Chapter 2: Cherry Blossoms in the White Snow

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

The bathroom door quickly closed.

Watching Ji Lianxing flee in panic, Jiang Shu was baffled. Isn't this a bit weird?

Actually, she didn't have the chance to take a good look at her. It wasn't because she didn't want to, but because she felt the girl was avoiding her. She was puzzled about what that avoidance meant.

At the moment their eyes met, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity as if she had seen her somewhere before, but she couldn't remember.

This girl had somewhat heavy makeup; that was the impression she had.

She had never seen anyone dressed like this before. It didn't look like she was here to sleep; it looked like she was here for a concert, somewhat like a band drummer.

Although her makeup was heavy, her features were still quite impeccable. It was the kind of look Jiang Shu liked. Judging from her eyes and outfit, she was no older than 25.

That was good. Someone younger was easier to control. Most came for money; giving them some money could settle things. She didn't like dragging things out. It was best if they each got what they wanted without entanglement.

Jiang Shu's thoughts wandered as she looked at the small round table, where there was unfinished red wine.

In her ears was the sound of water flowing from the bathroom...

Ji Lianxing stood under the water, warm water slowly flowing down her arms. A few drops of water clung to the fogged glass.

She remained standing, her gaze empty as if she were in a daze.

When did she start liking Jiang Shu? It was probably five years ago when she first entered university. At the opening ceremony, that brilliant speech made her fall in love at first sight with this confident and beautiful senior.

At N University, everyone knew Jiang Shu. Ji Lianxing was just one of many admirers. The gap between them was too great, so she was very self-aware. She never hoped for too much and silently liked Jiang Shu for several years.

She never expected that after graduation, her boss would still be Jiang Shu. While she was happy, she never hoped for any interaction. After all, everyone knew Jiang Shu was already married and even had a child.

But, even with a child, she was still like this? A married woman with a child, keeping a young girl outside? It was too absurd.

Ji Lianxing's heart was in turmoil. She scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on her face to clear her mind.

She thought a lot during this time, and after a while, she turned off the shower.

There was a dress on the shelf, a long black spaghetti-strap nightgown.

Ji Lianxing hesitated. With her limited experience, she tried to understand her boss's intentions. Did Jiang Shu hang this dress here to suggest she wear it?

She picked up the dress and examined it. She wasn't used to wearing this style of nightgown. Despite being long, the neckline was too deep and could easily slip off.

So, should she put it on?

Is this how Jiang Shu was in private? Ji Lianxing felt even more embarrassed...

She hesitated, but still put it on.

****

Twenty minutes passed, and Jiang Shu lay on the bed, closing her eyes, feeling a bit sleepy.

She thought the person was taking too long in the shower, wondering what she was fussing about.

With a click, the bathroom door opened. Jiang Shu lazily opened her eyes and looked up at Ji Lianxing.

Ji Lianxing stood at the bathroom door, the dress's deep neckline revealing the snow-white skin around her collarbone. Her long hair rested on her shoulders, with a few strands sticking together, her dark hair fully damp.

She wasn't wearing shoes, standing barefoot on the plush rug, her toes pale and clean.

Wondering if it was an illusion from a few meters away, Jiang Shu thought she smelled a faint scent of figs, a very distinct fragrance.

She began to scrutinize Ji Lianxing.

The person before her had removed her makeup, looking quite different from before. If earlier was a heavily inked painting, now it was like unadorned rice paper, a face so clean it resembled morning jasmine.

She belonged to the category of beauties with both good looks and bone structure. Her facial proportions were nearly perfect. Jiang Shu couldn't bring herself to blink as she looked at her, feeling that Ji Lianxing looked much more attractive without makeup than with smoky eyes. This appearance left her quite satisfied.

"Come here," Jiang Shu gently beckoned with her finger.

Ji Lianxing felt like her feet were filled with lead, and she felt uncomfortable.

Jiang Shu sat up, half-leaning against the headboard. "Come here. I won't hurt you," her voice softened as she waited for Ji Lianxing.

Walking to the bedside, Jiang Shu reached out and embraced Ji Lianxing, pulling her towards herself.

Ji Lianxing rarely hugged others; the last time she remembered was with her mother. She could only kneel by the bed, resting her chin on Jiang Shu's shoulder, her hands hanging awkwardly in the air.

Her heartbeat quickened even more.

