Chapter 58: Loved Her

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5881048

This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

When a secret was exposed, the once tightly guarded boundary became as fragile as a glass bottle with a crack, ready to shatter at any moment.

Wen Ruoxian stiffly nodded. “Mm…”

“Which is more valuable, the picture frame or the ‘Lubao’?” Song Qingluo asked with a smile.

Wen Ruoxian was at a loss for words.

The value wasn’t in the objects themselves, but in the memories and emotions they held. But how could she explain to Qingluo what kind of emotions were worth locking away two rooms in remembrance… The thought made her anxious.

Song Qingluo asked again, “You said the ‘Lubao’ was a gift from a friend. That friend, was it CEO Cheng?”

A sour feeling began to spread in her chest.

“It was a gift from me to Ms. Cheng. One for each of us. Later, when she moved out, she didn’t take them, so both were left here,” Wen Ruoxian said, no longer wanting to lie.

“Do you know ‘Lubao’ has a CP attribute? It’s a couples’ item…”

“I know.”

The conversation abruptly ended.

Song Qingluo didn’t ask further. The sourness in her chest had become overwhelming. She feared that she might ask something—

Something she couldn’t bear to hear.

“You two must have had a really good relationship…” Song Qingluo sighed, her mouth curving into a stiff smile.

“Exchanging CP-themed gifts, writing song lyrics on the back of photos, and even after she got married and moved out, you still kept the two rooms locked, preserving them for her, remembering her.”

She looked again at herself and Wen Ruoxian.

As friends, they had never given each other anything like that. It was always her unilaterally making requests, and Ruoxian passively accepting.

Her words were like a thunderbolt striking Wen Ruoxian’s heart.

The crack in the glass grew deeper, and the cold water inside swayed, mixing with her past and secrets, rushing up her heart and spilling over her lips. 

"I didn't..." she started, instinctively trying to explain and find a reason. 

Suddenly, she felt powerless. 

This time, no matter how she thought of an excuse or how to cover it up, she couldn't utter a single word. 

She had become the very person she hated the most. 

Full of lies, and deceit everywhere. She was exhausted and weary, knowing she was being cruel. 

Looking at Qingluo's aggrieved eyes and the restrained expression of what she wanted to ask, she felt tortured, as if she had reached her limit and could no longer hold on. 

"Yes."

“It’s for the sake of remembrance.”

Wen Ruoxian’s voice was very low, her whole being slumped like a deflated balloon: “Because I loved her.”

Song Qingluo was stunned.

“I met Ranran six years ago…”

It was also that summer when, after saving a stranger on the streets of Berlin, Wen Ruoxian met Cheng Suran less than a month later.

At that time, Cheng Suran had just joined the Translation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had been sent to the Paris Institute of Higher Translation for further study. Not long after settling in, she began traveling around neighboring countries, with Berlin being the first stop on her travel itinerary.

Wen Ruoxian was working in Berlin at that time.

The two lived in the same apartment building and were neighbors. One day, Wen Ruoxian came home to find her stove broken and, having no other option, knocked on the door next door to borrow Cheng Suran’s kitchen. After chatting for a while, they discovered that not only were they colleagues, but also university alumni—

Wen Ruoxian was three years senior to Cheng Suran.

Their acquaintance felt like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Out of gratitude and to commemorate their connection, Wen Ruoxian acted as a guide for Cheng Suran, taking her to explore various attractions. The two quickly became close.

In just a year, they traveled together several times, saw many sights, tasted many foods, and shared memories unique to them. Wen Ruoxian didn’t realize how she fell for Cheng Suran, but by the time she did, her feelings were deeply rooted and irresistible.

Later, Cheng Suran completed her studies, received her degree, and returned to work in China. Separated by seven hours, Wen Ruoxian missed her terribly. Unable to endure the surge of emotions, Wen Ruoxian decided to resign from her job and return to China to develop her career.

