Online Love, Based on the Real Object - Chapter 9

Qi Ning stepped out of the shower feeling utterly refreshed, dressed only in an oversized T-shirt that revealed most of her fair legs. Washing away the lingering scents of alcohol and sweat had left her feeling completely renewed.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she found the living room empty. Checking the bedroom revealed no one either, so she figured Chu Yunjing must be holed up in the study again. She turned toward the guest room to inspect where she’d be sleeping that night.

Chu Yunjing had a weekly cleaning service, but since she’d just returned, the guest room hadn’t been tidied yet. The room wasn’t used often, and as Qi Ning walked in and glanced around, she paused by the desk, running a finger across its surface.

A thin layer of dust coated her fingertip. The bedsheets, changed some time ago, had also gathered dust. There were fresh linens in the closet, but Qi Ning’s laziness kicked in, she couldn’t be bothered to go through the hassle of changing them.

Exiting the guest room, she approached the study door, knocked twice, then cracked it open, peeking inside.

“I’m done showering,” Qi Ning announced, spotting Chu Yunjing seated at the desk, staring at her computer screen. A pair of thin-framed blue-light glasses perched on her nose, the lenses reflecting dense blocks of text.

Chu Yunjing lifted her head, acknowledging the person at the door with a simple, “Okay.”

Qi Ning then added, “I’m sleeping in your room tonight, yeah?” Though phrased as a question, it was more of a foregone conclusion.

They’d shared beds countless times as kids, so Chu Yunjing had no objections. She simply nodded again. “Okay.”

Seeing Chu Yunjing close her laptop to head for the shower, Qi Ning bid her a quick farewell and retreated to the bedroom.

Chu Yunjing’s room was as minimalist as her personality a wardrobe, a vanity, and a spacious double bed flanked by nightstands, with a wall-mounted lamp above the headboard.

The vanity was stocked with skincare and makeup products Qi Ning recognized. She casually picked up a bottle of toner and began her routine.

One of the perks of staying over at a female friend’s place was sharing skincare, no need to lug around an entire collection of bottles and jars. The thought of packing all that for trips always made her feel like she was moving house.

By the time Chu Yunjing finished her shower and entered the room, Qi Ning was already lounging on the bed, scrolling through her phone. Without a word, Chu Yunjing headed straight for the vanity.

Working in the skincare industry, Chu Yunjing knew the importance of a solid morning and evening routine. As she applied her products, she asked, “Finished your skincare?”

“Yep,” Qi Ning replied, then paused, setting her phone aside. She crawled to the edge of the bed, kneeling as she studied Chu Yunjing. “What’s that bottle? A new product?”

“This?” Chu Yunjing picked up the eye cream she’d brought back earlier unsurprisingly unfamiliar to Qi Ning since it hadn’t launched yet. “It’s a new anti-aging eye cream. Not officially released.”

The mention of aging instantly piqued Qi Ning’s interest. “Really? Let me try it!” Anti-aging products were always the priciest on the market, and she’d heard Chu Yunjing mention this eye cream before. Now that she had the chance to test it for free, she wasn’t about to pass it up.

Chu Yunjing handed her the eye cream. Qi Ning dabbed a bit on and hastily rubbed it in with her index finger in circular motions. Watching her movements in the mirror, Chu Yunjing looked slightly surprised. “You’re done already?”

“Yep,” Qi Ning replied matter-of-factly. “It absorbs pretty well.”

“You need to massage it thoroughly after absorption, otherwise it’s wasted,” Chu Yunjing reminded her. Seeing Qi Ning’s “I can’t be bothered” expression, she sighed and got up from her chair, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. “Come closer.”

At this, Qi Ning eagerly propped herself up on the soft mattress and happily leaned her face forward.

“Close your eyes.”

She obediently shut her eyes. Soon, she felt the gentle touch of fingers on her eyelids, the pads lightly pressing against her lower lash line, massaging in circular motions from the inner to the outer corners. Qi Ning had long lashes, and when applying eye cream, it often got on them. Opening her eyes afterward would then irritate them, making it quite uncomfortable. Every time Chu Yunjing helped with her skincare, she thoroughly enjoyed it, professional techniques were just different from her own haphazard attempts.

Chu Yunjing tapped the outer corner of her eye with her fingertip. “Done.”

Qi Ning opened her eyes and immediately met Chu Yunjing’s gaze. The teardrop mole at the outer corner of her left eye once again tugged at her heart. She found this mole incredibly striking, it softened Chu Yunjing’s otherwise cool and aloof demeanor. Staring into those slightly upturned peach blossom eyes for too long even made them seem like they were sparkling, adding a touch of gentleness to her whole presence.

