The Scent of Strawberries and the Night Sky

The night deepened, and the wind rustled through the leaves with a soft shh-shh sound, sending ripples across the quiet lake of the heart.

The gentle touch on her lips sent a tingle straight to the core of Yu Qingkong’s soul, making every cell in her body vibrate. It was a strange sensation—different from the raw, overwhelming physical desire of their previous encounters. This time, it was accompanied by a distinct throb from deep within.

Suddenly feeling that this was far from enough, Yu Qingkong’s breathing quickened. Involuntarily, her palm slid up to press against Lin Wanzhao’s spine. Her voice was low and husky: “CEO Lin…”

Then, as reason staged a final, desperate counterattack, Yu Qingkong gripped Lin Wanzhao’s shoulders and gently pushed her back.

As Lin Wanzhao came to her senses, she panicked. What can I say to save this? Should I pretend to be drunk?

Should she pretend to be in a drunken stupor and kiss the car window until she was dizzy? No, that was too stupid. Should she shout “Mom, I love you!”? No, Yu Qingkong already knew her relationship with her mother was a disaster.

What about… “Dad”? No, that was even weirder. Lin Wanzhao felt like her hair was going to turn white from stress.

Finally, just before Yu Qingkong could open her mouth to question her, Lin Wanzhao’s heart hammered against her ribs. She lunged forward, hugged Yu Qingkong, and planted a loud, wet kiss on her cheek. “Grandma! I’ve missed you so much!”

Yu Qingkong went silent. The expression on her face changed like a summer sky: clear to cloudy, cloudy to overcast, and finally a full-blown thunderstorm.

Seeing this, Lin Wanzhao panicked even more. Her cheeks burned hot. She decided to go all-in on her acting, babbling nonsense about “Grandma” this and “Grandma” that. She stumbled over her words, mixed up her initials, and even bit her tongue in her haste.

Yu Qingkong watched her quietly for a long time. Then, she asked softly, “Are you truly drunk, CEO Lin?”

Hearing those words, Lin Wanzhao felt her cover was blown. She couldn’t keep up the charade anymore. She smoothed back her hair and returned to her usual, serious self.

“Why did you kiss me… and then put on that show?” Yu Qingkong looked deep into her eyes.

“What, are you really that afraid of me liking you?” Lin Wanzhao suddenly looked up, meeting her gaze head-on.

Yu Qingkong blinked, then looked away. “I’m just confused. After all, you said before that you wouldn’t like me, but pretending to be drunk just to kiss me…”

“That’s right! I did say that!” Lin Wanzhao snapped. Something about Yu Qingkong’s coldness stung her, and the words poured out in a defensive flood. “I won’t like you! If you don’t believe me, I’ll say it again right now. Don’t flatter yourself. Why would I like you? There are so many high-quality men and women chasing me—why would I ignore them just to get mixed up with you? Do you think I have Stockholm Syndrome? Even if we’ve slept together, it was just to satisfy a physical need! Does kissing you mean I like you? I kiss my airhead friends all the time! I only pretended to be drunk because you’re always overthinking things. What else was I supposed to do?”

Yu Qingkong felt a surge of irritation. “Fine. You’re right, CEO Lin. There’s no way someone like you would like someone like me. I’ll take you home now. I want to get some rest.”

Yu Qingkong had only wanted to understand what Lin Wanzhao was thinking, but now that the other woman had been so blunt, there was nothing left to say. She told herself she was just overthinking it. Is this an idol drama? Why would a powerful CEO choose a ‘Cinderella’ over a sea of eligible elite partners?

“Fine,” Lin Wanzhao said, crossing her arms.

The ride back was silent. Ten minutes later, Lin Wanzhao got out of the car, said a curt “Goodnight,” and walked away.

“Goodnight,” Yu Qingkong replied, pulling away the second the car door closed.

Lin Wanzhao watched the taillights disappear before tightening her grip on her bag and walking inside. Is she really that afraid of me liking her? Does she not have a single romantic thought about me? She wondered what she had done in a past life to end up pining for someone who clearly didn’t want her.

The most frustrating part was that every time she thought she was over it, every time she thought she could bury this crush, fate would bring them back together and make her heart race all over again.

