Beautiful Blues

What’s the saying again? "I searched for her a thousand times in my dreams, and when I suddenly turned around, she was there, by the dimming lights." Easy to get? My foot! Ruan Xinyi pinched her palm forcefully, restraining her gaze. She unabashedly scanned the woman reflected in the elevator mirror. The woman wore a black shirt and pants, her figure slender and graceful. She carried a briefcase in one hand, and her slightly curled long hair was pinned up at the back of her head. A pair of silver-framed, rimless glasses rested on her high nose bridge. The extra layer of lenses slightly dulled the radiance in her peach-blossom eyes, making the coldness in her expression even more pronounced. Her profile was aloof, exuding an air of distance. Ruan Xinyi’s gaze moved downward, and without realizing it, her eyes lingered on the woman’s lips for a few seconds. The lipstick she wore wasn’t too bright, leaning more towards a natural shade. Ruan Xinyi couldn’t tell if it was just her...

After lunch, Ruan Xinyi accompanied Ruan Su to the living room to watch TV. Ruan Su enjoyed watching business and international news channels, while Ruan Xinyi sat upright on the sofa, watching with great interest. About half an hour later, Ruan Su’s phone rang. She silenced it and stood up, walking toward the window. Ruan Su was on the phone for nearly ten minutes. When she returned, her expression was somewhat cold. “Ruan Ruan, something came up at the company. You should rest early tonight; you don’t have to wait for me.” Ruan Xinyi asked with concern, “Mom, what happened?” “There were a few data discrepancies, but luckily we caught them early. Otherwise, it would have been troublesome.” After speaking, Ruan Su grabbed her jacket and hurried out the door. Hearing the car engine start, Ruan Xinyi stretched her arm and yawned, changing from her previous upright posture. She slumped her shoulders, grabbed a cushion, and casually leaned back on the sofa. She took out her phone, replied ...

“You stayed at a hotel last night?” “Emmm—” Ruan Xinyi scratched the back of her head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and said softly, “I had dinner with Jiang Yun and the others last night, and it got pretty late, so I booked a room at a hotel.” Ruan Su responded with a nonchalant “Mm,” adjusted Ruan Xinyi’s collar, and gently tucked her loose hair behind her ear. Her tone softened. “How’s the internship preparation going?” “I interviewed with a company a few days ago. I should hear back soon,” Ruan Xinyi replied truthfully. Ruan Su frowned slightly, showing mild disapproval. Her lips parted, but she decided not to comment. “Mom~” Ruan Xinyi clung to Ruan Su’s arm affectionately, trying to get away with acting cute. “It’s just a two-month internship, and my advisor has also assigned me some tasks for later.” Ruan Xinyi had been accepted into a graduate program at her alma mater. Ruan Su only found out about it after Xinyi was admitted. Because of this, Ruan Su chose not to pursue the topi...

The next day, Ruan Xinyi was jolted awake by the sudden sensation of falling. Her body instinctively shuddered as she squinted and reached out beside her. Expecting to touch a soft, warm figure, her fingers instead met cold emptiness, instantly clearing her mind. Sitting up abruptly, she incredulously reached out to feel the sheets again. They were still cold. Pulling back the covers, she found the bed empty—save for the rumpled sheets, the only evidence someone had been there not long ago. Ignoring the blanket slipping off her waist, Ruan Xinyi turned her head toward the bathroom. The suite was silent. There was no sound of running water or any other noise. It was as if the person from last night and everything that had happened were nothing more than a figment of her imagination. Yet, everything had been undeniably real. “Sister?!” Ruan Xinyi called out several times, unwilling to give up. No response. Rubbing her temples heavily, her unease grew when she noticed the suitcase in the ...

After finally getting through the calls from her family, Qi Jingning let out a sigh of relief. She took a bottle of her cherished red wine from the wine cabinet, preparing to have a few drinks with her long-lost best friend, whom she hadn’t seen in ages. However, when she returned from the back room of the bar with the red wine in hand, she was shocked to find that her best friend had already disappeared without a trace. Qi Jingning scanned the room several times. After confirming that she couldn’t see her friend anywhere, she furrowed her brows and asked the bartender at the bar counter, “Have you seen where Xihan went? The one who was sitting here drinking earlier?” The bartender nodded, then shook his head, sharing what he knew: “Boss, about half an hour ago, a female customer ordered two glasses of 'True Love.' She gave one to Miss Wen, and after talking for a while, Miss Wen left with that lady.” Qi Jingning’s brows tightened further. She asked, “Did you see where they wen...

Ruan Xinyi was caught off guard by the woman’s question. Her lips parted slightly, and it took her a moment to finally say, "This is my first time..." "And I’m not..." trying to ask you out... Before Ruan Xinyi could finish her sentence, the woman tilted her long neck and drained the last of her drink. With a smile that was neither here nor there, she asked, "Not what?" Her smile was captivating—her peach-blossom eyes curved, sparkling with warmth and affection. They were dangerously seductive, like a finely woven net—one that could easily trap anyone who wasn’t careful. It was only then that Ruan Xinyi noticed the woman had finished the drink in just two sips. Swallowing nervously, Ruan Xinyi casually tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear and spoke with an innocent tone, "I just wanted to be friends with you, miss." Approaching someone in a bar to make friends? The underlying intent was clear. The woman laughed lightly, pushing her emp...