Two Faced Lover - Chapter 64

64: Full of Love

After speaking, Meng Xuran gently licked her lips again, her tongue soft, wet, and slippery, tracing circles over the tooth marks on her lips.

Like a slippery fish.

Hearing Meng Xuran’s bewitching words, Bo Mingyan felt like a fisherman by the lake, holding a fishing rod with the hook dangling just above the water. She had done all the little things—sprinkled bait—and then watched as a fish swam into her range.

Slowly approaching her hook, quietly circling.

Just waiting for that final step, for the hook to sink a little deeper.

Meng Xuran reluctantly pulled away and asked, “Do you understand now?”

Bo Mingyan snapped out of her daze and solemnly replied, “Mm, I understand.”

After a long silence, Meng Xuran murmured, “That’s… it?”

Hidden expectations flickered in Meng Xuran’s eyes.

A rare moment of restraint.

This anticipation, mingling with the quiet of the night, made Bo Mingyan’s heart stir with the urge to pour out all the words she usually struggled to say to the person before her.

“There was a time when I felt I didn’t deserve someone as wonderful as you.”

Meng Xuran’s heart ached, and she couldn’t help but retort sarcastically, “If you didn’t deserve me, why did you chase after someone as amazing as me?”

The corners of Bo Mingyan’s lips twitched slightly. She sat up, as if about to get out of bed.

“Hey, I was joking,” Meng Xuran hooked her hand around Bo Mingyan’s. “You can’t just say half and leave it at that.”

Bo Mingyan blinked and explained, “I’m going to get something.”

“What?” Meng Xuran was curious about the gift Bo Mingyan wanted to give her, but she didn’t want to let her go. She pouted and said, “You can give it to me tomorrow. Come back in—the warmth is slipping away.”

Such a clingy person. Bo Mingyan felt both helpless and amused as she lay back down beside Meng Xuran.

“Gift tomorrow, sweet words now.” Meng Xuran declared. “Go on, continue.”

The mood was completely ruined, now feeling more like a report to a superior. Bo Mingyan let out a soft laugh. “I… need to gather my thoughts.”

Meng Xuran lowered her eyes, playing with Bo Mingyan’s hair. “Oh,” she said.

After an unknown length of time, Bo Mingyan finally spoke:

“I have many, many flaws, and an ugly side too. Maybe only one good thing about me.”

As if enchanted, Meng Xuran couldn’t help but lift her gaze to meet Bo Mingyan’s eyes.

Moonlight streamed through the glass window, spilling into the room, stretching from the floor to the bed in an irregular shape, colliding with the warm glow of the mushroom nightlight.

Bo Mingyan lay in the half-light, her smoke-gray eyes reflecting the brightness of the moon. But when she lowered her lashes, the light was swallowed by their dark density.

“I like you.”

Like a breeze brushing past her ear, carrying warmth.

With every word Bo Mingyan spoke, Meng Xuran’s heartbeat quickened.

“Meng Jiaojiao, I—”

Before she could finish, Meng Xuran suddenly pressed a finger to Bo Mingyan’s lips.

The pressure was light, and Bo Mingyan could still speak. She blinked slowly and asked, “Don’t want to hear it anymore?”

Meng Xuran’s heart was about to explode.

She did. She really did.

She wanted to hear more and more affectionate words spill from Bo Mingyan’s cool lips, one by one, seeping into her ears and her heart.

But she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to control herself.

A Bo Mingyan who could say sweet things was like spring blossoms after a glacier melted.

Falling into warmth was her instinct.

Meng Xuran took a deep breath and said against her will, “Not now.” She turned over, her back to Bo Mingyan, and turned off the nightlight with a click. “Save it for tomorrow. At night, my self-control is weak.”

Bo Mingyan chuckled lowly. “What does this have to do with self-control? Really don’t want to hear it now?”

“Don’t tease me,” Meng Xuran muttered, pulling the blanket over her head. “You just have to say the words, but I’ll want to do more than that.”

Bo Mingyan froze for a second.

The air hung still for several minutes before she suddenly understood what Meng Xuran meant.

Her ears burned as if bitten, heat spreading uncontrollably.

It took a long time for the sensation to fade, but just as it did, the person beside her shifted, half her body draping over Bo Mingyan, a leg hooking over hers, a knee pressing in just the wrong place.

Warm breaths brushed against her ear, intermittent and teasing.

“You’re the best Bo Manman in the whole world.”

