SH – Chapter 27

Jian You passed a snow-white bath towel, smelling faintly of fresh laundry detergent, through the crack in the door. She didn’t look at Yun Chu, but she felt the other end being grabbed and pulled in little by little, like a squirrel stashing food for the winter.

Finally, her hand was empty.

Jian You immediately turned around, but in the split second before the glass door closed, her peripheral vision still caught a few unbroadcastable images. She stood with her back to the bathroom for a moment in silence, then grabbed a random set of pajamas and headed downstairs.

Wen Yi was just about to finish mopping the floor and go to bed.

She was surprised that Jian You had brought someone home to stay the night. After all, besides her respected teacher, Jian You had never hosted anyone at home, let alone had them stay over. But this was ultimately her employer’s private matter, so she didn’t ask any questions.

Perhaps she’s made a good friend, Wen Yi thought. Yun Chu was so lovely, like a little sun, and infinitely more sincere than the colleagues and partners Jian You knew in the entertainment industry. It was perfectly normal for them to become friends.

As for how they’d gotten so close, weren’t they filming a variety show together? It seemed they must have gotten along well during the shoot.

Just as Wen Yi was feeling pleased, she saw Jian You hurrying downstairs, looking completely out of sorts. “Jian You, did you drink too?” Wen Yi asked with concern.

Jian You froze for a moment, then let out a sound as if waking from a dream. “…No.”

“You don’t look well.”

“Is that so?”

“There’s still some tomato juice left. Do you want to drink it?”

“No, thank you.”

“Then how about I heat up a glass of milk for you?”

Jian You was about to refuse, but the words on the tip of her tongue took a turn, and she agreed. “Heat up a glass,” she said. “Take it upstairs for her.”

Wen Yi agreed, heated a glass of milk, and brought it upstairs. Yun Chu was sitting quietly on the sofa, drying her hair with listless pats of the towel, having completely forgotten she was supposed to be drunk. Wen Yi had to call her name two or three times before she finally heard. “Wen- Wen Yi!”

“Sobering up a bit?” Wen Yi asked, handing her the milk. “Jian You asked me to heat this up for you. Drink it while it’s warm.”

Yun Chu took the milk and asked hesitantly, “Where’s Teacher Jian?”

“She’s taking a shower downstairs.”

“Oh…”

She took an absentminded sip of milk, wondering where on earth she was going to sleep tonight. Having grown up pampered, she’d once spent a sleepless night on a sofa on set, and it had taken her a full week to recover.

Was she really going to have to sleep on the sofa for love tonight?

…It wasn’t out of the question.

As she was mulling this over, she realized Wen Yi was still there. She let out an awkward “uh” and smiled at the housekeeper, her faint dimples appearing. “Wen Yi, thank you for the milk.”

“Why thank me? You should be thanking Jian You,” Wen Yi said.

“I’ll thank her in person later!” Yun Chu said. She thought for a moment, then asked, “Wen Yi, let me ask you something. Has Teacher Jian ever brought friends home before? Where do they usually sleep?”

“Jian You has never brought friends home. You’re the first.”

Yun Chu’s eyes lit up.

Her first! She was the first friend Jian You had ever brought home! And she was staying the night! Even sleeping on the sofa would be worth it! Yun Chu was bubbling with happiness, her eyes unconsciously curving into crescents. Feeling a little shy, she said, “Teacher Jian and I get along pretty well, huh.”

“Yes,” Wen Yi said, clearly unaware of her employer’s sexual orientation. She simply thought they were close friends and felt very pleased. “Jian You seems to like you a lot.”

Yun Chu asked, “Really?”

Wen Yi thought for a moment, then nodded. “Really.”

Yun Chu: “Wen Yi, please stop.”

Wen Yi: “What’s wrong?”

Yun Chu shook her head.

It was nothing. It was just that if she said any more, Yun Chu wouldn’t be able to stop herself from laughing out loud.

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Downstairs.

Hot water poured down from overhead, running down her cheeks to gather at her chin before dripping off slowly. Jian You closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling. At her sides, her fingertips gently dug into her palms.

She thought, Yun Chu really was fair.

When Jian You came out of the bathroom, it was already past midnight.

Wen Yi had left a wall lamp on for her. In its gentle glow, she could see Liuyue and Ludeng snuggled together on the sofa, fast asleep. Perhaps hearing a sound, Liuyue alertly lifted his head.

Jian You made a hushing gesture and said, “Go to sleep.”

Liuyue wagged his tail, then curled up again, enveloping Ludeng as he fell back asleep.

Jian You let out a soft sigh of relief. She went up the stairs, and as she pushed open the bedroom door, she mentally rehearsed the conversation she was about to have with Yun Chu.

She figured Yun Chu would definitely want to sleep in the bed, and she had to refuse. Her bed wasn’t for just anyone. In fact, besides her teacher and his wife, no one had ever even been a guest in her home, let alone stayed the night.

If Yun Chu wanted to get into her bed, Jian You would have to make things difficult for her. It couldn’t be this easy.

With this in mind, she pushed open the door.

And then, she saw Yun Chu fast asleep on the sofa.

Jian You: “…”

Yun Chu was sleeping in a posture similar to Ludeng’s, like a proportionally enlarged Ragdoll cat. The light material of her nightgown was so silky that a strap had slipped down, hanging precariously on her arm.

She had an excellent figure, with alluring curves, like a ripe honey peach.

Every bite would be sweet.

Jian You averted her gaze.

She stood frozen for two seconds, then turned and quietly closed the door. But Yun Chu must have been a light sleeper, because the slight noise woke her. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, her voice a little nasal. “Teacher Jian, you’re back?”

Her mentally prepared script was now useless. Jian You could only manage a grunt of acknowledgment as she walked over to the bedside. “Why are you sleeping on the sofa?” she asked.

