My Online Lover Lives Next Door (GL) - Chapter 26
The next day, the sky was clear, and the sun shone brightly.
For their first date, both Jian Fanxing and He Qing woke up early.
Jian Fanxing quickly put on light makeup and then went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast—for both of them.
Across the hall, He Qing also applied light makeup. It was amazing how they both had the same thought. After changing into a casual outfit, He Qing carried a freshly brewed cup of coffee to the window.
It was only six in the morning, but elderly men and women were already taking walks in the courtyard. He Qing saw two old ladies holding hands. Both leaned on canes, and walking alone might have been unsteady for them, but with each other’s support, their steps, though slow, were steady. Every few steps, they exchanged smiles, paused to rest, and continued again. This repeated over and over, yet neither of them seemed annoyed or tired of it. Each time, they looked at each other and smiled brightly.
The morning sunlight bathed them in warmth, warming not just them but the whole world.
He Qing took a sip of coffee. She thought that one day, when she and Little Star grew old, they would be just like that.
The thought made the corners of He Qing’s lips curl up unconsciously.
Even though they would see each other in less than two hours, the feeling of longing was already unbearable.
She wanted to see her Little Star right now.
He Qing checked her watch—just before seven. She forced herself to resist the urge to knock on the door.
But before she could suppress her impulse completely, a knock echoed through her apartment.
Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be…?
Setting down her coffee, He Qing quickly walked to the door.
When she opened it, Jian Fanxing stood there. Seeing He Qing already dressed and ready to go, she was momentarily stunned. So, Sister He was up early too?
Was it because, like her, she was too excited about their date to sleep?
At that thought, Jian Fanxing’s heart raced even faster.
She felt her chances of a successful confession had just increased significantly. She had been 80% confident, but now, it had risen to over 90%.
“Sister He, I made breakfast. Would you like—”Little Star
“Yes.”Little Star Before Jian Fanxing could finish, He Qing agreed immediately and walked straight toward her apartment, not even bothering to close her own door.
Jian Fanxing trailed behind, closing He Qing’s door before heading back inside.
The table was filled with the breakfast Jian Fanxing had prepared—millet porridge, boiled eggs, pancakes, and small buns, as well as bread, milk, and sandwiches. It was an exceptionally rich meal.
And everything was portioned for two.
Seeing He Qing staring at the food, Jian Fanxing blushed and explained, “I wasn’t sure what you usually have for breakfast, so I made a bit of everything.”Little Star
He Qing frowned and asked instead, “What time did you wake up today?”Little Star
Jian Fanxing blinked, taken aback. “Just after six.”Little Star
“Sister He, what’s wrong?”Little Star
Hearing that Jian Fanxing had woken up so early, He Qing felt a pang of guilt. With a sigh, she said, “Next time, don’t wake up so early. We can eat out, so you can sleep in.”Little Star
Although He Qing herself always woke up at six due to her body clock, she felt that Jian Fanxing should get more rest.
Don’t young people usually love sleeping in? Why didn’t Little Star have that habit?
“Or…”Little Star Worried that Jian Fanxing might not be used to eating out, He Qing suggested, “If you like Chinese breakfasts, you can teach me. I’ll make it for you.”Little Star
Jian Fanxing hesitated. “But I can’t sleep.”Little Star
Hearing the obvious care in He Qing’s words, Jian Fanxing’s heart fluttered. She looked at the charming woman in front of her, gathered her courage, and repeated herself, “Because of you, Sister He, I can’t sleep.”Little Star
Her sudden directness caught He Qing off guard.
“W-What do you mean?”Little Star
For once, He Qing, usually quick-witted, found her brain slowing down.
Seeing He Qing’s slightly dazed expression, Jian Fanxing took a deep breath. She had already planned to confess today, so why wait? She might as well say it now.
“Sister He, I like you.”Little Star
“I don’t mean as a friend. I mean… as someone special.”Little Star
“I don’t know if you like girls, but if you do… would you be my girlfriend?”Little Star
Jian Fanxing’s heart pounded as she looked into He Qing’s eyes, afraid to blink, scared that if she did, the answer she longed for might not come. She wasn’t sure if she’d have the courage to ask again.
