Meng Po Gave Her a Bowl of Soup (GL) - Chapter 22

— “I just can’t seem to learn it. You’ll have to teach me a few more times.”

Xu Ruying looked at Song Wanyue, who was bowing her head and quietly protesting with such an aggrieved expression. All her anger disappeared, replaced by a wave of heartache. She bit her lip, suppressing the urge to step forward and hug her, and softly said, “Alright, I’ll teach you a few more times.”

Maybe she was too impatient.

As Wanyue’s condition improved, Xu Ruying felt that each day passed like flowing water, so quickly that in the blink of an eye, a third of the time had already slipped away.

Her heart was constantly urged by the looming separation.

From initially wanting her to be happy, to hoping she’d live well in the future, to now wishing she could take good care of herself…

It was her fault.

She just wanted her to be happy.

If Wanyue really couldn’t learn, she could train Xiao He, so that when she was no longer around, Xiao He could take care of Wan Yue.

She also had Huang Lan by her side. The two of them could rely on each other, and things wouldn’t be too bad.

Neither of them spoke again.

Xu Ruying, filled with mixed emotions, cleaned the bottom of the pot. The pot had been burning for so long that it was almost charred through. She wasn’t even sure if it could be scrubbed clean. Meanwhile, Song Wanyue stood there, staring blankly at her back.

She was tall, her thin shoulders moving up and down with each motion of her hands. Her back looked so much like Mingyu’s. She really wanted to hug her from behind.

For a moment, she felt a deep sadness.

The most familiar stranger…

Meeting but not recognizing…

If she had the choice, how she wished she could see her Mingyu again, touch her face, even if just for a day, an hour, a moment.

Her hand unconsciously moved to the small bottle, gently rubbing its mouth, thinking about what Qin Xiao had said — “You need to check her whole body carefully, make sure there aren’t any injuries.”

Check her whole body…

In the past, that would have been the simplest thing. But now…

Song Wanue’s face grew warm. Women really are the most mysterious creatures in the world. One moment, she was heartbroken over their impending separation, and the next, her heartbeat was racing.

In the past, at the very beginning, she had always thought that Mingyu’s cold demeanor meant that their time together was mostly her clinging to Mingyu, and that Mingyu was probably indifferent by nature.

Xiao Mingyu had no idea what was going on in Song Wanyue’s mind. She had always felt a sense of guilt and responsibility for taking Wanyue away from her parents.

Maybe it was her pessimistic outlook, shaped by her life experiences, but deep down, she always felt uneasy. She always feared that Wanyue would never truly belong to her forever.

They were each other’s first love, and people always say that young love is destined not to last.

Moreover, the fact that they were two women in love, facing an uncertain and difficult road ahead, made everything even harder.

She, herself, felt that her life was of little value and that she could endure anything.

But her Wanyue…

Moreover, Wanyue was still young, having just started her career. Xiao Mingyu sometimes believed in Wanyue’s sincerity, but at other times, she feared that after experiencing more of the world and meeting better people, Wanyue might choose someone else.

At the time, Song Wanyue was unaware of these thoughts, simply believing that Mingyu was probably just too exhausted from work. She was busy from the moment she opened her eyes until late at night, often working overtime. Song Wanyue felt sorry for her, so if Mingyu was a bit distant, that was fine. She thought that once their lives improved, they would have all the time in the world.

Song Wanyue even thought that if life continued like this, as long as she could often lean on Mingyu, smell the pleasant scent on her, and receive her kisses, it would be enough.

She loved her.

Not just for her beautiful appearance, not just for her body.

It wasn’t until the latter half of the year, when Zhang Hui came to visit Wanyue, that she heard about how Wanyue and Mingyu interacted. Zhang Hui was stunned: “Are you telling me that you two have been enduring countless pressures to struggle in Beijing together, and you still haven’t slept together?”

Song Wanyue’s face flushed. Though it was true, she didn’t want to admit it.