She gave up a high-paying position, a relaxed environment, and generous benefits...

Everything had to start over.

In the capital, she was able to see Cheng Suran frequently, and during holidays, she chose to stay rather than return home, staying by her side constantly. Later, when Cheng Suran decided to resign and start her own business in Jiangcheng, Wen Ruoxian supported and followed her resolutely, willing to cooperate in every way. This led to the establishment of the company they have today.

Over the years, Wen Ruoxian never dared to confess her feelings, never crossing the boundary of friendship, trapping herself within strict rules.

She had many concerns and was accustomed to being cautious.

"I thought she was straight, and confessing might affect our current relationship. She might be scared, or it might become awkward when we meet at the company... But last year during the Spring Festival, the window paper was accidentally torn..."

Wen Ruoxian spoke everything lightly.

With the burden lifted, her once-heavy and murky soul felt lighter.

"After Ranran moved out, my life went from chaotic to plain over the past six months. I accepted reality and let go, thinking I would spend my life like this unless I met someone I liked again."

She looked at Song Qingluo.

Her heart thundered, and a surge of passion erupted.

Song Qingluo's expression was dazed as if her soul had drifted elsewhere, leaving only her shell behind. Her once bright eyes seemed ashen.

"Qingluo, your presence has brought me joy. From our first meeting until now, I've been particularly happy when spending time with you. I admit, I can't help but focus on you, care about you, and be emotionally moved because of you... I'm not sure if this is true affection or just the novelty of a new phase after being single. I'm very confused and chaotic. Any decision made in this state is hasty and irresponsible, so I have hesitated to give you a response or make a statement. It's not you; it's me."

"Your feelings are so pure, so sincere and passionate, while mine are mixed with many impurities, nothing more."

"I always wonder, if I truly liked you, liking you in just a few months seems too fast. What about the love I had for Ranran? After years of relationship, can it be erased in a few months? Can I like someone else so quickly? It feels like a seamless switch, and it's unfair to you. I can't accept that I am this kind of person."

Wen Ruoxian laid bare all the words hidden in her heart.

Without reservation.

It was like a blunt knife slicing flesh, each cut calm and slow, with the sensation of skin being peeled away clearly and deeply felt.

She often did this.

To wrestle with herself was both painful and joyful.

“So CEO Cheng was your white moonlight…” Song Qingluo smiled, her eyes misting over.

“So affectionate, so enduring.”

“I happened to fill the gap during your single period, becoming your distraction in moments of loneliness. But unfortunately, it made you confused and disoriented. It was wrong of me to cling to you. I should have been more perceptive.”

Wen Ruoxian hurriedly said, “That’s not what I meant…”

“What does that mean? You just think that liking me is betraying your feelings for Cheng Suran. You feel that moving on so quickly is a betrayal, and you can't accept it. You don't want to, so you are troubled and conflicted. Isn't the answer already obvious? Liking me is a burden for you, something that makes you feel uncomfortable all over.”

She spoke very quickly but calmly.

“Qingluo…” Wen Ruoxian shook her head vigorously, wanting to say something more.

Song Qingluo didn’t give her a chance: “If I hadn’t seen this today, how long were you planning to be conflicted? Would you just keep me hanging like this? Who knows when you will stop being confused and conflicted? Anyway, your feelings and emotions are the most important. As for me, it doesn’t matter.”

“Because you can't accept being a certain kind of person, you think you can keep being conflicted, keep being confused, and maintain the status quo until you feel justified. Wen Ruoxian, you are so selfish. You only think about yourself. Your rules and balance are more important than anything else.”

She had no expression on her face.

Her body seemed frozen, without feeling.

Wen Ruoxian was speechless. She didn’t think that way, nor would she act that way, but after hearing it, she found it somewhat reasonable.

It felt like a sudden realization.

Her subconscious, her dark side, her humanity… was it really like that?

She was even more confused.