Every second felt like an eternity as she waited.
She saw the surprise in He Qing’s gaze, but not the rejection or avoidance she had feared.
If Sister He didn’t like girls, if she thought it was strange, her eyes would show disgust, avoidance, or escape.
But none of those emotions were there. Instead, after the initial shock, He Qing smiled.
The restraint in her gaze disappeared, replaced by a deep affection that almost made Jian Fanxing think she was dreaming.
Was this real?
Jian Fanxing blinked rapidly, checking again and again if He Qing’s expression had changed. Only when her eyes grew sore and she still saw the same gaze did she finally believe this wasn’t a dream.
Sister He really liked her too.
It wasn’t one-sided. They both had feelings for each other.
Jian Fanxing was overjoyed. She wrapped her arms around He Qing’s neck and asked, “So, Sister He, you like me too?”Little Star
Though she was already sure, she couldn’t help but ask again.
He Qing, taller by a head, supported Jian Fanxing’s waist so she wouldn’t get tired from holding on. Of course, she had to answer the question.
“I do, Little Star. I like you—a lot.”Little Star
“Hehe, I like you too, Sister He. A lot, a lot, a lot!”Little Star Jian Fanxing giggled, adding an extra “a lot”Little Star as if that would mean she liked He Qing more.
Jian Fanxing was so happy she forgot about breakfast. She clung to He Qing, unwilling to let go. He Qing indulged her, and they sat there talking for half an hour.
Most of the time, Jian Fanxing asked questions, and He Qing answered.
Jian Fanxing: “When did you start liking me?”Little Star
He Qing: “From the first time we met.”Little Star
Jian Fanxing: “Wow, you’ve liked me for so long!”Little Star
He Qing: “Yes, a very long time.”Little Star
Jian Fanxing: “Why do you like me?”Little Star
He Qing: “No reason. I just do.”Little Star
Jian Fanxing: “How long will you like me?”Little Star
He Qing: “Forever.”Little Star
Jian Fanxing: “Do you think I’m a little silly right now?”Little Star
He Qing: “Very cute.”Little Star
Though silly, very cute.
Jian Fanxing quickly let go of He Qing, a flash of embarrassment crossing her face. She tried her best to act as if nothing had happened. Pulling out a chair, she said, “Sister He, sit here.”Little Star
He Qing didn’t refuse, but she felt it was time to change the way Jian Fanxing addressed her.
“Little Star, don’t call me Sister He anymore. Did you forget what you just said? I’m your girlfriend now.”Little Star
“Then what should I call you? Qingqing? He Qing? I still think ‘Sister’ sounds nice, and besides, you are older than me.”Little Star Jian Fanxing replied while scooping millet porridge for He Qing.
But the moment she said it, she felt something was off.
Jian Fanxing looked at He Qing, only to see that the gentle and smiling person from just moments ago now had a darkened expression.
“Sister, what’s wrong?”Little Star Jian Fanxing asked cautiously.
“You said I’m older than you?”Little Star He Qing lifted her gaze and asked slowly, emphasizing each word.
“We’ve only been together for less than half an hour, and you’re already disliking my age? You think I’m old?”Little Star He Qing’s tone was filled with danger.
It was true that she was seven years older than Jian Fanxing, but before this, Fanxing had never minded her age.
Seeing He Qing’s cold and dangerous gaze, Jian Fanxing shivered. Without thinking, she smacked herself on the cheek, sincerely reflecting on her mistake. “Serves me right for speaking too fast. Serves me right.”Little Star
After that, she put on a big smile and carefully placed the bowl of millet porridge in front of He Qing, making sure to do it gently. She was afraid that if she placed it too forcefully, it would seem like she was throwing a tantrum.
She had just gotten a girlfriend—there was no way she was going to lose her now.
After thinking for a moment, Jian Fanxing decisively said, “Sister, I was wrong.”Little Star
No excuses, no justifications—after all, at this moment, anything she said might be seen as an argument in He Qing’s eyes. It was better to be straightforward.
Jian Fanxing was direct—so direct that He Qing’s anger vanished instantly.
Looking at Jian Fanxing bowing her head in sincere apology, He Qing started to reflect on whether she was making a big deal out of nothing.
