The Lady I Flirted With Is Here - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Getting Acquainted

Lin Xian, surprisingly, didn’t listen to a single word Liu Liu said that day. Inside her, two little figures were engaged in a fierce psychological war. A little black devil waved a trident: “Go for it, Lin Xian! What does it matter if she’s a university graduate? Beauty isn’t about age, it’s about the face! That face!” A little white angel covered its face shyly: “This isn’t right, Lin Xian. Don’t lose your dignity in front of a beauty; beauties like someone who is reserved.”

Fine. In for a penny, in for a pound. Her gaze slid across the thin, straight back of the seated beauty, and Lin Xian’s heart rate skyrocketed. Her fingers, hidden by her right leg, clenched into a fist.

“You…” What is your name? Can we get to know each other? The words stuck in her throat. Before she could speak, a cloyingly sweet fragrance wafted into her nose. A glamorous, seductive figure sat down to her right—it was the dazzling girl in high heels they had encountered on the road.

As the girl sat, her voice was soft and carried a hint of an ambiguous, coquettish whine. She leaned right past Lin Xian to ask the “masterpiece”: “You said you’d save a seat for me~”

Lin Xian’s heart tightened. She suddenly felt like she was sitting on needles. Did I take someone else’s seat?

However, the “masterpiece” didn’t even turn her head. Her voice dropped even lower. Lin Xian didn’t dare look up; the sound tickled her ears. Damn her “voice-fetish” trait—that warm wine had turned into a magnetic, youthful timbre: “Look at me. Do I have any spare items on me to save a seat with?” Her tone was as flat as water, simply stating a fact.

If Lin Xian were that girl, even knowing it was a statement of fact, she would probably be fuming. Kid, if you’re going to explain, do it with a little more grace.

But never mind. The masterpiece was so striking that Lin Xian could forgive her even if she were a block of wood.

Lin Xian’s forgiveness didn’t matter, but the glamorous girl huffed a small “hmph” through her nose and then…

Then, there was none of the crying, screaming, or dramatic scenes Lin Xian had imagined. Shouldn’t a couple be coaxing each other, hugging, acting spoiled, and whining?

Wait, Lin Xian, your imagination is getting dangerous! Who told you they were a couple?

Then, there was the “scent”—the unique intuition shared between lesbians. Lin Xian silently tossed a handful of dirt into the air for her “love at first sight” which had died before it could even sprout. On the surface, she had to maintain a “I didn’t hear anything, I didn’t steal a seat, does this seat have a name on it? I belong here” look of calm, staring ahead at Liu Liu.

Liu Liu’s lips are so high-class. Her outfit is so low-key. Ah, Liu Liu, I’m dying, Liu Liu would be the coolest girl in the world even if she wore a potato sack. Love at first sight is nothing; only Liu Liu is a treasure!

Lin Xian tossed her fleeting “love” to the back of her mind. Her unique single-dog logic took over: Can love feed you? How can I give up the annual Liu Liu meeting for a chance encounter? This messy sentimentality is terrible!

Lin Xian repented internally and quickly joined in the interaction.

At this point, the host and Liu Liu were chatting happily on the sofa—at least on the surface. Lin Xian noticed Liu Liu subconsciously tidying her hair several times and roared at the host in her mind: Let go of Liu Liu! If you don’t know the answer, can’t you Baidu it? Didn’t you do your homework? Shut your mouth unless you’re promoting the new book! Can’t you see our Liu Liu is nervous? Waaa, Liu Liu tidies her hair when she’s nervous, she’s so pitiful, our Liu Liu should only be responsible for lying beautifully on the sofa!

Her eyes shifted back to her darling Liu Liu. The yellow shirt made her skin look white as snow. Her deep eyes were as calm as water, but a smile played at the corners of her mouth. Lin Xian’s mind was a frenzy of bullet-comments and imaginary glow sticks: Liu Liu, I’m dead! Liu Liu, look at me again! Liu Liu, I love you! Liu Liu, I’m already prepared! Waaa, I really want to date her~

Stop! The more her heart surged, the more Lin Xian appeared as “still as a virgin” to the masterpiece watching from the side.

Look, the Chibi Maruko-chan lolita is smiling. She has a scholarly air about her; does she like to study? Studying was good; the masterpiece liked intellectuals. The light in the masterpiece’s eyes became restrained and deep, unconsciously adding a touch of interest.

It was now time for the reader interaction. The host asked: “The first interaction is about the new book ‘I Give You My Heart.’ Let’s see which reader knows Liu Liu best. We’ll ask Liu Liu to pose the question.”

