Compatibility - Chapter 56
Chapter 56
The most indulgent thing was lying in bed while the sunlight was just right, savoring the feel of skin against the blanket and letting every inch of it brush against the soft sheets.
Sleeping in, not going to work, and holding the person you love. Three of the happiest things in the world bundled together made the happiest moment of all.
If it could stay like this forever, that wouldn't be bad at all. Song Nanyin thought smugly and picked up her phone to check her messages. When she opened WeChat, only a few scattered messages came through. A few photos Chai Yue had sent, plus good wishes from coworkers.
Song Nanyin replied to each one, then turned to look at Liu Zhaoran. She was awake too, leaning against her shoulder and rubbing her forehead back and forth against her. Liu Zhaoran had normal skin, neither oily nor too dry, and in the morning her face was clean and fair.
"Isn't this Director Liu? What are you up to this early?" Song Nanyin teased with a smile. Liu Zhaoran could tell from her tone that she was in an excellent mood. Yes, at a time like this, it was hard not to be.
"Can I have a hug from Team Leader Song?" Liu Zhaoran said, and before Song Nanyin could answer, she leaned in and hugged her. Song Nanyin sometimes felt that a hug was even more intimate than sex. In many ways, the closeness a hug brought was something sex could never replace.
But Liu Zhaoran didn't hold on for long. Her hug was like a casual joke, over as soon as it began, so fast that Song Nanyin barely had time to take in the feeling.
Liu Zhaoran leaned against the pillow and took out her phone. Unlike the silence on Song Nanyin's side, Liu Zhaoran's phone was clearly much livelier. It was not a comparison of who had more fireworks, but the stark contrast between a fireworks show and a firecracker lying quiet and unnoticed on the ground.
The moment she opened WeChat, countless messages exploded one after another. Song Nanyin didn't count carefully, but she felt the barrage lasted a full three minutes before gradually stopping.
She saw that the notification on Liu Zhaoran's phone could no longer display a definite number, and somehow her heart turned a little sour. In short, she felt uncomfortable.
"Oh, Director Liu has so many friends. Just reading all these messages must take a while, right?" By now, Song Nanyin had picked up a bit of Liu Zhaoran's snide way of talking.
First, you absolutely had to avoid calling her by name; using a respectful title was key. Then you piled on flattery, with a sour tone, as sarcastic as possible. Song Nanyin caught sight of Zhang Kai's name too, and he had sent a red envelope with no small amount of money.
Song Nanyin looked at it and felt even more sour and irritated. What was this? She was lying right in her arms, and still she was so fickle, so changeable, so charming to everyone all around...
"They're all just nodding acquaintances. Team Leader Song, don't you smell something a little sour?" Liu Zhaoran glanced sideways at Song Nanyin with a smile. She knew perfectly well that a certain little lion was jealous, but the jealousy was rather cute.
"Cut it out. They're only messages. It's not like I don't have any." Song Nanyin couldn't be bothered to watch Liu Zhaoran reply to those people, so she picked up her own phone and chatted with Chai Yue.
Chai Yue said she wanted to invite her to a cafe for afternoon tea, then see a movie and have dinner. Song Nanyin thought it over. It didn't feel quite right to leave Liu Zhaoran alone at home. But Chai Yue rarely came back, and she had come specifically to spend the New Year with her. Refusing the invitation seemed too harsh as well.
With her excellent eyesight, Liu Zhaoran could see every word of the conversation between Song Nanyin and Chai Yue, and she also noticed Song Nanyin hesitating. Liu Zhaoran's original plan was for the two of them to go out for a meal after getting up, then get a spa together.
At the thought that Song Nanyin might leave her behind, Liu Zhaoran narrowed her eyes like a cat about to be provoked, giving off a hint of danger.
Song Nanyin sensed something off in the air, so she turned her head and met Liu Zhaoran's sidelong glance. How to put it? There was a touch of grievance in it, some very obvious expectation, and the preemptive displeasure of someone afraid the expectation would fall through.
Song Nanyin found her reaction strangely funny and wanted to tease her. So she replied to Chai Yue and said she would see her in the afternoon.
