Chapter 32: The 32nd Rose: Kiss Me (2-in-1)

“Sis... do you miss me?” Fu Chaoying’s voice was soft and sweet, laced with the clingy drowsiness of drink.

On the other end of the line, her breathing stayed light and quiet. After a brief silence, Ye Jiayuan’s cool, low voice finally came through. “Wait until you come over.”

It was the answer Fu Chaoying had expected. She didn’t feel disappointed at all; instead, amusement curved her brows as she could almost picture Ye Jiayuan’s calm, composed expression on the other end.

“I should be there soon. I’m signing the contract with Senior Sister Dong tomorrow, so we’ll probably leave the day after tomorrow.”

Ye Jiayuan was silent for two seconds before asking, “You’ve already decided to work with her?”

Her tone gave away neither joy nor displeasure, only the faintest hint of curiosity.

“Mm.” Fu Chaoying’s mind flashed with an idea. She deliberately drew the sound out, then added, “Senior Sister Dong is really nice.”

“And...” She paused, lifting the end of her sentence with a touch of playful probing. “Sis, you’ve decided to invest in them too. That should mean they’re pretty good, right?”

Ye Jiayuan gave a soft “mm,” then said in a deeper voice, “Go home early. Drink less.”

“Okay. Goodnight.” Fu Chaoying agreed obediently.

“Goodnight.”

Fu Chaoying returned to Dong Muyu’s table, clinked glasses with her again, and finished the rest of her cocktail in one go before getting up to say goodbye.

Just as she got into the car to head home, her phone suddenly vibrated. When she looked down, she saw a message from Ye Jiayuan: [Are you home yet?]

A faint sweetness spread quietly through Fu Chaoying’s heart. Her lips lifted before she could stop them, though she quickly suppressed the smile and replied: [On the way home.]

The chat window fell quiet after that; there was no extra concern, no more sweet talk, as if it were only a simple confirmation.

Fu Chaoying turned off her phone and slowly closed her eyes, letting the dizziness from the alcohol wash over her.

Just as drowsiness was starting to settle in, her phone suddenly rang, the sound startlingly abrupt in the silent car.

Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat shot up at once. With a mix of anticipation and unease, she tapped to answer.

On the screen, Ye Jiayuan’s exquisite face appeared. She was wearing a simple long-sleeved nightgown; the neckline dipped slightly, revealing her delicate collarbone.

Her expression was as calm as ever, her gaze deep and focused, with just a trace of warmth hidden within it.

“Sis?” Fu Chaoying’s voice had the languid softness of someone tipsy as she called out vaguely, “Why aren’t you asleep yet..."

Her tone was so soft and sticky it was almost unfair.

Ye Jiayuan looked at the faintly shifting light on Fu Chaoying’s side of the screen, at the hazy drunkenness in her eyes. Complicated emotions flickered through her own gaze, and she asked helplessly, “Are you drunk?”

Fu Chaoying smiled and shook her head. “Nope.”

Ye Jiayuan looked at her smiling face and let out an almost imperceptible sigh. “Don’t hang up the video.”

Going home alone after drinking wasn’t safe.

Fu Chaoying nodded obediently, her fingertips absently rubbing the edge of the phone. “Okay.”

Her voice was as soft as a clingy kitten’s.

Ye Jiayuan’s gaze swept across her faintly pink cheeks and dazed, glassy eyes. In a low voice, she asked, “Did Dong Muyu take you all out for drinks?”

“Mm.” Fu Chaoying nodded again. “Senior Sister Dong talks a lot, and the atmosphere was really good, so someone suggested we go have a drink.”

Ye Jiayuan’s eyes darkened slightly, a trace of emotion flashing through them before she only said quietly, “Don’t drink that much next time.”

Fu Chaoying chuckled and held up three fingers, her tone a little playful. “It wasn’t that much; I only had four glasses.”

Ye Jiayuan couldn’t help but laugh.

The two of them chatted idly until Fu Chaoying finally got home.

Seeing Aunt Wu waiting at the door to pick her up, Fu Chaoying smiled into the phone. “Aunt Wu’s here to meet me. I’m hanging up now.”

