After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 55

Du Yaozhi had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.

She knew it, of course. The key card felt like a hot potato in her palm, and Jing Ping’s acting had been far too transparent for comfort. It would have been a miracle if Yaozhi hadn’t found it suspicious.

Shen Qing probably isn’t even angry with me, Yaozhi thought. So why on earth did she lure me to her room?

“Shen Qing? I’m coming in,” Yaozhi called out, deciding to play along with the ruse.

No response. Yaozhi’s suspicions deepened. Balancing the kitten and the bag of medicine, she used her shoulder to nudge the door open after swiping the card.

The lights were off. The city’s clamour was shut out, leaving only the soft rustle of slippers on the carpet and the crinkle of plastic bags. Yaozhi bent down to set the kitten on the rug. Looking up, she noticed a sliver of moonlight filtering through a gap in the curtains.

“You’re here?”

Shen Qing rose from the sofa. Her hair fell loosely, a few strands coiling softly around her slender neck and collarbone. She wore a moon-white silk nightgown that shimmered softly in the pale light. With every breath, the silk draped against her, revealing a glimpse of alabaster skin. She possessed a mature, sophisticated aura, just as she had years ago. She was the embodiment of every fantasy Yaozhi had ever had.

Seeing Shen Qing dressed so lightly in the middle of winter, Yaozhi understood everything. She let out a dry laugh. “You’re cheating.”

“Cheating?” Shen Qing asked, sounding perfectly innocent.

Yaozhi dropped the medicine bag onto the coffee table. “You promised to ‘pursue’ me, yet here you are, doing nothing but seducing me. Isn’t that cheating?”

And playing the nostalgia card, too.

Yaozhi finally grasped Shen Qing’s intent. Since the misunderstanding had happened, Shen Qing was using the absurdity of it to force Yaozhi to confront her own heart. By circling back and gifting Yaozhi a “beautiful dream,” she was catering to all of Yaozhi’s inner desires and fantasies.

She was making Yaozhi take the lead, making her fall making her remember.

Remember those late nights years ago, and that cool fragrance that lingered in the living room.

Shen Qing’s tactic was undeniably effective. When Yaozhi was twenty and living at Shen Qing’s place, she’d often wander into the living room late at night when she couldn’t sleep. Before she could even turn on the light, she’d see Shen Qing sitting alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, head resting back against the sofa, drinking in the dark.

Sensing Yaozhi’s gaze, Shen Qing would tap her long fingers against her wine glass. That simple gesture had been enough to charm the young Yaozhi senseless.

“Put some clothes on,” Yaozhi said, turning her face away, though her tone betrayed her concern. She grabbed Shen Qing’s coat from the rack and handed it over with a touch of arrogance. Don’t catch a chill.

Shen Qing took it but didn’t put it on immediately. “Did you enjoy your performance yesterday?”

Yaozhi snorted. “You saw through it?” She’d thought her acting was rather convincing. Looking at Shen Qing, it seemed she wasn’t cold at all; in fact, the central heating was making Yaozhi feel a bit stifled. She unzipped her puffer jacket and took it off.

“When you’re truly drunk,” Shen Qing remarked, “you don’t call me ‘Teacher Shen’.”

Yaozhi was puzzled. “What do I call you, then?”

Shen Qing gave a small laugh and took a sip of water. “You wouldn’t want to know.”

Back then, Yaozhi would call her “Wife.”

She would fuzzily beg Shen Qing to carry her back to her room. Shen Qing would watch over her all night, only for Yaozhi to wake up the next morning having forgotten everything, claiming she was a staunch believer in staying single. It had given Shen Qing quite the headache.

Not that she was much easier to deal with now. After Yaozhi’s little stunt last night, several minor actors had subtly asked Shen Qing this morning if Yaozhi was her girlfriend. Shen Qing had simply replied, “A friend” all while sporting a neck full of bite marks.

“Fine, keep your secrets,” Yaozhi said nonchalantly. She was learning not to get sidetracked by Shen Qing’s tangents. “Moving on… why did you bring the cat?”

Yaozhi’s back stiffened slightly as she remembered her actual mission. She tossed her coat onto the rack with feigned composure. “Business.”

