Two Faced Lover - Chapter 10

10: Secrets
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‎The sudden “Sister” caught Bo Mingyan off guard, involuntarily bringing back memories of the last time she’d encountered Meng Xuran at this very bar.
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‎When coupled with thoughts of that kiss, it carried an indescribable sense of ambiguity.
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‎Bo Mingyan pressed her lips together, offering no response, silently chiding herself for being influenced by Lu Yo’s teasing.
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‎Steadying her composure, she stood to welcome the two to sit.
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‎”You’ve already met, right?” Fu Junxue nudged Meng Xuran into the inner seat. “She’s in Moment’s design department.”
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‎Once seated, Meng Xuran leaned forward, elbows propped on the table, her cheek resting in her palm as her gaze lingered lazily on Bo Mingyan. “We met a while ago.”
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‎Her peach-blossom eyes shimmered under the dim lighting, like pools of water, giving the illusion of deep affection when she fixed them on someone.
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‎Downstairs, the singer started a new song—unfamiliar but more upbeat than the last, its rhythm unsettling hearts.
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‎Bo Mingyan’s eyes skimmed past Meng Xuran’s face as she turned to Fu Junxue with the menu. “What would you like to drink?”
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‎Fu Junxue: “Two whiskeys on the rocks.”
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‎Having witnessed Meng Xuran’s three-drink limit firsthand, Bo Mingyan asked cautiously, “Can she handle it?”
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‎Fu Junxue: “She can, she’s actually—”
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‎”—Let’s add a dessert too.” Meng Xuran cut her off, her eyes curving as she looked at Bo Mingyan. “Any recommendations, sister?”
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‎The last word carried a breathy quality, its tone drawn out.
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‎It nipped at Bo Mingyan’s ears. Rubbing her earlobe, she casually suggested, “The lava cake is good.”
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‎”It’s made with chocolate.” Fu Junxue flipped through the menu. “She’s picky—won’t eat chocolate. Says it’s too sweet, too cloying, sticks to teeth, and makes you fat.”
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‎”…Don’t slander me.” Meng Xuran turned sharply, snapping the menu shut in front of Fu Junxue. “I’m not picky. I’ll have this.”
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‎Fu Junxue nearly teased further but reconsidered. She’d always complained about Meng Xuran to Bo Mingyan behind her back—doing it to her face now would be pushing it. Besides, her sister held grudges.
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‎With that in mind, Fu Junxue changed tack. “Oh, and don’t bully Miya at work.”
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‎The non sequitur made Meng Xuran pause before she rested her chin on the back of her hand, amused. “Why does everyone think I’d bully people?”
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‎Hearing this, Bo Mingyan guiltily glanced at Meng Xuran, catching the slight lift of her lashes.
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‎Under the bar’s dim golden light, her eyes, already pale, seemed veiled in mist. Her gaze swept past carelessly—like it was just a passing glance.
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‎Fu Junxue: “Hm? Who else thinks that?”
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‎Before the question fully landed, Bo Mingyan averted her eyes, spotting a waiter near the next table. She seized the chance to wave them over. “We’re ready to order.”
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‎The golden chain on her glasses swayed with the motion, refracting dazzling points of light where it disappeared behind her soft earlobe.
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‎Meng Xuran lowered her lashes, masking the amusement in her eyes. “No one.”
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‎Their order arrived shortly—drinks and cake.
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‎In the meantime, Fu Junxue circled back to an earlier topic. “If you hadn’t gone to the U.S. for grad school, you two might’ve met sooner. She got into your alma mater.”
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‎London’s Central Saint Martins was essentially the top choice for anyone studying fashion design abroad.
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‎Bo Mingyan wasn’t particularly surprised. She smiled. “Really? What a shame.”
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‎Her tone, however, was flat—devoid of any real regret.
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‎Meng Xuran sliced a thin corner of the cake, deliberately avoiding the molten center, and scoffed softly.
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‎Bo Mingyan calmly lowered her head, the curve of her lips fading.
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‎”That cat you used to feed,” Fu Junxue paused, searching for the description, “the one with the white Z-shaped marking on its back.”
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‎Bo Mingyan supplied the name. “Little Lightning?”
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‎During their third-year summer break, a stray cat had appeared in the courtyard, leaping over the low wall in the sunset’s glow. Its fur was glossy, its looks striking, with a pair of smoky-gray eyes. Fu Junxue had joked at the time that the cat resembled Bo Mingyan.
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‎Bo Mingyan fed it two pieces of chicken br3ast. After that, the cat returned every afternoon to sunbathe, and Bo Mingyan would leave kibble, canned food, and water in the same spot. Eventually, a fox joined as a freeloader.
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‎But after leaving England, Bo Mingyan had never once asked about them. Fu Junxue had assumed she’d forgotten.
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‎”Yeah, that one. And the mooching fox.” Fu Junxue tilted her head toward Meng Xuran. “She took over feeding them later. She even got Lightning neutered. Now they’re both as fat as pigs.”
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‎Bo Mingyan blinked, surprised as she looked at Meng Xuran. “How did you catch Lightning for the neuter? I tried finding him a home before, but he wasn’t friendly at all—wouldn’t let anyone touch him.”
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‎”Maybe I just have a cat-charming aura. He was pretty affectionate with me.” At this, Meng Xuran paused mid-scoop, lifting her head with a proud, coquettish smile. Meeting Bo Mingyan’s gaze, she slowly added, “Begged me to pet him.”
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‎”…”
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‎Bo Mingyan looked down, taking a sip of whiskey to wet her throat.
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‎Meanwhile, Fu Junxue grabbed a spoon, aiming to steal a bite of cake. Leaning toward Meng Xuran, she mercilessly exposed her: “I wonder who got their hands shredded by scratches, crying every time they went for rabies shots—”
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‎”Is alcohol not enough to shut you up?” Meng Xuran abruptly interjected, gripping the plate and yanking it out of Fu Junxue’s reach. “This is mine. Order your own if you want some.”
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‎Fu Junxue withdrew her hand with a snort. “Some things never change. What’s the big deal about sharing with your sister?”
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‎During their shared living days, Bo Mingyan had heard plenty about Meng Xuran from Fu Junxue.
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‎About this younger sister, Fu Junxue had once said: “She seems pampered and lazy, but there’s a tenacity in her bones. She knows exactly what she wants, and once she gets it, her possessiveness goes wild.”
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‎Bo Mingyan envied that about Meng Xuran.
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‎Ice clinked against glass, harmonizing with the sisters’ bickering. Bo Mingyan listened quietly, a faint smile on her lips.
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‎”Ordering another one would be too much for me.” Fu Junxue glanced at Bo Mingyan. “How about we split one?”
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‎Having already shared one with Lu Yo, Bo Mingyan couldn’t eat more. She was about to decline when Meng Xuran pushed the plate toward Fu Junxue. “One bite.”
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‎”Tch.” Fu Junxue said, “Now that you’re offering, I don’t want it. I’ll order one to split with Miya.”
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‎Bo Mingyan blinked, clearing her throat softly. “I already had one earlier.”
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‎Meng Xuran clicked her tongue. “Too late.”
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‎As she spoke, her fingers pinched the edge of the plate—
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‎Fu Junxue hastily scooped a bite before Meng Xuran could pull it away.
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‎The back-and-forth was oddly entertaining. Bo Mingyan laughed.
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‎”I’m so glad you didn’t do grad school in England. If the three of us had lived together, with you two ganging up on me, I’d have died of rage.” Fu Junxue finished her stolen bite and added, “But I really didn’t expect you to go to the U.S.”
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‎During their senior year, Fu Junxue had casually asked Bo Mingyan about her grad school plans. Bo Mingyan had said she’d stick with Central Saint Martins.
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‎Yet in the end, for reasons unknown, she’d changed her mind and gone to America instead.
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‎After that, Bo Mingyan and Fu Junxue rarely spoke, and her connection with Meng Xuran naturally faded too.
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‎A dull thud.
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‎Meng Xuran’s glass toppled onto the table.
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‎Melting ice slithered along rivulets of whiskey before dripping onto her lap. The fabric was thin, and despite it being summer, the bar’s AC made the sudden chill of ice against skin biting.
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‎Meng Xuran hissed, jerking upright.
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‎Bo Mingyan quickly pulled a packet of tissues from her pocket and handed them over.
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‎Fu Junxue grabbed napkins from the table to soak up the spilled whiskey, grumbling, “Serves you right for dragging that plate around.”
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‎Normally, Meng Xuran would’ve retorted, but now she stayed silent. Noticing her pallor, Fu Junxue asked, “You okay?”
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‎Meng Xuran replied flatly, “I need the restroom.”
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‎After cleaning up, Bo Mingyan made small talk with Fu Junxue, who said, “We’re staying at the family home tonight, so we can’t be out too late. We should head back soon.”
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‎Bo Mingyan nodded, excusing herself to the restroom—but actually slipping away to settle the bill.
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‎Passing the hallway to the restrooms, she spotted a silhouette against the backlight.
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‎The figure stood with waist-length hair, a slender frame, tendrils of smoke curling from her lips to dissipate in the air—just like the avatar in her WeChat.
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‎Meng Xuran’s gaze slid over through the haze.
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‎The emotions in her eyes burned as fiercely as the slender cigarette between her fingers, hidden in the shadows.
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‎Bo Mingyan’s heart lurched.
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‎”Someone once said I look good smoking. I didn’t believe them.” Meng Xuran stubbed out the cigarette in a nearby ashtray. “But seeing your reaction, maybe they were right.”
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‎Alcohol seemed to make her especially shameless.
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‎”Then enjoy your solitary beauty.” Bo Mingyan turned to leave.
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‎”Hey.” Meng Xuran called after her.
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‎”Hey” ignored her.
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‎”Miya.” The name came with a laugh, almost teasing.
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‎Miya pretended not to hear.
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‎”Sister.”
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‎Bo Mingyan stopped.

