Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Song Qinglan’s appearance surprised Fang Ran.

Earlier today, when she tried to talk to Song Qinglan, she still looked completely unwilling to acknowledge her, so why would she suddenly appear at her doorstep?

No, that wasn’t her house.

Fang Ran’s eyes instantly dimmed as if remembering something. This wasn’t her house at all; it was clearly Song Qinglan’s house. Song Qinglan had lent her the apartment to live in, and Song Qinglan could naturally come whenever she wanted.

However, Fang Ran didn’t understand why she looked so furious. If Song Qinglan had simply said the word, she could have moved out tonight.

“Why are you here?” Fang Ran asked, looking at Song Qinglan blocking the doorway: “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to talk to me?”

Song Qinglan’s face turned mottled shades of red and purple. Finally, she pulled down her hat and said grumpily: “Get inside. Do you want me to talk to you at the door?”

Fang Ran sighed internally, looking at Song Qinglan. As she opened the door, she thought she might use this opportunity to bring up her resignation.

Once they were inside, Fang Ran knew Song Qinglan was sensitive to cold, so she turned on the heating. Before Fang Ran could mention resigning, Song Qinglan tossed her hat onto the sofa and yelled at Fang Ran: “Sister Zhao from HR told me you want to resign. On what grounds are you resigning?”

Since Song Qinglan already knew about it, Fang Ran decided to proceed with the conversation.

“I think you don’t want to see me,” Fang Ran said slowly, looking at the exquisitely beautiful woman in front of her: “Instead of annoying you by constantly being around, it’s better to resign. That way, you won’t have to see my face again.”

Song Qinglan looked at her, exasperated: “Did I say you could leave? On what grounds are you leaving without permission? You are my assistant. You can’t leave unless I say so!”

Fang Ran looked at her in confusion: “Why are you doing this? You already know that I like you. Can you really tolerate keeping a lesbian by your side?”

Song Qinglan’s expression darkened, and she remained silent.

Fang Ran laughed self-deprecatingly, speaking in a relaxed tone: “See? You can’t accept it. So why keep me in the studio? It’s better for me to resign. Let’s part on good terms.”

Part on good terms?

How could they part on good terms?

Fang Ran felt an immense tearing pain in her heart. She had loved Song Qinglan for ten years, and a few light words made her heart feel shattered.

But prolonged agony is worse than a quick one. Fang Ran knew what mutually loving relationships looked like, and naturally, she knew how much Song Qinglan couldn’t accept her. Since that was the case, separating sooner was better for both of them.

Fang Ran let out a long sigh. She smiled bitterly at Song Qinglan: “Qinglan, for the sake of the ten years we’ve known each other, let’s both maintain a little dignity.”

Song Qinglan frowned deeply, stepped forward, grabbed Fang Ran’s shoulders, and stared intently at her: “Dignity? Do you think I have any dignity left?”

Fang Ran looked at her, confused: “Qinglan?”

“Those assistants are clumsy and incapable. They make mistakes repeatedly even after being told once. They always make a fuss and make me lose face,” Song Qinglan looked at Fang Ran, lowering her eyes, and said: “For this past week, you didn’t seek me out when I didn’t speak to you?”

“…”

“Didn’t you say you like me? For ten years? If that’s the case, and I ignore you, are you really not going to try and fight for it at all?”

Fang Ran couldn’t understand the meaning behind Song Qinglan’s words. She clearly hated her and was unwilling to accept a same-sex pursuit, so why was she suddenly saying this?

If she didn’t know Song Qinglan was perfectly fine, Fang Ran would suspect she was possessed.

“Qinglan, I’m not the type to pester people,” Fang Ran stood in front of Song Qinglan and said: “Regarding the assistant problem, I will make sure they are all properly trained before I leave the studio.”

“You… why won’t you listen to me?” Song Qinglan’s face flushed bright red. She shouted at Fang Ran: “I really don’t like same-sex relationships, but you’re different! You’re not like those other lesbians! I can’t live without you!”

Fang Ran was slightly stunned by her words: “What?”

Song Qinglan seemed to have reached some realization and told Fang Ran with annoyance: “The fact that you secretly like me really embarrassed me. I saw you as my best friend, and you want to sleep with me? That’s really hard for me to accept.”

“But I genuinely can’t leave you,” Song Qinglan’s tone softened slightly. She looked at Fang Ran and said: “Without you by my side, I feel like everything is wrong, and nothing goes smoothly. I’m already used to you taking care of my work and life. I can’t let you leave.”

Fang Ran looked at her and asked after a long pause: “Are you… treating me like a nanny?”

“No,” Song Qinglan quickly denied, gripping Fang Ran’s shoulders. She seemed to make a huge decision and finally said: “I’ve never dated a girl, and I don’t like girls, but if it’s you, I’m willing to try.”

I’m willing to try.

Try?

Fang Ran felt an instant ringing in her ears. She stared at the person in front of her in disbelief, her eyes wide: “You mean…”

Song Qinglan pursed her lips and moved one step closer.

When their lips met, there seemed to be a subtle electric current, causing fireworks to explode in Fang Ran’s mind.

