She Gives Too Much (GL) - Chapter 14

This feeling was like the inexplicable restlessness that comes before a summer thunderstorm, a stifling weight in her chest with no outlet.

She stared at Chen Xi, who met her gaze. The easy smile on Chen Xi’s face slowly stiffened.

Chen Xi knew her excuses sounded flimsy and unconvincing. Her lashes fluttered as she turned back to her phone.

I’ve already stopped carrying my own bags and started wearing designer clothes to match the Young Miss. Now I can’t even touch my own things when I come back?

We were having fun just half an hour ago. How did this suddenly become about sacrificing my own hobbies?

Chen Xi’s fingers unconsciously swiped across the screen, a strange heaviness settling in her chest.

If I break things off now, will I ever get to sleep with the Young Miss again?

Neither of them spoke, and the room fell into a tense silence.

Chen Xi slowly climbed off the bed to retrieve her clothes.

Seeing her move, Li Zhi’s brow furrowed involuntarily, her heart feeling even emptier than before. “What are you doing?”

“Are you going to get dressed and leave?” Chen Xi asked tentatively. “You seem upset.”

Li Zhi wanted to deny it, but she was indeed displeased.

She turned her face toward the computer screen, pressing her lips together and avoiding Chen Xi’s gaze.

The Young Miss’s expression gave no indication whether she was allowed to leave.

But Chen Xi sensed that if she continued getting dressed, the Young Miss would only grow angrier.

Making money is hard, Qian Qian sighed inwardly.

Chen Xi lingered for a moment, then put down her clothes and lay back down on the bed, preparing to sleep.

She had no intention of compromising on the matter of moving out.

It wasn’t as if she was so desperate for money that she’d do whatever her sugar daddy told her.

Chen Xi lay on the bed with her eyes closed, nearly asleep, when she suddenly felt a weight settle beside her.

It was the Young Miss, who had turned off the lights and gotten into bed.

Unlike Chen Xi, Li Zhi slept rigidly, maintaining the same posture throughout the night.

Chen Xi, on the other hand, slept however she was comfortable. She often woke up with one leg draped over Li Zhi.

Just as she was drifting off, Chen Xi felt the person beside her lie down, instantly snapping her awake. Her drowsiness vanished.

She gauged the distance between them on the large bed and deliberately feigned a turn, extending her hand until it brushed against Li Zhi’s.

Their hands touched.

A triumphant smile flickered across Chen Xi’s face. She was about to hook her pinky around the Young Miss’s finger when—

Li Zhi suddenly rolled over, turning her back and creating distance between them.

Though she didn’t say a word, her rejection was unmistakable.

Chen Xi stared blankly at Li Zhi’s slender back for a long moment before finally reacting. She pressed her lips together, her lashes fluttering as she lowered her gaze, withdrawing her hand to cradle it against her chest.

A wave of inexplicable resentment washed over her.

Chen Xi retreated to her side of the bed, turning her back to Li Zhi and curling up into a tight, obedient ball.

Li Zhi’s mind was in turmoil.

So chaotic that even though she knew Chen Xi’s earlier gesture had been an attempt to show affection, she had deliberately recoiled.

The nature of their relationship was painfully clear: a patron-client arrangement.

Chen Xi hadn’t done anything wrong. She had fulfilled her contractual obligations with meticulous precision, never overstepping the boundaries.

She had even willingly indulged in playful intimacy, as she had today.

So what was Li Zhi dissatisfied with?

Was it Chen Xi’s refusal to rent a separate apartment?

Or was it Chen Xi’s rigid adherence to the terms of their arrangement?

But that was the very essence of a patron-client relationship.

The more Li Zhi acknowledged Chen Xi’s faultless conduct, the more agitated she became, a nameless frustration gnawing at her.

Unable to sleep, she lay still, listening to the faint rustling sounds behind her. She could sense Chen Xi shifting closer to the edge of the bed.

The master bedroom’s bed was already enormous. Now, with Li Zhi sleeping on one side and Chen Xi on the other, a vast empty space stretched between them—enough room for two or three more people.

Li Zhi’s fingers tightened around the edge of the pillow. Her chest felt like it was covered in waterlogged cotton, heavy and suffocating, making it hard to breathe.

They remained in that position until dawn.

Chen Xi, unusually still in her sleep, didn’t press her leg against Li Zhi’s or roll over into her arms.

Li Zhi sat up in bed, half-embracing the quilt, watching Chen Xi get up to wash and dress.

“Good morning!” Chen Xi greeted her cheerfully, as if last night’s unpleasantness had been completely forgotten.

Li Zhi had initially thought so too, even feeling a sense of relief.

But then she saw Chen Xi pull a clean set of underwear from her crossbody bag, change into it, and toss the red one from yesterday directly into the trash can, taking the bag out with her.

