Forbidden Deep Affection (GL) - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ye Ting Shuang dipped a hamburger in Lao Gan Ma and ate it slowly, finishing the whole thing.

Note: Lao Gan Ma is a popular brand of Chinese chili sauce, often referred to as “Spicy Chili Crisp” or “Old Godmother” sauce. It’s known for its complex and flavorful chili oil, which contains a mix of fried chilies, peanuts, soy beans, and other ingredients. The sauce is a staple in Chinese cuisine and is increasingly popular internationally.

“Is it good?” Ming Shuang sat nearby, watching her eat the entire time, unable to hold back her curiosity.

“Not quite there.” Ye Ting Shuang shook her head. “Chinese food is still better.”

“How many years have you been abroad?” Ming Shuang asked.

Ye Ting Shuang got up to throw away the trash.

“When are you planning to go back to China? Or are you settling down here?” Ming Shuang asked again.

Ye Ting Shuang turned her head, looking at her silently, her eyes already giving the answer.

“Alright, my bad for asking.” Ming Shuang made a zipping motion across her lips.

“Do whatever you want.” Ye Ting Shuang took her coffee and went into the bedroom, closing the door to start thinking about designs.

Ming Shuang wandered around the living room a couple of times before going back to her room to study.

It was finals week, with only two courses left. Once they were done, she could relax for a bit.

The sky darkened unnoticed. Ming Shuang stepped onto the balcony, watching the sunset dip below the horizon. She glanced at the closed door of the master bedroom, walked over, and asked, “Boss, should I go get dinner?”

“Sure,” came the reply from inside.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Anything.”

“What’s ‘anything’?”

“Just anything.” Ye Ting Shuang was in the middle of a creative spark and didn’t want to stop to think about food.

“Fine, I’ll get something random, but you better not complain.”

“Mm.”

Ming Shuang went downstairs and strolled around the street before entering a supermarket. At the checkout, the line was stuck. Looking ahead, she saw someone frantically searching their bag, apparently missing their wallet.

People behind were getting impatient. Ming Shuang glanced at the girl, stepped forward, and asked the cashier, “How much?”

The cashier replied in English, “One hundred thirty-eight.”

Ming Shuang paid for the girl’s items out of her own pocket and then continued with her own shopping.

“Thank you, Ming Shuang, thank you! I’ll pay you back!” Hou Ying said gratefully.

Ming Shuang heard her speak Chinese and smiled. “You know me?”

“I know you. Our schools aren’t far apart, and I heard about you not long after I started. You just don’t know me.” Hou Ying gave an awkward smile, picking up her things and walking out with her. “Give me your number, and I’ll bring you the money tomorrow.”

“No need, we’re from the same hometown, it’s no big deal. But do you have enough money to get back? Want me to—” Ming Shuang started to reach for her wallet, but Hou Ying stopped her.

“It’s fine, my friend lives nearby. I’ll go to her place. Thanks so much for today.” Hou Ying said.

“Alright, I’m heading out then. Stay safe, bye.” Ming Shuang left the supermarket, stopped by a dessert shop, picked out two desserts, and headed back to the hotel at a leisurely pace.

But just as she reached the hotel, she got a call from Ye Ting Shuang.

“Where are you?”

“Just got to the hotel. What’s up?”

“I suddenly feel like eating Slovenian food. Go get some.”

“?????”

Ming Shuang asked in disbelief, “What kind of food? Are you messing with me?”

“Just look for it. If you can’t find any, forget it.”

Ming Shuang paused, looking up at the hotel’s fancy decor. “Are you trying to get rid of me on purpose?”

A moment later, she heard a soft laugh through the phone.

“Yes,” Ye Ting Shuang admitted openly.

“…”

“My friend’s coming over, and I don’t want others knowing about our business.”

“Fine, I’m the dirty secret, huh.” Ming Shuang hung up, took a cab back to her apartment, and ate both desserts in one go.

Meanwhile, Ye Ting Shuang lent Hou Ying some money.

“Since I’m here, can’t I stay the night? Isn’t there an extra room?” Hou Ying pointed at the guest bedroom.

“Not convenient,” Ye Ting Shuang said with a straight face. “My schedule’s been chaotic lately, day and night flipped. It’d disturb your rest.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I do. Different schedules affect each other.”

“Alright, don’t stress too much. Got any inspiration yet?” Hou Ying asked.

Ye Ting Shuang thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes.”

“That’s great! Where’d it come from?” Hou Ying said excitedly.

“Can’t say. It’s getting late, head back. Stay safe.”

“Oh, by the way, want to make some new friends? That international student I mentioned earlier—she’s gorgeous and generous. Want to meet her?”

International students have their own circles; one hometown friend introduces another, and soon everyone knows each other.

“No thanks. I won’t be here long. Besides, do I look like I have the energy to make new friends right now?”

“Fair enough. I won’t bother you then.”

