A Kiss That Changes Everything

Wen Yuzhi was glad she had thought it through and chosen to return to Jingzhou that very night.

The high-speed train was about to arrive.

She stood by the door, unable to wait any longer.

Through the glass, she vaguely saw her own reflection.

It was still the same face.

But unlike before, when it was always expressionless, she could now see the slight curve of her brows and eyes.

She touched the corner of her lips—and felt a hint of a smile.

Her heart was pounding restlessly, beating strong and fast.

It had been years since she felt this way.

Even when she became the executive president of Huaxin Group, something everyone assumed would bring her pride and joy—she felt nothing.

There was a kind of mysterious force that only Qin Huairen could give her.

And that energy made her feel truly alive.

She suddenly thought of the night of the school anniversary.

She had run all the way to find Qin Huairen.

Her heart had been beating even faster than now.

She touched her face—it was warm, but not burning.

Maybe that night it was just because she ran too fast.

But when she looked at herself in the hotel mirror afterward, her breathing had become even more chaotic.

She had almost lost control of herself.

And the name she called out—

Was always the same.

Ah Ren.

That name seemed to carry power.

Wen Yuzhi wrote “Ah Ren” on the glass window again and again.

Trying to distract herself.

Otherwise, her mind would be filled with Qin Huairen’s soft, slightly aggrieved voice from the call—

So vulnerable that it made her heart ache.

She pressed her chest, calming her racing heartbeat.

As soon as the train doors opened, she was the first to step out.

For the first time in a long while, she took a taxi.

Her destination—the Maple Leaf Hotel.

On the way, she hesitated to message Qin Huairen.

What if she got shy and refused to see her?

When she arrived, she stood at the door, adjusted her breathing, and finally sent a message.

“Ah Ren, open the door.”

No reply.

She sent several more messages.

Still nothing.

She raised her hand to knock—but stopped midway.

Instead, she walked to the end of the hallway and replayed the call recording.

It wasn’t her imagination.

Qin Huairen really had said she wanted to kiss her.

And now, without the noise of the train, she could clearly hear—

Qin Huairen had been drunk.

No wonder she was so bold.

Looking at the time, Wen Yuzhi guessed the little drunkard was already asleep.

So she went downstairs and booked a room.

Coincidentally, it was right next to Qin Huairen’s.

After settling in, she lay on the bed.

Her heart had calmed slightly—

Until she remembered Qin Huairen was just next door.

Her heartbeat quickened again.

With a sigh, she turned over again and again, unable to sleep.

Meanwhile, Qin Huairen was sleeping soundly—

Until she woke up because she needed the bathroom.

Splashing cold water on her face, she muttered to herself,

“Alcohol really shouldn’t be overdone… this was supposed to help me sleep.”

After getting ready for work, she opened the door—

And froze.

Wen Yuzhi stood there.

The last traces of sleep vanished instantly.

Qin Huairen opened her mouth to question her—

But suddenly remembered something.

Did she call her last night?

Wen Yuzhi, with dark circles under her eyes, answered calmly,

“We talked on the phone.”

Qin Huairen stiffened.

“So what?”

Wen Yuzhi briefly recounted the conversation.

Qin Huairen immediately denied it.

“How could I say something like that?”

Without a word, Wen Yuzhi played the recording.

Hearing her own drunken voice, Qin Huairen panicked and tried to grab the phone.

Wen Yuzhi raised it higher.

Qin Huairen couldn’t reach—

And ended up bumping into her.

Instinctively, Wen Yuzhi wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.

The warmth sent a strange sensation through Qin Huairen’s body.

She quickly pulled away.

“You recorded it? That’s unethical!”

“It’s for work,” Wen Yuzhi said lightly.

“And you’ve always kept your word.”

Qin Huairen had no way to argue.

“…I’m not in a hurry. Whenever you’re ready—”

“Not in a hurry?”

Qin Huairen glared at her.

“How can you say something so shameless?”

Wen Yuzhi leaned closer.

“Like this.”

Their faces were suddenly inches apart.

Qin Huairen could clearly see her lips—soft, full, slightly glossy.

Her throat tightened.

She stepped back.

But there was nowhere left to retreat.

Wen Yuzhi trapped her between herself and the door.

“Ah Ren,” she called softly.

“Are you… afraid?”

Afraid?

Qin Huairen immediately bristled.

She wasn’t afraid of anything.

Wen Yuzhi added casually,

“You dared before. Now you don’t?”

That was enough.

Qin Huairen leaned forward—

And kissed her.

It was sudden.

And forceful.

Before Wen Yuzhi could react, she was pushed away.

Qin Huairen turned and walked off proudly.

“I did it. What about it?”

Wen Yuzhi called after her.

“That night… she didn’t actually kiss me.”

Qin Huairen froze for a second.

Then walked away faster.

Wen Yuzhi watched her leave, smiling faintly.

“That was my second kiss,” she called out.

“But I haven’t finished speaking yet—”

Qin Huairen rushed downstairs.

The cold wind hit her face.

Her cheeks burned uncontrollably.

She had just kissed Wen Yuzhi.

Was she insane?

On the subway, she stared at her reflection.

Her heart was still racing.

She couldn’t even bring herself to think about it properly.

But she couldn’t ignore it either.

The softness of those lips.

The familiar woody scent.

Something had changed.

She tried to reason with herself.

“This is just because I’ve never kissed anyone before.”

“Anyone would react like this.”

But when she thought of the meaning behind it—

Her pen dropped from her hand.

“No way… impossible.”

There was no way she liked Wen Yuzhi.

No way.

She forced herself to stop thinking about it.

But the more she resisted—

The more it stayed in her mind.

That night, back at the hotel, she fell asleep early.

In her half-conscious state, she heard a knock.

Opening the door, she was pulled into an embrace.

Warm breath against her ear.

“You ran away this morning.”

Before she could speak, her lips were taken.

The kiss was deep, intense.

Her resistance melted into something softer.

She pushed Wen Yuzhi back against the door.

Their breaths tangled.

The air thick with tension.

In that moment—

Everything blurred.

Like a storm breaking loose.

Like something long restrained finally being released.

And neither of them could stop.