After the Online Romance with the Campus Beauty Roommate Went Wrong - Chapter 44

For a moment, Sang Shi’an thought she was hallucinating from too much wine.

What had Jian Chenyu just called her?

Cat Cat?

Was Jian Chenyu drunk?

She met her own gaze in the mirror, staring into those satisfied, light amber eyes for a few seconds before surreptitiously pinching her thigh. She cautiously glanced back at the mirror.

Jian Chenyu was still holding her.

And her eyes were growing darker.

This wasn’t a hallucination.

The unusual warmth from the alcohol gradually dissipated from her body, starkly contrasting with her panicked pupils. The walk-in closet was eerily silent.

In this tense atmosphere, Jian Chenyu’s intimate embrace only intensified her unease. Every inch of her body burned with the heat radiating from Jian Chenyu, sending shivers down her spine. Even with her alcohol-dulled senses, Sang Shi’an could sense the danger.

She instinctively straightened up, no longer leaning limply against Jian Chenyu, trying to minimize physical contact.

Sang Shi’an struggled to gather her thoughts, stumbling over her words as she tried to speak. But when she met Jian Chenyu’s deep, penetrating gaze again, she seized the opportunity, summoning all her strength to push Jian Chenyu away and bolt toward the door.

Jian Chenyu moved even faster. Her slender, pale hand wrapped around Sang Shi’an’s waist once more, tightening like the jungle vines Sang Shi’an had mentioned during their video call—wrapping tighter and tighter, constricting her completely.

“What are you hiding from, Cat Cat?”

Jian Chenyu’s nose brushed lightly against the back of her neck.

“Why did you go out drinking again?”

Her voice was soft and low, the warm timbre sending shivers down Sang Shi’an’s spine. Her eyelashes fluttered even more violently.

Sang Shi’an was too preoccupied to process anything else Jian Chenyu said. Her mind was consumed by the fact that Jian Chenyu had called her “Cat Cat.”

So Jian Chenyu already knew.

No wonder Jian Chenyu had returned to Left Bank on a Saturday.

No wonder Jian Chenyu had remained so calm after their breakup.

Because Jian Chenyu already knew she was Cat Cat, already knew she had been deceived. But when had Jian Chenyu discovered the truth?

Before tonight, Jian Chenyu had shown no signs of suspicion. Could it have been after she broke up with him?

Had the Cat Cat Account been registered with her real name? No, WeChat now required real-name registration. Given Jian Chenyu’s fondness for lawyers, he could have found a legal pretext to sue WeChat and obtain her information.

Or perhaps she had slipped up tonight? But she couldn’t recall any messages she had sent Jian Chenyu or any Cat Cat-like behaviors she had exhibited at his house.

Sang Shi’an shrank back, her mind clearing slightly, or perhaps becoming even more sluggish. She gazed at Jian Chenyu’s subtly shifting expression in the mirror and nervously called out, “Sister Chenyu?”

Calling me “Older Sister” when there’s no reason? Either she’s guilty or she’s hiding something.

Jian Chenyu loosened her grip slightly, turned Sang Shi’an around, and pulled her back into her arms.

Their heights were nearly identical. Now, with their slender bodies pressed face-to-face, they fit together perfectly, their embrace seamless and intimate.

The familiar woody fragrance filled Sang Shi’an’s nostrils as Jian Chenyu buried her face in the crook of her neck, her breath growing increasingly hot.

Sang Shi’an froze, utterly still, like a helpless cat being kneaded.

“My earrings might poke you…”

The pressure on her ear eased as the ornate diamond earrings were removed. Then Jian Chenyu pulled her closer, tightening her embrace.

Holding Sang Shi’an in her arms, Jian Chenyu finally achieved her desire. The warmth radiating from Sang Shi’an slowly seeped into her taut nerves, finally soothing the heart that had been racing wildly since seeing the word “breakup.”

The pent-up anger and anxiety had driven her to the brink of madness. She had suppressed the urge to confront Sang Shi’an, allowing her to enjoy her birthday with friends, while she quietly waited at home.

