“Yuan’er!”
A soft and gentle voice interrupted the conversation between the two.
Xia Yuan heard the familiar voice, looked up to see it was Meng Xiyue, and a gleam of joy flashed in her eyes. Her voice revealed her happiness, “Meng Xiyue, you’re off work! Come over here, let me introduce you. This is my good friend Ji Shi.”
Ji Shi had been abroad for almost two years and had just returned today.
They had known each other since middle school and even went to the same university, sharing a very close bond.
However, Ji Shi had left the country in a hurry back then because a famous foreign design master, Meryl Donald, had taken a liking to her design talent and wanted to take her on as a student.
Ji Shi only thought about it for a day before leaving in a rush, and she was gone for two years.
During that time, they had only met twice. At that time, Xia Yuan was busy chasing after Li Ting, and the other was also busy, so their contact naturally became less frequent. In those two years, apart from Xia Yuan visiting her twice at the beginning, their contact could be counted on two hands.
However, this did not affect their sisterly bond.
Meng Xiyue walked over and stood beside Xia Yuan, her gaze falling on Ji Shi’s pure and beautiful face.
Among Xia Yuan’s so-called plastic friends, there wasn’t a single one who wasn’t good-looking, and this good friend was naturally also beautiful.
However, what caught Meng Xiyue’s attention the most was the other person’s name.
Ji Shi, another villainous female character who fought with the later female lead for nearly a hundred chapters.
This villainous female character was different from Xia Yuan. She was the female lead’s rival in the design industry. Ji Shi was a genius designer, and she and the female lead Ding Yaoyao had the same mentor. When the female lead returned after five years of study, they would work in the same design company. Ji Shi, as the company’s design director, was too independent and autocratic in her designs, leading to various unpleasant conflicts with the newly returned female lead.
In the end, she was defeated by the female lead in an international design competition and was expelled from the design industry.
“Ji Shi, this is my girlfriend, Meng Xiyue.” Xia Yuan never hid her relationship with Meng Xiyue. When she mentioned their relationship, her eyes sparkled with joy.
Hearing Xia Yuan’s introduction, Meng Xiyue’s originally indifferent and cold expression softened with a hint of gentleness. She extended her hand, “Hello.”
Ji Shi was genuinely surprised by Xia Yuan’s introduction. Two years ago, when she left, Xia Yuan was still chasing after Li Ting as usual. Now, upon her return, even Xia Yuan’s orientation had changed. She wondered if she had been abroad for ten years instead of two, as the changes were too fast. Her gaze fell on Xia Yuan’s happy face, and after a moment of silence, she extended her hand in return, with a sincere smile on her face, “Hello.”
After three seconds, they let go.
Xia Yuan then suggested, “Let’s have a meal together to celebrate your return.”
Ji Shi had a nostalgic smile on her face, “I want to go to Cai’s Restaurant.”
It was a place they frequented when they were still in school. Her family was just an ordinary one, and back then, she only had a few hundred yuan as pocket money, while Xia Yuan had dozens of times more. Xia Yuan would often talk about various luxury brands, which she knew nothing about.
Just because she had drawn a sketch for Xia Yuan, she caught Xia Yuan’s eye. Xia Yuan brought her into her circle and casually gave her gifts worth tens of thousands.
She never took it for granted. After spending a long time together, she never thought of Xia Yuan’s gifts as charity. She knew Xia Yuan bought those things for her because she thought they suited her, sincere and straightforward.
She also wanted to reciprocate. She mustered up the courage and nervously invited Xia Yuan to a modest restaurant.
Cai’s Restaurant.
The environment was quiet, and the place was clean and tidy.
Xia Yuan went without a moment’s hesitation.
After that, it became their unspoken place. Every once in a while, she would invite Xia Yuan there for a meal.
Hearing her mention it, Xia Yuan also had a nostalgic look on her face, “Since you left, I haven’t been there. I wonder if the taste has changed.”
Ji Shi smiled, “I wonder if the lady boss still remembers me. Yuan’er, you must remember. Every time we went, the lady boss would praise you for being beautiful and give us an extra dish.”
