Chapter 24: Revealed Her Orientation
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
"Is there anyone who doesn't like beautiful things?" Wen Ruoxian smiled and asked.
Speaking is an art. She is a person who can lead a team to win the debate championship, one shouldn't expect to extract any information from her mouth.
Kicked back and forth like a ball.
She answered but seemed like she didn't, spoke but it's as good as not speaking.
If a businessman is slick, it's understandable, but there's not a trace of cunning or profit-seeking in Wen Ruoxian. On the contrary, she seems more like a scholar—gentle, composed, always giving an impression of sincerity.
It's hard to question her.
Song Qingluo was unwilling to give in: "That means that if you like beautiful women, you also like me?"
Wen Ruoxian's smile remained unchanged: "Qingluo is indeed very likable."
“...”
This woman is really too cautious.
As if afraid of being caught.
Fine.
Let her be.
"Okay," Song Qingluo was going crazy in her heart, "Then I'll assume you like me."
Wen Ruoxian said nothing and turned to the laptop.
Underneath her calm face was a frantic heartbeat, like a galloping wild horse. At this moment, no matter how much she tried to stop herself from thinking, she couldn't help the random thoughts coming out.
There's an underlying meaning in those words; is the Young Miss probing for something? Could she have inadvertently revealed her orientation?
In a big city like Jiangcheng, having a preference for the same gender is not a big deal. However, no one likes their secrets being exposed. She's accustomed to a stable life, and the sudden risk of being uncovered makes her uneasy.
Straight women always have so many tricks and maneuvers...
The ancestor is indeed an ancestor.
Being too playful and mischievous is not a good thing. Having her around is indeed a hidden danger. Unfortunately, she is currently in a difficult situation, making it almost impossible to drive her away.
Not to mention whether the Young Miss is willing to leave; she personally also feels a bit reluctant emotionally.
After living together for almost a month, she and Song Qingluo get up at the same time every day, have breakfast together, go out together, and drive to work together. Sometimes, when Song Qingluo wants to sleep in or feels drowsy in the car, she considers giving her a break, but Song Qingluo never agrees, insisting on sticking with her.
She is a very clingy sister.
In the past, she and Cheng Suran were inseparable, but not to this extent.
She has actually gotten used to it.
….
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Returning to Jiangcheng, after completing the final tasks, Wen Ruoxian is preparing to find time to visit Cheng Suran.
Since Ranran was discharged from the hospital, she has been recuperating at home. Initially, she couldn't use her phone, and Wen Ruoxian wanted to know about Ranran's condition only through Jiang Yu. However, she was concerned about asking too frequently, causing some annoyance to Jiang Yu.
As friends, both emotionally and logically, this frequency seems most appropriate.
In addition, a sense of guilt haunted her heart. She constantly felt that she indirectly caused Ranran's accident and didn't know how to face Ranran, let alone Jiang Yu...
The year-end busyness settled, and Wen Ruoxian planned to visit Cheng Suran on a Saturday. Upon learning of her plans, Song Qingluo insisted on joining.
"What are you going to do?"
"CEO Cheng is also my boss. Shouldn't employees visit their boss?'' The Young Miss always finds a perfect reason.
Wen Ruoxian shook her head, "No need."
Sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, Song Qingluo ate the strawberries Wen Ruoxian had bought for her. In a gentle and soft voice, she said, "Actually, I think CEO Cheng is your friend. If you're worried about her, I'll worry too. You care about your friends, just like I care about you. I just want to express my concern..."
The old-fashioned doesn't like hard food, so let's try the soft one – a tactic that has proven successful many times.
She leaned half of her body against Wen Ruoxian.
A strawberry was brought to her lips.
Wen Ruoxian didn't eat but looked at her.
The Young Miss and Ranran are not familiar at all, hastily going there would only make everyone awkward. Besides, Jiang Yu is at home, at least half a public figure, and private life should not be known to outsiders.
"Ruoxian-jiejie?" Song Qingluo coquettishly sent the strawberry forward.
Wen Ruoxian was called in a manner that tickled her bones. She had to eat the strawberry, savoring the sweet and sour taste as it blossomed between her lips and teeth.
Although her heart softened, there was no discussion about this matter.
She looked at Song Qingluo seriously and said, "It's really inconvenient. If Ms. Cheng were living alone, it wouldn't be an issue to bring you along. However, considering her partner is also there and not particularly fond of strangers, we need to be mindful of their feelings."
"Okay then..." Song Qingluo stopped forcing.
The Young Miss is sometimes stubborn but rarely unreasonable. If you're willing to discuss things properly, she'll listen obediently.
Everything is in moderation, there's a time to advance and to retreat.
On Saturday, Wen Ruoxian rarely slept in.
