I definitely won’t confess impulsively.

Stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork, vinegar-dressed lettuce, air-fried mackerel, and watercress meatball soup.

The presentation was decent, and it didn’t smell bad either.

Ming Shuyan raised an eyebrow. “Please, try it.”

Ming Shuzhen picked up her chopsticks, sampling each dish onto a small plate, tasting carefully.

“How’s it?” Ming Shuyan leaned in, brimming with confidence.

“Not bad,” Ming Shuzhen said, savoring the flavors. Ming Shuyan’s cooking was light, perfect for her non-salty palate.

Ming Shuyan served her a bowl of meatball soup. “Told you to trust me. I used to cook for my sister a lot.”

“Your sister?” Ming Shuzhen recalled Ming Shuyan mentioning her mother’s multiple pregnancies, all girls.

“Yeah, a year younger, in the same university district. During breaks, we didn’t go home, so I started figuring out cooking,” Ming Shuyan explained.

Ming Shuzhen’s heart stirred, flashing back to the scene outside the bar.

Influenced by Zhong Shuo, she’d assumed shady relationships, but now, wasn’t it just sisterly bonding?

“Boss…” Ming Shuzhen braced to eat crow. “A few days ago, I saw you at the bar with some girls… were they all your sisters?”

“Hm?” Ming Shuyan piled food onto Ming Shuzhen’s plate, not eating herself.

She set down her chopsticks. “A few days ago? Yeah, I was at a bar. You saw me?”

“Yeah.” *More than saw—watched you get a passionate confession, Gaga’s song, intimate hugs.*

“Oh.” Ming Shuyan smiled. “My sister. She’s a resident singer there. I went to support her.”

“She’s switching cities soon, won’t stay long. That night was her debut, and she dragged us sisters along for moral support.”

*Really all sisters.* Ming Shuzhen didn’t know how to describe her feelings—like a drowning person thinking they’re done for, only to kick and find the pool’s just five feet deep, water barely past the chin.

She gave a goofy grin. “Oh, got it. Your sister’s kinda cute.”

“Ha?” Ming Shuyan shrugged. “She’s a mess, but whatever. She loves singing, and it’s great she’s doing what she loves.”

“There were two other girls,” Ming Shuzhen prompted, fishing for more.

“Yeah, also my sisters. One’s in Hong Kong, here for business. The other’s a cop.”

“Wow, a cop? Impressive.” Ming Shuzhen pictured the short-haired girl’s cool vibe—very cop-like.

“Pfft.” Ming Shuyan laughed. “What, want an introduction?”

“Hm?” Ming Shuzhen perked up, unsure if she misread. “Introduction for what? I’m not looking to date.”

“…Oh?” Ming Shuyan’s smile was faint, teasing.

“My three sisters aren’t really your type.”

“Oh.” Ming Shuzhen stuffed her mouth with lettuce. “Who’s my type then?”

“Heh.” Ming Shuyan couldn’t hold back, laughing heartily.

Her plate was empty. Ming Shuzhen glanced over, shoving a pile of lettuce her way. “Let’s eat, no more talking.”

“Feeling exposed?” Ming Shuyan teased, not eating.

“Exposed what?” Ming Shuzhen bristled, thinking the mackerel was just fish now—she just wanted to eat quietly, not engage.

“Dunno.” Ming Shuyan played innocent, spreading her hands. “Someone mentioned dating my sister, but also swore they’re straight.”

“What!” Ming Shuzhen, mouth full, mumbled to dodge the topic.

“Heh.” Ming Shuyan laughed, delighted.

Ming Shuzhen’s coldness and avoidance had weighed on her, making her guilt-ridden and uneasy. But tonight felt like a breakthrough—she sensed less resistance.

Ming Shuzhen caught her mocking laugh, knowing she’d misunderstood again. Ming Shuyan probably meant a casual introduction, but she’d overthought it.

“Introduce away,” she said, feigning indifference. “What’s your sister’s name? How old?”

Ming Shuyan’s eyes curved, pupils dark with a predatory glint. “My sisters—Han Jinziu, Han Liying, He Xiang. Only Liying’s your age; the others, you’d call ‘sister.’”

“Hm? Korean?” Ming Shuzhen’s brain stalled.

Ming Shuyan laughed. “No, Chinese.”

“Oh…” Ming Shuzhen dragged out, then asked, “Why Han?”

“My mom’s maiden name. We only connected in college.”

So, they weren’t close before but hugged that tightly?

*What if one day, some girl on the street hugs and holds hands with Ming Shuyan?*

“No way,” Ming Shuyan said, counting seriously. “Pen, Ink, Inkstone, Table—I’m third.”

“Pen, Ink, Inkstone, Table?” Ming Shuzhen tested the names. “Ming Shubi, Ming Shumo, Ming Shuyan, Ming Shutai…”

Only Ming Shuyan sounded decent.

“Who picked these?”

“My dad,” Ming Shuyan said casually. “New-money guy, wanted cultured names, but only knew pen, ink, inkstone, table. He Xiang was Ming Shutai but took our grandma’s surname later. Jinziu and Liying were supposed to be Book and Cover, but Dad didn’t even register them, so Grandma named them.”

“Oh…” Ming Shuzhen blinked. “I bet White Coat’s He Xiang, the cop’s Liying, Jinziu’s the singer?”

“Hm?” Ming Shuyan studied her. “You observed closely. Spying on us for long?”

“Am I nuts? I glanced and left,” Ming Shuzhen said, guilty—she and Zhong Shuo had stared plenty.

