Lying on the sofa in a daze, Jiangg Ning pulled the blanket over herself, planning to close her eyes and rest for a bit.
She didn’t know when Jiangg Yao would be back, but she didn’t call to rush her.
The most important part of a fun trip was enjoying yourself. It wouldn’t be good to have that mood spoiled.
Jiangg Ning trusted her sister not to stay out too late. Even though Jiangg Yao could be childish, she knew her limits.
As she waited, she unexpectedly fell asleep.
BANG—
The door shut, and Jiangg Yao strode in, bringing a gust of cold air with her. Shivering, she cried, "It’s freezing!" as she flicked on the living room lights.
The once-dim living room was instantly flooded with light.
It was already past ten o’clock at night.
She had gone to her friend Wan’s house. The two of them had a blast, trying on several cosplay outfits and taking tons of gorgeous photos. They’d lost track of time and stayed out this late.
Jiangg Yao changed her shoes in the entryway, tossing her purse on the floor with a THUD.
The series of noises woke Jiangg Ning, who had fallen asleep on the sofa.
She rubbed her eyes, still groggy with sleep, and sat up to look dazedly at her sister.
"So you do know the way home?"
"Of course I came back! A good girl can’t stay out all night, you know! Sis, I took a ton of photos. I’ll show you later." Jiangg Yao tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, turning her head with a smile so wide her eyes crinkled into slits.
"Twenty-six... and still a ’girl’?" Jiangg Ning’s hands rested limply on her lap, a weary look on her face.
"Forget twenty-six, even at fifty-eight I’ll still be..." Jiangg Yao struck a Powerpuff Girls pose. "A pure and innocent maiden!"
Jiangg Ning was too tired to retort. She tossed the blanket aside, slipped on her slippers, and headed for the kitchen.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Um... wontons?"
"Okay. There happen to be two bags in the freezer."
Jiangg Ning thought for a moment, then held up a finger and wagged it. "I remember stocking up on them a long time ago. I completely forgot we had them."
She tied on an apron and started rummaging for the ingredients.
Her sister had already dived onto the sofa and pulled out her phone to sort through her pictures. Jiangg Yao planned to pick a few of the most stunning ones to send to Chen Yuan and thoroughly entice him.
She swiped through the photos on her phone, clucking her tongue in admiration. ’Look at this collarbone... this sweet-but-sexy makeup... this curve... these perfect feet!’
"How many do you want?"
"Whatever."
"Then let’s have a few less. It’s easy to gain weight eating late at night... One, two, three, four..." Jiangg Ning muttered as she counted the frozen wontons. Suddenly, she looked up. "Oh, right. I have to catch a flight tomorrow."
"Where are you going?"
"Mingzhu City. To Mom’s."
Hearing that, Jiangg Yao froze. She rolled over in panic. "I’m not going!"
"I’m not asking you to go. I’m going by myself. You just behave and stay home, you hear me?"
Jiangg Yao instantly heaved a long sigh of relief. She was terrified of seeing their mom. Just thinking about that ice-cold face made her shiver.
"Why are you going?"
"There’s a banquet I have to attend. I don’t know the other details yet. Anyway, I have to leave first thing in the morning and probably won’t be back until Sunday night. While I’m gone, you need to take care of yourself. I’ll arrange for someone to deliver some food tomorrow. Just put it in the fridge and heat it up whenever you’re hungry... Did you hear me?"
Jiangg Yao only heard the first half of what Jiangg Ning said. She instantly realized something: if her sister was going to Mingzhu City tomorrow...
’Doesn’t that mean... I can have some private time with Chen Yuan!’
Jiangg Yao was dazed by this sudden wave of bliss. She thought blankly, ’Tomorrow is Saturday, and Chen Yuan is planning to move in next door around noon. The timing is perfect! I don’t have to rack my brain trying to keep my sister home.’
’And I can go out whenever I want for the next two days... I could even stay the night next door...’
Just the thought of it made Jiangg Yao clench her fists in excitement. She sat on the sofa, her gaze distant and a smile unconsciously spreading across her face.
’What a perfect opportunity!’
’He’ll be so close!’
’We can be inseparable for a day and a half.’
’And I can launch a surprise attack on Chen Yuan at night!’
’I’ll open my door and go right to his.’
’I’ll lean against the doorframe, wearing my white stockings... and show him the irresistible charm of a sultry, 26-year-old woman.’
HSSS!
Jiangg Yao gulped, biting her glossy lip.
But her sister’s voice yanked her from her fantasy. "When I’m there, Mom might video call you at night to check up on you. You’d better not be out fooling around. If you get caught, I can’t save you."
"I’ll definitely be good and stay home!" Jiangg Yao nodded vigorously.
’Yeah, right. He’s two steps away.’
’If she calls, I can just open the door and dart back home. Who’s gonna know?’
With everything settled, Jiangg Ning relaxed. She gently stirred the wontons, her expression focused. For some reason, she looked particularly beautiful wearing an apron. Under the soft orange light, she gently rolled up her sleeves, puffed out her cheeks, and blew away the white steam rising from the pot.
Jiangg Yao found the scene so beautiful that she grabbed her phone.
CLICK.
She snapped a photo.
Even though she was about to have an incredibly blissful weekend, Jiangg Yao didn’t get carried away just yet. She composed herself, tiptoed into the kitchen, and wrapped her arms around Jiangg Ning’s waist from behind.
"Sis, I don’t want you to go. I’ll be scared at night without you."
She put on a pitiful act. Though she said that, the little Jiangg Yao in her head was already cackling with glee.