No matter how much she cared about it, the fact remained that she was older than Little Star.
Since He Qing didn’t say anything, Jian Fanxing raised her head and saw He Qing seemingly lost in thought. She blinked. Was her voice too soft, and He Qing didn’t hear her?
Or was this He Qing’s way of rejecting her apology?
Jian Fanxing started to feel anxious, and her mind spun with odd ideas.
She didn’t know where she got the courage, but without asking for permission, she directly sat on He Qing’s lap, wrapped her arms around He Qing’s neck, and started to act spoiled. “Sis, I was wrong, don’t be mad at me, okay?”Little Star
Her soft and sweet voice snapped He Qing back to reality. Instantly, she felt her whole body go numb and weak.
Looking at Jian Fanxing sitting on her lap, arms wrapped around her neck, He Qing noticed how close they were—so close she could hear their rapid heartbeats.
Jian Fanxing pouted and continued, “Sis, sis, sis, please forgive me, okay?”Little Star
“Pretty please, sis…”Little Star
Hearing her call “sis”Little Star over and over again in such a soft tone, He Qing felt her entire body go weak. At first, only her body felt numb, but now even her heart was melting. If she wasn’t sitting on a chair, she wouldn’t have been surprised if she collapsed to the floor.
“Little Star…”Little Star He Qing’s voice was low and hoarse.
Her throat was dry, like a desert under the scorching sun for ten days. She swallowed hard and finally regained her normal voice. “Stop messing around.”Little Star
He Qing never knew that when the person she loved acted spoiled, it could have such a strong effect on her. She was struggling to hold herself together.
Her gaze landed on Jian Fanxing’s lips—untouched by lipstick, yet naturally peach-red, tempting her to steal a kiss.
Jian Fanxing had been in an online relationship before, but since they never met in person, no matter how sweet their words were, she never had actual experience. So, she didn’t notice He Qing’s unusual behavior.
Hearing He Qing’s “stop messing around,”Little Star she thought He Qing was still upset and decided to use her ultimate move.
“Sis, please forgive me. I love you.”Little Star
Jian Fanxing suppressed her embarrassment and said the words in the most delicate tone she could muster.
She had seen this trick in a viral video—it was called the “Eight-Step Whining Technique.”Little Star Though she didn’t copy it entirely, the words were close enough. The effect should be the same, right?
She planned to secretly glance at He Qing’s reaction, but before she could, her lips were suddenly sealed by another pair of lips.
Yes, by He Qing’s lips.
The sudden warmth stunned Jian Fanxing.
At that moment, she had two thoughts: First, her sister just kissed her. Second, what should she do now?
Despite being in a relationship for years, she was still inexperienced—even a kiss was beyond her knowledge.
Would Sister He dislike her because of this?
Jian Fanxing frantically recalled scenes from romance dramas, trying to remember what the leads did during a kiss.
She suddenly regretted not listening to Yaoyao when she suggested watching those kinds of movies together. Even though she had refused back then, why didn’t Yaoyao insist and force her to watch?
Now, look at her—her very first kiss with He Qing might turn out to be a bad experience.
Jian Fanxing was panicking, sweat forming on her forehead. But what she didn’t know was that He Qing was feeling the same way.
Jian Fanxing was inexperienced, and so was He Qing.
The first person she ever fell for was Jian Fanxing. With her busy work life, she never had the time to study romance movies. Other than stealing a kiss when Fanxing was drunk, she had no real experience either. And now?
Last time, it was just a quick peck. This time, what was she supposed to do next?
So, the two of them just stayed there, lips touching, frozen for a long time with no further movement.
The romantic tension gradually faded. He Qing finally pulled away first. The ever-composed CEO had a rare crack in her expression. “I… have never kissed anyone before, so… I don’t really know how.”Little Star
She exhaled heavily. She had led countless meetings for forty minutes straight without pressure, yet this brief moment made her more nervous than anything.
Jian Fanxing had been embarrassed at first, but upon hearing He Qing’s confession, her awkwardness disappeared.
She looked at He Qing, her heart filling with joy. “So… I’m sister’s first love?”Little Star
He Qing nodded. “Mmm.”Little Star
Hearing that, Jian Fanxing was overjoyed. What could be more exciting than knowing your first love is also your lover’s first?
