Lin Qianwei panicked.
She didn’t know why, but she just couldn’t stand seeing that expression on Ji Yunxiao’s face.
With a hint of urgency she didn’t even notice herself, she tried to explain to Ji Yunxiao, “I didn’t try to coax Yan Lulu or anything.”
Lin Qianwei said, “A few years ago, when the Lin family had trouble, Yan Lulu’s parents helped me a lot, so sometimes I look after Yan Lulu, but it’s really just looking after her, nothing more.”
Ji Yunxiao knew that.
But maybe it was the troublemaker inside her acting up, because seeing the usually cold and quiet beauty like this, she didn’t stop—instead, she pushed even further.
Ji Yunxiao pressed, “Have you ever hugged her?” Lin Qianwei felt a little guilty for no reason, “Maybe when we were kids.”
Ji Yunxiao let go of Lin Qianwei’s soft hand, brushed aside the hair falling by her cheek, and let her fingers rest on those delicate red lips.
Ji Yunxiao asked in a low voice, “Then have you ever kissed her?” Lin Qianwei: “Of course not!” Lin Qianwei was a little annoyed and turned her head to avoid Ji Yunxiao’s touch.
Ji Yunxiao hid her smile and followed up, “Not even when you were little?” Lin Qianwei: “No!”
“But you two grew up together, you’re basically childhood friends,” Ji Yunxiao lowered her beautiful eyes, a bit of disappointment showing between her brows, “I’m so jealous.”
Lin Qianwei couldn’t help but argue, “How does that make us childhood friends?”
Ji Yunxiao didn’t answer, just said with a hint of melancholy, “It should’ve been me who grew up with you.”
Lin Qianwei thought of Ji Yunxiao being switched at birth, and was left speechless.
She felt like she should say something to comfort Ji Yunxiao, but she didn’t know what to say.
The surroundings fell silent, and Lin Qianwei was still hesitating, until Ji Yunxiao spoke softly to her, “Can you hug me?”
Before Lin Qianwei could refuse, Ji Yunxiao added, “Just once.”
The defenses Lin Qianwei had built up in her heart suddenly crumbled a little in that moment.
The Ji Yunxiao in front of her wasn’t a weak person.
She could ride a motorcycle and take her flying through crowded streets, chat and laugh freely in bars and cafes, and at the birthday banquet just now, she faced all kinds of celebrities without flinching and even played a grand, powerful konghou piece.
But right now, Ji Yunxiao’s voice was soft, her expression aggrieved, and she was acting spoiled with her.
In that moment, Lin Qianwei was really tempted.
But no matter what, she just couldn’t bring herself to take the initiative to hug her.
She could only take a step forward, a little awkward, and say, “Then… you… come here.”
Ji Yunxiao looked down at her and chuckled softly, “I want you to hug me.”
Lin Qianwei’s long lashes trembled, “You really are…” So pushy.
She had no reason to agree, she could totally refuse.
But Lin Qianwei bit her lip, her eyes misting over a little, and she didn’t even know what she was thinking.
She actually opened her arms and half-heartedly wrapped them around Ji Yunxiao’s shoulders, then turned away coldly, “I hugged you, okay?”
But Ji Yunxiao wouldn’t let Lin Qianwei go.
She grabbed Lin Qianwei’s delicate, fair wrist, turned her back around, and while Lin Qianwei was off guard, pulled her into her arms.
“You—” “Don’t push me away, okay? I won’t hold you for long.” Ji Yunxiao tightened her arms, resting her forehead on the woman’s shoulder.
And just like that, Lin Qianwei softened again.
Above them was the bright moon, a cool breeze at their sides, the night a little chilly, but even so, Lin Qianwei still broke out in a bit of a sweat.
“Are you done yet?” She poked Ji Yunxiao’s waist with her finger.
The feeling was surprisingly nice.
Lin Qianwei wanted to touch her again, but forced herself to hold back.
