Chapter 27

Before dawn, Jiang Lai’s thoughts were a complete tangle, and she still couldn’t fall asleep. She rolled over and over, not the slightest trace of drowsiness coming to her.

Restless, she kept breathing in and out, but it did nothing to calm her frayed nerves. Beside her, Cheng Shuyang’s breathing only made the unease in her heart worse.

After hesitating for two seconds, she sat up, then carefully lifted the blanket and got out of bed. In the moonlight, she slowly made her way to the door.

She opened it as quietly as she could and slipped outside. Only after letting out a long breath did she realize that the moment she closed the door, Cheng Shuyang, who should have had her eyes shut, had suddenly opened them and watched her retreating figure.

“Phew.”

Jiang Lai wandered aimlessly down the long corridor. She had thought no one would be awake at this hour, only to nearly bump straight into someone around the corner.

“Jiang Lai?”

Jiang Lai rubbed the spot on her forehead where they’d collided and looked at the person in front of her, surprised. “Xizhou? Why are you still awake so late?”

Gu Xizhou shrugged, looking entirely innocent. “Isn’t this a new place? I can’t really sleep, so I came out for some air. And you’re one to talk—aren’t you the same? It’s this late, and you’re still up.”

Jiang Lai copied her and shrugged too, smiling helplessly. “Same as you. I’m just too used to my own bed, so I can’t sleep.”

“Come on, what’s wrong? Got something on your mind?”

Jiang Lai rolled her eyes. “No. I’m just plain old unable to sleep.”

Gu Xizhou leaned in with a wicked grin. “That makes sense. Your idol is sleeping right next to you—who wouldn’t be excited? How could you possibly sleep?”

“I’m not talking to you anymore. You really never know when to stop.”

Jiang Lai turned as if to leave. Gu Xizhou hurriedly grabbed her. “No, no, no! I said the wrong thing, okay? Be the bigger person and forgive me this once.”

Jiang Lai sighed and tapped her lightly. “Your mouth really doesn’t spare anyone.”

Gu Xizhou chuckled, then invited her along. “I found a spot on the rooftop with an amazing view. Want to come take a look? Have a little drink?”

Jiang Lai looked at her like she was an idiot. “You’re not planning to work tomorrow?”

“Hah! Actually, that’s exactly it—I’ve got good news for you!”

Gu Xizhou wore a smug, irritating smile. “Director Zhang and the senior crew all got seasick after you did. They’re probably still suffering right now! There’s no way we’re filming tomorrow. So relax and have fun; no one’s going to call you tomorrow!”

Without waiting to see whether Jiang Lai agreed, she practically dragged her to the rooftop. Only after they arrived did Jiang Lai realize they weren’t the only ones there.

“Hey, didn’t you say you were going to get the alcohol? Why did you drag Jiang-jie here too?”

“We ran into each other in the hallway. She said she couldn’t sleep, so I brought her along. More people means more fun, right?”

“Jiang-jie, sit here!”

Xiaoman stood up enthusiastically and gave Jiang Lai the swing she’d been sitting on. Jiang Lai waved both hands. “No need, really. I can just sit in a chair.”

Xiaoman grabbed her and pressed her down onto the swing. “If I tell you to sit, then sit. No need to be polite with me.”

“Then... thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Xiaoman smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. “Jiang-jie, why don’t I see your little assistant?”

“You mean Xiaonan?”

Xiaoman nodded.

“I gave her a long vacation and told her to go look around. She doesn’t have to keep running around after me.”

“Jiang-jie, being your assistant must be so nice!”

Xiaoman looked full of envy.

Jiang Lai raised a brow. “What, are you saying being with Aunt Cheng is bad?”

Xiaoman lightly punched her. “Hey, Jiang-jie, you’re mean too now. You actually set a trap for me!”

Jiang Lai only smiled without answering. Xiaoman puffed up proudly. “Aunt Cheng is great too. I really like her!”

“So, easy-to-placate Xiaoman, put down the wine glass in your hand and drink this milk.”

Jiang Lai set a glass of milk in front of her and casually took away the beer she had barely touched.

Xiaoman pouted. “Jiang-jie, the way you talk and act now is getting more and more like Aunt Cheng.”

Jiang Lai’s hand paused. After a moment, she went on as if nothing had happened. “You’ve got work tomorrow. Drink less.”

As if sensing Jiang Lai’s low spirits, Xiaoman said nothing and obediently nodded.

The smile on Jiang Lai’s face gradually faded. Leaning back against the swing, she gazed into the distance.

After several rounds of drinking, everyone’s mood only grew higher and higher.

Jiang Lai seemed a little drunk. She was sprawled over the table, her hair fallen forward to cover half her face.

Xiaoman nudged her arm. “A-Lai-jie? Are you drunk?”

“Don’t be noisy...”

Jiang Lai shoved her away carelessly and turned over.

Xiaoman’s eyes darted, and a mischievous idea struck her. She circled to the other side and deliberately called out loudly, “Aunt Cheng, why are you here?”

The next second, Jiang Lai shot to her feet, swaying slightly. Fortunately, Xiaoman reacted quickly and caught her.

“Aunt Cheng... where is Aunt Cheng...”

Xiaoman laughed to herself, then helped her sit back down. “Jiang-jie, is Aunt Cheng pretty?”

“Mm..."

A smile tugged at Jiang Lai’s lips. “Pretty. Aunt Cheng is the prettiest...”

That answer nearly had Xiaoman jumping in place, but she still forced herself to keep going. “Then do you like her?”

“I like Aunt Cheng the most...”