Silence, like a stagnant pool of water, filled the air with a dusty scent.

Suddenly, a phone rang.

Song Qingluo reacted like a startled bird: "Chuchu... oh, I found it. I was looking for it just now. I’m coming down."

She almost forgot why she came up.

After hanging up the phone, she walked past Wen Ruoxian towards the northern bedroom—the room temporarily shared by the two of them. Looking at it now, it only felt ironic.

The brown bag she had changed out of was hanging on the coat rack. She fished out a black card and stuffed it into the bag before hurriedly leaving.

"Qingluo—" Wen Ruoxian hastily grabbed her.

Song Qingluo shook off her hand, not turning back: "I have something to do. I’m leaving."

—Bang

The door was slammed shut.

….

Stepping out of the building, the 36-degree heat greeted Song Qingluo. The scorching sunlight melted the coldness on her face and body, gradually awakening her senses from the icy numbness.

She floated out like a ghost.

Shi Chuning's car was parked by the roadside. She was leaning against the door, waiting for her. As Song Qingluo approached, Shi Chuning noticed her pale face and unsteady steps, looking more haggard than after several sleepless nights.

"Qingluo? What's wrong?"

Song Qingluo's eyes were red as if she were suppressing something. Her teeth left deep marks on her lips.

Shi Chuning was frantic: "What happened? You just went up to get a card, why do you look like you've been bullied... Is the card frozen? Maxed out? Stolen?" She pondered, thinking that whatever had caused Song Qingluo to look like this in such a short time must be a sudden major event, something that could jeopardize her well-being.

"Could it be about Auntie..."

"She has a white moonlight in her heart," Song Qingluo murmured.

"Who?" 

Shi Chuning asked but immediately understood. Who else could it be? It was, of course, Wen Ruoxian.

"That woman surnamed Wen has a white moonlight?"

“Mm..."

"I just went upstairs and saw her cleaning. Those two rooms she never let me enter are kept to remember her white moonlight..." Song Qingluo choked out, revealing everything Wen Ruoxian had told her.

She had to say it. Keeping it in would suffocate her. Only by venting all the bad emotions could she think about what to do next.

Shi Chuning clenched her fists upon hearing this. "Damn, that scumbag!"

How could that scum treat her friend like this?

"Heh, white moonlight. What did I say before? She's been stringing you along without giving you an answer because there's something fishy. She did it on purpose and finally, the fox exposed its tail." After saying this, she spat in disgust and hugged Song Qingluo.

"Don't cry, baby. It's not too late to see the true face of this scumbag. We'll cut our losses, and our sincere feelings are as good as feeding a dog."

Song Qingluo trembled in her arms. The sun baked her body, melting the frozen, stiff emotions, and they flowed like magma. The pain surged, growing stronger like the delayed effects of intoxication.

Holding back her tears, she whispered, "Chuchu, you should go to the event. I want to go home and rest for a while."

She didn't want to break down in the middle of the street.

"I'm not going," Shi Chuning shook her head. "I'll stay with you."

"I just want to go home and be quiet for a while, it's okay. Besides, you've been waiting for this event for a long time. If you miss it, you'll have to wait another quarter."

"Once a quarter is not a lifetime. What could be more important than you?"

"…"

"Get in the car, we're going home."

Song Qingluo didn't argue anymore and obediently got into the car.

Back at Green Shang Mansion, Shi Chuning's car couldn't go in, so she parked in the public garage opposite. She accompanied her on foot to the entrance and took the property management's sightseeing car directly to their building. Song Qingluo let her support her like an old lady, trembling all the way.

If it weren't for her looking mentally stable, Shi Chuning would have considered detouring to the hospital.

Is it worth it?

For a scumbag.

But Qingluo is different from her.

She treated feelings as dispensable, focusing more on immediate experiences. If one didn't work out, she'd move on to another. But Qingluo who was full of fantasies and hopes about love, was more dedicated and had been hanging on to Wen Ruoxian for many years.