Seeing that Song Nanyin had agreed to Chai Yue's invitation without even asking her, Liu Zhaoran frowned, dark eyes flashing with displeasure. She ignored Song Nanyin completely, wrapped herself in the blanket, and rolled over to face the other way.
"Black-Hearted Lotus, what are you going to do this afternoon?" Taking in Liu Zhaoran's reaction, Song Nanyin delighted in the rare chance to bully her.
"What else? Resting at home." Knowing that Song Nanyin already had plans and was still putting on an act of asking her, Liu Zhaoran felt even more displeased. She closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering.
"Then... do you want to come with me?" Afraid she had truly annoyed Liu Zhaoran, Song Nanyin said what was on her mind. She really couldn't turn down Chai Yue's invitation, but she also really didn't want to leave Liu Zhaoran at home alone.
After thinking it over, this seemed like the only way. Chai Yue had met Liu Zhaoran back in college, so they weren't complete strangers, and the meeting wouldn't be too awkward.
"If Team Leader Song wants to go and hang out with her friend, then go. No need to worry about my feelings, and no need to be afraid I'll be lonely at home. If I tagged along, it wouldn't be good to interrupt your best friend gathering."
When Liu Zhaoran heard the invitation, the corner of her mouth lifted, but she still had to say the opposite of what she meant, every word full of insincerity. She wanted to go, but she wasn't going to say it.
"Uh... you..." Song Nanyin was at a loss for words. She felt that Liu Zhaoran's speech had not mentioned wanting to go in a single word, yet every word expressed it.
If she failed to read between the lines and really left her at home, Song Nanyin was certain she would have to pay much more later to "make it up" to Liu Zhaoran.
"Come with me. Anyway, it's not like you've never met Chai Yue." After Song Nanyin said that, Liu Zhaoran didn't answer and stayed silent. After a while, Song watched her throw off the covers and get out of bed. Her back still carried the kiss marks Song had left there the day before.
A vivid patch of red, very pretty.
"Where are you going?"
"Didn't you arrange to meet in the afternoon? If you don't get up now, you'll be late."
With that, Liu Zhaoran went straight to the bathroom. Song Nanyin snapped back to her senses, ran a hand through her long hair, and went to the other bathroom.
Although on the surface it was a friend gathering, Song Nanyin knew very well that Liu Zhaoran and Chai Yue weren't merely unfamiliar with each other. They might even hold some resentment toward one another. After all, back in college, she had badmouthed Liu Zhaoran to Chai Yue more than once.
Song Nanyin did simple makeup, then turned around to see Liu Zhaoran still brushing her lashes in front of the mirror. On ordinary workdays, Liu Zhaoran only wore full makeup when she had meetings, yet today she had gone all out. Song Nanyin could guess her little scheme. The Black-Hearted Lotus had truly not changed.
"Alright, let's go."
"Mm. Speaking of which, she still doesn't know about our relationship, and I haven't told her about the changes in my body."
Song Nanyin didn't think Liu Zhaoran was a blabbermouth, but it was still necessary to remind her. Too many strange things had happened recently. Leaving aside the changes in her own body, the matter between her and Liu Zhaoran alone was enough to shock Chai Yue.
"Okay, I won't say anything. I'll just be Team Leader Song's secret lover." Liu Zhaoran said languidly, car keys in hand, and her tone almost carried a trace of grievance. Song Nanyin pouted. It had clearly been this Black-Hearted Lotus who didn't like her, and now she had a chance to turn it around and blame Song.
When the two of them arrived at the cafe, Chai Yue was already there. She sat by the window, and seeing Song Nanyin come in with Liu Zhaoran of all people, she clearly lost control of her expression.
Seeing her staring at them with shock and astonishment, Song Nanyin patted her shoulder to signal that she should close her mouth. If she kept gaping like that, she could fit an apple in it.
"Miss Chai, long time no see. I'm Liu Zhaoran. Team Leader Song must have mentioned me. I'm living with her now, so you could say I'm sort of her roommate."
Compared with Chai Yue's fuss, Liu Zhaoran was far too composed, since she had come fully prepared. Hearing this, Chai Yue snapped out of it, glared at Song Nanyin for not warning her, and put on an indifferent expression.
