After Flirting with the Wrong Stand-in, I Overturned (GL) - Chapter 34

Did she really have to say it? Lin Shuyan’s gaze drifted slightly, but then she noticed the expectant look in Ren Xuan’s eyes. Not wanting to let her down, she slowly parted her lips. “Ren… Xuan.”

“I’m here.” Ren Xuan smiled, her brow twitching slightly as she added, “There’s no one else here.”

I know. Shuyan’s eyes flickered several times. Since she’d said it once, the difference between saying it once or several times didn’t seem that large. She simply closed her eyes and called out again, “Ren Xuan.”

“I’m here.”

“Ren Xuan, Ren Xuan…”

“I’m right here.” With every call came a response. Ren Xuan looked at her with eyes full of indulgence. Finally, Shuyan couldn’t keep going; she tucked her hands behind her back, unconsciously twisting her fingers. After a moment, she asked, “Did Ren Xuan come over just to make me do this…?”

“Of course not.” Ren Xuan shook her head and hooked her finger into Shuyan’s. Their palms met, fingers interlocking. “I came to…”

Ren Xuan deliberately paused, waiting until Shuyan was about to ask before finishing: “…to steal a fragrance and filch jade (to steal a kiss).”

“Ren Xuan!” Shuyan flushed with embarrassment and broke free from Ren Xuan’s grasp. Her voice rose significantly, and giving Ren Xuan almost no time to react, she turned to run toward the bedroom.

She was fast, but Ren Xuan was faster.

As if she had known this would happen, Ren Xuan intercepted her in time. Pulling Shuyan’s hand again, Ren Xuan coaxed her softly, “It’s my fault, I said the wrong thing.”

“I apologize, alright? Hmm?”

Her clear, spirited eyes shifted. Shuyan didn’t actually want an apology; she just wished Ren Xuan wouldn’t do that next time.

Biting her lower lip, Shuyan tightened her grip and protested quietly, “Can you not do that next time…?”

“Do what?” Ren Xuan’s beautiful eyes looked at her as she leaned in closer.

She clearly knows what I’m talking about. Shuyan turned her head away in annoyance; Ren Xuan’s apology didn’t sound sincere at all.

Shuyan had no idea that her puffed-up, angry look was exceptionally cute to Ren Xuan. With her dark brows knitted and the corners of her eyes slightly flushed, she was a sight to behold.

“I was wrong.” Ren Xuan gently shook their joined hands, reflecting in a low voice, “I just wanted to come see you, not to make you angry.”

I wasn’t angry, Shuyan thought, though she still refused to turn her head.

“Right, right,” Ren Xuan made a motion as if to slap her own mouth, “Our Shuyan is beautiful and kind; she wouldn’t get mad at me over such a small thing.”

Shuyan hurried to stop her. Her fingers landed unexpectedly on Ren Xuan’s lips—warm and soft. It felt as if a tiny electric current had touched her fingertip.

“Miss Lin.” The gentle voice of Butler Wang startled them both. Shuyan belatedly withdrew her hand, her first instinct being to hide Ren Xuan.

“Open the door.” Seeing through Shuyan’s little thoughts, Ren Xuan smiled and gestured to her.

“Mhm.” On second thought, Shuyan realized she was being a bit too paranoid. What was wrong with two people being in a room late at night? It wasn’t like they were doing anything shameful.

“Miss Lin, did I disturb you?” Uncle Wang held a tray with a glass of milk on it.

“No.” Shuyan shook her head. “I didn’t have anything urgent. Uncle Wang, you’re…”

“Oh,” Uncle Wang looked down, gesturing to ask if he could enter. Stepping inside, he said, “This is milk from the cows raised at the back of the estate. It’s very nutritious. The Eldest Miss specifically instructed me…”

Mid-sentence, Uncle Wang noticed there was another person in the room. He exclaimed in surprise, “Eldest Miss! So you were here.”

Visiting a girl’s room in the middle of the night—the Eldest Miss’s obvious intentions… Uncle Wang didn’t find it inappropriate at all. Instead, he felt the gratification of a proud father.

“Eldest Miss, Miss Lin, the milk is delivered. I’ll be going now.” Setting down the milk, Uncle Wang sprinted out before either of them could speak.

“Did you really arrange for this milk?” Shuyan pointed at the glass.

“No.”

“Then Uncle Wang…?” Connecting this to the conversation at dinner, a thought slowly formed in Shuyan’s mind. “Is he…?”

“He means exactly what you’re thinking.” Ren Xuan finished Shuyan’s sentence with a smile. “Uncle Wang saw through my feelings long ago. He’s been trying all sorts of ways to help me win you over.”

He’d gone as far as attributing so many thoughtful gestures to Ren Xuan just to make a better impression on Shuyan.

Long ago? How long ago? Shuyan mused inwardly.

“Drink the milk.” Ren Xuan handed the glass to Shuyan.

“Mhm.” Shuyan took the milk; it was at the perfect temperature. The fragrant scent of milk filled the air. She drank it all in one go and set the glass down.

“Don’t move.” At Ren Xuan’s command, Shuyan immediately stood as still as an obedient child.

Ren Xuan produced a tissue from somewhere. She was very close to Shuyan as she reached out to the corner of Shuyan’s lips, wiping carefully. After a serious look, she said, “There was a milk mustache.”

“I… I’ll do it myself.”

“It’s already done.” Ren Xuan turned to toss the tissue into the bin.