People who love deeply get hurt the easiest.

Even if she wanted to offer advice, she didn't know how. She wanted to comfort her but didn't know where to start. The only thing she could do was silently accompany her.

….

When she got home, Song Qingluo silently walked into the bedroom and shut the door.

She passed through the beaded curtain into the walk-in closet, opened the cabinet, and took out the password box she had kept in the deepest part of the closet. Trembling, she inputted the password as she had done countless times over the years and retrieved the item inside—a slightly yellowed off-white silk scarf.

The blood stains on it had long since dried and appeared as mottled rust, like a withered, dying red rose.

The edges were still embroidered with the initial of that person’s surname.

She had met Wen Ruoxian first, and she had fallen for Wen Ruoxian first, but the one who had accompanied her all these years and had rooted deeply in her heart was another person.

The regretful "meeting too late" she once felt now seemed laughable.

So what if she met first, so what if she liked first...

The bloodstains in her vision blurred into a smudge. Song Qingluo's eyelashes trembled, and she felt warm liquid sliding down her cheek.

[I loved her.]

[I loved her.]

[I loved her.]

All were traceable.

Because of her love for Cheng Suran, she was willing to give up everything she had worked hard for overseas and start anew back in her home country. Because of her love for Cheng Suran, she was willing to take risks and start a business with her, doing things she was not accustomed to—maintaining social interactions she disliked, and dealing with clients at banquets and drinking sessions.

A person who loved reading, enjoyed quiet, and preferred a freelance career, who was even somewhat aloof by nature, became willing to mix in the world of glamour and games of power and fame for her white moonlight, becoming adept at navigating social circles.

Compared to this, star signs, license plates, and couple-themed ornaments were all small tricks.

She sadly found that just the "small tricks" could drive her mad, make her jealous to death, and keep her up all night. After knowing these real big things, her heart was even more hopeless and numb.

Ruoxian did so much for Cheng Suran. 

What did she do for her?

Nothing.

Getting into the company was her own hard work through interviews. Getting transferred to Wen Ruoxian's side was her own scheme. Moving into Wen Ruoxian's house was her own trick, and getting into Wen Ruoxian's bed was her own strategy.

These days, the sweetness, tenderness, and happiness she thought she had were all things she actively fought for—putting it nicely.

Putting it more bluntly, she was like a beggar, happy to dance around when given two coins. Worse, she was like a bootlicker, following step by step, thrilled when thrown a bone.

Why was she so pathetic...

Her pride, and her dignity, were worth nothing to Wen Ruoxian.

She said things like "it was irresponsible saying it casually" and "unfair to her," but physically, she comfortably accepted her affection. She could kiss her, hug her, sleep beside her, maybe even laugh at her behind her back with Cheng Suran, seeing all her ugly sides.

Especially during the time she worked beside Cheng Suran.

She worked hard, just hoping to perform better. She was cautious, afraid of being found out about her feelings. She looked like a fool defending Wen Ruoxian in front of Cheng Suran and complaining about Cheng Suran in front of Wen Ruoxian.

Full of passion, thinking she was right. Angry without knowing what for, hating without knowing who to hate.

Why?

No one could trample on her.

Coldly looking at the old scarf she had cherished for nearly seven years, she only felt irony. Song Qingluo turned around, found scissors, and cut it into pieces with a few snaps. She sneered, "What are you worth... you deserve this?"

She then picked up her phone, opened the "Old-fashioned Observation Diary" document, and deleted it without hesitation.

It was not enough.

What she lost, she would take back. What Wen Ruoxian owed her, she would collect.

….

The days of summer were getting longer.

At six-thirty, the sky was still bright. Wen Ruoxian sat in the living room in a daze, sometimes looking out the window, sometimes checking the time on the clock. The curtains hanging on the balcony were already dry but had not been taken down.

