Next Time
I will be gentler next time.
The evening party concluded very successfully, ending completely at nine o’clock at night. Lu Zhenqiu also walked down from the stage. Her calves were numb from standing; at the beginning, she wore sky-high heels1, later changed to wedges, and finally switched to a pair of flats. Fortunately, she had changed outfits several times, so the fans didn’t notice anything unusual. Only when she got off the stage was she dragging her legs.
Jin Shuilan saw her in this state and hurriedly walked over to support her. Lu Zhenqiu turned her head and saw the heartache in her eyes. She smiled, “It’s nothing, it will be fine after a night’s sleep.”
“Let’s go to the resting room first,” Jin Shuilan said. Lu Zhenqiu agreed, “I still have a dinner party in a little while.”
In other words, she couldn’t have dinner with Jin Shuilan. This dinner party was one that everyone had to attend, and as the host of the evening party, Lu Zhenqiu naturally couldn’t get out of it.
Jin Shuilan nodded, “Got it.”
The two entered a resting room. The other streamers had already gone ahead to the restaurant2. Some were changing their makeup or clothes. Streamers and staff members were coming and going in the hallway. Jin Shuilan closed the door to the resting room, and it became quiet inside. Lu Zhenqiu supported herself on the edge of the sofa and sat down, her whole body aching as if her bones were about to fall apart. Jin Shuilan bent down, took hold of her ankle, and amidst Lu Zhenqiu’s cry of “ai,” lifted her skirt hem up a little. Lu Zhenqiu’s face flushed red, her gaze darting towards Jin Shuilan, and she felt a tingling numbness in her calf.
It was Jin Shuilan helping her with a massage.
The pressure of her hands was neither light nor heavy, just right. Lu Zhenqiu sighed in comfort, leaning over the edge of the sofa and letting Jin Shuilan continue to massage her calves.
All of today’s fatigue strangely dissipated, and her originally aching calves began to recover. Jin Shuilan asked, “Better?”
“Much better,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “Your skills are really good.”
Jin Shuilan, for some unknown reason, lowered her head and smiled.
She massaged Lu Zhenqiu’s legs for over half an hour. When Xiao Yu called to urge her to hurry over, Lu Zhenqiu had almost fallen asleep. She got up and said hurriedly, “I’m going to change my clothes first.”
Jin Shuilan watched her jog into the changing room. A short while later, she came out with her makeup removed, having changed into her own clothes: a warm down jacket with a dark grey, form-fitting shirt inside, paired with a pair of black casual pants. Her figure was tall, her legs straight and slender. Perhaps from standing on stage for so long, her walking posture was now a bit stiff.
Seeing her walk over, Jin Shuilan said, “Let me drive you there. Which restaurant?”
“It’s two streets away,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “It’s just up ahead.”
Jin Shuilan drove her to the entrance of the restaurant. Just as Lu Zhenqiu was about to get out of the car, she turned back and said, “I’ll eat a little less.”
“You eat a little less too.”
Hearing the instruction, Jin Shuilan nodded, “Okay.”
She didn’t eat, just sat in the car waiting for Lu Zhenqiu. The streetlights outside illuminated the car’s interior. People came and went outside the window; there were drunkards making a scene, couples embracing each other, and families of several people laughing and playing.
Happiness is so simple, and so real. Jin Shuilan turned her head to look at the restaurant entrance.
Her happiness was right inside.
Lu Zhenqiu was made to drink a few glasses of alcohol, though not too many. However, she could use this as an opportunity to go to the restroom and rest. All evening, these people had barely eaten two bites of food, preoccupied with drinking. The table was piled high with empty bottles, and some were playing games—nothing more than the usual few types. Lu Zhenqiu was pulled into playing a few rounds. She faced the mouth of the bottle and answered the question from the person next to her, “The type you like?”
“I like long hair, someone who wears glasses, and has a very gentle smile.” The dinner table fell silent for a few seconds, then someone whistled, and immediately a bold person asked, “Qiuqiu, you like girls?”
Xiao Yu’s heart was tense. Goodness3, this game was too wild. But there was nothing to hide about Lu Zhenqiu liking girls. She even secretly recorded that last part and sent it to Jin Shuilan.
