This Director Is Not To Be Trifled With - Chapter 24

Suddenly, Song Xian’s heart began to race. She turned her head and met Xiao Yutong’s gaze. In the moonlight, shadows danced on her side profile, and beneath those dim eyes, Song Xian couldn’t quite decipher what feelings were hidden.

Still, she found the words beautiful. Even if they weren’t meant for her, it was enough.

They locked eyes for about a minute. Song Xian’s gaze then shifted to Xiao Yutong’s exposed collarbone. She was wearing a spaghetti strap nightdress, her white shoulders on display. Just below the collarbone were marks she had left a few days ago. Song Xian couldn’t understand why this woman was so enticing maybe it was something in Xiao Yutong’s very nature, something in her genes that drew her in.

In this moonlit night, with such a beauty before her, Song Xian felt a dryness in her throat and subconsciously swallowed. She feared that Xiao Yutong would notice her strange reaction and kick her out, so she nervously placed the cigarette back in her mouth.

Song Xian had never been good at hiding her emotions clumsy, really. So naturally, Xiao Yutong noticed something was off.

With a soft chuckle, Xiao Yutong walked two steps closer, picking up a cigarette from the balcony table. She pulled one out and placed it between her lips. “Lend me a light.”

Before Song Xian could react, Xiao Yutong leaned in. Their breaths and the wind carried the flames from Song Xian’s cigarette to hers. In no time, a faint spark lit the tip. She inhaled, tilted her head back slightly, and exhaled a smoke ring that the breeze quickly scattered.

Xiao Yutong said, “Natsume Soseki used that as a confession you don’t think that’s too subtle? Not everyone would understand it.”

Song Xian took a drag of her cigarette too. “But you understood it.”

Xiao Yutong took another puff, blowing out a larger smoke ring. After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, “Song Xian, I think I kind of like you.”

Song Xian’s heart skipped a beat. Joy quickly followed. “Really? You said you like me?” She was nearly jumping with happiness.

Many people had confessed to her before, but none made her feel the way Xiao Yutong did. She liked her too.

“Mhm.” Xiao Yutong nodded. “I like your eyebrows, your eyes, your nose, your lips…” Her fingers traced from Song Xian’s brows downward. Finally, she lifted Song Xian’s hand. “And your hands. And the way you make me feel in bed.”

Song Xian couldn’t hide her joy, her smile practically glowing. But then Xiao Yutong’s next words hit her like a punch to the gut.

“But it’s just ‘like.’” Xiao Yutong looked down, sighing softly. “Song Xian, feelings like that… they’ll eventually fade.”

Her father had once fallen in love and married, only to divorce within two years and start over with someone else. Her mother had remarried multiple times. Every time, it was supposedly for love. Every time, it ended.

So Xiao Yutong no longer measured relationships by love. That’s why she had chosen Liu Qianwen someone who was compatible, not someone she necessarily loved. Even though Liu Qianwen said “I love you” every day, she had still betrayed her in the end.

Xiao Yutong believed in true love, but also in its rarity. What were the odds that kind of love would come to her? Add in someone like Song Xian, and it felt even less likely.

Song Xian never realized this was how Xiao Yutong thought. This was the first time she had truly fallen for someone. She could’ve easily made a casual promise, like “I’ll love you forever.” But she didn’t want to lie.

Only tonight did she begin to understand why Xiao Yutong had tried to distance herself.

Love fades. Song Xian had felt it before. Her past relationships had ended that way. She couldn’t promise forever but she wasn’t going to give up easily, either.

Looking at this woman strong and powerful at work now so vulnerable, Song Xian gently lifted her chin and kissed her deeply.

Xiao Yutong didn’t resist. Instead, she responded with equal passion. Under the moonlight, two figures entwined. After who knows how long, Xiao Yutong slumped against the railing, breathless, and Song Xian could barely hold herself up. She braced herself on the rail, finally pulling away, reluctant to break the kiss.

This strange push and pull of Xiao Yutong’s it felt like a confession, yet also a rejection. Song Xian hadn’t understood it at first. But after that kiss, things became clearer.

She leaned in again, trailing kisses from cheek to ear. Then, breathing against Xiao Yutong’s ear, she whispered, “Alright. Then let’s not talk about love. Let’s not even say ‘like.’”

Xiao Yutong felt like a villain. She had wanted all of this and had manipulated Song Xian into saying it first. But she really did appreciate how Song Xian understood her.

Xiao Yutong asked, “Song Xian, am I a terrible person?”

Song Xian pretended to think it over, then laughed. “Yeah.” She was, a little. But Song Xian liked her for it. She knew she’d walked right into a trap but it was one she walked into willingly.

Suddenly, Xiao Yutong smiled slyly. “It’s called backing you into a corner so I can start over. How’s that?”

“Not bad,” Song Xian replied. “But your trick only works on me.” She took Xiao Yutong’s hand, placed it around her neck, then lifted her up to straddle her waist. “Not everyone can read your mind. You’re more cryptic than a programming language.”

