To Sweep Across Like Wildfire - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

10:00 PM, South Gate of Xiling Academy of Fine Arts.

“Meng Chi, are you sure you aren’t coming back to the hotel with us?” her roommate asked.

Because of their week-long sketching trip, the school had arranged for them to stay at a hotel near Xiling, four to a room. The roommates had noticed that Meng Chi’s night life had become quite active lately; she had even stayed out all night twice. Yet, she seemed perfectly normal during the day, leaving them wanting to ask but not knowing how—especially since they feared touching upon the “heartbreak” of her being cheated on.

Meng Chi could feel their concern but didn’t know how to begin explaining her situation with Shen Qingruo. She paused for a moment, her voice carrying a comforting tone. “You guys go ahead. My… friend will be here soon.”

What was her relationship with Shen Qingruo? Who was Shen Qingruo to her?

There was a brief hesitation before she used the word “friend,” but the roommates didn’t catch it. Having eaten with Jiang Sitian a few times, they naturally assumed the “friend” was her. “Alright then, we’re heading back. Call us if anything happens.”

After they left, Meng Chi began to organize her thoughts, only to realize she was feeling nervous. For the first time, she understood the feeling of waiting.

The distant snack street buzzed with noise; moths battered themselves against the amber streetlights, and the night air brought a humid breeze. Everything around her felt vivid and alive. Meng Chi had walked at night many times, but never with a heart like this.

As she stood there, she heard a rowdy commotion. Not far away, several drunken men were stumbling toward her, eyes bleary and malicious.

…

Shen Qingruo had just finished work and felt a wave of hunger hit her. It was already past 9:00 PM; she had been so busy she hadn’t eaten all day. She had planned to grab a sandwich, but while scrolling through her phone, she stumbled upon the food photos she had used to tease Xie Zhen a few days ago. It was a classic case of “hurting the enemy a thousand times but losing eight hundred yourself”—she had successfully made herself crave hotpot.

She immediately called Xie Zhen to apologize and suggest a late-night meal.

Xie Zhen, who was currently irritable from dieting, didn’t snap at her. Instead, she said weakly, “Old Shen, you know we’re both turning thirty next year, right? My metabolism is shot. Used to be I could eat whatever, work out the next day, and the weight would vanish. Now? I drink a glass of water and gain half a pound. You go eat. I’m not coming.”

Xie Zhen’s thready voice startled Shen Qingruo. “Are you okay? You sound like you’re about to pass out.”

“What, you’re upset I’m not scolding you? I ate too little today; I’m not wasting energy on you. Bye.” She hung up.

Shen Qingruo went to a convenience store for a snack, posting on her Moments as she walked: Who’s up for hotpot? She wanted company, but she also wanted to post some “late-night food porn” as a gift to her followers.

Predictably, several people messaged her just to curse her for the temptation. To her surprise, the “little kid” she had just added asked: “Are you free? Let’s get hotpot together?”

Shen Qingruo thought about the large sum of money she had received yesterday. This was a perfect chance to treat her to a few meals and return the favor. Realizing the kid was at Xiling, and knowing she was nearby for work anyway, she dashed back to her hotel for her keys and drove toward the South Gate.

As her car turned onto the small road by the gate, she saw the kid standing there obediently. But then, several drunks appeared, walking toward her with ill intent.

Shen Qingruo’s smile vanished. She slammed on the horn.

HOOOONK—

As if by telepathy, Meng Chi turned toward the sound. In the hazy night, a sleek red luxury car pulled up. A woman leaned her slender arm on the window frame, her exquisite face partially visible. She chuckled softly, “Kid, get in here.”

The drunks had stopped at the sound of the horn. By the time Shen Qingruo pulled up, they had wandered off, though they still looked back over their shoulders. Meng Chi didn’t pay them much mind; she simply froze for a few seconds upon seeing Shen Qingruo, only reacting when called.

She hurried through the bright headlights, pulled open the passenger door, and slipped inside.

Shen Qingruo still felt a lingering fear. If she had been a minute later…

“What’s wrong?” After a moment, the kid noticed the eerie silence in the car.

Shen Qingruo said flatly, “I feel like I’m being too much, calling you out for hotpot in the middle of the night. It’ll be two or three AM by the time you get back…”

“It’s fine…”

Before she could finish, Shen Qingruo added: “…It’s going to interrupt your sleep and stop you from growing taller.”

The kid: “.”

Though her face remained expressionless, Shen Qingruo could read the “speechless” look written all over her. Being able to read the kid’s micro-expressions made Shen Qingruo feel much better.