Back home, she threw her bag aside and pulled a gift box out of a drawer. It was the birthday present she had prepared for Yu Qingkong. Now, she had no idea what to do with it.

Her white cat, Qiuqiu, seemed to sense her mood. He circled her legs and eventually gave her hand a tiny lick.

Lin Wanzhao sighed and patted the cat’s head. “Even you’ve warmed up to me, but she hasn’t.”

Qiuqiu let out a soft “Mew” and licked her hand again. Lin Wanzhao picked him up. “Fine, Mommy will get you some canned food.”

************************************

On the other side of town, Yu Qingkong was pacing her apartment. The feeling of being “not liked” should have been a relief, yet she felt a restless, itchy discomfort that was quickly turning into irritability.

She felt ridiculous. Lin Wanzhao had spelled it out clearly, so why did she even ask? Why did she think someone like that would ever be interested in her?

She took off her coat and was about to have a glass of water when her phone buzzed with a group chat notification.

Lu Xiaoxiao: “Oh, Qingkong, isn’t your birthday coming up?!”

Yu Qingkong: “Yeah.”

Liu Ting: “Congrats on being another year older.”

Yu Qingkong: “Seriously? Most people wish for ‘forever eighteen.'”

Liu Ting: “Sorry, I can’t lie to my conscience.”

Yu Qingkong: “Whatever. Being older just means more ‘flavor,’ right?”

Lu Xiaoxiao: “How are we celebrating? Let’s do something different!”

Usually, her birthdays were handled entirely by those two; Yu Qingkong herself was a bit of an amateur when it came to planning fun.

Lu Xiaoxiao: “Let’s go camping! Hualin opened up for camping and BBQ again, and there’s a light show this weekend. It’ll be perfect!”

Yu Qingkong thought about it. She didn’t have anything else to do, and she hadn’t had a proper break in years. Maybe a change of scenery would do her some good.

They decided to leave Friday after work, drive to Hualin for a BBQ, camp overnight, and hike up the mountain at 4:00 AM to see the sunrise.

After the plans were set, Yu Qingkong went to shower. When she got out, she found herself scrolling through her WeChat and accidentally landed on her chat with Lin Wanzhao. The last message was about going to the pedestrian street.

Who would have thought it would end like this? she sighed, tossing the phone aside and turning off the light.

**********************************************

The next day, Yu Qingkong was eating in the company cafeteria when Zhang Xue sat across from her.

“You look like a wilted plant today,” Zhang Xue noted, taking a bite of rice.

“Do I? I’m fine.”

“What is with today? Everyone’s energy is so low,” Zhang Xue muttered.

“Who else?” Yu Qingkong asked.

“CEO Lin, obviously. She looks like she’s been working in a coal mine—her face is so dark. She’s been dragging people into her office and tearing them apart all day. Terrifying.”

Yu Qingkong looked up but said nothing.

That afternoon, Yu Qingkong took off her glasses, grabbed a folder, and headed to Lin Wanzhao’s office. She hesitated for a second before knocking. “CEO Lin, it’s Yu Qingkong.”

“Come in,” came the clipped, neutral reply.

Yu Qingkong walked in and placed the documents on the desk. “Here you go.”

Lin Wanzhao glanced at the folder but kept her eyes on her computer screen, expressionless. After a moment, she spoke. “Why has the conversion rate at the South Road store dropped so sharply?”

“Construction on South Road has turned the area into a mess. With the recent rain, the streets are muddy, so foot traffic is way down. It’s unavoidable for now, but delivery orders have actually gone up.”

“I see,” Lin Wanzhao nodded, still not looking at her. “Once the construction is done, we need a high-impact event to bring back the customers.”

“We’re planning a family promotion for New Year’s Day,” Yu Qingkong replied.

Silence fell, broken only by the clicking of a mouse.

“Is there anything else, CEO Lin?” Yu Qingkong finally asked.

Lin Wanzhao bit her lip. After a long pause, she let go of the mouse. “No. You can go.”

“Yes.” Yu Qingkong turned to leave. She paused at the door for a fraction of a second but ultimately walked out.

Only then did Lin Wanzhao look up, staring intensely at the closed door. She leaned back in her chair, letting out a long, frustrated breath. She had wanted to call her back, but she had no idea what she would have said. Her head felt like it was going to explode.

