My Angel, My Guardian (GL) - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Ying Xing’er spoke loudly, making sure everyone present heard her clearly, including Shen Jingwen. Upon hearing her words, Shen Jingwen’s face instantly turned as red as an apple, and she secretly cursed Ying Xing’er in her heart for being so shameless.

“Old rules: fifty million for the last place,” a woman said, leaning against the glamorous woman beside her.

“No problem,” Ying Xing’er replied with full confidence, pulling Shen Jingwen into the car.

“Do you trust me?”

As she buckled her seatbelt, Ying Xing’er turned to ask Shen Jingwen. Shen Jingwen wanted to snappingly reply, “Only a ghost would trust you,” but seeing Ying Xing’er’s earnest gaze, she found herself nodding as if possessed. A beautiful smile brushed across Ying Xing’er’s lips—a smile that left Shen Jingwen utterly dazed.

While Shen Jingwen was staring blankly, Ying Xing’er slowly leaned in. By the time Shen Jingwen noticed, the face in front of her had magnified several times. Her heart began to beat erratically once more, and she instinctively closed her eyes. A “click” sounded in her ear, followed by Ying Xing’er’s laughter. Shen Jingwen opened her eyes and looked at her.

“Were you expecting me to kiss you? I was just helping you with your seatbelt. The race might be a bit dangerous, so if you feel uncomfortable, you can ask me to stop.”

Ying Xing’er sat back up and buckled her own seatbelt. She admitted to herself that at the moment she leaned in, she truly did have the urge to kiss her. However, she wanted to kiss Shen Jingwen when she was willing, not in such an ambiguous way.

“Thank you,” Shen Jingwen whispered a word of thanks. Ying Xing’er shrugged nonchalantly. At that moment, a beautiful woman at the front stripped off her jacket, leaving only her lingerie. As the jacket hit the ground, every car surged forward.

Ying Xing’er floored the accelerator. Shen Jingwen gripped the safety handle tightly, her eyes fixed on the speedometer which had already hit its limit. Noticing Shen Jingwen out of the corner of her eye, Ying Xing’er instinctively slowed down. Consequently, the cars she had left behind began to overtake her. For the first time, Ying Xing’er did not win first place.

When the car finally pulled up at the finish line, Shen Jingwen unbuckled her seatbelt, threw open the door, and ran to the side to vomit. Ying Xing’er quickly grabbed a bottle of water from the car and walked over to her.

“Are you okay?”

Ying Xing’er handed her the water. Shen Jingwen shook her head; luckily, she hadn’t eaten much all day, so she was only throwing up bile.

“Miss Ying, it’s rare to see you lose!” The woman approached Ying Xing’er again. Ying Xing’er took off her jacket and draped it over Shen Jingwen’s shoulders.

“It’s just fifty million, isn’t it? I’ll have my people transfer it to you in a bit.”

To Ying Xing’er, fifty million was nothing. The priority was that the person beside her didn’t feel too unwell. She could tell Shen Jingwen had been terrified, yet she hadn’t said a word throughout the drive. Ying Xing’er knew this was a sign of trust, so she would rather lose fifty million than let Shen Jingwen suffer through more fear.

“But our bet wasn’t just about the money. Old rules,” the woman said with a sinister smile.

“She isn’t my girlfriend yet. This isn’t quite appropriate, is it? How about I give you an extra ten million?”

Ying Xing’er had forgotten that besides the money, there was another part of the wager: the loser had to have a one-minute French kiss with their companion.

“That won’t do. You’re the one who set these rules,” the woman insisted, refusing to let her off the hook. Ying Xing’er frowned. Was this a case of “hoisting oneself by one’s own petard”? She looked at Shen Jingwen hesitantly; Shen Jingwen wasn’t entirely sure what they were discussing.

“The rule is… the loser has to kiss their companion for one minute. Can you do it?”

Ying Xing’er intended to respect Shen Jingwen’s wishes. If she refused, Ying Xing’er wouldn’t fulfill the bet no matter what. Shen Jingwen looked at the crowd waiting to laugh at Ying Xing’er and did the most impulsive thing of her life: she reached out, put her arms around Ying Xing’er’s neck, and pressed her lips against hers.

Ying Xing’er was stunned. Taking advantage of her surprise, Shen Jingwen closed her eyes and deepened the kiss, her tongue tangling with Ying Xing’er’s. A smile played on Ying Xing’er’s lips as she wrapped her arms around Shen Jingwen’s waist, closing her eyes to enjoy the intimacy.

A minute later, Shen Jingwen let go. Ying Xing’er raised an eyebrow at the woman.

“Satisfied? Then we’re leaving.”

Ying Xing’er pulled Shen Jingwen back into the car. The two who had just been so intimate were now plunged into an awkward silence.

“I only did that to help you out. Don’t get the wrong idea,” Shen Jingwen said softly, her face flushed as she turned her head away.

“That was my first kiss,” Ying Xing’er said, slowly starting the car and keeping it at a normal speed.

“First kiss? Wasn’t your first kiss gone that Christmas Eve? Or were you lying to me?”

Shen Jingwen turned to look at her. Ying Xing’er smiled.

“Whether that time was the first or this one counts, my first kiss was given to you either way. You have to take responsibility for me.”

Ying Xing’er spoke in a cutesy, cloying voice that gave even her goosebumps, let alone Shen Jingwen. Shen Jingwen glared at her.

“Boring.”

“Alright, how about I take you to dinner and a movie as an apology?”

Ying Xing’er looked for any excuse to spend more time alone with her. Shen Jingwen thought about how she’d only be alone at home anyway, so she agreed.

“What do you want to eat? Chinese or Western?”

“I’ve had so much Western food over the years I’m sick of it. Let’s have Chinese.”

“I know a decent place nearby. It’s not big, but the food is great. Want to try it?”

Shen Jingwen nodded. She trusted Ying Xing’er’s taste in food, and she wasn’t a picky eater anyway.

Ying Xing’er parked the car and, like a gentleman, walked around to open the door for Shen Jingwen. They entered the restaurant; since it wasn’t peak dining hours, the place was quiet. A server led them to a window seat. Compared to the bustling street outside, the interior was elegant and peaceful, decorated in a classic Chinese style with landscape paintings and solid wood furniture.

“What can I get for the two of you?”

The server handed them the menus. Shen Jingwen flipped through the pages of exquisite dishes, unsure of what to pick.

“Do you prefer strong flavors or something light?” Ying Xing’er asked softly.

“Something light.”

“I’ll have the wood ear mushroom with scrambled eggs, Kung Pao chicken, and a few of your signature dishes—keep the flavors on the lighter side. Finally, two bowls of pork rib soup and two bowls of rice. Thank you.”

After ordering, the food arrived quickly. They ate mostly in silence, finished their meal, and went to see a movie—a romantic comedy. While everyone else was laughing, Ying Xing’er spent the time fighting the urge to yawn.

When the movie ended, Ying Xing’er ran out of excuses to stall. She drove Shen Jingwen home and stopped the car. Shen Jingwen unbuckled her seatbelt.

“Thank you. I had a very happy time today.”

“Don’t mention it. I promise this happiness will continue. Go on in; I’ll leave once I see your lights go on.”

Despite her reluctance to part, Ying Xing’er opened the door for her. Shen Jingwen went inside and took the elevator up. Once the living room lights flickered on, Ying Xing’er finally started her car and drove toward her own home.