“Whoa, look at you freak out like that,” Peiwen said with a dramatic grimace as she quickly grabbed a napkin from the table and handed it to her.
Tang Yan reached out and wiped her mouth, completely flustered and embarrassed.
“I just didn’t expect you to mean that kind of video…”
“What else did you think I meant?” Peiwen grinned devilishly. “Don’t tell me… you’ve never watched one before?”
Tang Yan dabbed her mouth and set the napkin down with a serious expression, defending herself like she was in court. “I’ve been focused on studying my whole life. I didn’t care about… any of that stuff.”
“So it’s not wrong to call you a pure little puppy, huh?” Peiwen burst into laughter, covering her mouth. She was being way too much. Tang Yan felt utterly humiliated.
“Can you please stop laughing at me.”
“Alright, alright, I’m done,” Peiwen said, trying to rein in her laughter. She pinched a corner of a tissue and dabbed the corners of her eyes so she wouldn’t ruin her makeup. She was seriously laughing to the point of tears.
Tang Yan took a couple more bites, then hesitantly asked, “So those videos… do they actually help? Can they really make me more experienced, just like that?”
That sent Peiwen into another fit. She clutched her stomach, waving her hand at Tang Yan like, please stop talking. Tang Yan sat there, face green with embarrassment, silently sipping water while dodging the curious glances from nearby tables.
After a while, Peiwen finally calmed down, guzzled some water, and caught her breath. Tang Yan was still waiting on some real advice—this whole outing had turned into an endless roast session.
“Look, Tang Yan,” Peiwen said, still fighting a smirk, “you only get better at that stuff with practice. The first time’s bound to be awkward. But I doubt she’s going to mind. Don’t overthink it. Just go with the flow. Everyone has a first time, right? You’ll get more comfortable with experience.”
Tang Yan sat stiffly, mechanically lifting a forkful of grilled meat to her mouth, chewing like a robot. She stared at Peiwen with mournful eyes.
“…Okay. I get it.”
“Oh, and those videos I’ll send you? Absolute classics. Watch carefully—you’ll learn a lot of techniques.” Peiwen gave her a wicked grin.
“I just want to eat dinner in peace. Can we please change the topic now?” Tang Yan begged, her face burning.
“Alright, alright, you’re still young. Gotta leave you some dignity.” Peiwen chuckled, then changed the subject. “Wanna hear some stories about Ji-jie back when we worked together?”
“Yes, please!” Tang Yan’s eyes lit up instantly. She loved hearing anything about her. After all, she still didn’t know nearly enough.
“You know, back then we used to call her something. Not in a bad way.”
“What nickname?” Tang Yan asked, curious.
“‘Golden Single Heiress.’”
“Huh?” Tang Yan blinked. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means exactly what it sounds like—she’s rich, beautiful, and single. Practically every guy in the office was into her. Too bad she never even looked their way.”
Tang Yan burst out laughing. “Yeah… that sounds exactly like Aunt Ji.”
If she wasn’t interested, she made that very clear. No messing around. And thank god—before Tang Yan came along, she hadn’t given anyone else a chance.
“There’s loads of funny stories, too. Like once…” Peiwen paused mid-sentence. “Ugh, this night’s too long. Want to order some wine?”
Tang Yan quickly waved her hands. “No way. I’ve gotta drive home later.”
Peiwen glanced at the sleek black car parked outside, catching people’s eyes. “Ji-jie is way too generous. That model Benz? Easily over a million.”
“What?” Tang Yan’s jaw dropped. She’d known it was expensive, but that expensive?
“You didn’t know?”
She shook her head. “I know nothing about cars.”
“Well, you’d better work hard and treat her right, seriously. She’s the kind of person who gives her all when she cares about someone. Back when we used to eat out together, she never let me pay. She’s always thinking of others—sometimes too much.”
Tang Yan nodded. “I know what I have to do.”
Just then, her phone rang—it was Aunt Ji.
“When are you coming home? Want me to come pick you up?” Ji Yuqing asked over the phone.
“No, no, I’m on my way. I’ll be home soon,” Tang Yan replied.
After hanging up, Peiwen asked who it was. Tang Yan told her and didn’t stay long—she paid the bill and left. She owed Peiwen a meal anyway.
When she got home, she found Aunt Ji standing at the door waiting for her. She parked and rushed over. “There are so many mosquitoes outside. Why didn’t you wait inside?”
“I was waiting for you,” Ji Yuqing said with a soft smile. “Who’d you have dinner with?”
