On The Night I Confirmed My Girlfriend's Infidelity, I Kissed Her Sister (GL) - Chapter 9: I’m Single—Very Convenient

“Giving it to you wasn’t entirely for your grandmother’s sake.”

Then what was it for?

The moment Ye Jiayuan finished speaking, Fu Chaoying fixed her eyes on hers.

As always, those deep pupils held too many complicated emotions she couldn’t decipher.

Just as Fu Chaoying waited for her to continue, a bright, feminine voice suddenly cut in—

“Jiayuan? You’re here too!”

The voice sounded familiar—was it the woman who had called Ye Jiayuan back in Nanyan?

Fu Chaoying turned to see a striking woman with voluminous golden curls approaching them.

Her presence was magnetic, every movement exuding charm.

When she drew closer, Ye Jiayuan introduced her calmly, “Qu Jingyuan, my colleague.”

Qu Jingyuan let out a soft huff, clearly dissatisfied with the label. She slid into the seat beside Ye Jiayuan, nudging her shoulder playfully. “So this is why you wouldn’t tell me your plans—you were having dinner with a pretty girl, huh?”

Watching their easy intimacy from across the table, Fu Chaoying remained seated, a faint smile on her lips as her gaze flickered to the way Ye Jiayuan subtly shifted her shoulder away.

But that was all—Ye Jiayuan showed no further reaction, simply stating, “This is Fu Chaoying.”

Fu Chaoying met Qu Jingyuan’s eyes and offered a polite smile.

Qu Jingyuan clearly wasn’t just a “colleague,” as Ye Jiayuan had claimed. Until she understood their relationship, Fu Chaoying decided to play the role of an introvert uncomfortable with socializing.

Before they could exchange more than a few words, Fu Chaoying’s aunt returned to the table. After exchanging pleasantries with Qu Jingyuan, she briefly clarified their connections before teasing Ye Jiayuan with a smile, “Jiayuan, you’re at the age where you should start thinking about settling down, hm?”

At those words, Fu Chaoying’s chest tightened. She glanced at Ye Jiayuan, whose expression remained as composed as ever.

Before Ye Jiayuan could respond, Qu Jingyuan chuckled and interjected, “Auntie, what do you think of me? Don’t Jiayuan and I make a good match?”

Fu Chaoying’s aunt, amused by the gossip, looked between them and agreed cheerfully, “Very compatible.”

Even if it was just a joke, Fu Chaoying kept her attention on Ye Jiayuan’s reaction—only to hear Qu Jingyuan ask, “What do you think, little sister?”

Fu Chaoying tilted her head slightly to look directly at Ye Jiayuan, a deep smile playing at the corners of her lips. “As long as Jiayuan-jie likes it.”

Gazing at this “well-behaved and sensible” younger sister before her, a faint trace of amusement flashed through Ye Jiayuan’s eyes. She turned to Qu Jingyuan and asked, “Aren’t you going over there yet?”

Qu Jingyuan rose gracefully, but then rested a hand on Ye Jiayuan’s shoulder. “How about you? Come keep me company while I make a toast.”

Qu Jingyuan was hosting important business partners at her table.

Ye Jiayuan nodded in agreement and instructed Fu Anjun and Fu Chaoying that they could contact the driver at any time to take them home.

She then sent the driver’s phone number to the two Fu sisters before leaving with Qu Jingyuan.

After her aunt left for the second half of the banquet, Fu Chaoying sat alone in the lounge area by the floor-to-ceiling windows, waiting for Ye Jiayuan to return.

Outside, dark clouds rolled across the sky, nearly obscuring the moon completely.

By the faint moonlight, Fu Chaoying gazed at the ocean waves, but could only see a small illuminated section near the shore.

“Xiao Ying.”

A cool voice snapped Fu Chaoying out of her reverie.

When she came to, she found Ye Jiayuan already standing behind her, her expression seeming slightly softer than usual.

Probably from drinking, Fu Chaoying thought to herself.

Ye Jiayuan didn’t ask why she was waiting here alone.

Fu Chaoying offered an unnecessary explanation about her aunt leaving first*, then accompanied her downstairs in the elevator.

In the confined space, the silence was broken only by their breathing and the faint hum of the elevator mechanism.

“Why didn’t you go back first?” Ye Jiayuan suddenly asked.

Fu Chaoying replied softly, “You didn’t make me wait too long.”

Then she added, almost as an afterthought: “Jiayuan-jie seems quite close with your colleagues.”

The comment hovered between casual conversation and subtle probing.

Ye Jiayuan turned to look at her, her gaze deep and slightly searching. “We were college classmates.”

College classmates, colleagues—neither term seemed remotely connected to “girlfriend.”

Fu Chaoying’s smile deepened as she deliberately tugged at Ye Jiayuan’s sleeve, which had somehow come undone. “You didn’t finish what you were saying earlier.”

Ye Jiayuan glanced down at the gesture, a faint curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. “Which part?”

Fu Chaoying patiently reminded her: “About giving me the ‘Jade Orchid Painting.’”

“Oh…” Ye Jiayuan seemed to recall.

