The Eldest Lady always wants to have a double O Relationship with her old enemy - Chapter 14

Hearing such a bold statement from Shen Jianxi, Tang Yanzhao’s eyes flickered, and she took out her phone to search for something with a serious expression.

Shen Jianxi found her feigned seriousness amusing and let out a light laugh. She pressed down on Tang Yanzhao’s phone. “But I didn’t bring my ID.”

“…I didn’t either,” Tang Yanzhao replied blankly.

“Pfft! Zhaozhao, do you have to be so cute?”

She was usually so smart, but a simple flirty remark from her seemed to make her IQ plummet.

Shen Jianxi tapped on her phone and said, “I think our family has a hotel nearby. See, here it is, about a kilometer away.”

Tang Yanzhao felt embarrassed and her ears turned red with shyness.

Shen Jianxi handed the phone back to her. “It’s not far, let’s walk.”

“Okay.”

The streets were empty in the dead of night. Occasionally, a car would speed by, proving that the world was still alive. The dim streetlights cast the silhouettes of the two women on the ground. Their intertwined and separating shadows seemed to hold an unspoken meaning.

Shen Jianxi pulled on Tang Yanzhao’s pinky finger. Tang Yanzhao, sensing this, stopped and turned to ask, “What’s wrong?”

“My leg hurts,” Shen Jianxi whined, pouting and looking at her with a sweet, delicate air that she had mastered.

Tang Yanzhao’s gaze shifted downward. Unfortunately, she was wearing long pants today, so she couldn’t see if the bruises on her leg had completely faded. But her fall last time was quite serious, and it was normal for her knees to ache after walking for a long time.

“I’ll carry you,” Tang Yanzhao offered, turning around and squatting in front of her.

“The only correct answer,” Shen Jianxi said with a brilliant smile, immediately leaping onto her back.

Although she looked frail, Tang Yanzhao carried her without any trouble.

Shen Jianxi wrapped her arms around her neck. “Am I heavy?”

“Not at all.” Tang Yanzhao even adjusted her upward.

Shen Jianxi rested her chin on Tang Yanzhao’s shoulder, her eyes sparkling with a smile as she watched their intimate shadows on the ground. She couldn’t stop her lips from curving upward.

“Zhaozhao?” Shen Jianxi whispered in a breathy voice.

Tang Yanzhao’s pace was steady, and she looked straight ahead, responding with a low “Hmm?” from her throat.

“Have you ever carried anyone on your back before?”

“No,” Tang Yanzhao answered decisively.

“I’m the first one?”

“Yes.”

Shen Jianxi tilted her head slightly. “Will I be the last?”

Her warm breath fanned from Tang Yanzhao’s earlobe to her neck, and in the dark, the faint blush was hidden.

Tang Yanzhao’s neck felt hot. She swallowed before replying, “I don’t know.”

This answer clearly displeased Shen Jianxi. Her breathing grew heavier, and her teeth audibly ground together. Even though Tang Yanzhao couldn’t see it, she could feel Shen Jianxi’s change in mood.

“So you’ll treat others the same way you treat me?”

Tang Yanzhao shook her head. “No, I won’t.”

Shen Jianxi had to admit that Tang Yanzhao could easily control her emotions.

One moment it was pouring rain, and the next, it was sunny.

Shen Jianxi’s voice was filled with joy. She playfully rubbed her chin against Tang Yanzhao’s shoulder. “Won’t do what? Won’t carry me like this, or won’t take me to… book a room like this?”

Tang Yanzhao’s steps faltered. The streetlights stretched their overlapping shadows long and thin, and she instinctively quickened her pace toward the hotel.

Shen Jianxi’s triumphant laugh drifted in the evening breeze. A cool gust of wind entered her mouth, and she suddenly started coughing, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Hearing this, Tang Yanzhao quickly slowed down, her brows furrowed as she asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Jianxi tightened her arms around Tang Yanzhao’s neck, burying her head in her shoulder. She let out a soft whine, a pathetic sniffle in her voice. “I’m a little cold.”

“We’re almost there,” Tang Yanzhao comforted her.

Shen Jianxi nodded muffledly, her nose brushing against Tang Yanzhao’s skin, her body still trembling faintly.

It really hurt. The pain was rising from deep within her skin, and she couldn’t pinpoint the source. It hurt so much that she gasped, but she still couldn’t bring herself to let go.

Zhaozhao, how could she not fall for her?

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Jianxi suddenly said, “Zhaozhao, we’ll both be okay.”

“Yes.”

“I hope the kitten is okay too.”

“Yes.”

Wednesday afternoon.

Shen Jianxi, Tang Yanzhao, and five other classmates sat in Hua Yan’s office.

“Here’s the script outline. Take a look and feel free to ask questions.”

Hua Yan handed one to each person. When she gave the last one to Tang Yanzhao, Tang Yanzhao saw a clear smile in her eyes.