Just as she was about to lose patience, she received a call from Sang Shiyue, informing her that Sang Shi’an was coming home. The overwhelming emotions that had been threatening to overwhelm her finally began to subside.

Jian Chenyu pressed herself deeply into Sang Shi’an’s embrace, her sharp nose tracing up and down Sang Shi’an’s neck. When her chin brushed against Sang Shi’an’s collarbone, she clearly felt the person in her arms swallow nervously several times.

Jian Chenyu chuckled softly, a sound filled with genuine amusement.

But her laughter only made Sang Shi’an even more tense. She swallowed again and stammered, “You…”

“Don’t move,” Jian Chenyu said, pressing her hand firmly against Sang Shi’an’s waist with a hint of displeasure. She continued to revel in Sang Shi’an’s soft embrace.

After a few minutes, perhaps because Jian Chenyu’s actions were becoming too intimate, Sang Shi’an thought that Jian Chenyu, blinded by her infatuation, was still basking in the joy of having Cat Cat back and hadn’t yet considered the motive behind her transformation.

This meant there was still a chance to fabricate an explanation.

Sang Shi’an struggled slightly, her face flushed, and whispered, “Let me go first. I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us.”

Jian Chenyu seemed to anticipate her intention. “You want to say you’re not Cat Cat, and someone else just used your WeChat account?”

Sang Shi’an: …

So it really was a problem with the WeChat account.

Sang Shi’an’s beautiful face crumpled into a distressed frown. “Yeah, that’s it.”

“So, let’s talk this through properly first?”

Jian Chenyu hesitated for a few seconds before releasing Sang Shi’an.

Sang Shi’an immediately retreated, only to be yanked back by the collar by Jian Chenyu. “Just like this.”

Jian Chenyu’s hand hovered lightly at Sang Shi’an’s waist, the distance still uncomfortably close. At least, Sang Shi’an felt that if Jian Chenyu, enraged and humiliated, were to slap her, she wouldn’t be able to dodge it.

She tried to negotiate. “Do we really need to be this close?”

“Just like this,” Jian Chenyu said, brooking no argument.

Sang Shi’an seemed to resign herself, hanging her head. “That account… it was being used by a close friend of mine. She said she really liked you but didn’t know how to approach you, so I helped her out.”

“But I never expected her family to make her go back home and take the civil service exam after graduation. It’s just… you know, she couldn’t help it. Please understand her situation. And don’t ask me who she is—she already feels really guilty.”

“And…”

In the walk-in closet, Sang Shi’an’s voice trailed off, her head bowed as she fabricated a story about a friend borrowing her WeChat account. She didn’t even dare to meet Jian Chenyu’s gaze.

Her dress was completely disheveled from their embrace, the neckline stained with a peach-blossom blush, strands of hair clinging to it. Her cheeks were flushed crimson, and her lips, half-bitten and half-pursed, were equally red. Only her unintentionally raised gaze remained dewy, as if deliberately trying to seduce.

Yet Sang Shi’an remained oblivious, still stammering out clumsy excuses for the undeniable truth.

Jian Chenyu took a deep breath, the suppressed intensity in her eyes deepening. She cupped Sang Shi’an’s chin, her thumb gently kneading Sang Shi’an’s lips, silencing her.

From Sang Shi’an’s words, Jian Chenyu gleaned one crucial piece of information: “So Cat Cat really likes me that much, huh?”

Even in her drunken haze, Sang Shi’an sensed that Jian Chenyu’s words weren’t aligned with what she was trying to explain. She hesitated, then corrected, “The Cat Cat who sent you those messages… she really does like you a lot.”

Jian Chenyu released her hand, as if genuinely considering this. “But why would she want to break up with me?”

Sang Shi’an patiently explained again, “Didn’t she tell you? She’s a senior about to graduate, and her parents want her to take the civil service exam and come back home.”

Jian Chenyu, lost in her own thoughts, shook her head. “But we’ve known each other for two months. Even if she wanted to break up, shouldn’t she have come to say goodbye in person?”