Liu Liu held the microphone, looking a bit shy. The great author, who spoke freely like a “rebellious youth” on Weibo, actually had a contrasting, shy personality in person, hidden behind her cool, older-sister face.

Her voice was faint—so faint that even through the speakers, the readers had to strain their ears. Thus, the entire hall fell into a respectful silence.

“The first question was posted on Weibo a few days ago. What is the zodiac sign of Chen Xiaonuo?” After asking, Liu Liu smiled bashfully. Immediately, readers raised their hands and shouted: “Me! Me! Me!”

Lin Xian actually didn’t know Chen Xiaonuo’s zodiac sign. She had skimmed the new book in a blur and then spent her time dazing over Liu Liu’s photos. Her cheeks flushed slightly. Lin Xian had loved Liu Liu for over ten years; it was a “youthful sentiment,” but in reality, she was in love with her face. Of course, in her younger years, Liu Liu’s books had accompanied her through tearful nights. But as the years passed and her tastes changed, she remained loyal to Liu Liu mostly because she was attracted to the person.

Amidst Lin Xian’s melancholy repentance, a cold sensation crawled up her arm, making her shiver. She turned her head to see a small, white, delicate, and slender index finger. Looking up, she saw the masterpiece’s face at an incredibly close distance.

The impact stimulated her hormones. Lin Xian froze on the spot. To the masterpiece, her expression said: Who are you? Why are you touching me?

However, the masterpiece had a good upbringing and maintained her composure, looking back calmly.

If Lin Xian had telepathy, she would be doubled over laughing: “Good upbringing, hahahaha? I’ve been misunderstood in such a refined way. I’m clearly just having a temporary brain shutdown due to an adrenaline surge.”

Lin Xian did not have telepathy, so she couldn’t gloat. Am I disturbing this person? she wondered.

Her impression of the masterpiece was that of an “ice-cold, Japanese-style, pure, aloof, and celibate youth.” Such a divine being should always maintain distance from others. Even though it felt great when she poked my arm, I must have done something wrong.

Lin Xian snapped out of it and put on a smile.

Warning bells went off in the masterpiece’s head. Touching someone without permission was indeed impolite. For a moment, seeing “Chibi Maruko-chan” looking so obediently at Liu Liu, she looked exactly like a naive primary school lolita. For some reason, an “old auntie” mentality had surfaced, making her want to touch this soft, cute baby. Silently chanting “my sin,” the masterpiece kept a steady face and asked: “Do you know Chen Xiaonuo’s zodiac sign?”

Oh, a false alarm. So she just wanted to get a gift from the interaction? Makes sense.

Even though Lin Xian didn’t know the answer, it didn’t stop her analysis. Chen Xiaonuo’s character was rational, calm, occasionally manipulative and domineering, and a stickler for settling scores. Lin Xian hesitated to speak. The masterpiece had finally initiated conversation; she should take the chance to get closer—maybe the next step would be becoming friends.

So, she answered tentatively, her face showing hesitation: “Maybe… Scorpio?”

Though their thoughts had traveled a thousand miles, only a few moments had passed. Liu Liu picked the enthusiastic reader who had raised her hand. The reader took the microphone, her voice trembling with excitement: “Hello, Liu Liu! Hello! I’ve been your reader for many years…”

Lin Xian was used to this. She had been in Beijing for three years and hadn’t missed a single one of Liu Liu’s annual signings. She’d had those emotional moments in the beginning, but experience makes one mature. Look at her now—calm, steady, and only here to appreciate Liu Liu’s beauty.

The reader started sobbing as she spoke, finally getting back to the point: “Chen Xiaonuo’s zodiac sign… it should be Scorpio.”

That wasn’t enough for the reader; she held onto the mic and made a bold confession: “Liu Liu, I love you!” The raw emotion was deeply moving. If they weren’t at a fan meeting, one might think they were watching a life-and-death idol drama.

Liu Liu smiled and nodded, replying with restraint and shyness: “I love you guys too.”

Applause broke out. At this collective emotional moment, the staff gave the sobbing reader a close-up on the screen, recording this touching scene between author and reader.

Lin Xian selectively ignored it all. In this moment of grand emotion, even the glamorous girl couldn’t help but pull out a green-tea scented tissue to wipe her eyes. Lin Xian’s excitement and pride were unique. Her smug posture made it seem as if she had been swapped for someone else, but she was simply showing her true self: “Did you hear that?” She raised a cocky eyebrow at the masterpiece. “Scorpio. I guessed right?”