*****************************************

After work, Yu Qingkong grabbed a quick bite and went to the supermarket for camping supplies. As she tossed some batteries into her cart, her phone rang.

It was “CEO Lin.”

She paused. “CEO Lin? Is something wrong?”

There was a long silence. Then, she heard the faint “Mew” of a cat.

“CEO Lin?” she asked again.

“Mhm,” Lin Wanzhao’s voice was low. “Are you free the day after tomorrow?”

“The day after…” Yu Qingkong looked at a pack of wet wipes on the shelf. “I’m sorry, I already have plans.”

“Oh…” Lin Wanzhao’s voice went small and then trailing off into silence.

“Is there a reason you’re asking?” Yu Qingkong prompted.

“No, I just… wanted to see you,” Lin Wanzhao said, a hint of sadness in her tone. “Since you have plans, have a good time. I won’t bother you.”

Lin Wanzhao sounded defeated. The day after tomorrow was Yu Qingkong’s birthday. The fact that Yu Qingkong had plans but hadn’t invited her meant that she wasn’t a priority.

Yu Qingkong could hear the lack of energy in her voice. After thinking for a moment, she said, “My friends and I are going camping. We leave tomorrow. It’s been planned for a while, so I can’t really change it.”

“I see. Have fun.”

Yu Qingkong stared at the shelves. She knew Lin Wanzhao was upset, and she knew it was because of her—because of last night. Maybe clearing the air would be better than letting this tension fester.

“CEO Lin…”

“I won’t keep you. Bye,” Lin Wanzhao said, her voice speeding up.

“Do you want to come along?” Yu Qingkong blurted out.

There was a stunned silence on the other end. “Huh?”

“If you want to come, I’ll just tell my friends. It’s a special day, so it’s my call who I invite anyway.”

“Then…” Lin Wanzhao hesitated. “Sure. But I’ve never been camping. What do I need?”

“A tent, a sleeping mat, a sleeping bag, thick clothes, mosquito repellent, a flashlight, band-aids, iodine, a thermometer, cold medicine, painkillers, and bandages,” Yu Qingkong rattled off, checking items off her mental list as she looked at her cart.

“Got it. Where should we meet?”

“If you can get everything ready tonight, just bring it to the office tomorrow. We’ll leave straight from work. I’ll drive.”

“Okay… I’ll go buy the stuff now. See you tomorrow.”

After she hung up, Lin Wanzhao felt a bit of the heaviness lift, though her heart was still a little tight. She felt like a cockroach—hard to kill and incredibly persistent.

She laughed at herself. Half an hour ago, she was screaming at Qi Jianfeng about ending her crush and finding someone “sweet” to date. Now, she was already obsessing over what to wear for the camping trip and imagining romantic scenarios under the stars.

I’m crazy, she thought as she buckled her seatbelt. But I might as well stay crazy.

*****************************************

The next day after work, Yu Qingkong was at her car when she saw Lin Wanzhao approaching with a hiking pack and a blue tent bag.

“Got everything?” Yu Qingkong asked, opening the car door.

“I think so. Wait…” Lin Wanzhao frowned. “I forgot the mosquito repellent. I left it on the coffee table.”

“That’s fine, I have some. Let’s go. My friends should be there soon.” Yu Qingkong reached for the tent bag. “I’ll take that.”

“I’ve got it,” Lin Wanzhao said, heading for the trunk. Yu Qingkong followed and took the bag from her anyway, tucking it into the trunk.

Lin Wanzhao looked at her, then looked away. “Thanks.”

“Get in,” Yu Qingkong said, heading to the driver’s side.

As soon as they were buckled in, Lin Wanzhao’s stomach gave another loud growl. She hadn’t been able to eat much for the last two days.

“Hungry?”

“A little.”

“We’ll eat first, then head out.”

“Okay.”

A few minutes later, Yu Qingkong pulled over and waved to a car behind them. “Xiaoxiao! Ting-jie! How long have you been waiting?”

“Just got here. What are we eating?” Liu Ting asked, leaning out her window.

“What do you want?” Yu Qingkong asked Lin Wanzhao.

“Fried rice.”

They headed to a small fried rice place Yu Qingkong frequented. Inside, they sat down and ordered.

