Pharmaceutical Negotiator - Chapter 35

The night was thick, summer had arrived, but the wind blowing the air was still a bit cool.

There was still standing water on the roads from the rain, a small puddle that appeared darker under the streetlights.

The smell of wine in the car had faded slightly, but when Qi An turned Zhang Sitan’s face towards her, she still smelled a strong, pungent odor.

Zhou Yangle must have drunk more, the wine smell from the front seat was stronger.

A slight blush colored Qi An’s face, her eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes were hazy, trying hard to find a focal point to look at Zhang Sitan.

“Really, Sister Sitan, did you come specifically to pick me up?”

The little person struggled to utter the words, still slightly slurring due to the alcohol.

Zhang Sitan’s mind went blank for a moment. The wind rushed in through the open car window, brushing against her face and messing up her hair.

After batting Qi An’s hand away, Zhang Sitan quickly turned her head back, tucked the stray hair behind her ear, and the emotion in her eyes gradually retreated as she lowered her head.

Su Wei’s light laughter was still in her ears, and Zhang Sitan felt a slight warmth on her face, as if her secret thoughts had been exposed.

A car whooshed past on the road, followed by another, the sounds blending into a “boom”.

Zhou Yangle leaned back in the passenger seat, complaining to Su Wei: “Drive faster, others are overtaking us.”

Su Wei glanced at her helplessly and patiently replied: “Safety first.”

Qi An was still happy about Zhang Sitan coming specifically to pick her up, her mouth slightly agape, wearing a silly smile.

Back home, Zhang Sitan told Qi An to take a shower and remove her makeup.

Qi An slumped lazily on the sofa, unwilling to move.

“Hurry up!” Zhang Sitan patted her leg, urging her.

“Oh.” Qi An grumbled, reluctantly stood up, and went to the bathroom.

Zhang Sitan returned to the bedroom, opened WeChat, and saw a message from Su Wei: “Someone got high on drugs at dinner today. I think Qi An might have been a bit scared, you should comfort her more.”

“Okay, thanks.” Zhang Sitan replied to Su Wei, her brows tightly furrowed.

When she saw the words “drugs,” she paused, shocked by the chaos of that circle, and also worried about Qi An’s condition.

Having changed into pajamas, Zhang Sitan propped up a pillow behind her and sat, waiting for Qi An to come out of the bathroom.

The air conditioning wasn’t on in the bedroom, but it wasn’t very hot either. The news recently reported that the “Sekard” ocean current was moving north from the Pacific, and the northern region would continue to experience localized heavy rain.

“Sekard” not only brought moisture but also coolness.

The thin space blanket was draped over her legs, and Zhang Sitan tucked in the edges, fully wrapping herself up.

It turned out that the coolness of “Sekard” couldn’t soothe the restlessness in her heart.

Zhang Sitan reflected on her behavior tonight, which was extremely abnormal and utterly irrational.

Su Wei said she would bring Qi An back, but she still went to pick her up. She didn’t even have a car, so rushing over only added one more person.

In fact, the moment Qi An agreed to go to dinner with Luo Murong, Zhang Sitan’s agitation had already begun.

She was very displeased, strongly hoping she wouldn’t go.

When she asked if she wanted to go, Qi An said she didn’t know but then added that Luo Murong was still waiting downstairs.

The implication was clear: she was more inclined to go.

Zhang Sitan knew it was a pretense, knew that an unreliable person like Luo Murong couldn’t possibly have any other relationship with Qi An.

But she felt uncomfortable, just uncomfortable, like swallowing an echidna that wriggled in her esophagus, poking and stinging, disturbing her peace.

Moreover, Qi An actually drank alcohol, reeking of wine, unable to speak clearly. When Su Wei told her that Qi An might have been scared today, Zhang Sitan felt even angrier.

But she couldn’t figure out who she was angry at, just inexplicably moody, feeling a mist enveloping her, hindering her progress and making her irritable.

Qi An finally came out of the bathroom, her hair haphazardly blown dry, sticking out wildly in various directions.

After showering, she was slightly more awake, walked to the bed, pulled the quilt over her, and climbed in.

“So tired.” She mumbled.

Zhang Sitan was still sitting, watching Qi An enter the bedroom and climb onto the bed.

She was also very tired, after a day of work followed by all this hassle. Looking at the time, it was already past midnight, a new day. The heavy rain reported in the news had not yet arrived.

Qi An lay down next to Zhang Sitan, also tightly wrapped in the quilt, giggling: “It’s a bit cold, actually.”

Zhang Sitan looked at her coolly. What a thoughtless person, worrying herself while Qi An was acting as if nothing happened.

“Su Wei said someone got high on drugs when you were having dinner today.”

“Hmm.” Qi An had already closed her eyes, her body turned toward Zhang Sitan, as she began to recount the night’s events.

Zhang Sitan listened patiently, feeling a slight tickle at her waist. Looking down, it was Qi An’s hand resting there.

“Luo Murong is the same, taking you to such a dangerous setting.” Zhang Sitan frowned, not moving her body, allowing Qi An’s hand to rest there.

“He didn’t know either,” Qi An defended Luo Murong.

