Lin Yunsheng and Jiang Haitao stepped into the elevator one after the other. She pressed the button for their floor and then turned to the man beside her. "Don't provoke my sister..."
"Me, provoke her? I don't even dare provoke you, let alone her."
"All I dared to do back there was stuff my face with fruit!"
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be wading into these muddy waters..." Jiang Haitao grumbled. In the short time they spent in the elevator, he said more than he had during the entire half-hour at the house.
"Fine, thank you for your hard work... After dinner, just say you're busy and need to head back." After saying this, Lin Yunsheng buried her face in her scarf and strode out of the elevator car.
Meanwhile, Chen Jinyue was still reeling. She sat on the sofa, her mind filled with the memory of Lin Yunsheng holding her hand, the things she had said, and that password.
*What does she mean by all this...*
"Hey, Yueyue, what do you think of Haitao?" Mama Chen asked with a sly smile, scooting closer to Chen Jinyue. She lowered her voice as if there were a third person in the room they had to hide from.
"I think he really likes eating fruit."
"Who's asking you about that? I’m asking what you think of him as a person!"
"Mom, how should I know? I’ve barely said two words to him."
"Then observe him more during dinner. He seems like a good young man to me. When you went abroad back then, who do you think your sister borrowed that three hundred thousand from?"
"What do you mean? Jiang Haitao lent it?" Chen Jinyue stopped reaching for an apple and looked at her mother in disbelief.
"Yes. Three hundred thousand is no small sum, yet he lent it just like that. Besides, Shengsheng has known him for so many years. I feel like he’s very reliable."
Chen Jinyue fell silent. Having stayed up all night, she felt she had long since reached her limit; her brain couldn't process so much information at once. Who exactly was Jiang Haitao, to have lent three hundred thousand for her to study abroad?
Could he be some rich second-generation heir who had a crush on Lin Yunsheng for ages, using the loan as an excuse to ship Jinyue off while earning himself a good reputation? The possibility made Jinyue’s chest feel tight. She felt she had to ask Lin Yunsheng for a clear explanation of what was going on.
By the time Lin Yunsheng and Jiang Haitao returned carrying several large plastic bags, Chen Jinyue had already imagined eight hundred different possibilities, none of them promising.
Chen Fang walked over to take the groceries, but Lin Yunsheng declined. "It’s fine, Mom. I’ll cook today." Chen Fang figured that since the meal was being made for Jiang Haitao, it was good for Shengsheng to be the one in the kitchen, so she happily agreed. She offered to help with the prep instead, and the two went into the kitchen together, leaving Jiang Haitao and Chen Jinyue to stare at each other in the living room.
Perhaps feeling the awkwardness, and seeing that the fruit platter on the coffee table was mostly depleted, Jiang Haitao simply took out his phone and started playing a game. Chen Jinyue didn't know what he was playing, but she welcomed the peace. She picked up her interrupted train of thought and began researching the eight hundred and first possibility.
During this time, she occasionally shot daggers at Jiang Haitao or closed her eyes to roll them at the empty air. Her aura was so stern that Jiang Haitao didn't dare move a muscle beside her; the only sound was the constant "You have been slain" coming from his phone.
"Turn the volume down. It's noisy."
"Oh, right. Okay, okay." He promptly muted his phone.
After a grueling forty minutes, the kitchen door finally opened. Chen Fang stepped out and announced that dinner was ready. To Jiang Haitao, she didn't look like Mama Chen; she looked like a descending deity. He hurriedly switched off his phone and scurried over.
Chen Jinyue also walked over slowly, her mind full of questions. She wondered how she should ask Lin Yunsheng later; regardless, she had to get a clear answer.
She noticed that the table was covered with her favorite dishes. If Jiang Haitao weren't there, she truly would have thought Lin Yunsheng had made them specifically for her. She sat down next to Chen Fang, with Lin Yunsheng sitting opposite them.
The meal was filled with small talk. Chen Fang occasionally made indirect inquiries to probe into the progress of the two, which made Chen Jinyue increasingly agitated. However, she couldn't say anything, and looking at Jiang Haitao only added to her annoyance. Consequently, she began using her chopsticks to make his life difficult. Wherever Jiang Haitao’s chopsticks aimed, hers followed. After they clashed over food a few times, Jiang Haitao was left in a position where he could neither eat comfortably nor put his chopsticks down.
