Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: No Birthday Celebration

Bai Chu handed Jiang Yisheng a wet wipe and followed her gaze. “Do you think there’s a chance that was really the same dog?”

“Impossible,” Jiang Yisheng blurted out with absolute certainty.

Bai Chu turned to look at her, slightly surprised.

Realizing what she had just said, Jiang Yisheng quickly corrected herself. “I mean, Mao Mao went missing a long time ago, and not even in this city. It’s impossible for that dog to be him.”

Not only was it not this city—it wasn’t even this world anymore.

Bai Chu nodded solemnly.

Jiang Yisheng stood up and pulled Bai Chu along. “Come on, let’s keep walking.”

Bai Chu’s hands were a little cold. Jiang Yisheng wrapped both of hers around them, warming them gently.

They passed by a cake shop, and Jiang Yisheng tugged Bai Chu inside.

Even if they weren’t celebrating a birthday, having some cake was still a must.

Their fingers interlocked as they stood before the glass display filled with all kinds of beautiful cakes.

Jiang Yisheng bent over to examine each one carefully, while Bai Chu stood beside her, letting her gaze wander casually until it rested on Jiang Yisheng’s profile.

Jiang Yisheng looked serious and focused as she examined the cakes.

“How about we get the chocolate one and the mango one?” Jiang Yisheng stood up, looked at Bai Chu with a smile, and held up two fingers. “Let’s try both flavors.”

“Okay.” Bai Chu nodded and asked the staff to pack them up, then went to the counter to pay.

Back at home, Jiang Yisheng pulled Bai Chu onto the couch, impatiently placing the small cakes on the coffee table and unboxing them.

The rich aroma of the cake wafted into their noses. Jiang Yisheng took a deep sniff and squinted with satisfaction.

“Smells so good,” she said happily.

She had asked the shop for candles earlier, and now carefully took them out and placed two and nine candles on the cakes respectively.

Bai Chu was twenty-nine today.

“We’re not celebrating your birthday, but we can still make a wish.” Jiang Yisheng guided Bai Chu’s hands to clasp together.

Although the candles were placed, she didn’t light them—instead, she shone a flashlight to mimic the candlelight.

Bai Chu chuckled softly. She lowered her hands and rummaged in the bag for the box of matches the bakery had included, handing them to Jiang Yisheng.

“If we’re making wishes, shouldn’t we light the candles?” Her eyes glimmered as she looked at her with warmth.

Jiang Yisheng froze slightly, eyes full of uncertainty as she stared at the matches.

Bai Chu laughed gently. “It’s okay. I’m not that afraid of fire anymore. Back then, it scared me because it flared up suddenly—I just wasn’t ready.”

Seeing that Jiang Yisheng still looked hesitant, Bai Chu continued, “Didn’t we already use fire this morning to pay respects to my parents? I wasn’t really scared then either.”

That finally convinced Jiang Yisheng. She slowly raised her hand and took the matches.

She turned slightly, shielding Bai Chu’s view as she gently struck the match. The flame flared up, and she covered it with her palm, then looked up at Bai Chu.

“Here I go. I’ll light the chocolate one first—don’t be scared,” she said softly. After Bai Chu responded, she slowly brought the flame up and began lighting the candles one by one.

Flickering light began to reflect in Bai Chu’s pupils, shimmering like ripples across a lake, full of emotion.

After lighting the last candle, Jiang Yisheng blew out the match and looked back at Bai Chu.

Only when she saw the soft smile at the corners of Bai Chu’s lips did the tension in her heart finally ease.

She guided Bai Chu into a wish-making posture again, dimmed the room lights, leaving only a hallway lamp on.

“Okay, now you can make a wish,” Jiang Yisheng said, propping one hand on the table and turning toward her.

Bai Chu stared at the candles, her throat tightening slightly as she parted her lips.

“I wish… the person I love will never leave…” She hadn’t finished when she suddenly felt a soft touch at the corner of her mouth.

“You’re not supposed to say wishes out loud,” Jiang Yisheng whispered against her lips, gently kissing her. “If you say them, they won’t come true.”

Bai Chu’s eyelashes fluttered as her expression grew solemn. She furrowed her brow slightly and slowly closed her eyes to make a silent wish.

Jiang Yisheng pressed her lips together, her nose tingling.

A few seconds later, Bai Chu looked back up and turned her head toward her.

“Now that you’ve wished, we can blow out the candles.” Jiang Yisheng took her hand, and together they blew them out.

She removed the candles from the cake and set them aside, handing Bai Chu a fork.

Jiang Yisheng scooped a piece of the chocolate cake and brought it to Bai Chu’s lips.

She took a bite, and Jiang Yisheng watched her expectantly.

After chewing a bit, Bai Chu nodded. “Delicious.”

Jiang Yisheng then gave her a bite of the mango one, and again Bai Chu nodded in approval.

Jiang Yisheng teased her, “But which one’s the best? Pick one.”

Bai Chu lowered her gaze in thought, then glanced up at Jiang Yisheng before answering.

“Why are you looking at me? Just pick your favorite,” Jiang Yisheng laughed, reaching up to pinch her cheek.

Bai Chu pointed at the mango cake. “This one tastes better.”

