Two Faced Lover - Chapter 65

65: Like

After lunch at the mountaintop restaurant, the company employees returned to the ski resort to try out all the snow activities. By mid-afternoon, they were back at the hotel, clamoring to soak in the hot springs in the backyard.

However, upon arriving, they discovered that the terraced hot spring pools were already occupied by varying numbers of people.

“I thought the hotel was booked out. Didn’t expect other guests.” someone remarked.

“More people, more fun.” Liu Yang said. “Look, plenty of beauties.”

Ava kicked him, while Gu Miao scoffed at him for being a creep, making everyone burst into laughter. Liu Yang hopped around, clutching his foot. “Why kick me? There are plenty of handsome guys too!”

“The beauties and handsome guys are ours. You creeps can keep dreaming.”

“Hey, beauty over there, look this way~”

The group claimed a pool for themselves, laughing and bickering, even breaking into song at one point.

Bo Mingyan and Meng Xuran, having just changed into swimsuits, arrived to find the hot spring crowded and noisy.

Spotting a quieter corner, Bo Mingyan led Meng Xuran over, but the latter murmured, “You go ahead. I need to handle something first.”

Near the hot spring area were a few café-style seating areas, with a water dispenser placed a short distance away. Meng Xuran called over the HR manager and sat down to talk. Not wanting to soak alone, Bo Mingyan filled a paper cup with hot water and sat at the next table to wait.

Meng Xuran asked the HR manager, “Didn’t I tell you to book the entire hotel? Why are there other guests?”

“They’re not from another company,” the HR manager replied awkwardly. “They’re—”

A woman’s voice, laced with amusement, suddenly cut in. “Well, well, what a coincidence~”

The voice was slightly nasal, low in pitch, and dragged out at the end—sultry and vaguely familiar.

Meng Xuran turned and immediately understood why another company had checked into the hotel. She waved the HR manager away.

Bo Mingyan instinctively glanced toward the voice.

A group of people was approaching, with Fu Junxue at the forefront. She swerved and took the seat the HR manager had just vacated, teasing, “Does this count as a Fantasy and Moment crossover event?”

As Fu Junxue sat down, the people behind her came into view—laughing, chatting, and filling their cups with hot water. Among them was He Chencheng, who stood out due to his height, fair complexion, and refined looks.

As if sensing her gaze, He Chencheng turned his head and locked eyes with Bo Mingyan. Both frowned simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Meng Xuran asked Fu Junxue, “What are you doing here?”

Her expression darkened the moment she noticed He Chencheng.

“Thought your idea was great, so I copied it. Boosting employee morale and all.” Fu Junxue said, clicking her tongue at her sour expression. “What, not happy about being imitated?”

“No.” Not wanting to block the service area, Meng Xuran walked away, asking as she went, “What does that He Chencheng do?”

“Hand model.” Fu Junxue raised an eyebrow when she heard his full name. “You know him?”

He Chencheng, who had been listening, handed his cup to Fu Junxue and chimed in, “I used to work at Moment.”

“Thanks.” Fu Junxue glanced at him. “Why’d you leave?”

“Because my sister also worked there. It got awkward.” He Chencheng glanced at Bo Mingyan as he spoke.

Bo Mingyan, who had just poured a cup of water for Meng Xuran, met his uneasy gaze with calm indifference. She found it almost amusing.

She had no intention of saying anything.

First, the past incident involved her own reputation, and explaining it would be tedious. Second, she wanted nothing more to do with He Chencheng.

She trusted that Meng Xuran, considering these factors, wouldn’t press the issue either.

Fu Junxue followed He Chencheng’s gaze and raised an eyebrow at Bo Mingyan. “Miya’s your sister? How come I never heard about this?”

The last part was directed at Bo Mingyan.

Bo Mingyan replied mildly, “He’s the son of my mother’s remarriage partner. Not worth mentioning.”

At the same time, Meng Xuran muttered under her breath, “What’s there to say about a no-bl00d-relation freeloader?”

