Chapter 21

Qi Jingning: [I think she might not even have that proper exterior anymore.]

A few seconds later, Qi Jingning sent another message: [Of course, she only behaves like that in front of certain people. This somewhat explains things.]

Wen Xihan: … Honestly, what I’ve experienced is a lot more than Qi Jingning imagined.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and directly replied: [Speak your mind.]

[The other party is typing…]

This small text appeared for a while, and finally, Qi Jingning sent a message: [Hey, I just wanted to ask, what do you think of my friend?]

Looking at the roundabout way of questioning, Wen Xihan pursed her lips and replied: [Not much.]

Qi Jingning hovered on the edge of further probing: [She’s not good enough?!]

No, wait, your mood that morning didn’t seem like it was because she wasn’t good enough.

“…”

Her temples throbbed, and Wen Xihan asked with an unreadable expression: [Did she ask you about me?]

Qi Jingning: [No, she still doesn’t know that you’re my friend.]

Followed by a smug emoji, clearly asking for praise.

Wen Xihan subtly exhaled and continued typing: [Aning, don’t reveal anything about me to her.]

Qi Jingning sent a question mark.

Wen Xihan: [Fu Fangbai is still my nominal boyfriend.]

Qi Jingning laughed ambiguously: [OK OK, Xihan, I’m seriously asking you, do you have feelings for her?]

Feelings?

Her tongue lightly touched the roof of her mouth, and certain images and sensations flashed through her mind, like a breeze passing over the water’s surface, leaving ripples behind. Wen Xihan pursed her lips, planning to brush past it when another message from Qi Jingning arrived: [Please tell the truth.]

Wen Xihan: …

Wen Xihan: [At first sight, yes.]

It couldn’t be denied that Wen Xihan felt a certain fondness for Ruan Xinyi, or she wouldn’t have gone to the hotel with her.

But this fondness was limited to before she knew Ruan Xinyi was her long-lost niece.

Qi Jingning teased sarcastically: [Tsk, love at first sight?]

Wen Xihan: [You’re overthinking it.]

Having tested the waters enough, Qi Jingning finally got to the point: [She wants to pursue you. Seriously.]

Wen Xihan fell silent, realizing the real motive behind Qi Jingning's probing. She replied with a string of ellipses, her expression complex.

Qi Jingning: [That girl is really something. After breaking up with Fu Fangbai, you should consider her. She comes from a good family, has a clean history, is attractive, and wealthy—she’s a typical "rich and beautiful girl." Once this opportunity is gone, it won’t come again.]

Wen Xihan: …

Wen Xihan: [Aning, I haven’t broken up with Fu Fangbai yet.]

Qi Jingning: [Oh, okay.]

Through the screen, Wen Xihan could feel Qi Jingning's indifference.

Qi Jingning: [This Saturday, it’s not far off now.]

Wen Xihan threw her phone aside, rubbed her forehead, and pulled out a bottle of red wine from the glass cabinet. Holding a glass filled about 70% full, she walked to the balcony, resting her elbows on the railing and gazing down at the city lights.

Fu Fangbai had asked her to go to the movies on Saturday, but she planned to break up with him then.

The moment Qi Jingning realized Wen Xihan's intentions, she wasn’t surprised in the least. In fact, there was a sense of relief, like "you’ve finally come to your senses."

Fu Fangbai was indeed a suitable partner, but that was all—just suitable.

If Fu Fangbai hadn’t been so obvious about his desire to take their relationship further, Wen Xihan wouldn’t have been so averse to it.

Her mother had always wanted her to settle down before she passed, and the words Fu Fangbai said during his proposal, along with her sister’s "suitable" marriage, played over and over in her mind, making her feel impulsive.

Only that one night, when emotions and awareness reached their peak, she chose to indulge in her feelings.

But strangely, those feelings were all brought by Ruan Xinyi…

Tilting her long neck slightly, Wen Xihan drank the wine in one gulp.

The still bitter wine lingered on her lips and teeth, not dissipating for a long time.

Just like the ripples that spread in her heart.

For some reason, Wen Xihan thought of Ruan Xinyi, the one who had been holding a cup of coffee, her expression dazed as she sat in the single chair by the tea counter, staring out the window.

The coffee was strong; as soon as Wen Xihan entered the tea room, the rich smell of coffee hit her. It was the kind of coffee that, just by smelling, she knew was extremely bitter.

Glancing at the deep brown coffee liquid and the lonely jar on the counter, Wen Xihan knew it was a pure cup, with no milk or sugar—just bitter.

But the person sitting on the couch drank it without changing her expression, sipping slowly as if savoring some kind of divine delicacy.

In her impression, Wen Xihan always thought that Ruan Xinyi, like her, liked sweet things, since the little imp always managed to pull out a few pieces of candy from her bag whenever they were together. It was like a magic trick, with all sorts of flavors.

Especially that time, when she ate so much candy that she developed a cavity. Ruan Su began strictly limiting her sugar intake.

Afraid Ruan Xinyi would crave it, Wen Xihan ate candy behind her back.

But once the pain from her cavity subsided, Ruan Xinyi started hiding candy in her bag again, performing her little trick and handing it to her.

Wen Xihan, worried about the pain returning, naturally forbade her from eating it and confiscated it all.

Up until now, Wen Xihan clearly remembered that after she confiscated the candy, Ruan Xinyi, with a soft and sweet voice, said, "Aunt, I didn’t eat it. These are all for you."

"Aunt, please don’t tell my mom, okay? Or she’ll scold me again."

