Have You Ever?

Yes, or no.

It should have been a simple question.

But the reality was: her mind simply couldn’t think.

It was like a tangled mess of threads.

No matter where she tried to pick it up, it was chaos.

Second by second, time slipped by.

Her brain reminded her—it’s time to answer.

You’ve been thinking too long.

Qin Huairen’s lips moved slightly.

Yet she didn’t know what would be appropriate to say.

On the other end of the phone, Wen Yuzhi gave a soft laugh.

In a gentle voice she said, “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked when I already knew the answer. I’ll hang up now. Go to sleep early.”

Qin Huairen lowered her head and stared at the ended call.

Her mind still felt foggy.

Whether she liked her or not—this topic required long consideration.

However, another thought in her heart was crystal clear.

She decided to inform Yan Qing that Wen Yuzhi had drunk too much.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have Yan Qing’s number.

Sitting on the bed, her muddled mind suddenly sparked.

Qin Huairen went to the official website of Huaxin Group and found Yan Qing’s public contact information.

Yan Qing was surprised by the sudden contact.

But she still thanked her and asked, “If possible, could we add each other on WeChat? Or exchange phone numbers?”

They added each other.

Yan Qing’s profile picture was a formal work portrait.

Qin Huairen’s was a hand-drawn little crab.

It was missing one claw and running crazily toward the sea.

Very cute.

Yan Qing sent another message of thanks and explained the situation tonight.

The drinking party hadn’t been organized by outsiders.

It was hosted by the Su siblings.

The Su family had booked the venue.

Anyone who came could drink freely.

But they also had an invitation list.

Wen Yuzhi was first on it.

From what Qin Huairen had seen in TV dramas, in wealthy circles, when a young master or heiress invites you, it means they respect you.

You’re expected to show up.

Qin Huairen sent the trending photo from online.

“So everyone in this picture was invited?”

Yan Qing replied: “Only President Wen and Gu Tianyu in the picture were invited.”

Ah…

Qin Huairen suddenly understood.

That blurry face had been Gu Tianyu.

She had thought he looked familiar.

Those few people sat at the same table.

Lin Zhixun’s hand rested on Xu Jianing’s shoulder.

They had seemed to dislike Lin Zhixun before.

Yet now they were laughing together.

Xu Jianing felt unfamiliar to her.

After chatting a few more sentences, Qin Huairen said goodnight first.

Yan Qing thanked her again for specially informing her late at night about President Wen’s condition—even though she had been present at the scene herself.

Yan Qing handed the phone to Wen Yuzhi.

“President Wen, she didn’t reply. She probably really went to sleep. I’ll send you back to Swan Lake.”

Wen Yuzhi stared at those few lines for several minutes.

Yan Qing stole glances.

She felt President Wen’s mood was off.

Ever since she learned Qin Huairen had returned to Jingzhou, President Wen had been different.

She used to live very regularly.

Work.

Only work.

Now she still worked.

But after the March group activity, she proactively kept in contact with Qin Huairen.

Even when met with cold responses, she remained enthusiastic.

Yan Qing had been by her side too long.

She could sense that beneath President Wen’s composed exterior, her focus had shifted.

Afraid of misunderstanding, Yan Qing carefully explained, “President Wen, I suggested adding her on WeChat for convenience. And honestly, it was rare for Huairen to search the official website at midnight for my contact, just worried you might be unsafe alone.”

Wen Yuzhi remained silent.

Yan Qing suddenly worried—was it inappropriate to add Qin Huairen?

Even President Wen hadn’t added her yet.

She hurriedly added, “President Wen, please don’t mind. No matter how many contacts I add, you’ll always be pinned at the top. Only you.”

Suddenly Wen Yuzhi handed her the phone back.

Her gaze sharp.

Slightly displeased.

“Who said anything to you?”

Yan Qing’s heart thumped wildly.

You didn’t say it—but your eyes looked like knives.

Wen Yuzhi turned and walked back into the bar.

Without looking back, she said, “From now on, send me your chat records.”

Yan Qing responded obediently and hurried after her.

“There’s an early meeting tomorrow. Aren’t you going back? Still drinking?”