She called out to the kitten on the carpet, coaxing it over. Mindful of Shen Qing’s supposed dislike of cats, Yaozhi picked up stray hairs from the rug as she went. The little black cat trotted over to stand before Shen Qing, and the two women and cat stared at each other from a distance.

Yaozhi cleared her throat and looked at the kitten awkwardly. “Qing-bao, I’m sorry.”

“I was so focused on work that I didn’t check the date. I got your birthday wrong.”

So, she was too embarrassed to apologise to me, so she’s doing it to the cat instead.

Shen Qing watched Yaozhi’s back, her heart softening. Yaozhi’s ears were tinged red as she shot Shen Qing a resentful look, silently demanding a reaction.

“It’s fine,” Shen Qing said. “Work is important.”

“So you aren’t angry with me because of that?”

“Angry with you? Why?” Shen Qing was genuinely confused. She was an adult; she had no reason to throw a tantrum over such a thing.

Yaozhi frowned. “Then what are you upset about?” She’d spent the whole day reflecting on her sins.

Shen Qing tapped her pale, bare wrist.

Ah. Jealousy.

“Jealous creature,” Yaozhi muttered, though her lips curved slightly. “It was just a stupid bit of string. Not worth anything.”

“That ‘stupid string’  I was too afraid to even wear it back then,” Shen Qing said softly, her long lashes fluttering. “Especially since you’d braided your own hair into it.”

The way Shen Qing said it made the word “stupid” sound tender and precious. Yaozhi felt a surge of secret delight. So she didn’t look down on it—she was just cherishing it.

Yaozhi put on an arrogant front, issuing a command: “Don’t move. Sit properly on the sofa.”

Shen Qing raised an eyebrow. “Going to bite me again?”

“I’m going to ‘fix’ you.”

Yaozhi tossed the words at her as she rummaged through the medicine bag, checking the instructions. Once she understood them, she unwrapped the packaging, intending to start with Shen Qing’s neck. As she turned to apply the ointment, she froze.

Shen Qing was propped up on her elbow, her chin resting on the side of her hand. Her fingers were buried deep in her black hair, as if she were lost in thought. A few stray strands fell over her eyelashes, hiding the emotion in her eyes and leaving only an air of bone-deep, sophisticated weariness.

Yaozhi’s heart skipped a beat. This was when Shen Qing was at her most intoxicating. Yet, it was the version of Shen Qing she least liked to see. Her eyes were like deep pools—emotionless, yet looking as though she were crying for help before drowning.

“What on earth is that posture?” Yaozhi blurted out.

“Aren’t you going to ‘fix’ me?” Shen Qing reminded her calmly. She saw nothing wrong with her pose.

Yaozhi glanced at her again. It was a convenient angle for applying medicine. She swallowed hard. “Whatever. Suit yourself.”

As if I could ever truly best this enchantress.

Yaozhi focused on the loop of hair around Shen Qing’s neck. She brushed the strands aside and carefully applied the ointment.

“Does it hurt?” The pungent, medicinal scent was quite overwhelming. Yaozhi suddenly felt a pang of guilt. After she’d bitten her, Shen Qing hadn’t even used an ice pack; she’d just covered it up and gone straight to filming.

“No,” Shen Qing said.

“Liar.” The skin was visibly broken.

Shen Qing tucked a stray lock of hair behind Yaozhi’s ear. Her fingertips felt like a dusting of thin snow against her skin, fleeting and cool. “It was my fault,” Shen Qing whispered. “Don’t take it to heart.”

Shen Qing’s admission of guilt worked wonders on Yaozhi, making her feel soft and yielding. After finishing the neck, Shen Qing tapped her lips.

A wave of heat washed over Yaozhi, but since she’d caused the damage, she had to follow through. Because Shen Qing was leaning back on the sofa, Yaozhi had to lean in very close. Looking into Shen Qing’s pupils at this range made it feel impossible to breathe. Her brow furrowed, and she even became careful with her breathing.

Besides, they’d only ever used this posture when they were… active in the past. And always on the sofa.

Yaozhi felt as if she were on fire, but Shen Qing seemed intent on adding fuel to the flames.

“Yesterday,” Shen Qing’s cool voice broke the silence, “you said you ‘feel’ things when we kiss. What did you mean by that?”

She asked it casually, as if just making small talk. But to Yaozhi, it felt like a deliberate provocation.