Only then did Tang Yan realize she’d forgotten to text. “I was with Sister Peiwen. We were… discussing academic stuff.”
Ji Yuqing burst out laughing. “You’re STEM, she’s liberal arts—and you’re discussing academics?”
Tang Yan scratched the back of her head, totally busted.
“Anyway, I already ate, so let’s get some rest. Tomorrow’s the weekend—I’ll go with you to move your stuff.”
“Okay.” Tang Yan nodded, but as Ji Yuqing was about to head inside, she called out again, “Aunt Ji?”
“Hm?”
“That car you gave me… was it really expensive?”
“Not that much. Good cars are just safer and better overall.”
Tang Yan pouted. “I’m going to work hard and buy you an even better one someday.”
“I don’t want it. Don’t waste money on me.” Ji Yuqing waved her off and walked into her room.
Tang Yan stood there, feeling a little defeated. Aunt Ji had way more money—why would she ever need something she bought?
Late that night.
After a shower, Tang Yan returned to find a few files sitting on her laptop. They were from Peiwen. She didn’t even open them—just shut the computer, rubbed her eyes, and collapsed into bed. Too tired. She’d “study” tomorrow night.
Saturday.
Ji Yuqing accompanied her to her old rental to move out and cancel the lease. The landlady was surprisingly nice and didn’t charge a termination fee, though the extra rent Tang Yan had paid wasn’t refunded.
Still, compared to a few months’ rent?
Tang Yan would choose Aunt Ji in a heartbeat.
She was priceless.
Honestly, Ji Yuqing packed even more neatly than Tang Yan. She even cleaned the place—including the windows. Tang Yan had no choice but to admit defeat.
She walked up from behind, hugged her around the waist, and asked in a childish voice, “Are you tired?”
Ji Yuqing smiled. “Not really. What about you?”
“I’m not tired. You’re doing all the work—how could I be tired?” Tang Yan tightened her arms. “But from now on, all the dirty, tiring chores—I’ll do them. You just watch. I’m strong. Like a bull.”
“Pfft.” Ji Yuqing turned to face her and tapped her nose with a damp finger. “Yes, my little bull.”
“Why little bull?” Tang Yan protested.
“Because you’re younger than me.” Ji Yuqing crouched to tape up a box.
“Nope. I want to be a big bull.”
“Little bull is little bull.” Ji Yuqing teased on purpose.
Tang Yan, not willing to give in, charged at her, scooped her up bridal-style. Ji Yuqing let out a surprised yelp.
This girl really is strong as a bull…
“Put me down! Let’s finish packing so we can go home,” Ji Yuqing said, patting her shoulder.
“Not unless you admit I’m a big bull.” Tang Yan pouted.
“Fine, fine, you’re the big bull. Happy now?”
Satisfied, Tang Yan finally set her down, beaming.
That night.
It was late. The house was quiet. Tang Yan wolfed down dinner at record speed, cleaned up in record time, and raced back to her room. Ji Yuqing watched, baffled. Suspicious.
Windows shut, door locked, breath held—Tang Yan went through every ritual like she was preparing for a sacred ceremony.
She took a deep breath, sat down, and opened the email. Waiting for the video files to download felt like torture. She was so tense. She’d never watched this kind of thing before.
Finally, the download finished.
Hands slightly trembling, she opened the folder. Dozens of video thumbnails popped up. Some of the covers alone were enough to make her blush furiously.
Heart pounding, she quietly plugged in her headphones. No one must know.
She was about ten minutes in when someone knocked—thump thump, thump thump. But she didn’t hear it.
“Yan Yan, open the door.”
Still nothing.
Ji Yuqing gave up and twisted the doorknob. Tang Yan jumped like she’d been electrocuted. She slammed the video window closed, revealing a blank desktop, and yanked off her headphones—face red, heart racing, every emotion flashing across her face in seconds.
“What were you doing in here? I called you so many times and you didn’t hear me,” Ji Yuqing asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Uh—I—Sister Peiwen sent me some videos! Yeah! Work training videos.”
“Oh?” Ji Yuqing nodded, not quite buying it.
Tang Yan shifted in her chair, trying to act normal—until the headphone jack accidentally popped out.
From the laptop speakers came those unmistakable sounds.
They echoed through the room.
Tang Yan wanted to dig a hole and bury herself alive.
“Ohh~ so that’s the training video Peiwen sent you?” Ji Yuqing said, lips curled into an amused smirk, her tone dripping with mischief.
Tang Yan: …
(dead)