“True, not worth mentioning.” Fu Junxue quickly shifted the topic, turning to Meng Xuran with a sly grin. “Unlike that photo you posted. Care to explain?”

As she spoke, she dragged her chair over to sit beside Meng Xuran.

He Chencheng exhaled in relief at the change of subject, but he was still uneasy. Given how close Fu Junxue and Meng Xuran were, one word from the latter could cost him his job.

After a moment’s thought, he sat at Bo Mingyan’s table and said quietly, “Mom mentioned you the other day. Said she misses you but didn’t dare reach out.”

Bo Mingyan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she showed no other reaction.

He Chencheng studied her for a few seconds before adding, “What I did back then was wrong. I was just jealous. Ever since I can remember, I’ve lived in your shadow. Dad always compared—”

“Whether she misses me or you resent me, what does that have to do with me?” Bo Mingyan cut him off.

“How can it not?” He Chencheng’s voice rose slightly. “Because you’re… Mom’s daughter.”

Mom. Such an intimate term.

Bo Mingyan smiled coldly. “I’d almost forgotten.”

He Chencheng had witnessed Lin Huixin’s attitude toward Bo Mingyan over the years—some of which he had contributed to. Deflating, he opened and closed his mouth several times, struggling to find words.

“You two can have your loving mother-son relationship. Just don’t drag me into it.” Bo Mingyan’s tone was detached. “Better for everyone.”

“……” He Chencheng pressed his lips into a thin line.

Bo Mingyan frowned, puzzling over his earlier statement. She didn’t understand why he claimed to have lived in her shadow since childhood.

Meanwhile…

No matter how much Fu Junxue prodded, Meng Xuran kept deflecting, refusing to give a straight answer. Left with no choice, Fu Junxue started piecing together clues herself, recalling the photo Meng Xuran had posted.

“The photo was taken at the ski resort, huh? So your special someone is here with you?” Fu Junxue’s gaze flicked between Meng Xuran and Bo Mingyan, a realization dawning. “Oh! I get it now. That diary of yours—”

Bo Mingyan’s eyebrow twitched.

“Ah, speaking of special someone, I heard Fantasy’s CEO personally hosted a livestream but abruptly ended it after a certain someone’s flirting.”

Meng Xuran’s eyes curved like a mischievous fox’s as she scooted closer to Bo Mingyan, stealthily hooking a finger around hers and lightly tracing circles on her palm.

“One spark led to fireworks, couldn’t wait a second longer, and—bam—the livestream was over?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Meng Xuran grabbed Bo Mingyan’s hand and bolted.

“Meng Xuran! You little—!”

Fu Junxue’s furious but hushed shout was lost to the wind, replaced by Meng Xuran’s melodic laughter.

At the Secluded Hot Spring

They climbed the steps to the farthest, empty pool. Catching her breath, Meng Xuran sank into the water and asked, “Did that brat say something to upset you again?”

Bo Mingyan was surprised Meng Xuran had been paying attention to her even while whispering with Fu Junxue. She paused before sitting beside her.

The setting sun cast a soft glow over Meng Xuran, her eyes shimmering like the warm water lapping at their chests. Just looking at her, the turmoil stirred by He Chencheng’s words instantly settled. The flutter of joy Bo Mingyan had felt upon seeing her contact name changed to “Manman” rose like steam, warm and endless.

When Bo Mingyan stayed silent, Meng Xuran’s brow furrowed briefly before she huffed, “I’ll have Fu Junxue fire him!”

Bo Mingyan chuckled, squeezing the soft flesh of her palm. “He didn’t upset me.”

“Really?” Meng Xuran eyed her skeptically.

“Really.” Bo Mingyan trailed a finger through the water. “I’m in too good a mood today for him to ruin it.”

Meng Xuran’s gaze followed the ripples spreading from Bo Mingyan’s fingertip, the water’s reflection dancing in her eyes.

Her attention drifted lower, to where Bo Mingyan’s legs were crossed under the shimmering surface—long, slender, slightly longer than her own.

Above the waterline was a swimsuit with a ruffled skirt.