“It was only because you kept moving,” Yaozhi replied, trying to deflect as she applied the ointment to Shen Qing’s lips. She’d put a bit too much on, so she used the side of her finger to wipe some away.

“And if I don’t move?” Shen Qing asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied her. “Would you still feel it?”

Yaozhi’s hand stopped mid-motion. Her chest rose and fell with a sharp breath as she looked Shen Qing dead in the eye. “Shen Qing, don’t think for a second I’m still that nervous girl. There’s no one else around now.”

She was the one leaning over; she was the one in the dominant position.

“I see.” Shen Qing looked away, then back. “Aren’t you curious?”

Aren’t you curious about what I feel when I kiss you?

A strand of hair slipped from her collarbone down toward her throat. The heat surged up Yaozhi’s collar, flushing her cheeks and making her breath burn. A thin layer of sweat broke out on her back, making her clothes cling to her skin in a surge of inexplicable restlessness.

Desire is a thing beyond control. Shen Qing asked if she was curious, and the truth was, Yaozhi was dying to know. She wanted to know exactly what this woman—this lover from her past, actually felt.

“Fine. I’ll show you how curious I am,” Yaozhi said, seizing Shen Qing’s wrist. Her grip was firm, brooks no refusal.

The next second, she leaned down and kissed her.

The strong, bitter taste of the Chinese medicine mingled with the cool silkiness of Shen Qing’s lips. Yaozhi could feel the softness of those lips, the steady rhythm of Shen Qing’s breath, and the frantic pounding of her own heart. Shen Qing was entirely submissive, perfectly still.

When the kiss ended, Shen Qing looked at her. “Well?”

Yaozhi tossed her hair back. “I didn’t feel anything, actually.”

“We’re adults. One kiss and it’s forgotten.” I’m not that kid from years ago.

Shen Qing didn’t argue. She simply said, “Mmm. Kiss-buddies.”

Yaozhi wiped her lips. “Who’s your ‘kiss-buddy’? Don’t flatter yourself.”

Still, kissing Shen Qing was strangely cathartic. And it felt… familiar. Yaozhi actually quite enjoyed it.

As Shen Qing prepared to stand up, Yaozhi stopped her. “Wait a moment.”

“What is it?”

“You’ve licked all the medicine off. I have to do it again.”

**

After carefully reapplying the ointment, Yaozhi looked at Shen Qing’s slightly open collar and buttoned it up for her. She wanted to hide the marks she’d left in her lack of self-control.

Shen Qing checked the time on her phone. “It’s late. Are you going back?”

“The fashion gala is in a few days,” Shen Qing continued, noting the upcoming dates. “Gu Rong’er’s birthday is mid-month; since she’s with the investors, they’ll likely host a banquet. Toward the end of the month, the crew will be rushing to finish before the Lunar New Year break. We’ll be filming on the mountain and staying overnight. That should be it for the year.”

So fast, Yaozhi thought. The year was almost over. She didn’t even know if she’d be going back to her hometown; she hadn’t been in years. She watched Shen Qing for a moment. Gu Rong’er got a grand banquet for her birthday, while Shen Qing only had a simple meal with a few people.

A strange sense of injustice flared in Yaozhi’s heart. Was it because she’d just kissed her?

“Shen Qing… do you want some cake?” Yaozhi asked suddenly, looking into her eyes. “I made one for you. Sugar-free.”

Shen Qing had intended to refuse, but she couldn’t withstand the fact that Yaozhi had made it herself. Especially not when Yaozhi started acting all pitiful, complaining that her arm hurt from whisking the egg whites.

Even the lighting seemed to favour Yaozhi as she spoke; she looked so vivid and endearing. Shen Qing couldn’t bring herself to say no.

Yaozhi fetched the cake from her fridge and brought it to Shen Qing’s room. Since it was Shen Qing’s 31st birthday, Yaozhi had found a single candle and stuck it right in the middle.

“Is there a meaning behind this?” Shen Qing asked.

“It means we’re celebrating starting from when you were one year old,” Yaozhi made up on the spot. Shen Qing actually seemed to believe her.

“Next year,” Shen Qing replied, “I’ll bring a single candle for you, too.”

Yaozhi didn’t bother explaining. If she had the money, she’d happily give her 31 candles, but having grown up poor, she couldn’t bring herself to be that wasteful. She fumbled in her pockets, pushed aside her cigarettes, and found a lighter to light the candle.

