Twenty-Sixth Slice of Blood Orange

The cat licked its paw contentedly, then ambled away with a flick of its tail.

Shen Qiancheng straightened up, the streetlight behind her casting a soft glow through her hair.

"What they said is true—I'm vicious and cruel. I dug up my mother's grave with my own hands and stabbed Shi Jianren with a knife. Everyone in our circle who spoke ill of me has felt my revenge. I never let my anger wait till morning."

Shen Qiancheng lifted her gaze to meet Liao Xue's stunned expression, then quickly looked away.

"So, Liao Xue, be good. Don't fall in love with me. Loving a demon will only bring disaster upon yourself."

The moon drifted across the sky, and the two walked back home.

The spring night was filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers and the chirping of restless little animals.

Neither of them expected that a trip to the market would leave them home past eight.

As the key turned in the lock, Liao Xue kicked off her shoes and hurried into the kitchen.

The sensor light in the fridge flicked on, revealing it fully stocked with vegetables and fruits that Sui Shi had delivered according to Shen Qiancheng's preferences.

Liao Xue shifted things around, clearing a small space, and set the extra vegetables she'd bought today into the empty spot.

Like a little dog marking its territory.

Shen Qiancheng leaned in, her nose wrinkling at the salty, fishy smell. "What's for dinner tonight, Chef Liao?"

In the light, Liao Xue kept her head down, her docile hair falling over her ears, coated in a tender, gentle sheen.

"What do you want to eat? The fish is fresh today—how about braised fish?" Liao Xue rummaged through the vegetables, making the sealed bags rustle. "Anything else? Celery? Potatoes? Or..."

Her hand stopped on a vacuum-sealed pack of fresh salmon.

Shen Qiancheng grabbed Liao Xue's hand and pulled her out. "Anything's fine. Come here and look at this!"

Her tone carried three parts excitement, three parts pride, and four parts impatience.

Almost pushed out of the kitchen, Liao Xue hadn't noticed this scene when she'd hurried in earlier.

In the living room, a television now hung on the TV cabinet, and an air conditioner was mounted on the wall. In the kitchen, a dishwasher sat under the sink, and a microwave rested on the countertop. In the bathroom, a fully automatic washing machine stood on the floor, with a dryer beside it.

Liao Xue didn't understand—why had Shen Qiancheng bought all this? It couldn't be just to make her happy, could it?

Shen Qiancheng caught the confusion in Liao Xue's eyes and pushed her in front of the television.

With no sofa around, the two had to sit on a narrow bench, one behind the other.

The distance between them was nearly zero.

Shen Qiancheng insisted on leaning close to Liao Xue's face to speak, clicking the remote to turn on the TV.

The usual ads didn't appear; instead, a message flashed: "Dear VIP member, enjoy..."

Shen Qiancheng said, "I've subscribed to every platform's membership. Watch more TV and think less of me. If you get bored, there's a community center downstairs where you can chat with people."

"But I don't want you going out to chat. It might affect your work attitude and efficiency."

What did that mean? Was Shen Qiancheng trying to keep her caged?

Liao Xue turned her head slightly, her elegantly shaped profile framed by the melodramatic TV series.

"I want to go to the company with you."

Why should Sui Shi get to be Shen Qiancheng's work assistant, hogging half her time?

Shen Qiancheng had been rejected before when giving gifts, but it only ever happened with Liao Xue.

Frowning, Shen Qiancheng thought—if Liao Xue came to the company, she'd inevitably run into Shi Jianren and Su Zeye... It would be like sending a lamb into a tiger's den!

"You don't understand the company. Last time you went, it was boring. Better to stay home and cook and do laundry for me, and watch TV."

Liao Xue looked down, noticing Shen Qiancheng gripping the remote tightly. "I want to be with you," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Any hint of sentiment would trigger Shen Qiancheng's frantic overreaction, like a reflex that shadowed her every move.

Shen Qiancheng's face darkened instantly, the coldness in her eyes threatening to burn Liao Xue alive.

"Don't even think about it!"

She shoved Liao Xue away and hurled the remote to the floor, as if the violence of the act might restore some clarity.

The bedroom door slammed shut, leaving Liao Xue alone in the empty living room with the blaring TV.

The laundry was still in the basket. Liao Xue moved it to the washing machine, stared at the buttons, and gave a gentle press.

...

Shen Qiancheng pressed her back against the bedroom door, spine straight, head bowed, hearing only her own breath and heartbeat.

Had she been too harsh?

Would Liao Xue be hurt?

Maybe not.

While her thoughts raced, a knock came at the door, and she felt the vibration travel through her body.

A strange feeling stirred inside her. Could it be that her words really weren't too harsh?

"What is it?" Shen Qiancheng lowered her voice, putting on an irritated tone to imply she was upset and unwilling to engage—but forced to—and used a surly warning for Liao Xue to speak up or shut up.

"How does the washing machine work?" Liao Xue's voice was calm, as if nothing had happened. "I don't know how to use it. I still need to wash clothes!"

"Oh," Shen Qiancheng replied, though she prided herself on composure, a faint pang of disappointment surfaced. "I'll be right there. You go cook first. I'll handle the laundry."

Liao Xue's voice carried a hint of doubt she couldn't hide. "Are you sure you know how to wash clothes?"

She hadn't forgotten how Shen Qiancheng, back in Liao Family Village, had to wash clothes three times only to still have grease stains and white residue from improper rinsing.

"Fine."

After steadying herself, Shen Qiancheng opened the door, only to find the living room empty; the whir of the range hood told her Liao Xue was busy in the kitchen.

Shen Qiancheng pushed open the bathroom door, and the already cramped space felt even tighter with the large bathtub, washing machine, and dryer.

