Online Love, Based on the Real Object - Chapter 14

Western cuisine is always about refinement, and to be honest, Qi Ning hadn’t eaten her fill tonight. Shu Mingyao had generously asked if she wanted to order more dishes.

Eager to wrap up the dinner, Qi Ning declined. She had originally planned to drag Chu Yunjing out for skewers afterward, but now that Shu Mingyao had invited her, she went along.

They found a music-themed bistro. Perhaps because it was past dinner time but still too early for late-night snacks, the restaurant was nearly empty. Music played from the speakers on stage, keeping the atmosphere from feeling too desolate.

They ordered a grilled fish set and half a dozen beers.

While waiting for the food, Qi Ning’s phone on the table buzzed. She tapped the screen to see a message from Chu Yunjing.

It asked how the dinner had gone, the concern in the words unmistakable.

Qi Ning: Finished. Now out for late-night snacks [blushing].

After sending the text, she attached a photo, a snapshot of the ice-cold beers the waiter had just brought over.

The moment the picture was sent, Chu Yunjing’s call came through.

Qi Ning glanced at Shu Mingyao across the table before answering.

“Qi Ning, you’ve really grown some guts, huh? Drinking with someone you just met are you thinking this is true love and you’re ready to settle down?” Chu Yunjing’s words came rapid-fire, none of her usual calmness in sight, as if afraid that even a second’s delay would let Qi Ning sell herself off.

“Uh!” Qi Ning hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. She replied carefully, “No, I’m just with a friend right now.”

“Oh.” Chu Yunjing hung up instantly.

“？？？？”

Qi Ning stared at the screen, now back on the WeChat chat interface, baffled. If you’re worried, just say so why be so tsundere about it?

Though she thought that, her fingers obediently sent a cute, appeasing sticker.

Across the table, Shu Mingyao chuckled at her flustered expression. “Your special someone?”

“What special someone?” Qi Ning shot her a look and set her phone back down. “Just a friend checking in.”

Shu Mingyao pulled out a slim case of women’s cigarettes, plucked one out, and held it between her fingers. With practiced ease, she lit it with a lighter.

Exhaling a slow stream of smoke, the white tendrils curled around her fingers, the bright red nail polish stark against the haze. Her expression remained languid.

“I go on one trip, and when I come back, I hear you’ve broken up with that Zou Ruiming. What exactly happened?” Shu Mingyao tapped ash into the tray, her tone edged with accusation. “Did he mess with you?”

“No.” Qi Ning shook her head, pouring her a beer. “He just got caught cheating, that’s all.”

Shu Mingyao’s brows furrowed. “That bastard. I warned him to behave.”

Shu Mingyao was a local of Chonghai. Years ago, she had struck out on her own in business and now thrived, with ventures spanning multiple industries. Qi Ning had met her by chance, and they’d hit it off immediately Shu Mingyao was generous and warm, treating her like a sister.

When she’d learned Qi Ning was in a relationship, she had promptly “warned” Zou Ruiming to treat her well.

Now, hearing about his infidelity, the slender cigarette snapped in half between her fingers, a clear sign of her anger.

Qi Ning quickly said, “It’s all in the past. I never really liked him anyway. Breaking up is for the best, I feel much lighter being single now!”

“What about my brother?” Shu Mingyao still seemed reluctant to let it go.

“He’s great, but! We talked and agreed we’re better off as friends.”

Shu Mingyao sighed. “Alright.”

Seeing the mood lighten, Qi Ning joked, “Come on, Sister Shu, don’t sigh so much. You’ve got such a pretty face your husband would be heartbroken seeing you like this.”

The “husband” Qi Ning referred to was Shu Mingyao’s whirlwind romance, a man she married just three days after love at first sight. Qi Ning had even taken time off to attend their wedding a month ago.

“Oh.” Shu Mingyao said nonchalantly, “Forgot to tell you. We divorced half a month ago.”

Qi Ning: “????”

Her mind was flooded with question mark emojis.

Sis, you divorced after just half a month of marriage???

