Chương 27: 27
"Qingtong..."
Even though Su Yirao merely uttered two ordinary words, Guan Qingtong felt as if her very soul was being tugged by them, drifting away to some unknown place.
Was Sister Su planning to mimic that kiss?
The thought made Guan Qingtong both nervous and conflicted.
To give up her first kiss just for a playful competition—wasn't that too casual? Shouldn't there be boundaries, even between two straight women?
"Sister..." Guan Qingtong whispered, "I..."
I refuse to give up my first kiss so recklessly. Even between two women, there should be boundaries.
These thoughts swirled in her mind, but before she could voice them, a more rational Su Yirao shook her head and sighed softly, "Qingtong, let's just admit defeat."
For some reason, Guan Qingtong felt a flutter of disappointment when Su Yirao withdrew. It was as if the emotions that had briefly settled within her had been lifted back into the air.
She wanted to grasp onto these feelings but feared she might hold on too tightly.
"Alright." Guan Qingtong lowered her eyes, quietly brushing away her lingering disappointment.
"But we should thank them for playing along," Su Yirao said with a bright smile. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have performed so naturally just now."
Guan Qingtong pressed her lips together and smiled as well. "The more natural it feels, the more real it becomes. Looks like our acting has improved."
"No need to thank us."
Zhu Yuan smiled a victor's smile, not bothering to expose their attempt to save face.
"After lunch, let's exchange contact information. We might have opportunities to work together in the future," Su Yirao suggested graciously, remaining composed.
Zhu Yuan nodded. "Sure."
After the meal, Zhu Yuan and He Xiaoyue bid farewell to them and went their separate ways.
"Sister, how much did the meal cost?" Guan Qingtong insisted, "They saved me, so I should be the one to treat them. I'm earning a salary now; I can afford to pay."
Su Yirao was slightly taken aback by her insistence.
It felt like watching a young woman grow up right before her eyes.
The small wave of emotion that arose within her was quickly dismissed. She opened her phone, brought up the payment record on WeChat, and reported the exact amount.
"519.6 yuan."
Guan Qingtong hesitated slightly when she heard the amount, nervously re-entering a number that held a secret significance to her.
WeChat transfer: 520 yuan.
Rounding it up, it was exactly 520 yuan.
"Sister, I've sent the money." Afraid that Su Yirao might notice something, Guan Qingtong quickly walked toward the parking lot after sending the transfer.
Su Yirao glanced at her phone, then smiled, feeling the tiny emotional ripple within her slowly smooth out.
Accepting the amount, she looked up and said, "Rounding it up, huh? I won't be returning the change, then."
"No need! It's fine, don't worry about it!"
"Of course, I won't return your love."
Su Yirao glanced down at the WeChat payment again, noticing Guan Qingtong's hesitation, and smiled. It was amusing, really.
It seemed Guan Qingtong wasn't trying to draw any firm lines between them.
A slight blush crept onto Guan Qingtong's cheeks. She discreetly patted her face, out of Su Yirao's sight.
Once the warmth in her cheeks faded, she stopped and turned around.
She saw that Su Yirao's expression was as calm as ever, as though nothing unusual had happened beyond that lingering phrase.
Guan Qingtong opened her mouth, then urged, "Sister, hurry up."
"No need to rush," Su Yirao replied. "It's rare to have such a leisurely day. Let's enjoy the scenery, savor the variety of life, and appreciate the beauty of idleness."
Upon hearing this, Guan Qingtong set aside her overthinking, slowed her pace, and walked alongside her.
It was precisely Su Yirao's philosophy of enjoying the moment that had led them to share that memorable trip to the ancient town.
During that time, she spent every moment with Su Yirao, feeling a sense of ease yet also a strange sense of prolonged time.
Only now did she realize that those long, drawn-out moments were beyond her reach.
As she gazed up at the clear blue sky, Guan Qingtong softly said, "Sister, you're different from me. You can let go, fully enjoying life without being burdened."
"You're talking about family background, right?" Su Yirao chuckled. "I used to think that way too, just going with the flow and chasing what I loved."
"But then I woke up and realized that a good family background can only take you so far. To truly walk the path you want, you have to work for it yourself."