The doors of the two bedrooms on the south side were wide open. The sunset slanted in through the curtainless windows, casting golden-red light spots on the hallway floor. The rooms had been cleaned once, spotless, and once the curtains were taken down and put back up, the doors should be closed and locked.

However, it no longer had any meaning...

Closing the doors had no meaning, and locking them had no meaning, they were just two ordinary rooms.

After today.

Secrets were no longer secrets.

The setting sun enveloped her lonely figure.

Her fingertips tapped on her phone, displaying the chat page with Qingluo, a "Will you come back for dinner tonight?" message lingering in the input box.

She should have called.

—Beep

The front door opened.

Wen Ruoxian quickly looked up and saw Song Qingluo entering from outside. She stood up immediately, "Qingluo..."

Song Qingluo's face was somewhat cold. She glanced at her, scanning her like a mechanical object, without any warmth.

Wen Ruoxian took a step forward but was frozen in place by this cold gaze, standing still two or three meters away from her. She hesitantly asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

"Nothing. I have plans to go clubbing with friends. I'm just here to change clothes." Song Qingluo turned and went into the guest room.

Most of her clothes were kept there. Wen Ruoxian's mind went blank as she followed, "Which friend?"

The room was lit up, with the wardrobe wide open. Song Qingluo was selecting clothes and didn't look at her, "Chuchu and the others."

“Others?"

"The ones who play games together."

Wen Ruoxian heard the long and short “Jiejie" from her ear and frowned, "I’ll go too."

Song Qingluo's hand reached for a camisole. After pausing for a moment, she still didn't look at her. Her gaze stayed on the clothes rack as she indifferently said, "Sure, go change."

"Change into what?"

"Something suitable for the nightclub."

"…What kind of clothes are suitable for a nightclub?"

"Spaghettis, short skirts, shorts— the hotter, the better."

Wen Ruoxian walked to the dressing mirror and examined herself.

With a bare face and shoulder-length hair casually tied back, Wen Ruoxian wore a neatly pressed plain white T-shirt. The round neckline covered her collarbones completely, looking as bland as plain water. It was indeed not suitable for a nightclub.

"I don't have such clothes," she said, quite troubled.

The only two spaghetti straps in the wardrobe were used as inner layers, always covered by a light jacket or short-sleeve shirt.

Song Qingluo said calmly, "Oh, wear mine."

Song Qingluo pulled out a spaghetti strap mini dress from the wardrobe. It was pure black, with no extra decorations. It looked like it might be a child's size, but the fabric was highly elastic and very form-fitting, requiring a perfect body curve.

Wen Ruoxian’s face showed unease. "Do you have something longer, with sleeves? Short sleeves will do."

"None."

"If you can’t accept it, don’t go. No need to force yourself," Song Qingluo said casually as she chose her own clothes and headed toward the bathroom.

"Can you…" Before she could finish her sentence, Wen Ruoxian turned her face and only saw Song Qingluo’s back as she disappeared from view.

The little fox was angry.

Wen Ruoxian clearly felt her coldness.

But this coldness was different from usual. It wasn’t like a quarrel or something deliberately staged. It was vague, and she couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong.

Without much time to think, Wen Ruoxian went back to her room, quickly changed into the dress, and applied light makeup. She chose the only bright red lipstick from her three options and applied it to her lips.

It was the least used color, and the lipstick was still new; it would expire if left unused.

She wasn’t used to seeing herself like this.

Wen Ruoxian nervously went out. Song Qingluo was styling her hair with a curling iron and finally looked at her.

Her makeup was light, her long hair was down, and while her eyebrows and eyes were still cool and refined, her lips were unusually painted in a vivid red. The hot, short dress accentuated her curves to the extreme, with the black adding an extra touch of restraint.

She looked like a mysterious, aloof black rose.

Song Qingluo’s eyes showed a brief moment of surprise but quickly turned to indifference.

Beautiful.