Sang Shi’an knew she hadn’t handled this well. Seeing that Jian Chenyu now believed Cat Cat was someone else, she decided to play along. “Yeah, I agree. It was pretty harsh of her. But she liked you so much before, there must be a reason. You were the one dating her—if you don’t know, how would I?”

“So she’s unwilling to admit it because she has some hidden reason?”

Sang Shi’an forced herself to whisper, “Probably.”

A lazy chuckle came from above.

The hard-won ten-centimeter gap between them vanished as Jian Chenyu leaned closer. “Actually, I suspected this before I even came.”

Sang Shi’an asked, puzzled, “Guessed what?”

Jian Chenyu explained, “During my interactions with Cat Cat, we video-called countless nights. She’s easily embarrassed, so she’d naturally be too shy to meet me in person and would refuse to admit it.”

Sang Shi’an fell silent.

She had always strictly separated herself from Cat Cat, and one of the main reasons she stubbornly denied being her was precisely because of the clothes she had worn and the seductive gestures she had made on camera for Jian Chenyu.

Jian Chenyu turned around, picked up the suit she had placed on the kitchen island upon entering, and said, “One time might not make up for all those previous times, so I’ll leave the lights on. That way, you can see everything more clearly.”

She took the suit and placed it in Sang Shi’an’s arms. “Hold this for me first.”

Sang Shi’an froze, still reeling from the shock that Jian Chenyu seemed to still believe she was Cat Cat. Before she could fully process this, she saw Jian Chenyu lift her hand and adjust the strap of her nightgown.

“You—”

Sang Shi’an’s voice abruptly cut off, her eyes wide with panic and uncertainty as she stared at Jian Chenyu.

The thin shoulder strap slid down to the middle of her arm, barely caught by the fullness of her chest, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin.

It was clear she wasn’t wearing anything under the nightgown.

Jian Chenyu brushed her long hair behind her shoulder and asked softly, “You said you wanted to see me in formal attire. If I change in front of you, will you be more comfortable with it?”

Sang Shi’an froze, her face incredulous. “Wait, Jian Chenyu! Don’t move! Stop! What are you doing? Stop!”

“Do you want me to follow your instructions? I can cooperate,” Jian Chenyu said, hooking the remaining shoulder strap. Her tone was sincere, not feigned. “If you’re embarrassed, don’t worry about telling me to stop. Just watch.”

Sang Shi’an: “I’m not—”

Jian Chenyu’s expression remained calm. Her slender fingers hooked the strap at her shoulder, like a scientist manipulating a test tube. With a slight lift of her fingertips, the strap slid down her arm, the precise sound of the gown slipping to the floor audible.

In that instant, Sang Shi’an squeezed her eyes shut.

The suit she held dropped to her feet.

The nightgown was perfectly fitted, designed to slip only to the waist. Sang Shi’an tentatively reached out, her trembling hands finding Jian Chenyu’s waist. As expected, she felt the bunched-up fabric.

Caught between pulling the gown back up and fleeing, Sang Shi’an made her choice almost instinctively, turning away once more.

But Jian Chenyu, who had seemed relaxed, had anticipated her move. With a swift twist, she pinned Sang Shi’an’s wrist and swept her onto the kitchen island.

A damp whisper brushed against Sang Shi’an’s ear: “Will I have to lock you up to make you behave?”

The words pierced Sang Shi’an’s heart, forcing her eyes open briefly. Her gaze fell upon a scene of decadent crimson, the pale skin around it flushed with a delicate pink. In that moment, even the most dazzling diamonds in the walk-in closet paled in comparison.

Sang Shi’an quickly closed her eyes again, a sheen of tears welling up on her trembling lashes.

She heard the sound of a foot lifting and then landing.

The nightgown slid completely to the floor. This time, Jian Chenyu had truly laid herself bare.

“Cat Cat, if you don’t mind, I’ll change now?” Jian Chenyu’s breath grew increasingly heated.

Sang Shi’an’s back stiffened. She heard the rustle of clothing on the floor and each of Jian Chenyu’s barely audible breaths.

Jian Chenyu seemed to pick up a shirt and placed it over the back of Sang Shi’an’s hand. “If you don’t open your eyes, I’ll continue?”