Without thinking, Qi Ning reached up and touched the mole. “This mole is so pretty. Why don’t I have one?” Her voice carried a hint of envy and admiration.

This wasn’t the first time Qi Ning had expressed her fondness for the mole. Chu Yunjing quietly watched her before calmly replying, “You do have one.”

“Where?” Qi Ning had looked at her own face every day for twenty-six years and never spotted a mole.

“Here.” Without warning, Chu Yunjing placed a hand on the small of Qi Ning’s back. The sudden touch caught her off guard, and since that spot was particularly sensitive, she instinctively arched away with a soft “Eep!”

Qi Ning collapsed into Chu Yunjing’s arms but quickly straightened up, shooting her a reproachful glare. She was definitely doing this on purpose. While Qi Ning wasn’t ticklish elsewhere, her lower back was oddly sensitive, she sometimes wondered if her ticklish spots were misplaced.

“I can’t even see it!” she huffed.

Chu Yunjing chuckled ambiguously. “Only for someone special to see. That’s not a bad privilege.”

The small of one’s back was usually hidden under clothes, making it invisible most of the time. But the phrase “only for someone special” carried an undeniably ambiguous undertone.

“Bull!” Qi Ning retorted. “Well, you’ve seen it. Does that mean you’re my special someone?” She quickly added, “I mean in a romantic way.”

Chu Yunjing understood but still teased her, which was rare for her. “That might not be good. If you came out, your parents would have a heart attack.”

“…Shut up.” Qi Ning smacked her shoulder, laughing despite herself. “Since when did you learn the term ‘coming out’?”

Chu Yunjing responded with a noncommittal smile, choosing not to answer. After a brief silence, Qi Ning suddenly threw an arm around her shoulders and said with feigned mystery, “Jingjing, be honest with me, ” Her eyes betrayed an eagerness for gossip.

“Do you have someone you like?” Qi Ning asked bluntly. When it came to matters of the heart, she always shared every little development with Chu Yunjing immediately, but the latter rarely reciprocated. Qi Ning knew Yunjing had no shortage of suitors, yet apart from one relationship in college, she hadn’t seen anyone else by her side since.

“No,” came Yunjing’s usual decisive reply whenever this topic arose.

Qi Ning hesitated for a long moment before frowning and asking, “You’re not… still hung up on that guy from college, are you?”

At this, Yunjing couldn’t suppress an eye roll, her exasperation plain as day. “I already told you, no.”

“Then why did you two break up? Did you end it or did he?” Years later, this was the first time Qi Ning had asked for details. If not for Yunjing’s complete lack of romantic prospects, she wouldn’t have dredged up old history.

Besides, enough time had passed that even if the feelings had been deep back then, they should be able to discuss it calmly now.

“I did. He was a good person, but we weren’t compatible.” Yunjing’s expression remained unreadable as she spoke, as if reminiscing about some trivial acquaintance rather than her youthful first love.

“Oh…” Qi Ning nodded. She had assumed they broke up because the guy went abroad to study. After all, he’d pursued Yunjing relentlessly for two years before winning her over, he wouldn’t have wanted to start a long-distance relationship so soon. Maybe he’d let her go out of consideration.

In reality, when they broke up, the guy had thought Yunjing didn’t want to do long-distance and even offered to give up studying abroad to save the relationship. But hearing this only made Yunjing more resolute, leaving him with no choice but to embark on his studies with regret.

“So, what’s your type? Come on, tell me, I’ll set you up!” Qi Ning’s grin now resembled that of a suspicious auntie offering candy. Yunjing’s lips twitched as she scoffed, “You can’t even sort out your own love life, yet you’re worrying about mine?”

Qi Ning: “…” She felt an arrow strike her knee.

“Being single doesn’t stop me from playing matchmaker!” she persisted. “What kind of person do you like? Spill it…”

Cornered, Yunjing finally relented, “Someone I’m compatible with.”

“…” After a full minute of silence, Qi Ning arrived at a conclusion: “The only person in this world compatible with you is probably me.”

With that, she draped an arm over Yunjing’s shoulder and declared solemnly, “Too bad I don’t swing that way.”

Then she watched as Yunjing flashed her a picture-perfect smile, one that somehow conveyed “30% indifference, 30% mockery, and 40% utter nonchalance,” along with a clear look of disdain in her eyes.

This dealt a crushing blow to Qi Ning. Even if her best friend were into women, she wouldn’t be the first choice?!

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