And hypocritical.

Someone who disliked noisy environments, didn’t like drinking or playing games, and never dressed provocatively, was willing to push herself to the limit just to be with her.

Did she care? Was she concerned?

What was she pretending for?

“Qingluo…” Wen Ruoxian stood awkwardly, feeling uncomfortable all over. Under her gaze, she felt even more self-conscious.

“Is this okay?”

Song Qingluo responded with a brief “mm,” and then turned away to continue fixing her hair.

Wen Ruoxian was taken aback.

It seemed she understood what was out of place.

In the past, no matter what she did, Qingluo would always cling to her, asking about everything, and showing interest in whatever she used. Now, it was as if she had lost that enthusiasm, like boiling water cooling down, losing its warmth.

“Aren’t you curious why I’m going?”

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5881048

This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

Song Qingluo faced away from her, "If you want to go, just go. Why should I be curious?"

She was still angry.

It was because of what happened in the morning.

Wen Ruoxian didn’t think much about it, just sighed and started thinking about how to coax her…

….

Around eight or nine o'clock, "NOTTE" was brightly lit.

The luxurious private room on the first floor had dim, ambiguous pink and purple lighting, with shimmering ripples floating across the ceiling, and the atmosphere gradually became lively. Five or six people arrived one after another, each dressed flamboyantly and adorned with various extravagant accessories, greeting each other familiarly.

"Hey, Qingluo, why did you bring her? Didn't she just..." Shi Chuning pulled Song Qingluo aside.

"She wanted to come."

"If she says she wants to come, you just bring her? After being a scumbag this morning, how can you still be so accommodating? Have you been fooled by the PUA or do you have another plan?"

After all, her best friend understands her.

Song Qingluo sneered coldly, "Do I look like someone who would get played for nothing? It's always others who suffer from me, not the other way around." Her words were strong, but when her gaze swept across Wen Ruoxian's face, a sharp pain pierced her heart again.

Wen Ruoxian sat quietly in the corner of the sofa. She did not like this environment, with light rock music buzzing incessantly in her ears, making her head feel like it was about to explode. But thinking about seeing "dear Jiejie's" true face tonight, she felt she had to endure. She wanted to see what kind of person the legendary "Qi-jie" was.

"Where's my baby Qingluo?" A woman with long, fiery red hair walked in.

Song Qingluo immediately jumped up, "Here, Qi-jie, here!"

"I've been here a long time ago. I've been waiting for you for a long time. What's going on today? I've never been late before." She walked over happily.

The woman smiled, placing a hand on Song Qingluo's shoulder with a gentle tone, "I couldn't help it. When I got Chuchu's call, I was with a client. As soon as I finished, I rushed over. I'll be off tomorrow, so I'll stay with you and have fun tonight."

"If I hadn’t mentioned Qingluo was here, you wouldn’t have come over so eagerly," Shi Chuning teased from the side.

Song Qingluo raised an eyebrow, "After all, Qi-jie loves me the most."

"Just enjoy yourself, will you?"

"Hahaha..."

After a round of laughter and teasing, the others also joined in. Only Wen Ruoxian remained silent. She held a cup of water, but her gaze never left the red-haired woman's face.

The dim light cast a somber hue on her expression.

"It seems we have a new guest? Qingluo, care to introduce?" The woman, while joking, noticed Wen Ruoxian.

She gave Song Qingluo an inquiring look.

Song Qingluo lazily leaned on her shoulder, glancing at Wen Ruoxian with her peripheral vision, and waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, she's a colleague of mine, Wen Ruoxian. Just here to join the fun. Don't worry, we’ll continue our own thing, she can do as she pleases."

Wen Ruoxian looked at Song Qingluo in shock.

Colleague...

They were... colleagues?

She then realized that the morning's events had likely upset the little fox, and she was probably just in a mood.

Thinking this, she let out a sigh of relief and, trying to cooperate, gave a slight smile to the crowd.

