Chapter 49

The filming location for this episode was a huge nursery, supposedly one Director Zhang had booked long ago.

The moment they stepped inside, they saw an archway draped in lush green ivy. The air was thick with the fresh scent of earth and flowers.

Exclamations rose one after another.

Even Jiang Lai, who had looked worried the whole way here, widened her eyes at the sight and forgot all about her concerns.

She moved closer to the woman. "Aunt Cheng, look. It’s so pretty!"

"...You like flowers?"

"Mm..."

Jiang Lai tilted her head and thought about it. "I don’t dislike them, but I can’t say I like them that much either."

The woman silently noted that in her heart.

Director Zhang was very satisfied with their reaction and said with a smile, "Looks like everyone likes this place. We’ll shoot the promotional photos here today; we’ll keep going until you’re all satisfied."

"Thank you, Director Zhang! Director Zhang is the best!"

Gu Xizhou and the others bounced up excitedly.

"The clothes are all in the dressing room. Go pick something for yourselves; keep it casual. Wear whichever one you like."

Before he even finished speaking, everyone rushed toward the dressing room.

There were all kinds of clothes, and Jiang Lai was spoiled for choice.

"This one looks good, this one’s good too... Ah, it’s so hard to choose..."

Looking at the two dresses in her hands, Jiang Lai hesitated, unable to let either go. In the end, she could only turn pleading eyes toward the quiet woman sitting nearby, her tone turning a little coquettish. "Aunt Cheng, help me. Which one looks better?"

"You’re the designer; your taste should be better than mine, shouldn’t it?"

"But sometimes I should still listen to your advice."

The woman’s gaze swept over the two dresses in her hands, then finally landed on the sky-blue dress in the corner. She pointed. "Alai, go try that one."

Getting the hint, Jiang Lai made an OK gesture.

Just as her right hand touched the hanger, another hand reached out and rested there too.

She looked up; it was Yu Tian.

Remembering how she had splashed Yu Tian with water in the car earlier, Jiang Lai felt a little awkward and scratched the side of her nose before withdrawing her hand. "Um... you can have this one. I suddenly don’t like it that much anymore."

Yu Tian’s expression eased a little. "Don’t think that means I’ll thank you."

"Hey, then I won’t give it to you after all."

"You’re being shameless!"

Yu Tian grabbed the other side of the dress and started tugging.

Seeing this, Xia Wanwan and Gu Xizhou immediately stepped in and separated the two of them, one on each side.

"Don’t fight. It’s just a dress; don’t ruin everyone’s harmony."

"Hmph."

Jiang Lai smoothed her hair and rolled her eyes at Yu Tian. "I’m the bigger person; I won’t stoop to her level."

Seeing the girl return empty-handed, Cheng Shuyang couldn’t help asking curiously, "What’s wrong? Didn’t you like that dress?"

"No."

Jiang Lai shook her head. "Yu Tian liked it too, so I let her have it. Anyway, I’m not especially attached to clothes. It’s the same no matter what I wear."

"It’s fine."

Cheng Shuyang patted the back of her hand. "The other clothes are all very pretty too."

Jiang Lai suddenly had an idea and took the woman’s hand in return. "Then I’ll help you pick an outfit. I’m sure I can find something that suits you."

There was a sly glint in the girl’s eyes, as if she had found treasure.

"Me?"

The woman let out a light laugh, about to pull her hand back, but the girl held on tighter. "I can wear anything; I’m not picky."

"No."

Jiang Lai said solemnly, pulling her to her feet. "There are so many beautiful clothes here. Just think of it as trying a new style! It’ll definitely look good."

"Alai..."

"Aunt Cheng, please. Just take it as me wanting to see it, okay?"

She was most helpless against the girl’s coaxing and ultimately gave in.

Jiang Lai had long since taken a liking to a dark green qipao embroidered with a few orchids; it matched the woman’s temperament perfectly.

"This one. Go try it on."

She handed it over, her eyes bright. "Trust me; it’ll absolutely stun everyone."

The woman looked at the figure-hugging qipao in her hands and hesitated. "Alai, won’t this be a little... too..."

"No, it won’t."

Her tone was firm. "Your figure will definitely suit it, and it’ll look amazing."

"You make it sound like you know what size I wear."

"Aunt Cheng, don’t forget what I do. The last time I hugged you, didn’t I? I remembered all your measurements."

At that, the woman stopped at the dressing room door; the tips of her ears turned red. She looked back at her with mild reproach. "You’re talking nonsense again."

"Aww, just go change..."

Jiang Lai shook her arm, endlessly coaxing her.

"You really are impossible..."

Unable to withstand the girl’s persistence, Cheng Shuyang finally sighed and went into the changing room. Leaning against the door, she ran her fingers over the qipao. The fabric was excellent and suited her taste; it was just a little... too unlike her usual style.

Outside, Jiang Lai paced back and forth anxiously. She didn’t dare to be sure whether the woman would actually wear that dress.

"Alai..."

Cheng Shuyang’s hesitant voice came from inside the room.

"Aunt Cheng, what is it?"

"Can you come in and help me? I can’t quite reach the zipper..."

Jiang Lai’s face warmed. She knocked lightly on the door. "Aunt Cheng, may I come in?"