In the quiet car, Lu Zhenqiu’s voice was exceptionally clear.
I like long hair, someone who wears glasses…
Jin Shuilan’s finger touched the side of her gold-rimmed glasses. She took them off, wiped the lenses with a tissue, and then got out of the car. As she reached the private room’s door, Xiao Yu happened to be sending her out, saying, “She’s had something to drink.”
When Lu Zhenqiu saw Jin Shuilan, she stood up straight, like a student who had made a mistake seeing their teacher. Her eyes darted everywhere, just not at Jin Shuilan. Seeing her little movements, Jin Shuilan was both exasperated and amused.
She said she would eat a little less, and now she was about to pass out drunk.
She nodded at Xiao Yu, “Thanks, I’ll take her back now.”
Xiao Yu said, “Okay, okay, okay, take her back to rest.”
Jin Shuilan led Lu Zhenqiu to the car.
Lu Zhenqiu wasn’t too drunk. Halfway through the drive, she asked, “Have you eaten?”
Jin Shuilan shook her head, “I’ll order something when we get back.”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “oh,” biting her lip and turning to look out the car window. The scenery flashed by, scene after scene. The cold wind couldn’t penetrate the car, and the heater was on, blowing warm air onto her face.
They soon arrived at the hotel. Jin Shuilan carried her bag and half-supported her out of the car. Lu Zhenqiu said, “I’m not drunk.”
Her expression was indeed clear. Jin Shuilan nodded and let go of her slightly. The two entered the elevator. Lu Zhenqiu smelled the alcohol on herself and said, “I’ll go back and change my clothes.”
Jin Shuilan grabbed the hand she was about to use to press the floor button and said faintly, “No need.”
Her tone was also very faint. Lu Zhenqiu turned her head to glance at her, suspecting she was unhappy because she had drunk too much. As they were about to exit the elevator, Lu Zhenqiu called out, “Jin Shuilan.”
Her voice, affected by the alcohol, was even softer and lighter, tinged with a coquettishness.
Jin Shuilan’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head, “What is it?”
Lu Zhenqiu bit her lip. Her lipstick was already gone, leaving her lips a pale pink. Her pearly teeth nibbled gently, creating an alluring picture in front of Jin Shuilan. Her mind was now filled with the image of Lu Zhenqiu standing on the stage, wearing an evening gown, her makeup exquisite. Just that one fleeting image made Jin Shuilan’s body feel slightly hot, her throat very dry. She stared at Lu Zhenqiu with a burning gaze. The sudden intensity of the stare left Lu Zhenqiu a bit dazed, and for a moment, she forgot what she had wanted to ask.
With a ding, the elevator arrived. Jin Shuilan was the first to step out. Lu Zhenqiu followed behind her. Without those eyes on her, Lu Zhenqiu finally remembered the question she hadn’t asked. She turned her head to glimpse Jin Shuilan’s side profile—a tense jawline, a bit more serious than usual.
Is she still angry after all?
Lu Zhenqiu followed her into the suite. Just as she stepped inside, Jin Shuilan closed the door with a backhand motion and pressed her directly against it. Her back was cold and hard, while her front was soft and compressed. Jin Shuilan moved close to her ear. Lu Zhenqiu thought she was about to speak and was listening intently when her earlobe was bitten.
“Sss…” Lu Zhenqiu immediately covered her ear and looked at Jin Shuilan, her face flushed from the alcohol, her eyes sparkling brightly. Jin Shuilan’s hands slowly tightened from the sides of her waist, pulling her entire person into an embrace.
Pressed against, Lu Zhenqiu tilted her head back. Jin Shuilan easily kissed her, not forcefully, but meanderingly, kissing for a moment and then pausing for half a second, leaving one wanting more. Lu Zhenqiu moved her body. Her hands were restrained by Jin Shuilan, their fingers tightly interlaced, slowly, slowly, raised above her head.
The smell of alcohol wasn’t strong, but it was very enticing. Jin Shuilan hadn’t been drinking, yet she felt slightly tipsy. She used one hand to hold down both of Lu Zhenqiu’s hands, while her other hand supported the back of Lu Zhenqiu’s head, a very measured touch. Then, it moved to Lu Zhenqiu’s slender waist, and with a slight exertion of force, she lifted Lu Zhenqiu up with one arm.