Zhang Hui looked at her in disbelief, clicking her tongue in amazement: “What, are you two playing at Platonic love?”

Song Wanyue lowered her head, nervously wringing her hands: “Mingyu is tired.”

She would never admit that she felt she lacked attraction.

Zhang Hui stroked her chin, pondering: “Is that really the reason? Wanyue, Mingyu’s upbringing is different from ours. Don’t you think she’s avoiding something?”

••••

Those words from someone who had been through it left Song Wanyue anxious all day. She couldn’t concentrate in class, making frequent mistakes, surprising the students who were used to their usually careful little teacher.

After work, Xiao Mingyu came specifically to pick up Song Wanyue, but as soon as she reached the university entrance, she encountered someone familiar.

It was Su Jieyu, her work partner, a woman who had been divorced and was much older. Across from Wanyue’s university was an elementary school that occupied a prime location, and Su Jieyu had come to look at houses for her child when she unexpectedly ran into Xiao Mingyu.

Su Jieyu was the typical mature woman with big, wavy hair dyed burgundy, wearing ten-centimeter heels, a shirt tucked into black striped pants, looking neat and commanding, full of the aura of an authoritative woman. When she saw Xiao Mingyu, she smiled and patted her on the shoulder: “Mingyu, what are you doing here?”

This was one of Xu Ruying’s business partners. Xiao Mingyu instinctively tensed up upon seeing her boss’s friend, straightening her legs and standing at attention: “I’m here to pick up a friend.”

“Pfft.” Su Jieyu was amused by her military-like report, pinching Xiao Mingyu’s cheek, “Why are you so nervous? Do you think I’ll eat you up? You’re such a little cutie.”

Indeed, the “little cutie” was very cute. From the moment Su Jieyu first saw her, she couldn’t get her out of her mind. She even mentioned it to Xu Ruying many times, but Xu Ruying was someone who was practically blind and deaf to anything outside of work. No matter how much she hinted, Xu Ruying remained indifferent. In the end, when Su Jieyu outright confessed her feelings, Xu Ruying simply said, “She’s not your match,” rejecting her outright.

Sometimes, a woman’s sixth sense is incredibly uncanny.

That day, Song Wanyue hurried out to see Mingyu. Had she come out at her usual time, even if it was just a minute earlier or later, she wouldn’t have seen someone pinching Mingyu’s face.

But she did.

In that moment, the smile in Song Wanyue’s eyes turned into a cold, sharp blade, piercing through that hand and that face over and over again.

The tension began brewing in the car.

As soon as Xiao Mingyu got in the car, she sensed something was off with Song Wanyue. She turned to her and smiled: “What’s wrong? Are you tired today?”

She reached out to touch Wanyue’s face, but Wanyue slapped her hand away, glaring at her: “Is my face so cheap that you can just touch it whenever you want?”

Xiao Mingyu: …???

Why was Wanyue suddenly acting so aloof today?

For the sake of road safety.

On the way, Song Wanyue held back, but once they got home, she stormed off to take a shower.

This time, she decided to wear the cool nightgown and stockings that Zhang Hui had specially bought for her after learning about their relationship, even though she hadn’t planned to.

When Xiao Mingyu came out with a glass of warm milk and saw Song Wanyue dressed like that, she almost dropped the cup. Song Wanyue casually ran her fingers through her hair, glanced at her, and then walked over to lie on the sofa across from her without saying a word.

If she wanted to lie down, so be it.

But then she struck a perfect S-curve pose, propping her head up with one hand, her black-clad legs crossed, thoughtfully gazing at Xiao Mingyu.

There was a fundamental difference between Wanyue and her.

Xiao Mingyu had an outstanding figure, even among women. Back in university, she had attracted many admirers who wanted her to pursue a career in modeling.

But she had a weakness—she was too skinny. That kind of figure looked fashionable and chic in clothes, but once the clothes came off…

Wanyue, on the other hand, was different.