Before Li Zhi could recover from this act of cathartic disposal, Chen Xi pulled out her phone.

“My ride’s here. I’m off!” Chen Xi waved goodbye with a smile, holding the trash bag.

Li Zhi stared blankly at Chen Xi, who had her hair pulled back in a crisp, high ponytail. Without a backward glance, Chen Xi strode out of the bedroom.

Li Zhi had planned to take Chen Xi out for French cuisine today, and her assistant had even booked a table the night before. But now it seemed Chen Xi had no interest in that at all. She wouldn’t even let Li Zhi drive her back to school.

Li Zhi sat on the bed, listening to the front door slam shut, and it finally dawned on her: Chen Xi was probably angry. Though she hadn’t shown it outwardly, she was definitely upset.

Li Zhi threw back the covers, padded barefoot to the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, and peeked through a gap in the curtains.

Moments later, she saw Chen Xi emerge from the building, walk to the outdoor trash can, and toss the bag she was carrying into it with a heavy thud.

Oh-ho!

Before getting into the car, Chen Xi suddenly turned to glance in the direction of Li Zhi’s house.

…?!

Li Zhi felt a sudden pang of guilt. Her hand loosened on the curtain, and the narrow slit she had been peeking through snapped shut.

Standing before the tightly drawn curtain, Li Zhi’s heart pounded heavily, the force of each beat making her chest numb.

Only after she estimated Chen Xi had left did Li Zhi finally pinch the bridge of her nose and let out a relieved sigh.

This seems… serious.

Chen Xi took a taxi straight back to her dorm.

She returned so early that Xiao Xiao was still asleep. Groggy from sleep, Xiao Xiao asked, “Qian Qian, you’re back?”

Chen Xi hummed in response, opening her closet to gaze at her collection of designer bags. Only then did her mood begin to settle.

She picked out the one she had bought last month, cradling it in her arms and gently stroking the bag’s soft calfskin leather like a cherished pet.

“I’m back, and I’m not leaving again,” she murmured, pressing the bag close. “Mommy missed you all so much.”

Xiao Xiao, still half-asleep, leaned over the edge of her bunk to peer down. “What’s wrong with you?”

Chen Xi blinked innocently. “Nothing’s wrong. Why would anything be wrong?”

She hummed softly. “What are women anyway? Bags are true love.”

Chen Xi spent half the day lounging in the dorm, during which she received a call from the group leader.

“Chen Xi, remember that historical drama where we played maids? The director’s holding auditions for extras. Want to give it a shot?”

“It’s a small role, but if you nail it, it could be your big break.”

Chen Xi sprang up from bed. “I’m in!”

She hopped out of bed and started getting ready. “Give me half an hour. I’ll be there soon.”

Talk about love life in shambles, career soaring!

Chen Xi rushed through her makeup and headed out. When grabbing a bag, she instinctively reached for her usual twenty-yuan canvas tote.

Her hand was already extended when she froze, abruptly changing course to sling her favorite calfskin bag over her shoulder.

She checked her reflection in the mirror, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

Look at this future superstar! Even after a sleepless night, her condition is flawless. Pulling all-nighters will be no problem in the future.

Chen Xi called a cab, determined to get there as quickly as possible.

As she approached the school gate, her phone buzzed.

It was a message from the Young Miss.

“Going out to eat?”

Chen Xi paused, instinctively looking up. Li Zhi’s car was parked outside.

Li Zhi had clearly already spotted her.

Chen Xi’s eyelashes fluttered. By the time she realized it, she had unconsciously covered the logo of her shoulder bag with her arm.

Qian Qian was stunned. How long has it been? She’s already developed professional habits?

Li Zhi watched Chen Xi walk toward the entrance, her heart easing. Chen Xi actually had a good temper; the morning’s incident must have been a fluke. Maybe she wasn’t even angry anymore.

Li Zhi opened the car door and stepped out, ready to take Chen Xi for French cuisine.

As Chen Xi drew closer, Li Zhi’s smile widened. Just as she was about to speak first—

A ride-hailing car suddenly pulled up right in front of her.

Then Li Zhi watched in disbelief as Chen Xi, who had been walking toward her, nonchalantly opened the car door and got in.

The ride-hailing car had successfully intercepted her, wasting no time as it sped away.

The school entrance was left with only exhaust fumes and the Young Miss, her face expressionless.

Li Zhi gripped the car door tightly, her expression darkening.

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

She glanced down impatiently.

It was a message from Chen Xi:

[Sorry, Young Miss! Remember our agreement? We’re supposed to pretend we don’t know each other in public.]

[So, bye-bye!] 😘

Li Zhi stared at the screen filled with fiery red lip emojis, then leaned back against the car with a sigh of resignation.

She felt utterly drained, without a trace of anger left.

Who could she even blame?

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