I Don't Want to Have Little Mushrooms with You - Chapter 16

By the time Qu Fengyue waited for the next green light and crossed the zebra crossing to the other side, this was the scene that greeted her.

A tall woman was gazing tenderly at Song Tai, gently smoothing the hair that had been tousled during her run.

Song Tai, completely oblivious, was happily chatting with her, head tilted upward.

Their movements were intimate, their postures naturally in sync—a picture-perfect sight.

Only when Song Tai caught sight of her out of the corner of her eye did she react, reaching out to take Qu Fengyue’s hand. “This is my girlfriend, Qu Fengyue.”

Qu Fengyue immediately greeted her. “Hello.”

Chen Ling, as if noticing her for the first time, shifted her gaze from Song Tai. Her pale gray eyes swept over Qu Fengyue’s face with a scrutinizing glance, responding indifferently, “Hello.”

It was as if she had no real interest in Qu Fengyue at all, only offering the greeting as a perfunctory courtesy because of Song Tai’s introduction.

After that, Chen Ling quickly turned her attention back to Song Tai. “What do you feel like eating today?”

Song Tai didn’t notice anything off about her tone. “Not seafood—wait, didn’t you already book a restaurant?”

Chen Ling’s voice softened. “We can change it if you want. I’ll go with your preference.”

Song Tai hesitated. “Let me think… What do you want to eat?” As she spoke, she turned to Qu Fengyue.

Chen Ling also turned toward Qu Fengyue in unison.

Side by side, they both looked back at her in perfect sync.

Chen Ling was even holding Song Tai’s bag, which she had naturally taken from her earlier.

It looked as though the two of them were the couple, and Qu Fengyue was the outsider.

Qu Fengyue: “…Anything’s fine.”

During the meal, Qu Fengyue kept her head down, sullen and quiet.

Song Tai finally noticed something was wrong and glanced at her.

After dinner, Chen Ling asked Song Tai what kind of movie she wanted to watch.

Song Tai looked at Qu Fengyue. “Anything’s fine. You go get the tickets.”

As Chen Ling walked away to buy them, Song Tai turned to Qu Fengyue. “Are you upset? What’s wrong?”

Qu Fengyue shook her head, voice muffled. “I’m not upset.”

Song Tai: “Then why that expression?”

Qu Fengyue seemed to be sulking. “Nothing.”

Since she didn’t want to talk about it, Song Tai didn’t press further. “Alright then.” She started to get up to find Chen Ling.

Qu Fengyue suddenly grabbed her hand.

After a few seconds of silence, Qu Fengyue looked up at her, her face on the verge of tears. “Sister, next time… don’t let go of me, okay?”

Song Tai was stunned for a moment before belatedly realizing that this was the reason for her low mood.

Chen Ling had grown up with her—she was practically family. Song Tai was so used to having Chen Ling around that she didn’t even notice some of their naturally close gestures.

“Chen Ling isn’t an outsider…” Song Tai cupped Qu Fengyue’s face. “Okay, I understand.”

“I won’t let go of you next time, so don’t cry.”

Only after receiving Song Tai’s reassurance did Qu Fengyue manage a small smile.

Song Tai teased her. “Still feeling wronged?”

Qu Fengyue immediately shook her head and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

When Chen Ling returned with the movie tickets, she saw the two of them sitting close together, fingers intertwined, chatting happily about something.

She keenly noticed that the subtle tension from earlier had completely vanished—now they really did look like a couple in the honeymoon phase.

At the company, they couldn’t hold hands openly or cross any boundaries with overly intimate gestures. Song Tai still cared about what others thought.

But in front of Chen Ling, she could.

Song Tai smiled at her without a second thought and asked what movie she had bought.

Chen Ling handed her the ticket with a natural and indifferent expression.

Coincidentally, the movie Chen Ling had chosen was the same one they had watched that day.

Truthfully, neither of them remembered the plot because they had left halfway to go to a hotel.

But recalling the scene from that day, the two exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but laugh.

Because of Qu Fengyue’s earlier words, throughout the entire movie, Song Tai let her hold her hand tightly the whole time.

Chen Ling watched their interaction coldly and pretended to casually ask, “Cai Cai, do you want some Coke?”

Song Tai shook her head in refusal. “I have some here.”

Taking advantage of the dim lighting, Qu Fengyue smiled at her and handed over her own Coke.

She could, of course, sense Chen Ling’s hostility toward her.

She could use the guise of friendship to lower Song Tai’s guard and make ambiguous gestures.

But when it came to overtly intimate actions, she didn’t dare—nor could she.

But she could.

Qu Fengyue called softly, “Jiejie.”

Song Tai hummed lightly and turned to look at her.

Qu Fengyue leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips. “I like you so much.”

Song Tai smiled and touched her cheek.

Chen Ling’s expression remained calm and unmoved as she quietly watched the movie screen.

Only the flickering light from the film cast shifting shadows across her face, making her expression seem somewhat gloomy.