‎”You’re really something, getting hung up on titles like that?”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head off first.” Bo Mingyan withdrew her gaze and made to leave.

“There is something.” Meng Xuran stepped closer to her and held out her phone. “Take a look at Lightning and Little Fox.”

On the screen, a cat and a fox nestled together, basking in golden sunlight, beautiful as an oil painting.

Bo Mingyan: “They’ve gotten so much chubbier.”

Meng Xuran swiped to show her other photos, laughing. “The landlord spoils them rotten—they’ve become such picky eaters now.”

As she spoke, Meng Xuran leaned in close, her lips nearly brushing Bo Mingyan’s ear, warm breath enveloping it like a caress.

A faint hint of mint lingered in the air around them.

Bo Mingyan parted her lips: “You—”

At the same moment, Meng Xuran also began to speak.

Their voices overlapped, then halted simultaneously.

Meng Xuran curved her eyes in a smile, politely yielding. “You first.”

“What do you want to eat on Monday?” Bo Mingyan subtly put some distance between them and continued walking ahead.

Caught off guard by the question, Meng Xuran paused before catching up to her. “Haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when I do.”

“Alright.” Bo Mingyan asked, “What were you going to say earlier?”

Light from outside flickered in, casting their shadows closely intertwined on the ground. The female singer’s voice was soft, her melody carrying a lingering tenderness.

Meng Xuran replied offhandedly, “I forgot.”

Suddenly, she no longer wanted to ask why the other had chosen to take the exams for studying in the U.S. back then.