Upon waking up, she noticed Song Qingluo was not around. After searching the house, she remembered that the Young Miss was going out with friends today, mentioning finding her own friends as well.
A very strange desire to win.
Thinking about Song Qingluo's occasional childishness, she couldn't help but smile. She familiarly curled her lips, dressed quickly, had a simple meal, and carried the gift prepared the night before as she headed out.
The car drove to the gate of Greenshang Mansion.
Security was quite strict; they called the homeowner to confirm her identity before assigning a security guard to escort her upstairs.
During the short ascent in the elevator, Wen Ruoxian lowered her head to glance at the gift in her hands. Feeling a bit dazed, this is a customary offering for guests, a gesture of etiquette. Today, she came to visit as a guest.
When did her relationship with Ranran become like this?
Since March of last year. Without any signs or transitions, the change happened naturally, and they have both become accustomed to it.
The person who opened the door was Jiang Yu.
She wore casual home clothes, her hair pulled up high. The angular and stern face appeared plain and light, less imposing, and more gentle.
As soon as she saw Wen Ruoxian, she smiled, "Ruoxian, come in quickly."
After the security left, Wen Ruoxian stepped through the entrance, put on the prepared slippers, and saw Jiang Yu with a smiling face, seemingly in a good mood, she also breathed a sigh of relief.
"How come you brought so much stuff? We're all old friends; you're too polite. If Ranran finds out, she'll say you're being too distant..." Jiang Yu welcomed her inside.
Wen Ruoxian smiled, "It's nothing much, just some snacks and trinkets Ranran likes. If she says that, I'll beat her up."
"Who wants to hit me?"
Cheng Suran walked over.
She wore matching outfits with Jiang Yu, a couple outfit, her hair similarly styled, and a natural face with two sweet dimples adorning her cheeks.
"I challenge you, Wen Ruoxian." She made a move to pounce on her.
Jiang Yu hugged her quickly and said, "Don't make such big moves, or you may get dizzy again."
"Aiya, I'm almost better now, I'm not that fragile..." Cheng Suran acted coquettishly and struggled a few times in her arms.
"Only the doctor's words count, be obedient."
“Oh."
The two people flirt and tease each other, sweetly blending like honey and oil.
Wen Ruoxian watched them, and the smile on her lips kept getting deeper and deeper, especially when she saw the childlike look on Cheng Suran's face, she actually felt a little relieved.
Then she coughed lightly: "Ahem, pure natural dog food*."
*PDA
"Ah..." Cheng Suran covered her face, quickly breaking free from Jiang Yu's embrace.
Jiang Yu let go as she saw her steady herself, saying, "Alright, you two chat. I'll go work on the remaining drawings."
"Go, go, I'm going to whisper to Ruoxian." Cheng Suran eagerly urged her to leave.
Wen Ruoxian, however, was startled, fearing Jiang Yu might misunderstand something. She became nervous, but when her gaze reached Jiang Yu's face, she only glimpsed a gentle and indulgent smile.
They were both very relaxed.
It's almost a year.
She should relax too.
"Ruoxian, come and sit," Cheng Suran took the initiative, pulling Wen Ruoxian's arm.
Wen Ruoxian was afraid Cheng Suran might walk too quickly, as Jiang Yu mentioned just now, leading to dizziness, she didn't dare to take a slow step, followed her, and sat down at the edge of the sofa.
There was half a body between them.
"How's your recovery? Jiang Yu mentioned earlier that you still feel dizzy with big movements?" Wen Ruoxian looked at her worriedly, wanting to reach out and touch her head but remembered the awkwardness in their current relationship and refrained.
"All that happened three days ago. Keke was just too worried; don't believe her. I'm doing well. Look." Cheng Suran turned her head left and right to show that she was fine.
"Okay, okay, I understand. If you turn too much, you might actually get dizzy."
"How come you're also copying Jiang Keke?"
"Just worried about you."
"I know my own body well."
Her complexion was rosy, and her face seemed a bit rounder. Her eyes were bright, and she indeed looked in good shape. It seemed she had been well taken care of during this period of rest.
Wen Ruoxian suddenly felt like an old mother worrying about her daughter.
"Where's Secretary Song?" Cheng Suran poured a cup of warm water and handed it over, teasing Wen Ruoxian with a wink. "Why didn't she come today? Usually, she sticks to you like glue."
Wen Ruoxian almost spit out the water she drank: "She..."
"Uh-huh?"
"Do you think it's appropriate for her to come? Jiang Yu is a public figure after all. It wouldn't be good if people found out about your relationship,"
"My Keke retired from the modeling world long ago. Now, she's both an agent and a grand designer." When talking about her partner, Cheng Suran's face beamed with a happy smile, and her tone couldn't hide the pride.