….

The Young Miss’ friends were all sophisticated people, each with their own successful careers in various industries. They had independent businesses and were doing quite well.

As they chatted and drank, Wen Ruoxian observed "Qi-jie" with interest. She learned that Qi Jie's real name was Zhuang Qi. She was a perfumer who ran her own perfume brand, enjoyed riding motorcycles in her spare time, and had even written lyrics for songs for Qingluo.

As the liquor was brought to the table, everyone started playing a card game with unfamiliar rules, similar to Bridge. Song Qingluo, who had never played before, lost repeatedly and complained bitterly. After drinking three glasses, she could no longer tolerate it and begged Zhuang Qi to save her.

"Qi-jie, wuwu."

“Just a few drinks, I'll drink for baby Qingluo.” Zhuang Qi reached out to take her glass.

The term “baby” was quite jarring.

Wen Ruoxian frowned, and before her mind could react, she swiftly took Song Qingluo’s full glass and drank it all in one go.

Song Qingluo’s smile froze.

Her heart raced, and a complex emotion flashed by, reminiscent of the times when she was moved by her every glance and gesture, creating many thoughts.

But now…

One person's acting could be so good.

Even though she didn’t like drinking or nightclubs, she had to put on an act in front of her, as if she really cared about her and paid attention to her.

Small favors mean nothing.

They are not even a tenth of what she did for Cheng Suran.

Wake up, Song Qingluo.

……

At one in the morning.

The crescent moon hung slanting in the night sky.

Wen Ruoxian had drunk a lot, mostly to cover for Song Qingluo. Her alcohol tolerance was poor, and she got red easily. As she walked out of “NOTTE,” her face was flushed, and her head was dizzy. Only with Song Qingluo's support did she avoid falling.

The two of them got into a taxi.

Song Qingluo didn’t drink much. She spent the whole evening playing cards and dancing, immersing herself in one activity to briefly forget her pain, like a kind of addictive drug she couldn’t live without.

But once removed, the delayed pain would double.

The car moved at a steady speed, and the streetlights shone through the dim glass onto her face, revealing a hint of loneliness.

After a ten-minute drive, they arrived home. Song Qingluo helped Wen Ruoxian up the stairs and unlocked the door, but she didn’t go in immediately. Instead, she stood at the doorway for a few seconds, as if saying a final goodbye.

“Qingluo…”

The person in her arms called out her name.

Song Qingluo immediately felt a tingling sensation in her heart. She stepped into the house, closed the door behind her, and leaned against the wall with Wen Ruoxian, her voice involuntarily soft: “Hmm?”

“You’re not a fill-in for my empty periods, nor a distraction during loneliness. You’re Qingluo…” Wen Ruoxian mumbled. She tried to stand up straight and look into Song Qingluo’s eyes, but her dizziness was severe, and her limbs were unresponsive, leaving her weakly leaning against her.

The hot breath brushed against Song Qingluo’s neck, making her both numb and itchy. She took a deep breath: “Mm.”

She cupped Wen Ruoxian’s face in her hands.

The drunken haze made her gaze hazy as if shimmering with water light. Her red lips were like a ripe fruit, tempting her to pick it.

“I am Song Qingluo, the Song Qingluo who is not so important in your heart, the Song Qingluo who always considers things last, the beggar Song Qingluo who begs you, the dog-like Song Qingluo who wags its tail at you, the Song Qingluo you have left hanging, half-dead…”

Each word, each sentence, was a denunciation.

After speaking, she urgently and forcefully kissed her lips, with a release of frustration and a crazed sense of revenge, invading her mouth recklessly.

Like wildfires sweeping across the plains, burning everything to the ground.

Wen Ruoxian could barely struggle, only able to retreat step by step, falling onto the wide, soft sofa...

Author's Note:

Pulling the lights* to save myself, thank you for your understanding.

*skipping smut scenes