The curve of Lin Xian’s lips broke her previous facade of “obedience.” To the masterpiece, this “Chibi Maruko-chan” was becoming more and more interesting. She suddenly felt that if Maruko-chan changed her hair, she might be a flamboyant yujie (mature/boss lady). Yujie and lolita were the two types of beings she could never resist.

Her gaze darkened slightly. The masterpiece curled her lips and allowed a perfect smile to bloom. Lin Xian was instantly intoxicated by it.

Foul! Foul! Why did she look so pure and beautiful when she smiled? Like a green-skinned, red-fleshed watermelon placed under the shade on a scorching summer day—one bite is sweet and refreshing, the goodness of the juice rippling through the heart, chasing away all summer irritability, leaving only vibrant, lush green life.

This smile felt like encouragement, or perhaps a response, emboldening Lin Xian to ask one more question: “Have you not read ‘I Give You My Heart’?”

She figured this person was probably just here to accompany a girlfriend.

To her surprise, the masterpiece nimbly pulled a phone from her pocket. Her slender wrist held the large, smooth black phone steadily. Her fingers were as clean as scallion roots, the delicate skin on the back of her hand revealing the faint blue veins beneath the snowy white.

Her nails were neatly trimmed. She swiped the screen, opening Liu Liu’s Weibo page. The phone was suddenly held before Lin Xian’s eyes, the fingers that stirred her heart were only ten centimeters away. A faint, elegant, cold fragrance was inhaled into her lungs. The masterpiece turned her body slightly toward her; from behind, they looked like a perfect couple leaning together.

Their heads were less than half a fist apart. Lin Xian could clearly smell the cold scent on her—it was too cold, almost devoid of emotion, perhaps even a bit “asexual.”

“Look,” the masterpiece’s voice was slightly husky. “It’s this book, right?” She leaned in but maintained a proper distance. Her long finger tapped the cover image of “I Give You My Heart.”

Lin Xian stared at the enlarged cover, her mind blank. All her speech and IQ were thrown out the window. Her fingers gripped the edge of her chair, maintaining her last shred of composure to keep from falling apart. “Yes.”

Lin Xian only knew how hard it was to say that one word. She didn’t know the other person’s intent; maybe it was just a habitual gesture. It would be too embarrassing to admit her brain had short-circuited from the temptation.

Restrain! Restrain! No beauty likes a flighty, over-eager person.

Lin Xian maintained her mask of cool, reserved elegance, though the tips of her ears hidden under her hair were turning slightly red.

“Then I’ve bought it, but I haven’t read it yet,” the masterpiece said to herself, seemingly unaware of Lin Xian’s agitation.

That meant her disguise was perfect. So the other person was just explaining her previous question. Lin Xian understood and interpreted the masterpiece’s gesture of opening the phone as “expressing her sincerity as a reader.”

Look, even though I haven’t read it, I bought it. You can assume I don’t have time, but you cannot deny that I am as sincere a reader as you.

Yes, a true reader would care about someone misunderstanding their lack of concern for the author. Lin Xian understood, just as everyone in the fan meeting WeChat group was racing to declare their love for “Liu Liu.”

Wait, the WeChat group?

Lin Xian cursed herself for not being quick-witted enough. She had forgotten such a powerful tool.

Now was the time!

Lin Xian asked as if casually: “By the way, did you join the group?”

“Hm?” A sound of confusion came from the masterpiece’s throat.

Lin Xian: “The fan meeting WeChat group. Readers who were coming to the exhibition joined it a month ago.” Lin Xian thought that with the masterpiece’s aloof aura, she might not know about such noisy pre-event revelry.

Unexpectedly, the masterpiece opened WeChat right in front of her: “This one?”

It was indeed that group where people chatted and confessed their love all day. Lin Xian’s heart sank. No chance to add her as a friend to pull her into the group?

Wait, no. Lin Xian smiled, her large eyes curving into crescent moons—she was genuinely happy: “Can I ask what your name is in the group?”

There were over three hundred people in the group; finding her would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The masterpiece narrowed her eyes slightly: “Jiu Wu (Nine Five).”

“Huh?” Lin Xian didn’t hear clearly. “Jiu Wu (Wine Object)?” What a strange name.

The masterpiece leaned in closer to emphasize: “Jiu Wu as in ‘Supreme Majesty’ (Jiu Wu Zhi Zun). Nine, as in one, two, three… nine.”

This time, Lin Xian heard clearly. Not only did she hear clearly, but across the masterpiece’s right chest, she heard the thumping of her heart.

Thump! Thump! Thump! It was like a dance on Lin Xian’s own heartstrings.