Sang Shi’an was momentarily speechless. “Hurry—”

“Alright.”

Jian Chenyu’s legs pressed against Sang Shi’an’s knees. The rustling of fabric as she unfolded and brushed against Sang Shi’an filled the air.

Sang Shi’an had never realized how long it could take to put on a shirt.

Jian Chenyu’s movements were actually quite swift, but Sang Shi’an could precisely distinguish the sound of each button being fastened.

Throughout the entire process, Sang Shi’an kept her eyes closed. She could feel Jian Chenyu’s burning body heat and the scorching warmth radiating from their legs pressed together.

Only after fastening the final button, tightly encasing every inch of skin, did Jian Chenyu put on her suit jacket and pants. Her voice was hoarse as she said, “You can open your eyes now.”

Sang Shi’an slowly opened her eyes, her gaze landing directly on Jian Chenyu’s chest. The white shirt concealed everything, yet couldn’t hide the two vivid crimson marks beneath.

Fine beads of sweat covered Sang Shi’an’s forehead, and stray strands of hair clung messily to her skin, as if she had been thoroughly ravaged. Her voice trembled with tears as she pleaded, “The suit jacket… button it up too.”

Jian Chenyu’s nimble fingers fastened her coat, finally achieving a flawless, dignified appearance.

The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. Sang Shi’an slumped against the kitchen island, wiping her eyes roughly. Even her usually meticulous makeup was now forgotten.

Jian Chenyu stood before her, impeccably dressed and composed. If not for the lingering blush on her neck, Sang Shi’an might have doubted whether the entire transformation had been a figment of her imagination.

Picking up the nightgown from the floor, Jian Chenyu folded it neatly into thirds and carefully placed it on the nearby sofa. Then, she calmly raised her eyes to meet Sang Shi’an’s.

Sang Shi’an’s eyes were fiercely red-rimmed. Leaning against the island counter, she glared at Jian Chenyu, her gaze both fierce and vulnerable. “Jian Chenyu, are you insane?”

Jian Chenyu studied her intently for a moment before stepping closer, her leg pressing against Sang Shi’an’s. She reached out to gently brush aside a stray strand of hair. Her fingertip brushed softly against the corner of Sang Shi’an’s eye as she said, “As long as you don’t hide from me, anything is fine.”

The curse Sang Shi’an had been about to hurl died on her lips. Instead, she lunged forward and bit Jian Chenyu’s hand fiercely.

Jian Chenyu’s brow furrowed slightly, but she didn’t flinch, allowing Sang Shi’an to vent her frustration. Her gaze remained fixed on Sang Shi’an’s face, patiently enduring her outburst.

Sang Shi’an paused when she tasted a faint metallic tang of bl00d on her tongue. She released her grip, gasped heavily, and sobered almost completely. “So you didn’t believe a word I said earlier.”

Jian Chenyu: “You’re Cat Cat.”

Sang Shi’an closed her eyes, realizing she had nowhere left to retreat. It was as if she were surrendering to Jian Chenyu, or perhaps to herself. “Yes, I’m Cat Cat.”

“I deliberately seduced you into an online relationship. I had ulterior motives.”

“I hated you so much.”

“When school started, you stopped me from touching your suitcase, saying you had a special fetish. I didn’t understand, so I searched for it online. There were countless results, even ones involving murder and arson. I had nightmares for two whole months.”

“Later, I borrowed your computer and found your search history.” After realizing she had fallen for Jian Chenyu, Sang Shi’an had desperately tried to deny her past behavior and actions toward her.

But now that she had confessed to being Cat Cat, these things were inevitably brought up. She found it wasn’t as difficult as she’d imagined.

It was just shattering Jian Chenyu’s impression of her, just letting Jian Chenyu lose all hope in her.

Eventually, when Jian Chenyu’s fevered mind cooled and tomorrow’s sun rose as usual, she would realize all this anyway.

Better to tell her herself.

“…It was during that time that I discovered your sexual orientation—you like girls.”

“But we had already agreed to pretend to be a couple. I couldn’t break our agreement, yet I couldn’t stop caring about you.”