Guan Qingtong's heart stirred, grateful for her newfound clarity.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have understood Su Yirao's transformation or the courage it took to say such seemingly casual words.
Unable to resist probing further, she asked, "Sister, what is the path you want to take?"
"My path?"
Su Yirao's gaze became distant as she looked ahead, seemingly lost in thought.
"What kind of life do you want?" Su Yirao suddenly turned to her and asked.
"Me?" Guan Qingtong was taken aback, then answered firmly, "I want to be like you, Sister."
Someone unafraid of external pressures, of the system, someone who chooses to live as an independent thinker.
"Me?" Su Yirao sighed. "There goes that rose-colored view again."
After experiencing what she had with the drugged wine, she increasingly felt that her past actions were disgraceful, utterly unforgivable.
The person Guan Qingtong saw through her idealized lens was too perfect, too far from reality.
"Qingtong."
"Hmm?"
Su Yirao's gaze softened as she looked at her and smiled, "Right now, walking down this street, how do you feel? Are you in the mood to observe life around you?"
"My mood... I'm quite happy." Observing... Guan Qingtong's attention was entirely on Su Yirao; how could she have the mind to observe anything else?
Su Yirao didn't press the matter. "Walking down the street, feeling content, and always having the leisure to appreciate life—this is the path I want. It sounds simple, but it's hard to live like that every moment."
Guan Qingtong nodded thoughtfully.
"Having everything go your way is indeed difficult."
"Exactly." Su Yirao smiled. "But for now, in this moment, I feel at peace. My choice was the right one."
Guan Qingtong blinked and suddenly felt enlightened.
She smiled and said, "My choice was right too. I also feel at peace in this moment."
Seeing Guan Qingtong's sincere smile, Su Yirao found herself relishing the moment and said, "Then... may we always find peace."
"Absolutely!"
Life continued, and the tranquility was inevitably replaced by the busyness of work.
Recently, Guan Qingtong had hit a bottleneck in her work. So, when Su Yirao returned home from work, she sought her out for advice.
In the study, Su Yirao finished watching the final TikTok video for "Qiyu" Café, rubbing her temples lightly. She placed her notebook on the table in front of Guan Qingtong.
"First off, your filming has improved. The overall video style matches the café's vibe, with some aesthetic and atmospheric appeal."
The compliment was a small acknowledgment of Guan Qingtong's work.
Still, Guan Qingtong kept her excitement in check, listening attentively as Su Yirao continued.
"These videos are good, showing effort to ride recent trends."
"However, even these good videos lack a unique hook. They still feel too similar to other trend-following videos."
Guan Qingtong nodded. "Exactly. There's some viewership, but the retention and conversion rates are low."
"Try focusing on what makes the café unique, creating differentiation," Su Yirao suggested after some thought. "Start with branding elements—taglines or slogans that can be subtly inserted into each video to create a memorable impression..."
Su Yirao spoke earnestly, and Guan Qingtong listened attentively.
Their focused work was suddenly interrupted by a loud rumble from one of their stomachs.
Glancing at the time, Su Yirao quickly wrapped things up.
Her timing was impeccable; just as she finished, Guan Qingtong's phone buzzed with a call from the delivery driver.
"Sister, I'll go to the front gate to pick up the food."
Security was strict in Su Yirao's neighborhood, requiring residents to meet delivery drivers at the gate. So, Guan Qingtong had to change shoes and head out to get the delivery.
"Alright, go ahead."
As Su Yirao shut down her computer and went to wash her hands, she set the table.
Just as she finished, she heard footsteps outside, assuming Guan Qingtong had returned.
She walked quickly to the door and opened it, only to accidentally bump into Guan Qingtong.
Guan Qingtong's shoulder throbbed with pain as she instinctively stepped back, her waist hitting the edge of the entryway cabinet.
She lost her balance and nearly fell, but Su Yirao quickly caught her around the waist, preventing both her and the delivery from falling.
"Are you alright?"
The way Su Yirao held her felt like she was nestled in her arms!
Guan Qingtong held her breath, wishing the moment could last a bit longer.
