Twenty-Ninth Slice of Blood Orange

Red and green lines crisscrossed the tablet screen.

Shen Qiancheng's neck grew sore from staring at it. She set her coffee down on the unused stool, mentally calculating the market value of the stocks displayed. Then she tilted her head to relieve the tension, resting her fingertips lightly against her brow.

The doorbell suddenly rang. Shen Qiancheng looked at her watch; the minute hand had barely moved, a mere five minutes since Liao Xue left. How could she be back so soon?

Had Liao Xue forgotten something?

Liao Xue, who kept everything at home so immaculately organized, was capable of such a small mistake?

As if she'd caught someone red-handed, Shen Qiancheng walked to the entryway, and before even opening the door, called out in a lively, faintly teasing tone: "Liao Xue, even you forget things sometimes? What did you leave behind?"

Her affectionate words hung in the air as the door swung open. Liao Xue stood outside the security door, as if separated by a fence.

Liao Xue's shoulders quivered slightly, her gaze wavering, her face pale enough to be frightening.

The last time Shen Qiancheng had seen Liao Xue in such a state was when Shen Qiancheng herself had collapsed in front of Liao Xue from a chili allergy...

Frowning, Shen Qiancheng pushed open the security door with one hand and grabbed Liao Xue's arm with the other, her eyes betraying a worry she herself would later think was excessive: "What scared you like this? Did you run into a biting mad dog?"

As the security door was pulled open, a tremendous force yanked Liao Xue forward. Hearing Shen Qiancheng's voice, Liao Xue finally seemed to find an oasis in a desert, her soul snapping back to attention as she said, "No."

She wasn't telling the truth. Shen Qiancheng's brow knitted into a frown, but Liao Xue was in no state to be questioned.

Just come in first. Liao Xue followed Shen Qiancheng into the house like a ghost.

Suddenly, a head wrapped in bandages popped out from behind her, followed by a thoroughly unpleasant face: "Long time no see, my fiancée."

A gaudy floral shirt and greasy hair—Su Zeye stood behind Liao Xue, all smiles.

The only one capable of scaring Liao Xue this badly was that mad dog, Su Zeye.

Shen Qiancheng almost laughed. Here she was, not bothering to go after Su Zeye, and he had the audacity to come to her doorstep.

"Su Shao, your physical condition is really quite good," Shen Qiancheng said curtly. "Healed so quickly. I must have been too gentle last time."

She had hidden herself so well, yet this dog had still found her. It annoyed her to no end.

Su Zeye's face alone made her want to hit him.

Shen Qiancheng struck without hesitation—a swift, fierce punch aimed straight at the bandaged wound.

But Su Zeye seemed prepared, laughing as he sidestepped it.

Shen Qiancheng felt merely provoked.

"We're right at your doorstep, Miss Shen. Won't you invite me in for a seat?" Su Zeye smiled like a sycophantic schemer, his languid posture feigning an air of cleverness, more like a child playing make-believe.

Liao Xue turned deathly pale, body trembling. Shen Qiancheng placed a steadying hand on Liao Xue's shoulder, pulling her into an embrace, and snapped at Su Zeye with contempt: "Scram!"

"It was Liao Xue who invited me up. What's it to you?" Su Zeye rested his hand on the doorframe, his eyes fixed on Liao Xue with predatory certainty, and said with mock courtesy, "Liao Xue, aren't you going to pour me a cup of tea?"

Never had she seen such a shameless person!

Shen Qiancheng slapped his hand off the doorframe and rolled her eyes. "I bought this apartment, and I pay her salary. When I say 'scram,' are you deaf?"

Liao Xue kept her head down, never meeting Su Zeye's gaze. Su Zeye, annoyed by Shen Qiancheng's attitude, turned to her and sneered, "I'm your fiancé. Don't I deserve a little bit of courtesy?"

Shen Qiancheng let out a cold laugh. "As your fiancée, I've been more than courteous. Otherwise, last time wouldn't have just been a blow to your head. You should be grateful you're standing here in one piece today."

Su Zeye knew Shen Qiancheng's weak spots. He spoke to her but kept his gaze fixed on Liao Xue, invasive and covetous, as if she were a trophy he could pluck at will.

"What I'm more grateful for," Su Zeye said cryptically, "is discovering a secret you've tried so hard to hide. Hm... keeping a hidden lover?"

