My Online Lover Lives Next Door (GL) - Chapter 16
“You don’t know?” Jian Fanxing was surprised.
“I don’t know,” Lu Yao replied, feeling a little guilty. She recalled that last night, when she went to bed, He Qing was still sitting in the living room, occasionally glancing toward Jian Fanxing’s room. So, she must have gone in after Lu Yao had already fallen asleep.
Everything Miss He did happened after she went to bed. She shouldn’t have gone to sleep so easily. Just because Miss He seemed reliable didn’t mean she should have left her best friend in her care.
Lu Yao lowered her head, full of guilt. “Fanxing, I was wrong. I should have taken care of you myself when you were drunk last night.”
Her heart was filled with regret. Who knew if Miss He—no, that He woman—had done anything to her friend?
Thinking of this, Lu Yao quickly raised her head and nervously asked, “Fanxing, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
Uncomfortable? Jian Fanxing carefully checked herself and shook her head. “No, not even a hangover.”
No? Lu Yao started doubting life itself.
Could it be that He wasn’t capable?
Otherwise, how could two people sleep in the same bed and nothing happen?
Jian Fanxing noticed Lu Yao’s skeptical expression and immediately blushed.
“Yao Yao, what are you thinking? Who said that just because we slept in the same bed, something had to happen? Your thoughts are too dirty; they need purification.” Jian Fanxing scolded in a small voice, completely lacking authority.
Lu Yao was still lost in thought but still managed to retort, “You’re just too naïve. There’s no such thing as a purely innocent relationship between men and wom—uh, women.”
“But since you’re feeling fine, maybe we really did misunderstand He—uh, Miss He. At least she seems to be a decent person.”
Jian Fanxing blushed again, feeling guilty.
Thinking about how she had clung to He Qing like a koala this morning, practically lying on top of her, she started to believe what He Qing had said.
Maybe last night, she really had insisted on keeping her there.
Distracted by thoughts of He Qing, Jian Fanxing stopped crying, got up, and went into the bathroom to freshen up.
After washing up, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were still a bit swollen, making her look a little ugly. She went to the kitchen to get some ice to reduce the swelling.
Just as she placed the ice on her eyes, Lu Yao’s scream nearly pierced her eardrums.
“Whoa! Fanxing, you actually drank all the hangover soup last night?!”
While Jian Fanxing was washing up, Lu Yao had gone into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. When she reached for a bowl, she realized one was missing. That’s when she remembered that He Qing had bought hangover soup for Jian Fanxing last night.
She went into Jian Fanxing’s room to fetch the missing bowl, only to find it empty?!
Empty?!
As Jian Fanxing’s best friend, she knew how much Fanxing hated hangover remedies. She would rather stay sober than drink them. But now, the bowl was empty?!
“It was hangover soup? No wonder my mouth tasted weird when I woke up,” Jian Fanxing suddenly realized.
She didn’t think much of it.
She didn’t like hangover soup, but it wasn’t like she couldn’t drink it.
However, Lu Yao had other thoughts. “Fanxing, think about it carefully. You were dead drunk last night, completely wasted, so you wouldn’t have remembered to drink the soup yourself. More importantly, you hate it. And Miss He was in your room last night, so the only possibility is that she fed it to you.”
Jian Fanxing tilted her head, thinking it over. That was true.
But did Yao Yao really need to analyze it so thoroughly?
Jian Fanxing wasn’t slow-witted, and with Lu Yao’s exaggerated expressions, she caught on quickly. She hesitantly asked, “Are you saying I should…”
“Thank her,” Lu Yao replied.
“You don’t know, but last night, when you were drunk, a man dragged you onto the dance floor. A man, Fanxing! And in a bar, no less! He was trying to take advantage of you, but Miss He saved you from his wandering hands.”
“As the saying goes, ‘a life-saving grace should be repaid with…’” Lu Yao’s eyes were full of mischief.
”Miss He is really nice. At least much better than—“ She paused, stopping herself from mentioning Fanxing’s ex. Bringing up that online relationship wasn’t a good idea, so she held back and continued matchmaking He Qing and her best friend instead.
Jian Fanxing understood what Lu Yao meant—repay with her own body.
Unlike Lu Yao’s enthusiasm, Jian Fanxing lacked energy.
”I’ll thank her, but as for developing feelings… I’m not interested right now,“ Jian Fanxing said, then ignored her friend and picked up her long-abandoned camera.
Lu Yao, seeing her playing with the camera, had a sudden idea. ”Fanxing, just saying ‘thank you’ might not be enough. You should do something more meaningful.“
More meaningful? Jian Fanxing looked at her, puzzled, then suggested, ”Cook her another meal?“
Lu Yao: ”…“
So exhausting.
Lu Yao rolled her eyes. ”Can’t you be a little more creative?“
Jian Fanxing lowered her head and muttered, ”But cooking is my only talent.“
Lu Yao was speechless again.