"I'm... I'm fine."
"If you're fine, why aren't you getting up?" Su Yirao teased, "Are you trying to pull a fast one on me?"
Her little scheme felt exposed.
Guan Qingtong awkwardly stood up, meeting Su Yirao's amused gaze, and impulsively asked, "Yes, Sister, will you compensate me?"
Su Yirao was momentarily surprised, and just as Guan Qingtong was about to laugh it off, she responded with a smile, "Bold of you."
"Not bold, just being reasonable," Guan Qingtong replied. "You did bump into me, and my shoulder still hurts."
Su Yirao's tone was exasperated yet tinged with a hint of indulgence as she asked, "Alright, alright. What would you like as compensation?"
"I want you..." Guan Qingtong slowed her speech, trying to calm her racing heart. "I want you to help me with..."
Su Yirao looked puzzled. "Help you with what?"
Guan Qingtong was an adult, capable of handling most things herself. What could she possibly need help with?
She had only made the comment to deflect from what she really wanted to say.
But it seemed Su Yirao hadn't picked up on her hesitation, genuinely offering to help with anything.
Guan Qingtong sighed inwardly.
"Oh, never mind. You can owe me for now."
Guan Qingtong smiled as she washed her hands, then returned to the table, acting as though nothing had happened.
"I hate leaving things unsettled. It's good for today only," Su Yirao said as she placed the food on the table.
"Oh no, then I need to think hard about it," Guan Qingtong exclaimed, suddenly serious.
Su Yirao sat down across from her, laughing. "No rush. Let's eat first."
"Alright..."
As they ate, Guan Qingtong felt a rush of excitement seeing Su Yirao's light smile.
She suddenly had an idea.
After their evening showers, they each went to their rooms to sleep, signaling the end of the day.
"Have you thought of something?" Su Yirao asked as she headed to her room. "If not, it won't count tomorrow."
"I have."
Su Yirao stopped in her tracks, intrigued. "Oh? What is it?"
"You have a projector in your room. I want you to watch a movie with me there!" Guan Qingtong nervously shared her request, carefully observing Su Yirao's reaction.
She wanted to be closer to Su Yirao.
But she feared Su Yirao wouldn't agree.
"What's wrong with the big screen in the living room?" Su Yirao asked.
"It's just a couch there. We can't lie down comfortably."
Hearing this, Su Yirao chuckled and nodded. "I installed that projector in my room precisely for the comfort of lying down while watching movies. I didn't expect you'd start thinking the same way after spending so much time with me."
"So, does that mean... you agree?"
Guan Qingtong's eyes sparkled with hope.
Faced with such a look, it was hard to say no. Su Yirao nodded. "Sure, but not tonight."
Guan Qingtong's excitement plummeted like a rollercoaster drop.
"Why not?"
"I'm flying to Beijing tomorrow for a business trip. I need to pack tonight."
"Oh." Disappointed, Guan Qingtong asked, "How long will you be gone, Sister?"
"Seven to fifteen days, depending on how quickly the negotiations go. There are still many details to finalize, so it might take longer."
So, nearly half a month without seeing Sister Su.
Guan Qingtong bit her lip, feeling regretful, but then she heard Su Yirao's voice again.
"Do you remember what I told you last time?" Su Yirao asked. "If you meet anyone new during this period, make sure to tell me."
The clouds lifted from Guan Qingtong's mood as she smiled. "Sister, are you really worried someone will steal me away?"
"Where are you right now?"
"In your home." Guan Qingtong paused, still puzzled.
"I managed to get you home. So, logically..."
If the heroine could be charmed by the villainess, then someone else might come along and charm her away.
"That's impossible!" Guan Qingtong waved her hand. "You're overthinking it!"
"In any case, while I'm away, make sure you tell me if you meet anyone new," Su Yirao said, patting her shoulder with an unusually serious expression.
If Guan Qingtong hadn't known Su Yirao was a fully aware character, she might have misinterpreted this sudden concern.
"Okay." Guan Qingtong added her own request, "Sister, if anything interesting happens on your trip, you have to share it with me too."
Everyone has a desire to share.
