The Thirty-Ninth Blood Orange

The nightmare left Shen Qiancheng's head throbbing with a dull ache, so she lay back down to sleep a while longer. By the time she finally got up, the space beside her was empty.

The room felt vast and vacant, and the nightmare surged back to the forefront of her mind. Shen Qiancheng stumbled to the dining table.

On the table was a sticky note in Liao Xue's delicate handwriting.

"Boss Shen, just microwave the breakfast. —Liao Xue"

On a pure white porcelain plate lay a fried egg and a sandwich.

What was this? It obviously didn't look appetizing.

Shen Qiancheng grumbled as she ate the cold sandwich and egg. The milk was ice-cold, making her wince, but she gritted her teeth and downed it all.

Shen Qiancheng slipped on the clothes Liao Xue had washed until they were spotless, carrying the scent of lavender laundry detergent. She left without a word, locking the door behind her.

Standing at the entrance, the morning breeze cleared her head, and her mind started working. She pulled out her phone and typed.

[How do I use the microwave? You come back and warm it for me!]

Liao Xue replied quickly: [I'm already on the bus. Go find a tutorial online.]

The phone screen went dark as Shen Qiancheng swiped away the WeChat interface and dialed Sui Shi instead.

"Where are you? Come pick me up at the neighborhood."

Sui Shi was baffled. "Boss Shen, I'm already downstairs. Didn't you explicitly tell me yesterday to come pick you up this morning?"

Shen Qiancheng said flatly, "Oh."

The pharmaceutical project between the Shen and Su families was much larger in scope, involving far more people, making it far more difficult than the last one.

Shen Qiancheng spent the whole morning with stomach cramps from the cold milk, enduring the meeting while she delegated the preliminary tasks.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already lunchtime. For the past little while, Shen Qiancheng had gone home for lunch, but today Liao Xue wasn't home, and Shen Qiancheng didn't feel like going to the employee cafeteria, so she ordered takeout on her phone.

The first recommendation on the homepage was pear soup. Shen Qiancheng suddenly felt her throat was parched and tapped to place the order.

The takeout app was almost completely filled with junk food—malatang, spicy dry pot, and various brands of burgers. Shen Qiancheng frowned and scrolled through several pages before finally giving up.

Half an hour later, someone knocked. Shen Qiancheng unlocked the door and responded, "Come in."

Sui Shi walked in carrying a white takeout bag.

"Boss Shen, your takeout."

Shen Qiancheng: "Mm, just put it there."

Sui Shi set it down, opened the bag, arranged the bowl and utensils neatly, then got up and left.

Shen Qiancheng straightened up and glanced at it. The snow-white soup looked greasy.

She took a small sip. The harsh, cheap saccharin taste hit her nose, making it stuffy and causing her to cough.

She opened a bottle of mineral water and took a huge gulp to quell the urge to vomit.

Then Shen Qiancheng got up, grabbed the pear soup, and threw it into the trash can.

She didn't forget to give the bin a kick.

What garbage.

She missed Liao Xue's pear soup.

Shen Qiancheng propped her chin in her hand. What was Liao Xue doing right now? She'd been gone all morning; she should have finished her visit by now.

Shen Qiancheng unlocked her phone, revealing the chat screen with Liao Xue.

As her life assistant, shouldn't she show some concern for her boss's eating habits?

At the entrance to the cemetery, Liao Xue, dressed in white, stood before a patch of greenery and a black tombstone, pure and bright like an evening primrose blooming towards the moon.

The security guard at the gatehouse said, "Miss, are you all leaving now?"

Liao Xue nodded, and the phone in her pocket rang.

"Hey! What's for dinner tonight?" Shen Qiancheng's unreasonable voice traveled through the data, landing on Liao Xue's ears. Liao Xue could easily imagine her adorable expression.

The time in the top right corner of the phone showed 12:13. It should be lunchtime or just starting lunch, yet she was calling to ask about dinner.

Liao Xue asked, "Didn't have time to eat lunch?"

Shen Qiancheng's breath caught for three seconds. "...I already ate. Can't I think about what to have for dinner after eating lunch?"

Liao Xue laughed. "Why can't you? What do you want for dinner? There's a really good cake shop nearby. I'll bring you some little cakes tonight."

"Since when do you have a sweet tooth?" Shen Qiancheng asked. In her memory, Liao Xue had always been thin and preferred greasy, salty food; she'd never seen her eat cake or anything like that.

Liao Xue froze, then answered in a reminiscent tone, "About three years ago. Do you want a fruit cake, or... the filling has fruit you're allergic to, so let's go with chocolate cake."

The topic was changed, and Shen Qiancheng felt the subtle vibrations from Liao Xue's voice through the phone, smiling so wide her eyes curved. "What time can I eat it tonight?"

Liao Xue smiled back. "Seven. I'll be back soon."

Liao Xue hung up and looked at the man across from her, smiling. "Then it's settled."

Shen Qiancheng waited and waited, finally managing to get through until the end of the workday.

