The Chronicle Of Seducing A Mature Woman (GL) - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

After that day, Zhong Xiao’ou’s face did indeed swell up a bit—specifically her right cheek.

“My god, what happened to you?” Chi Wei bumped into Zhong Xiao’ou in the pantry while making coffee. Seeing her bruised and swollen face, she reached out to touch it.

Zhong Xiao’ou quickly shielded herself. “Ow, ow! Don’t touch it.”

“What happened? Did you get into a fight?” Chi Wei asked in shock.

“No, I just tripped while walking.”

“How do you just trip while walking perfectly fine? Is it serious?”

Zhong Xiao’ou and Chi Wei sat in the pantry for a short break. Thinking about Wang Ling’s situation, she took the opportunity to tell Chi Wei about what had happened that night.

“So… I think I might, just might, have a crush on the VP.”

Chi Wei’s jaw dropped. She leaned back, arms crossed, and arched an eyebrow. “Are you for real?”

Zhong Xiao’ou didn’t say a word, only stirring her coffee with a spoon. “She treated our department to dinner last week. Afterward, she drove me home.”

“…Things moved that fast?” Chi Wei leaned forward, hands pressed against the table in surprise.

“No, nothing like that. I just drank too much and took a tumble.” Zhong Xiao’ou still didn’t mention the part where she faked being drunk and ended up hitting her head. She shook her head. “I don’t know. I just want to see her every day, want to be around her, but whenever I’m actually alone with her, I get so nervous. What should I do, Chi Wei? Have I really fallen for her?”

“You’re asking me? Ask a ghost, you pig!” Chi Wei poked Zhong Xiao’ou’s cheek. “She’s all you think about; you talk about her every chance you get. If that’s not a crush, what is? I feel bad for Wang Ling, though. If you really like Gu Ming, you need to tell Wang Ling clearly. Otherwise, it’s disrespectful.”

“I know, I know,” Zhong Xiao’ou nodded like a woodpecker. “That’s why I’m talking it through with you. When I first met Wang Ling, I thought she was great—everything was fine. She’s pretty, considerate, knows how to take care of people…”

“Then what more do you want?”

“Nothing, she’s the perfect candidate for a girlfriend. But… there’s just no spark.”

“And you have that spark for Gu Ming?”

Zhong Xiao’ou nodded.

“You really are…” Chi Wei was exasperated by the woman’s logic. She stood up and scanned the room, relieved to see they were still alone. “Look, Wang Ling actually wants to date you. Gu Ming, from what I know, is a complete and total ‘straight’ woman. There isn’t a hint of ‘rainbow’ in her. You’re literally abandoning a smooth highway to cross a single-log bridge—and there’s a bloody cliff right under it.” Chi Wei had heard too many tragedies about falling for straight women in the community, so she couldn’t wrap her head around Zhong Xiao’ou’s “suicidal” romantic path.

Zhong Xiao’ou took a sip of her coffee. “I know.”

“You don’t know jack.” Chi Wei took a deep breath, stared at Zhong Xiao’ou for a few seconds, waved her hand dismissively, and sat back down. “Forget it. I’m just venting. If people could be talked out of feelings, ‘feelings’ wouldn’t exist. If you actually had an eye for talent, you would’ve fallen for me ages ago.”

“Pfft!” Zhong Xiao’ou looked up in shock and then burst out laughing. “You mean I was smart enough not to fall for you. You’re basically a middle-aged female hooligan.”

“Get lost!” Chi Wei poked her swollen cheek again. “Desire is human nature, it’s normal. Fine, I’m done worrying about you. Just tell Wang Ling sooner rather than later. Don’t lead her on or waste her time.”

“Mhm.”

“As for Gu Ming… good luck. If you’re serious, I can help you dig around and see what her deal is.”

“Really? Thank you, Chi Wei!”

“How are you going to thank me? Give me something real, no empty talk. Pay me back with your body.”

“Get out!”

The two left the pantry, joking and shoving each other.

…

Zhong Xiao’ou politely turned Wang Ling down. She didn’t give a specific reason, of course, just said they weren’t a good match. “Not a good match” really is the universal band-aid for rejection. Wang Ling was saddened but didn’t push. She simply said, “Then let’s just be friends and hang out. Maybe as time goes by, you’ll change your mind.” Zhong Xiao’ou stood by the curtains, holding her phone and offering polite “sure, sure” responses until she finally hung up with a sigh of relief.

The most urgent matter now was finding an apartment. She had to move out this weekend, but she hadn’t found a single place she liked. Everything near the office was either a shared rental or a crumbling old building. Zhong Xiao’ou hated sharing; she found it incredibly inconvenient.

“Accompany me to look at apartments after work tomorrow. The landlord is taking the place back this weekend,” Zhong Xiao’ou called Chi Wei for help.

