que Yining said wasn’t entirely to get Gu Shanxue to coddle her; she was indeed a bit tired from walking today. When Gu Shanxue’s nimble fingers pressed on the acupressure points, the sore, numb, and full sensation made her uncontrollably let out a short, breathy moan.
Gu Shanxue had been drinking, and her already somewhat hazy rationality due to the alcohol became even more muddled by this sound, causing her ears to unconsciously flush.
Only when the calf was warmed by Gu Shanxue’s massage did Gu Shanxue stop and ask, “Is it better?”
“Mmm…” Que Yining’s voice carried a hint of hesitation, then tinged with a smile, as if coaxing, “It’s uncomfortable higher up too. Can you massage a bit further up?”
As she massaged, her slender hand disappeared into the shadows beneath the black dress.
Being with Que Yining was addictive.
In her every frown and smile, in her captivating, flirtatious eyes, one would submissively follow her instructions.
Tonight’s moonlight was bright, swaying and shimmering over the mortal world.
The hem of the skirt swayed too, fabric tossed aside.
This time, without Ningning, it landed steadily on the floor, reflecting the moonlight, but that light was fleeting.
Warm and scalding, the fragrance of flowers was rich. Gu Shanxue’s fingertips gently twirled a petal, brought it to her nose to sniff, and then she smiled at Que Yining.
That smile drove Que Yining nearly mad. She parted the petals, inviting the plucker to appreciate further.
It was already difficult to tell who had fallen harder; in any case, Que Yining didn’t have to sleep in the guest room.
She once again entered the master bedroom where she had slept before. Last time, she had left from here heartbroken; this time, she entered with a completely different mood.
She was no longer timid and cautious, but as comfortable as a hostess returning to her own home.
Gu Shanxue’s bed was still as soft as she remembered, not a bit different. In fact, this time, with Gu Shanxue’s company, the experience seemed even better.
Gu Shanxue gazed at Que Yining, her eyes veiled by a layer of mist, melting away the frost and turning it into powdered sugar.
She leaned down to sip the dew from the flower, a liquid more potent than the wine she had drunk tonight, confusing her senses, urging her to continue forward.
Yet she still hesitated, daring only to linger on the periphery, the intoxication rising, blurring the world before her eyes.
She temporarily set aside that flower and rushed towards other beautiful scenery.
Scattered red marks were like fallen blossoms; the snow-white skin embraced the red plum blossoms on the branches, blooming in the bright moonlight. The moonlight swayed, and they swayed too.
Que Yining was also feeling the effects of the alcohol, leaning against Gu Shanxue, whispering sweet nothings to her.
“Gu Shanxue, I really, really like you.”
A low murmur, carrying a threefold sweetness, entered Gu Shanxue’s heart.
A sweet kiss, enough to console all past experiences.
Que Yining entangled with her, mimicking her actions, pressing close to her.
The flowers also pressed close, whispering intimately in a faint sweetness. Dewdrops merged, dampening their clothes.
The bright moonlight was unhindered by clouds,灑lling unreservedly onto the ground, round and perfectly whole.
All the beautiful things in this world should be just as complete.
At dawn, Que Yining woke up groggily. She opened her eyes; although the space beside her was empty, the quilt still held residual warmth.
The events of last night were still vivid in her mind, and she was so happy her eyes crinkled into crescents.
Last night was practically a breakthrough! Although her fingernails had been trimmed for nothing, other parts had certainly come in handy.
It counted as actual contact, and she had reeled Gu Shanxue in a little more.
She savored the feeling for a moment, then was startled to realize that after last night’s activities, she couldn’t possibly have had time to remove her makeup. She slipped on slippers and went into the master bedroom’s en-suite bathroom.
Sure enough, her makeup was mostly gone. While not unsightly, it wasn’t her best look either. Que Yining was annoyed that Gu Shanxue had woken up to see her not at her most beautiful, and she gritted her teeth as she removed her makeup.
Gu Shanxue’s bathroom was fully stocked. After washing up, Que Yining applied toner and lotion. Seeing her own dewy face in the mirror, Que Yining walked out of the bathroom satisfied.
The bed, which had been messy when she entered the bathroom, was now perfectly tidy. A set of clothes lay on the bed, clearly prepared for her.
Que Yining felt a little regretful; she had wanted to wear a “girlfriend shirt.”
By the time Que Yining walked out of the bedroom, Gu Shanxue had already prepared breakfast.
“Good morning.”
Que Yining greeted Gu Shanxue with a radiant smile. Gu Shanxue, blushing, also wished her good morning and urged her to come eat breakfast quickly.
Gu Shanxue was shy throughout the meal, not daring to make eye contact with her. She ate her breakfast calmly and quietly, appearing as composed as ever on the surface, but Que Yining had already seen through her facade.
Que Yining smiled like a fox that had just tasted meat, not even concentrating on her breakfast.
She bit into a soup dumpling, eating too hastily, and inadvertently, the soup spilled out, scalding her tongue.
“Hiss…”
Que Yining frowned, feeling that the tip of her tongue was numb.
“Did you burn it?”
Gu Shanxue quickly went to check. Que Yining had a woeful expression and stuck out her tongue for Gu Shanxue to see.
“It’s red. Hold some ice water in your mouth, then be careful.”
Gu Shanxue got up to get Que Yining some water from the fridge, telling her to take a sip, spit it out, and then continue eating breakfast.
Que Yining obediently did as she was told, then helped Gu Shanxue wash the dishes in the kitchen.
Fortunately, today was not a workday; otherwise, the employees of both companies would have found their bosses late. But even if it wasn’t a workday, the two exceptionally busy individuals still had many appointments and matters to attend to.
Que Yining had to go to the company. Before parting, she stood in the entryway of Gu Shanxue’s home and pointed to her own lips towards Gu Shanxue.
“Shanxue, can I have one of these?”
She tilted her head up slightly, her pose asking for a kiss impossible to refuse.
Gu Shanxue, blushing, gave her a peck, light as a dragonfly alighting on water. She was so flustered she almost missed Que Yining’s lips because she didn’t dare to look.
Que Yining left, overjoyed. Just as the door was about to close, she poked her head back in.
“Shanxue, can I come over tonight?”
“Your right index fingerprint has been registered for the password.”
“Huh?” Que Yining was somewhat surprised. “When?”
She immediately closed the door, placed her right index finger on the sensor, and the lock beeped. She opened the door.
“It really works! When did you do it?”
“This morning.”
Gu Shanxue’s door lock could be controlled by a phone app. She had registered Que Yining’s fingerprint while Que Yining was still asleep.
“See you tonight then!”
Que Yining walked over and planted a kiss on Gu Shanxue’s cheek, then left like a gust of wind, her words dissipating into the air.
Gu Shanxue touched her burning cheek, unable to stop a smile from forming. Thinking back to last night’s wildness, she let out a breath and went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
Que Yining, in high spirits and with a spring in her step, hummed a tune as she went downstairs. Although Gu Shanxue hadn’t said it explicitly, wasn’t this her promise?
This meant she could come and go from her home freely, no longer needing to ask permission each time, just like the other mistress of this house.
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