With each breath, Ji Lianxing could smell the fragrance on Jiang Shu's body. It wasn't cedar or rose like before; it was the scent of a plant she didn't know, cool and icy, lazily drifting into her nostrils and then into her heart.

"You seem quite nervous," Jiang Shu smiled with narrowed eyes as she asked.

"..." Ji Lianxing shrugged slightly, wanting to keep a bit of distance. She felt a bit dizzy and a bit warm.

"I can hear your heartbeat." 

Ji Lianxing remained silent, her head was buzzing loudly.

What should she do? Should she do something to please Jiang Shu? It felt embarrassing not just because it was Jiang Shu, but because she had no idea what to do in practical terms. She was completely clueless in this regard.

But Jiang Shu didn't mind, her hand resting on Ji Lianxing's shoulder, gently embracing her. "Haven't you done this before? Why so nervous?"

Ji Lianxing trembled involuntarily, her voice shaking along with her words.

"I don't know," she said, her lips pale, looking as though she had never experienced anything like this before.

Jiang Shu seemed to understand something. "Could this be your first time?"

“No,” Ji Lianxing replied instantly, as instructed by the matchmaker, though she didn't know why.

Jiang Shu reached out and turned off the desk lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

She grasped Ji Lianxing's wrist and felt something icy cold—a bracelet, perhaps. Jiang Shu took it off and placed it under the pillow.

Ji Lianxing closed her eyes, trying to calm her nerves. She didn't know what Jiang Shu would do next, and she felt tense all over.

"You're five minutes late," Jiang Shu whispered softly in her ear, sending warmth into Ji Lianxing's ear, which gathered into a fireball.

As the room darkened and her vision weakened, she couldn't see anything, which made her even more nervous.

"And the dress wasn't meant for you."

Upon hearing this, Ji Lianxing's face flushed red instantly. So, she didn't have to wear the dress after all?

Jiang Shu pinched Ji Lianxing's chin, lifting it slightly, bringing their faces closer. Their noses brushed together, and then Jiang Shu kissed her.

Ji Lianxing hadn't expected Jiang Shu to kiss her. Jiang Shu's lips were soft, with a hint of sweetness and the aroma of wine, reminding Ji Lianxing of her favorite jelly.

A first kiss with someone you like should be a happy moment, but Ji Lianxing's heart was conflicted between "continue" and "don't continue."

The ceiling was painted with thick ink, making everything invisible.

Jiang Shu held her close, although the little canary was a bit reserved, she had the patience to slowly melt her.

It was just a simple embrace.

"Wait a minute," Ji Lianxing pushed Jiang Shu away, her voice trembling, tears welling up uncontrollably in her eyes.

And so the embrace abruptly stopped.

Jiang Shu feared girls crying the most, so she grabbed a tissue and handed it to her. "What's wrong? Is it something I did?"

Ji Lianxing didn't take the tissue. Instead, she pushed Jiang Shu away and said, "No, it's my own issue."

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

Her mind was in turmoil. What she meant to convey was that she couldn't get past this hurdle in her heart, not that she had actual "issues."

"I'm sorry, I need to leave now," she said.

Jiang Shu hesitated for a moment before responding, "Okay, I'll turn on the lights for you."

"No, don't," Ji Lianxing said as she got off the bed in a fluster. She remembered her clothes were on the table.

It was the first time Jiang Shu had encountered such a situation. This girl was a bit too peculiar, and she felt the entire process reflected her inner conflict. Why was she so conflicted? Shouldn't she have thought this through before coming?

She heard rustling sounds, probably indicating the girl had finished dressing, and it sounded like she was crouching to put on her shoes.

"Are you sure you want to leave?"

“Mm," Ji Lianxing replied as she put on her martin boots. The process of tying the laces felt interminable; she just wanted to leave this place immediately.

"It's a bit late, and it's not safe to go home now. Shall I book a room next door for you?" Jiang Shu paused. "Or would you like me to drive you?"

Ji Lianxing didn't respond to her question. She found the door by instinct, a beam of white light piercing the darkness, momentarily blinding Jiang Shu.

’Bang!’

The door slammed shut again, and the sole source of light was swallowed by darkness.

The room was dark and dim again. Jiang Shu suddenly realized, had she frightened away the little canary tonight?

In less than a minute, her phone screen lit up, and Jiang Shu received a text message:

[Sorry, I don't want the money anymore.]