She hoped Su Yirao would share with her.
"Alright, that's a deal." Su Yirao agreed.
The prospect of parting was unpleasant.
Especially since Guan Qingtong had just realized her true feelings, making the separation all the more bittersweet.
Since Su Yirao's departure, she kept her phone close, waiting for any message. She tracked every step of Su Yirao's journey, knowing exactly when she passed security, boarded, and took off.
It wasn't until Su Yirao became too busy with work to reply that she finally realized how much work she had neglected.
Fortunately, her colleague, Yingjie, hadn't noticed her distraction. Otherwise, there'd be no end to the teasing.
Guan Qingtong pulled herself together and focused on catching up on her tasks with renewed determination.
By the time she finished, the workload she had let pile up was complete.
But when she checked her phone again, Su Yirao was still in a meeting.
Guan Qingtong: Sister Su, I'm going to eat lunch now. What did you have for lunch today?
After sending the message, she bought two lunches and took them to the hospital to eat with her mother.
Her mother's condition had stabilized, and after a bit more rest, she'd be ready for discharge.
"Qing'er, where are we going to live after I'm discharged?" Mother Guan asked. "We can't stay in your boss's employee dormitory forever."
To avoid any complications, Guan Qingtong had always told her mother that she lived in the employee dormitory.
"We'll figure it out," Guan Qingtong replied thoughtfully. "I'll start looking for an apartment now, so by the time you're discharged, we'll have somewhere to stay."
"Alright."
Leaving the hospital, Guan Qingtong trudged along, thinking about where she could find an affordable apartment.
A brief crush can't erase the chasm between her and Su Yirao.
With her current salary, living near Su Yirao was out of the question.
Before meeting Su Yirao, she and her mother had managed to get by, even with little money.
But now, the thought of returning to that life after experiencing the joy of being with Su Yirao felt like losing something she had secretly stolen.
It felt like she couldn't hold onto the dream for long.
In the original story, everything the heroine had was tied to the male lead. But since she didn't want to use that connection, the heroine's status didn't offer many advantages.
She needed to work harder.
Guan Qingtong steeled herself, quickening her pace back to the café's office to continue her work and studies.
That night, when she finally lay in bed, she saw that Su Yirao had replied to her message.
Su Yirao: Lunch was roast duck, a specialty here in Beijing. It was pretty good. I'm sending you a vacuum-packed one; keep an eye out for it.
Photo[Beijing Roast Duck]
The food in the picture looked mouth-watering.
But Guan Qingtong focused more on the text next to it.
Not only had she shared the experience, but she'd also sent her some of it!
The flavor of the roast duck didn't matter; it was the thought behind it that counted.
She couldn't wait!
Guan Qingtong: Thank you, Sister. I can't wait to receive it! [Excited.jpg]
Su Yirao must have been still awake, as she replied within minutes.
Su Yirao: It turns out the person in charge of the negotiations is an old acquaintance, so things went smoothly. I should be back within five days.
Guan Qingtong: Wow, that's great!
After the initial surprise, Guan Qingtong's attention turned to the phrase "old acquaintance." There was a strange familiarity to it.
This person seemed to be a character from the original story.
However, as the heroine, she had little impression of them, likely because they were a minor character.
Su Yirao: Alright, goodnight. Get some rest.
Guan Qingtong: Goodnight, Sister, sweet dreams.
The next afternoon, while most people were in a post-lunch daze, the door to Guan Qingtong's office swung open.
"Yingjie?"
Zhou Huiying, who oversaw the café's daily operations, rarely came to her office, so her anxious expression indicated something was amiss.
"Qingtong, do you remember the agreement Su Yirao signed with the mall in early June?"
Guan Qingtong thought for a moment, recalling that Su Yirao had handed that task over to her. She turned to the bookshelf, found the contract, and laid it on the desk.
"'Qiyu Café' will list 500 dessert and coffee coupons on the mini-program for the mall's event. Revenue will be settled on a T+3 basis to account number ××××."
Guan Qingtong read the key points aloud before turning to Zhou Huiying. "Is this the contract you were looking for?"
"Yes! That's the one!"