Fu Chaoying looked up expectantly, waiting for her to continue, only to see her lean slowly closer until warm breath suddenly brushed against her ear—

“A secret.”

Fu Chaoying shivered, her ears filled with that cool, magnetic voice.

For that brief moment, Fu Chaoying felt like she’d slipped into a dream.

But Ye Jiayuan withdrew immediately, returning to a proper social distance, and that strange sensation gradually faded.

“I’ll tell you next time,” Ye Jiayuan said lightly.

Fu Chaoying couldn’t help thinking that Ye Jiayuan always gave people this elusive feeling—like how she’d volunteered that giving the painting wasn’t entirely for Grandma’s sake, yet refused to explain further.

Lost in these thoughts, Fu Chaoying didn’t even notice her own heartbeat quietly accelerating.

On the way back to the hotel, Ye Jiayuan took a work call, maintaining her usual composed and unflappable demeanor.

Only when they reached Fu Chaoying’s hotel room door did Ye Jiayuan finally finish her work. “I’m staying here too. Call me anytime if you need anything.”

Her manners remained impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.

Taking the opportunity, Fu Chaoying asked her, “Will you be attending the cocktail party tomorrow night as well?”

Ye Jiayuan shook her head. “I have an important meeting tomorrow evening. You can go with Aunt Yun.”

Not pressing further, Fu Chaoying nodded in farewell. “Goodnight.”

But just as she was about to close the door, Ye Jiayuan spoke again, “There’s a thunderstorm tonight. Remember to lock the windows.”

After a brief pause, she added, “If you’re scared… your aunt should be back by then.”

Hearing the concern in her words, warmth bloomed in Fu Chaoying’s chest. Softly, she replied, “Thank you, Jiayuan-jie. I can’t believe you still remember such a small thing.”

“Mm. Goodnight.” Ye Jiayuan turned and left.

–

True to Ye Jiayuan’s prediction, an hour later, the thunderstorm arrived as promised.

Wind and rain howled against the windows, while flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder formed a terrifying soundtrack.

Fu Chaoying had already taken a shower and was now sitting on the sofa, staring unblinkingly at the eerie images on the TV screen.

After several flashes of lightning, she finally glanced toward the window.

From the high-rise, nothing was visible outside, but she was no longer the little girl who feared thunderstorms.

Over the years, she had grown accustomed to watching horror movies alone during countless stormy nights. Such harsh weather could no longer trap her in a cage of fear.

Instead, it was during mundane, everyday moments that she feared solitude more.

Perhaps it was because, in the first twenty years of her life, her mother and grandmother had given her too much love.

It made her brave enough to face her fears, yet nostalgic for the warmth of ordinary days.

A phone ringtone interrupted Fu Chaoying’s thoughts.

She paused the TV with the remote before getting up to check her phone, only to see the caller ID: “Ye Yi’an.”

Without hesitation, Fu Chaoying hung up. Two minutes later, another message arrived via WeChat:

[I heard from Mom that you and Aunt Fu came to Old Singapore together. The weather’s bad tonight—if you’re scared, I can come keep you company.]

Fu Chaoying stared at the screen and let out a cold laugh.

When Ye Yi’an had gone out that stormy night to entangle herself with another woman, why hadn’t she thought Fu Chaoying might be afraid?

She tapped to block Ye Yi’an’s WeChat and turned off the screen, but then it struck her—Ye Yi’an had used the word “come.” Was she in Old Singapore too?

After another clap of thunder, the WeChat notification chimed again.

Picking up her phone, Fu Chaoying saw a message from her aunt:

[The weather’s terrible, so I’ll stay here tonight. Take care of yourself /hug]

Suddenly, Ye Jiayuan’s parting words flashed through Fu Chaoying’s mind. A faint smile curved her lips as she dialed a number—

“Jiayuan-jie… I’m scared…”

Fu Chaoying deliberately lowered her voice, adding a slight tremble to convey more emotion.

On the other end of the line, Ye Jiayuan’s steady yet gentle voice responded, “I’m here.”

Just two simple words, yet inexplicably comforting.

Fu Chaoying’s heart stirred slightly. After a brief silence, she hesitantly asked, “Jiayuan-jie… do you have a spare room?”

Ye Jiayuan was staring at the lightning outside the window, as if it might strike right before her eyes.

Closing the bathroom curtains again, she withdrew her gaze and softly inquired, “Has your aunt not returned yet?”

Fu Chaoying gave a quiet hum. “She said she won’t be back tonight.”

Ye Jiayuan picked up a dry towel to dry herself, pausing in thought before replying in a measured tone, “I have a spare room here.”

A fleeting, tantalizing image flashed through Fu Chaoying’s mind. Her throat felt slightly dry as she feigned hesitation and countered, “The weather forecast says there’ll be thunderstorms all night. Is it… convenient for you, Jiayuan-jie?”

The emphasis was on that last question.

Another low rumble of thunder echoed outside. Fu Chaoying listened intently for a response, but the line remained silent.

“Jiayuan-jie?”

Wondering if the signal was poor, she tentatively called out again—only to hear a faint chuckle on the other end.

“I’m single. There’s no inconvenience,” Ye Jiayuan answered plainly.