Chapter 31

The 31st rose: “I miss you.”

The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the sound of their breathing tangled in their ears.

Fu Chaoying followed the direction of the voice, only to realize a moment later that her hand had already been lifted away; her palm was empty, as if she’d lost something precious.

“Go on,” Ye Jiayuan said in a low voice, her voice carrying a trace of barely noticeable hoarseness, as though she were suppressing some rising emotion.

Fu Chaoying turned back at once. The faint blush at the corners of Ye Jiayuan’s eyes had not yet faded completely, like a red rose just beginning to bloom—seductive and dewy, yet somehow carrying a touch of restrained, forbidden beauty.

And her expression had already returned to normal, as if everything that had just happened were nothing more than a beautiful dream.

Fu Chaoying lowered her eyes almost reflexively and looked at the slightly rumpled shirt. The crease over her chest stood out especially clearly, with a certain messy allure.

It was the trace she had just explored.

Fu Chaoying forced herself to look away, adjusted her breathing, and cleared her throat before raising her voice. “Coming.”

She did her best not to let anything unusual slip into her voice, but the end still betrayed a faint tremor.

As she spoke, she braced herself on Ye Jiayuan’s shoulder and climbed down from her lap. But the moment she moved away, Ye Jiayuan pulled her by the back of the neck.

Ye Jiayuan’s warm fingertips brushed against her skin, sending a familiar wave of tingling numbness through her.

Then Ye Jiayuan pressed a kiss to her lips.

It vanished the moment it landed, light as a dragonfly skimming the water, yet it carried an indescribable tenderness.

Fu Chaoying kept looking back every few steps as she slowly left the study. Then she hurried into the bathroom, took a deep breath in front of the mirror, and did her best to calm her wildly beating heart.

She washed her face with cold water, then carefully checked her reflection. Only after confirming that there were no obvious suspicious marks left on her face did she finally relax a little.

By the time she went downstairs, Fu Anyun, Chu Yiyun, and Fu Chaohua were already sitting in the card room, chatting warmly.

Chu Yiyun glanced at her, noticed the faint sheen still lingering at the corners of her eyes, and thought of Ye Jiayuan’s cold attitude earlier. Unable to help herself, she asked with concern, “Did your Jiayuan jie bully you?”

Bully...

Fu Chaoying’s mind instantly flashed with those lingering, amorous scenes. The tips of her ears burned. Then she curved her lips. “I went to wash my face. I didn’t sleep well last night, and I was worried I’d be too foggy to play cards later.”

Seeing that, Fu Anyun gave her a look that held a trace of concern. “Come sit down.”

Fu Chaoying quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fu Chaohua’s lips curved almost imperceptibly; she glanced sidelong at her younger sister, only to see that Fu Chaoying’s expression was perfectly normal, as if her trip to Jiayuan jie’s study had really been nothing more than a talk about work.

Fu Chaohua laughed silently to herself. Her little sister was actually pretty good at acting.

After lunch, Ye Jiayuan had to leave for the airport.

Chu Yiyun escorted her to the front door with a grumpy expression and said a few stiff words of parting small talk.

Ye Jiayuan nodded slightly and did not reply.

Fu Chaoying watched her in silence, and saw that Ye Jiayuan’s gaze swept over her as well; it wasn’t only on her, but also on Fu Chaohua.

“When you’ve confirmed your time coming to Hong Kong, tell me first so I can make arrangements,” Ye Jiayuan said, her eyes moving between Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua with an unreadable meaning.

Fu Chaoying gave a soft mm and smiled. “Jiayuan jie, safe travels.”

Fu Chaohua’s gaze moved over the two of them, her brows and eyes curving slightly. She looped an arm around Fu Chaoying’s and then said to Fu Anyun and Chu Yiyun, “Mom, Auntie, Xiao Ying and I will see Jiayuan jie off?”

Fu Chaoying was pleasantly surprised and looked up at Fu Anyun as well.

Fu Anyun had clearly meant the same thing. Smiling broadly, she said, “You’ll still be troubling your Jiayuan jie next week, so it’s only right to see her off.”

Fu Chaoying’s brows and eyes curved, and she got into the Ye family car together with Fu Chaohua.