Shuyan touched her warm cheeks, fanning them with her small hand. Seeing Ren Xuan turn back, she immediately stood up straight. “Then about the two of us… Uncle Wang…?”

If they never told the butler, wouldn’t he keep worrying? She didn’t want the elderly man to fret.

“It’s fine.” Ren Xuan pulled Shuyan down to sit on the sofa, explaining casually, “Uncle Wang has been with the Ren family for years and handles everything inside and out with ease. As for his family, his wife passed away early, leaving him with one daughter who is currently studying in France.”

“Uncle Wang doesn’t just worry about me; he’s always wondering when his daughter will bring home a son-in-law.”

“But I expect,” Ren Xuan chuckled, “Uncle Wang is just talking. If some brat actually tried to snatch his daughter away, he definitely wouldn’t give that person a kind look.”

Shuyan thought about it and found it made sense; it’s a universal rule that fathers-in-law rarely find their sons-in-law pleasing.

Ren Xuan returned to the main topic. “Uncle Wang only guessed my feelings because I invited you to live here. As for the outcome, he cares more about whether I am happy.”

“So,” Ren Xuan said seriously, “don’t feel any psychological pressure. Just act however feels natural.”

“Wait until you are truly ready to say something.”

A warm current flowed through Shuyan’s heart, making her feel warm all over. She suppressed the urge to throw herself into Ren Xuan’s arms and could only whisper, “Ren Xuan.”

“Besides,” Ren Xuan leaned in and whispered into Shuyan’s ear with a smile, “don’t you think the two of us are like kids secretly dating behind our parents’ backs? I never dated during school, so this is making up for lost time.”

“I didn’t either.” Shuyan also thought of the young couples she’d seen during school, secretly holding hands and kissing behind the teachers’ backs—that carefree youth.

“We’re fulfilling a dream together then.” Ren Xuan stroked Shuyan’s long, silky hair, then looked up at the clock. “It really is late now. I won’t disturb your rest.”

“No.” Shuyan shook her head while holding Ren Xuan’s hand. She wasn’t disturbing her at all.

“I said it wrong.” Ren Xuan chuckled. “Shuyan is doing this willingly.”

“Ren Xuan…” Shuyan dragged out the name with a reproachful look, but it sounded more like acting spoiled.

“Alright, I’m really leaving this time.” Ren Xuan stood up. “See you tomorrow morning.” Shuyan didn’t let go of her hand. Ren Xuan looked down, and only then did Shuyan release her.

“I’ll… walk you out.”

Ren Xuan raised an eyebrow; it was only a few steps. Realizing Shuyan simply didn’t want her to leave, Ren Xuan didn’t refuse.

They walked to the door. Just as Ren Xuan was about to step out, Shuyan suddenly found a burst of courage. She grabbed the other’s clothes and kissed her.

Before a caught-off-guard Ren Xuan could even react, she was gently pushed out of the room, and the door clicked shut.

She was… kissed. Ren Xuan lightly touched her lips. The kiss just now was like a dragonfly skimming the water—very light, yet it sent ripples through the emerald pond.

So Shuyan is actually this bold. Standing outside the door, Ren Xuan laughed softly.

It turned out that a person really can suppress all their timidity and shyness to get closer to the one they like. Ren Xuan knew Shuyan’s personality better than anyone.

She didn’t try to stifle her laughter. Inside, Shuyan had slid down with her back against the door, sitting on the floor with her head in her hands, her ears perked up to listen to every sound outside.

Hearing Ren Xuan’s laughter, her face turned a deep shade of pink.

Was that wrong…? Shuyan wondered.

But another voice immediately screamed in her head: Why not? Isn’t Ren Xuan her girlfriend? What law says you can’t kiss your own girlfriend?

Ren Xuan said that because they were together, she wasn’t worried about Shuyan running away. By that same logic, because they were together, she could do as she pleased with Ren Xuan.

Shuyan suppressed her sense of shame and listened carefully. The laughter had stopped.

It was too fast, Shuyan thought regretfully, hugging her knees. She hadn’t even had time to see Ren Xuan’s reaction. But since Ren Xuan laughed, did that mean she liked it too?

Will she think I’m frivolous? Or have other thoughts?

Shuyan didn’t even dare to breathe loudly as she pressed against the door, listening. There wasn’t a sound; Ren Xuan must have returned to her room.

Shuyan stood up quietly and carefully opened the door just a crack. She peeked out, but before she could see the corridor clearly, she felt a gust of wind, followed by a pair of large hands pulling her into an embrace. Shuyan was pinned against the door frame.

“Lin Shuyan,” Ren Xuan murmured, her arms around Shuyan’s waist, her warm breath fanning against Shuyan’s neck, “Don’t you know you have to take responsibility for flirting?”

“With my girlfriend living right next door,” Ren Xuan’s voice was low and husky, making Shuyan feel tingly and weak. Coupled with the ticklish sensation on her neck, Shuyan struggled to stay upright.

She was almost unable to stand, yet she had to focus to hear Ren Xuan say: “I was already being very restrained by agreeing to sleep in separate rooms, wasn’t I?”

“And yet you chose to tease me.” Ren Xuan blinked innocently. “Lin Shuyan, tell me, what should I do with you?”

Shuyan secretly regretted her actions; she’d simply acted on a whim. How was she supposed to know Ren Xuan was waiting behind the door? Should she have kept the door closed? What now?

“Is it too late for regrets?” Ren Xuan raised an eyebrow.