Chapter 12: Be Good, Go Take A Shower
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
Thirty years ago, Song Homes 3rd Courtyard was likely the first set of buildings constructed in City A. Back then, only wealthy people could live here.
But now, it has become one of the last areas in the city to undergo demolition. The landlord no longer wanted to live here and simply rented the place to young people willing to endure hardship and strive for a better life.
When Ji Lianxing returned home, her roommates hadn’t yet finished work.
Although they lived under the same roof, the other two often worked overtime, so they rarely ran into each other.
She changed into slippers, put down her bag, and walked into the kitchen to prepare a simple dinner. A meat dish and a soup were her usual choices, and it could be done quickly.
Twenty minutes later.
A wooden table with peeling paint was covered with a light, fine-checkered tablecloth, holding stir-fried meat with green peppers and vegetable soup. The fresh green of the vegetables overshadowed the table's worn-out look.
Ji Lianxing sat at the table and ate quietly.
The table faced a window, and outside stood another old, empty building. A few broken glass shards stuck out from its windows, likely from stones thrown by mischievous children.
The sky dimmed, and night coated the old building in endless black, swallowing the joy of the alley and spitting out human loneliness.
Inside, under the orange lightbulb, Ji Lianxing’s thin figure sat. She was slender, her black hair blending with the soft orange light, as if time had turned it into an old photograph from the 1980s.
She ate a few bites, put down her chopsticks, and stared blankly out the window.
For some reason, Ji Lianxing suddenly felt a bit homesick. She remembered a long time ago, she once had a family too.
In her memories, she came home from school with a backpack, someone made sure she had enough to eat, and in the cold winter, family members reminded her to put on more layers...
Sigh, she didn’t want to think any further. Ji Lianxing picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of green vegetables, and pushed all the unhappy, gloomy thoughts out of her mind.
Her phone screen lit up—a message. She opened it, and it was from the person pinned at the top of her WeChat.
[I’m downstairs.]
The food in the bowl instantly lost its appeal, so Ji Lianxing put down her chopsticks and replied:
[Song Homes 3rd Courtyard?]
Jiang Shu sent a photo back showing the building in Unit One.
Ah, she’d really come. Ji Lianxing suddenly felt warmth spreading through her cold body. She quickly got up, grabbed her keys, and ran outside. She descended the dark staircase and listened to her footsteps echoing as her heart beat rapidly.
It was strange—did she really want to see Jiang Shu? She wasn’t sure, but knowing Jiang Shu was just downstairs made it impossible to hold back the excitement in her heart.
When she ran out, she saw a graceful figure standing under the oak tree.
She slowed her steps, breathing lightly as she walked toward Jiang Shu.
“Why are you running so fast?” Jiang Shu said with a smile.
Ji Lianxing tucked her stray hair behind her ear, her cheeks warm. “I was worried you’d been waiting too long.”
“Not long, I just got here.” Jiang Shu stepped closer, closing the distance between them. “Are you free tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Then, come with me?” Jiang Shu’s voice was clear and gentle, the kind that made people feel warm.
Ji Lianxing didn’t even think of refusing; she just nodded and said yes.
****
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
The car slowly drove into the bustling downtown area. As the lights lit up, the streets became lively. A roadside street singer hummed a delicate love song with a rugged voice...
Ji Lianxing sat in the passenger seat, unsure where Jiang Shu was taking her.
“How old are you this year?” Jiang Shu suddenly asked.
“I just turned 24,” Ji Lianxing answered honestly.
“Oh, a fresh graduate.” Jiang Shu turned the steering wheel, taking a less crowded road. “Which school did you graduate from? It’s not a household registration check, just say what you want.”
Of course, Ji Lianxing didn’t think Jiang Shu was actually checking her household registration, but with her saying that the atmosphere felt less tense.
“I graduated from N University, majoring in finance.” She glanced sideways, sneaking a look at Jiang Shu, and sure enough, caught a hint of surprise in her eyes.
“N University? What a coincidence, I’m from N University too. Looks like we’re quite fated.”
“Really? You went to N University too, President Jiang? That’s quite a coincidence.” Ji Lianxing turned her head to look out the window, not wanting to mention that she’d known Jiang Shu for a long time. Maybe because a secret crush felt too personal, admitting she already knew her felt a bit embarrassing.
Jiang Shu added, “But I’m four years older than you. When I was in grad school, I didn’t spend much time on campus, or maybe we might have bumped into each other.”
Ji Lianxing leaned her head against the car window, staying quiet, though she thought it was indeed rare.
During college, she’d probably seen Jiang Shu about once a week. Every Wednesday, Jiang Shu attended a required class in the Zhixing Building, and coincidentally, Ji Lianxing had a class next door, so they’d run into each other.
Of course, it was only passing by her. Ji Lianxing usually stayed far away because Jiang Shu was always surrounded by friends. She had a childhood friend who often accompanied her.
Jiang Shu always seemed surrounded by others, giving an unapproachable feeling, so Ji Lianxing had never taken the initiative to get to know her.
“We’re here.” Jiang Shu stepped on the brake, pulled the handbrake, and rolled up the window.
Ji Lianxing snapped back to reality and noticed they were in a neighborhood tucked behind the bustling downtown area, a spot where every inch of land was precious. Although it was a bit noisy, the property prices were still alarmingly high.
“Do you live here, President Jiang?”
“Mm.”
Jiang Shu opened the door and got out, and Ji Lianxing followed, her mood a bit complicated.
So Jiang Shu was taking her to her place? For what? To have tea? That was definitely out of the question.
The only thing she could think of was—
Sleeping together.
What was meant to happen would happen; since she had already agreed to be Jiang Shu’s lover, this day would come sooner or later.