“Heh.” Ming Shuyan smiled. “Before college, I hadn’t met them, just knew I had sisters. They’re different from me. He Xiang’s in Hong Kong, working and studying, with her own plans. Liying’s brave. Jinziu knows what she wants.”

Noticing her mood, Ming Shuzhen cut in, “Boss, you’re great too. Running a company so well, alone.”

“Really?” Ming Shuyan looked at her.

“Yeah.” Ming Shuzhen nodded, expression steady, certain.

Ming Shuyan smiled, charmed by her earnest belief and innocent sincerity.

“Early on, my two older sisters helped a lot—investing, pulling strings for Red Brick’s first projects.”

“Oh.” Ming Shuzhen nodded. “That’s normal. Starting from scratch doesn’t mean zero resources. You still need capital and connections. But many with those fail. You’re still impressive.”

“Heh.” Ming Shuyan grinned. “If you say so.”

“What about Ming Shubi and Ming Shumo?” Ming Shuzhen struggled with the names. “They here?”

“Abroad,” Ming Shuyan said, amused by her effort. “They changed their names too—no Chinese names overseas.”

“Oh…” Ming Shuzhen blinked. “Why didn’t you?”

“Me?” Ming Shuyan’s shoulders sank. “I don’t have my sisters’ guts to leave it all behind. Or my younger sisters’ luck with Grandma’s love.”

Caught in the middle, unloved by her parents, Ming Shuyan kept her name not to prove anything—she lacked the energy. No self-deception about family love, just resignation, indifferent to her childhood’s pain.

“Don’t say that, Boss,” Ming Shuzhen urged, stumbling over words. “You’re… pretty great.”

“Ha? Hesitating to hand me a good-person card?” Ming Shuyan teased.

“I’m shy,” Ming Shuzhen said, dropping the awkwardness, flashing a bright smile.

“Heh.” Ming Shuyan caught her warmth. “Whatever, I don’t care much.”

“Mm.” Ming Shuzhen nodded vaguely. “Eat, it’s getting cold.”

—

That night, back home, Ming Shuzhen’s smile lingered.

She called Zhong Shuo, badgering her to clear Ming Shuyan’s “player” label.

Finally, Zhong Shuo snapped, “Sis, spare me! You’re like a brainless stan, begging randos to love your idol, but I’m face-blind and couldn’t care less.”

“Ahem.” Ming Shuzhen, sprawled on her bed, grinned foolishly. “Shuo, I’m done for.”

“You’re *so* done,” Zhong Shuo said, lifeless. “You’re killing me too.”

“You’re experienced—help me,” Ming Shuzhen said, kneeling on her bed, peering at Zhong Shuo on her phone. “Is this liking someone? First time with a girl—it feels weird.”

“No need to look,” Zhong Shuo scoffed. “You’re in love, head-over-heels stage. If I diss Ming Shuyan, you’d fight me.”

“No way,” Ming Shuzhen said, scratching her head, embarrassed. “I’m not that friend-ditching type.”

“Hmph!” Zhong Shuo mocked. “Sure. Brainless stan.”

“What do I do? Confess?” Ming Shuzhen looked eager.

“What do you think?”

“Yes!” She bounced.

“No!” Zhong Shuo wanted to slap her through the phone. “Get it straight—she’s same-s*x, out of your league, older, and if you confess and fail, you’re jobless. People won’t pity you—they’ll think you’re possessed, a gay headed for the dunking cage.”

Ming Shuzhen blinked. “Take a sip of water and chill.”

“You’re gonna kill me,” Zhong Shuo roared.

“Okay, okay,” Ming Shuzhen soothed. “I get it. I was too excited. I thought she had girlfriends.”

“Calm now?”

“Yeah. First, I need to know if she likes me—can’t just confess and scare her. Second, I’m in for life. I need to know she’s on the same page, plan our future, tell my parents I like a girl, and they need to accept it.”

“Whoa, whoa, stop!” Zhong Shuo clutched her chest. “You’re hopeless. You’re planning forever with nothing started. Don’t tell your parents—they’ll have heart attacks.”

“Gotta tell them—it’s a lifetime thing.”

“Love-brain, huh? Love-brain!” Zhong Shuo’s voice climbed. “Let’s unfriend.”

“Nooo.” Ming Shuzhen grinned pleadingly. “I’m not love-brained. I just want to think it through.”

“Not love-brained? Mentioning ‘forever’ makes me wanna fight.”

“Don’t freak—I’m freaking too. How do I know if she likes me?”

Zhong Shuo glared. “Answer my question first.”

“Okay.” Ming Shuzhen sat properly.

“Why do you like Ming Shuyan? Three, two, one—answer, no hesitating,” Zhong Shuo rapid-fired. “You hesitated. You don’t like her.”

“No way,” Ming Shuzhen said, dazed. “That’s not how you ask. I need to think.”

“That’s the point—no thinking, just your gut,” Zhong Shuo said, wishing she could shake her awake.

“I want to kiss her,” Ming Shuzhen said firmly.

Zhong Shuo went quiet, then, incredulous, “What?”

“I want to kiss her.” She blinked. “Is that liking?”

Zhong Shuo deflated. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Should I confess?” Ming Shuzhen leaned in.

“Hold on, let me think.”

“Okay,” she said, soothingly. “Take your time, don’t stress.”

“I’m not stressed—you are.”

“I’m not.” Ming Shuzhen shook her head, sincere. “I won’t rush to confess.”

“…Don’t believe you.” Zhong Shuo wanted to cry, sensing Ming Shuzhen was about to get swept away.