Two Faced Lover - Chapter 4

4: Fishing for Information

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‎Only after Meng Xuran entered the director’s office did the surrounding chatter resume. ‎Bo Mingyan slowly withdrew her gaze, staring absently at the half-finished sketch in front of her, her thoughts drifting.
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‎Suddenly, she recalled the first time Fu Junxue had mentioned Meng Xuran to her.
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‎The two sisters had a five-year age gap, one taking their mother’s surname and the other their father’s. Despite their frequent arguments, they were very close.
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‎Back then, Fu Junxue had even shown Bo Mingyan childhood photos of Meng Xuran. ‎A seven- or eight-year-old girl with two little buns in her hair, a red dot painted between her brows, her round face pouting unhappily, dressed in a bright red padded jacket.
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‎She looked like a New Year’s painting doll forced into a photoshoot.
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‎Just as Fu Junxue was about to show her photos of Meng Xuran grown up, she received a call from home.
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Meng Xuran had put durian in the microwave, stinking up the house so badly that the entire family had been forced to take a midnight stroll.
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‎After listening to her mother’s complaints and her father’s grumbling, Fu Junxue handed her phone to Bo Mingyan when the instigator herself called, excusing herself by saying she had homework to finish.
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‎And so, Bo Mingyan listened as Meng Xuran cried for over half an hour.
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‎She still remembered how Meng Xuran’s voice had been thick with tears, hiccupping as she said, “Sister, y-you… comfort me, ah.”
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‎Bo Mingyan, never good at comforting others, replied stiffly, “Your sister’s in the shower. Stop crying.”
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‎“…”
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‎Having cried for half an hour to a stranger, Meng Xuran hung up in mortification.
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‎Distracted by this incident, Fu Junxue forgot to show Bo Mingyan photos of Meng Xuran all grown up, and Bo Mingyan never asked for them.
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‎Her impression of Meng Xuran had remained frozen in that image of a New Year’s painting doll.
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‎Now, it seemed the saying “a girl changes eighteen times before adulthood” held true—she’d only grown more beautiful.
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‎But she was still a crybaby.
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‎Recalling Ava’s description of Meng Xuran, Bo Mingyan mentally added a modifier—
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‎An aloof crybaby.
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‎“Little Bo.”
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‎Bo Mingyan snapped out of her thoughts and looked up. The one calling her was Sun Haoqi, the design department manager.
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‎The well-dressed man fixed her with a look and reminded her, “I sent you a friend request. Accept it.”
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‎Bo Mingyan lowered her head and clicked her mouse twice. “Done.”
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‎“Finish revising the proposal you took over today and send it to the director’s email for review.” Sun Haoqi sent her an email address.
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‎Bo Mingyan responded with an “Okay.”
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‎Only after Sun Haoqi walked away did the tension in her shoulders ease slightly.
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‎The proposal he’d assigned her to revise had likely been hastily done by the previous designer before quitting. The sketches weren’t even drawn, so “revising” it was practically the same as starting from scratch. Fortunately, Bo Mingyan was experienced, and the design assistant Hu Jingjing had organized the fabric materials well. It wasn’t difficult, just time-consuming.
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‎By 9 p.m., Bo Mingyan stretched her stiff neck, picked up her cup, and headed to the break room for water.
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‎The break room was next to the operations department, where a handful of people were still working overtime, chatting idly.
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‎“I’m done, I’m done. Let’s go—” The speaker craned their neck to look toward the director’s office. “Holy—the director’s office light is still on!”
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‎“She might be the ‘little princess’ parachuted in, but she’s got real skill. The last project put the brand on the map, and now she’s landed a film costume deal.”
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‎“So many people doubted her at first.”
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‎“Can’t blame them. She’s young, looks…” The speaker seemed to search for the right word before continuing, “…like someone you could push around. At first, everyone thought she was easygoing and wouldn’t lose her temper. But then? The little princess can reduce someone to tears with just a few words. That presence of hers—unmatched.”