"However, what you said makes sense. The more people who know, the more trouble there will be."
Song Qingluo's face appeared in Wen Ruoxian's mind.
The attentiveness in feeding her strawberries, the subtle resentment upon learning she couldn't come, and the tsundere claim of going to meet friends.
The sweet and tender voice of "Ruoxian-jiejie" lingered in her ears, causing a tingling sensation through the air, giving her goosebumps. Perhaps ordinary people might find it annoying or artificial, but she didn't feel any aversion—only finding it adorable.
"Ruoxian?"
"Ah?"
"Why are you smiling?" Cheng Suran stared at her strangely.
Someone lost in thought, smiling to themselves.
Wen Ruoxian puzzled, "Did I smile?"
Cheng Suran opened the drawer of the coffee table, took out a small mirror, and pointed it at her: "Here, see for yourself."
The mirror clearly reflected Wen Ruoxian's face, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised and a clear smile in her eyes.
Wen Ruoxian was inexplicably flustered and turned away: "Oh, I just thought what you just said was funny, and you gave me dog food again."
“Ruoxian..."
Cheng Suran thought she was still jealous, showing a hint of embarrassment.
"Hm?" Wen Ruoxian turned back, immediately understanding what she was thinking. She quickly explained, "I mean, seeing you and Jiang Yu so happy together is quite amusing, so I couldn't help but smile. It makes me happy to see you well."
She added, "I've long moved on; don't underestimate me."
Only then did Cheng Suran smile again.
Then, Wen Ruoxian shifted the conversation to the company, and they talked for a while. Despite Cheng Suran resting at home these days, she hadn't completely given up on work. With her physical and mental condition gradually improving, she could remotely handle some tasks. She decided that after a couple of days, once the reexamination results were available, she would return to the company.
Knowing that Wen Ruoxian had been through a lot, Cheng Suran felt deeply guilty.
As the sun reached its zenith, Cheng Suran insisted on having lunch, and despite Wen Ruoxian's various attempts to decline, coupled with Jiang Yu's insistence, she ended up staying for lunch.
She didn’t leave until after two o’clock.
Back in her own car, she sat quietly for a while, then casually opened the music player and chose a song, "Gulf of Alaska*."
*original by Firdhaus, the one linked is Pricilla Abby's version
The gentle and melancholic female voice brought out a touch of sorrow.
This visit felt like a routine, from Wen Ruoxian's perspective. When a friend is unwell, it's only natural to visit, following a standard procedure as if it were a protocol. Having visited, the task was complete, and the execution process was finished.
Then her whole person completely relaxed.
Having her own family, she was very happy. Being fed full of dog food, she was also happy, but beneath this happiness, there was a trace of bitterness.
It wasn't that she cared about Ranran so much.
Rather...
Suddenly realizing she was thirty years old and had never truly loved someone was utterly inconceivable. It felt like being an alien in the crowd.
It seemed she had always liked someone, and harbored secret crushes since her middle school days until last March.
She hadn't noticed it before, and now, seeing Ranran and Jiang Yu's life situation, brought about a somewhat indescribable sense of bitterness and amusement. However, she also understood that emotions were temporary. Once immersed in work, she would forget the bitterness and reaffirm her own truth—
Emotions are troublesome.
As the song came to an end, Wen Ruoxian snapped out of her thoughts.
Her phone screen keeps lighting up, and several unread messages pop up.
She opened WeChat and saw her mother and father had sent numerous pictures. Upon clicking in, all she saw were handsome and tall young men.
“...”
They were trying to "bring her back on track" again.
Wen Ruoxian didn't reply, exited, and noticed that the entrance to the Moments displayed Song Qingluo's profile picture. Curious, she clicked in and saw the Young Miss had posted an update ten minutes ago.
[Taking my baby out for a stroll.]
Song Qingluo was riding a bright red motorcycle, exuding a vigorous charm in her dark riding outfit. A few strands of silver-gray hair peeked out from under her helmet, adding to her bold and sharp appearance.
The background seemed to be a repair shop.
Wen Ruoxian had a vivid memory of this red motorcycle. Since the Young Miss entered the company, she hadn't seen her ride it again.
On a whim, she looked at her watch. She had free time in the afternoon. She returned to the chat list and clicked on Song Qingluo's chat box: [Where are you?]
On a whim, Wen Ruoxian checked her watch. With free time in the afternoon, she went back to the chat list, clicked into Song Qingluo's chatbox, and asked, [Where are you?]
Song Qingluo quickly replied, [Club.]
[Which club?]
A location share appeared on the screen.
Qingluo: [Are you coming?]
Author's Note:
Xiao Qingluo: My wife took the initiative to find me (happy
Come on, come on, giving out red envelopes to the little cuties today