Ye Jiayuan, as usual, sat in the front passenger seat; Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua sat in the back.

Fu Chaoying could still only see Ye Jiayuan’s profile.

It was cool and composed, completely unlike the person from a few hours ago in the study who had held her in her arms and kissed her until she’d lost track of the world.

Fu Chaoying stared at her profile in a daze, only to hear Fu Chaohua suddenly say, “Jiayuan jie, my advisor has something for me; I need to go to campus. Just drop me off at the subway entrance in a bit.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a soft mm and reminded her, “Message me when you get to school.”

Fu Chaoying immediately understood. A spark of delight rose in her heart; she turned to look at Fu Chaohua, only to find Fu Chaohua smiling at her, her eyes seeming to say, Is your sister considerate enough?

Fu Chaoying’s brows and eyes curved. Ten seconds later, she received a WeChat message from Fu Chaohua: [So what exactly is going on between the two of you now?]

Fu Chaoying blinked and replied: [Besties. [heart]]

What kind of besties keep exchanging looks like that... Fu Chaohua gave her a sidelong look, then sent back: [Mind your boundaries. [smile]]

Fu Chaoying: [My sister is the best~ [kiss]]

At the subway entrance, Fu Chaohua got out. Before leaving, she added casually, “Jiayuan jie, do you want to sit in the back? It’s roomier.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a soft mm. “Be careful on the way.”

Fu Chaoying watched eagerly as Ye Jiayuan moved to the back and sat beside her.

A faint magnolia scent drifted over, and Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat unconsciously sped up by several beats.

She quietly hooked a finger onto the hem of Ye Jiayuan’s sleeve, only to have her hand caught in return.

The driver was someone Chu Yiyun always used; the two of them tacitly made no sound and only exchanged looks.

The car was quiet, with only their light, intertwined breathing.

Not even two seconds later, Ye Jiayuan closed her eyes to rest.

Fu Chaoying lightly scratched at her palm, and then was wrapped in Ye Jiayuan’s hand, held tightly.

When they reached the airport, the driver was about to help Ye Jiayuan carry her luggage inside, but Ye Jiayuan got there first. “Thank you, I’ll do it myself.”

Fu Chaoying immediately understood and quickly told the driver, “Please wait for me a moment; I’ll see Jiayuan jie off.”

The driver smiled and agreed.

Once they were out of the driver’s sight, Fu Chaoying could no longer hold back and lightly hooked her fingers around Ye Jiayuan’s hand. “Jiejie...”

Ye Jiayuan turned her head. Those deep eyes reflected Fu Chaoying’s face, yet revealed no emotion.

“Mm?”

Fu Chaoying asked softly, “Will you... miss me?”

By the time she reached the last two words, Fu Chaoying was inexplicably shy, and her voice grew smaller and smaller.

She quietly lifted her eyes to study Ye Jiayuan’s expression, only to see that she remained as calm as still water. Then came a low reply: “You’re coming next week.”

Meaning: she wouldn’t miss her.

Ye Jiayuan had always been rational; she could clearly distinguish between romance and work.

Fu Chaoying pressed her lips together and didn’t ask further, but a faint disappointment still rose in her heart.

She immediately comforted herself: Ye Jiayuan had always been a rational person. She couldn’t expect Ye Jiayuan to change for her.

As before, Fu Chaoying escorted Ye Jiayuan to the security checkpoint. Before Ye Jiayuan could speak, Fu Chaoying stopped first. “Jiejie, safe travels.”

Her expression was normal; her tone was normal, as if she were simply saying goodbye to an ordinary friend.

Yet a flash of indescribable emotion crossed Ye Jiayuan’s eyes as she said in a low voice, “All right. See you in Hong Kong.”

Fu Chaoying curved her lips at her, nodded, and waved. “I’m going.”

She turned and left, her steps light, yet she still couldn’t hide the disappointment in her heart.

This time, Ye Jiayuan didn’t pull her back to kiss her. Fu Chaoying walked all the way to the parking lot and got into the car.

“Let’s go back,” Fu Chaoying said evenly, only to hear her phone vibrate a moment later.

It was a message from Ye Jiayuan: [Remember to tell me once you’ve confirmed the time.]