“Mm.” Ye Jiayuan answered, then ended the call.

Fu Chaoying went straight to the bathroom to shower. The hot water washed over her skin, and her head gradually cleared.

By the time she finished and came out, she felt refreshed. Just as she was about to dry her hair, the phone rang again.

Fu Chaoying paused, then realized this wasn’t Ye Jiayuan’s special ringtone; it was her cousin, Fu Chaohua.

She answered, and Fu Chaohua’s voice came through from the other end.

“I passed my blind review! There are two more A’s left!”

“Wow! Sis, you’re amazing!” Fu Chaoying was genuinely happy for her and said with a light laugh, “Congratulations, congratulations.”

They didn’t talk for long before Fu Chaohua seemed to ask casually, “How’s your collaboration with Muyu going?”

A hint of interest flashed in Fu Chaoying’s eyes. She deliberately drew it out. “Pretty good. We’re officially signing tomorrow.”

Fu Chaohua laughed too, sounding cheerful. “Then congratulations to you too. Double happiness!”

Fu Chaoying smiled, then followed her lead. “Yeah. So should we book our tickets now?”

The two of them worked out the timing together; Fu Chaohua had a teacher appreciation banquet the following evening, while Fu Chaoying needed to spend the afternoon at the company handling handover work.

In the end, they set their departure for Thursday morning.

Once the tickets were booked, Fu Chaoying sent the details to Ye Jiayuan right away.

Ye Jiayuan was probably asleep and didn’t reply.

Fu Chaoying chatted a little longer with her cousin, then dried her hair before finally falling asleep peacefully.

*

On Wednesday morning, Fu Chaoying’s team and Dong Muyu’s team officially signed the contract, marking the formal establishment of their partnership.

After the signing ceremony, Dong Muyu was in high spirits and invited everyone to lunch. “As usual, Nanyan Club?”

Fu Chaoying smiled. “Senior Sister Dong, you’re really generous, but I’m kind of craving the stir-fried dishes from that place near the south gate of the university today.”

Quite a few people on both teams were alumni of Nanyan University, and they immediately chimed in.

“That place is seriously delicious!”

“I haven’t eaten there in ages!”

Fu Chaoying’s eyes curved as she went with them to the parking garage.

But just as they were about to get in the car, Dong Muyu spoke as if on impulse. “Oh right, is your cousin at Nanyan University? Should we call her over too?”

Fu Chaoying pretended to hesitate, then smiled. “Sure, I’ll ask.”

Once in the car, Fu Chaoying calmly texted Fu Chaohua: [Sis, are you on campus? Are you free at noon?]

Fu Chaohua was practically a free agent right now and replied almost instantly: [Why, why? Treating me to a meal?]

Fu Chaoying: [Senior Sister Dong and I are heading back to Nanyan in a bit. Do you want to come too? [heart]]

Fu Chaohua stayed on “typing” for a long time before sending back: [Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate?]

Fu Chaoying: [Senior Sister Dong was the one who asked about you first [heart]]

After the message was successfully sent, the smile at the corners of Fu Chaoying’s lips could no longer be contained.

After arranging things with her cousin, Fu Chaoying sent Dong Muyu a message to let her know Fu Chaohua would be joining them; then she received a photo from Dong Muyu.

It was taken when they signed the contract: the two of them stood side by side with the agreement in hand, both smiling brightly.

Dong Muyu: [Do you mind if I post this on Moments?]

Fu Chaoying: [I don’t mind. I’ll post it too.]

With that, Fu Chaoying saved the photo to her album and posted it to her long-neglected Moments: [Working together with a senior from the same university~]

The moment she posted it, she got a flood of likes.

Among them was a comment from her aunt: [This Xiao Dong girl seems pretty good. You can think about where to take things from here yourself?]

Fu Chaoying’s brow twitched. She intended to pretend she hadn’t seen it, yet for some reason it felt a little like being set up for a blind date by an elder.

She was privately exasperated, but a few minutes later, she saw Ye Jiayuan’s like.

Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat sped up slightly. Her finger hovered over the screen as she hesitated over whether to message Ye Jiayuan first, but that felt a little too deliberate.

In the end, she still opened their chat and found that their last exchange was still the formal “Good morning” from earlier that day.

Fu Chaoying pressed her lips together and turned off her phone. Yet her mind kept circling back to Ye Jiayuan, to everything that had happened between them. In the end, she simply closed her eyes to rest.

The group arrived at the Nanyan parking lot, where Fu Chaohua was already waiting at the exit.

Fu Chaohua’s gaze moved between Fu Chaoying and Dong Muyu, a trace of barely noticeable probing flickering in her eyes as though she wanted to read something from their interactions.

Fu Chaoying walked over quickly, hooked her arm familiarly through hers, and introduced her to everyone with ease. “This is my cousin, Fu Chaohua, a doctoral student at Nanyan University.”

Fu Chaohua waved and greeted everyone with a smile. “Hello.”

Dong Muyu’s brows curved slightly as she introduced her team members to Fu Chaohua.

After a few warm greetings, the group headed toward the back street.

Fu Chaoying listened as Dong Muyu and Fu Chaohua talked.

They were still as polite and courteous as ever, with a faint air of distance, but Fu Chaoying still felt that the atmosphere between them was a little subtle.

Until Fu Chaohua mentioned, seemingly offhand, that she’d be leaving for a graduation trip to Hong Kong tomorrow.

Dong Muyu smiled and picked up the thread. “What a coincidence; our overseas launch event is also in Hong Kong. Maybe we’ll even run into each other then.”

Fu Chaoying had no choice but to think of the fact that Fu Chaohua liked playing games from Dong Muyu’s company; naturally, she would also pay attention to the overseas launch event.

So Fu Chaohua choosing Hong Kong, a place she had already visited many times, was definitely no coincidence.

Maybe she had other intentions.

Fu Chaoying’s brows curved. “Then if Senior Sister also goes to Hong Kong, we can make another appointment and have a meal together then.”

Dong Muyu nodded lightly, but smoothly changed the subject.

By the time they reached the restaurant and the dishes were served, Fu Chaoying took a photo and sent it to Ye Jiayuan.

Probably because it was lunchtime, the reply came quickly: [Back at Nanyan again?]

Fu Chaoying: [Mm-hm, we signed the contract and came back to Nanyan for lunch~]

There was silence for a long time. Just when Fu Chaoying thought Ye Jiayuan wouldn’t reply again, she received a message: [I’ll pick you up tomorrow.]

The wording was still concise, but it carried an undeniable dominance.

A sweetness welled up in Fu Chaoying’s heart. She sent back a cute sticker, then turned off her phone.

With Dong Muyu present, the meal was naturally lively. The two teams were already fairly familiar with one another, so there was no need for any awkward icebreaking.

Fu Chaohua also talked more than usual, and Fu Chaoying watched with a smile as she played the supporting role.

Everyone ate happily, and Fu Chaoying returned to the company in the afternoon to work.

That evening, when she got home and was packing her suitcase, she received a WeChat message from Aunt Chu: [Xiao Ying, I heard Xiao Yuan bought a property in Hong Kong. When you go this time, help me take a look and see if she’s secretly keeping a little lover there?]

Soon after came another message: [Help Auntie take a look at what that girl looks like, what her personality is like, and what her relationship with Xiao Yuan is like.]

Fu Chaoying’s brow twitched. She screenshot the two messages and forwarded them to Ye Jiayuan with the caption: [I heard you’re secretly keeping a little lover? [pitiful]]

Fu Chaoying waited a long time and still didn’t get a reply.

By the time she was almost asleep, she received a voice call from Ye Jiayuan.

The instant she answered, Ye Jiayuan’s cool voice came through. “Xiao Ying.”

Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat suddenly sped up. She curved her brows and deliberately asked in a teasing tone, “I heard sis is secretly keeping a little lover?”

There was a two-second silence on the other end before a low voice answered, “Mm. Just wait until you come.”

Fu Chaoying blinked, unable to suppress the curve of her lips. “Which apartment did sis buy?”

