Chapter 3

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 went?”

The bartender shook his head again. “I’m not sure. They left one after the other.”

Knowing that people who flirt at bars are rarely good news, Qi Jingning would never intervene in such situations, especially when both parties were willing. But this time, one of the people involved was her best friend, Wen Xihan. So, she had no choice but to get involved.

Recalling what Wen Xihan had told her earlier, Qi Jingning suddenly had a bad premonition, fearing her best friend might have been swept into something impulsive and ended up making a hasty decision...

With that thought, Qi Jingning felt a headache coming on. She glanced at the surveillance camera mounted on the opposite beam and asked, “Did the lady have any distinct features?”

The bartender thought for a moment before answering, “Well, she’s very pretty. Does that count as a distinct feature?”

Qi Jingning: “...”

“Ha—”

Just as Qi Jingning was about to take out her phone to call Wen Xihan, the bartender at the other side of the bar burst into laughter.

She adjusted the wine glasses hanging on the cup rack and smiled lightly. “Boss, I think he meant Miss Ruan.”

“Xinyi?” Qi Jingning paused mid-dial.

The bartender gave a soft “mm,” confirming, “Yes, Miss Wen did leave with Miss Ruan.” She had worked at the bar for two years, so she knew the other rare owner well.

The other bartender, who had only recently joined, didn’t recognize Ruan Xinyi, so that wasn’t surprising.

“How did they end up together…” Qi Jingning pinched the bridge of her nose, her thumb lightly twitching as she hovered over Ruan Xinyi’s number.

The next moment, she seemed to suddenly remember something and asked the male bartender in confirmation, “Did you just say Xinyi gave Xihan a glass of 'True Love'?!”

The male bartender was certain. “Yes, after Miss Wen finished that one, she ordered another.”

Qi Jingning immediately felt her headache worsen.

Ruan Xinyi loved bartending, and 'True Love' was a drink she had personally created.

...

Qi Jingning clearly remembered that night when Ruan Xinyi had made the drink and pushed it toward her, asking her to try it.

The drink was stunning from the first sip, with a lingering sweetness, a refreshing fruitiness, and a subtle hint of milk, making it very smooth and easy to drink—perfect for women.

If there was a flaw, it was that the drink had quite a strong after-effect. She had only drunk half, and the effect had already started to kick in.

“It’s very good. Did you just make it?” she asked Ruan Xinyi.

The bar had three drinks that Ruan Xinyi had personally created.

Ruan Xinyi, while tidying the counter, nodded lightly.

“Have you named it?”

After a long pause, Ruan Xinyi replied, “Let’s call it 'True Love.' It’s simple but passionate. An in-house drink, available only to those who know the name.”

Afterward, Ruan Xinyi taught the recipe for 'True Love' to the bar’s bartenders.

But ever since then, Qi Jingning never saw her order 'True Love' again.

Curious, she had asked Ruan Xinyi, “You created this drink, but I haven’t seen you drink it yourself.”

At the time, Ruan Xinyi rested her chin on her hand, her voice soft yet serious. “That’s why I call it 'True Love,' because true love should be shared with the one you care about most.”

“Because she is my 'True Love.'”

...

So, what was going on now…?

Qi Jingning grabbed the red wine again and returned to the break room. She paced back and forth, feeling torn about whether or not to call Ruan Xinyi.

One was her best friend, and the other was a dear friend of hers. With how the night was progressing, Qi Jingning couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

A few minutes later, Qi Jingning finally made up her mind, pressing the call button for Ruan Xinyi.

The phone rang for a long time, and just before it was about to hang up automatically, Ruan Xinyi answered.

“Hello, Jingning, what’s up?”

“Xinyi, you…” Before Qi Jingning could finish, a low moan came through the phone, followed by Ruan Xinyi's soft hiss.

From the alternating deep and shallow breaths, it was easy to tell there were two people on the other end.

“Be gentler, don’t bite so hard.” Although Ruan Xinyi deliberately lowered her voice, Qi Jingning heard it clearly, including the submissive tone and faint hint of a threat in it.

“You—!”

That voice was unmistakable—it was her best friend, Wen Xihan.

“...” Qi Jingning realized she had called at the worst possible moment. She could easily guess what they were doing now.

Quickly, she mumbled, “Sorry to interrupt,” and hung up the phone hastily.

On the other end, Ruan Xinyi glanced at the strange call that had been abruptly disconnected. Without hesitation, she turned her wrist and tossed her phone aside.

She adjusted her bathrobe, which had somehow slipped down to her shoulders, and lightly touched the fresh bite marks on her skin, feigning a sharp intake of breath, letting out a soft “hiss.”

Indeed, Wen Xihan’s apologetic gaze met hers.

Taking advantage of the situation, Ruan Xinyi shrugged her shoulders and softly complained, “Sister, you really have no mercy, biting so hard.”

Wen Xihan raised her hand to cover her slightly reddened eyes, showing no desire to talk to her.