She was perfectly proportioned, with fullness in all the right places.

In Mingyu’s mind, she still remembered Wanyue as the mischievous girl with a hint of baby fat. But now, her chin had sharpened, and as she lay there, like a ripe fruit exuding an irresistible fragrance, her allure was undeniable.

The love of her life was right in front of her.

Xiao Mingyu couldn’t help but swallow hard, her eyes darting around, unsure where to focus.

Song Wanyue noticed Xiao Mingyu stealing glances at her, then looking out the window. After a long pause, she sighed and spoke in a nasal tone: “So you really do like older women.”

Xiao Mingyu froze, What???

Song Wanyue sneered: “I usually dress with a mix of purity and a hint of cuteness, a bit of youthful charm hidden within. But I never see your gaze linger on me. Look at you now—your eyes are glued to me.”

Xiao Mingyu stared at her for a long time and asked, “Is your period coming?”

Why was she so temperamental?

Song Wanyue: “…”

She almost lost her momentum in that moment.

Xiao Mingyu walked over to Song Wanyue and covered her with a blanket. “If it’s coming, keep yourself warm. That woman is a friend of General Manager Xu’s; I don’t like her.”

She understood her.

Song Wanyue felt a little aggrieved, biting her lip as she reproached, “But she touched your face. Are you a girl from the Red Mansion? Can anyone just touch your face?”

Xiao Mingyu laughed when she heard that. She wrapped her arms around her little girl, gently kissing her forehead. “I’m only my little jealous Wanyue’s.”

She finally understood why she was upset.

Xiao Mingyu found it both funny and exasperating.

Song Wanyue, now pacified, relaxed into her embrace like she had no bones, lightly caressing Xiao Mingyu’s collarbone. “Mingyu, I heard my colleagues talking today.”

Xiao Mingyu, distracted by her touch, felt as if all her nerves were following the coolness of her fingertips. “About what?”

Song Wanyue: “An older sister said that she and her husband hadn’t had sex for almost a year, and she was feeling unfulfilled. She was considering two options.”

Xiao Mingyu looked at her warily. “What options?”

Song Wanyue gazed softly into her eyes and, like a parrot reading a script, recited, “No. 1, have an affair to find satisfaction elsewhere. No. 2, divorce.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Xiao Mingyu narrowed her eyes at Song Wanyue, the temperature dropping a few degrees. Sometimes, Wanyue had a bit of a masochistic streak, enjoying seeing her Mingyu like this, so she couldn’t help but kiss her lips. Her long hair brought a seductive scent as she whispered in her ear, “Aren’t you afraid you can’t satisfy me?”

Xiao Mingyu’s face instantly turned red. She looked at Song Wanyue in disbelief. “What have you been hearing?”

Who?

Who corrupted her Wanyue?

Song Wanyue laughed, the same way she did whenever she got drunk, a laugh that made one’s heart melt. Her hand slid down to clasp Xiao Mingyu’s, interlocking their fingers firmly. Raising their hands, Song Wanyue looked at Xiao Mingyu’s slender fingers and said, “For the rest of my life, I’m destined to be yours alone.”

Xiao Mingyu was utterly confused by her alternating sweet and stern behavior.

So, what was the point?

Song Wanyue sighed, “If you really have some sort of… condition, you can tell me. I won’t mind.”

Xiao Mingyu: “…”

Seriously.

In the end, she gritted her teeth and whispered in Song Wanyue’s ear, “Don’t regret it later.”

And Wanyue?

Like a cunning little fox whose scheme had succeeded, she giggled, wrapped her arms around Xiao Mingyu’s neck, and murmured, “How could I regret it?”

••••

“Why is your face so red?”

Xu Ruying looked at the pot she had just finished scrubbing and asked in confusion, “Does this pot remind you of something?”

Song Wanyue: “…”

Recalling the past.

Song Wanyue reflected on it—her usual tactics for dealing with Mingyu were pretty limited.

The one she was most skilled at was playing the pity card.

