It’s About You (GL High H) - Chapter 22

“What has little Nian been busy with lately? It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.”

Wanqi Lang sprawled on the sofa without any poise, forking a piece of matcha mille-feuille.

Shen Zhiwei sat upright opposite her, sipping her tea in small mouthfuls. At the mention, she lifted her eyes. “She’s rushing an important manuscript.”

Her voice was flat, but her eyes always softened whenever she brought up Jiang Nian.

Wanqi Lang drew out her tone, her gaze teasing. “Oh~ So you haven’t gone to visit her set and bring some warmth?”

Shen Zhiwei set down her teacup, her fingertips rubbing the cup’s rim. “She’s busy.”

Wanqi Lang tsked. “You haven’t made any substantial progress. Little Nian seems so mild-mannered; if you don’t take the initiative, she could hold back for a lifetime.”

She was genuinely anxious for Shen Zhiwei; she had never seen her so invested in anyone.

Shen Zhiwei did not take up the thread, merely sipping her tea again. After a long pause, she said softly, “Some things can’t be rushed.”

Wanqi Lang saw that impervious look on her face, pursed her lips, and grew too lazy to persuade further. She forked another piece of pastry. Just as she stuffed it into her mouth, Shen Zhiwei spoke, the topic shifting rather abruptly.

“How are things between you and Xing Enxi now?”

Wanqi Lang paused with the pastry halfway to her mouth, nearly jabbing the fork into her nose. “Shen Zhiwei, what kind of topic shift is this? Why bring her up all of a sudden?”

Shen Zhiwei’s expression remained unchanged. “She’s my employee, and you’re my friend. What’s wrong with me asking?”

“Just like that,” Wanqi Lang waved her fork. “It’s pretty fun; we’re very compatible. Teasing her is fun too.”

Shen Zhiwei picked up the teapot and leisurely refilled the hot tea into Wanqi Lang’s empty cup, steam rising in a haze.

Only then did she mention, as if chatting about the weather, “Before the last regular meeting, she made a special detour to my office to ask what you usually like to eat. She had never talked to me about anything outside of work before.”

Wanqi Lang’s fork hovered in midair as she froze for a moment. So she had asked Shen Zhiwei; no wonder everything Xing Enxi bought that day was what she loved. A strange feeling stirred in her heart, indescribable.

“From what I know of her, she’s a very serious person, both in her work and toward people. If you’re just finding it fun, end it early; don’t let it go too far.”

Wanqi Lang looked down at the clear tea in her cup, where her somewhat blurred reflection shimmered.

Of course it was fun—Xing Enxi’s cold face flushing with anger was fun, her dominant and sexy demeanor in bed was fun, even her occasional clumsy shows of care were fun.

But she had never thought of getting serious about anything. In her dictionary, seriousness was too heavy, too exhausting. Women loving women, mutual consent, happiness was enough.

Yet why, when Shen Zhiwei mentioned it, did her heart waver like this tea, a bit unsteady?

“Mm…” Wanqi Lang mumbled ambiguously. “Maybe. I haven’t thought too deeply about it.” As the words left her mouth, even she felt they sounded unlike her usual self.

Seeing Wanqi Lang so unusually quiet, Shen Zhiwei said no more.

The office held only the faint aroma of tea, but Wanqi Lang felt as if the matcha roll she had swallowed earlier tasted a bit bitter.

…

In the blink of an eye, another Saturday arrived, with fine weather and clear skies stretching endlessly.

Wanqi Lang changed into the outfit she had not worn the previous week, tucked the fluorescent blue riding goggles into her pocket, and checked herself in the mirror. Mm, still handsome.

She arrived ten minutes early at the agreed suburban meeting point, an open expanse of ground with rolling mountains in the distance. The sunlight warmed gently, and the breeze felt comfortable on her face.

It did not take long before a low, powerful engine roar approached from afar. A matte black heavy motorcycle pulled up, executing a neat tail flick before coming to a steady stop in front of Wanqi Lang.

Xing Enxi swung off the bike and removed her helmet. She wore black riding gear today too, which accentuated her upright and sharp figure, her hair tied in a ponytail that revealed her defined jawline.