“Hm?” Yun Chu yawned, her voice muffled. “Where else would I sleep?”

Jian You didn’t say anything.

Good thing I know my place, Yun Chu thought. If she had climbed into the bed while Jian You was gone, she might have been kicked out by now. The scene would have been so awkward she could have carved out a Disney castle with her toes.

Just as she was about to lie back down and continue her dream, there was a blur of movement, and Jian You was crouching in front of her.

Yun Chu: “?”

Jian You was very close. With her exquisite makeup washed away, her face was pale and radiant, making her look younger. Her eyes were clear, with an untainted purity. Meeting her gaze so suddenly, Yun Chu’s heart skipped a beat.

Jian You spoke: “Having a guest sleep on the sofa would make the host seem very rude.”

Yun Chu stammered, “I-Is that so?”

Jian You: “Mm.”

Yun Chu looked troubled. “Then if the host sleeps on the sofa, wouldn’t that make the guest seem very rude?”

The corner of Jian You’s mouth twitched. “…No one is sleeping on the sofa.”

Yun Chu was confused: “Hm?”

Jian You moved back a little and instructed her, “You, go sleep on the bed.”

Yun Chu: “!!!”

She was wide awake now.

Wait! Jian You was telling her to sleep on the bed? What was she planning? Two single women, a director and an actress, alone in the middle of the night… this wasn’t good! Would this start a scandal?!

–Renowned Director Jian You Brings Drunk Girlfriend Home for the Night, Girlfriend’s Identity Revealed to Be Her!

That’s right, her—the 18th-tier actress who was currently enjoying a bit of popularity.

As Yun Chu was lost in this fantasy, her smile growing wider and wider, Jian You frowned and snapped her fingers in front of her face. “What are you thinking about? Do you need me to carry you over?”

Yun Chu: “…”

If Jian You was willing.

Of course, Yun Chu was only brave in her thoughts. Outwardly, she shook her head like a rattle drum, clutched the blanket, and hopped onto the bed. Conscientiously leaving space for one person, she patted the spot and said, “The bed really is more comfortable. Teacher Jian, hurry up and get in!”

Jian You took a comforter out of the closet and tossed it to her.

Yun Chu pulled the comforter over herself and lay down obediently, blinking her eyes as she watched Jian You. Her heart grew flustered under that gaze, so Jian You simply turned off the light, only realizing after she’d done it that it was the only light in the room.

The entire room was plunged into darkness. Jian You froze, not moving a muscle. After finally steadying her breathing, she was about to turn the light back on when her hand was suddenly grabbed. Her whole body tensed as she tried to shake it off, but then she suddenly remembered.

There was still a Yun Chu in her bed.

A moment later, the hand traveled up her arm as a voice whispered, “Don’t be scared, don’t be scared,” and an arm wrapped around her shoulder. Then, the light slowly came on.

Yun Chu was kneeling in front of her, her gaze directed downward, giving Jian You an unobstructed view of the scenery.

As if suddenly realizing, Yun Chu leaned back a little and explained dryly, “Teacher Jian, I was a little nervous just now. I was afraid you… I wasn’t- I wasn’t trying to-“

I wasn’t trying to seduce you, ahhhh!

“I know,” Jian You cut her off. She got into bed, pulled up the covers, closed her eyes, and said, “Go to sleep.”

Yun Chu sat where she was. “Oh.”

She lay back down too.

Jian You was afraid of the dark, so she always slept with a light on. The dim light reflected onto the wall, and Yun Chu lay there counting the patterns, listening as Jian You’s breathing grew steadier. Only then did she carefully turn over and gaze at Jian You without restraint.

She remembered that on that night, she had been the first to fall asleep in the end.

Jian You, that good teacher, had diligently taught her a great deal. They had moved from the bed to the bathroom, and from somewhere, Jian You had produced an unopened toy and forced it on her.

After a long session, she had been so exhausted she couldn’t even open her eyes, falling asleep the moment she got back into bed.

She had been the first to fall asleep, and she was also the first to wake up.

Back then, this same single lamp had been the only light in the room. Jian You had been sleeping far away from her, curled up into a small ball with her brow furrowed, sleeping restlessly.

As if she had suddenly obtained something she’d wanted for a very long time, Yun Chu’s heart was filled not just with happiness, but even more so with apprehension and unease.

In the darkness, she feared the coming dawn.

After waking, she couldn’t get back to sleep and lay with her eyes open until dawn. Finally, she’d figured it out. Rather than waiting for Jian You to wake up and face awkwardness, anger, questions, or even some kind of guilt-tripped sense of responsibility, it would be better to make a cool, casual exit.

Having made up her mind, she had even thoughtfully left a note that read: We both had a great time last night. Thanks.

After writing it, she stuck the note to the headboard and slipped away.

Back then, she never would have imagined that she would be lying in the same bed with Jian You again, watching her sleep, so close that she could just turn over and hold her.

Yun Chu was lost in the sight.

But suddenly, her vision went dark as Jian You reached out and covered her face with her hand.

Yun Chu: “!”

Her eyes blinked rapidly, her long lashes brushing against Jian You’s palm, tickling it.

Jian You’s voice came: “Stop staring.”

Yun Chu kept blinking.

Jian You: “I’ll start charging if you keep looking.”

Yun Chu: “…What are the rates?”

Jian You: “Two thousand a minute.”

Yun Chu paused for two seconds, then gave a slight smile. “Fine. Just put your hand down. I’ll stop looking.”

Jian You withdrew her hand.

Thirty seconds later, the phone by her pillow suddenly vibrated.

It was a message from Yun Chu.

Yun Chu: 【Transfer: 10,000 yuan】

Yun Chu: Let’s start with five minutes.

Jian You: …

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