Secondly, there was the strategy of provocation.

And the final, most effective move was the beauty trap.

Apart from these, occasionally letting Mingyu know that she had been treated unfairly would trigger her protective instincts. Whatever she said would then be law, with no boundaries.

On a rainy night like this, she had to be extra cautious, first checking her condition.

“Miss Xu.”

Song Wanyue smiled gently at Xu Ruying, who suddenly felt a chill down her spine. “Did you lose your keys again?”

Song Wanyue: “…”

She was really about to lose her patience.

Taking a deep breath, Song Wanyue struggled to suppress the urge to rip her apart, maintaining her smile. “I have a small request, would you help me with it?”

Xu Ruying looked at her warily and instinctively took a step back. “What is it?”

Wanyue understood her.

And how could she not understand Wanyue?

Seeing Wanyue’s flushed cheeks and the swirling emotions in her eyes, it was clear she had been thinking about something. Now, her eyes were full of calculation. What was she planning?

“Well, you know I like to paint in oils, right?”

Song Wanyue’s voice was gentle, blending softly with the drizzle outside, making it hard to resist.

Xu Ruying nodded.

Song Wanyue: “Recently, a teacher at school wants to practice figure painting with me. She usually paints her lover at home, but I…”

Xu Ruying: “You can paint Auntie.”

After a moment’s silence, a flash of lightning cut through the sky outside, and Song Wanyue quietly said, “Auntie is a bit old. Paintings of her aren’t very popular among young people.”

“So you want to paint me?”

Xu Ruying laughed at the way Wanyue went about it. This little girl, why couldn’t she just come out and say it? Why go around in such a big circle?

Did she really seem that intimidating?

After all this time together, did such a request still need to be made so cautiously?

It seemed that scolding her earlier about burning the pot while cooking had scared her. For a moment, Xu Ruying felt a surge of compassion and nodded. “Of course you can.”

Song Wanyue’s eyes lit up with excitement, and she looked at her with ink-black eyes, her red lips parting slightly. “Really?”

“Of course.”

What’s so hard about painting her?

Wanyue had painted her before.

Although being a figure model required staying still for a long time, it was something one could endure.

“A gentleman’s word…”

Song Wanyue seemed a bit unsure, repeatedly confirming, making Xu Ruying feel even worse. “A promise is a promise.”

Seeing Wanyue make such a humble request made her feel bad.

If she were still here…

Would Wanyue have to plead with anyone like this?

Seeing that she had gotten Xu Ruying’s promise, Song Wanyue was overjoyed. She quickly went into the room to bring out the easel, various paints, and other materials. She turned on all the lights in the living room, making the room bright and shiny. Then, she drew the curtains from the inside out and double-checked that the door was securely locked.

Xu Ruying, who witnessed everything: ???…………”

Everything was ready.

Song Wanyue happily said, “We can start now, Ruying.”

Xu Ruying felt a chill running down her spine. “Start?”

Song Wanyue nodded enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming as she looked at her like a predator eyeing its prey. “I want to be unique and surpass those who just join the crowd by capturing the purest side of humanity.”

Xu Ruying cautiously asked, “…The purest side?”

Song Wanyue nodded vigorously. “Yes, I want to paint a nude body!”

Xu Ruying: “…”

Damn.

She’d been tricked.

The rain outside grew heavier.

Amidst the thunder and lightning.

Inside the house, two silhouettes could be vaguely seen.

One of them, a taller woman, looked like a modest lady being taken advantage of, holding her arms protectively over her chest, her face flushed as she looked at the person opposite her.

The other one raised an eyebrow arrogantly, impatiently urging, “Hurry up! Didn’t you say your promise was as good as gold, Miss Xu?”

Xu Ruying: “…”

Sob.

———————
Author’s Note: Here it comes, quickly~

Xu, in her gloomy mood: Pah, you’ve made me lose all face.

Xiao Mingyu: …I was tricked.