This was the last thing Meng Xuran said to her before falling asleep.

More heart-fluttering than every “good night” before.

Bo Mingyan stared at the starry sky painted on the ceiling and exhaled deeply.

That night, she slept restlessly, feeling like a field of dry grass set ablaze by scattered sparks—endless, burning, unstoppable.

Meanwhile, the one who had started the fire slept soundly, even giggling softly in her dreams, as if dreaming of something wonderful.

The Next Morning

When Meng Xuran woke up the next day, sunlight poured into the room, dust motes dancing in the golden beams. The faint scent of flowers lingered in the air, making it hard to tell whether Bo Mingyan’s confession had been real or just another dream.

I like you.

Like in countless unreachable dreams before.

Those four words echoed in her ears, vibrating through her mind all night.

So real, yet so unreal.

Meng Xuran fumbled under the pillow for her phone, squinting at the screen. It was still about ten minutes before her 8:00 AM alarm. She closed her eyes, set the phone on the nightstand, and accidentally brushed against a small, square box.

Her lashes fluttered.

She picked it up, fingers tracing the velvety surface, and finally felt the weight of reality settle in.

Last night hadn’t been a dream.

This was the gift Bo Mingyan had wanted to give her.

Meng Xuran smiled, turning over with arms outstretched—

Only to embrace empty air.

Where is she???

Her eyes flew open. The other side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold. Bo Mingyan must have left a while ago.

She slipped on her slippers and hurried downstairs, checking every room—even the bathroom—but there was no sign of her. Meng Xuran pushed the hair from her forehead, tapping her fingers against the sink.

One of the disposable toothbrushes was missing.

The portable kettle on the coffee table still had hot water, and a packet of bread sat beside it.

They were supposed to gather at 9:00 AM to head to the ski resort. Where had Bo Mingyan gone so early?

After washing up, Meng Xuran poured herself half a glass of water. When Bo Mingyan still didn’t return, she went back upstairs, picked up her phone, and called her—her gaze landing on the velvet box.

Inside were two quartz watches, one black-faced, one white—classic Fantasy models.

Meng Xuran had once considered buying this pair herself and had even asked Fu Junxue about them. But after learning that the watch on Bo Mingyan’s left wrist was her father’s keepsake, she’d dismissed the idea.

The call connected. Meng Xuran heard Bo Mingyan’s soft breathing before her low, warm voice came through:

“Awake?”

The same tone as when she’d said I like you. Meng Xuran’s heart clenched, her fingers tightening around the glass. “Where are you?”

“The dining hall.”

Since last night’s festivities had run late, the company hadn’t arranged a group breakfast, leaving everyone to eat on their own. Bo Mingyan had woken up early, gotten ready, and gone out to buy breakfast.

The hotel’s dining hall offered a buffet with a wide variety of options. Bo Mingyan had taken a quick walk around to survey the choices.

Meng Xuran nodded, then remembered Bo Mingyan couldn’t see her. “Oh,” she mumbled, voice low. “I thought maybe after confessing, you considered your mission accomplished and just… floated away.”

If not for the earbuds, Bo Mingyan might have missed it. She laughed softly. “Where would I float to?”

“Who knows,” Meng Xuran grumbled.

As if she really had drifted off somewhere. Bo Mingyan exhaled a quiet laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Meng Xuran huffed, then sighed. “When are you floating back? I’m hungry.”

“Got held up by all the breakfast choices.” Bo Mingyan asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“Dunno.”

“Then I might be floating a while longer.”

Meng Xuran scoffed.

Not wanting her to stay hungry for long, Bo Mingyan reminded her, “There’s hot water in the kettle and bread on the table.”

“Saw that.” Meng Xuran’s fingers brushed over the watch. “Saw the gift too. Why give me watches?”

Bo Mingyan, now standing by the breakfast trays, paused. Her throat worked for a few seconds before she replied, restrained:

“Figure it out yourself.”

Knowing full well that Bo Mingyan was just embarrassed, Meng Xuran chuckled. “Fine, I’ll figure it out. But why give me both watches?”

A beat of silence. Then Bo Mingyan answered:

“Because I want you to put one on me.”

I want you to personally replace my past with your future.

The line went quiet for a long moment. Bo Mingyan called out softly, “Meng Jiaojiao?”

“Hm?”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

The weather that day was unusually clear. Sunlight spilled into the corridor, casting dappled shadows on the floor. The edges of fallen leaves were gilded with soft light.

