Do you remember you said you were straight?

Before the workday was over, Ming Shuzhen rushed to meet her friends, shutting down her computer early.

Thankfully, she was in Team Two.

As long as the work was done, leaving a bit early still counted as a full day’s hours.

Ming Shuzhen happily headed downstairs, where Zhong Shuo was already waiting in the parking garage.

As soon as they met, Ming Shuzhen launched into her complaints.

“You’d better tell me your phone broke or you lost your internet. Otherwise, how do you explain not replying to me all day?”

Zhong Shuo glanced at her. Despite her chronic late-night habits, she looked surprisingly vibrant.

“My phone’s fine, and I had internet. I thought you got hacked, sending me that scammy trash message.”

“Trash? Scam?” Ming Shuzhen’s eyes widened as she pulled out her phone to check her chat history with Zhong Shuo.

Confirmed—it was definitely her.

Though the content was a bit… embarrassing.

Fastening her seatbelt, she sheepishly defended herself. “Heh, come on, I was just too excited, okay? I wanted to share, but you ignored me.”

“How was I supposed to respond?” Zhong Shuo leaned back in the passenger seat, looking like a cabbage mourning its fate at the hands of a pig.

“So, what’s the deal with you two? Are you dating?”

“Yup!” Ming Shuzhen nodded enthusiastically. “We’re dating!”

“…Oh.” Zhong Shuo’s reaction was far less animated.

Ming Shuzhen wasn’t pleased. “Aren’t you excited? I’m in a relationship! With my boss, no less!”

Zhong Shuo helped keep an eye on the road ahead, sighing. “I saw it coming. The moment you kept bringing up your boss, I knew this day would come.”

Ming Shuzhen gave an awkward laugh. “Was I that obvious?”

Zhong Shuo turned away, unwilling to breathe in the sour stench of her friend’s newfound love.

She was happy for her, of course, even if it was a relationship that seemed mismatched in every way and unlikely to last.

But as long as her bestie was happy, that was enough.

Still…

Zhong Shuo pressed her lips together, deciding to play the bad guy. “Are you just messing around with her, or is this serious?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course it’s serious,” Ming Shuzhen replied without hesitation.

Zhong Shuo felt compelled to throw a bucket of cold water on her enthusiasm.

“Even in straight relationships, the odds of smoothly reaching marriage are slim. And even if you get married, divorce isn’t out of the question.”

“You and your boss—there’s an age gap, right? She’s your superior, so you’re not on equal footing.”

“And how are you going to explain this to your parents? You can’t just tell them you’re friends, can you? So, aren’t you just playing around?”

“Okay, let’s say none of that’s an issue. Have you considered her attitude? You’ve thought through all the possibilities, prepared for everything, but what if she’s not serious? What if she’s just playing?”

“And even if you’re both serious, the world changes fast, doesn’t it? True love’s worth nothing sometimes. What’s to say you won’t break up later?”

“So, baby,” Zhong Shuo turned to face her, serious, “you can only give half of yourself to this relationship. I don’t know your boss—she’s nothing to me.”

“I only know you. I don’t want you to get hurt. If it’s fun, enjoy it. If it’s not, walk away immediately. Don’t drag it out. Got it?”

Ming Shuzhen understood every word. Her eyes stayed on the road, avoiding Zhong Shuo’s gaze, but she nodded to show her stance.

“Big Zhong Shuo, thank you.”

“Ugh, sappy much?” Zhong Shuo faked a shudder. “So cheesy.”

The two of them, carrying a huge bouquet of sunflowers, waited outside the graduate entrance exam testing center.

The snow from last night had mostly melted, and the roads had been cleared by snowplows.

But a thin layer of white still blanketed the rooftops.

Last year, they’d waited in the same spot.

When Zhang Baobao came out, she was in tears, and Ming Shuzhen and Zhong Shuo had helped her into the car.

Chang Yongxi drove, and they left that place of heartbreak behind.

Zhang Baobao had sworn she was done with exams and would look for a job.

But back at school, seeing the mountain of study materials on her desk, she dove back in, preparing for a second attempt.

A year later, armed with knowledge once more, Zhang Baobao had gone to battle again.