This past Monday, because no one had signed up for the school anniversary performance, Hua Yan immediately appointed several people to perform a play. The first two people she picked were Tang Yanzhao and Shen Jianxi.

The decision was made so decisively that it was clearly planned in advance. The so-called “volunteer sign-up” was just a formality.

Was she trying to test her relationship with Shen Jianxi? Who was she working for? What was her purpose in coming to Rongcheng? Was she a friend or foe?

Tang Yanzhao’s fingers gripping the script turned white, and she clenched her jaw, her masseter muscles visibly bulging.

Hua Yan let out a playful chuckle, then let go of the script abruptly. Her voice was cool. “Don’t get distracted, Tang Yanzhao.”

Tang Yanzhao’s eyelids fluttered. Her dark, inky eyes refocused on the script.

Rouge and the Game of Thrones, a court drama adapted from the power struggles between Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan’er.

Shangguan Wan’er, the daughter of a criminal official, used Empress Wu Zetian’s power to issue imperial decrees. In secret, she planned a coup with Li Xian and Princess Taiping, maneuvering between Empress Wei, Princess Anle, and Princess Taiping. Taiping, in turn, used this opportunity to restore the Li clan to power and consolidate her own influence.

However, being in the court’s power struggle, there were many things beyond their control. Shangguan Wan’er drafted a decree for Empress Wei to name Princess Anle as the crown princess. Taiping misunderstood Shangguan Wan’er and became suspicious.

Then, on the eve of Li Longji’s coup, Wan’er tried to pass evidence of Empress Wei’s regicide to Taiping, but Taiping suspected it was a trap and silently allowed Li Longji to kill her.

After Wan’er’s death, Taiping successfully took power. When she was tidying up Wan’er’s belongings, she finally discovered Wan’er’s true loyalty. Her memory flashed back to their intimate childhood moments, and she was filled with regret, but it was already too late.

After reading the script, a curly-haired boy raised his hand and said, “Teacher, we’re not professionals. We probably can’t handle this.”

“I’ve hired a professional acting coach for you. You just need to follow their lead. Besides, it’s just a school anniversary performance, so the requirements aren’t high,” Hua Yan said nonchalantly, as if their concerns were no big deal.

“Any other questions?”

“What about the roles?”

Hua Yan’s gaze fell on Tang Yanzhao and Shen Jianxi. “What are your thoughts?”

The other five exchanged glances and, after a few minutes of discussion, each took their own roles. Hua Yan then said unhurriedly about the last two roles, “Shangguan Wan’er is suitable for Tang Yanzhao, and Princess Taiping is suitable for Shen Jianxi. How’s that?”

Tang Yanzhao’s lips were pressed together. What could she say? This was a situation Hua Yan had already set up, wasn’t it?

“Since we’ve decided, I’ll have someone prepare the costumes.” Hua Yan stood up and picked up a tape measure. “Tang Yanzhao, come here. Let’s take your measurements first.”

Shen Jianxi suddenly pulled Tang Yanzhao toward herself. “No need. Teacher, you can send us the costume requirements, and we’ll find someone to make them ourselves.”

Hua Yan raised an eyebrow, a smirk on one side of her lips. “Alright.”

After they left the office, Shen Jianxi’s face was still tense. The faint, sweet scent of sandalwood pheromones wafted toward Tang Yanzhao’s nose. The sour smell made Tang Yanzhao’s teeth go soft.

“Shen Jianxi.” Tang Yanzhao tugged on her hand, trying to get Shen Jianxi to stop.

But Shen Jianxi, sensing her reaction, not only didn’t let go but held on tighter. She glanced back at her and strode forward, pulling Tang Yanzhao with her.

They walked unimpeded all the way to the school rooftop. The wind on the top floor made both of their clothes flutter in a waltz.

“What’s wrong with you?”

As soon as they stopped, Tang Yanzhao couldn’t help but ask.

Shen Jianxi’s breathing was heavy, and her anger was undisguised. “What’s your relationship with Hua Yan?”

Tang Yanzhao’s lips parted. “There’s no relationship.”

Shen Jianxi’s cheeks flushed with anger. “You were exchanging flirtatious glances. Tang Yanzhao, I’m not blind.”

Exchanging flirtatious glances? What? Did she?

Tang Yanzhao, with her one-track mind, couldn’t figure out what was going on in Shen Jianxi’s head or where she got the idea that she and Hua Yan had such ambiguous interactions. All she could say was a feeble, “I didn’t.”

Tears welled up in Shen Jianxi’s eyes, and her jaw trembled uncontrollably. “I saw it all. She gave you the script, you were reluctantly pulling away from each other, and she was smiling at you. Hua Yan never smiles at anyone else. What’s more, she was looking at you the whole time. This play performance was specially arranged because of you, wasn’t it? Tang Yanzhao, you said you would trust me. You have to be honest with me. You can’t lie to me.”

Her teary-eyed expression inexplicably stung Tang Yanzhao’s heart.

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