However, Ruan Xinyi was becoming more excited. She pulled one side of her collar down to her shoulder and leaned in front of Wen Xihan, saying, "Sister, look, it's bleeding."

"..." Wen Xihan's breathing became heavier as she rolled over the blanket with one hand, signaling that she wanted to rest.

"Sister~" Ruan Xinyi clung to her and removed the hand covering her eyes, saying, "Look."

Wen Xihan merely glanced at it dismissively and replied, "It's lighter." She meant that the bite was lighter.

"Mm-hmm, it's all bruised," Ruan Xinyi said, referring to the marks left by the bite.

Wen Xihan pursed her lips, hesitating before speaking, "You..."

"What’s wrong with me?" Ruan Xinyi asked, feigning innocence.

"Nothing," Wen Xihan said, lowering her gaze. "Can you put on some clothes first?"

"How do I put it on?" Ruan Xinyi asked nonchalantly, tugging at her loosely tied belt. She leaned over the bed, resting her elbow on it, and provocatively said, "Besides, didn’t you make me look like this, sister?"

Wen Xihan: "???"

Seeing that this person showed no signs of restraint and was becoming increasingly bold and shameless, Wen Xihan shot her a glare and grabbed a nearby pillow to throw at her.

However, Ruan Xinyi had anticipated this and caught the pillow with ease, casually placing it beside Wen Xihan's waist. With a hint of mischief, she adjusted the blanket for her and asked, "So, sister, shall we continue?"

"..."

Wen Xihan tilted her chin slightly, causing Ruan Xinyi's kiss to land on the corner of her lips.

The next moment, she reached out to touch Ruan Xinyi's cheek, her fingertip gliding slowly down the delicate, fair skin, around the collar, finally resting on the two distinct bite marks.

"Ticklish," Wen Xihan said, her fingertip cool against Ruan Xinyi's skin, making her feel both cold and ticklish. Ruan Xinyi suppressed the urge to shrug her shoulders and buried her head into Wen Xihan's shoulder, her voice muffled.

It was unclear whether Wen Xihan was doing it on purpose, but Ruan Xinyi felt her hand slide a little lower, and the bathrobe seemed to be slipping toward her shoulder.

Then, warm lips pressed against Ruan Xinyi's lower lip.

Wen Xihan's kiss was gentle, even somewhat awkward and clumsy.

She lingered against Ruan Xinyi's lips, not making any further moves for a long while.

Ruan Xinyi took the initiative to lower her head, aligning perfectly to kiss her back.

Wen Xihan did not refuse, silently accepting this kiss that carried a soothing quality.

"Sister~" At the moment Ruan Xinyi sensed that Wen Xihan initiate the kiss, she felt a bit of secret joy.

However, she wasn't much better off, kissing purely based on instinct and trial and error.

The woman's lips were soft, and at the moment she parted her lips, Ruan Xinyi hesitated and tested the waters before slowly moving in.

It was at this moment that Wen Xihan began to respond slowly.

Cool fingertips glided over the bite marks on her shoulder, and as she raised her wrist, the collar that had slipped to her shoulder slid down a bit more, and the belt completely came undone.

In a reciprocal gesture, Ruan Xinyi gently untied the knot of Wen Xihan's belt, half out of instinct and half out of unlearned skill.

Wen Xihan placed her hand on Ruan Xinyi's shoulder, not applying much pressure, making it seem like a casual touch, hinting at a mix of reluctance and invitation.

It was at this moment that she noticed the bite marks on Ruan Xinyi's shoulder.

Two neat rows of bite marks, not too deep, might even fade away soon. But they were a very real red circle, standing out against her fair, jade-like skin.

"Sister, are you feeling heartbroken?" Ruan Xinyi raised her shoulder, causing her collar to slide down to her elbow in front of Wen Xihan.

"If we're going to do it, turn off the lights."

With a slight catch in her throat, Ruan Xinyi chuckled softly and kissed her lips, reaching out to turn off the lamp on the bedside table.

In the darkness, Ruan Xinyi seemed to lose all restraint, her words and actions becoming increasingly bold as she tossed her bathrobe to the foot of the bed, holding Wen Xihan's hand and whispering in her ear, "Sister, do you know what 'true love' means?"

Wen Xihan was well aware that Ruan Xinyi was referring to the time at the bar when she had asked her how she knew about 'true love.'

The bar owner, Qi Jingning, was her close friend, and over six months ago, they had discussed the new drink 'True Love' at the bar, during which she had specifically mentioned what her friend said after mixing that drink.

So when Ruan Xinyi claimed that she had mixed 'True Love,' Wen Xihan naturally didn't believe a word of it.

Not to mention that the actual person who mixed 'True Love' was a friend of Qi Jingning. Although she was also one of the owner, she rarely came to the bar, and Ruan Xinyi was a party girl. Moreover, considering the significant age difference between her and Qi Jingning, it was hard to match her with the friend Qi Jingning had mentioned.

"Then you must have heard that saying," Wen Xihan said lightly, "Words spoken in bed are the least trustworthy."

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