Shen Qiancheng's wariness sharpened. "What do you want?"

Seizing the upper hand in the conversation, Su Zeye preened. "Making people stand outside is no way to negotiate."

Shen Qiancheng's arm shielded Liao Xue as she stepped aside to let him in.

Su Zeye had dismissed the outside of the building as nothing special, but inside the apartment was equally unremarkable.

The two-bedroom was smaller than his own bathroom, with not even a sofa—only two stools set close together.

Su Zeye drew in a sharp breath, spun around, and jabbed a finger at Liao Xue. "Don't you do the same? Keeping her locked up?"

Shen Qiancheng responded with an exaggerated eye roll, unwilling to waste words.

Su Zeye wandered through the place. The refrigerator was stuffed full, the wardrobe held clothes clearly not all one size... no handcuffs, chains, or any such paraphernalia on the bedside table.

Shen Qiancheng shook her head. She'd never seen such a puritanical version of holding someone captive in such a tiny space...

Su Zeye came out of the bedroom and saw Shen Qiancheng sitting on a stool with Liao Xue in her lap.

Liao Xue's face was pale, like a curled-up little white rabbit.

The little rabbit was wrapped in Shen Qiancheng's arms, and the sight was oddly harmonious.

It was as glaring as the noonday sun!

"A dirty mind sees dirt everywhere," Shen Qiancheng said, rolling her eyes again before continuing. "Take a few less looks, you're dirtying the place."

Su Zeye, accustomed to Shen Qiancheng's temper, turned his attention to Liao Xue instead. "Liao Xue, what's your monthly salary?"

Shen Qiancheng's hand rested on Liao Xue's back, stroking along her spine slowly, again and again.

The comforting gesture gradually steadied Liao Xue's nerves. As long as she was next to Shen Qiancheng, even the sky falling didn't seem so bad.

"Thirty thousand," Liao Xue's voice came with a slight tremble.

"Hah," Su Zeye sneered. "Shen Qiancheng, that's all you pay someone you're keeping? Liao Xue, why not come with me? I'll give you three million a month. How about considering me?"

At that, Liao Xue slowly rose from Shen Qiancheng's embrace, gently pushed away her hand, and explained deliberately, one word at a time: "We're merely employer and employee. I have unrealistic feelings toward Miss Shen, and she's helping me get over them."

Su Zeye blinked. "Huh?"

Unrealistic feelings?

The sky was falling—Liao Xue actually liked Shen Qiancheng? What did that woman have to offer? Shen Qiancheng was a woman, while he was a man! Could Shen Qiancheng possibly give her the kind of pleasure he could?

Liao Xue, a vibrant soul in her twenties, reduced to such a dull life with Shen Qiancheng—how could she stand it?

Su Zeye's mouth hung open as if struck by lightning. "You like Shen Qiancheng? Are you blind? How is she better than me in any way? I'm a man. My family is rich and powerful—the Su family can crush the Shen family with a snap of its fingers. What do you even see in her?!"

Shen Qiancheng couldn't stand to hear that; she stood up and shot back, "It's you who'd have to be blind to like someone. You're just a useless parasite coasting on your family. What are you yapping about here? Go home and shout at your mother if you've got the guts!"

Su Zeye wouldn't dare raise his voice at Su Yuling; he'd hardly dare breathe heavily around her.

When Su Zeye had first learned of Liao Xue's whereabouts, he'd been elated.

For someone like Liao Xue—a nobody with nothing but a pretty face—Su Zeye had a hundred ways to deal with her.

But Shen Qiancheng was living with Liao Xue in such ambiguous intimacy, and Su Zeye had no idea how to handle Shen Qiancheng.

Now, in a dim bar, Su Zeye slumped on a sofa, smoking listlessly.

"Two people living together—it's hard not to suspect something, Su Shao," Advisor Wang, ever the cleverest dog at his side, prompted. Su Zeye raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

"Each has needs, so there's grounds for negotiation..."

Su Zeye cut him off. "Speak plainly."

"Miss Shen doesn't want the marriage alliance. You want Liao Xue. It's a simple exchange. Miss Shen gains her freedom, you gain Liao Xue."

Su Zeye stayed silent.

"She's kept in a tiny, shabby two-bedroom—Shen Qiancheng clearly doesn't care that much about her. And you're offering freedom. As long as you speak kindly, will Miss Shen really refuse?"