Lu Zhenqiu’s hands subconsciously wrapped around Jin Shuilan’s neck, afraid of falling. Jin Shuilan carried her over to the edge of the sofa, and they tumbled down together. Lu Zhenqiu shrank back, and not knowing what she had hit, she said softly, “It hurts.”
Only when Jin Shuilan heard her voice did she suddenly stop. She looked up at the living room, at some scattered clothes. She half-sat up and her sharp eyes spotted a button from Lu Zhenqiu’s shirt. It had just popped off and was lying forlornly under the coffee table. Jin Shuilan picked it up and handed it to Lu Zhenqiu. The two looked at each other for two seconds. Lu Zhenqiu lowered her eyes, “Even if you give it to me, I can’t sew it back on.”
After saying that, she added in a very low voice, “You can’t even be a little gentle.”
Her voice didn’t sound like a complaint. After speaking, she glanced at Jin Shuilan, the light in her eyes shimmering and moist. Her thin lips, having been kissed, had lost their original pale pink color, turning a deep red and becoming slightly swollen. When Lu Zhenqiu bit her lip, there was a faint stinging pain, and the taste of Jin Shuilan still lingered.
Soft, and very sweet. She pressed her lips together.
Jin Shuilan met her gaze and said awkwardly, “Then I will be gentler next time.”
Next time, be gentler.
These four words were like some kind of secret code. Lu Zhenqiu’s face turned completely red in a whoosh, and even her exposed skin was tinged with a blush. She casually grabbed Jin Shuilan’s clothes and gathered them in front of herself. Jin Shuilan watched her wrap herself up and asked, “Do you want some water?”
Lu Zhenqiu nodded, “Yes.”
Jin Shuilan got up to pour her a large glass of warm water. When Lu Zhenqiu drank the water, her hand emerged from the clothes, leaving half of her side exposed. Without the shirt button, the outline of her underwear was faintly visible. Jin Shuilan glanced for two seconds before averting her gaze. Seeing her finish drinking, she asked, “Do you want more?”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “No more.” After speaking, she kicked Jin Shuilan with the tip of her foot, “Get me a piece of clothing.”
Jin Shuilan smiled, “What kind do you want to wear?”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “Anything is fine.”
Jin Shuilan went back to the room and found her a light blue base layer shirt. It was a high-collared, cashmere style, thin and very close-fitting, covering the marks on her neck. After changing, Lu Zhenqiu sat on the sofa. Jin Shuilan asked her, “What do you want to eat?”
Lu Zhenqiu remembered that Jin Shuilan hadn’t eaten yet. She ordered a salad to accompany Jin Shuilan for dinner. Jin Shuilan ordered a set meal. After putting down the ordering device, she said to Lu Zhenqiu, “I’m going to take a shower first. Open the door when the delivery arrives.”
“Mm,” Lu Zhenqiu nodded. She watched as Jin Shuilan tidied up the messy clothes in the living room and finally went into the bathroom. She sat on the sofa, listening to the pitter-patter of water coming from inside, and inexplicably thought of what Jin Shuilan had said: Next time, be gentler.
Her face started burning again without warning. She lowered her head and fiddled with her phone, trying to distract herself. She had only been playing for a moment when she heard a phone ring. She turned her head; it was coming from Jin Shuilan’s bag. She glanced at the bathroom, took out the phone, and saw the screen flashing ‘Ma’.
It was a call from He Jinmei.
Lu Zhenqiu walked to the bathroom door and called out, “Jin Shuilan.”
There was no response. Lu Zhenqiu looked at the phone number, hesitated for two seconds, and answered. Just as she was about to say that Jin Shuilan wasn’t available, the person on the other end of the line rattled off, “Lanlan ah, why didn’t you participate in the evening party again this year? Didn’t your dad say you promised to go on stage this year? How come it’s still Mo Bai presenting the award ah?”
Lu Zhenqiu held the phone, blinked her eyes, and a few seconds later, her brow furrowed.
The author has something to say:
Thirty red envelopes, memeda.
Jin Shuilan: I will be gentler next time.
Lu Zhenqiu: You won’t have a next time.
Jin Shuilan: ……
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