Jiang Lai murmured. Her hand loosened, and the beer can slipped away under the force of momentum; she had fallen asleep.

I knew it. Those two definitely have something going on!

Having confirmed her suspicion, Xiaoman lay down contentedly on the nearby sofa, so satisfied she could hardly put it into words, and immediately began sketching out grand plans in her head.

A faint light gradually appeared on the horizon. She stood up, her head aching a little, and nudged Gu Xizhou, who was sleeping beside her. “Xizhou, wake up. It’s already daylight!”

“Hm? It’s morning?”

Gu Xizhou opened her eyes groggily and looked around blankly. “How did it get to be morning...”

Jiang Lai rubbed her swollen head. “You should go back to your room and rest for a bit. I’ll make breakfast and call you when it’s ready.”

“Xiaoman, help me.”

“Okay.”

The two of them carried Gu Xizhou back into the room together, only to run straight into Xu Zhiyi, who had just woken up.

“Hello, Teacher Xu.”

Noticing the smell of alcohol in the air, Xu Zhiyi frowned and looked at Jiang Lai. “You all... drank?”

“No!”

Jiang Lai shook her head so hard it was like a rattle drum. “I didn’t drink a single drop; it was Xizhou. Xizhou drank.”

“She didn’t drink all night, did she?”

“It wasn’t all night..."

Her voice carried an obvious note of guilt.

Xu Zhiyi’s eyes held a trace of exasperation; she waved a hand. “Fine. Go rest. Give her to me.”

“This... isn’t very appropriate, is it?”

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it.”

“Let me do it, Teacher Xu. You go do your own thing.”

Jiang Lai moved Gu Xizhou behind her.

“I’m saying this one last time: hand her over to me.”

Sensing that the atmosphere was off, Jiang Lai changed sides immediately.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Teacher Xu...”

Jiang Lai silently told Gu Xizhou she was sorry, but still carefully handed her over to Xu Zhiyi, then slipped away with Xiaoman.

She gently pushed the door open. The room was a little dim, and she assumed Cheng Shuyang still hadn’t woken up, so she let out a breath and quietly closed the door.

“You’re back?”

Cheng Shuyang’s voice came from behind her. Jiang Lai stiffened, suddenly nervous, and turned around like a child caught by a parent. “Aunt Cheng, it’s still early. Why are you up so early?”

“I’m not sleeping anymore. I’m getting old; I don’t need as much sleep.”

Cheng Shuyang got out of bed, drew back the curtains to look at the situation outside the yard, then pulled them shut again.

Noticing Jiang Lai’s expression, she asked, “Why do you look so bad? Didn’t you rest well last night?”

“I had too much fun with them yesterday and didn’t pay attention to the time.”

“You didn’t sleep at all?”

“Not exactly..."

The air carried the faint warmth of alcohol. Cheng Shuyang looked straight at her. “You drank?”

“No... just a little bit..."

Cheng Shuyang let out a heavy sigh. “You. Your seasickness has only just gotten better, and you still won’t take care of yourself. When you feel awful later, you’ll be the one suffering. Just wait and see what you’ll do then.”

Jiang Lai awkwardly touched the tip of her nose and said nothing.

Cheng Shuyang helplessly patted the blanket. “Come here and rest for a while; otherwise you’ll start complaining of a headache again soon.”

“No need, I think...”

“Come on. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”

“Then thank you.”

Jiang Lai pressed her lips together. Just as she was taking off her jacket, she seemed to remember something. “Aunt Cheng, how is your foot?”

“I’m fine. As long as I walk slowly, it’s okay. Don’t worry about me.”

“Let me take a look.”

“No need...”

Jiang Lai said nothing more, only stared at her.

The two of them held each other in silence for a while before Cheng Shuyang gave in and quietly lifted a corner of her skirt, revealing the injured area.

Jiang Lai’s brows knitted almost imperceptibly. The bruise, which had already been pale blue, had darkened even more overnight, looking far more shocking than it had yesterday.

“Does it still hurt?”

The girl looked up at her, a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

“It’s fine. Compared to yesterday, it’s already much better.”

The woman bent down to help her up and smiled gently. “All right, I really am fine.”

There was ointment beside the bed. Jiang Lai reached for it, avoiding the woman’s hand when she tried to take it from her, and said seriously, “Don’t move. I’ll do it.”

The medicinal oil was a little cool. When it touched her skin, Jiang Lai couldn’t help but flinch; immediately, the other woman’s movements grew even lighter. Every circle was careful, as though she were afraid of hurting her.

Lowering her eyes, Cheng Shuyang looked at the girl’s focused expression, and something inside her seemed to soften completely.

“All right. For now, try to walk as little as possible. If you need anything, just call me.”

After applying the medicinal oil, Jiang Lai looked up and reminded her carefully. Cheng Shuyang couldn’t help but laugh helplessly and reached out to ruffle her hair. “Got it, Dr. Jiang.”

Only after getting the woman’s assurance did Jiang Lai relax. She crawled under the covers and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Cheng Shuyang leaned to the side and listened to the person on the bed go still before looking over. Only after confirming that Jiang Lai was truly asleep did she relax and lie down on the couch not far from the girl.

Looking at the girl’s quiet sleeping face, her gaze was complicated. It wasn’t only Jiang Lai who had spent the night awake; Cheng Shuyang had also been restless all night and barely slept at all.

Perhaps because the girl’s soft breathing was contagious, drowsiness gradually rose within her too.

The moment her eyelids closed, it seemed like she heard the girl say something, but she couldn’t make it out.

“Aunt Cheng, what exactly am I supposed to do with you...”