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‎Standing close by, Bo Mingyan overheard every word and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
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‎The water dispenser clicked off, the last few drops pattering into her cup.
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‎An image flashed through her mind—that tear-streaked face.
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‎The crybaby can make others cry too?
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‎Bo Mingyan carried her cup back to the design department.
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‎After double-checking the proposal and confirming there were no issues, she sent it to Meng Xuran’s email.
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‎Just as she was about to shut down her computer, Sun Haoqi approached and asked, “Haven’t finished revising it yet?”
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‎“It wasn’t really fixable, so I redid it.” Bo Mingyan added, “Just sent it to the director.”
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‎Sun Haoqi nodded. “Where do you live? Let me give you a ride. It’s late—not safe for a girl to go home alone.”
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‎Her cursor hovered over the shutdown button, unmoving. Bo Mingyan replied flatly, “No need to trouble yourself, Manager Sun. I live nearby.”
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‎Sun Haoqi insisted, “It’s no trouble.”
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‎“…”
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‎Bo Mingyan gripped her warm cup, regretting not having filled it with cold water. Her patience was wearing thin.
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‎“Little Bo.” Sun Haoqi asked casually, “do you have a boyfriend?”
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‎Bo Mingyan: “No.”
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‎Sun Haoqi took a step closer. “A shame, someone as pretty as you not having a boyfriend.”
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‎Shutting down her computer, Bo Mingyan removed her glasses. “Did Manager Sun time-travel here from the olden days?”
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‎Without her glasses, her sharp features and expressionless face exuded an intimidating aura, as if she’d become a different person entirely.
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‎Sun Haoqi: “…”
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‎A light laugh broke the tense silence, followed by the click of high heels approaching.
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‎“Still not off work?”
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‎Meng Xuran’s voice carried a lazy weariness, as if she couldn’t be bothered to put much effort into speaking.
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‎Sun Haoqi glanced in Bo Mingyan’s direction. “About to leave.”
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‎Noticing his look, Meng Xuran turned her face toward Bo Mingyan.
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‎Their eyes met.
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‎Meng Xuran’s brows furrowed briefly before smoothing out. “You’re—”
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‎She drew out the word, her delicate brows knitting together again.
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‎Sun Haoqi seemed to be explaining that she was the new designer, but Bo Mingyan wasn’t paying attention. She was nervous.
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‎Afraid that Meng Xuran would recognize her and say something like, “You’re the one who took me home and kissed me.” or “You’re my sister’s friend.”
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‎Either scenario would be awkward in their current professional setting.
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‎A few seconds later, Meng Xuran let out an “Ah!”
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‎“My new roommate?”
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‎“…”
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‎Bo Mingyan exhaled silently in relief.
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‎Then their eyes met again.
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‎Wait.
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‎What had she just said?
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‎Roommate?
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‎Meng Xuran pulled out her phone, glanced at the screen, then back at Bo Mingyan. She held the phone out to her. “This is you, right?”
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‎Bo Mingyan’s gaze froze.
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‎On the screen was the photo the short-haired woman had taken of her during the apartment viewing. In it, she looked calmly at the camera, her skin so pale it seemed translucent.
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‎Bo Mingyan managed a soft “Mmm” from her throat.
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‎Just how small was Nanquan City?
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‎The drunk girl she’d picked up the night before was her friend’s younger sister, her boss, and now her landlord and roommate.
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‎Meng Xuran put her phone away and said:
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‎“Let’s go home together.”
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‎Outside the company building, after bidding a still-dazed Sun Haoqi goodbye, Bo Mingyan followed Meng Xuran to a black SUV.
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‎The driver got out and opened the door for them.
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‎Now Bo Mingyan understood how Meng Xuran had developed the habit of waiting for someone to open her car door.
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‎“What a coincidence.” Meng Xuran gestured for her to get in first. “No wonder you looked familiar.”