Thinking about sleeping together, Ji Lianxing couldn’t help but recall that night. The memory of scorching lips, the heated touch—her passion felt like waves in a hidden tide, surging layer by layer, drowning her…
“This is for you.” Jiang Shu handed her a silver card.
Ji Lianxing froze for a moment, a bit unsure of how to react.
Jiang Shu explained, “Sometimes I might not have time to pick you up, so you can come over on your own. Just swipe this card to enter the complex.”
“Oh.” Ji Lianxing took the card, feeling something indescribable—neither happiness nor excitement. Receiving such a thing from Jiang Shu only made her feel more like a tool.
It felt like when the house got dirty, and the cleaner was given the key to tidy up as if she was just there to complete a task. Only, the cleaner’s job was to clean, while her role was simply to sleep with her, nothing more.
As she thought about this, she silently followed Jiang Shu. They passed through the garden of the complex, entered the lobby of a single building, and walked into the elevator. Ji Lianxing kept quiet along the way, lost in her thoughts.
“Little Hedgehog?” Jiang Shu called out to her.
Ji Lianxing snapped out of it. “Huh? Were you calling me?”
“Who else would I be calling?” Jiang Shu chuckled.
“Sorry,” Ji Lianxing replied, feeling extremely awkward. Her mind was a chaotic mess. “I spaced out just now.”
“No need to say sorry. Spacing out is normal, so say sorry less—you haven’t done anything wrong.” Jiang Shu’s voice was clear and gentle. She kept a respectful distance from Ji Lianxing, but it never felt overly distant.
She had a natural patience with Ji Lianxing. There were moments when she wanted to hug her or hold her hand, to share a bit of warmth, but she held back, afraid of scaring her.
Jiang Shu wasn’t in a rush. She still had two months, and she believed she could slowly melt the defenses of this timid little hedgehog.
“There’s really no need to be nervous. I won’t hurt you. After work, we’re just in a normal relationship.”
I won’t hurt you.
Jiang Shu had said this line the first time they met, and Ji Lianxing did trust her. She felt nervous, but even more than that, she felt afraid.
When she was with Jiang Shu, every cell in her body seemed to be boiling over, yet the intensity of her nerves also stirred up a sense of fear. She worried that spending too much time with Jiang Shu might make her hope for more, but reason reminded her to suppress such thoughts, leaving her torn.
“Mm, I’m not nervous,” Ji Lianxing exhaled slowly.
The elevator stopped on the 22nd floor, and Jiang Shu led her out. They walked to the end of the hallway, where she entered the code to unlock the door...
Even before the lights turned on, Ji Lianxing could already see the clusters of stars outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Then, the lights flicked on—a cool, dim light encircled the ceiling in the living room, casting a glow that made the entire room feel spacious.
Her home was spacious and spotless. Aside from being exquisite and luxurious, Ji Lianxing felt there wasn't much else to elaborate on.
"Make yourself comfortable. What would you like to drink? Soda, sparkling water, or plain water?"
"Sparkling water, please. Thanks."
Jiang Shu tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement. "First 'sorry,' now 'thanks.' They really are your go-to words."
"Ah..." Ji Lianxing pressed her lips together, a faint blush spreading over her cheeks. "Give me some time, I'll cut down on how often I say those two words..."
Jiang Shu had already opened the fridge and took out a bottle of sparkling water. "It's fine, say it as much as you like. I'm used to it, it doesn't bother me."
She walked over to the sofa, handed the water to Ji Lianxing, and casually took off her jacket, leaving only a loose shirt underneath.
Ji Lianxing held the bottle of sparkling water, twisted the cap, and took a small sip. She wasn’t really thirsty, and her gaze drifted quietly over to Jiang Shu.
Jiang Shu had a tall, slender figure, with great proportions, long legs, and a narrow waist.
Although the shirt looked loose, it was tucked in on one side due to a belt on her pants, creating a fitted look around her waist, allowing the curve of her waist and abdomen to be visible. It gave the impression that her waist was toned and strong.
She seemed to have abs... Ji Lianxing recalled that night, remembering she might have felt them, though she wasn’t entirely certain.
Gulp.
Ji Lianxing swallowed the sparkling water in her mouth.
"I forgot to ask you to bring pajamas," Jiang Shu said as she walked toward the bedroom, murmuring, "Let me grab one of my nightgowns for you, alright?"
Ji Lianxing didn’t respond, but she thought to herself: if it was the same style as last time, could she just die right there on the spot? That was the most revealing piece of clothing she had ever worn, with quite a bold design.
Not long after, Jiang Shu emerged from the bedroom holding a black long dress.
"Wear this one. Same as last time."
Ji Lianxing felt very embarrassed. Is this the so-called "the more you don't want something, the more it comes"? She took the nightgown, feeling shy.
“It’s okay, don’t be shy. It’s just a dress,” Jiang Shu said in her usual calm tone.
Ji Lianxing looked up and met Jiang Shu's gaze. “Do you usually wear nightgowns like this, President Jiang?”
“Not really.” Jiang Shu smiled lightly, a glimmer in her eyes. “I originally bought it for myself, but after you wore it last time, I thought it seemed to suit you better.”
“Is that so?” Ji Lianxing could only force a smile. Could she refuse? It seemed unlikely.
“I have some work to take care of,” Jiang Shu said as she stood up. Unable to resist, she gave Ji Lianxing’s head a gentle pat, but it was just a quick touch. “You rest up and take a shower. Be good and remember to put on the nightgown.”
Ji Lianxing didn’t say anything in response, feeling a long sigh in her heart:
The KPI set by the boss is so difficult.
*KPI (Key Performance Indicator) is a business performance metric that indicates how well someone or something is doing in reaching specific goals. In this context, it implies that the expectations or performance targets set by Jiang Shu are challenging for Ji Lianxing to meet.