“If I don’t drink, what else can I do?”

It was rare to hear such decadence in her voice.

Yan Qing found it unbelievable.

Who was the person on the phone just now?

Who could strike down the usually strong President Wen like this?

She sighed and followed her back inside, finding another hidden corner to stay nearby.

Just as Yan Qing sighed again, Qin Huairen suddenly sent a message.

Before she could open it, it was withdrawn.

Qin Huairen: “Sorry. I accidentally pressed it.”

Yan Qing: “It’s okay. You’re still awake? I thought you were sleeping.”

Qin Huairen had intended to sleep.

But she couldn’t.

She went to the living room, sat on the sofa drinking water, scrolled through chat records.

Her hand slipped and sent a sticker.

Embarrassed, she changed the topic and asked whether they had gone back.

Yan Qing sighed.

“Not yet. President Wen hasn’t been sleeping much lately. I’m worried her health will collapse.”

As a subordinate, she could only say so much.

Once was fine.

Twice was pushing it.

More than that—she didn’t dare.

Qin Huairen was different.

In Yan Qing’s impression, she dared to say anything.

Strangely, though they fought fiercely, Qin Huairen’s words always worked on President Wen.

From high school to university, no one else’s words worked.

But Qin Huairen’s did.

Rivalry had its effective side.

You sleep early? I’ll sleep earlier.

You score full marks in math? I’ll ace the comprehensive exam.

You run first? I’ll smash you in badminton.

Yan Qing had often used their rivalry to motivate President Wen.

It always worked.

This time, Qin Huairen sent three question marks.

Yan Qing sensed familiar gunpowder.

“Still not back? Are you cultivating immortality or living on American time?”

Yan Qing added fuel to the fire.

“Sigh. Even for work it shouldn’t be like this. She has so many injuries. If it were you, you’d be asleep already, right?”

“Of course. Who’s like her? Sleeping at 3, waking at 4. Even the King of Hell would praise her body. Don’t you manage her?”

Yan Qing pitifully replied she was only a secretary.

If she had Huairen’s eloquence, she’d persuade President Wen to go home.

Qin Huairen replied domineeringly, “What eloquence? A disobedient kid just hasn’t been beaten enough. I’m not the type to spoil kids. If I were you, I’d twist her ear and drag her home. You’re older. You’ve known her for years. You’re basically her sister. What are you afraid of?”

Yan Qing nodded in satisfaction while replying modestly.

Internally she thought: Well said.

She screenshot everything and sent it to Wen Yuzhi.

President Wen had just opened a bottle of wine.

People around were urging her to drink.

But she only stared at her phone.

Sure enough, even an ’82 Lafite wasn’t as compelling as an ’82 rival.

After Qin Huairen’s message, Wen Yuzhi didn’t take a sip.

She stood up and walked toward the door.

Qin Huairen sent: “Tell her to go home. Now. Immediately.”

“She promised me on the phone.”

Yan Qing finally realized—the one who had just called was Qin Huairen.

Of course.

No one else could strike President Wen so precisely.

No wonder Qin Huairen had contacted her at midnight.

President Wen had woken her.

Anyone would be upset.

Qin Huairen: “If she dares break her word, she’s lying to me. I hate being lied to. If she lies, tell her to watch her legs.”

Yan Qing coughed.

How could she insult President Wen behind her back?

Before Yan Qing figured out how to respond politely, Qin Huairen withdrew it and resent it corrected.

“Watch her legs.”

That was better.

If you’re going to scold someone, do it to their face.

Yan Qing had witnessed their arguments many times.

Qin Huairen called President Wen a “dog.”

President Wen called Qin Huairen a “brat.”

Once, Qin Huairen called her a bastard.

President Wen called her a little mutt.

The first time Yan Qing heard Wen Yuzhi swear, she was shocked.

In the Wen family, that would be punished.

After sending the screenshot, Yan Qing received one message from Wen Yuzhi: “Going home.”

Yan Qing nearly cried with joy.

Old methods worked.

Old rivals worked.

In the hazy night, a black Mercedes drove toward Swan Lake.

