Chapter 10

The 10th Rose: “Sister... don’t go.”

After she hung up, the thunder outside the window only grew louder, rolling on without end.

When Fu Chaoying turned to go into the bedroom and change, Ye Jiayuan’s words still echoed in her mind: “I’m single, so there’s nothing inconvenient about it.”

Just a simple sentence, yet it left so much room for interpretation.

Two single women sharing a room; was it merely an older sister’s concern for a younger sister? Or... did it mean something else?

After packing up her things, Fu Chaoying had just opened the door when she unexpectedly saw a woman standing outside. Had Ye Jiayuan come to pick her up in person?

Fu Chaoying’s heart gave a jolt; she looked up in surprise, only to find a stranger smiling and nodding at her. “Hello, I’m Ms. Ye’s housekeeper. She asked me to come get you.”

Fu Chaoying gave a slight nod. “Thank you for your trouble.”

How could Ye Jiayuan come personally to pick her up? Fu Chaoying couldn’t help mocking herself inwardly, feeling that she was simply indulging in wishful thinking.

The housekeeper took her up another private elevator, then led her to Ye Jiayuan’s door and directly helped ring the bell.

As the door slowly opened, a faint, elegant magnolia scent drifted out toward her.

Fu Chaoying couldn’t help holding her breath. Looking up, she saw Ye Jiayuan wrapped in a bath towel; droplets of water still clung to her fair skin, not yet fully wiped dry. The water on her neck seemed to be slowly sliding down... into the hollow of her chest—clearly, she had just finished showering.

“Come in.” Ye Jiayuan’s cool voice sounded. Fu Chaoying calmly looked away and asked softly, “Sister Yuan... am I bothering you?”

In her mind, Fu Chaoying guessed whether she had truly interrupted Ye Jiayuan while she was showering; but could Ye Jiayuan really answer the phone while bathing?

“No.” Ye Jiayuan’s gaze swept over the little bear in her arms, and a trace of nearly imperceptible amusement flickered in her eyes. She turned slightly, giving Fu Chaoying enough room to step inside.

Fu Chaoying looked at the spacious living room before her, then turned back and asked, “Sister Yuan... do you always stay in hotels?”

Hearing the way she addressed her, Ye Jiayuan’s eyes flashed with a hint of meaning. In a low voice, she answered, “Yes.”

Her calm tone somehow carried a touch of loneliness or loss, though it was quickly covered by a faint smile.

Ye Jiayuan pointed to the room on the right. “You can stay in that one. I’m going to blow-dry my hair.”

Fu Chaoying pushed the door open and went in, only to find the room completely empty, with not a trace of lived-in warmth.

Just as she lowered her eyes to look at the big bed, a knock sounded at the door.

“The bedding was changed to fresh sheets yesterday. If you mind, I can have someone replace it again right now,” Ye Jiayuan’s voice came from outside.

Fu Chaoying turned and opened the door; what met her eyes was Ye Jiayuan with damp hair draped over her shoulders. Even her collarbone still held a bit of moisture. In that half-dressed state, she somehow gave off an alluring beauty.

Fu Chaoying quickly looked away, then met her eyes and smiled faintly. “I don’t mind. I should be thanking Sister Yuan for taking me in.”

“You’re welcome.” Ye Jiayuan turned away again, her steps stirring a faint fragrance as she left.

Fu Chaoying took a deep breath, then turned back into the room and changed into her nightdress.

When she came out to get some water, she was suddenly startled by the sound of a phone ringing.

It wasn’t her phone.

Fu Chaoying quickly found the phone on the corner table. The caller ID read “Liu Xin,” probably Ye Jiayuan’s assistant, Assistant Liu?

Holding the phone, Fu Chaoying gently knocked on Ye Jiayuan’s bedroom door.

After several knocks, Ye Jiayuan finally showed her face from behind the door. Fu Chaoying handed her the phone. “Your call.”

Ye Jiayuan’s gaze swept over her nightdress, then she thanked her and took the phone.

Fu Chaoying returned to the sofa in the living room and sat down to drink water, but couldn’t help feeling puzzled—why could Ye Jiayuan take her call while showering, yet not bring her phone when she went to blow-dry her hair?

That question probably would never be answered, because she would not ask.

A few minutes later, that door opened again. Seeing Fu Chaoying sitting alone in the living room, Ye Jiayuan glanced toward the flashing lightning and rolling thunder outside the window and asked softly, “Still scared?”

Fu Chaoying nodded pitifully.

Ye Jiayuan walked to her side and looked at the cup in her hands. In a warm voice, she asked, “Do you want some milk?”