“Later, our families proposed a marriage between you and my brother. I’m sorry, I couldn’t bear to watch my brother marry you while being kept in the dark. But I didn’t want to hurt you by confronting you directly, so…”

“So you pretended to be Cat Cat and ‘dated’ me, hoping I would reject the marriage with your brother,” Jian Chenyu interrupted, as if she had anticipated this all along.

“And tonight, when I rejected your brother, Cat Cat had fulfilled its purpose. So you fabricated the excuse of going home to prepare for civil service exams, hoping to minimize the hurt.”

Just listening to this, Sang Shi’an felt utterly despicable for toying with someone’s feelings. “I-I-I’ve never liked anyone before, and I never imagined you would care so much about Cat Cat. I thought it would be a simple thing. I apologize. You can yell at me, hit me, or demand compensation—anything you want.”

Her voice trembled with tears. Sang Shi’an thought, This time, Jian Chenyu will never forgive me.

“Did you think me changing in front of you just now was about settling accounts?” Jian Chenyu’s fingertip brushed the corner of Sang Shi’an’s eye. “It was indeed for those nights you wore dresses for me, but it wasn’t about settling accounts, nor was it compensation.”

She paused, as if searching for the right words.

“I thought you’d like it. I’d rather define it as… a reward.”

Jian Chenyu leaned closer and took Sang Shi’an’s hand.

Sang Shi’an’s eyes locked with Jian Chenyu’s. As that intimate warmth enveloped her, she felt a dizzying sensation, as if she might drown in Jian Chenyu’s gaze.

Feeling Jian Chenyu’s fingertip caress the back of her hand, a subtle itch rose beneath her skin.

Sang Shi’an suddenly felt like she was still drunk.

How else could she not understand Jian Chenyu’s words?

“A reward?” she asked slowly. “You’re not angry with me?”

Jian Chenyu shook her head. “No, Cat Cat is over.”

Sang Shi’an sensed something unspoken.

Cat Cat was over, yet Jian Chenyu still sought her out.

Perhaps Jian Chenyu truly didn’t care.

But Sang Shi’an had initially treated Jian Chenyu with such cruel deception. Could she really not care?

Could it be that Jian Chenyu actually liked her?

After discovering she was Cat Cat, had he transferred all his affection for Cat Cat onto her?

“Jian Chenyu, how can you not blame me? Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I did it on purpose! I didn’t want you to hurt my brother. I wanted to stop your sham marriage. I—”

Her lips were sealed.

Jian Chenyu kissed her.

A forceful, resolute, tender, and lingering kiss.

Sang Shi’an’s pupils contracted sharply. Her hands, braced against the kitchen island, clenched into fists. Her rigid body was drawn inch by inch into Jian Chenyu’s embrace.

Her dry lips gradually became moist, utterly unlike the accidental kiss when Sang Shi’an had been probing Jian Chenyu’s feelings. Jian Chenyu’s tongue gently pried open her tightly clenched teeth, caressing every inch of her mouth before coaxing her into a passionate dance.

Sang Shi’an instinctively wanted to reciprocate, but reason urged her to flee. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as Jian Chenyu’s legs wedged between hers, pulling her into a tight embrace. She could feel the hard suit buttons pressing between their chests.

Their mingled breaths thickened the air. Sang Shi’an opened her mouth to speak, but Jian Chenyu’s kiss forcefully silenced her.

Her entire body burned. For Sang Shi’an, who had never experienced a kiss before, this was overwhelming. She struggled to breathe as Jian Chenyu’s kiss gradually consumed her rationality, leaving her only able to gasp weakly before being swallowed whole again.

“Cat Cat should have ended long ago. I came here tonight for you, Sang Shi’an.” Just as Sang Shi’an was about to suffocate, Jian Chenyu finally released her, her voice hoarse and unusually gentle.

“I hope your understanding of me goes beyond what you read online.”

Sang Shi’an was frozen in terror, only now belatedly realizing the true meaning behind Jian Chenyu’s earlier words.

A faint smile curved Jian Chenyu’s lips as she asked softly, “Now, do you understand me a little better?”