Perhaps because of her career success, Shu Mingyao had always been carefree when it came to relationships. Once the novelty wore off, she’d move on. Among all the people Qi Ning knew, Shu Mingyao had the highest turnover rate of boyfriends yet her exes remained hopelessly devoted to her.

So when Qi Ning heard about Shu Mingyao’s impulsive marriage, she wasn’t too surprised, though the marriage ended sooner than she expected.

She thought it would last at least a year or two.

Before she could fully process this bombshell, Shu Mingyao dropped an even bigger one.

“Now I’m keeping a young lover.”

“???” Qi Ning was so shocked she nearly dropped the melon she was holding.

Before Qi Ning could ask more about this “young lover,” their other friends arrived for the late-night snack. Not wanting to bring it up in front of everyone, she let the topic drop.

This ill-timed “late-night snack” dragged on until actual late-night hours, with the group finally dispersing past 11 p.m.

Everyone at the table was a seasoned drinker. After finishing half a dozen bottles, they ordered two more rounds, leaving them all slightly tipsy by the end.

Those with partners were picked up, while those who drove alone called designated drivers leaving only Qi Ning and Shu Mingyao without arrangements.

Assuming Shu Mingyao had called a driver, Qi Ning was about to hail a cab when Shu Mingyao asked, “A Ning, is anyone coming to get you?”

Qi Ning instinctively shook her head.

“Then come with me. I’ve called someone. It’s not safe for you to take a cab alone this late.”

Qi Ning glanced around and whispered, “Is it your lover?”

Shu Mingyao smiled but didn’t answer.

Qi Ning took it as confirmation.

“…” The lover situation was awkward, and Qi Ning didn’t want to be the third wheel. She hurriedly declined, “No need! I won’t intrude on your couple time!”

“It’s fine. He won’t mind,” Shu Mingyao replied. She’d drunk quite a bit, her face flushed with a tipsy allure that was undeniably captivating.

As if some kept man would dare to mind, Qi Ning thought sarcastically. Though curious about why Shu Mingyao would keep a young lover, she agreed it was too late to play the unwelcome third wheel.

Just as they were debating how to get home, Qi Ning’s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she immediately answered.

“Hey, you’re coming to pick me up? Great, I’ll send you my location!” She hung up without waiting for a reply.

Chu Yunjing, who had only called to confirm Qi Ning got home safely: “?”

“Sister Shu, my friend is here to pick me up, so I won’t hitch a ride back with you guys.”

Seeing that she was settled, Shu Mingyao didn’t insist further. They stood at the entrance of the bar waiting for a while as their friends were gradually picked up one by one, leaving just the two of them standing there.

Qi Ning glanced at Shu Mingyao’s profile and suddenly realized how striking her side view was with curled lashes, rosy lips, and pearly white teeth, she looked nothing like a thirty-year-old. She was exactly the type men adored.

“Sis, why did you suddenly decide to keep a toy boy?” After hesitating for a long time, Qi Ning finally asked.

Given Shu Mingyao’s financial means, keeping a toy boy was no issue. What surprised Qi Ning was that with her qualifications, more people would choose to be her official boyfriend, why would anyone settle for being an unmentionable lover?

“Hmm…” Shu Mingyao lowered her gaze to the pavement. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe I just wanted some comfort,” she murmured so softly that Qi Ning didn’t catch it.

In the silence that followed, Shu Mingyao’s phone rang. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen, her eyes lingering on a taxi parked not far ahead.

Turning to Qi Ning, she said, “I’ll head off first. Text me when you get home.” With that, she walked lightly toward the taxi.

Chu Yunjing’s timing was impeccable her car arrived just as the taxi pulled up, its headlights glaring painfully in Qi Ning’s eyes.

The car made a U-turn and stopped in front of her, the window rolling down.

“Get in.”

Qi Ning obediently climbed in and instinctively looked toward the taxi, only to find it had already driven off. Shu Mingyao’s car was parked in the roadside parking zone, and the person who had come to pick her up was supporting her as they walked toward a Maserati.

“???” Qi Ning rubbed her eyes, looking as if she’d seen a ghost.

Because that “toy boy” seemed to be a woman?

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