It was almost April; switching to daylight saving time would only make the workdays seem even longer.

Shen Qiancheng was dejected, her head down with a face that said "stay away."

Sui Shi sat in the driver's seat and glanced at Shen Qiancheng through the rearview mirror.

Which troublemaker had annoyed this one this time?

Broke employee Sui Shi sighed, not daring to look back at Shen Qiancheng for even a second. She pressed her foot harder on the accelerator, eager to get this noble lady home quickly.

The streetlights below the building flickered on, weak and dim even in the daylight.

Shen Qiancheng stood under a streetlamp in her windbreaker, looking up at the building. The lights were on, and she couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and went upstairs with a light step.

When she pushed open the door, Liao Xue's fuzzy coat hung on the rack at the entrance. Shen Qiancheng hung her windbreaker next to it, bent down to change her shoes.

A faint, sweet aroma of cream filled the air.

Liao Xue was crouched in front of the dining table, staring at the word "HAPPY" on the cake.

Shen Qiancheng snuck up behind Liao Xue and clapped her hands on Liao Xue's shoulders. "I'm back!"

Liao Xue jumped up abruptly, and the top of her head collided with Shen Qiancheng's chin, making a dull thud.

Both of them gasped in pain.

Liao Xue covered Shen Qiancheng's chin with her hand. "Did that hurt?"

It actually didn't hurt much, but Shen Qiancheng felt the faint fragrance emanating from Liao Xue's hand on her chin and pouted. "Yeah, it hurts. Real bad."

Liao Xue could see right through her act and sighed. "I'll go get the first aid kit."

Shen Qiancheng just loved going against Liao Xue. "There's no blood!"

Liao Xue rolled up Shen Qiancheng's pant leg. "The wound on your leg isn't healed yet. It needs medicine too."

Had she not mentioned it, Shen Qiancheng might not have noticed, but as soon as she did, a convulsion of pain surged through Shen Qiancheng's leg, overwhelming her like crashing waves.

"Ow, it hurts." Shen Qiancheng sat down, propping her leg up high as if proudly exhibiting a trophy for coming in first.

Liao Xue picked up a cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, and applied it to Shen Qiancheng's pale skin where several faint pink scars stood out among the greenish veins, already scabbed over.

Coolness mixed with the scent of iodine was gently pressed into the skin.

Liao Xue refused to meet Shen Qiancheng's eyes.

Under the direct light of the dining table, Shen Qiancheng's sharply defined features were carved by the play of light and shadow. Her beautiful eyelashes cast a faint shadow, and together with her sharply arched eyes, they formed a gaze that was utterly captivating.

That gaze fell upon Liao Xue.

Shen Qiancheng took a slight breath and stared at the top of Liao Xue's head. "In a few days, I have a business trip to Switzerland."

The Shen-Su pharmaceutical project required discussions with a research institute in Switzerland.

Shen Qiancheng hadn't originally wanted to go, but Sui Shi's comment, "Even if no one else goes, you have to!" had put the crown firmly on her head.

The cotton swab, saturated with iodine, hung still in mid-air. Liao Xue asked, though she already knew the answer, "Will you take me with you?"

Shen Qiancheng was pleasantly surprised. "You want to come? We can see the snow in Switzerland."

Liao Xue said wistfully, "I'd just be an embarrassment to you if I went."

Shen Qiancheng grabbed Liao Xue's arm. Why hadn't she thought of bringing Liao Xue along? Then she wouldn't have to endure that terribly awful Swiss food. She couldn't help getting excited. "What embarrassment? I'm taking you. We have three days. I'll ask about the visa."

Liao Xue tossed the cotton swab into the trash, leaned against the wall, and listened to Shen Qiancheng make a phone call.

"What do you mean? Not enough bank statements? Not enough education? Can't get it done in such a short time? So it can't be done at all? This is your incompetence. I want that visa in three days!"

Shen Qiancheng's face was flushed with agitation as she argued with the person on the other end.

Liao Xue reached out and placed her hand over Shen Qiancheng's, silently shaking her head.

Shen Qiancheng hung up in fury.

Liao Xue felt she had to console her. "It's fine. You'll be back soon, won't you?"

Shen Qiancheng was unhappy. "But I'll be gone for two weeks... Without you, what will I eat?"

"Eat cake," said Liao Xue, picking up the cake from the table. A single candle stood on top. "Come on, blow out the candle."

Shen Qiancheng's eyes sparkled. "So formal?"

The candle was blown out, and Liao Xue took the cake knife and cut a slice, placing a rather large piece on a paper plate and handing it to Shen Qiancheng.

Shen Qiancheng ate it happily, sweeter than any cake in the world.

Liao Xue turned and put the rest of the cake in the fridge. "That's all for now. There's still dinner. We'll have the rest tomorrow."

Shen Qiancheng had no objection. She wasn't someone with a sweet tooth anyway; a few bites of cake was enough to make her feel sick of it.