She noticed He Qing seemed a bit unhappy, probably because of their awkward first kiss.
She thought for a moment and said, “Sis, how about we learn together? Actually, we froze because… well, I don’t know how to kiss either.”Little Star
He Qing looked at her, surprised.
Jian Fanxing added with a grin, “I’ll ask Yaoyao for some… uh, reference materials. We’ll practice, and next time, this won’t happen again.”Little Star
“Sis, let’s eat breakfast first. We still have to go out later.”Little Star Jian Fanxing got off He Qing’s lap and sat down beside her.
As they ate, she silently admired herself. She had never spoken about intimacy so naturally before.
After breakfast, He Qing took the initiative to wash the dishes. Jian Fanxing didn’t argue—she just leaned against the kitchen door, watching He Qing’s busy figure with a silly smile.
Just as they were about to leave, the doorbell rang.
He Qing answered it. Outside stood a deliveryman holding a large bouquet of roses.
“Hello, are you Miss Jian? Here’s your flower order.”Little Star
He Qing turned around and called inside, “Little Star, you ordered flowers?”Little Star
Jian Fanxing quickly ran to the door, took the bouquet from the deliveryman, and, as soon as he left, stuffed it into He Qing’s arms.
He Qing raised an eyebrow. “For me?”Little Star
Jian Fanxing nodded naturally. “Yes, they’re for you.”Little Star
“Didn’t I say I was planning to confess to you today? Since it’s a confession, I have to be prepared.”Little Star The roses were part of her plan.
It might be a cliché move, but all women love flowers, right?
Jian Fanxing looked at He Qing expectantly. “So? Do you like them?”Little Star
He Qing nodded politely. “Thank you.”Little Star
“But I didn’t prepare anything for you.”Little Star He Qing apologized.
She had only decided to make things clear with Jian Fanxing last night, and since she had no experience in this area, she hadn’t prepared anything as well as Little Star did.
Jian Fanxing waved her hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter. Flowers aren’t important. As long as you say you like me, that’s enough.”Little Star
She held onto He Qing’s arm, her smile brighter than the flowers.
Seeing Jian Fanxing’s radiant smile, He Qing couldn’t help but be affected, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. She said, “Little Star, I will always like you.”Little Star
Even though she had said this before, He Qing wanted to say it again.
She wasn’t good at sweet words, but these two words were the best way to express her feelings for Little Star.
And Little Star loved hearing them.
Jian Fanxing felt like she was about to turn into a giggling fool.
She was so, so, so happy.
“Sister, I feel like I’m about to fly into the sky!”Little Star Jian Fanxing exclaimed.
He Qing: “Huh? Why?”Little Star
Jian Fanxing: “Because I feel like you’re going to spoil me endlessly.”Little Star
Even though today was their first day as a couple, Jian Fanxing had a strong feeling that He Qing would indulge her with no limits in the future.
The heavens must really be looking out for her. Even though she had encountered a terrible ex, she now had such a wonderful girlfriend.
Wait, ex? Jian Fanxing suddenly remembered that He Qing had said she was her first love. Should she tell He Qing about her ex?
But today was their first day together. Would bringing this up ruin the mood? After hesitating for a while, Jian Fanxing decided to keep quiet for now.
Being spoiled endlessly? Looking at Jian Fanxing’s blissful smile, He Qing thought that if pampering her meant she would be this happy every day, then it wasn’t a bad idea at all.
He Qing brought the flowers home, placed them in a vase, and set them by the window. That way, every morning when she woke up and every evening when she returned home, she would see them immediately upon entering the room.
After double-checking that they had everything they needed, the two of them got into the car and left.
Jian Fanxing had chosen a photoshoot location in the city, just an hour’s drive away. Since it was springtime, flowers were blooming everywhere, so the first set of photos she wanted to take of He Qing would be in a flower field.
When they arrived at the location, Jian Fanxing saw the sea of blooming rapeseed flowers and immediately grabbed her camera, hanging around her neck, and started taking pictures as soon as she got out of the car.
As she captured different angles, her smile never faded.