Xia Yuan laughed boldly, “I am beautiful, after all.”
The two chatted and laughed, while Meng Xiyue couldn’t get a word in. She lowered her eyes slightly, her fingertips lightly touching Xia Yuan’s fingers. But Xia Yuan, lost in memories, didn’t notice at all. Meng Xiyue pursed her lips into a straight, beautiful line, revealing a hint of grievance. Her gaze fell on Xia Yuan’s smiling face directed at Ji Shi. After a few seconds, she reached out and held Xia Yuan’s hand.
Xia Yuan felt her hand being held and turned to give Meng Xiyue an even brighter smile, holding her slightly cold hand in return.
Facing that radiant face, Meng Xiyue’s eyes softened involuntarily. However, Xia Yuan only smiled at her for a moment before turning her bright face back to her good friend.
For a second, those gentle eyes were confused, with trembling lashes. A strange, slightly bitter emotion filled her heart. She lowered her eyes, casting a lonely shadow, quietly following Xia Yuan’s steps, with the sound of their laughter in her ears.
Meng Xiyue drove, setting the navigation to Cai’s Restaurant.
Xia Yuan sat in the passenger seat, while Ji Shi sat in the back. Xia Yuan turned her head towards Ji Shi.
Two years of separation seemed to have left them with endless things to talk about.
The car was filled with their laughter and chatter.
In the past, when driving, Xia Yuan always talked a lot, and she would only occasionally respond. She rationally believed that talking while driving was disrespectful to life.
Since getting in the car, apart from giving the address and exchanging a few words, there was nothing more.
The other party was still talkative, but the target was no longer her.
Meng Xiyue felt a void in her heart, a cold panic swept through her usually rational and calm mind, and she blurted out instinctively:
“Yuan’er.”
Xia Yuan stopped and looked at Meng Xiyue. Her voice carried an unmistakable urgency, and she quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Meng Xiyue’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her rationality returning, “We’re almost there.”
Xia Yuan didn’t quite understand, responded with an “oh,” and looked at Meng Xiyue in confusion, only to see her tightly clenched jaw.
What’s wrong?
Xia Yuan wondered, losing interest in talking to Ji Shi. The car fell silent for a moment.
Meng Xiyue’s tightly clenched hand slowly relaxed.
She wasn’t lying; they were indeed close to Cai’s Restaurant.
In less than five minutes, they arrived. After finding a parking spot and parking the car, Xia Yuan and Ji Shi got out first. It was already after school hours, and blue and white school uniforms were everywhere.
Back in middle school, she always disliked the unattractive uniforms and often made a fuss about not wanting to wear them. It took her brother a long time to coax her into wearing them. She finally got rid of those uniforms when she went to an international high school. Now, looking at them, she felt a bit nostalgic.
But she said, “After all these years, the school’s taste hasn’t changed a bit.”
Ji Shi, who also went to the international school with Xia Yuan, chimed in, “Yeah, I remember back then, you loved looking pretty and stuck a sticker on your uniform. You even had a confrontation with the teacher over it.”
Xia Yuan snorted, “Others doodled all over their uniforms, but the teacher only picked on me. What was that about?”
Once the topic started, it went on endlessly.
Meng Xiyue hadn’t spoken for a long time. She quietly followed beside Xia Yuan.
When they arrived at the restaurant, the owner immediately recognized Xia Yuan. Not only did she send an extra dish, but she also asked Xia Yuan for an autograph and a photo.
The boss lady had seen Xia Yuan’s movies before. On screen, Xia Yuan exuded charm and allure, so she recognized her immediately. Compared to a few years ago, Xia Yuan’s features had fully matured, making her even more beautiful. The boss lady boasted to others that she knew this young actress.
No one believed her, but now that Xia Yuan was here in person, she had to quickly get some proof.
After getting a photo and autograph, the boss lady left with a big smile.
Ji Shi smiled and asked, “I haven’t had the chance to ask you yet, what made you suddenly decide to start acting?”
Xia Yuan picked up a piece of her favorite dish from this place and placed it on Meng Xiyue’s plate. “Just for fun, to pass the time.”