She turned her head slightly and whispered, “It’s been a long time already…”
“What if I don’t want to let you go?” Ji Yunxiao buried her face in her neck, her voice hoarse.
The wife in her arms was soft and fragrant, making her heart race, but that wasn’t the reason she couldn’t let go.
Ji Yunxiao really couldn’t bear to.
She’d missed Qianqian for so many years.
“Sometimes I’m really scared all of this is just a dream.” Ji Yunxiao gently brushed the tear mole at the corner of Lin Qianwei’s eye, then pulled her tightly into her arms again.
“Only when I’m holding you like this do I feel at ease.” Ji Yunxiao murmured.
Lin Qianwei was squeezed so tight she could barely breathe, and finally remembered to struggle, “Let go of me, did you drink too much today?”
“Yeah,” Ji Yunxiao reluctantly let go, looking into Lin Qianwei’s eyes, “I had a glass of whiskey with Liu Zhi before I came out.”
“It was really strong,” Ji Yunxiao said.
Actually, that little bit of alcohol wasn’t enough to get Ji Yunxiao drunk, but she still pretended to be tipsy and leaned to the side.
Lin Qianwei couldn’t just watch her fall, so she reached out to steady her, and Ji Yunxiao took the chance to lean on her shoulder.
“Take me home, Qianqian.” Ji Yunxiao’s voice was low and husky.
Hearing that name again, Lin Qianwei’s body stiffened for a moment.
Her thick, crow-feather-like lashes fell, hiding her expression, so no one could tell what she was thinking.
Later, in the car, Ji Yunxiao still wanted to talk to her, but Lin Qianwei turned her head to look out the window and said coldly, “I’m tired.”
Ji Yunxiao: “Then get some rest.”
She sighed softly in her heart, thinking, Still can’t call her Qianqian? It was a bit of a pity.
Ji Yunxiao used her fake drunkenness to trick Lin Qianwei upstairs, but this time, no matter how much she acted spoiled or made a fuss, Lin Qianwei wouldn’t soften.
Lin Qianwei insisted on leaving.
Ji Yunxiao looked like an abandoned puppy, her eyes wet and pitiful.
She sat on the bed, looking up at Lin Qianwei and asked, “You really can’t stay with me tonight?”
Lin Qianwei glanced at her, then looked away.
Lin Qianwei said, “No.”
Ji Yunxiao clutched her head and cried out that she was dizzy again.
Lin Qianwei had already reached the door, but seeing her like this, she paused.
“I might need some hangover medicine,” Ji Yunxiao said on purpose, “I think there’s a pharmacy downstairs.
Maybe I should go buy it myself.”
She staggered to her feet.
Lin Qianwei glanced at her, her pretty brows furrowing, then came over and pressed her down, annoyed.
“Just stay put and don’t move.
I’ll go get the medicine for you.”
Ji Yunxiao’s eyes curved with a smile.
“Thanks.”
But as soon as Lin Qianwei left, Ji Yunxiao got up again and went to the wine cellar to grab a few bottles of strong liquor.
After drinking them all, Ji Yunxiao was actually a bit drunk.
She hid the empty bottles, then wobbled back to the room.
And Lin Qianwei happened to come back at that moment.
Now Ji Yunxiao’s face was flushed red, clearly even more drunk than before.
She lay in the soft blankets, propping up her chin, and when she lifted her eyelids to look at someone, there was a stunning glow in her eyes.
Lin Qianwei’s brow twitched.
She put the hangover medicine aside, came over and frowned.
“How did you get this drunk?”
“The wine at the birthday banquet was too strong,” Ji Yunxiao still tried to make excuses.
Lin Qianwei stared at her for a while, then said nothing more.
She turned to pour a glass of warm water, planning to feed Ji Yunxiao the hangover medicine.
But Ji Yunxiao not only didn’t take it, she even tumbled down and flopped at Lin Qianwei’s legs.
Lin Qianwei was a bit annoyed.