It was Ye Jiayuan’s usual, businesslike style.

Fu Chaoying looked at the message, her feelings a tangled mess. In the end, she only replied with an emoji.

For the next two days, their chat history consisted only of morning, noon, and night greetings.

On Tuesday afternoon, Fu Chaoying brought her team to visit Dong Muyu’s company as arranged.

Dong Muyu’s gaze swept casually over the bracelet on her wrist, and she let out a barely noticeable breath of relief before smiling and sharing the good news with her: “We got Xingye’s investment.”

Fu Chaoying curved her lips and smiled sincerely. “Congratulations.”

The meeting between both sides went very smoothly, and Dong Muyu invited them to the Nanyan Club for dinner.

When the club manager saw Dong Muyu and Fu Chaoying bringing their teams together, he couldn’t help but look surprised. “So the two of you have reached a strategic partnership? Congratulations, congratulations.”

Fu Chaoying nodded slightly. “Thank you.”

Inside a large private room, Fu Chaoying looked out the window and saw the two familiar bare white magnolia trees downstairs. Something flashed through her mind, and she picked up her phone to take a photo for Ye Jiayuan.

Ye Jiayuan didn’t reply.

Fu Chaoying was already used to how busy she was and didn’t expect an immediate response.

Dong Muyu was talkative and good at keeping the atmosphere lively; before long, the members of both teams had grown familiar with one another.

After dinner, they moved the battlefield to a quiet bar.

Fu Chaoying accompanied Dong Muyu for a couple of drinks, but then was coaxed into drinking more.

Fu Chaoying knew she meant no harm, but then suddenly heard her ask, as if offhandedly, “Your bracelet is from Hayverly?”

Dong Muyu’s gaze seemed fixed on her wrist, carrying a probing edge.

Fu Chaoying smiled. “Did Senior Sister Dong notice that my cousin is wearing a similar style?”

Dong Muyu shook her head and said casually, “We haven’t met these past few days; I saw it on her Moments post.”

Interest flashed in Fu Chaoying’s eyes. She immediately pulled up Fu Chaohua’s Moments and saw the workout photo she’d posted yesterday.

She was wearing a simple set of athletic clothes, but the bracelet on her wrist was especially eye-catching.

Fu Chaoying understood at once and explained, “Jiayuan jie brought them back for the two of us. They should be Hayverly.”

Dong Muyu’s eyes flickered with a trace of deeper meaning. “Ms. Ye gave them to the two of you sisters?”

Fu Chaoying nodded lightly. “Why? Is there a problem?”

Dong Muyu smiled lazily, then said, “I remember this series is a couple’s set.”

A thought suddenly flashed through Fu Chaoying’s mind. So these bracelets had been couple bracelets from the very beginning, prepared by Ye Jiayuan?

But rational as Ye Jiayuan was... why would she buy couple jewelry?

Fu Chaoying couldn’t make sense of it when her phone suddenly lit up. The caller ID showed—

Jiayuan jie.

The ringtone sounded especially abrupt in the softly murmuring bar, and Fu Chaoying’s heart skipped a beat.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and then walked to a relatively quiet corner before answering.

“Jiejie?”

“Are you at Nanyan Club?” Ye Jiayuan’s voice came through the receiver, carrying a trace of barely perceptible fatigue.

“No, I moved with Senior Sister Dong and the others to a quiet bar,” Fu Chaoying answered honestly.

“Are you having fun?”

“Pretty much.” Fu Chaoying paused, then asked, “What about you, jiejie? Busy?”

“Just finished.” Ye Jiayuan paused, then asked her, “When are you coming home?”

“I’m not sure yet; maybe a little later.”

“Rest early.” Ye Jiayuan’s tone stayed calm, giving away nothing.

“Okay.” Fu Chaoying answered, but the other end still didn’t hang up for a long time.

Fu Chaoying lowered her eyes to the bracelet on her wrist and asked tentatively, “Jiejie... do you miss me?”

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I probably caught it too. I’ve got a fever of 38.7°C...

I still stubbornly stayed in bed and finished writing this chapter, sob sob [crying]

I hope the fever goes down tomorrow [prayer hands][prayer hands] Please let me manage a huge update! [heart][heart]