“The one you like best.”

Fu Chaoying’s mind raced as she tried to recall all the property materials she’d once looked at, but she still couldn’t remember which one she had ever told Ye Jiayuan she liked best.

“The one I like best?” she pressed.

“You’ll know when you come.” Ye Jiayuan’s voice was steady.

Fu Chaoying’s curiosity was fully hooked. She couldn’t help sounding a little spoiled. “I really want to fly over right now and see what sis’s secret little nest looks like.”

“See you tomorrow.” Ye Jiayuan’s voice was soft.

“See you tomorrow!”

After the call ended, Ye Jiayuan’s words kept looping through Fu Chaoying’s mind: just wait until you come.

It made her itch with impatience.

*

On Thursday morning, Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua met up at the airport as planned.

At noon, when they landed in Hong Kong, they hadn’t even cleared customs before they received a call from Ye Jiayuan’s assistant, Liu Xin.

Liu Xin said she was there to pick them up and told them exactly where to meet.

Fu Chaoying politely thanked her, but after hanging up, she couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

She had thought Ye Jiayuan would come personally to pick them up.

Even though she was disappointed, Fu Chaoying kept a calm expression and went with Fu Chaohua to meet Liu Xin.

After walking for a few minutes, they finally spotted Liu Xin.

Liu Xin warmly took their suitcases and said with a smile, “Ms. Ye had an emergency meeting come up at the last minute and couldn’t get away, so she asked me to pick the two of you up.”

Fu Chaoying’s expression remained perfectly still, but inside she still couldn’t help feeling disappointed. She subconsciously opened her phone, but there still wasn’t any new message from Ye Jiayuan.

Fu Chaoying pressed her lips together and silently comforted herself: She’s too busy; not having time to come pick her up is understandable.

When they reached the car, Fu Chaoying wanted to help Liu Xin with the luggage. But the moment she opened the trunk, her heart suddenly gave a sharp jolt.

Ye Jiayuan’s cool voice rang clearly from inside the car, as if carrying a faint electric current, striking straight into her heart.

Along with it came the faint but unmistakable scent of magnolia, crisp and distant, surrounding her in an instant.

Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably; even her fingertips trembled slightly as she placed her suitcase into the trunk.

Almost on impulse, Fu Chaoying opened the rear door and sat down beside Ye Jiayuan.

Ye Jiayuan noticed her movement, paused the meeting, muted her microphone, and turned toward her. “You’re here.”

There seemed to be an almost imperceptible tenderness in her eyes.

Then Ye Jiayuan gave Fu Chaohua, who was in the front passenger seat, a slight nod. “I’ll continue the meeting first; make yourselves at home.”

“Jiaoyan-jie, go ahead and take care of things,” Fu Chaoying said softly, then obediently turned her head and let her gaze drift out the window.

The weather in Hong Kong was excellent today; the sky was clear and boundless, washed a pure blue. Sunlight poured in through the car window, warm and comfortable against the skin.

Fu Chaoying suddenly began to look forward to Ye Jiayuan’s new home.

The cool voice beside her was incredibly reassuring. Listening to Ye Jiayuan handle work methodically, Fu Chaoying’s own heart gradually settled too; before long, she drifted into a daze.

She didn’t know how long had passed before Fu Chaohua gently woke her. “Xiao Ying, we’re here.”

Fu Chaoying opened her eyes in a blur and met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Those eyes were calm as water, yet a trace of barely noticeable amusement flickered across them.

“We’re here,” Ye Jiayuan said in a low voice.

Fu Chaoying finally woke fully and hurriedly nodded. She opened the door, got out of the car, and then followed her cousin in a dazed fog into Ye Jiayuan’s new home.

Ye Jiayuan gave them the password. “Rest here for now during this time.”

Fu Chaoying looked around, then unconsciously walked toward the balcony and discovered it was an excellent vantage point; the entire bay could be taken in at a glance.

A duplex sea-view apartment with a clean, spacious design.

Fu Chaoying was still looking out into the distance when she heard a voice behind her. “Do you like it?”

