My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Bonus 1.5 – Qi Hongyue x Wen Can: Love is a Scale That Cannot Be Cheated (Featuring Shanshan and Ying Yuan)

As Yi Shanshan had requested, Qi Hongyue’s small company held its celebratory banquet as planned on the weekend.

The venue was a beautiful rooftop restaurant, where everyone could enjoy dinner while watching the sunset. As night fell, they moved to the dazzlingly lit rooftop terrace for drinks and dancing.

The company was filled with young people of similar ages, all fresh off unexpectedly generous bonuses. Qi Hongyue had agreed to let each employee bring one to three friends or family members, creating a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

When the music started, the girls clustered together in twos and threes, dancing freely without any rules. Even clumsy moves brought joy.

Yi Shanshan and Ying Yuan stood out as the most inseparable couple, clinging to each other and gazing into each other’s eyes with radiant happiness. During the most intense part of the music, Yi Shanshan even jumped onto Ying Yuan’s back, making him spin her around and run in circles.

Cheers, laughter, and Yi Shanshan’s loud shouts pierced the air. Beneath the deep blue sky, their joy seemed to rise like clouds after rain.

Qi Hongyue stood beside a flower trellis, sipping a non-alcoholic drink and occasionally glancing at her phone to respond to work messages.

As the song ended, Yi Shanshan, breathless from dancing, rushed over and playfully slapped Qi Hongyue’s arm. “President Qi, sharing joy is better than keeping it to yourself! Why aren’t you joining the fun with us common folk?”

“I am having fun,” Qi Hongyue replied with a smile. “I’m enjoying myself just as much as you all are.”

“Oh? Really?” Yi Shanshan turned and leaned against the railing, casting a sideways glance at her. “I don’t see it. I can’t tell at all.”

Qi Hongyue teased her, “Maybe we’re not close enough.”

“Aaaah!” Yi Shanshan cried out, calling for her devoted “puppy” girlfriend. “Ying Yuan, Ying Yuan! Senior Qi is bullying me!”

Ying Yuan, who had gone to get drinks, rushed over with two cups in hand, miraculously spilling not a drop. She smoothly delivered the drink to Yi Shanshan and offered soothing words.

“The weather’s still a bit chilly, Babe. Don’t rush to drink something cold just yet. This room-temperature one tastes just as good.”

Yi Shanshan took a sip of the drink and huffed, “Hmph~”

Ying Yuan: “Senior, what did you say to Shanshan?”

Qi Hongyue: “……”

Yi Shanshan: “She said we’re not close! So cold! I love her so much, and I planned the whole gathering—the location, the itinerary, everything! Now that the project’s done, she’s turning her back on me. Humph!”

Qi Hongyue: “…………”

Ying Yuan looked at her: “Senior, what you said was definitely wrong…”

Qi Hongyue surrendered. She should never have provoked this eternally fiery couple.

No matter how well Ying Yuan and she worked together professionally, or how deep their camaraderie ran, whenever Yi Shanshan was involved, there was no room for logic or reason. Whatever Yi Shanshan said was right.

“I was wrong, I was just joking,” Qi Hongyue said, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Thank you, My Lady, for your assistance. I am deeply grateful.”

“That’s more like it~” Yi Shanshan leaned in, pressing her advantage. “Since you’ve admitted your mistake, you must accept the punishment. Tell me, what happened during your last meeting with Wen Can?”

Qi Hongyue: “……”

If it had been a normal meeting—dinner, work talk, polite goodbyes—Qi Hongyue could have confessed everything.

But last time was different. Last time, something significant had happened—something so profound that no amount of denial could mask it from her own heart.

Her relationship with Wen Can had shifted.

Wen Can no longer showed excessive concern for her projects, nor would she suddenly appear in her city, eager to meet.

Wen Can had extended an olive branch of ambiguous affection one last time, but Qi Hongyue had refused to grasp it, thereby losing her chance.

None of this was Wen Can’s fault. From their initial acquaintance to their subsequent collaboration, Wen Can had always been the proactive, enthusiastic one.

Given their roles as client and contractor, this dynamic shouldn’t have existed. Qi Hongyue knew perfectly well that Wen Can had reversed their positions solely because of her affection for her.

Wen Can had provided opportunities for them to interact, giving them time to grow closer. For someone as outstanding and charismatic as Wen Can, offering so much was more than enough to reciprocate her affection.

When her efforts received no appropriate response, she decisively ended the relationship and moved on to someone else—a very wise decision.

Qi Hongyue understood perfectly.

Yet, when the topic came up, a tinge of melancholy was inevitable.