She opened the washing machine's drum, where yesterday's dirty clothes—hers and Liao Xue's—were tangled together, likely from Liao Xue's attempt to start it.

Shen Qiancheng closed the lid with a frown, her stern reflection staring back from the glass. She couldn't figure out what she truly wanted.

The washing machine had too many buttons. Leaning against it, she texted Sui Shi for the manual.

The fish was the main course and took time. Liao Xue made diagonal cuts into the fish, marinated it with scallion, ginger, garlic, and cooking wine to remove the fishy smell, then heated oil in a pan, fried it golden on both sides, and added boiling water to braise.

The seasoning was the tricky part, and Liao Xue worked quickly, a fine sheen of sweat gathering on the tip of her nose.

By the time the congee was ready, Liao Xue carried the fish out of the kitchen, but saw neither the clothes hung to dry nor Shen Qiancheng.

"Madam Shen?" Liao Xue, having burnt her hand, pinched her cool earlobe and looked around for her.

A round head poked out from the bathroom, as if topped with a giant question mark.

"Dinner ready?"

Liao Xue nodded. "Dinner's done. Is the laundry done too? Why isn't it hung up yet?"

Shen Qiancheng cautiously shut the bathroom door. "Oh, it's still washing. The machine cleans thoroughly, but it takes a while."

Liao Xue said, "Really?"

Who would believe that?

A kindergarten teacher could easily spot a child's lie.

Shen Qiancheng rubbed her nose, pulled out a chair, and sat across from Liao Xue. "Really. Go see for yourself if you don't believe me..."

Liao Xue slid the bowl of congee over to Shen Qiancheng. "Let's eat first. You must be starving."

Shen Qiancheng nodded eagerly. "Mm-hm."

But when she looked up, Liao Xue, who had been sitting across from her, was gone. Shen Qiancheng only caught a glimpse of an apron vanishing into the bathroom.

Oh no!

Liao Xue came out holding a basin, pulling up one item of clothing. "I'll just wash by hand."

Feeling guilty, Shen Qiancheng silently finished her dinner.

After dinner, Liao Xue washed the dishes while Shen Qiancheng took a bath.

Liao Xue sat on the bench, her sleeves rolled up, elbow-deep in a big basin of clothes, scrubbing with determination.

When she finished the laundry and washed up, she went to the living room and remembered the sofa had been taken by Sui Shi.

Liao Xue sighed, gently opened the bedroom door, lifted the corner of the quilt, and tiptoed onto the bed.

When her hand touched warmth, she realized it was Shen Qiancheng.

Liao Xue held her breath, listening to the other's steady, long breaths—irresistibly alluring to her.

A dark, covetous glint flickered in her eyes. She knew she should stop, but some irresistible impulse drove her forward. Leaning over a living body, she lowered herself slowly, pressing against that warm figure, the faint scent of roses wafting around her.

Liao Xue drew a deep breath, letting it seep into her lungs, then rested her head in the crook of Shen Qiancheng's neck.

The moment her lips touched, she felt Shen Qiancheng's shiver.

No matter how cautious Liao Xue's movements were, she couldn't hide her heartbeat, thundering like a storm.

But the owner of that racing heart seemed unaware of the warmth beside her, for her eyelids twitched—not those of a sleeping person.

Shen Qiancheng's mind drifted to the earthen bed and the moonlit window lattice. In Liao Family Village, under a moon just as full, they had lain together like this, on a bed that held just the two of them, the silence broken only by each other's breaths.

Back then, simplicity and sincerity were things she no longer possessed.

The heartbeat seemed to lull her to sleep, and Shen Qiancheng soon slipped into dreams.

She dreamed of a wedding—unlucky, that. Shen Qiancheng wore a pure white French wedding gown, clutching a bouquet, her veil fluttering in the wind.

It was the day she was to marry Su Zeye.

Surrounded by a crowd, at the master of ceremonies' call of "Welcome the bride," she walked step by step over scattered petals toward the figure standing under the spotlight.

White light flooded her vision, and she could see nothing but a blur of white.

The path seemed both endless and fleeting.

Shen Qiancheng's breath caught for an instant.

Under the spotlight, the person also wore a white wedding gown, figure graceful. Beneath the veil, Liao Xue smiled.

"Is admitting you like me that hard?"

Her breath quickening, Shen Qiancheng snapped open her eyes to the familiar ceiling.

As her thoughts settled, she regained her composure.

Reaching out, she found the space beside her cold, and the person was gone.

Where had she gone?

Her throat tightened, and she sat up, reaching for the glass of water on the nightstand to moisten her dry throat.

The door opened, and Liao Xue, wearing the pajamas Shen Qiancheng had bought and an apron with big-eared bunny print, was placing a bowl of congee on the table.

Shen Qiancheng thought to herself: just as I expected—those clothes look great on Liao Xue.

"Wash up and eat. I made millet congee," Liao Xue set out the chopsticks, then turned back to the kitchen.

They ate in silence until Liao Xue casually remarked, "You talked in your sleep last night."

Shen Qiancheng paused, a spoonful of congee halfway to her lips, and froze. "What did I say?"

A child caught doing wrong fears the teacher's scrutiny most. Liao Xue lowered her head to hide the curve of her smile. "I didn't catch it. I'll make you something good tonight."

Shen Qiancheng let out a huge sigh of relief.

Her phone rang, and she answered naturally, "Aunt Qiao? Yes, I'm free. I'll be there shortly. Good, see you soon."

Shen Qiancheng stood, dressed, and grabbed her bag by the door, then turned to look at Liao Xue.

Liao Xue glanced down at her own clothes—everything Shen Qiancheng had bought, and styled according to Shen Qiancheng's taste. Was there a problem?

She hesitated. "Did you forget something?"

Shen Qiancheng shook her head. "You're coming with me."