Colorful fireworks, almost bursting her brain.

“It’s not that hard to accept,” Song Qinglan said after the kiss, examining Fang Ran’s astonished expression. She couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile: “Ranran, how are girls supposed to date? Can you teach me?”

Song Qinglan held Fang Ran’s hand, wrapped her arms around her waist, and backed her against the wall, saying in a slightly spoiled tone: “No rush to answer me. You let me get used to this first, so I can figure out what to do next.”

Fang Ran’s thoughts hadn’t fully returned, and she was already being kissed senseless by the person in front of her…

As the most important time of the year approached, the coffee shop began to decorate.

Shan Ling, who wasn’t afraid of heights, volunteered to hang two strings of large red lanterns below the sign at the entrance.

“The lanterns are done, now we need to put up window decals,” Nuonuo, acting as the general commander, told Shen Qingyi and Shan Ling: “Spray some water with the watering can and just stick them on. No need for glue, it will damage the glass.”

“Hang some decorations on the green plants too. We bought those little lanterns, red envelopes, and small bells, didn’t we? We can hang a few.”

“Fireworks are banned within the Fifth Ring Road, but no one said we can’t use firework-like decorations. Let’s decorate the counter. We can reuse the garlands left over from Christmas, just use the red ones.”

Commander Nuonuo chattered on, discussing the decorations with the other two. As for anything too expensive or too flashy, Shen Qingyi directly refused.

She said: “I think the customers would prefer a discount over these decorations.”

Shan Ling nodded in strong agreement with this.

Nuonuo clicked her pen, click-clack, click-clack, pondering for a moment: “You two are right. We’re a coffee shop. The most important thing is the coffee. Let’s stop the elaborate decorations here. The focus should be on coffee promotions.”

Nuonuo initially suggested a tiered discount system, referencing e-commerce festivals, but Shen Qingyi simply said: “Just a straight discount until we close.”

Shan Ling heard this and asked curiously: “When are we closing?”

“From Little New Year’s Eve until the seventh day of the Lunar New Year,” Shen Qingyi said: “It was originally 13 days, but I thought we should round it up to 15 days.”

Nuonuo’s eyes widened. She couldn’t help but applaud: “Boss, you’re truly a wonderful person! You’re giving us half a month of vacation!”

In her excitement, she turned to Shan Ling and asked: “Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, what are you planning to do during the holiday?”

Shan Ling hadn’t expected to be asked this question. She instinctively looked at Shen Qingyi, then turned to Nuonuo and said: “I don’t know.”

She genuinely didn’t know.

This was her first time celebrating the New Year away from home. She used to have family back home, but if she went back to the village for the Spring Festival, the timing wouldn’t work. Plus, she didn’t want to leave Shen Qingyi. She gained a lot of merit just by sleeping next to her every day.

Nuonuo looked at Shan Ling suspiciously and said playfully: “Xiao Ling, why do you look at the boss whenever I ask what you’ll do on vacation?”

Shen Qingyi looked up when she heard this. She stared at Shan Ling, paused, and told Nuonuo: “Stop teasing her. Since everything is settled, don’t stay here. Go do what you need to do.”

Nuonuo guessed the relationship between the two was definitely not simple, but she was a tactful person and had no intention of exposing Shen Qingyi’s little secret. She happily scurried off to the back kitchen.

Once Nuonuo was gone, Shan Ling leaned closer to Shen Qingyi and said: “I didn’t mean to look at you just now.”

“It’s alright if you look,” Shen Qingyi laughed: “Look openly whenever you want in the future. No one will say anything to you.”

Shan Ling nodded, then whispered: “It seems no one knows that we live together yet.”

Shen Qingyi nodded, smiling as she began to organize the items on the counter, but she didn’t speak.

At this point, customers began to enter one after another. Shan Ling stopped chatting with her and seriously started working.

As the workday drew to a close, Shan Ling was cleaning the tables and chairs customers had just used, arranging them properly, and collecting the trash on the tables when she heard the coffee shop door open.

“Welcome.”

Shan Ling looked up at the door and saw a familiar figure.

Shen Hongjun was wearing a silver-gray suit and a dark woolen overcoat. His hair was neatly combed, but despite his efforts, as he was in his fifties, he still looked aged, though youthful in his attire.

He hadn’t deliberately dyed the white hair at his temples. When Shan Ling looked at him, Shen Hongjun smiled slightly, walked over, and said: “I’m looking for Shen Qingyi.”

Shan Ling said “Oh,” and smiled at him: “Mr. Shen, please take a seat. I’ll go get Yiyi.”

Shen Hongjun smiled and nodded, taking a seat by the window.

Shan Ling dumped the trash into the bin, then told Shen Qingyi, who was tallying accounts in the changing room: “Yiyi, your father is here to see you. Should I prepare a cup of coffee for him?”

Shen Qingyi looked up from the accounts, guessed the purpose of Shen Hongjun’s visit, and told her: “Brew a pot of tea. I think he’s probably tired of coffee.”

Brew tea?

That was Shan Ling’s job.

Nuonuo, idle in the back kitchen, observed the two and vaguely sensed what was happening.

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