Her heartbeat suddenly spiked. She turned around in a daze and saw that Ye Jiayuan was already standing very close, while Fu Chaohua was no longer in the living room.

Meeting her eyes, Fu Chaoying’s throat bobbed. She lightly tugged at Ye Jiayuan’s sleeve. “Sis... you really know me too well.”

Ye Jiayuan lowered her eyes to look at Fu Chaoying’s hand, then lifted her own hand to cover it. She rubbed her palm for a moment before letting go. “As long as you like it.”

From the guest room not far away came the sound of a suitcase zipper being pulled shut. Ye Jiayuan unobtrusively put some distance between them.

Two seconds later, Fu Chaohua poked her head out. “Jiaoyan-jie, how about we eat first? I’m starving.”

Ye Jiayuan nodded slightly. “Let’s go.”

By the entrance, she handed each of them a car key.

After taking them to lunch, Ye Jiayuan had to return to the company to work.

Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua saw her downstairs and unanimously chose to go home and catch up on sleep.

They were both tired from the trip and needed proper rest.

Besides, neither of them had come to Hong Kong just for “travel.”

They entered by password; Fu Chaohua went straight to the bedroom to sleep.

Fu Chaoying, on the other hand, stood by her suitcase, a little confused, unsure which room she should sleep in.

She gently pushed open one door, wanting to check the room inside, but at a glance she spotted the oil painting she had once given Ye Jiayuan hanging on the wall.

Fu Chaoying froze for a moment, then her lips curved deeply.

She quietly closed the door and went looking for another guest room.

After sleeping well in the afternoon, the two sisters went out to look for food and shop.

Fu Chaoying sent Ye Jiayuan several photos, but when she didn’t get a reply, she guessed Ye Jiayuan was working overtime again.

She let out a barely perceptible sigh.

The two sisters didn’t often get to spend time together, so they gave up on going somewhere crowded and decided to go home to make cocktails and watch a movie.

They bought some ingredients and bar tools from the supermarket downstairs; following a post they found on an app, they mixed the drinks, and to their surprise, they tasted quite good.

The two of them chatted, gossiped, and talked about everything under the sun. After drinking, neither of them paid much attention to what the movie was actually playing.

Fu Chaohua’s cheeks were flushed, and with a little drunkenness in her, she became especially talkative under the influence of alcohol.

“Xiao Ying...” Fu Chaohua’s voice was a little slurred, carrying a trace of barely noticeable confusion.

“Do you think if someone starts liking the person who used to like them, that makes them pretty cheap?”

Fu Chaoying was startled. In that instant, she almost immediately understood what she was talking about, and who she meant.

She shook her head gently and looked at her seriously. “Some people just take longer to warm up. They fall in love without even realizing it; that’s normal.”

“What’s rare, I think, is if that person comes to their senses and the other one is still waiting.”

Fu Chaohua took a few more sips of wine, her gaze hazy. “I don’t know... I don’t know if she’s still waiting..."

Something flashed through Fu Chaoying’s mind, and she answered with strange certainty, “She’s still waiting.”

Fu Chaohua shook her head, apparently not believing her.

Seeing that, Fu Chaoying said nothing more. She simply reached out and pressed down on Fu Chaohua’s glass. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s not drink anymore.”

She helped her back to the bed in the bedroom, covered her with a blanket, and then returned to the living room.

Looking at the unfinished alcohol and the various cocktail ingredients scattered across the table, Fu Chaoying’s lips curved into a smile.

*

When Ye Jiayuan came home after working overtime, the moment she opened the door, she saw Fu Chaoying slowly pouring wine into her mouth.

Fu Chaoying heard the door and seemed surprised. Turning her head, she gave Ye Jiayuan a silly grin. “Sis? Why are you here?”

Ye Jiayuan looked around and didn’t find a third person. After changing her shoes, she strode up to Fu Chaoying and saw the mess of toppled bottles and jars. With a helpless sigh, she said, “Why did you drink so much?”

Fu Chaoying set down her glass, looking a little wronged. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Ye Jiayuan’s waist, pressing her face tightly against her abdomen. Her voice was soft and sticky. “Sis, hug me..."