He Qing followed behind her, carrying anything Jian Fanxing might need. Watching her smile made He Qing feel happy too.
“Sister, try standing over there.”Little Star Holding the camera, Jian Fanxing seemed to switch into professional mode, picking a good angle and directing He Qing like a model.
“Sister, tilt your face slightly.”Little Star
“Sister, try a half-squat. Let me see how it looks.”Little Star
“Sister, smile a little! Don’t these flowers make you happy?”Little Star
“Sister, your smile looks stiff. The picture won’t look good. Let’s retake it.”Little Star
“Sister, do you know how to pose?”Little Star
“Sister, do you have a cleanliness obsession?”Little Star
“Sister, you’re so beautiful.”Little Star
“Ahhh, why is my girlfriend so gorgeous?!”Little Star
“My girlfriend is the most beautiful in the world!”Little Star
He Qing followed Jian Fanxing’s instructions, reacting accordingly. Although it was a bit troublesome, her heart felt warm.
Especially when Jian Fanxing kept praising her—it really hit the sweet spot.
Why was Little Star so good with words?
Even back when they only chatted on WeChat, Little Star always had endless sweet words, cheering her up instantly even on her worst days.
At the time, she had wondered what Little Star would look like saying these things in person. Now, she realized it was exactly as she imagined—bright, cheerful, and contagious.
Finally, Jian Fanxing called for a break. She grabbed a water bottle and ran over to He Qing without thinking. “Sister, you must be tired. Have some water first, then we can check the photos together.”Little Star
He Qing didn’t refuse, but instead of taking the water bottle immediately, she took the camera from Jian Fanxing’s hands. “You drink first.”Little Star
After all that moving around, even just standing as a model had left He Qing feeling tired and thirsty. Little Star had been constantly talking, running, and jumping, so she must be even more exhausted and thirsty.
Her words were firm, leaving no room for discussion. Jian Fanxing obediently opened the bottle and took a sip before handing it to He Qing.
He Qing took the bottle, hesitated for a second as she noticed Jian Fanxing’s lipstick mark on it, then pressed her lips directly onto the same spot and took a few slow sips, finally quenching her thirst.
The two of them sat down on a small ridge between the fields. For He Qing, this was a new experience—she had never sat on anything other than school chairs or office chairs before. Sitting directly on the dirt was a first.
She turned her head and looked at Jian Fanxing beside her. Jian Fanxing was focused on adjusting the camera, completely unbothered by the dirt, even though it was slightly uncomfortable.
Sensing He Qing’s gaze, Jian Fanxing looked up and smiled.
She brought the camera closer. “Sister, look! These are the pictures I just took of you. Every single one looks so good! I need to pick three to post online, but I want to choose them all. What should I do?”Little Star
“Ah, it’s all because my photography skills are amazing, and my girlfriend is just too beautiful!”Little Star Jian Fanxing sighed dramatically—was she being a little narcissistic?
He Qing had been complimented for her looks many times before, but she had always remained calm. Yet, when Jian Fanxing praised her, she couldn’t help but blush.
“Little Star, you don’t have to keep saying it,”Little Star He Qing said.
Jian Fanxing blinked in confusion. “Saying what?”Little Star
“That I… um, that I’m beautiful.”Little Star He Qing tried to hide her embarrassment.
Jian Fanxing tilted her head. “Why not? My girlfriend is beautiful, gorgeous, and stunning!”Little Star
Noticing He Qing’s slightly flushed face, Jian Fanxing suddenly realized—was she… shy?
She felt like she had discovered a whole new side of He Qing.
Jian Fanxing decided that her girlfriend needed a confidence boost. After all, beautiful people should accept compliments gracefully.
Jian Fanxing tilted her head and thought for a moment. She took out her phone, opened her Douyin account, and scrolled through her videos. Half of them featured beautiful girls. She clicked on one of the videos, opened the comments, then handed her phone to He Qing and asked, “Sister, what do you think of this girl?”Little Star
He Qing glanced at the screen, then looked away and gave a simple comment: “She looks pretty.”Little Star
“Right? But I still think she’s not as pretty as you.”Little Star Jian Fanxing shared her thoughts, then continued, “But look at the comments under my video. Half of them are praising this girl, saying she’s beautiful, cute, and even marriage material. When she saw the comments, she was so happy and thanked me for taking such nice pictures of her.”Little Star
He Qing didn’t say anything. She was confused—why was Jian Fanxing telling her this?