Fu Chaoying shook her head. “No.”

By then, Ye Jiayuan’s hair was already dry; her black, silky strands fell over her shoulders, and paired with her loose pajamas, she seemed to have gained a touch of domestic warmth.

This was the first time the two of them had been alone together in such a private, home-like setting.

Yet Ye Jiayuan didn’t sit down beside her. Instead, she stood by the sofa, deep in thought.

Fu Chaoying rolled her eyes, then turned to her and said, “I’m fine, Sister Yuan. You can go rest first.”

Ye Jiayuan looked into her eyes and shook her head. “If you’re still scared... do you want to sleep in my room?”

Fu Chaoying blinked, catching a different meaning hidden in that gentle gaze.

“Only if it’s convenient for you,” Ye Jiayuan added.

Fu Chaoying stood up. “Then I’ll go get my pillow.”

But she rose too quickly; her body suddenly lost balance and tilted to the side, only to be caught in time by a warm, strong hand.

The next instant, she fell straight into Ye Jiayuan’s arms, the rich magnolia fragrance wrapping around her at once.

The two of them met eyes in sudden, intimate proximity; Fu Chaoying only felt her heartbeat leap violently, her whole body giving a slight shiver.

There was so much emotion hidden in Ye Jiayuan’s eyes; Fu Chaoying couldn’t read it, yet she was irresistibly drawn in.

“Be careful.” Ye Jiayuan’s low voice sounded beside her ear, and then she steadied her.

Fu Chaoying lightly grasped her wrist. “Thank you, Sister Yuan.”

After saying that, she let go without a trace.

Ye Jiayuan watched her back, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile.

When Fu Chaoying carried her pillow into Ye Jiayuan’s room, she also had a brown teddy bear in her hands.

Ye Jiayuan noticed it again. “You still kept it.”

Fu Chaoying nodded. “I usually bring it with me whenever I go out.”

A trace of meaning flashed through Ye Jiayuan’s eyes, but she said nothing.

Ye Jiayuan’s room was arranged in neat order; it was obvious she stayed here often.

But given Ye Jiayuan’s financial means, she could easily own several properties in Singapore... so why stay in a hotel? Fu Chaoying couldn’t understand it.

The master bed was very large. Fu Chaoying placed her pillow on the side closest to her and deliberately left a wide gap in the middle.

Even if they slept in the same bed, it was no different from sleeping in two separate beds.

Fu Chaoying set the teddy bear between their pillows, then watched Ye Jiayuan take out a blanket for the air conditioner. Suddenly, Ye Jiayuan asked, “Do you want me to have someone come change the bedding again?”

Fu Chaoying shook her head. “No need.”

Then came a soft reply: “Then I’m turning off the lights.”

Although they were sleeping under separate blankets and on separate pillows, Fu Chaoying was covered with the blanket Ye Jiayuan had used; the familiar magnolia scent lingered before her nose, making it feel as if she were curled up in Ye Jiayuan’s arms—just like when she had fallen into them earlier, so intimate.

Outside, the rain poured and thunder crashed; inside, the bedding was soft and warm, fragrant with comfort.

Her heart settling all at once, Fu Chaoying listened to Ye Jiayuan’s light, even breathing and somehow drifted off to sleep.

Yet in her dream, she faintly heard the vibration of a phone by her ear, followed by the rustle of someone getting out of bed and the soft sound of a door closing.

*

Ye Jiayuan was awakened by the vibrating phone and immediately hung up.

Under the faint light, she looked at Fu Chaoying’s sleeping face, her gaze lingering on the brown teddy bear she was clutching tightly in her arms.

She couldn’t help lifting a hand to gently brush Fu Chaoying’s cheek, but after only two seconds, she resolutely withdrew it.

After a long while, the phone vibrated again, and Ye Jiayuan had no choice but to get up and close the door.

The moment she answered, chaotic sounds flooded the receiver; the wind and rain were fierce, so loud they seemed about to drown out the person on the other end.

Ye Jiayuan’s voice remained calm. “Sorry, I can’t come over.”

“Why?” The other side was nearly hysterical.

Ye Jiayuan was silent for a few seconds before saying in a low voice, “Because I have someone important to keep company.”

Her tone was calm, but firm.

After hanging up, Ye Jiayuan turned back into the bedroom and lay down gently on the bed.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder exploded beside her ear. Ye Jiayuan instinctively turned her head to the right, only to be abruptly wrapped in a warm, soft body that rolled over and hugged her.

She heard the person in her arms murmur softly, “Sister... don’t go.”

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Ye Jiayuan, you are not allowed to go!!