After dinner, Liao Xue did the dishes with an apron on, while Shen Qiancheng hung the laundry; Liao Xue brushed her teeth and washed her face, while Shen Qiancheng took a shower; Liao Xue showered, while Shen Qiancheng blew her hair dry; Liao Xue dried her hair, while Shen Qiancheng brushed her teeth and washed her face; then Shen Qiancheng and Liao Xue lay in bed together, asleep.

Time before a departure always passes by quickly, rushing away like water flowing eastward, as if in a desperate hurry to go nowhere!

The day of departure was a bright, sunny one, but Shen Qiancheng's mood was anything but.

Who would make her delicious food when she left Liao Xue?

Shen Qiancheng wore a gloomy face, head bowed, letting Liao Xue tie her scarf.

Liao Xue prattled on with her instructions. "It's cold in Switzerland. Wear more clothes when you go out, and don't eat anything cold—your stomach is delicate. Remember that clearly."

Normally, Shen Qiancheng detested Liao Xue's nagging, but at this moment of parting, every word felt warm as a spring breeze against her face.

Her nose stung. Shen Qiancheng opened her phone and transferred a hundred thousand yuan to Liao Xue.

"Since I'm not home, buy yourself something you like."

###

Wang Shuai got up early and bribed Sui Shi with a cup of coffee, getting the location of the Boss's apartment so he could pick up Shen Qiancheng downstairs.

It was a very ordinary residential complex, not even as nice as his current rental, and actually affordable enough that he could buy a place there.

How could Shen Qiancheng, a legitimate heir to the Shen family and future power holder of the Shen Corporation, live somewhere inferior to even his own rented place?

Sui Shi had specifically told him that the Boss's home also had a life assistant, named Liao Xue, who lived at the Boss's house and just did the cooking and laundry every day.

Never mess with Liao Xue; she was the Boss's untouchable scale.

Wang Shuai didn't believe it. Sui Shi raised three fingers and said Liao Xue's monthly salary was a full thirty thousand yuan.

Shen Qiancheng came walking up from the sidewalk, carrying her own luggage.

Always eager to please, Wang Shuai went up to greet her and took the suitcase. "Boss Shen, Sui Shi had an urgent matter and headed to the airport first. I'm here to pick you up."

Following Shen Qiancheng was a girl so fair she seemed to glow, her delicate, palm-sized face nestled within pitch-black hair, exuding an indescribable softness.

Wang Shuai suddenly understood why Liao Xue, merely a live-in housekeeper, could earn thirty thousand a month.

Combined with what Sui Shi had implied, Wang Shuai smiled in sudden realization.

Wasn't this just another way of saying "girlfriend"?

With her hands now free, Shen Qiancheng reached out and hugged Liao Xue.

Liao Xue hugged her back, smiling. "Come back soon. Safe travels."

Tears nearly fell from Shen Qiancheng's eyes. As she thought of going abroad to a foreign land, she worried about what would happen if those heartless bastards, Su Zeye and Shi Jianren, came to bully Liao Xue while she was away. Liao Xue couldn't even lift her hand to defend herself; without Shen Qiancheng around, wouldn't she be bullied until she cried every day?

Shen Qiancheng said goodbye to Liao Xue with final instructions. "If Su Zeye comes looking for you again, go to Su Tongqin."

Liao Xue nodded in acknowledgment.

Wang Shuai put the suitcase in the trunk and held the car door open, waiting for Shen Qiancheng to tearfully finish her farewell with Liao Xue.

The shadows of trees outside the window flew by rapidly, and Shen Qiancheng stared at her own fingers in a gloomy mood.

###

On the vast tarmac, a snow-white plane took off, cutting through the blue sky and white clouds.

Shen Qiancheng sat by the window, suddenly thinking about the time three years ago when she'd returned with Su Tongqin on the Su family's private plane. An uneasy feeling settled in her heart. She wished she could finish everything immediately and return to Liao Xue's side.

Outside the window, the clouds were beautiful, and the blue sky was so clear it seemed within reach.

Shen Qiancheng took out her phone and snapped a picture of the view outside, though there wasn't much interesting to see, but...

Shen Qiancheng just wanted to show it to Liao Xue.

With the layover, the total flight time was nearly twenty hours. Shen Qiancheng was exhausted down to the marrow of her bones.

When she landed, she couldn't wait to open her phone.

After the loading circle finished spinning, there were only notifications from various shopping sites and video apps. Not one message from anyone for Shen Qiancheng.

Most importantly, Liao Xue hadn't texted her. She had told Liao Xue what time she would be landing!

Shen Qiancheng's phone could still make calls, so there in the airport waiting hall, she dialed an international call.

"Why didn't you answer my messages?" Every word carried a hint of resentment.

"I was cooking dinner so I didn't see it. What's wrong? Have you landed? Did everything go smoothly?" Liao Xue's voice was adorable, soft as if she'd just woken up. Shen Qiancheng's heart instantly softened, and she couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.