Chapter 42.1

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Qiao Ziman curled up under the blanket, her face as red as a tomato.

This is so embarrassing.

So mortifying.

She had never worn something like that in her entire life. Yet here she was, wondering if it might improve her Yinyin’s mood.

Lifting one corner of the blanket, Qiao Ziman cautiously extended a hand, fumbling for her phone. The moment her fingers grasped it, she darted back under the covers, retreating like a startled rabbit. With her heart pounding, she unlocked the screen and checked her messages. The last message in the chat still displayed that daring photo she had sent five minutes ago—an image that left little to the imagination.

And yet… there was no response? Her Yinyin didn’t react at all?

In a fit of frustration, Qiao Ziman threw off the blanket completely, holding her phone close to her face. She stared at the screen intently, willing it to light up with a reply.

Five minutes passed.

Then another five minutes.

Still, her message had sunk like a stone in the ocean.

Her heart began to thump unevenly, a nagging unease settling in. Slowly, doubt started creeping into her mind.

Is my figure really that bad?

Qiao Ziman jumped out of bed and dashed barefoot to the full-length mirror in the bathroom, studying her reflection carefully. The person staring back at her had cheeks still tinged with a lingering blush, and her slightly upturned eyes shimmered with a soft allure, exuding an unintentional charm. The thin fabric she wore barely clung to her figure, revealing pale skin beneath. She blinked in shock. Was this really her? She barely recognized herself.

Biting back her embarrassment, she pinched her waist lightly. No extra fat. Her figure was fine, wasn’t it? Decent, even! With a flicker of reassurance, she ran back to bed, grabbed her phone, and checked her messages again. Still nothing. No reply. Her mind started spinning. Could she still be mad? Is Yinyin really this hard to appease?

Throwing down her phone in frustration, Qiao Ziman changed into a more modest nightgown and quietly crept out of her room to investigate. Chi Yin’s bedroom door was tightly shut. With a nervous gulp, Qiao Ziman knocked softly. Seconds ticked by, but no response came.

“Yinyin, I’m here to make it up to you. I’m coming in, okay?” she called out, waiting another few seconds before cautiously placing her hand on the doorknob. She turned it gently. Click. The door didn’t budge. She tried again, only then realizing Chi Yin had locked the door from the inside.

Qiao Ziman stood there, speechless. …Well, okay then.

Qiao Ziman pressed her ear against the door. The sound of running water drifted from the bedroom.

Ah, she’s taking a shower, Qiao Ziman thought, letting out a small breath of relief. But then another thought crept in. Does she really need to lock the door just to shower? That could only mean one thing—Chi Yin didn’t want to see her.

So hard to please, she sighed, her mood sinking. Dejected, she trudged back to her room, wrapped herself in the blanket once more, and began staring at the ceiling, reflecting on her actions.

***

The next day, after work, Qiao Ziman was caught off guard when Ji Yun blocked her path at the entrance of the company building.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.

Ji Yun rolled down the car window, revealing a face full of barely restrained irritation. “It’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival. I’m on leave.”

Qiao Ziman climbed into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt. “What’s wrong? Where are we headed?”

Ji Yun slapped the steering wheel in frustration. “Don’t even ask! I went to settle something earlier, got into a fight over some inventory, and then this overly dolled-up woman swooped in and snatched the deal right from under my nose!”

Ji Yun’s favorite hobby was collecting perfumes, and she’d had her eye on this cool-toned fragrance for ages. It was no wonder she was fuming.

“Ugh, why are some people so infuriating? A cool-toned scent, of all things! Did she even bother to check herself in the mirror? Strutting around like a peacock in full display—does she even deserve it?” Ji Yun ranted.

Qiao Ziman gave her a once-over, confirming that Ji Yun was unharmed, and let out a sigh of relief. “You’re a grown woman. Still picking fights?”

“Who’s picking fights?” Ji Yun shot back indignantly. “I don’t brawl with other women, but don’t worry—she didn’t get the better of me in the argument.”

Qiao Ziman chuckled. “So, where are you planning to go now? Are we grabbing dinner together? Although I need to head home early tonight.” She trailed off, thinking to herself, Still need to appease Yinyin.

Ji Yun narrowed her eyes, noticing the faint smile tugging at the corners of Qiao Ziman’s lips. Instantly, she saw through her little secret and teased, “Tsk, tsk. There it is—the unmistakable glow of a woman in love.”

Qiao Ziman’s smile froze. “…Excuse me?”

Ji Yun smirked knowingly. “Correction: a woman about to fall in love.”

Ji Yun: “…” Great, as if things weren’t annoying enough, now I have to watch this love-struck display too.

“So, have you picked a perfect day to confess?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

At the mention of it, Qiao Ziman immediately perked up, pulling out her phone and holding it in front of Ji Yun’s face. “I’ve picked the date already—Mid-Autumn Festival. My mom will be there too, and you should come as well. I just haven’t decided on the venue yet. Help me choose from these three options, will you?”

Ji Yun pushed the phone aside. “Forget about that for now. I need you to come with me somewhere today.”

“Where?” Qiao Ziman asked, narrowing her eyes.

Ji Yun kept her head down, typing into her phone’s navigation. “A bar. To be precise, a lesbian bar.”

“Nope!” Qiao Ziman immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the car door.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Ji Yun leaned over and grabbed the door handle to stop her. “Are you serious right now?”

Qiao Ziman turned to her with a straight face and recited, “Rule number three from The Love Notes: Maintain boundaries with strangers, always keep a safe distance, never make Yinyin angry, and under no circumstances make her cry.”

“Do you even care about being a decent friend?” Ji Yun pointed at herself, her face full of frustration. “Last time, I drank all night just for the sake of your happiness! And what did I get in return? Watching you play some teacher-student roleplay, kissing right in front of me! Oh, and let’s not forget the time you woke me up in the middle of the night to talk about your little lingerie adventure. Can you at least think about my feelings for once? Is my life not worth anything to you?”

“And now this? You’re about to leave the single club, and you’re just going to abandon me? What kind of friend does that?” She crossed her arms dramatically. “I don’t care. You’re coming with me tonight!”

Qiao Ziman hesitated, her brows furrowing. “But I made Yinyin mad yesterday. If I go to a bar tonight, wouldn’t that make things worse?”

“Then don’t tell her,” Ji Yun said matter-of-factly.