After Hou Ying left, Ye Ting Shuang called Ming Shuang. “Come back.”

Ming Shuang didn’t say a word.

“Mad?”

Ming Shuang stayed silent.

“Don’t be mad.”

Ming Shuang swung her legs, waiting for more.

“Bring my dinner back, and we’ll talk.”

“…”

Can’t even sweet-talk a little, huh?

Ming Shuang pouted, grabbed dinner, and brought it to her.

Ye Ting Shuang held a box of instant noodles. “This is it?”

“You said ‘anything,’ so I got something random.” Ming Shuang shot her a challenging glance.

“Fine.” Ye Ting Shuang went to the kitchen, boiled water, prepared the noodles, waited three minutes, lifted the lid, and started eating.

Instant noodles aren’t usually appealing, but when you smell them from someone else, they’re hard to resist.

Ming Shuang’s expression shifted from annoyed to craving.

Ye Ting Shuang slowly looked at her. “There’s still hot water.”

Ming Shuang got up and made herself a bowl.

“I’m curious—haven’t you ever told anyone you’re keeping a beauty like me?” The two sat on the carpet, side by side, leaning on the coffee table to eat. Ming Shuang’s mouth couldn’t stop.

“No.”

“Tch, I thought you’d at least have some urge to brag.”

“Don’t assume you know people’s thoughts. Even God can’t guess our minds—think you can?”

Ming Shuang chuckled, turning to look at her. She noticed Ye Ting Shuang’s profile was quite striking—sharp jawline, slightly upturned nose, lips reddened and glossy from the steam, eating her noodles slowly with an elegant air.

This was Ming Shuang’s conclusion after observing her for a day.

Whether eating a hamburger with Lao Gan Ma or instant noodles, Ye Ting Shuang made it look like the ultimate indulgence.

Watching her eat was almost appetizing.

Even Ming Shuang, who didn’t care for instant noodles, couldn’t resist finishing a bowl.

“Hey, have you ever been in love?” Ming Shuang couldn’t hold back her gossip.

“No.”

“So you’ve only ever kept people like this?”

Ye Ting Shuang glanced at her. “You’re the first.”

“Because I’m pretty?”

“Yes.”

“There must be prettier people out there.”

“Timing, place, and person all matter,” Ye Ting Shuang said, looking at her steadily. “You showed up at the right time and place, so I only saw you.”

Ming Shuang’s eyes flickered, caught off guard by the directness. She leaned closer, staring into her serious eyes, and pressed, “Are you confessing to me?”

“No, just stating facts.” Ye Ting Shuang turned back to her noodles.

Ming Shuang tossed her hair. “Fine, let’s see how long you keep up the tough act. But I’ll warn you—I don’t like games or beating around the bush. If you like me, just pursue me. You might have a shot. If you play little tricks, I’m not bothering to figure them out, and you’ll end up with nothing.”

Ye Ting Shuang’s lips twitched. “You’re overthinking.”

“We’ll see about that. You’ll show your true colors eventually.” Ming Shuang said.

“Have a lot of people chased you?”

“More like a ton.”

“No wonder you’re so confident.” Ye Ting Shuang pushed the empty noodle cup toward her. “Go throw out the trash.”

Ming Shuang gave her a look. “You’re really the first to order me around like this.”

“I’m not asking you to sleep with me, so you can at least handle some chores.” Ye Ting Shuang thought her terms were perfectly reasonable.

“…”

Late at night, Ye Ting Shuang checked the time. “You can go shower and rest.”

Ming Shuang glanced at the only bathroom. “Me first?”

Ye Ting Shuang nodded.

Ming Shuang gave her a meaningful look and went to shower.

Ye Ting Shuang sat on the balcony’s rocking chair, taking in the city’s nightlife. The dazzling, colorful lights sparkled like gems in the inky night.

She stared at the lights, her mind arranging color combinations, and time slipped away unnoticed.

“I’m done,” Ming Shuang said, stepping onto the balcony in a spaghetti-strap nightgown. “Your turn.”

Ye Ting Shuang’s gaze landed on her, settling on her prominent collarbone.

The rocking chair slowed to a stop. Ye Ting Shuang walked up to her, tapping a finger on her chest.

Ming Shuang grabbed her finger, smirking. “What’s this?”

“You’re missing a necklace here,” Ye Ting Shuang said.

“I have one. Took it off for the shower.”

“I saw it—classic Cartier, but…” Ye Ting Shuang’s eyes moved slowly from her collarbone, up her slender neck, and lingered on her striking features. “It doesn’t do your unique beauty justice.”

Ming Shuang was hit again by her bluntness, her lips curving. “Smooth talker.”

Ye Ting Shuang didn’t respond. A fully formed design popped into her head, and she rushed back to her room, closing the door to jot it down.

Ming Shuang watched her dart off, muttering, “What… embarrassed because I called you out?”