I Conquer the Entertainment Industry with My Medical Skills - Chapter 19

Based on An Ningqing’s past experiences, arguing with a drunkard is futile—you’ll never win.

“Alright, alright,” she said. “But Third Miss, please let go of me first.”

Her nearly broken waist was finally freed, and the restraining force behind her vanished. Feeling completely relieved, An Ningqing turned her head and saw Xie Anran already sitting on the bed she was supposed to sleep in tonight, staring at her with hazy eyes. Xie Anran crooked her index finger slightly. “Come here.”

An Ningqing, still carrying the scent of Miss Anne’s room, felt an even stronger urge to go to the bathroom.

She slowly walked over to Xie Anran, crouched down to retrieve her change of clothes from her suitcase. “Third Miss, please sit tight. I’m going to take a shower.”

Xie Anran’s alcohol-fogged brain clicked twice, her movements sluggish from the drink. She managed to snag a corner of An Ningqing’s dress, the soft fabric slipping through her fingers just as An Ningqing closed the bathroom door.

A shower, huh? Heh heh.

The sound of rushing water filled the room.

A graceful silhouette was faintly visible through the frosted glass.

Xie Anran’s eyes involuntarily drifted upward, fixating on the figure behind the frosted glass. A moment later, feeling as if her body were on fire, she collapsed halfway onto An Ningqing’s bed. The mattress was so comfortable it felt like sleeping on clouds. She kicked off her bothersome shoes and rolled twice across the bedding in sheer bliss.

The bed carried An Ningqing’s unique scent. Xie Anran had been too preoccupied to ask about it last time. She lowered her head to sniff around and quickly traced the source to a pillow. After waiting and waiting, she unconsciously drifted off to sleep, clutching the pillow tightly.

When An Ningqing emerged from the bathroom, she immediately stepped on a high-heeled shoe lying upside down. Glancing at the figure sprawled on the bed, she noticed they were in almost the same position—truly, like mistress, like pet.

Xie Anran’s seaweed-like hair lay scattered across the bed, taking up most of the space. Perhaps it was too warm; one shoulder was bare, and her skirt was hiked up to mid-thigh, revealing long, pale, and perfectly straight legs. Her stunning face was pressed halfway against An Ningqing’s special pillow.

An Ningqing retrieved a towel from her suitcase to dry her hair, then tugged at the pillow, but Xie Anran held it too tightly, even rolling over to pin it down. “You have excellent taste,” she murmured.

This pillow had been specially infused with calming incense; anyone with sleep troubles would fall into a deep slumber the moment they touched it.

An Ningqing sat on the chair, drying her hair until it was half-dry, half-damp, still unsure how to get Xie Anran back to her room.

She barely knew any of Xie Anran’s friends. Having customer service escort her back was an option, but in her drunken state, she likely wouldn’t wake up even if someone left her on the deck in the middle of the night.

Forget it. She can sleep here for now.

After all, this wasn’t the first time they’d shared a bed.

An Ningqing climbed onto the bay window and gazed at the night sky. Apart from the round, bright moon, the sea stretched out in an endless expanse of darkness, accompanied by the rhythmic crashing of waves. The cruise ship remained remarkably stable, with only occasional gentle swaying, quite different from the rocking of a raft.

The scenery, however, grew monotonous quickly. Fortunately, the journey was only two days long.

Soon, An Ningqing felt drowsy. When her long hair was nearly dry, she lay down beside the soundly sleeping Third Miss Xie. But this sleep felt different—unusually heavy, as if a stone pressed down on her chest in her dreams, making it hard to breathe.

When her biological clock woke her, An Ningqing opened her eyes and immediately felt the weight from her dream had materialized into something real—soft and warm.

She looked down and met Xie Anran’s clear, innocent sleeping face. A faint red mark lingered on her cheek from where she’d been pressed against the pillow, and her lips were slightly pursed, as if she were dreaming of something wonderful.

Xie Anran had most of her body pressed against An Ningqing, no wonder she had struggled to move in her dream.

An Ningqing frowned and tried to pull her half-body free. But the moment she shifted, the person in her arms let out a soft moan. Xie Anran groggily lifted her head, glanced at her, then flopped back down to continue sleeping, her arm still draped across An Ningqing’s waist.

“…Great.”

She shouldn’t have taken in this drunkard last night.

An Ningqing nudged her with her foot, her thigh brushing against smooth, bare skin. She felt the leg twitch. “Wake up and get up.”

Xie Anran was awake, but only because she’d been startled awake.

Anyone would be shocked to wake up and find a stranger in their bed—especially when that stranger was none other than the woman who had declared she wanted to sleep with her just days ago.

Xie Anran closed her eyes. The mortifying memory suddenly assaulted her. Help! How could I have said something like that to An Ningqing? I must have been possessed by a ghost!

“Third Miss.”

“Ugh, my head hurts.”

She clutched her head, refusing to listen or dwell on it.

How could I have done something so stupid?

Suddenly, slender fingers began pressing rhythmically on her throbbing temples, the pressure perfectly balanced—neither too light nor too firm. She closed her eyes in blissful relief. “Mmm, a little harder.”