"Yes."

Once she had permission, she pushed the door open.

The woman stood with her back to her in front of the mirror. The qipao’s zipper was stuck just above her shoulder blade, exposing a large stretch of delicate skin.

Hearing footsteps, she leaned slightly toward the girl. "Right here; I can’t quite reach..."

Jiang Lai took a deep breath and, with trembling fingers, pinched the zipper and drew it upward. The fine fabric clung to the woman’s body, outlining an exquisite curve.

The air was filled with an indescribable tension.

"Aunt Cheng, do you remember? Last time in the dressing room, I helped you like this too..."

To avoid the awkward silence, Jiang Lai spoke first.

"Of course I remember."

The woman lowered her head to fasten the knots, a trace of laughter in her voice. "Back then, everything you did was so flustered. You never dared to look at me; if I teased you a little, you’d turn red."

"That was because it was the first time I was helping you. I was a little nervous!"

She smiled and leaned closer. "So this time? Are you satisfied?"

The woman lifted her eyes to hers, her gaze falling on the girl’s face, which was clearly waiting for praise. Her lips curved slightly. "Not bad. Much steadier than last time."

"Right?"

Before Jiang Lai could finish feeling pleased with herself, the woman had already changed and was standing before her.

"How is it? Is it too tight?"

The slit in the qipao was very high, revealing the woman’s fair leg in glimpses. Its length was just right, and with every step she took, she carried a different kind of allure.

Looking at her, Jiang Lai’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The woman kept tugging at the hem of the dress. After a while, she still seemed uncomfortable. "I think I’d better change back. I’m still not really suited to this kind of clothing..."

"Mm, I think you should change into something else too."

"Hm?"

Her reaction was unexpected. Cheng Shuyang lowered her eyes, clutching the fabric at her waist, and a shadow of disappointment slipped through her gaze. "I knew it. I’m getting older; this kind of dress doesn’t suit me anymore."

"Huh?!"

Realizing the woman had misunderstood her meaning, Jiang Lai lifted her head sharply and hurriedly explained, "Aunt Cheng, you misunderstood! That’s not what I meant!"

"It’s fine, Alai."

Cheng Shuyang forced a smile. "Naturally I can’t compare with Yu Tian and the others; they’re younger and brighter. You wait for me a moment; I’ll change right away."

Just as she turned, Jiang Lai tightly caught her wrist.

"Alai?"

"I didn’t say you look bad in this dress because I wanted you to change."

"Then what..."

The woman’s wrist was held rather tightly, and it trembled faintly.

"I just think you’re too beautiful. I don’t want anyone else to see you."

As she spoke, Jiang Lai felt her own face heating up at a visible rate. She bit her lip, took two steps forward, and backed the woman all the way into a corner.

"You’re really beautiful; more beautiful than anyone I’ve ever seen by a thousand times, ten thousand times."

Though the girl’s voice trembled, each word was exceptionally clear, carrying a certainty that left no room for doubt.

Backed against the cold wall, with the girl right in front of her, Cheng Shuyang couldn’t help swallowing and looking away.

As an adult woman, Jiang Lai’s gaze was too direct; it was as if she wanted to devour her. Even Cheng Shuyang’s cheeks began to burn, her mind growing a little light-headed.

The orange scent from the girl’s body no longer felt unpleasant at this moment; instead, she even found herself liking it.

Seeing that the woman still wasn’t answering, Jiang Lai deflated a little.

"Aunt Cheng, I really didn’t lie to you..."

"I know. Get up first."

The woman pushed at her, but the moment her fingers touched the fierce pounding of the girl’s heart against her chest, they trembled.

"You’re being disrespectful."

Cheng Shuyang’s voice dropped; she sounded flustered, yet her eyes remained fixed on Jiang Lai’s.

"Everything I said is true."

Jiang Lai leaned in a little more; the tips of their noses were almost touching. She looked at the woman’s lips so close in front of her; they still bore the bite mark from earlier, a tempting red.

Suddenly, she felt her own lips go dry.

"Aunt Cheng, can I..."

"Shh."

Cheng Shuyang raised a finger and pressed it to her lips, then sighed. "Alai, don’t be mischievous..."

"I won’t..."

Once her stubbornness was roused, it spread like wild grass and became impossible to control. In the end, she couldn’t hold back; she lowered her head slightly.

A gentle kiss landed by the woman’s ear; it was gone in an instant.

It was very light, yet it shot through the woman like electricity. Her body went soft, and her legs seemed to lose all strength; she slammed heavily against the wall, bracing herself with both hands just to keep from sliding down.

"Jiang Lai, what are you doing..."

The words that came out were soft and coquettish, even to her own surprise.

"Sorry, I really couldn’t help it... But it’s just the two of us here, Aunt Cheng. If you hate it, you can push me away..."

The girl’s fingertips lightly rested on her waist, testing cautiously.

Cheng Shuyang closed her eyes, but her body softened even more, almost half-held in Jiang Lai’s arms, allowing the ambiguous atmosphere between them to grow freely.

"Jiang Lai, I need to go to the bathroom."

TL Note:

qipao (旗袍) = a traditional Chinese dress with a fitted cut