“So, this is the ‘CEO Lin’? She’s gorgeous!” Liu Ting said, taking a sip of tea. “I thought ‘CEOs’ were all bald with beer bellies. I didn’t expect someone so… fresh. How come I don’t look like this?”

“You’re too kind. Thank you,” Lin Wanzhao smiled.

“Not at all. You’re stunning,” Liu Ting teased, glancing at her jade bracelet. “No wonder someone flaked on us the other day. Guess her eyes were dazzled by beauty.”

Lu Xiaoxiao chimed in with a gossipy grin. “Exactly!”

“Ting-jie!” Yu Qingkong frowned.

“Flaked?” Lin Wanzhao was confused.

“The day before yesterday. The three of us were supposed to eat together, but she canceled at the last minute. She wouldn’t even give us a reason, which is so not like her,” Lu Xiaoxiao explained.

Lin Wanzhao looked at Yu Qingkong. She canceled plans with them to spend time with me?

Yu Qingkong cracked her knuckles awkwardly. “They’re just talking nonsense. Ignore them.”

Lin Wanzhao didn’t say anything, but she didn’t mind the “nonsense” at all.

“Nonsense? This is a logical deduction!” Liu Ting laughed. “Beautiful sister, don’t believe a word she says.”

“You’re very funny, sister,” Lin Wanzhao giggled.

Yu Qingkong sighed. She had been worried they wouldn’t get along, but they were already “sisters” after ten minutes. She didn’t need to worry about the atmosphere at all.

******************************************

They reached Hualin around 7:00 PM. It was a beautiful spot at the foot of Hualin Mountain, right next to the Shenglu River.

The three seasoned campers set up their tents quickly, but Lin Wanzhao was struggling. She was almost ready to give up when Yu Qingkong finished her own tent and walked over.

“Need help?”

“These things are… strange. I don’t get it.”

“Let me.” Yu Qingkong knelt down and took the tent poles. Lin Wanzhao watched her for a moment. “Thank you.”

Yu Qingkong looked up, then shook her head. The sudden politeness felt a little jarring.

“Whoa, Qingkong, why is your tent so big?!” Lu Xiaoxiao called out as she walked past.

“It’s a two-person tent,” Yu Qingkong replied.

“Is that the one Shao Yushi bought when she lived with you? It still works? Great quality.”

“Yeah,” Yu Qingkong smiled. “She was a bit of a ditz, but she knew how to pick quality gear. It’s still good, so I haven’t replaced it.”

“Man, I haven’t seen Little Yu in ages. I miss her.”

“She’s abroad. She might be back by the end of the year. We can all go to a hot spring then.”

“Little Yu… the one who shared a bed with you?” Lin Wanzhao asked, her voice quiet.

“Yeah, that’s her.”

“You two must be very close.”

“We went through some tough times together. We looked out for each other when we were broke. She’s a dear friend.”

“That’s… nice,” Lin Wanzhao said, trying to hide the pang of jealousy.

“All done,” Yu Qingkong said, standing up. “Just put your mat and sleeping bag inside.”

“Mhm.”

“I’m going to help the others with the grill,” Yu Qingkong pointed toward the river.

As Yu Qingkong walked away, Lin Wanzhao watched her. Yu Qingkong seemed so much more relaxed with her friends than she ever was with her. That’s the difference between best friends and… whatever we are, she thought.

The air was getting colder. Lin Wanzhao hugged her knees for a moment before following them to the grill.

Yu Qingkong was busy brushing oil onto a chicken leg that was starting to sizzle and turn a delicious golden brown.

“Smells amazing! Is that a chicken leg? Grill one for me too!” Lu Xiaoxiao yelled.

“Do it yourself,” Yu Qingkong joked.

“So stingy!” Lu Xiaoxiao pouted as she continued washing scallops with Liu Ting.

Lin Wanzhao stood a little ways off, shivering. It was much colder than she had anticipated.

“Come over here by the grill,” Yu Qingkong said without looking up. “It’s warmer by the fire.”

Lin Wanzhao moved to her side. The warmth was immediate and comforting.

Yu Qingkong’s hands were elegant and steady as she flipped the food. Lin Wanzhao tried to grill a chicken wing herself, but it ended up burnt on one side and raw on the other. She sighed and tossed it aside.

Suddenly, a perfectly grilled wing appeared in front of her.