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‎Bo Mingyan’s eyebrow twitched. Under the pretense of fastening her seatbelt, she stole a glance at her and replied slowly, “Quite the coincidence.”
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‎An absurdly big one.
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‎Meng Xuran asked, “You’ve read all the requirements, right?”
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‎Unsure whether she meant the rental or work-related ones—and seeing no reply in her email—Bo Mingyan ventured, “The ones from the ‘stunning beauty landlord’?”
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‎“…”
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‎The air in the car seemed to freeze.
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‎“Yes. Those.”
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‎Her tone carried a hint of flustered indignation, mixed with a touch of pride in her straightforward admission.
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‎“I read them.” Bo Mingyan asked gently, “Is there something to add?”
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‎“Mmm.” Meng Xuran tapped the steering wheel leisurely. “Don’t make loud noises during sleeping hours, keep things clean. Also, I’ll be bringing my cat over soon. Any objections?”
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‎“None.”
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‎The car pulled into the residential complex and parked at the foot of their building. They got out and entered the elevator.
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‎Inside, Meng Xuran said, “If you have any requests, feel free to voice them.”
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‎“I’d prefer if you didn’t bring romantic partners over.” Bo Mingyan paused, then added, “Regardless of gender.”
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‎“Gender?” A flicker of something passed through Meng Xuran’s eyes as she turned to look at her. “Are you seeing someone?”
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‎”Not currently.” Bo Mingyan considered her words before adding, “If that changes, I’ll let you know in advance.”
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‎If she ever did date someone, it would only be with the intent to spend a lifetime together—meaning she’d likely move out to live with them.
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‎The elevator doors opened on the 27th floor. As she stepped aside, Bo Mingyan caught a glimpse of Meng Xuran’s lips pressed into a tight line, as if displeased.
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‎Since the apartment was Meng Xuran’s, Bo Mingyan reconsidered her blunt request. Softening her stance, she added, “If you want to bring someone over, just give me a heads-up so I can make myself scarce.”
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‎Meng Xuran’s lips relaxed into something resembling a smirk. “No need.”
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‎Inside the apartment, as they changed shoes in the entryway, Meng Xuran glanced at the slippers Bo Mingyan had left outside the shoe cabinet and pointed to the right-side cabinet. “This half is yours.”
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‎Bo Mingyan nodded. “Got it. Thanks.”
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‎“Feel free to use any empty cabinets in the house.” Meng Xuran straightened up after putting her shoes away. “I’m heading to my room first.”
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‎Bo Mingyan’s movements stilled slightly. “Mmm.”
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‎Steam fogged up the shower stall.
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‎Under the spray, Bo Mingyan tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling as her thoughts wandered.
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‎From the looks of it, Fu Junxue hadn’t told Meng Xuran about recommending her for the job, nor had she shown Meng Xuran any photos of her.
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‎Then again, Bo Mingyan herself rarely took photos, so Fu Junxue probably didn’t have any of her to begin with.
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‎That explained why Meng Xuran hadn’t recognized her as her sister’s friend.
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‎But what about the previous night? Why did Meng Xuran seem to have no memory of it either?
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‎Blackout drunk?
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‎Deep down, Bo Mingyan hoped Meng Xuran truly didn’t remember her. It would save them both the complexity and awkwardness of their tangled connections.
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‎After all, they now worked at the same company and lived under the same roof. There was no avoiding each other.
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‎The sound of running water filled her ears as Bo Mingyan closed her eyes.
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‎“Let’s go home together.”
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‎”Feel free to use any empty cabinets in the house.”
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‎She suddenly recalled the way Meng Xuran had said those words.
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‎Under the light, her softly contoured face had looked exceptionally gentle.
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‎Uttered as naturally as commenting on the nice weather.
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‎Enough to make someone who had never truly had a “home”—yet longed for one—feel her heart waver.