Meng Xuran stretched her legs out, tilting her foot to brush against Bo Mingyan’s ankle, her fingers toying with the ruffles of her skirt. Feigning innocence, she asked, “What’s got you in such a good mood?”

Bo Mingyan stared at her wandering foot.

She couldn’t tell whether the tickling sensation came from the contact against her skin or from Meng Xuran’s deliberate teasing.

“What do you think?”

“I’m not saying. Every time I ask you something, you just throw it back at me.” Meng Xuran pouted, her hand slipping under the water to poke at the triangular area beneath Bo Mingyan’s swimsuit.

Bo Mingyan leaned back against the pool’s edge, her eyelids fluttering slightly. She caught the mischievous hand, her throat bobbing visibly. “Meng Jiaojiao.”

Her voice was measured, each syllable tightly controlled.

Meng Xuran had only meant to poke her thigh but had missed.

She was flustered, but she could bluff.

“Are you going to tell me or not?!” She turned, locking eyes with Bo Mingyan’s smoke-gray ones, her gaze slowly drifting down to linger on her flushed lips. “If not… I’ll kiss you.”

This spot was secluded but not entirely private.

Bo Mingyan reminded her, “Isn’t there a rule against office romances?”

Otherwise, Sun Haoqi wouldn’t have had to sneak around with his fiancée before being exposed.

“…”

“Should the boss really be setting such an exa—”

Seeing Meng Xuran’s deflated expression, Bo Mingyan’s voice softened with amusement—only to be cut off as Meng Xuran suddenly bit her lower lip.

“Who cares about rules? They’re made to be broken.” Meng Xuran arched a brow, chin lifted haughtily, though her tone was sweetly petulant. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll do more than just kiss you!”

Bo Mingyan licked her stinging lip, laughing at her shamelessness. She turned her head, shoulders shaking with quiet mirth before murmuring, “Go ahead.”

Meng Xuran’s breath hitched. She abruptly stood, wrapped herself in a towel, and yanked Bo Mingyan up, hastily draping another towel around her. Without a word, face stern, she dragged Bo Mingyan down the steps.

Onlookers stared wide-eyed—Bo Mingyan’s fair skin, already faintly pink from the hot spring, contrasted sharply with the red marks left by Meng Xuran’s grip on her wrist.

Before long, rumors of their “feud” reached new heights.

—

Back in the Room

The moment the door closed, Bo Mingyan was pressed against it, the towel slipping to the floor before her back even touched the wood.

Meng Xuran cupped her face and kissed her.

Bo Mingyan’s hands, hanging at her sides, curled slightly before tightening the towel around Meng Xuran, allowing her to devour her lips, nipping and licking without restraint.

Only when Meng Xuran began trailing downward, along her neck, did Bo Mingyan finally stop her with a hand against her chest.

Meng Xuran looked up through half-lidded eyes, hearing Bo Mingyan’s ragged breaths.

After a moment, Bo Mingyan steadied herself and said, “We’re covered in hot spring water. Don’t be reckless.”

Meng Xuran had thought she was being rejected. Relieved, she argued, “I’m not being reckless. You’re the one who wouldn’t tell me why you were happy.”

Still unsatisfied, she kissed Bo Mingyan’s lips again. If she couldn’t touch below the neck, she’d make do with the rest. Bo Mingyan kept one hand fisted in Meng Xuran’s towel while the other cradled the back of her head, fingertips tracing her jawline as the kisses strayed off course.

The watch on Bo Mingyan’s wrist brushed against Meng Xuran’s chin—cool, slightly hard. Meng Xuran instinctively tilted her head, allowing the next kiss to land on her neck, then behind her ear.

Warm breath enveloped her ear.

Not just enveloped.

A lick.

Meng Xuran’s fingers twitched, tangling in Bo Mingyan’s hair.

Every exhale trembled.

Just as her legs were about to give out, Bo Mingyan’s low, husky voice seeped into her ear.

“Because of you.”

Because of you. Because of your affection. Because I like you.

That’s why I’m happy.

Happy enough to feel invincible.