The mountain air was crisp, carrying the scent of flowers. Every breath filled Meng Xuran’s chest with warmth.

She quickened her pace, walking faster, then breaking into a light run.

“Can’t talk,” she said into the phone. “Too busy floating toward you.”

At the end of the hallway, a gust of wind sent dried leaves spiraling into the air before they drifted back down.

Bo Mingyan had just sat down with her breakfast when a figure appeared across from her. She looked up with a smile—only for it to freeze and slowly fade.

“Why that face?” Ava set her tray down across from her.

Right behind her, Gu Miao, Hu Jingjing, Lu Shan, and Liu Yang took up the nearby tables.

Since Bo Mingyan had placed a tray on the seat beside her, it remained empty.

“That expression reminds me of Little Meng yesterday,” Ava added.

Lu Shan burst out laughing. “Liu Yang wouldn’t stop talking about her last night!”

Hu Jingjing groaned into her hands. Seeing Bo Mingyan’s confusion, she explained, “During the raffle yesterday, your number got drawn.”

“And this guy”—Gu Miao jabbed a thumb at Liu Yang—yelled, ‘That’s Xiao Yan’s number!’” She dropped her voice in imitation. “Meng Xuran’s face went all soft and sweet.”

Bo Mingyan’s eyelid twitched.

“Then when I went up, her expression just—poof—changed.” Hu Jingjing shuddered.

“Don’t take it personally,” Ava reassured her. “Everyone knows Little Meng’s got that ‘gentle face, ice-cold heart’ thing going on.” She paused, then added, “Wait, no—you work with Mingyan every day. Shouldn’t you know better than to judge by appearances? How’d you still expect Little Meng to be all warm and fuzzy?”

“But—but her face is just so deceiving!”

Hu Jingjing recalled Meng Xuran’s darkened expression and freezing aura yesterday, along with the rumors among coworkers about her and Bo Mingyan not getting along. She shivered again. “Mingyan, did Little Meng give you a hard time after? Oh, and are you feeling better?”

Bo Mingyan opened her mouth, not understanding why Hu Jingjing assumed Meng Xuran would be difficult.

Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut in from above.

“I did.”

Meng Xuran sat beside Bo Mingyan, posture straight, face expressionless, tone flat. “Gave her such a hard time that she’s feeling much better now.”

“…”

Bo Mingyan choked on her porridge, coughing violently, face flushing red.

Meng Xuran realized how that sounded and pressed her lips together, barely keeping her composure as she handed Bo Mingyan a napkin.

Bo Mingyan’s pale fingers pinched the tissue.

For some reason, she suddenly remembered Meng Xuran’s words from last night—“I’ll want to do more than that.” The coughing fit subsided, but the blush didn’t fade.

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Gu Miao glanced around and blurted, “Your ski suits look nice. Did you get them from the same store?”

Everyone nearby stared at her like she’d just volunteered for a suicide mission.

Meng Xuran lifted an eyebrow, giving her a “shut up” look.

The air grew even heavier.

The dining hall buzzed with noise, but their little corner had gone eerily quiet.

The group, unable to flee immediately, robotically shoveled food into their mouths. Unable to outright dismiss them, Meng Xuran took her time eating the breakfast Bo Mingyan had bought her.

They endured the tension for nearly twenty minutes before the meal finally ended—just in time for the ski trip.

The resort wasn’t far, only a seven or eight-minute drive.

Hu Jingjing spent the whole ride muttering, “I’m done for. So done.”

When they met up at the ski resort, Bo Mingyan noticed she looked close to tears and gently reassured her, “Don’t overthink it.”

Hu Jingjing peeked nervously at Meng Xuran, who was waiting for Bo Mingyan to rent equipment.

Since arriving, Meng Xuran had pulled up her hood, the fuzzy ear flaps making her look even softer and sweeter—but her entire demeanor screamed “I’m annoyed.”

That face is such a trap!

Hu Jingjing hesitated, then said, “Mingyan, the prize from yesterday was a juicer. I’ll give it to you when we’re back at the office.”

“Keep it,” Bo Mingyan said. Seeing Hu Jingjing’s reluctance, she added, glancing at Meng Xuran’s sulking figure, “Gains come with losses. I got something better than a juicer.”

Hu Jingjing blinked, not quite understanding, but didn’t press further. “Alright,” she said, hugging her rented gear as she hurried off.