“Get up.”
Ji Yunxiao didn’t move, still hugging her leg and rubbing against it, mumbling, “I’m not getting up, and you can’t leave either.
Qianqian, if you leave, something will happen to me.”
Lin Qianwei’s face turned cold.
“What did you just call me?”
Ji Yunxiao obediently answered, “Qianqian.”
Lin Qianwei pressed her lips together tightly.
Lin Qianwei said, “I’m not—”
Before she could finish, Ji Yunxiao nuzzled her and said, “You are my Qianqian.”
Lin Qianwei’s back tingled from her touch.
She wanted to escape but couldn’t, wanted to break free but couldn’t.
She could only suppress her temper and coax, “Can you get up? You’ll catch a cold like this, and I’ll feel bad too.”
Ji Yunxiao got up.
But before Lin Qianwei could breathe a sigh of relief, the drunken woman pressed her down into the soft blankets.
“Qianqian…” Lin Qianwei heard Ji Yunxiao mumbling, “Don’t leave me, Qianqian.”
Lin Qianwei took a deep breath, her eyes already brewing a storm.
It seemed like she couldn’t hold back anymore.
The next day, Lin Qianwei had someone investigate a few things.
After a few days, when she got the results, she went to the psychologist that Qiao Xi had recommended before.
The psychologist looked kind and was patient and gentle.
Her tone was calm as she said to Lin Qianwei, “Take your time.”
Lin Qianwei pressed her hand to her forehead, forced herself to calm down, and slowly began, “I have a friend.
Recently, she suddenly changed her personality and started saying things like she’s actually from another world, that she traveled here.
Do you think that’s possible?”
The psychologist replied gently, “Of course that’s not possible.
Does your friend have any other symptoms? You can tell me in detail.”
Lin Qianwei gave a rough explanation.
“And according to her description, she has a childhood friend who grew up with her.
That friend looks just like me but has a different name.
I specifically had someone check, and from childhood to now, there’s never been anyone by her side with that name.”
A hint of confusion appeared in Lin Qianwei’s eyes.
“Could it be that the girl she calls by that name really belongs to another world?”
The psychologist smiled and said, “There’s a mental illness called delusional disorder.
It’s possible to fabricate people, things, and relationships in one’s memory that don’t exist in reality.”
Lin Qianwei frowned.
“So my friend has delusional disorder?”
The psychologist shook her head.
“From your description, it also sounds a bit like dissociative identity disorder.
I still suggest you take her to a proper hospital for a detailed examination as soon as possible.”
Lin Qianwei said, “I understand.”
The secretary was waiting downstairs.
Seeing Lin Qianwei looking absent-minded, she hurried over and asked worriedly, “President Lin, are you alright?”
The wind at the street corner pulled Lin Qianwei’s thoughts back.
She steadied herself and told the secretary, “Cancel all my appointments for the afternoon.”
She got the car keys from the driver, sat in the driver’s seat, and called Ji Yunxiao.
Lin Qianwei got straight to the point.
“Where are you?”
Ji Yunxiao sent her the address, sounding a little aggrieved.
“You haven’t talked to me these past few days.
Why did you suddenly think of me today?”
Lin Qianwei set the navigation and said coldly, “I’m coming to get you.”
She hung up right after speaking, not even giving Ji Yunxiao time to react.
What’s going on? She didn’t really get it, but since her wife wanted to see her, that was a good thing.
There wasn’t time to change clothes, but she could still touch up her makeup.
Ji Yunxiao specially put on caramel milk tea lip gloss, hoping to surprise Lin Qianwei when she arrived.
But Lin Qianwei barely looked at her.
Lin Qianwei opened the car door, let her in, and then sped off without saying a word.
Ji Yunxiao asked, “Where are you taking me?”
Lin Qianwei stared straight ahead, her expression very calm.
“You’ll know when we get there.”
So mysterious? Ji Yunxiao started to look forward to it.
