On The Night I Confirmed My Girlfriend's Infidelity, I Kissed Her Sister (GL) - Chapter 24.2: Favoritism

Early the next morning, sunlight spilled into the room.

Ye Jiayuan slowly opened her eyes to the sight of slightly parted pink lips and a face that looked especially pale in the soft morning light.

She gazed at Fu Chaoying’s face, unconsciously lifting a hand—only to freeze just before touching her cheek and lower it again.

Ye Jiayuan studied her face intently before closing her eyes once more, her arm around Fu Chaoying’s waist tightening slightly.

In a moment Fu Chaoying couldn’t perceive, Ye Jiayuan’s throat moved, her breathing suddenly heavier.

Before long, Fu Chaoying stirred awake, blinking groggily—only to find Ye Jiayuan still beside her.

Before she could take in her face properly, a sharp knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Fu Chaoying’s heart lurched.

They hadn’t done anything—just slept together. Yet for some reason, she felt an irrational sense of guilt, as if they’d been caught in the act.

“Xiao Ying, why aren’t you up yet?”

It was her aunt’s voice! What was she doing here?

Fu Chaoying suddenly remembered she hadn’t locked the door last night. Her pulse spiked as she quickly turned and nudged Ye Jiayuan awake.

Ye Jiayuan, still half-asleep, frowned slightly and looked at her in confusion. “Hmm?”

“Xiao Ying?” Fu Anjun’s voice came again from outside the door, this time more insistent.

Understanding dawned on Ye Jiayuan, and she immediately got out of bed, moving swiftly and decisively.

“I’m coming in, okay?”

At the last possible second, Fu Chaoying frantically pushed Ye Jiayuan into the bathroom and shut the door.

As the bedroom door opened, Fu Chaoying forced herself to stay calm, feigning a yawn. “Auntie, what brings you here?”

Her tone carried just the right amount of drowsiness.

Fu Anjun took in her sleep-rumpled appearance and gave her a sidelong glance. “I knew you’d sleep in. I came to pick you up for the art museum.”

Her aunt was worried she’d be late—or worse, use oversleeping as an excuse to skip it altogether.

Fu Anjun glanced around and casually asked, “Aunt Wu mentioned Xiao Yuan is here too. Why haven’t I seen her?”

Fu Chaoying smiled naturally, her mind racing to find a suitable excuse. “Jiayuan-jie seems to have a habit of working out. Maybe she’s at the gym?”

Fu Anjun nodded in understanding. “Then you should go freshen up.”

With that, she turned and left.

Watching her retreating figure, Fu Chaoying let out a soft sigh of relief. She quickly closed the door and locked it before turning around to hurry over and open the bathroom door, saying cheerfully, “Jiayuan-jie, you can come out now.”

Ye Jiayuan gave her a calm look, then stepped forward to open the door, only to find it wouldn’t budge.

Fu Chaoying offered a slightly awkward smile and quickly explained, “Just now… I was in too much of a hurry and accidentally locked it.”

Ye Jiayuan sighed imperceptibly, opened the door, and strode out.

Fu Chaoying had full confidence in Ye Jiayuan’s ability to handle the situation, certain she could smoothly explain where she had just been.

Fu Chaoying swiftly finished washing up, applied light makeup, and then went downstairs.

When she turned toward the dining room, Ye Jiayuan and Fu Anjun were already seated at the table.

The two were discussing something. Noticing Fu Chaoying’s arrival, Ye Jiayuan gave her a polite nod.

Fu Chaoying responded with equal politeness and distance, saying, “Good morning, Jiayuan-jie.”

Fu Anjun and Ye Jiayuan seemed to be talking about a charity auction project.

Fu Chaoying listened quietly, offering no input, like an observer.

After breakfast, the three left together.

However, Ye Jiayuan was heading to visit a company, while Fu Chaoying and her aunt were attending an event at the provincial art museum.

On the way to the museum, Fu Anjun casually asked, “Why was Jiayuan at your place?”

Maintaining her composure, Fu Chaoying offered the excuse she had prepared earlier: “Jiayuan-jie said she was avoiding Aunt Chu’s pressure to get married.”

Her tone carried a hint of resignation.

Fu Anjun nodded in understanding and then asked, “Are you two close now?”

A faint tension flickered in Fu Chaoying’s heart, but she pressed her lips together and replied calmly, “We get along fine. Jiayuan-jie is really nice, though.”

Fu Anjun gave her a meaningful look before saying evenly, “Jiayuan is a good person, but you should still maintain an appropriate distance. Don’t rely on her for every little thing.”