Ming Shuzhen parked the car in an open spot and joined Zhang Baobao outside the campus to wait.

Chang Yongxi arrived too, and with the crowd outside the exam center, they struggled to describe their location over the phone before finally reuniting.

When the exam bell rang, a flood of people poured out.

Before they even spotted Zhang Baobao, Ming Shuzhen’s tears came first.

She wiped them away with the back of her hand, scanning the emerging faces.

Until one familiar face appeared—Zhang Baobao.

They rushed forward, enveloping her in a group hug.

The group chatted late into the night. By the time Ming Shuzhen got home and washed up, it was eleven or twelve.

Reeking of alcohol, she flopped onto the bed, grabbing her phone.

She’d already set Ming Shuyan’s contact as “Wife.” Now, bleary-eyed, she frantically tapped her profile picture.

The chat showed a string of “pats.”

Ming Shuzhen tapped herself: Come on, spank me.

Ming Shuyan, still awake, had work to finish.

Seeing the flood of messages, she responded patiently. “What’s up? Not asleep yet?”

Spotting the reply, Ming Shuzhen sent a video call.

“Hm?” Ming Shuyan saw the big face on her screen and smiled indulgently.

Then she noticed Ming Shuzhen had been drinking.

“You’ve been drinking? Got any hangover medicine at home?” she asked.

“Drank. Yep. Took some,” Ming Shuzhen answered, each word deliberate, her breath warm.

She blinked at the screen, then glanced at her own face in the corner.

She pulled back, sitting up. “Ugh, was I super ugly just now?”

“Not at all. Very cute,” Ming Shuyan said honestly.

She smiled at the sight of Ming Shuzhen adjusting her pose for a better camera angle.

Ming Shuzhen glared. “Don’t believe you.”

“I’m asking you—are you just playing with me, or are you serious?” Zhong Shuo’s words still lingered in her mind.

Never one to bottle things up, the alcohol made her even less willing to hold back.

Ming Shuyan couldn’t tell if she was drunk-talking or using the liquor to voice her insecurities.

Truthfully, Ming Shuyan was more anxious than Ming Shuzhen.

Looking into her eyes on the screen, she said, “I’m serious.”

“There might be some impulsiveness, but being with you isn’t a whim. I’ve thought it through carefully.”

“I know our positions, age, and everything else might make you feel insecure. Honestly, I’m incredibly insecure too.”

“But I believe people should have a bit of blind confidence—step out, trust blindly, and maybe we’re just right for each other. I’m certain of my feelings for you, and I’m certain I’ll cherish this relationship.”

“But… if you want to call it quits, that’s okay too. With me, you can come and go as you please.” Ming Shuyan’s voice carried a trace of reluctance as she said the last part.

Ming Shuzhen’s buzz faded a bit at her words.

Her wide eyes, still tinged with a drunken flush, stared at the screen.

“Wife,” she said softly.

Though her body felt soft and woozy, her mind and eyes had cleared.

“Blind confidence…” she murmured.

How could she be confident in a relationship so full of uncertainty?

It felt like a glass bottle teetering on a table’s edge—one nudge, and it’d shatter on the floor.

“Ugh, why doesn’t being together feel as happy as I thought?” She looked at the screen, blurting out her honest thoughts.

Ming Shuyan paused, wanting to comfort her but unsure what to say.

She shut her computer, grabbed her things, and headed downstairs without a second thought.

Phone in hand, she kept her eyes on Ming Shuzhen’s face. “Pillow, can I come over?”

“Hm?” Ming Shuzhen blinked, checking the time on her phone.

“It’s late, isn’t it? Are you… staying over?” she hesitated.

“It’s fine. If it’s too much trouble, I’ll just stay a bit and leave. I just want to hold you,” Ming Shuyan replied.

If they were both insecure, then at least they could hold each other. Physical closeness might ease their hearts a little.

“You… okay, let me tidy up first.”

Ming Shuzhen sprang from the bed, eyeing her messy room.

She’d been lazy, planning to let Wu Yuanchu and Ming Jianchang clean tomorrow, but now she had to act fast.

She shoved clothes from the sofa into the wardrobe and vacuumed the floor.

Soon, the doorbell rang.

By then, Ming Shuzhen was sober and clear-headed.