Almost at first glance, she had recognized Qu Fengyue as the same kind.

The hickey she had deliberately left on Song Tai’s neck that day was like a glaring mark.

But she had thought Song Tai’s interest in Qu Fengyue was just a momentary impulse of curiosity—she hadn’t expected it to actually…

She lowered her eyes slightly, still gripping the cup of Coke in her hand. Condensation dripped down the sides, chilling her fingers until they felt numb.

The movie was utterly boring—so bad.

If not for the lead actress’s somewhat pleasing face, these two hours would have been pure agony.

After leaving the theater, Song Tai couldn’t help but complain, “Next time, don’t pick this kind of movie. It was terrible.”

Chen Ling took the initiative to respond, nodding seriously. “My mistake.”

Song Tai poked the back of her hand, unapologetic. “Of course it’s your fault. It gave me a headache.”

What kind of taste was this, picking such a terrible movie?

Chen Ling deftly turned her hand and wrapped her slender fingers around Song Tai’s wrist, smiling faintly. “As compensation, want to go see Wang Wang?”

Song Tai’s eyes lit up instantly. “Sure.”

It had been a while since she’d seen Wang Wang, after all.

The two of them chatted back and forth, leaving Qu Fengyue ignored on the side. “Can I come too?”

Only then did Song Tai realize she had forgotten about Qu Fengyue.

“Sorry, my girlfriend has a bit of a cleanliness obsession and doesn’t really like having others around,” Chen Ling said calmly, smiling at her as if in response to Qu Fengyue’s earlier smile.

A cold and blunt rejection.

For a moment, Song Tai almost thought Chen Ling despised Qu Fengyue and was deliberately making things difficult for her.

She instinctively glanced at Chen Ling. Though the words were blunt, Chen Ling’s cool features carried a faint trace of apology.

Besides, she knew Chen Ling—Chen Ling wasn’t that kind of person.

Chen Ling might seem hard to approach on the surface, but in reality, she was very considerate.

This was just unintentional, not targeted at Qu Fengyue.

Given that, Song Tai hesitated, feeling a bit regretful. “Then maybe next time we can…”

Chen Ling had already opened her phone and handed it to her to see.

“It really liked the little colorful ball you gave it last time,” Chen Ling said, looking at her.

The kitten was sprawled on the floor, paws batting at the fuzzy ball, its sapphire-blue eyes glistening as it gazed at the camera and let out a soft meow.

Then it rolled over and nuzzled the camera with its soft, fluffy cheek.

Song Tai couldn’t tear her eyes away from the screen.

A few seconds later, she hesitated and glanced at Qu Fengyue.

It had been so long since she last saw Wangwang.

Qu Fengyue spoke up considerately, “It’s fine, go see it. It won’t take long. I’ll wait for you downstairs. Wangwang is adorable—take lots of photos for me, okay?”

Chen Ling lifted her eyelids and shot her a cold look.

A retreat to advance.

Even if she hadn’t said that, Song Tai was already wavering, clearly having made up her mind.

But now…

Song Tai had originally intended to ask her to go back first, but since she’d put it that way…

Song Tai gently touched her face. “Alright, I’ll go see Wangwang. Wait for me—I’ll be down soon.”

……

Song Tai had been to Chen Ling’s place many times and knew it well.

But this time, she noticed many new things in the apartment—most of which she’d never seen before and clearly didn’t belong to Chen Ling.

No need to guess—they must be her girlfriend’s.

Curious, Song Tai glanced around, taking in the new high heels by the entryway shoe rack, the cute decorative paintings on the wall…

Finally, her gaze landed on a small cat figurine on the entryway shelf, meant for hanging keys. She felt like she’d probably get along well with Chen Ling’s girlfriend—these were things she’d buy herself.

Unable to hold back, Song Tai asked, “Where is she?”

Chen Ling’s tone was indifferent, as if talking about someone irrelevant. “Working overtime.”

An expected answer. Song Tai hummed in acknowledgment. “Anything I shouldn’t touch?”

“It’s fine. Everything’s okay.”

Chen Ling seemed unwilling to continue the topic, her replies clipped.

Just as Song Tai was about to say something else, Wangwang heard the commotion and leapt off the couch, tail held high as it eagerly trotted toward her.

“Wangwang!”

Song Tai immediately bent down and scooped it into her arms.

Wangwang was a classic Siamese, its paw pads warm and soft. The moment it was picked up, it nestled obediently against her chest, clinging to her—a naturally affectionate personality.

Truthfully, Song Tai had always loved cats.

But she never dared to keep one.

For one, she knew herself well—she was someone who chased novelty, prone to fleeting enthusiasm. She wasn’t sure she could commit to the responsibility.

Another reason was that Song Xuehe forbade her from having pets.

Song Tai tapped its damp black nose with her finger, and Wangwang immediately responded by licking her fingertip.