Fu Chaoying took a deep breath and replied softly, “I understand.”

Keep her distance. Don’t turn to her for help at every minor issue.

This seemed to be the rule Fu Anjun had always wanted Fu Chaoying to follow in her interactions with Ye Jiayuan.

That was why, when Fu Anjun had asked why Fu Chaoying hadn’t immediately told the family about Ye Yi’an’s infidelity, Fu Chaoying had nearly laughed.

If she had truly confided in her aunt right away, would Fu Anjun have firmly stood by her side?

Fu Chaoying still remembered her freshman year, when her first dormmates had ganged up to ostracize and exclude her. She fought back, only for them to report her to the advisor.

When the advisor requested parental involvement, she had cautiously asked her aunt if she could come to the school.

Fu Anjun had dismissed her with a breezy, “You know how busy I am. I don’t have time to deal with your issues.

”And if others are bullying you, shouldn’t you first reflect on whether you’ve done something wrong?

“Even if they are targeting you—you’ve always been too sensitive and weak. How will you survive in society like this?”

Later, her grandmother, Fu Li, somehow found out and came to the school despite her illness, pushing herself in a wheelchair.

“Our Xiaoying has always been polite, considerate, and kind-hearted. She would never bully anyone without reason.”

To this day, Fu Chaoying could still recall her grandmother’s sallow face and the sound of her labored breathing.

Fu Chaoying fell silent, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

Fu Anjun seemed to sense the shift in mood and changed the subject.

Fu Chaoying had no desire to continue the conversation with her, but she maintained a neutral expression, exchanging only a few superficial pleasantries.

The Provincial Artists Association had organized an exhibition of Southern School ink paintings over the weekend, borrowing a few pieces from her grandmother, Fu Li, and extending a polite invitation to the Fu family descendants to attend the accompanying symposium.

Fu Chaoying disliked such occasions intensely. The discussions always circled back to her grandmother’s achievements, with subtle—or not-so-subtle—hints that the association hoped Southern School ink painting could reach a wider audience and be better preserved for future generations.

What they truly wanted was for the Fu family to release the paintings Fu Li had treasured in her lifetime—though few in number, they were her most cherished works.

Fu Chaoying had witnessed the creation of some of these paintings firsthand, her grandmother guiding her stroke by stroke, teaching her with unwavering patience.

To Fu Chaoying, these paintings were not merely priceless masterpieces—they embodied the unconditional love her grandmother had poured into her, a love no one else had ever given her since.

She would never let anyone take them away—these tangible yet intangible expressions of love.

When the symposium segment began, Fu Chaoying remained silent as usual, watching her aunt navigate the conversations with the others.

By 11 a.m., during the intermission, she found an excuse to leave but was stopped by her aunt. “Your sister will be here soon.”

Fu Chaoying gave a faint hum of acknowledgment and pulled out her phone, idly unlocking the screen. A message from Ye Jiayuan, sent half an hour ago, caught her eye: “Are you free for lunch?”

Her heart skipped a beat. She immediately opened the chat and typed a quick reply: “Just call me directly. Otherwise, Auntie won’t let me leave.”

The moment she sent the message, a call notification popped up on her screen.

Ye Jiayuan’s voice came through the phone, explaining that the tech company she was evaluating might need a traditional painting consultant. She asked if Fu Chaoying was available for lunch to discuss a potential collaboration.

Fu Chaoying deliberately hesitated, even turning to her aunt for approval. “Jiayuan mentioned a possible work opportunity. She’s asking if I can meet with them now.”

Fu Anjun, engrossed in conversation with the association members, waved her off without looking up. “If it’s a work opportunity, go ahead. Just make sure you’re back early this afternoon.”

The moment Fu Chaoying stepped out of the art museum, she felt an immediate lightness in her chest.

She reached for her phone to hail a ride, only to realize Ye Jiayuan hadn’t sent her the lunch location.

A flicker of confusion crossed her face—until a sudden honk sounded behind her.

She turned instinctively to see a black Mercedes gliding to a stop in front of her.

Then, Ye Jiayuan stepped out, walking toward her with steady, purposeful strides.

Backlit by the sun, her figure seemed to descend like a savior, radiant and resplendent.

Fu Chaoying’s heart trembled violently. She stood frozen, only to hear Ye Jiayuan’s teasing remark, laced with amusement:

“Has it only been three hours since we last met, and you’ve already forgotten your girlfriend?”