"It’s only for two days," Jiangg Ning said, putting the lid on the pot. "Be good at home, and I’ll bring you a pile of pastries from Renqian Workshop when I get back."
"You’re the best, sis! Mwah! A kiss!"
"Hmph."
She cupped Jiangg Yao’s face and gently booped her on the lips with her finger.
The night deepened in the blink of an eye.
Since she had an early flight to catch, Jiangg Ning read for a little while before turning off the bedside lamp. She snuggled under the covers and quickly fell into a deep sleep, her steady breathing filling the quiet room.
Jiangg Yao, lying beside her, couldn’t fall asleep no matter how she tried. She was just too excited, practically dying of anticipation.
’This is our first weekend alone together! Just sticking to the person you like without a care in the world... there’s nothing more blissful than that.’
Jiangg Yao stared at the ceiling, her face slightly flushed and her eyes full of yearning. Every so often, she’d let out a silly giggle.
Afraid of disturbing her sister, she forced herself to stay in one position. Her eyes were getting sore, but her mind was buzzing with energy.
It was very late before she finally drifted off to sleep.
...
In the early morning, bright sunlight streamed through a crack in the curtains, casting a beam of light on the floor.
Jiangg Ning was an early riser. She sat up and stretched languidly.
Beside her, Jiangg Yao was sleeping in a most unladylike manner—hair a mess, limbs sprawled out in every direction.
Jiangg Ning watched her with a fond smile for a moment before carefully slipping out of bed, afraid of waking her.
She changed her clothes quickly. Her suitcase was already packed and waiting in the living room.
Jiangg Ning walked to the side of the bed and tucked the blanket around the sleeping Jiangg Yao. Only then did she tiptoe out, pulling the door closed until the view of the bedroom disappeared completely, not even a crack of light remaining.
She set off for the distant city of Kyoto.
...
"Crap!"
Jiangg Yao bolted awake, unsure how long she had slept.
Her eyes shot open as she stared at the empty bedroom. It was so bright outside that even the curtains couldn’t block the daylight.
She frantically fumbled for her phone to check the time.
"It’s one o’clock!!!"
Jiangg Yao had promised to pick Chen Yuan up today. Who would’ve thought she’d oversleep so badly? She was already an hour late!
She practically launched herself out of bed, scrambled into her slippers, and dashed into the bathroom.
Wash face, apply mask, pick an outfit, do makeup!
Jiangg Yao wished she could split every second in two. She tore through her essential girly routine in a whirlwind, grabbed her purse, and bolted out the door.
「Across the street from Lanjing University.」
Chen Yuan was frozen stiff. He stood by the side of the road, shivering as he pulled his phone from his pocket. He’d sent Jiangg Yao a few texts this morning with no reply. He sent another one at noon after he finished packing, but there was still no reply.
So he was left standing in the cold wind, like a tragic widow awaiting her husband’s return home...
SKRR—
Just as he had given up all hope, the piercing squeal of brakes cut through the air.
A familiar car appeared. Jiangg Yao scrambled out, standing by the door with her hands clasped nervously. Seeing Chen Yuan’s face, stiff from the cold, she shuffled toward him.
"I was wrong... I realize my mistake. I’m so sorry."
Jiangg Yao took Chen Yuan’s luggage, tossed it in the trunk, and urged him to get in the car and warm up.
Once they were both in the car, Chen Yuan finally felt like he was alive again.
"I missed you so much yesterday that I couldn’t sleep, that’s why I was late today! It wasn’t on purpose, I swear! Chen, please forgive me, *sob sob*..."
Jiangg Yao took Chen Yuan’s hand. It was as cold as a block of ice. She felt a fresh wave of guilt, annoyed with herself for being so stupid.
"You’re pretty good at making excuses. We saw each other at school last night. How much could you possibly miss me?"
"Er..." Jiangg Yao blinked, instantly understanding. She pulled open the side of her coat and tucked Chen Yuan’s hand inside, murmuring softly, "So I can’t miss you just because I saw you last night? I miss you even when we’re apart for a single second."
She shook Chen Yuan’s arm, whining coquettishly and nuzzling against his shoulder.
’She’s so clingy.’
Chen Yuan didn’t know what had gotten into her, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
The thought of their weekend together made Jiangg Yao so happy she could barely contain it. She said shyly, "I have a surprise for you. I’m going to spend the whole day with you... and tomorrow, too. Okay?"
Rather than her spending time with Chen Yuan, it was more like Chen Yuan was spending time with her.
This made Jiangg Yao even happier. She was like a little pet welcoming its owner home; words couldn’t express her joy, so she could only nuzzle and snuggle up to him.
If she had a tail, it would surely be wagging into a blur.
That was no exaggeration.
Jiangg Yao was so excited she felt an itch in her teeth. She lifted Chen Yuan’s wrist and, to his utter shock, took a bite!
"HSSS..."
He sucked in a sharp breath. When Jiangg Yao let go, two clear rows of teeth marks were visible on his wrist.
"Are you part dog or something?" Chen Yuan asked, snatching his hand back.
"I am a little puppy! I can bark for you! Woof woof woof~" Jiangg Yao curled her hands and held them on either side of her head like ears. She swayed happily, her lips parting as her pearly teeth clicked together. "Awoo!"
She was genuinely, unbelievably cute.
After she finished, a sly glint appeared in her eyes. She turned her head to look at Chen Yuan, who was feigning disgust.
She leaned close to his ear and, while starting the car’s engine, whispered, "I’m willing to be the young master’s puppy."