Xiao Yutong pecked her lips and smiled. “That’s because this was custom made for you.”

Song Xian grinned. “Then from this moment on, you’re my girlfriend.”

Xiao Yutong seemed to remember something. “Wait, not so fast we’re missing a step.”

She jumped down, grabbed a pre-drafted contract, and began reading it aloud.

Song Xian laughed in disbelief. Who knew Director Xiao could be this childish? Despite the unfair clauses, she accepted everything. She had never been in a relationship like this before. This no-love relationship was off to a fascinating start.

She skimmed the densely packed text, tossed it aside, and pulled Xiao Yutong into her arms on the couch.

“Director Xiao,” she began.

Before she could finish, Xiao Yutong pressed a finger to her lips. “Don’t call me that.”

Song Xian stuck out her tongue and licked the finger gently. Her voice lowered. “Then what should I call you?”

“Call me ‘Jiejie.’” (older sister, used flirtatiously here.)

Song Xian pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek, trying hard not to laugh.

Softly, she whispered, “Jiejie.”

The word made Xiao Yutong’s heart flutter. She immediately kissed Song Xian and pushed her down on the couch, exuding the fierce energy of a woman in her thirties.

Song Xian was almost overwhelmed. She flipped Xiao Yutong underneath her. “Jiejie, I’m hungry.”

She was actually hungry. She’d skipped dinner, drank alcohol, carried a drunk woman home she’d burned a lot of energy.

Xiao Yutong thought she meant the other kind of hunger. She wrapped her arms around Song Xian’s neck and kissed her again. But Song Xian stopped her with a finger. “I mean I’m really hungry. Got any food?”

Xiao Yutong hadn’t eaten much either, and what remained had been thrown out. Song Xian wanted to order takeout, but Xiao Yutong stopped her and insisted on cooking.

Song Xian had fantasized many times about Xiao Yutong cooking in an apron. Tonight, she finally got to witness it. Just like at work, Xiao Yutong was calm and capable in the kitchen. Before long, a steaming bowl of noodles was ready.

Song Xian looked at the noodles, then at the now messy kitchen. She sighed. “Xiao Yutong, how do you manage to mess up the whole kitchen just making noodles?”

Xiao Yutong blinked innocently. “What?”

Song Xian chuckled. “Never mind. As long as you’re happy. I’ll clean up from now on. And take care of the house.”

“No need. I’ll do it on weekends. Or hire a cleaner.”

“Hiring someone costs money. Why not just give that money to me?” Song Xian teased. “Didn’t you say I’m being kept? Then keep me for real. I’ll be your little housewife.”

Xiao Yutong removed her apron and draped it over the back of Song Xian’s chair. She sat across from her, propping up her chin. “With your spending habits, I can’t afford you.”

Song Xian laughed. “Then I’ll support you.”

Just then, Xiao Yutong remembered that Yao Mingkai had sent her a file to review. She told Song Xian to eat and clean up while she went to the study.

After tidying up the kitchen, Song Xian followed Xiao Yutong into the master bedroom.

“What are you doing in here?” Xiao Yutong asked.

“To sleep.”

Xiao Yutong opened the guest room door. “Here. I’ve already made the bed for you.”

Song Xian was reluctant. “Xiao Yutong, I…” want to sleep with you.

Before she could finish, Xiao Yutong had already stepped inside, said goodnight, and closed the door with a bang.

Song Xian’s outstretched hand froze mid-air. She pouted and went to the guest room, grumbling to herself. How did becoming her girlfriend end up with her banished to the guest room?

Exhausted from filming a commercial, she hadn’t had time to check her group chats, which now had thousands of unread messages. She scrolled a few floors, got bored, and backed out.

Not having heard from Jiang Chen in days, she video-called her.

Jiang Chen answered. “What’s wrong? You fighting with Director Xiao again?”

Song Xian glanced at her background. “You’re home? Back from your trip?”

“Yeah. And guess who I ran into on that trip?”

Seeing Jiang Chen glowing with happiness, Song Xian already guessed. “That Jiejie.”

“Yep! Can you believe it…” Jiang Chen then told her the story of their serendipitous reunion.

Song Xian grinned. “Looks like you’re serious this time.”

Jiang Chen rolled her eyes. “When am I not serious?”

Song Xian teased, “Sure, sure. Your love is purer than pearls.”

But she knew Jiang Chen. She was sincere in every relationship, whether it lasted three months or three days. She gave her all maybe that’s why she always ended up hurt. Song Xian, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

“But…” Jiang Chen suddenly frowned. “There’s something weird.”

“What’s weird?” asked Song Xian.

“She treats me really well. But when we’re together, it feels like her mind’s elsewhere. And when she looks at me, it’s like… she’s seeing someone else.”

A bad feeling crept over Song Xian. “Does she have a really close friend? And does she often ditch you to hang out with that friend?”

“Yes! Exactly! How did you know?”

“Girl…” Song Xian’s voice dropped. “I think you might be someone’s substitute.”