Zhou Huiying took the contract, scrutinizing the terms before checking her bank app.
Guan Qingtong noticed her deepening frown and hesitantly asked, "Yingjie, has the money not been received?"
"No." Zhou Huiying sighed. "Today, after I verified the last coffee coupon, I decided to check the payments. That's when I realized we haven't received any money since last month."
"I'll call the mall's management and ask what's going on."
Guan Qingtong quickly formulated a plan, reassuring Zhou Huiying as she dialed the phone.
"Hello, Ms. Qu, this is Guan Qingtong from 'Qiyu Café.' Our coupons on the mini-program have been fully redeemed, but we haven't received any payment. Can you check where the issue might be?"
The mall manager responded calmly, "Are you referring to the delayed payments?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"The mini-program is managed by a third-party company, not the mall itself. If you're looking to chase the payment, you'll need to contact them directly."
Things were becoming more complicated.
After thanking her, Guan Qingtong began contacting the third-party company mentioned in the contract.
It took seven or eight attempts before someone finally answered.
"We've received feedback from the city of Rong about this issue. We've already reported it to the police and are preparing to take legal action."
"What do you mean?" Guan Qingtong was confused. "Isn't it your company's responsibility to make the payment?"
"We authorized all business in Rongcheng to another company, and all payments have been made. However, we're still receiving complaints from merchants about missing payments, so we've decided to pursue legal action against this company."
Guan Qingtong paused, finally understanding the situation.
"So, you're saying a company signed contracts under your name, collected all the payments, and then disappeared?"
"Yes. We apologize for your experience, and our company is working on gathering evidence. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."
The call ended with a dial tone.
Guan Qingtong was at a loss for words.
Gathering evidence? She didn't buy it!
If they were collecting evidence, why weren't they informed earlier? Instead, they had to find out only after discovering the missing payments themselves.
Even Sister Su probably didn't expect the contract she signed to have such a ridiculous outcome.
"We've lost five thousand yuan," Zhou Huiying said after hearing the conversation. "They probably think it's not worth the trouble to sue for such a small amount."
Guan Qingtong responded, "She mentioned receiving calls from other merchants. Let's reach out to them and see if we can file a joint lawsuit. With the contract in hand, we can pursue this legally."
Zhou Huiying agreed with her approach.
"Not bad." Zhou Huiying praised, "This is your first big challenge since leaving Su Yirao, and you've handled it with composure and clear thinking."
"I owe it all to you and Sister Su," Guan Qingtong said.
Zhou Huiying laughed, "You're quite the smooth talker. No wonder Su Yirao's attitude toward you changed so drastically."
"Five thousand isn't much."
"But being scammed out of it really sticks in my craw."
"Guan Qingtong, focus on recovering this debt. If you succeed, I'll give you half of it as a bonus."
Guan Qingtong's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?"
"Of course," Zhou Huiying confirmed. "I may not be your only boss, but I'm still your boss. You should trust my word."
"Hahaha, Yingjie, you're the best!"
"I'm the best?" Zhou Huiying teased. "Do I rank higher than Sister Su in your heart?"
Guan Qingtong giggled, turning the playful banter into a genuine statement.
"Well, you're not quite there yet. But you still hold a very high place in my heart."
Zhou Huiying rolled her eyes. "Please. Who wants to compete with Su Yirao for a spot in your heart? I'm the one who insisted on hiring you, and now you've become her person."
"Well, we do have this couple status going on, so it's natural to be a bit closer. Yingjie, are you jealous?"
"Jealous of you? Get lost!"
Zhou Huiying playfully swatted her on the head, causing Guan Qingtong to step back, secretly missing the days when Su Yirao would only tease her verbally.
"Yingjie, I'll head to the mall now to see if any other merchants have been scammed." Guan Qingtong found a perfect excuse to escape.
"Alright, off you go."
In just a short time, Guan Qingtong learned that nearly ten merchants in the mall had participated in the mini-program. 'Qiyu Café' had lost five thousand yuan, which was one of the smaller amounts; some clothing stores had lost over a hundred thousand yuan.
That was a significant sum.
The clothing store's legal department had already begun preparing to file a lawsuit, conveniently including her claim in their submission.
Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the trial.
Time passed, and before Guan Qingtong knew it, she received news that Su Yirao was returning from her trip.
Just like last time, she arrived at the airport early, braving the heat with two cups of milk tea, eager to pick her up.
Sister Su had been so proud last time, pretending not to want the milk tea even though she clearly did. It was amusing in hindsight.
Their relationship had since grown closer and more natural, so this time Sister Su wouldn't pull that kind of stunt, right?
Lost in thought, she suddenly spotted Su Yirao walking toward her in the distance.
She was about to call out when...
"Qingtong!" Su Yirao called out first.
The familiar voice made Guan Qingtong's legs move on their own, quickly closing the distance between them.
"Sister, here's your milk tea."
"Thank you." Su Yirao accepted the milk tea with a smile, as expected, without any pretense this time.
Noticing that Su Yirao was holding the milk tea with both hands, Guan Qingtong was about to ask why she was empty-handed.
But when she turned, she saw a tall, handsome man dragging the suitcase Su Yirao had taken on her trip.
This...
Her intuition screamed a warning, and she tried to remain casual as she asked, "Sister, who's this handsome guy?"
"A business partner and old acquaintance," Su Yirao introduced. "Li Hengxuan. He'll be staying in Rongcheng for a while to expand his project, so he came back with me."
No wonder "old acquaintance" had sounded so familiar.
It was Li Hengxuan!
Li Hengxuan was a character from the original story, the admirer of the villainess Su Yirao. He was a hopeless romantic who supported her despite all her misdeeds.
"Hello." Li Hengxuan greeted politely.
"Hello, I'm Guan Qingtong."
As she absorbed Li Hengxuan's identity, Guan Qingtong's mind raced.
Then, with a playful tone and a mischievous smile, she clung to Su Yirao's arm, leaning close as she introduced herself.
"Oh, and Li Hengxuan, I'm also Sister Su's girlfriend."
Sure enough, Li Hengxuan was visibly taken aback.
"Thank you for helping my girlfriend with her suitcase."
"No... no problem." Li Hengxuan turned to Su Yirao, clearly seeking some kind of explanation.
But Su Yirao just smiled gently and didn't deny it, giving Guan Qingtong all the validation she needed.
In private, she discreetly pinched Guan Qingtong's arm as they turned a corner.
As they walked on, Su Yirao leaned in and whispered, "Isn't it hot, clinging to me like that?"
"Not at all," Guan Qingtong replied. "You said that the more we practice, the more natural it'll become. Don't you think I'm getting better at playing the girlfriend role?"
Her serious response made Su Yirao laugh.
"My dear girlfriend, you're jealous," Su Yirao stated with certainty.
She shook her head, laughing. "Li Hengxuan is a trusted old friend of mine. When it's just us, you don't have to overdo the act."
Flustered at having her thoughts exposed, Guan Qingtong blurted out, "Sister, what's there to be jealous of? I'm just worried about being two-timed."
"Sister, as long as I'm still your girlfriend, I'll activate my anti-cheating mechanism!"
"Anti-cheating mechanism?"
Su Yirao laughed, drawing a curious glance from Li Hengxuan.
It seemed he was also interested in their conversation.
But as a man, he felt it was inappropriate to pry into the private matters of two women.
Feeling Li Hengxuan's gaze, Guan Qingtong blushed furiously, lowering her voice even further.
"Sister, if you cheat on me, I'll make sure everyone knows you're a heartbreaker!"
Su Yirao's smile deepened as she playfully narrowed her eyes. "Growing bolder, aren't we? A few days away, and you're already threatening me?"
Seeing Su Yirao's amused expression, Guan Qingtong's confidence swelled.
"Yes, I am threatening you!" she declared. "So, do you promise?"
Su Yirao chuckled softly and suddenly stopped walking, her tone turning lazy as she said, "You're threatening to expose me as a heartbreaker. Shouldn't I at least live up to the title a little?"
Guan Qingtong's breath hitched, suddenly at a loss for words.
Her level just wasn't high enough.
Even with the title of "girlfriend," she was no match for Su Yirao.
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