Su Zeye had come over empty-handed but brimming with confidence, choosing to put up with Shen Qiancheng's temper for Liao Xue's sake.

"Hand her over to me, and I'll handle the engagement."

As if Liao Xue were a piece of clothing, a kitten, a necklace—anything but a person.

Shen Qiancheng's fury simmered. Su Zeye should have stayed put in the hospital; instead, he'd come barging in to stir up trouble. "She's my—assistant. Ask her if she'll go with you."

Liao Xue pouted. "I won't."

Shen Qiancheng planted her hands on her hips triumphantly. "Hear that? She won't go with you even for three million. Go cool off somewhere else."

Su Zeye crumbled. "Damn it, I'm begging you, Shen Qiancheng. Don't be ungrateful."

Shen Qiancheng looked ready to stick out her tongue and make faces. "I'd love to know what 'grateful' would look like to you. Slow farewell!"

As Su Zeye's retreating figure disappeared, Shen Qiancheng couldn't help but muse: What a joke—her fiancé had come to her door trying to win over her lover.

Liao Xue was visibly happier now, and Shen Qiancheng swallowed the words that had been on the tip of her tongue.

That evening, Liao Xue made a huge spread for dinner. Shen Qiancheng had just raised her chopsticks when her phone rang.

The caller was Shi Jianren.

Shen Qiancheng closed her eyes, letting the call ring almost to the last second before answering.

Outside the balcony, stars scattered across the sky. Shen Qiancheng listened to Shi Jianren's excited voice on the other end, and the moment he paused for breath, she said calmly, "I'll be right there."

Then she hung up.

She didn't need to think twice—that bastard Su Zeye must have run home to cry to his mother.

Liao Xue, whose attention had been glued to the call, hadn't taken a single bite. She looked up as Shen Qiancheng came out. "What's wrong? Who was that?"

Shen Qiancheng let out a long sigh, shook her head, and said, "You go ahead and eat. I need to go home for a bit."

Liao Xue pressed further: "When will you be back?"

Su Zeye's sudden appearance had truly frightened her, her round eyes now glistening as if she might cry at any moment.

Shen Qiancheng gave Liao Xue's hair a gentle ruffle and soothed, "I'll be back soon. Go to sleep without me."

When she stepped outside, the cold wind bit at her neck. She shrank slightly, and then she heard footsteps hurriedly catching up to her.

"It's cold out," Liao Xue said, holding a scarf. She rose on her tiptoes and looped it around Shen Qiancheng's neck. The soft wool brought warmth, a cozy heat like sunshine.

The wind had reddened Liao Xue's cheeks, making them look like two big apples.

"Want an apple? I can bring one back for you," Shen Qiancheng offered.

Liao Xue shook her head. "No, just come back safe. I'll be right here waiting."

After saying goodbye, Shen Qiancheng walked into the biting wind, recalling Su Zeye's harsh words, and sighed inwardly: Off to figure out what "grateful" means.

Back in the two-bedroom's dining area, Liao Xue sat alone at the square table surrounded by dishes she'd painstakingly prepared, a pang of abandonment stirring in her chest. Shen Qiancheng had her own family, her duties as the Shen family's daughter, even a fiancé... What was she, Liao Xue, in all of that?

The lamplight stretched Liao Xue's shadow long and thin. After what felt like an eternity, she cleared the table, put the leftovers away in the fridge, and went to bed—completely unaware that Shen Qiancheng would not come home all night.

The car disappeared into the neon glow. Shen Qiancheng drove as she recalled Shi Jianren's voice on the phone.

Shen Qiancheng: "Why did you call me, Father? Is Su Zeye dead?"

Shi Jianren, as if not hearing her at all, shrieked with girlish excitement: "Su Zeye's agreed to the marriage!"

TL Note:

"keeping a hidden lover" (金屋藏娇) is an idiom from the story of Emperor Wu of Han, meaning to keep a mistress in a golden house; here it suggests Shen Qiancheng is secretly keeping Liao Xue.

Qin Hui (秦桧) was a notoriously treacherous chancellor in Song-dynasty China; 'smiling like Qin Hui' in the original alludes to his devious nature and is translated here as "smiled like a sycophantic schemer" to convey the same sly, scheming look.