Jiang Yisheng tilted her head. “But I think the chocolate one’s better.”

“Then eat more of it,” Bai Chu said, pushing the chocolate cake toward her.

Jiang Yisheng scooped a large bite and ate it happily.

As Bai Chu turned, she noticed cream stuck to the corner of Jiang Yisheng’s mouth and chuckled, grabbing a tissue to wipe it off.

But just as she was about to touch Jiang Yisheng’s lips, she paused, smirking.

She put the tissue aside and slowly leaned toward her.

Jiang Yisheng froze as Bai Chu moved closer, her heartbeat accelerating rapidly.

Their faces were so close now that she could feel Bai Chu’s warm breath. A moment later, something warm and wet brushed against her lips.

Bai Chu used the tip of her tongue to gently lick away the cream, the sweetness blooming across her taste buds.

She didn’t pull away immediately. Following the rhythm of Jiang Yisheng’s breath, she touched her own nose to hers, rubbing gently.

Jiang Yisheng’s throat bobbed, her nostrils filled with Bai Chu’s intoxicating scent.

Bai Chu’s breathing quickened as she looked down at Jiang Yisheng’s lips.

Each time their noses brushed, Jiang Yisheng thought the kiss was finally coming—but every time, it just barely missed.

The teasing made Jiang Yisheng feel like she was being slow-roasted. She reached up to hook her arm around Bai Chu’s neck, her eyes misty.

“Don’t move,” she whispered, gaze fixed on Bai Chu’s red lips as she leaned in.

But just as she was about to kiss her, Bai Chu turned her head slightly.

The kiss landed just behind her ear, and both of them froze.

Redness bloomed from the place where Jiang Yisheng had kissed, slowly spreading outward.

Bai Chu pulled away, turned around, and shoved the rest of the mango cake into her mouth.

The romantic mood dissipated. She stood up and turned on the lights, her mouth still full of cake. “I’m going to shower first.”

Jiang Yisheng looked up at her, slightly dazed. “Okay.”

She continued quietly nibbling at her chocolate cake.

She could sense Bai Chu’s emotions and knew she was restraining herself.

Jiang Yisheng took a sip of cold water, slowly calming her own feelings.

While eating, it suddenly hit her—Bai Chu’s restraint earlier was probably because of the significance of today.

So she quickly finished her cake. When Bai Chu came out, Jiang Yisheng took a quick shower too. Then the two of them curled up in bed.

Jiang Yisheng buried her face in Bai Chu’s neck, taking deep breaths of her comforting scent.

Bai Chu squirmed from the ticklishness, holding her shoulders to stop her from moving.

Jiang Yisheng stilled and lay quietly in her arms, gazing at her profile in the moonlight.

“Didn’t we say we wanted to travel?” Bai Chu asked softly, kissing the top of Jiang Yisheng’s head. “Want to go hiking?”

Jiang Yisheng shook her head. “That’s too tiring. I want to go to the beach.”

“Didn’t you just go last time?”

“And you have the nerve to say that? You didn’t even go with me—you went with Youran,” Jiang Yisheng pouted, twirling Bai Chu’s hair with her fingers.

Bai Chu chuckled and rubbed her head lovingly. “Then this time, I’ll go just with you. Sound good?”

Jiang Yisheng nodded proudly. “That’s more like it.”

The next day was Friday. Jiang Yisheng went to the office to tie up some work.

Or rather, she simply dumped everything needing her signature on Yu Mushan’s desk.

“What’s going on? Acting like a hands-off boss now?” Yu Mushan raised her eyebrows, seeing Jiang Yisheng lounging on the sofa, legs crossed, snacking away.

“I’m going on a trip with Bai Chu next week. Just handing off some stuff to my mommy boss,” she said smugly, popping a chip into her mouth.

“Where are you going? Should I assign four bodyguards?” Yu Mushan asked seriously.

“Mom! It’s a date, not a mission. What would bodyguards even do?” Jiang Yisheng whined.

“No discussion. You’re bringing them,” Yu Mushan replied firmly.

Jiang Yisheng grumbled under her breath, stuffing more chips into her mouth angrily.

That evening, back home, she was as excited as a student preparing for a field trip, eagerly packing her suitcase.

“Gotta bring the camera.”

“And the Polaroid.”

“Should I bring this pair of sunglasses, or this one?”

“….”

Bai Chu watched her darting around like a little hamster, eyes filled with affection and a wide smile on her face.

Finally, Jiang Yisheng finished picking everything and stood proudly before the two open suitcases.

“Anything else?” Bai Chu asked.

“I think that’s everything.” Jiang Yisheng nodded confidently.

“Then I’ll start packing.” Bai Chu stood from the couch and began organizing everything neatly into the suitcase.

Just as she was about to close it, Jiang Yisheng suddenly slapped her thigh.

“Oh! I forgot the sunhat!”

Moments later, she came out of the room with two hats, grinning at Bai Chu.

Bai Chu made space in the suitcase again.

“This time, I swear that’s everything,” Jiang Yisheng said confidently.

But the moment Bai Chu closed the suitcase, Jiang Yisheng cried out again, “Oh no—I forgot my swimsuit!”

Bai Chu watched her scamper back to the room and just laughed, shaking her head, and opened the suitcase once more.