Already moody, hearing Qi An defend Luo Murong made her even more displeased.

“Oh.” Zhang Sitan moved to the side, avoiding Qi An’s hand.

Qi An, who had originally placed her small hand on Zhang Sitan’s waist because the air was a little cool, suddenly lost her support, opened her eyes, and saw Zhang Sitan’s sharp gaze sweeping over her, questioning her.

It was a very slight question, and she immediately leaned closer again.

Qi An was lying down, Zhang Sitan was sitting up. The silky texture of the pajamas was light and smooth, exposing a bit of skin at the waist, exactly where Qi An placed her hand.

It was warm and soft.

“Can you put your hand inside your own quilt?” Zhang Sitan’s tone was somewhat cold.

“No.” Qi An whined playfully. Having had some alcohol, she was a bit bolder.

Last time she drank, Qi An threw a tantrum and refused to sleep alone, then stayed in Zhang Sitan’s bedroom and had been sleeping there ever since.

This time, although not as drunk as last time, Qi An was still more unrestrained than usual.

Seeing that Qi An refused to withdraw her hand, Zhang Sitan lay down under the quilt, so Qi An couldn’t touch her waist.

Lying face to face, the distance was too close, and Zhang Sitan could smell the lingering scent of shower gel on Qi An.

A faint scent of cherry blossom, pear, and cedar, like a small wild flower blooming in a mountain stream on a clear morning, with dewdrops still clinging to it.

Zhang Sitan stared at Qi An. As their eyes met, she lowered her gaze slightly, finally focusing on Qi An’s mouth.

Qi An’s lips were very pink, thin and pursed into a line.

“Sister Sitan.” Her lips slightly parted, moving a bit.

“What is it?” Zhang Sitan felt her own irritability and impatience today, and the question came out somewhat abruptly.

“Did you know Su Wei and Zhou Yangle are together?”

“I know.”

“Oh.” Silence. The small person across from her also stared at her for a while, wondering what she was thinking.

“So, do you have any thoughts about it?” the little person asked again.

Zhang Sitan felt this conversation was truly boring. It was past one in the morning, two people facing each other, exchanging some idle chat.

They were clearly very tired, yet neither wanted to fall asleep.

“No thoughts.” Zhang Sitan answered honestly.

She really didn’t feel much. She didn’t know much about homosexuality. She wasn’t prejudiced against it, nor did she find it particularly strange.

She knew Qi An might be feeling emotional about Su Wei and Zhou Yangle because she was a lesbian herself.

“If you want to be with someone in the future, you can be like them. You don’t need to worry about anyone’s opinion,” Zhang Sitan said.

Qi An looked at Zhang Sitan’s opening and closing mouth, unpainted, its color much lighter.

“I can be with whoever I want?” Qi An blinked, feeling a little sleepy.

“Of course,” Zhang Sitan looked at Qi An, finding the question very strange.

Can I be with you? Qi An asked in her heart.

“Can I like girls too?” Too sleepy, her voice became a low murmur.

“Of course,” Zhang Sitan smiled. “Didn’t you tell me you like girls?”

Yes, I did. But I didn’t say I like you.

Qi An “hmm’ed” and slowly closed her eyes.

Her eyes were closed, but her mouth was still moving: “Sister Sitan, I was super happy that you came to pick me up today.”

“Today, I suddenly feel that your suggestion to buy a car was a good one,” Zhang Sitan said slowly.

She saw Qi An close her eyes and knew she was tired.

“Sleep.” After saying that, just as she was about to turn over, Qi An opened her eyes again.

Zhang Sitan was used to sleeping on her back, her proper sleeping posture making her sleep soundly.

Qi An opened her eyes, her eyelashes slightly trembling, her focus fixed on Zhang Sitan’s lips.

Staring only at the mouth, not at Zhang Sitan’s eyes, as if it were just a mouth.

It wasn’t because of the alcohol, or maybe it was because of the alcohol. It wasn’t because of Su Wei and Zhou Yangle’s openness, or maybe it was because of Su Wei and Zhou Yangle’s openness. It wasn’t because Zhang Sitan came to pick her up today, or maybe it was because Zhang Sitan coming to pick her up made her feel a little special.

Qi An kissed her.

The moment her body leaned forward and their lips met, Qi An felt a chill.

Her body was outside the quilt. Although the air conditioning wasn’t on, the power of “Sekard” was still significant; the temperature dropped rapidly, causing goosebumps on her arms even in August.

Qi An didn’t dare to hug Zhang Sitan, her arms could only stay outside the quilt.

Zhang Sitan did not dodge. Her pupils widened, her mind short-circuited, halting all action.

Qi An took this as permission, permission for her kiss, permission for her next move.

She tentatively extended her tongue, very easily prying open Sister Sitan’s mouth.

Her tongue was icy cold, exploring Sister Sitan’s mouth.

Zhang Sitan’s tongue shrank to the very back, not daring to emerge, not daring to respond.

Qi An explored for a moment, didn’t find what she was looking for, and retreated.

Her eyelashes were a little wet, and her kissed lips were much redder.

Qi An regained her senses, her sleepiness gone.