"It has been a long time. What are you two drinking? I'll order." Chai Yue said, then gave Song Nanyin a meaningful look. Song Nanyin caught it and followed her to the counter.
"Seriously, why did you bring her along? And why did you act first and tell me later?" Chai Yue grabbed Song Nanyin's sleeve the moment they left the table. Song Nanyin could only say that leaving Liu Zhaoran at home alone was too boring, so she had brought her along for dinner.
"Oh, so you two are pretty close. It's been years since I saw her, but I think she's gotten even prettier. I suddenly understand why you could never beat her before."
Chai Yue muttered under her breath and stabbed a small knife straight into Song Nanyin's heart. In the past, Song Nanyin would have jumped up to argue, but now she hardly felt anything...
"Ordered. Let's go back." Song Nanyin ordered the coffees she and Liu Zhaoran usually drank and returned to the table with Chai Yue. The three of them didn't have much in common, but adults were best at surface socializing, and work was always a topic that never ran out.
As they chatted, the waiter brought the coffee over, and the tray held a small dish of seasonings. Song Nanyin glanced at it and called the waiter back.
"Excuse me, could I have a packet of brown sugar? My friend isn't used to white sugar." Song Nanyin said softly. The waiter nodded and brought over some packets of brown sugar instead.
Chai Yue was about to ask when Song Nanyin had changed tastes when she saw her naturally open the brown sugar, pour it into Liu Zhaoran's coffee, and hand it to her. Liu Zhaoran didn't even say thank you and simply took it.
It was a very small but extremely subtle gesture. Song Nanyin and Liu Zhaoran weren't sitting all that close, but between them hung an inexplicable aura that was hard to put into words.
Chai Yue watched Song Nanyin and Liu Zhaoran hand each other the things they didn't like, knowing each other's little habits inside out. In just this one hour, she caught on, and she silently cried, "Wow."
Had her best friend quietly gone gay, and with her former love rival no less?
Chai Yue took a sip of coffee, watched Song Nanyin put a piece of matcha cake onto Liu Zhaoran's plate, cleared her throat, and suddenly spoke.
"You two have slept together, haven't you?" Chai Yue dropped the bombshell. At that moment, Song Nanyin was drinking coffee and choked. She fumbled for a tissue to wipe her mouth. Liu Zhaoran, by contrast, stayed perfectly calm and composed, not nervous at all.
"Hey, what are you talking about? I..." Song Nanyin wanted to say no, but the truth was yes. They had, and many times, even as recently as last night...
"Drink slower. Don't choke again." Since they had been found out, Liu Zhaoran stopped pretending and spoke softly to Song Nanyin. Chai Yue watched her best friend's ears turn red and let out a helpless sigh.
"Spill it. What's going on with you two? Especially you, Song Nanyin. Aren't you a straight woman?"
"Geez, why do you have to ask so clearly? How did you even tell?"
Song Nanyin was too embarrassed to talk about that kind of thing here, let alone explain the real reason she and Liu Zhaoran had gotten together. She couldn't very well say she was the one who had walked right into the tiger's mouth, could she?
Hearing Song Nanyin ask that, Chai Yue rolled her eyes inwardly. She thought, the romantic tension between you two is practically steaming up the whole place. Anyone who couldn't see that would have to be an idiot.
Chai Yue knew Song Nanyin. She knew she was the type who was warm on the surface but cold underneath, a real homebody who was hard to get close to. But now she knew exactly what Liu Zhaoran liked and exactly what kind of sugar Liu Zhaoran took in her coffee. Anyone familiar with Song Nanyin could see something was up right away.
So a perfectly good best friend gathering turned into Chai Yue's gossip session. Before it ended, while Song Nanyin went to pay, Chai Yue took out her phone, waved it at Liu Zhaoran, and the two added each other as friends.
Chai Yue didn't know about the complicated relationship between Song Nanyin and Liu Zhaoran. She just thought they were dating. When she left, she patted Song Nanyin on the shoulder and mouthed, "We'll talk on the phone tonight."
Song Nanyin knew that when she got home tonight, she would inevitably face another long round of questioning from Chai Yue.
Woah, caught so fast 😂
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