Seeing Jiang Haitao’s speechless frustration gave her a slight sense of vengeful satisfaction. Although the "grudge" was still unclear, she didn't care to think about it anymore.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yunsheng, who had been mostly quiet, suddenly placed some food in Jinyue's bowl. This left Chen Jinyue unsure of how to react. She wanted to say thank you, but Lin Yunsheng never looked at her. She simply looked at the dish, picked up a morsel, looked at Jinyue's bowl, and placed it steadily inside. It was a fluid motion, devoid of emotion.
Yet, Chen Jinyue felt a surge of triumphant superiority, a pleasure a hundred times more intense than bullying Jiang Haitao. Lin Yunsheng was always like this; she knew exactly how to make Jinyue feel better. If Jinyue felt bad, it was surely because Lin Yunsheng intended it.
Her mood improved drastically, and her courage grew along with it. If she couldn't say thank you, she had to do something else. She extended her leg under the table, hooking her ankle to brush against Lin Yunsheng’s. Following Lin Yunsheng’s lead, she didn't look at her, but she felt the woman pause for a heartbeat. Jinyue lingered there, slowly rubbing and gently grazing, like a cat with narrowed eyes, its tail held high as it brushed against its master’s skin. She smiled secretly to herself.
She obediently ate the food Lin Yunsheng had given her. But before she could even swallow, Chen Fang spoke up again. "Shengsheng, don't just look after your sister. Give Haitao some food too. Honestly, you..."
Chen Jinyue thought to herself that the man wasn't even her son-in-law yet, and her mother was already taking his side. *Am I not your biological daughter?* She shot a cold look at Jiang Haitao.
Jiang Haitao thought, *Why are you looking at me? I didn't say it.* To him, Mama Chen no longer looked like a deity; she looked like a vengeful spirit coming for his soul. He quickly served himself some food, saying, "Thank you, Auntie, I can do it myself. Heh heh, I'll help myself." With that, he added another serving to his bowl.
"Ah, alright then. But don't mind my nagging, Haitao. Our Shengsheng is usually busy with work and doesn't have much time for a personal life. If you... if you could look after her, I would be at ease."
The words seemed tactful, but the meaning was a blatant inquiry into whether Jiang Haitao was interested in Lin Yunsheng and how far they had progressed. After several such probes throughout the day, Chen Jinyue was losing her patience even if she couldn't join the conversation. She was just about to say something snide when—Lin Yunsheng always had a way of making her behave—the person opposite her brushed back against her calf, nudging her ankle forward...
*Don't get distracted.*
Lin Yunsheng didn't say those words. She only spared Jinyue a glance that didn't even linger, yet Jinyue heard the message clearly. Her face flushed instantly. She wanted to bury her head in her bowl so no one would discover the secret games under the table or her trembling legs.
Her legs were shaking uncontrollably. She wanted to pull away, yet she was reluctant to let go, so she remained there, allowing Lin Yunsheng to caress her. She really couldn't take much more; if this continued, she wouldn't even be able to hold her chopsticks properly. She felt Lin Yunsheng was acting far too unusually, but she didn't have the energy to overthink it. She tried to withdraw her leg bit by bit, but the other woman’s hook kept her from escaping. She simply put down her chopsticks, picked up the glass beside her, and took a gulp of water, using the movement to steal a glance at the woman opposite her.
But Lin Yunsheng’s expression remained as calm as ever. She even found a moment to look at Jiang Haitao.
*Lin Yunsheng, what on earth are you doing...*
"Auntie, don't worry. Naturally, I want to take care of Yunsheng. She is indeed quite busy and needs time. Let her consider it." Jiang Haitao put down his chopsticks as he spoke, his tone becoming much more serious.
Hearing this, Chen Fang felt reassured, and her spirits rose. "Is that so? Shengsheng, are you considering it?"
"Mm... Mom, give me some time."
Those words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Chen Jinyue from head to toe. She stared at Lin Yunsheng in disbelief, thinking: *How can you say that while your leg is still rubbing against mine under the table?*
*Did you do all this just to appease me, so you could say those words with a clear conscience? To tell me you really are considering this relationship? To ensure I wouldn't lose control of my emotions at the table and embarrass everyone?*
It was truly laughable.
She forcefully pulled her leg back, the movement causing Lin Yunsheng’s body to shift slightly. Everyone at the table except her was in high spirits; no one noticed such a small detail.