“You still haven’t found anything? Fine, remind me tomorrow afternoon.”

The next afternoon, Chi Wei went with her. They used the same agency, Yicheng Real Estate. The agent was a young girl with a ponytail who was pleasant enough, but the apartments were still lackluster.

“Sister Zhong, there’s actually a two-bedroom that’s very nice. The master bedroom is occupied, but you can take the second bedroom for 600. You could walk to work, and the commute along the river is eco-friendly and healthy.”

“I don’t like sharing. It’s inconvenient.”

“Who’s the person living there?” Chi Wei leaned in close to the young agent.

“An architect. Steady job, very clean.”

“That sounds worth considering, Zhong Xiao’ou.”

Zhong Xiao’ou stepped on her foot. “Not considering it. Show me one-bedroom listings.”

They checked two places near Chunxi Road, but she didn’t like those either. The cheap ones were in terrible condition, and the nice ones were too expensive.

“Ugh, why don’t you just move in with me? Finding a place is impossible.”

“You live in a one-bedroom too, where would I sleep? Besides, if I move in, where would your girlfriend stay?” Zhong Xiao’ou had walked so much she was getting dizzy from the heat. They said it was supposed to cool down after the Start of Autumn, but it was late August and still scorching.

Chi Wei was chatting up the agent like they were old friends.

“Sister Zhong, there is one more place. The environment and conditions meet all your requirements, but it’s a two-bedroom—the whole unit.”

“I live alone, why would I need a two-bedroom?”

“You could use it as a study! It’s only 500 more than a one-bedroom. The living room is larger, the environment is better, and it’s only two stops from work. You could bike there.”

Zhong Xiao’ou was tempted. They went to see it. The apartment faced the courtyard, and the windows overlooked the greenery of the complex. Zhong Xiao’ou wanted to haggle with the agent, but Chi Wei made the decision for her. “This is it. Stop being picky, my feet are covered in blisters.”

By the time they finished the paperwork, it was 10 PM. Chi Wei had foolishly worn high heels, and her heels were indeed blistered. “No way, I can’t walk. It hurts.”

“I told you yesterday we were looking at apartments, and you still wore those heels.” As Zhong Xiao’ou spoke, she pulled a band-aid out of her bag and applied it to Chi Wei’s heel.

“Let’s go, let’s eat. I’m starving.” Chi Wei opened the car door.

“What do you want? My treat.”

“Of course it’s your treat after I spent the whole night with you. Hot pot?”

“Just the two of us? Hot pot? Let’s get skewers (Chuanchuan).”

“Fine.” Chi Wei drove a Chevrolet. Both the apartment and the car were provided by her family. Her family was in business—they used to own a factory and now ran an eco-farm. They weren’t ultra-wealthy, but they weren’t short on cash. However, after Chi Wei came out, she lost touch with them; the apartment and the car were all they were willing to give her.

“About that Gu Ming… I did some digging,” Chi Wei said while scooping beef from the pot into her bowl. “She’s 30, four years older than you. She has a boyfriend—well, not exactly a boyfriend, a fiancé. Apparently, they’ve already taken their wedding photos. They’re getting married in October. He’s not from Chengdu. No kids yet…”

“Could you maybe give me a ‘high energy’ warning before you drop a bombshell like that? How am I supposed to digest all this bad news at once?” Zhong Xiao’ou couldn’t eat another bite. The food had just been served, and here was Chi Wei, ruining it.

“She’s getting married?” The good mood from finding a house was instantly evaporated by Chi Wei’s news.

“Yeah, I heard it from Secretary Su. It’s likely true. If you want to cry, go ahead—just not too loud, people are watching.”

Zhong Xiao’ou felt a heavy weight in her chest. She lost her appetite for meat and picked at a piece of lettuce instead.

Seeing her fall silent, Chi Wei realized she was genuinely upset. She sighed, having expected this. She patted Zhong Xiao’ou’s head, then went back to eating her beef.

The atmosphere turned quiet—a heavy, sad kind of quiet. Chi Wei put some beef in her friend’s bowl. “Eat some meat. Stop eating just veggies; you’re not a herbivore.”

Sigh. Zhong Xiao’ou let out a heavy breath. “I’m always being unrealistic, aren’t I?”

“Yeah. Aiming too high with no foundation.”

“I get it. All you have is bad news.” Zhong Xiao’ou moved the beef back to Chi Wei’s bowl.

Chi Wei shrugged. “It’s better to know sooner rather than later. Cut the knot quickly.”

Zhong Xiao’ou was in a terrible mood that night, but she didn’t even drink. She just left with a stomach full of vegetables. Had her budding love really withered before it even had a chance to bloom?