“Want it?” Yu Qingkong asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes.” Lin Wanzhao took it and took a bite. “It’s perfect.”

“What else? Give me whatever you want, I’ll grill it for you.”

Lin Wanzhao handed her some mushrooms and lotus root slices. “You eat pretty healthy,” Yu Qingkong remarked as she placed them on the grill.

Lin Wanzhao watched the orange flames reflect in Yu Qingkong’s eyes. She looked down and kicked at a small stone. “About the other night… I was a bit too emotional. I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m sorry.”

Yu Qingkong glanced at her. “I’m the one who should apologize. I shouldn’t have asked such a weird question. Friendships between women are just like that sometimes. I overreacted and misunderstood you.”

Misunderstood? Lin Wanzhao bit her lip. It was frustrating that Yu Qingkong couldn’t see how she really felt, but she knew she couldn’t force it.

Later, Liu Ting and Lu Xiaoxiao joined them with the scallops. “What were you two whispering about over here?” Liu Ting asked.

“Nothing,” Lin Wanzhao said. “How long have you known Qingkong?”

“Since she was in diapers!” Liu Ting laughed. “I was only five or six, but I basically watched her grow up. Her mom would ask me to look after her when she was busy.”

“Yeah, we’re from the same village,” Lu Xiaoxiao added. “Ting-jie was the leader of the pack. Qingkong was sickly as a kid, but she was always trying to be a hero. She’d get into fights she couldn’t win and get beat up, but after Ting-jie stepped in once, no one ever touched her again.”

“I didn’t know you were sickly,” Lin Wanzhao said softly.

“That was a long time ago. Exercise and medicine fixed it,” Yu Qingkong replied.

“Yeah,” Liu Ting continued, enjoying herself. “She was always in the hospital with a fever. Her mom even gave her a ‘nickname’ to make her easier to raise. She called her…”

“Stop—” Yu Qingkong interrupted.

But Liu Ting was merciless. “Donkey.”

Yu Qingkong stared at the grill, looking like she wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

Lin Wanzhao’s mood lifted instantly. She couldn’t help but giggle.

“Ting-jie, consider our friendship over,” Yu Qingkong said dryly.

“Nah, save those ‘difficult positions’ for your future partner,” Liu Ting joked.

Yu Qingkong choked on her drink, stealing a glance at Lin Wanzhao before turning away to fan her burning face.

“What does that even mean?” Lin Wanzhao asked, genuinely confused.

“It means—” Liu Ting started.

“Don’t listen to her,” Yu Qingkong said, grabbing Lin Wanzhao’s wrist and pulling her aside.

“Whoa! Going to ‘practice’ already?!” Liu Ting yelled after them.

“Huh?” Lin Wanzhao blinked, still lost.

“Don’t listen to the adults. Ignore her,” Yu Qingkong said, placing her hands over Lin Wanzhao’s ears.

Lin Wanzhao looked directly into Yu Qingkong’s eyes. In the moonlight, they were bright and full of curiosity. Yu Qingkong held her gaze for a moment before coughing and letting go. “I’m… going back to the grill.”

*********************************************

The rest of the night was spent in laughter. They talked about everything from dramas to the economy, from the best skincare brands to how ugly the new Chanel bags were. Lin Wanzhao fit in perfectly, so much so that Yu Qingkong felt like the outsider.

As the night wore on and the food was finished, they cleaned up the site and prepared to head to their tents.

Just as Yu Qingkong was about to enter hers, she heard a shriek from Lin Wanzhao.

“What happened?”

“My tent… it smells terrible,” Lin Wanzhao said, wrinkling her nose.

Liu Ting walked over and took a sniff. “Ugh. Probably a stray cat or dog decided your tent was the perfect place to mark its territory.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Lin Wanzhao sighed.

“What now?” Lu Xiaoxiao looked at the tent. “You can’t sleep in there. But my tent is a single, and so is Ting-jie’s. Two people won’t fit… if only someone had a double tent…”

Liu Ting and Lu Xiaoxiao slowly turned their gaze toward Yu Qingkong. Lin Wanzhao followed their lead.

Yu Qingkong froze, then slowly looked back at her large, two-person tent.

Liu Ting gave a mischievous grin. “Qingkong, CEO Lin… you two sharing a bed shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”