But for some reason, today, after sniffing her scent, Wangwang seemed restless. It turned and gently nipped her fingertip before quickly letting go.

Though it was less of a bite and more of a soft hold—not painful at all.

Song Tai didn’t think much of it.

She checked the time—8 p.m. She should head downstairs by 8:30. She couldn’t keep Qu Fengyue waiting too long.

Soon, Wangwang wriggled out of her arms, tail still high, and trotted over with its favorite fuzzy ball, mewing sweetly to invite Song Tai to play fetch.

Instantly, Qu Fengyue was forgotten.

Strictly speaking, Wangwang was technically her pick.

Among the litter of kittens, her gaze had inadvertently fallen on Wangwang. With just one look from her, the little cat began purring gently and affectionately at her.

Song Tai couldn’t tear her eyes away.

It was only because Chen Ling noticed her fondness that she ended up choosing this particular cat.

Chen Ling sat nearby reading a book, occasionally glancing up to watch their interactions.

Once Wangwang tired itself out from playing, it trotted over to curl up on Chen Ling’s lap for a rest.

Still reluctant to leave, Song Tai sat down and instinctively leaned against Chen Ling’s shoulder, reaching out to pet Wangwang.

Chen Ling set her book aside and stroked the kitten’s head, murmuring, “Go play with Mama.”

As if understanding, Wangwang lifted its head and lazily hopped into Song Tai’s arms, nuzzling its face against her chest.

Song Tai hugged the kitten but frowned. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

Even if she and Chen Ling were close, that phrasing was just too strange—it made her uncomfortable.

She knew Chen Ling was just speaking out of habit, but still, it wasn’t appropriate.

What if Chen Ling’s girlfriend heard? She didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings between them because of her.

Chen Ling didn’t argue, just smiled at her before her gaze dropped slightly, lingering on Song Tai’s abdomen.

The glance was fleeting, and Song Tai didn’t notice.

“Want some water?” Chen Ling asked.

Song Tai nodded.

Taking the glass Chen Ling handed her, she vaguely wondered why she’d been so thirsty lately. Was it because the weather was getting warmer?

After finishing the water, Chen Ling took the empty glass from her. Turning back, her long, wavy hair brushed over her shoulder as she reached out to ruffle Song Tai’s hair, her voice affectionate and natural. “Want to stay and sleep over with Wangwang? It really misses you.”

Wangwang, as if on cue, lifted its head and gazed at her with striking blue eyes, letting out a soft, sweet meow in agreement.

Song Tai often stayed the night at Chen Ling’s place—there was a guest room reserved just for her.

Her heart softened as she stroked the kitten’s head, immediately tempted to say yes.

Truthfully, it wasn’t just about staying over. She also wanted a chance to meet Chen Ling’s girlfriend.

But when she checked the time—already 9 p.m.—she suddenly felt like she’d forgotten something.

Wait. Qu Fengyue.

It hit her then—Qu Fengyue was still waiting for her downstairs.

“No, I have to go.”

Chen Ling’s lashes lifted slightly.

Song Tai rubbed Wangwang’s little ears. “I’ll come see you next time, okay?”

Wangwang, who had been nuzzling against her chest, suddenly twisted its head and bit her—sharp little teeth sinking in without mercy.

Song Tai winced in pain.

Realizing its mistake, Wangwang jumped off her lap.

“Did it hurt?” Chen Ling glanced at the kitten.

The bite mark was just below her collarbone, hidden by her collar.

Chen Ling’s gaze dropped, and she immediately stood up, concerned. “Let me see—undo this.”

It probably wasn’t serious, but Wangwang had never shown any aggression toward her before, catching her off guard.

Song Tai checked the time again—past 10 p.m. She’d already been at Chen Ling’s for two hours.

By then, Chen Ling had already fetched the first-aid kit, pulling out antiseptic and a bandage to clean the wound.

Song Tai shook her head, taking the bandage but refusing her help. “It’s fine, don’t blame Wangwang. I probably held it too tightly and accidentally hurt it.”

“Besides, Qu Fengyue is waiting for me,” Song Tai turned to look at her, mumbling an explanation, clearly preoccupied with Qu Fengyue downstairs. “I’ve already been here too long.”

Chen Ling’s gaze swept over her lashes, her fingers tightening silently around the medicine bottle in her hand, her fingertips pressing until they turned white. She let out a light laugh and said considerately, “Then hurry down. Don’t keep your little girlfriend waiting.”

Oblivious, Song Tai smiled back at her before pushing open the door and rushing into the elevator.

The elevator doors closed.

Chen Ling stood at the entrance, unmoving.

Wangwang stood behind her, flicking its tail unhappily.

Chen Ling warned coldly, “Control yourself.”

The words sounded as if they were meant for someone else—or perhaps for herself.

The fungal tendrils that had stealthily extended from Wangwang’s body, clinging to Song Tai as she left in the elevator, now reluctantly retracted, reforming part of its fuzzy body.