In the sunlight, the fatigue on her face had vanished completely; her eyes shone clear and bright, making her seem far more vibrant than she did in the office.

“Not late, am I?” Xing Enxi asked, a relaxed smile playing on her lips.

Wanqi Lang looked at her, her heartbeat inexplicably skipping a beat.

“I just got here too. Nice bike.” She pointed at the imposing motorcycle.

Xing Enxi patted the rear seat. “Hop on?”

She handed Wanqi Lang a helmet.

Wanqi Lang put on the helmet and goggles, clambered onto the rear seat with somewhat clumsy movements. The seat was higher than she had imagined; once she settled, her body instinctively leaned forward. Her hands hesitated, then, as Xing Enxi had instructed, obediently wrapped around her waist.

Xing Enxi’s waist was slim, but even through the riding suit, Wanqi Lang could feel the firm muscle lines beneath. Warmth seeped through the fabric.

“Hold tight.” Xing Enxi turned her head slightly, her voice coming muffled from the helmet.

Wanqi Lang unconsciously tightened her arms, her cheek nearly pressing against Xing Enxi’s back, her heart beating a little fast.

The engine roared to life again, and the motorcycle shot forward like an awakened cheetah. The powerful thrust pressed Wanqi Lang to hug the person in front even harder.

Wind whistled past the helmet; the thrill of speed ignited her nerves. Scenery on either side of the road blurred by in reverse—sunlight, blue sky, mountain breeze, and the powerful body ahead. Everything sent her adrenaline soaring.

“Ah—! This is awesome!” Wanqi Lang could not help shouting inside her helmet, her earlier random thoughts scattered by the speed and freedom.

Xing Enxi chuckled stealthily, the engine growling even more eagerly. She had chosen a mountain road with few cars but plenty of curves; as they leaned into turns, the danger and excitement mixed, Wanqi Lang’s screams and laughter blending into the wind.

After riding a stretch, Xing Enxi pulled over at a scenic overlook halfway up the mountain with a broad view, and the two dismounted.

Wanqi Lang stretched, inhaling deeply of the mountain air, her face beaming with a brilliant smile. “That was too awesome; we have to celebrate!” She turned, pulling two small metal flasks from the wide pocket of her jacket like a magician.

Xing Enxi frowned. “I can’t drink when I’m riding.”

“Hey, who said these are for you?” Wanqi Lang waved it off, unscrewing the cap of one and tilting her head back for a gulp. She exhaled in satisfaction. “Both are mine!”

Xing Enxi looked at her carefree expression, and the words she had been mulling over the whole way suddenly lodged in her throat.

She fell silent for a few seconds as the mountain wind tousled her ponytail.

Wanqi Lang’s face flushed pink, her eyes sparkling like stars. “That was so exhilarating, Xing Enxi—you ride so handsomely!”

“It’s alright.” She herself had not ridden so freely in a long time.

“More than alright; it made me feel reborn!”

Sunlight bathed the two of them as they stood side by side at the railing, gazing at the layered greens below and the undulating mountains in the distance. The excitement from the ride slowly settled, leaving calm and comfort.

“How do the goggles feel?”

“They fit just right; they look great.” Wanqi Lang squeezed the flask, and Shen Zhiwei’s words came to mind. After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “You didn’t really need to go out of your way to buy those dim sum for me, though they were pretty tasty.”

Xing Enxi seemed not to have expected her to bring it up; she paused, then turned her head to look at her, a hint of probing in her eyes.

The two fell silent again for a while. The mountain wind whispered by, the atmosphere carrying a subtle quiet.

Wanqi Lang looked at the clear profile of the person beside her, sunlight gilding her with a golden edge. They had clung so tightly during the ride; now, shoulder to shoulder taking in the view, the inner turmoil stirred up earlier resurfaced.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something but feeling it too affected. In the end, she simply pulled out her phone.

“Come on, let’s take a photo to commemorate.” She masked the fluctuation in her heart with a deliberately light tone.

Xing Enxi did not refuse. The two leaned against the motorcycle, the vast mountain vista as backdrop. Wanqi Lang held up her phone, flashing a peace sign, while Xing Enxi tilted her head slightly, a smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Click.”

The photo captured the moment. In the frame, the two stood close, the sunlight perfect.