Xie Anran’s taut nerves began to relax.

Annoyed, An Ningqing withdrew her hand. “Third Miss, a little wine is pleasant, but too much is harmful.”

With that, she pushed Xie Anran aside without ceremony and got out of bed. Only then did she notice the clothes scattered on the floor. She whirled around to see Xie Anran wrapped tightly in the blanket, only her small head peeking out. Her eyes flickered as she decided to take the offensive. “Did you undress me last night?”

She couldn’t remember when she had taken off her clothes at all.

The thought of Xie Anran lying naked on top of her made An Ningqing’s steps falter.

As soon as the bathroom door closed, Xie Anran leaped out of bed, grabbed her clothes, and threw them on haphazardly. Without looking back, she snatched up her high heels and tiptoed away.

“Third Miss—”

“She’s quick on her feet.”

An Ningqing had carefully reviewed the night’s events in the bathroom, confirming with certainty that she hadn’t undressed Third Miss Xie. She was a sound sleeper and never did anything out of character, so the only explanation was that Xie Anran had undressed herself.

Xie Anran had hoped to sneak back to her room unnoticed, but she ran into Luo Ling halfway there.

“I thought you were still asleep, so I didn’t wake you for the sunrise.”

“Huh?”

Luo Ling saw that Xie Anran was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, her hair disheveled, a shoe in her hand, and one foot already slipped into the other shoe. She looked flustered, like someone caught sneaking out after a one-night stand, her eyes wide and voice lowered. “No way… you didn’t come back to sleep last night? You were out fooling around?”

Holy sh1t.

This was so surreal for Xie Anran.

After all, Miss Xie had always claimed she would be faithful to her partner and guard her virtue like jade.

Luo Ling’s curiosity surged. “Was it that guy who hit on you last night? The one who kept giving you the eye? Or the one who deliberately bumped into you to get your number?”

“What ‘fooling around’?”

“Don’t make things up.”

Luo Ling eyed her suspiciously. “Then where did you sleep last night? You didn’t even change your clothes.”

Since she’d already been caught, Xie Anran decided to just go with it. She finished putting on her shoes, stomped her feet, smoothed her messy hair, and straightened her back. “It’s none of your business where I slept. It’s not what you think. Now go back to watching the sunrise.”

Luo Ling stared, dumbfounded.

The sun had already risen. What sunrise was there left to watch?

Still, she half-believed Xie Anran’s words. Her early morning temper was explosive, like she’d swallowed gunpowder—a clear sign of pent-up frustration.

Xie Anran returned to her room, immediately stripped off her clothes, and walked barefoot into the bathroom. As the hot water cascaded over her smooth skin, she finally exhaled in relief.

In the end, they hadn’t slept together.

She couldn’t quite decide whether she felt more regret or annoyance.

Xie Anran had never imagined she would fall into such a deep, unconscious sleep after lying down for just a moment. Even more surprising was that An Ningqing hadn’t made a move in that situation.

Could it be—

An Ningqing was incapable?!

This unsettling thought lingered until she spotted An Ningqing at the buffet, accompanied by Li Jing and Qian Lingling. The three women were chatting and laughing, and despite their obvious beauty, Xie Anran found their presence inexplicably irritating.

She grabbed a cup of coffee and strode over, settling into the seat beside An Ningqing.

Li Jing’s words died on her lips as she saw Xie Anran. “Third Miss Xie is as radiant as ever. I trust you enjoyed yourself last night?”

Last night?

Xie Anran instinctively glanced at An Ningqing, who was delicately picking up a soup dumpling with her chopsticks. She took a small bite through the thin skin, sipped the savory shrimp broth inside, and revealed a glimpse of her crimson tongue.

That taste… I’ve savored it before.

Xie Anran pinched her thigh to snap out of her daze. “Of course I’m having fun,” she said. “Miss Li organized this event for everyone to enjoy themselves. What else could it be for? Surely not some secret, shady business disguised as a pleasure trip.”

A brief silence hung in the air after her words.

Qian Lingling glanced subtly between the two women.

An Ningqing tilted her head, studying Xie Anran. Since yesterday, she’d found Xie Anran acting strangely. Could she have discovered something about An Ningqing’s consultation with Anne? No way.

Seeing An Ningqing staring at her, mesmerized by her full, crimson lips, Xie Anran’s heart began to race wildly.

She casually took a tissue and wiped at those alluring lips, her soft fingertips lingering. “I know you’re hopelessly in love with me,” she murmured, “but you should restrain yourself in front of the others. Don’t give them something to gossip about.”

An Ningqing: “……”

Her fiancée’s possessiveness was acting up again.

She turned back to savor the crystal shrimp dumplings. Not bad for cruise ship cuisine.

Xie Anran’s gaze remained fixed on those parting lips, as if they were silently beckoning and tempting her. Her mind filled with inappropriate images. She gulped down a mouthful of coffee, the bitter taste swirling in her mouth, yet unable to suppress the lingering sweetness she had tasted before.

That damned woman.

Teasing me when she knows she can’t deliver.