She wasn’t a hopeless romantic—she always believed love should only be part of life.

She didn’t want to be consumed by doubt or let those emotions disrupt their relationship.

Opening the door, she greeted Ming Shuyan with a big hug.

“Where’d you park?” she asked, still holding her.

The complex didn’t allow outside vehicles, so Ming Shuyan had parked in another lot and walked over.

“In the lot outside,” Ming Shuyan said, stroking the back of her head. Being enveloped by her felt grounding.

The tangible warmth of the embrace anchored them.

“Tomorrow, I’ll drive you to work?” Ming Shuzhen let go, blinking.

Worried about smelling like alcohol, she stepped back, leaving a small distance between them.

“Hm? Inviting me to stay over?” Ming Shuyan tilted her head, a delighted smile spreading across her face.

“Mm…” Ming Shuzhen placed her hands on Ming Shuyan’s shoulders, her knuckles brushing her neck.

Ming Shuyan had left in a rush, forgetting her scarf, revealing the red marks on her neck.

Ming Shuzhen frowned. “Why haven’t they faded?”

“All your fault,” Ming Shuyan said, feigning annoyance. “You added another one.”

“Can I add one more?” Ming Shuzhen looked up, her big eyes glinting mischievously.

Ming Shuyan pushed her lightly, but without much force, as if giving silent permission.

Grinning, Ming Shuzhen leaned in, finding a new spot and biting down.

Ming Shuyan didn’t flinch, even as it stung. Ming Shuzhen grew bolder, deepening the bite.

Her small hands gripped Ming Shuyan’s shoulders, like a lion pouncing on prey, fiercely biting down.

The biting turned to sucking.

Ming Shuyan tilted her neck back, leaning against the door, using her core strength to support both their weights.

She felt Ming Shuzhen’s tongue draw her skin in.

“No,” she groaned, trembling, pushing Ming Shuzhen gently.

Ming Shuzhen released her, blinking. Her lips were still glossy. “What’s wrong?”

“No hickeys,” Ming Shuyan said sternly. “There are major arteries on both sides of the neck. Hickeys are dangerous.”

Hearing this, Ming Shuzhen didn’t dare continue.

She stood straight, like a guilty puppy facing its owner.

“I was wrong. I’ll control myself from now on.”

Seeing her like this, Ming Shuyan’s resolve softened instantly.

But her thin skin kept her from saying anything too bold, her voice barely a whisper, slipping through her teeth.

“You… you can keep… biting me.”

“Huh?” Ming Shuzhen’s eyes lit up again.

If she had a tail, it’d be wagging wildly.

After reaching a consensus on hickeys, Ming Shuyan followed her to the bedroom.

“Pretty clean. You even folded the quilt,” Ming Shuyan said, scanning the room with genuine praise.

“Uh.” Ming Shuzhen scratched the back of her head, staying quiet.

“Same bed? One quilt?” she offered.

Ming Shuyan smiled—exactly what she wanted.

They lay side by side, inevitably circling back to their earlier conversation.

But face-to-face, feeling each other’s warmth, they were more at ease than over the phone.

“How do I prove my love is unshakable, never fading?” Ming Shuyan stared at the ceiling, recalling the line.

Sleepiness crept in, but they still wanted to cuddle and talk.

Ming Shuyan remembered their time at Qingyuan Bookstore, when Ming Shuzhen had sworn she was straight.

Her lips curved. “Didn’t someone tell me they were straight?”

“Hm?” Ming Shuzhen, eyes closed, buried her face in Ming Shuyan’s shoulder.

“Who said that? No idea,” she mumbled, her voice soft and sleepy.

Ming Shuyan grinned, reaching to touch her face.

Her skin was warm, a normal reaction after drinking.

“Wife,” Ming Shuzhen murmured, “I was straight. You bent me.”

“Heh.” Ming Shuyan’s eyes darkened playfully. “I don’t buy it. You’re just making excuses.”

“Heehee.” Ming Shuzhen’s eyes crinkled as she flashed her sharp teeth, biting Ming Shuyan’s arm hard.

The sudden move caught Ming Shuyan off guard, and she let out a startled yelp.

The sound only egged Ming Shuzhen on, her tongue grazing the spot.