Meng Chi was silent for a while. Recalling Shen Qingruo’s flat tone, she sensed it wasn’t as calm as it seemed. Her mind went back to the drunks. Shen Qingruo had appeared instantly, looking relaxed.

So, was she worried about me?

She felt she had discovered a facet of this woman’s character: the calmer she acted, the more turbulent she actually was.

Meng Chi said softly, “Those guys might have just been asking for directions. Besides, I have legs; I would have walked away if things felt wrong. Plus, there are people everywhere. Nothing to be afraid of.”

Shen Qingruo stayed quiet for two seconds, then whispered back, “Fine. But why are you whispering? You sound like you did something wrong.”

Seeing a bit of sweat on Meng Chi’s temple, she handed her a pack of tissues. “If there’s a next time, wait in a classroom. They have AC, right?”

“Yes,” Meng Chi said, her voice returning to normal volume. “We’ll see about next time.” She hesitated, then added, “This car… I saw the official price online. It’s over three million yuan.”

Her family garage had the same model, just a different color.

Shen Qingruo was about to say “You’re an expert,” but realized that would break her “persona.” She pivoted smoothly, her face a mask of cool indifference. “It’s a rental.”

“Huh?” Meng Chi looked skeptical.

Sensing a chance to save the lie, Shen Qingruo hurried to explain, “In our line of work, we sometimes have to visit high-end clubs. Once, I took ‘Bus No. 11’ [slang for walking], and the security guard wouldn’t even look at me. He told me the entrance for front-desk job applicants was at the back door.”

Meng Chi was silent. Just as Shen Qingruo thought she was definitely caught, the kid spoke up with a thoughtful look: “What does ‘taking Bus No. 11’ mean?”

Shen Qingruo: “.” The tears of a generation gap.

…

A moment later, Meng Chi finished wiping her face and folded the used tissue into her pocket. She looked out the window at the night. The city lights reflected in her eyes, making them sparkle beautifully.

Shen Qingruo’s gaze swept over her face and then the car interior. A sudden thought occurred to her, and she let out a soft laugh.

“What is it?” Meng Chi asked.

The light turned green, and the long line of cars began to crawl. Shen Qingruo followed slowly. By the time they reached the intersection, the light turned red again. Shen Qingruo pulled the handbrake and turned to her with a smile. “Are you hungry right now?”

“I’m okay.”

“There’s a convenience store ahead. If you’re starving, we can buy some snacks to tide you over.” Seeing the kid’s confusion, Shen Qingruo blinked and dropped the punchline: “Do you want to… do it in the car?”

Seeing that familiar, ambiguous expression, Meng Chi understood instantly. Her cheeks flushed hot, and her voice stumbled. “B-but… isn’t this a rental?”

“It’s fine. Just be gentle. As long as you don’t shake the car apart.”

Soon, the light turned green. Shen Qingruo drove straight through, then turned into a narrow alley and found a secluded corner to park. She reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small, unopened pink box.

“What’s that?” The curious Meng Chi asked.

“Finger cots.”

During their previous two encounters, they had used protection intended for heterosexual couples. Meng Chi’s ears burned. She remembered seeing these while looking up “guides” online, but she never knew where people actually bought them.

Then another thought hit her: Why does Shen Qingruo have these in her car? Does she have other women? Or rather, has she done this in the car with other women?

The shame was replaced by a wave of jealousy. “Why do you have these in your car?”

Shen Qingruo took her hand, kissed the palm, and looked up. “What do you think?”

…

Half an hour later.

They had moved from the front to the much more spacious back seat. Now that the storm had passed, they leaned against the backrest. Shen Qingruo rested her head on the headrest, face tilted up, having tossed a piece of clothing over her chest to hide the kiss marks.

Meng Chi turned her head. Her calm voice was slightly raspy. She gestured toward the now-empty pink box. “You still haven’t said why these were in your car.”

Shen Qingruo let out a soft laugh. Following the indulgence, her voice was thick with charm. “Still dwelling on that, are we?”

A flicker of mischief crossed her face. She whispered, “A client left them behind.”

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, the word “client” stung Meng Chi’s heart. Her face remained blank, but her mind spun a dozen stories out of that one sentence.

Shen Qingruo added, as if to comfort her, “Out of all my clients, you’re the most… capable.”

Meng Chi reached out to roll down the window for some air, then remembered someone wasn’t wearing anything and stopped. After several seconds, she couldn’t help but mutter, “Do you say that to everyone?”

Shen Qingruo suppressed a laugh. “Not really.” She licked her red lips and added, “Today, I’ve only said it to you.”