As she passed Meng Xuran, she could’ve sworn the icy aura around her softened slightly.

Meng Xuran, chin tucked into her collar, hands in her pockets, fiddled with the watch inside. She met Bo Mingyan’s gaze and lifted her chin with a “hmph.”

Bo Mingyan smiled faintly.

On the Slopes

The ski resort was vast, and the group quickly scattered to their preferred activities.

Meng Xuran led the way, skiing ahead, while Bo Mingyan followed the reflective strips on her jacket, keeping a steady pace behind her.

The morning slopes were nearly empty.

The farther down they went, the fewer people there were.

After a while, Meng Xuran stopped at a secluded spot. Bo Mingyan halted behind her. Meng Xuran tried to spin around dramatically—only to kneel face-first in the snow.

“…”

With her helmet and goggles on, she couldn’t see Bo Mingyan’s expression, but she could tell her shoulders were shaking slightly. Indignant, she scooped up a handful of snow and flung it.

Bo Mingyan tried to dodge, but her skis trapped her, sending her tumbling backward.

“Serves you right for laughing,” Meng Xuran giggled.

Bo Mingyan unstrapped her skis, pushing her goggles up. Her eyes held equal parts exasperation and fondness as she helped Meng Xuran up. “Troublemaker.”

Meng Xuran hopped off the ski trail and turned. “Give me your hand.”

Bo Mingyan offered her right hand.

Meng Xuran tugged off her glove, swatting it away. “Left.”

Bo Mingyan realized what she meant. She removed her glove and extended her left wrist.

Meng Xuran carefully unclasped the old watch, holding the new one up like she was addressing it: “You’ve worked hard all these years. From now on, it’s my turn to stay with her.”

The new watch, warmed by Meng Xuran’s touch, seemed to seep heat into Bo Mingyan’s skin—and her heart.

Meng Xuran rolled up her sleeve, letting Bo Mingyan fasten the second watch around her wrist. Then she took out her phone and snapped a picture, posting it to her social media as she said, “No one else is around now, so no need to be shy. Tell me—”

She turned, staring straight at Bo Mingyan. “Why give me watches? I don’t want to look it up. I want to hear it from you.”

Her eyes brimmed with anticipation.

Bo Mingyan closed her eyes for a second, then answered, voice rough:

“Because I want to be with you. Every second, every day. For a lifetime.”

“Because I want to give you all my time.”

Meng Xuran blinked, then buried the lower half of her face in her collar, biting her lip to hide a smile.

She’d been the one who wanted to hear it, yet now she was too shy to respond.

Her phone pinged with notifications—likes on her post, and a message from Fu Junxue asking if she was dating someone.

Meng Xuran glanced at Bo Mingyan, who had just spoken words sweeter than any dream.

Noticing her gaze, Bo Mingyan asked softly, “What is it?”

“My sister asked if I’m in a relationship.”

Bo Mingyan’s brow twitched. “…Are you?”

“Guess.”

Bo Mingyan replied flatly, “No.”

Meng Xuran tilted her phone screen toward her.

A blank profile picture—Bo Mingyan’s account. The contact name, which had once been [99], had long since been changed to [Manman].

Manman.

Full.

Bo Mingyan froze for several seconds.

By the time she regained her composure, Meng Xuran had already skated away out of shyness.

Bo Mingyan blinked lightly, bent down to fasten her snowboard, and chased after her.

This time, when Meng Xuran came to a stop, she executed a flawless flat-ground drive spin. Tilting her head up proudly, like a peacock spreading its feathers, she asked, “Is your girlfriend amazing or what?”

Bo Mingyan gazed steadily at Meng Xuran.

Against the azure sky and golden sun, Meng Xuran’s clothes reflected dazzling hues under the sunlight. Standing on the pristine white snow, her smile outshone even the sun’s brilliance.

Suddenly, Bo Mingyan recalled a passage by Walter Irvine—

“I thought I had seen enough sunlight,
until I met your gaze amidst the crowd,
only to realize I had never truly seen the sun before.”

She replied, “Incredibly amazing—my girlfriend.”

Author’s Note:

“I thought I had seen enough sunlight, until I met your gaze amidst the crowd, only to realize I had never truly seen the sun before.” —Walter Irvine

“I have many flaws and an unlovable side, but there’s one thing good about me—I adore you.”
(Inspired by Wang Xiaobo’s line: “I have 1,800 bad traits, but there’s one thing good—I love you.”)