Chapter 48.2

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Had she gone too far? No, that didn’t seem right. If she remembered correctly, Ji Yun had never backed down from a fight—in any sense.

Seeing the tension in Ji Yun’s shoulders, Yu Shuyan felt an inexplicable sense of unease. Without thinking, she called out, “Stop right there.”

Ji Yun halted, turning slightly. “Hm?”

Yu Shuyan glanced toward the bar, her voice lowering a notch. “…Let me buy you a drink?”

Ji Yun’s response was cold. “No need.” She turned back toward the door.

Yu Shuyan’s grip on the stair railing tightened. Watching Ji Yun’s retreating figure, she suddenly blurted out, “Hey! Weren’t you here to find me? I heard from Xiao Qi that you’ve been in town for days.”

Ji Yun stopped abruptly, then spun around and strode toward her, each step landing with a heavy click of her heels. Yu Shuyan took a slow, deep breath and straightened up. When Ji Yun reached her, they stood barely half a meter apart.

Looking straight into her eyes, Ji Yun asked, “Why did you leave without saying a word?” 

She had overheard the answer earlier, but she still needed to hear it directly.

Yu Shuyan tucked one hand behind her back, pressing her fingertips into her palm. When she looked up again, her usual careless expression had returned. “Oh, come on, big sister,” she drawled lazily. “Wasn’t that night just mutual fun? A one-night stand—wasn’t that the unspoken understanding between us? Or what—do you actually want something more? You’re that sentimental?”

Every word confirmed it had been just a fling.

Ji Yun let out a self-mocking laugh, her long lashes hiding the flicker of disappointment in her eyes. “Oh? Or is it that big sister wants another round with me?”

She cursed under her breath before reaching out, gripping Yu Shuyan’s chin. Her thumb traced over those bold red lips, a touch both mocking and lingering. “So the peacock doesn’t just fan its feathers—it also overestimates itself. Don’t get the wrong idea. I came looking for you for feedback, that’s all. Just wanted to know if you were convinced or not.”

She scoffed. “I’ve got a bad habit, you know. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a thing for novelty. The moment I’m done with a toy, I throw it away. My mom used to beat me up over it.” 

Ji Yun’s gaze deepened as she locked eyes with Yu Shuyan—then, just as abruptly, she released her grip and turned away, striding off without hesitation.

As Ji Yun disappeared from view, Yu Shuyan slowly retreated into a shadowed booth in the corner of the bar. Once the darkness fully enveloped her, she let go of the mask she had been wearing. Her head dropped forward, her body drained of its usual confidence. Her beautiful eyes, once filled with mischief, were now steeped in quiet sorrow.

***

Chi Yin and her business partner didn’t wrap up their meeting until the early hours of the morning. Leaving the bar, she immediately hailed a cab, her voice tight as she urged the driver to hurry. For the first time, she felt a deep, gnawing panic. She had no idea what kind of situation she was walking into. Would it be rage? Or worse—a cold, emotionless breakup after learning the truth? Either way, she wasn’t sure she could take it.

Chi Yin’s fingers trembled slightly as she keyed in the passcode—wrong on her first two attempts—before finally getting it right. Pushing open the door to the apartment, she looked inside. It was the same old scene: a dimly lit living room, the faint glow of the television flickering in the darkness, and a familiar cartoon playing on the screen. “Mess with me, Bald Strong, and you’ll have nowhere to hide!”

On the couch, Qiao Ziman’s fingers clenched abruptly. With a sharp crunch, the beer can in her hand crumpled into a tight ball. Chi Yin had a sinking feeling—that beer can looked eerily like her own imminent fate.

Just then, Qiao Ziman heard the noise and slowly turned her head. Her voice carried an eerie calm. “You’re back?”

Chi Yin, nerves frayed, gave a small nod and stepped forward.

“Stop right there!” Qiao Ziman’s gaze pinned her in place. “Yin Yin, have you had a lot to drink?”

Before Chi Yin could respond, Qiao Ziman spoke for her. “No, wait. I just saw President Chi sitting in front of at least three empty bottles of wine. So, you must have an amazing tolerance. Which means… that time on your birthday, when you acted all drunk—that was fake, wasn’t it?”

Chi Yin lifted two fingers, indicating a minuscule gap between them. “Just a little tipsy.”

Qiao Ziman laughed. Oh, so that’s how it is. So it was all just an act? The clinging, the teasing, the bathroom stunt? So it was all just an excuse to take advantage of me? She felt ridiculous. How could I have fallen for it? And to think she once believed Chi Yin was some innocent little white flower.

“You—!” Qiao Ziman gritted her teeth. “It’s a waste that you’re not in the acting industry! Someone should give you an award!”

Chi Yin glanced at her and murmured, “Last time, when I cooked for you at your place, you did give me an award. A piece of baby bok choy.”

Qiao Ziman nearly lunged at her. “Quit joking around!” Fuming, she stormed over and flipped the switch. The living room lit up like daylight, revealing the fully stocked dining table—rows of beer cans laid out in plain sight.

Chi Yin’s pupils contracted. “Qiao Qiao, what is this?”

Qiao Ziman’s voice was icy. “Didn’t you say you could handle your liquor? Show me.”

Concern flickered in Chi Yin’s eyes. “I really don’t think you should try to outdrink me.”

Oh, so now she’s being considerate? Qiao Ziman let out a sharp laugh, the kind that came from sheer, boiling frustration. She pointed at the table. “Tonight is Truth Night!”

Storming off to her room, she returned moments later with her Relationship Notebook, then sat across from Chi Yin with a determined expression. She flipped open to the first page, where her gaze landed on the very first note she had ever written:

“Yin Yin can’t hold her liquor. When she drinks too much, she gets clingy.”

With one sharp stroke, she crossed it out. Next to it, in bold letters, she wrote:

LIAR!

Chi Yin looked at her in confusion. “Qiao Qiao, what are you writing?”

Qiao Ziman smiled sweetly. “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t be asking!”

Holding grudges!!!

Chi Yin pressed her lips together. Qiao Ziman popped open two bottles of beer, sliding one across the table toward Chi Yin before tapping her fingers against the wood. “So, do I ask and you answer, or do you just confess everything on your own?”

Chi Yin took the beer, her fingertips tracing the rim hesitantly. After a long pause, she finally said, “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, but can you—”

Qiao Ziman shot her a sharp glare. “No conditions.”

Chi Yin fell silent.

Leaning back, Qiao Ziman continued, “Alright, first question. Let’s start simple. When we slept together for the first time—was that red mark on your neck really from me?”