Playing guessing games with her best friend was too exhausting. Lu Yao decided to be direct. ”Aren’t you good at photography? You’re even a small-time influencer. You could invite Miss He to be your model and take a photoshoot for her!“
That way, they’d have time alone to bond. Lu Yao felt her suggestion was top-tier matchmaking.
Jian Fanxing hesitated. Photography was indeed her strength, but… ”Are you sure she’d like that?“
”Not sure,“ Lu Yao admitted. ”But every time you post pictures, people flood your comments, screaming about how amazing they are. I think it’s worth a shot.“
Jian Fanxing was still hesitant. ”Then… if I see Miss He again, I’ll ask.“
Lu Yao: ”Deal.“
Jian Fanxing thought it would be a long time before she saw He Qing again. After all, a CEO must be extremely busy.
But when Lu Yao dragged her out to take photos, her door and the door across the hall opened at the same time—she ran into He Qing head-on.
He Qing had already adjusted her emotions. Seeing Jian Fanxing, a trace of joy flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and nodded at her politely.
Seeing the camera hanging around Jian Fanxing’s neck, she raised an eyebrow in surprise. ”Fanxing, you do photography?“
”As a hobby? Or for work?“
When they had chatted online, Jian Fanxing often sent her scenic photos. He Qing had always assumed they were just pictures she found online and liked.
She had never considered that they might be Jian Fanxing’s own work.
Jian Fanxing pursed her lips and softly answered, ”Just a hobby.“
Even after spending a night together, she thought she wouldn’t be awkward. But facing He Qing now, she still felt shy and looked down.
Just a hobby? He Qing thought the photos she had received were professional-level. She instinctively praised, ”You’re really good.“
”Miss He, you haven’t even seen her photos. How do you know she’s good?“ Lu Yao chimed in from behind, teasing, ”Do you have X-ray vision that lets you see the essence through appearances?“
Seeing the ”essence“ of Jian Fanxing’s photography through the ”appearance“ of Jian Fanxing herself?
Basically, ”love makes everything look perfect“?
Jian Fanxing glanced at He Qing and tugged at Lu Yao’s sleeve. He Qing’s words were just a polite remark, but Lu Yao’s teasing could make things awkward.
”Miss He, sorry about that. Yao Yao speaks without thinking.“
”If you don’t mind, we’ll be going now,“ Jian Fanxing quickly pulled Lu Yao away before she could say more.
She was so focused on saving He Qing from embarrassment that she didn’t notice how He Qing’s tense posture relaxed the moment she turned away.
She had almost let something slip again.
Thankfully, Lu Yao’s interruption saved her.
”Miss He, sorry about that. Yaoyao always speaks without thinking.“
”Miss He, if there’s nothing else, we’ll be going now.“ Jian Fanxing quickly pulled Lu Yao away, disappearing from He Qing’s sight as fast as possible.
Jian Fanxing was only trying to save He Qing from embarrassment and didn’t notice that the moment she turned around, He Qing’s tense body suddenly relaxed.
Just now… she almost let something slip again.
Luckily, Lu Yao’s joking had distracted Little Star, stopping her from thinking too much about it.
He Qing stood there for a while, then let out a small chuckle when she thought about her reaction.
That laugh was full of self-mockery for her own cowardice.
He Qing was in a bad mood. From the moment she stepped into the headquarters of the group, every employee who passed by her could tell.
Someone secretly approached Lu Feng, hoping to get some inside information from the boss’s personal assistant.
The moment Lu Feng heard that his boss was in a bad mood, he didn’t even have time to gossip with his colleagues. He rushed straight to the CEO’s office and knocked on the door.
Lu. Relationship Expert. Feng officially went online.
”Ms. He, this is your schedule for today.“ Lu Feng handed a folder to He Qing.
He Qing: ”Mm, just put it there.“
She didn’t even lift her head.
”Ms. He, these are a few contracts that need your signature.“ Lu Feng handed over another folder.
This time, He Qing was even more concise. ”Okay.“
”Ms. He, will you be having lunch in the company cafeteria, or should I order something from outside for you?“ Lu Feng had already finished handing over all the documents, but as her personal assistant, his job involved taking care of everything for He Qing, down to the smallest details.
He Qing paused for a moment, as if considering, then after a while, she finally said, ”I’ll eat in the cafeteria.“
”Ms. He…“
Before Lu Feng could finish his sentence, He Qing looked up, slightly annoyed. ”Can you just say everything at once?“
”And stop beating around the bush. If you have something to ask, just ask.“
Last night, Lu Feng had helped her buy the hangover soup. And knowing him, he wouldn’t let her off today without asking about it.
She might as well give him the chance to gossip face-to-face.
Lu Feng chuckled. He wasn’t surprised that He Qing had figured out his intentions. He got straight to the point. ”You’re troubled about something, so you’re in a bad mood. Why don’t you tell me? Maybe I can give you some advice?”