But soon, Jian Fanxing explained herself.
“When your photos are posted, these netizens will definitely leave the same kind of comments. Maybe even more extreme ones. So if others can compliment you, why can’t I?”Little Star Jian Fanxing pouted in dissatisfaction.
He Qing: “…”Little Star
So this was what Xiao Xingxing had been trying to say all along.
He Qing sighed. “I never said you couldn’t.”Little Star
Jian Fanxing: “But you told me not to keep saying it.”Little Star
He Qing: “I’m just not used to it… Alright, I was wrong. I take back what I said.”Little Star
“Is that okay?”Little Star He Qing looked at Jian Fanxing nervously. She had made Xiao Xingxing upset before, but back then, she could just buy some food and drinks to make it up to her. Now, she looked around—only flower fields surrounded them. There was nothing to buy. So she decided to copy Jian Fanxing’s method.
“No,”Little Star Jian Fanxing shook her head. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes as she handed the camera to He Qing and said angrily, “I have to punish you. Pick three photos from these for me.”Little Star
She wanted to pick all of them. She was practically suffering from choice paralysis.
So, she decided to leave this difficult task to her sister.
Jian Fanxing swung her legs happily.
Since it was a “punishment,”Little Star He Qing couldn’t refuse. She took the camera and started selecting.
Unlike Jian Fanxing, who loved every single photo, He Qing was much more rational. After quickly scanning through them, she picked three that she found satisfactory.
Jian Fanxing looked at He Qing’s choices, stunned. She turned to He Qing and asked, “Why did you pick three photos with the exact same expression?”Little Star
Aside from slight differences in angles, these three photos looked like copy-pastes to her.
The expression, the gaze, the hand gestures—almost identical.
He Qing cleared her throat and answered, “They look more pleasing to the eye.”Little Star
Yes, that was her reason.
She had taken similar photos during interviews before. Looking at these three pictures gave her the same familiar feeling. Since she was used to it, they naturally looked better to her.
Jian Fanxing: “…”Little Star
“No way! You can’t pick three identical ones.”Little Star Jian Fanxing objected and tried to choose herself. But as soon as she looked at the pictures where He Qing was smiling or posing differently, she hesitated again.
She couldn’t bear to share such a beautiful girlfriend with others.
Jian Fanxing gave up. “Forget it. These three will do.”Little Star
After making the decision, she turned to He Qing and asked, “Sister, do you want me to send these pictures to you?”Little Star
Speaking of sending photos, Jian Fanxing suddenly remembered something important.
Wait… she hadn’t even added He Qing on WeChat yet?!
And He Qing had never asked for her WeChat either?!
Was she afraid of being rejected? Jian Fanxing shamelessly entertained the thought. Then she waved her phone at He Qing and asked, “Sister, can I add you on WeChat?”Little Star
WeChat? He Qing lowered her gaze. As she reached for her phone, a strange look flashed in her eyes. At this moment, she was extremely glad that after breaking up with Xiao Xingxing, she had abandoned her old WeChat account.
“Here.”Little Star Since her current phone was logged into a new WeChat account she had created later, He Qing handed her phone over naturally.
Jian Fanxing was a little surprised. She had only meant to add He Qing, but He Qing actually gave her the whole phone. Was this a sign of complete trust?
Her heart felt warm. It was only their first day as an official couple, yet He Qing had already touched her heart so many times.
“Password…”Little Star
“The password is…”Little Star He Qing suddenly paused. Her phone password was actually Jian Fanxing’s birthday. Ever since she met Jian Fanxing, she had changed all her passwords to that string of numbers. Just now, she almost blurted it out.
She coughed lightly, quickly thought of an excuse, and then said, “I reset it today. It’s your birthday.”Little Star
“My birthday?”Little Star Jian Fanxing was stunned. She gave He Qing a suspicious look. “Sister, how do you know my birthday? Did Yao Yao tell you?”Little Star