"Heh," Wen Xihan refilled her wine, savoring the bitterness lingering on her lips and teeth before taking a big sip.

Now that the little brat had grown up, she still had so many tricks.

---

The next day, Ruan Xinyi woke up early. She worked extra hard in the kitchen, preparing two delicate breakfasts. She packed one and, adjusting her appearance in the reflective glass by the entryway, casually walked to the door across the hall, curled her finger, and knocked lightly.

"Is something the matter?" Wen Xihan asked warily, opening the door just a crack.

Ruan Xinyi stood with one hand behind her back, smiling gently. "Sister, I came to pick up the thermos."

Upon hearing this, the door opened slightly wider.

Wen Xihan eyed Ruan Xinyi suspiciously, then, without a word, said, "Wait a moment," and lightly closed the door again.

"Here, your thermos," Wen Xihan said expressionlessly, handing over the thermos, which had been washed clean, when she reopened the door.

As Ruan Xinyi took it, she whispered, "Thank you for last night."

"Hmm?" Ruan Xinyi used the opportunity to bring her hand from behind her back and gently shoved the breakfast into Wen Xihan’s still-outstretched hand, not giving her a chance to refuse. She spoke first, blocking any further response. "I made this myself. I made too much and couldn’t finish it, so I had to trouble you, sister."

Wen Xihan furrowed her brows slightly, intending to return the breakfast. But Ruan Xinyi quickly turned her wrist, avoiding the motion, and smiled lightly. "I don’t know if this suits your taste, but I hope you won’t dislike it."

"Ruan Xinyi," Wen Xihan said in a tone of helplessness.

Ruan Xinyi responded with a smile, playfully adding, "Isn’t this just a friendly exchange between neighbors?"

Wen Xihan relented, "I’ll return the clean container to you after washing it."

With a deeper smile in her eyes, Ruan Xinyi suppressed her lips and said, "Okay, sister, I’m not in a hurry."

Indeed, she wasn’t in a hurry. After all, one good turn deserves another, and Ruan Xinyi even planned to buy a few more sets of thermos containers after work.

Ruan Xinyi was confident in her cooking skills. After all, when she worked part-time elsewhere, she learned a lot from the head chef. Plus, she attended various baking workshops in her spare time. Even Ruan Su probably didn’t know she could cook.

But there was truth in one saying—if you want to win someone’s heart, you must first capture their stomach.

Especially if that person doesn’t cook and is picky about food.

And there was another important point: after spending these past few days with Wen Xihan, Ruan Xinyi realized that Wen Xihan seemed to be a bit indulgent toward her?

---

For the next two days, Ruan Xinyi used the excuse of picking up the thermos to visit the door across the hall every morning. Then, she used the reason that she had made too much breakfast to push a new thermos toward Wen Xihan.

Wen Xihan hesitated between accepting and rejecting, and Ruan Xinyi skillfully justified her actions with "friendly exchanges between neighbors."

"Ruan Xinyi," Wen Xihan said carefully, "Please don’t do this tomorrow."

"Did I not cook it well? Is it not to your taste?" Ruan Xinyi said in an exaggeratedly disappointed tone.

Wen Xihan was stuck because it was too delicious and just right for her taste, so she wanted to refuse.

Ruan Xinyi’s intentions were clear to Wen Xihan, but she still couldn’t bring herself to say no... Not just because the breakfast was delicious, but also because Ruan Xinyi’s gentleness was hard to refuse.

"It’s not that," Wen Xihan murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. She didn’t know what else to say.

Ruan Xinyi smiled nonchalantly and, with a persuasive tone, added, "Sister, you should know that I’m pursuing you now, right?"

Wen Xihan subtly hummed in acknowledgment.

"Then it’s settled," Ruan Xinyi took a step back, her voice calm yet slightly pleading. "Shh, I know what you want to say, but I still hope you can give me a chance and not reject me so quickly, okay?"

Ruan Xinyi, between us... it will never be possible.

Wen Xihan hesitated again. The words were right on the tip of her tongue, but when she looked into Ruan Xinyi’s clear and bright eyes, her heart still wouldn’t harden.

After a long pause, Wen Xihan gently pinched her palm and met Ruan Xinyi’s gaze, her expression calm. "Ruan Xinyi, I have a boyfriend."

Ruan Xinyi’s pupils slightly widened, and she froze for a few seconds, seemingly verifying whether Wen Xihan was telling the truth.

Wen Xihan spoke with complete sincerity, her eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuations, calm as still water.

She wasn’t joking.

Realizing this, Ruan Xinyi quickly withdrew her gaze, said nothing, and almost fled, stumbling as she turned around.

The whole day, Ruan Xinyi was absent-minded.

---

Finally, after work, Ruan Xinyi mechanically packed up her things at her desk, her movements clearly robotic.

Zhou Xuan gently tapped her shoulder and asked with concern, "Ruan Xinyi, what’s wrong? You’ve been so distracted all day."

Looking up at the clock on the wall, she saw the person who had deliberately waited a moment before walking out of the office holding a cup, just to avoid her. Ruan Xinyi sighed weakly, muttering, "I’ve had a breakup."

"Uh—" Zhou Xuan sighed, adopting the tone of someone who had been through it, and tried to comfort her. "It’s okay, Ruan Xinyi, breakups happen. The next one will be better. You’re so amazing, anyone who misses you is just blind and doesn’t know any better."

Just then, Wen Xihan happened to come out to refill her cup of water, overhearing the entire conversation. "..."

Thank you, I really felt the shade.

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