Forbidden Deep Affection (GL) - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The repair shop was in a remote spot, with only a convenience store nearby and no other houses or shops around.

Ming Shuang bought two pieces of bread at the convenience store and handed one to Ye Ting Shuang as she stepped outside. “Eat something. Lunch is a lost cause.”

Ye Ting Shuang took it reluctantly, chewed a few bites, and grimaced. “It’s so dry.”

Ming Shuang went back inside, bought a few bottles of water, and swapped Ye Ting Shuang’s bread for a fresh one.

After finishing their dry lunch, they borrowed two chairs from the shop owner and sat under the eaves, watching the car repair across the street.

They sat idly for a while. The afternoon sun made them drowsy, and Ye Ting Shuang leaned against the wall, falling asleep.

In a hazy blur, she thought she heard Ming Shuang talking to someone, the voices soft, like a scene from a dream.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw Ming Shuang chatting and laughing with a female worker at the repair shop. The woman had tanned skin and lifted her arm, revealing toned muscles.

Ming Shuang reached out to give them a playful squeeze, then gave a thumbs-up. Catching Ye Ting Shuang awake in the corner of her eye, she walked over with a smile, glancing at her watch. “Wow, you woke up after just ten minutes of sleep?”

Ye Ting Shuang rubbed her neck. “Made a new friend that fast?”

Ming Shuang turned back, made a heart gesture to the female worker, and grinned. “Her name’s Lily too.”

“What do you mean ‘too’? My name’s not Lily.”

“Then what’s your name?” Ming Shuang asked with a teasing smile.

Ye Ting Shuang turned away to check on the car’s repair progress.

Ming Shuang followed, calling out from a distance, “Lily!”

Ye Ting Shuang turned, meeting her gaze. Ming Shuang blinked and pointed to the Lily working on the car. “I was calling her.”

“…I know. Just wanted to see what you were up to,” Ye Ting Shuang said, turning back with an air of cool dignity.

Ming Shuang chuckled to herself.

Ye Ting Shuang asked the shop owner how much longer it would take. Lily looked up and said, “It’ll be done in an hour, don’t worry.”

“Lily, you’re amazing! I’m totally obsessed with you!” Ming Shuang said, laying on the flattery.

Lily flashed a radiant smile. “I like you too. Wanna grab dinner tonight?”

“Afraid we can’t. We’re heading to the casino.”

“Here’s my number,” Lily said, handing her a business card smudged with grease from her fingers. “If you lose your car gambling, give me a call.”

“Deal.” Ming Shuang kissed the blank part of the card, leaving a red lipstick mark. “If we’re stranded, I’ll definitely call you.”

Lily burst into hearty laughter.

“Are you two flirting?” Ye Ting Shuang asked, staring in disbelief.

“Are we? Is this flirting?” Ming Shuang leaned close to her ear, her voice teasing. “Then what’s it called when we kiss and sleep together?”

“That was just circumstances.”

“But when you were asleep, Lily asked me if you were my girlfriend.”

“Why would she ask that?”

“Because you were leaning on my arm the whole time you were out. So ambiguous. Who wouldn’t wonder what’s up with this pair of lovebirds?”

“…I was leaning on the wall, not your arm,” Ye Ting Shuang said, realizing half a minute later. “How could it be your arm?”

“Well, your head was tilting to the side, and I was worried you’d fall, so I propped you up with my hand. My arm’s still numb from it,” Ming Shuang said, rubbing her arm.

“You just said I was only asleep for ten minutes. Even if I fell asleep the second I closed my eyes, deep sleep wouldn’t last long enough for your arm to go numb,” Ye Ting Shuang countered.

Ming Shuang paused, then fanned herself with her hand. “Fine, Detective, my arm’s not numb. I’m the one who’s numb.”

Ye Ting Shuang let out a soft laugh and looked back at the car.

A moment later, Ming Shuang heard her say, “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Ming Shuang replied, her lips curling into a smile.

Once the car was fixed, Ming Shuang said goodbye to Lily, and she and Ye Ting Shuang hit the road again.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ming Shuang wanted to play on her phone, but the signal was weak, and she couldn’t connect to the internet.

“So boring,” she said.

“If you’re bored, take a nap,” Ye Ting Shuang suggested.

“Guess that’s all I can do.” As Ming Shuang closed her eyes, she noticed the car’s music volume soften.

“Wake up.”

Ming Shuang felt someone nudging her arm. She opened her eyes groggily. “What’s up?”

“Look.” Ye Ting Shuang pointed ahead.

Ming Shuang followed her gaze and saw layers of golden sunset clouds, like a net draped across the sky.

She sat up slowly, marveling at nature’s gift in that moment.

They sat in the car, silently watching the sunset fade before driving on.

“You woke me up just for this?” Ming Shuang asked, turning to Ye Ting Shuang.

“Was it not worth seeing?” Ye Ting Shuang replied.

“Worth it. Totally worth it.” Ming Shuang smiled, looking toward the approaching exit. “All the scenery on this trip has been worth it.”

For a fleeting moment, she wished the journey wouldn’t end. This unpredictable, spontaneous trip was exactly her kind of adventure.

They were still some distance from the hotel, but the car had entered the bustling city. Ming Shuang said, “There’s a great local restaurant around here. The food’s amazing. I’ve never forgotten the taste after all these years.”

“You’ve been here before?”

“Once, on a trip.”

Bringing her along was clearly a smart move. Feeling a bit hungry, Ye Ting Shuang parked the car. “Let’s eat first. Lead the way.”

Half an hour later, Ming Shuang was panting, hands on her hips, staring up at a sign. “Weird. I’m sure it was on this street. How could it be gone?”

Ye Ting Shuang rubbed her growling stomach, trying to stay calm. “Did it close down? When was the last time you were here?”

“When I was nine?”

“…”