Watching the flame, Yaozhi told her, “Go on, make a wish.”

“It’s not my birthday anymore,” Shen Qing said. “Will it work?”

Yaozhi’s mind raced for an excuse. She caught sight of the clock and showed Shen Qing her phone screen. “Look—it’s 12:09. Your birthday is right here. Hurry up.”

“Make a wish before it turns into someone else’s birthday,” she urged softly.

“Fine.”

The room fell silent, save for the faint crackling of the candle. The warm glow played over their features.

“I wish…” Shen Qing looked tenderly at Yaozhi. “I wish for Du Yaozhi—”

She glanced down at Qing-bao on the floor. “And her kitten… to be happy and safe.”

Before Yaozhi could respond, Shen Qing blew out the candle. Yaozhi felt a pang of frustration. Why does she never include herself? It had been the same in the past, the same with the kitten, and now this. It made Yaozhi’s heart ache with a strange sourness.

“Who taught you to make wishes like that?”

Shen Qing gave a helpless, gentle smile. “I’m not telling.”

“You’re not telling,” Yaozhi repeated slowly. She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. “Shen Qing… who’s pursuing whom here? I used to be the one chasing you, your secret lover. You wouldn’t let me ask then, but the tables have turned. You won’t let me ask now?”

Yaozhi wasn’t asking why Shen Qing had snubbed her in the past. Instead, she wanted to know Shen Qing’s history—she wanted to understand everything about her.

Shen Qing rubbed her fingertips and looked at the extinguished candle, her eyes downcast. “My sister. You don’t know her.”

“You said you’d introduce me to her. Does that still stand?”

Shen Qing took a tiny breath, smoothing a wrinkle in the tablecloth. After a moment’s thought, she said, “You’ll have to wait a little longer.”

Yaozhi didn’t press her. She simply nodded. “But as for today… You’ll have to wait for me for a moment.”

Shen Qing didn’t know what she was waiting for. Yaozhi told her to sleep and said she’d wake her. But Shen Qing couldn’t sleep. Fortunately, tomorrow morning only involved the supporting cast, so she didn’t take any sleeping pills. She sat on the sofa with her eyes closed, keeping Yaozhi company.

Yaozhi lay down and napped for a while. When her alarm went off, she immediately rolled off the bed and fetched the last piece of cake from the fridge. She saw Shen Qing was already awake, so she rushed to beat the clock.

She stuck a candle in.

“Quick, quick! Help me light it!” she urged, handing Shen Qing the lighter.

Puzzled by Yaozhi’s urgency, Shen Qing simply did as she was told.

“I wish for Shen Qing to be happy and safe, too!” Yaozhi blurted out.

Before Shen Qing could react, Yaozhi blew out the candle. She triumphantly showed Shen Qing her phone. The glow of the screen made her look stunning. “Perfect. See? 5:14 AM. It’s my birthday now.”

“You…” Shen Qing’s voice failed her.

When she looked at Yaozhi again, her eyes held an emotion that was hard to define. The candle was out, yet it felt as though something was burning with a long-lasting flame that wouldn’t subside.

Yaozhi stretched her arms with an air of indifference. “Don’t overthink it. I’m just paying you back.”

“The cake is for you. I’m going back to sleep now.” Yaozhi grabbed her coat, her voice a bit husky with sleep. She glanced at the carpet where the kitten was fast asleep. She lowered her voice, looking troubled. “Qing-bao is out cold.”

If she picked it up now, she’d wake it.

Shen Qing’s throat moved slightly. Regaining her composure, she looked up. “It can sleep here. You can come and get it tomorrow.”

“Really?”

Shen Qing nodded.

Yaozhi smiled. “I’ll leave it in your hands then.”

Shen Qing might be an enchantress, a jealous creature, and a bit wicked, but she makes a very reliable godmother.

Qing-bao looking after Qing-bao… quite funny, really.

“Shen Qing,” Yaozhi called out one last time before leaving, barely able to keep her eyes open.

“I’m listening.”

The wind from the corridor blew between them. Shen Qing waited, expecting something profound.

Yaozhi just leaned against the door, smiling as she brushed her curls back. “That ‘kiss-buddy’ thing… I’ll give it some thought.”

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