Ye Jiayuan’s gaze swept over her dazed eyes and slightly parted pink lips.

Her throat moved. She bent down and lifted Fu Chaoying from the sofa, but then stopped, as though considering which room to go to.

Fu Chaoying took the opportunity to loop her arms around Ye Jiayuan’s neck and nuzzle toward her collarbone.

Feeling the warm breath against her neck and that soft contact, Ye Jiayuan’s body instantly went rigid. Then she quickened her pace and headed for her own bedroom, only to stop abruptly at the door.

As if suddenly waking up, Ye Jiayuan took a deep breath, turned around, and carried her into the guest room instead, carefully setting her on the bed.

But the arms still wrapped around her neck were relentless. “Sis... don’t you want to kiss me?”

Fu Chaoying looked at her pitifully, her voice soft and sweet, carrying an irresistible temptation.

Ye Jiayuan lowered her eyes to Fu Chaoying’s pink lips, her gaze darkening. Her throat moved; she forced herself to look away and said in a deep voice, “I’m going to lock the door first.”

Even hearing that, Fu Chaoying still didn’t let go of her neck; her eyes gleamed even brighter. “Then sis carry me to lock it.”

Ye Jiayuan had no choice but to lift her around the waist again, carry her to the door, and lock it.

The moment she took a step forward, Fu Chaoying pressed the tip of her nose against hers. “Sis..."

Her tone carried a hint of spoiled pleading, along with two parts barely concealed temptation.

Ye Jiayuan looked up and met her hazy, water-bright eyes; her breathing grew hotter and faster.

Fu Chaoying waited for a long time and still didn’t get her kiss. She rubbed against her in her arms, only to see her step toward the bed.

Soon after, her back touched the soft mattress, and pressure settled over her front.

An indescribable tension suddenly rose in Fu Chaoying’s heart. Her throat moved, and her gaze locked onto the thin lips above her.

Those lips were tightly closed, the shape of them impossibly perfect.

But before the kiss could fall, Fu Chaoying was just about to say something when those thin lips pressed down on hers in a flash.

Alcohol and her heated breathing tangled together; Fu Chaoying’s tongue was drawn into a slow, teasing suck.

The longing built up over the days they hadn’t seen each other, and the restraint they’d maintained because others were present after finally meeting, all erupted at once in that moment.

The wet sound of their lips and tongues meeting was startlingly clear in the quiet room, as though it were a spark driving both of their heartbeats faster.

Alcohol and her heated breathing tangled together; Fu Chaoying only felt her whole body go soft, as if she were floating in the clouds.

She was kissed until she was nearly out of breath, and with Ye Jiayuan’s hands vaguely stroking her, her body kept trembling.

Even though she was weak all over, Fu Chaoying couldn’t help reaching out to touch her too.

Heat rolled through her body in waves, and Fu Chaoying let out a soft moan.

At some point, Ye Jiayuan’s fingertips slid to her collarbone, gently caressing it. Then she released Fu Chaoying’s lips, and her own lips replaced her fingers, kissing softly along her neck.

Fu Chaoying couldn’t help tilting her head back, wrapping her arms around Ye Jiayuan’s neck so she could kiss her more easily. And Ye Jiayuan’s hands were already somewhere unknown; wherever they went, they set off another shiver.

That familiar sensation surged up again.

Fu Chaoying moaned before she could stop herself, panting as she called out, “Sis..."

“Mm?” Ye Jiayuan lifted her head from Fu Chaoying’s neck. “What are you calling sis for?”

Her cool, hoarse voice seemed to carry a trace of imperceptible enchantment and seduction.

The corners of Fu Chaoying’s eyes had already gone faintly red. All her rationality was disappearing fast, leaving only instinctive desire.

————————

The first step in breaking a fever: write 6,500 words like crazy [rainbow fart][rainbow fart][shy][shy]

Then I realized the fever came back again [burst into tears][burst into tears][burst into tears]

TL Note:

“Moments” (朋友圈) = WeChat’s social feed / status timeline.