She endured the rest of the meal in silent fury. Once everyone had finished, Chen Jinyue put down her chopsticks and went straight to the bathroom.
Chen Fang began clearing the dishes, and Jiang Haitao helped. Lin Yunsheng knew Xiao Jin was fuming. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to go check on her.
She walked slowly to the bathroom door, intending to wait for her to come out, though she still hadn't figured out how to explain everything. To her surprise, the bathroom door cracked open, and Chen Jinyue grabbed her wrist, pulling her inside.
This was the second time they had held hands today, but this time it was much more forceful. Chen Jinyue shut the door, pinning Lin Yunsheng against the sink, her right hand still gripping her wrist.
"It hurts..." Lin Yunsheng spoke softly.
Chen Jinyue loosened her grip slightly but refused to let go.
"What do you mean, Lin Yunsheng? What is going on between you and Jiang Haitao? It’s fake, isn't it? You’ve known each other for years; if you were going to date, you would have done it long ago. Why wait until now?"
"Didn't you say that whatever happens between us is none of your business?" There was a hint of teasing in Lin Yunsheng’s voice. Taking advantage of Jinyue’s loosened grip, she pulled her wrist back and covered it with her other hand, gently rubbing the reddened skin.
"Lin Yunsheng!"
"Mom said the money for me to go abroad was borrowed from him. Is that true?"
"Yes..." She was a bit surprised Jinyue had found out so quickly, but she knew it was inevitable. She could instruct Jiang Haitao, but she couldn't control Chen Fang.
"Then is he forcing you? Making you date him?" Chen Jinyue began cycling through her eight hundred and one possibilities. She continued, "I can pay that money back. Just give me some time. I’ve saved up some money from working abroad—"
"I paid it back two years ago. However, regarding work..." Lin Yunsheng spoke slowly, one word at a time. Chen Jinyue didn't have the patience to let her finish and immediately cut her off.
"Work? What about work? Is he using that to pressure you? Workplace harassment?"
"No. I’m his boss."
Chen Jinyue finally realized she was being toyed with. It was like punching a cloud. Just like when they were children, she was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, while Lin Yunsheng remained effortlessly composed, which only fueled her anger.
"Lin Yunsheng! Speak properly!" Just as she finished, footsteps approached from outside, followed by a knock on the door.
"Yueyue, are you in there?"
Lin Yunsheng hurriedly pulled Xiao Jin in front of her and covered her mouth with her right hand.
"Mom, it's me."
"Oh, Shengsheng. Where's Yueyue? Did she go downstairs?"
"I don't know. I'll go look for her in a bit." She continued to lie, her hand resting on her sister’s waist to keep her body stiff and still.
"Ah... alright."
Only after the footsteps faded away did she release Chen Jinyue. The latter had forgotten where their conversation had left off and was now completely at a loss for words.
"Xiao Jin, I meant it literally," Lin Yunsheng said, picking up the thread. "I am considering it."
Chen Jinyue’s brow furrowed again. "Considering being with him?"
Lin Yunsheng had already made herself clear, but Jinyue refused to give up, clinging to the possibility that she had misread the situation, wanting the other woman to say it plainly.
"There is nothing between us. But I am indeed considering it."
"Xiao Jin..." She reached out to take Chen Jinyue’s hand.
Jinyue pulled away. She tucked her hands against her chest, feeling tears about to fall, but she didn't want to cry. She looked at Lin Yunsheng—a rare moment of direct eye contact. She still couldn't read Lin Yunsheng’s gaze, but she knew her own eyes must be laid bare with sorrow, pain, and the fury of someone who had been given hope only to have it ruthlessly snatched away.
She had thought of eight hundred and one possibilities to give Lin Yunsheng an excuse to escape, but Lin Yunsheng told her no. The answer was already out in the open—there were no hidden reasons or unspeakable hardships; she was simply considering entering a new relationship.
"Don't call me Xiao Jin anymore."
She uttered those words weakly before her tears could fall. Then she opened the door and left, not caring if she ran into her mother or if she made things difficult for the lying Lin Yunsheng. But no matter how she thought about it, she was the one who looked more pathetic. After a whole day of her emotions being toyed with, she felt like a clown.
The side effects of staying up all night finally hit her nerves. She was so tired; her overloaded brain could no longer cope.
She didn't want to face any of this anymore.
She went to her room, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed.