Wen Yuzhi sat in the passenger seat scrolling through chat records.

At a red light, she suddenly murmured, “She still cares about me, doesn’t she?”

Yan Qing didn’t know if she was talking to herself.

But when Wen Yuzhi glanced at her, she understood immediately.

“I don’t think it’s just caring. It’s very caring. She hates trouble. Yet you woke her at midnight and she still searched our official website to contact me. That’s not something just anyone would do. I have a bold thought.”

Wen Yuzhi looked at her, waiting.

The light turned green.

The car sped forward.

Yan Qing spoke carefully.

“Is it possible that Huairen has always cared about you, but her way of expressing it is intense? And because she didn’t fully understand you, she used the wrong method to show concern?”

Wen Yuzhi stared at the straight road ahead.

But her thoughts turned sharply.

Was that true?

Had they both used the wrong methods?

Was their starting point always care?

It wasn’t Qin Huairen’s fault for not understanding her.

She had never given anyone the chance to understand her.

So it was normal for a young Qin Huairen not to know how to express herself.

She herself had been the same.

After a long silence, Wen Yuzhi said seriously,

“The one at fault isn’t her.”

Yan Qing didn’t know what to say.

Their relationship was twisted.

Who knew where it would lead?

The car stopped at Swan Lake.

The housekeeper brought sobering soup.

Lu Shiyu reminded Wen Yuzhi to be careful with her wounds while bathing.

Wen Yuzhi nodded and asked, “She didn’t go to the hospital for her medicine, did she?”

Lu Shiyu nodded.

“She didn’t call or visit.”

“She won’t go,” Wen Yuzhi said firmly.

Later, lying in bed, Wen Yuzhi stared at two photo frames on the bedside table.

One with her mother.

One candid shot of her and Qin Huairen after a competition.

Her body was exhausted.

But insomnia clung like a demon.

She opened a recording.

Qin Huairen’s voice filled the room.

“I won’t toast everyone one by one. This glass is to our classmate friendship…”

She explained her disappearance after graduation.

Warned those spreading rumors.

Accepted apologies politely.

Rejected Gu Tianyu calmly.

She was courteous with everyone.

Except her.

After returning from the restroom that night, Qin Huairen had stared at her.

Finally exploding about the trending rumors claiming she loved Wen Yuzhi.

Demanding clarification.

Wen Yuzhi said she didn’t care about public opinion.

Qin Huairen’s eyes turned red.

She splashed wine.

Grabbed her collar.

Demanded an explanation.

Later, Chen Mingsheng broke them apart.

The recording ended there.

Wen Yuzhi had listened countless times.

Sometimes imitating Qin Huairen’s tone.

Then replying as herself.

To outsiders, she might seem insane.

She sighed and picked up the photo frame.

Tracing the face inside, she murmured, “You little brat. Always fierce with me.”

In the dark night, Qin Huairen was also awake.

Holding their photo, flicking Wen Yuzhi’s forehead in it.

“I wouldn’t like a cold, heartless dog.”

“If I like you, I’m a dog.”

Gradually she fell asleep.

But Wen Yuzhi remained awake.

Her phone rang.

Yan Qing: “President Wen, the app you asked me to find—it’s called Wenwu Shuo.”

Yan Qing had relied on President Wen’s rough sketch description.

Finally she found the broken-claw crab profile.

It was Qin Huairen.

Wen Yuzhi replied: “Good. Reward.”

She registered an account.

Followed “CrabWithClaw.”

Scrolled through all Qin Huairen’s videos.

Then fan screenshots.

Dawn arrived.

She saw the “Night Berth on the Qinhuai” topic.

Saw the fanfiction “Me and the Unspeakable W.”

And a comment from user “Tuanzi Nuojiji”:

“If anyone’s doing the sleeping, it’s her sleeping W.”

W was likely herself.

Nuojiji?

After checking—indeed Qin Huairen’s alt account.

Wen Yuzhi registered a Weibo alt.

Username: Unspeakable W.

She replied under Tuanzi Nuojiji.

The next morning, Qin Huairen’s phone rang nonstop.

Was she being cyberbullied?

When she unlocked it—

She went numb.