As expected, Ji Shi didn’t press further on the matter. She casually glanced at her phone and saw a notification.
Tianyu has a new CEO.
Startled, she clicked on it and found out that Li Ting was no longer the CEO of Tianyu. Instead, it was someone named Liu Xing, a person she didn’t know at all, who had taken over as the new CEO.
Ji Shi quickly shared the news, “Yuan’er, did you know? Li Ting is no longer the CEO of Tianyu.”
Xia Yuan’s eyes widened, then she chuckled, “It’s about time he stepped down.”
Ji Shi had just returned to the country and wasn’t up to date with domestic affairs, so she eagerly asked, “What’s going on? Tell me everything.”
Xia Yuan then recounted the whole story from beginning to end. After finishing, she felt a bit thirsty.
A cup of water was handed to her. She took a sip, finding it warm, and smiled as she made a request, “Meng Xiyue, I want to eat fish.”
Meng Xiyue silently began to pick out the fish bones for her.
Ji Shi also liked fish but found dealing with the bones troublesome, so she rarely ate it. Now, seeing Meng Xiyue meticulously picking out the bones for Xia Yuan with an indescribable elegance in her movements, she was impressed.
Xia Yuan continued talking, now reaching the part about the arranged marriage. Instantly, Ji Shi’s attention was diverted.
“Can you believe it? He had the audacity to think my family would agree to an arranged marriage without even discussing it with us.”
Ji Shi was equally indignant, “I always thought Li Ting wasn’t a good person. Ever since his so-called ‘white moonlight’ died, he’s been changing lovers one after another, all with similar looks. This kind of self-righteous ‘deep affection’ makes me want to puke. And you were foolish enough to get involved.”
Xia Yuan sneaked a glance at Meng Xiyue, seeing her still carefully picking out the fish bones, she felt reassured and confidently said, “I was young and naive.”
Meng Xiyue placed the fish on Xia Yuan’s plate and said, “Eat up.”
Xia Yuan picked up her chopsticks and happily started eating. Seeing Ji Shi watching her, she said, “I remember you also like fish a lot. Go ahead and eat.”
Ji Shi: “…”
She was already full.
Throughout the meal, Ji Shi felt like she was being fed dog food. It was at this moment that she truly realized Xia Yuan had found a same-sex partner.
The intimacy and sweetness between the two were something she had never seen in Xia Yuan before.
They made plans to go shopping together the next day and reluctantly parted ways.
…
Later that night, Xia Yuan wrapped her arms around Meng Xiyue’s waist, resting her head on Meng Xiyue’s shoulder. Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, she heard Meng Xiyue’s voice in the darkness:
“Yuan’er, am I boring?”
Hearing this, Xia Yuan was startled awake. She propped herself up and, unable to see Meng Xiyue’s expression in the dark, asked, “Why would you ask that?”
“I don’t know much about your past. I don’t know about all the fun things you did during your school days.”
“We don’t have much to talk about.”
After a moment of stunned silence, Xia Yuan burst into laughter and collapsed onto Meng Xiyue. She whispered seductively in Meng Xiyue’s ear, “Meng Xiyue, are you jealous?”
Meng Xiyue’s hands suddenly tightened, and in the darkness, her ears turned red. She lowered her eyes and admitted, “Yes.”
Xia Yuan could barely contain her smile, but knowing how reserved Meng Xiyue was, she held back her laughter. She hugged Meng Xiyue tightly and nuzzled her, her voice sticky sweet, “Meng Xiyue, I like you the most.”
“Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you.”
In the darkness, a faint smile appeared on Meng Xiyue’s lips. “Okay.”
No longer sleepy, Xia Yuan’s hands began to wander mischievously on Meng Xiyue’s waist. Meng Xiyue grabbed the naughty hand.
“Sleep.”
Xia Yuan was very enthusiastic about teasing her. Meng Xiyue, having endured this teasing for a while, restrained herself and accepted this passion, her fingers unconsciously squeezing the soft, playful hand in hers.
Xia Yuan pouted and settled down, “Good night, Meng Xiyue.”
“Good night.”