After all, Wen Can’s smile was truly dazzling—radiant with vitality, lifting one’s heart with a gentle joy.

“After this… we…” Qi Hongyue lowered her lashes, paused, then looked up at Ying Yuan. “We can only rely on ourselves. President Wen is very busy. If there’s anything beyond our authority, then we can go to her.”

“Ah—” Yi Shanshan exclaimed, even though Qi Hongyue avoided her gaze, she couldn’t escape her sharp questioning. “Did you two break up? I mean romantically.”

Qi Hongyue: “……”

Yi Shanshan widened her eyes, shifted her angle, and deliberately positioned herself in Qi Hongyue’s line of sight. “Wen Can likes you! She has feelings for you! Don’t pretend you didn’t know!”

Qi Hongyue: “……I knew.”

“Eeeh! I told you!” Yi Shanshan slapped Ying Yuan’s shoulder and pulled her close, leaning against her. “I said they both knew it! They were just playing coy with each other. Babe, you lost! Tonight, you get a ‘do-whatever-I-want’ coupon~”

Ying Yuan’s cheeks flushed red. “Mm-hmm.”

Qi Hongyue: “……”

Could she please get away from these two lovebirds?

Yi Shanshan pulled out her phone, tapping and swiping at the screen with her manicured nails.

“Eeh,” she exclaimed, shoving the phone screen right in Qi Hongyue’s face. “Wen Can went on vacation! Who’s this little girl with her?”

Qi Hongyue didn’t usually scroll through her WeChat moments. Even when she unlocked her phone, a flood of work notifications awaited her attention.

She also avoided intentionally checking anyone’s moments, wanting to steer clear of anything that might stir her emotions or distract her from work.

Like right now.

Like right now, on the phone screen, Wen Can, wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, radiated an even brighter smile. Her long, wavy hair cascaded like seaweed, and her silver hoop earrings sparkled. Beside her stood a young girl, just as she’d described—truly adorable…

Large eyes, round cheeks, and a gaze brimming with youthful innocence. Her hand, clutching Wen Can’s arm tightly, flashed a peace sign, vibrant and sweet.

Qi Hongyue’s throat tightened. The next moment, Yi Shanshan’s phone screen went dark, reflecting Qi Hongyue’s face back at her.

A calm, serious expression, indifferent features… how utterly boring.

The lump in her throat slid downward, settling in her heart.

Qi Hongyue raised her hand to take a sip of water. The drink tasted sour, with a bitter aftertaste.

“Probably a friend she met online,” Qi Hongyue said.

“A friend?” Yi Shanshan took back her phone and flipped through the photos repeatedly. “This isn’t just a casual friend. That girl’s definitely gay. My gaydar’s spot-on these days. Look at the way she’s looking at Wen Can—her lesbian crush is so obvious…”

Qi Hongyue turned away, refusing to look.

“Since you know about her, Wen Can must have told you on purpose. There’s no other reason she would mention her.”

Yi Shanshan frowned, piecing things together. “So why would Wen Can tell you about this person? Qi Hongyue, have you really thought this through?”

Qi Hongyue remained silent, stubbornly sipping her sour and bitter drink.

Yi Shanshan dared to cut to the chase. “She’s just trying to make you jealous. After chasing you for so long without success, she’s resorting to these tricks. It’s a clumsy tactic, but it’s working. The real question is, how do you feel, Qi Hongyue? Do you like Wen Can? Do you like her enough to want to be in a relationship with her?”

Qi Hongyue didn’t answer immediately, not out of refusal, but out of deep contemplation.

How do I feel right now? How much do I like her? Most importantly, is dating necessary? Can I even date? Wouldn’t it be more trouble than it’s worth?

Every relationship is a trap. The more you like someone, the deeper the trap becomes.

And the deeper the trap, the harder it is to climb out.

“Do you have to be really in love to date?” Qi Hongyue asked.

Yi Shanshan immediately replied, “Yeah, yeah, of course! You have to be really, really, really in love to date. Like, they have to be one-of-a-kind, the only one for you. Precious, someone who makes you happy every day. That’s when dating feels amazing!”

Qi Hongyue: “That sounds unsafe.”

Yi Shanshan: “That’s what makes it exciting! Once you’ve won them over, it’s safe.”

Qi Hongyue smiled, turning to look at Yi Shanshan and Ying Yuan. “You two are lucky.”

Ying Yuan knew what she was thinking. “Senior,” she said, “maybe you’re lucky too. But if you don’t take a step forward, you’ll never know the outcome.”

“Hmm, I understand,” Qi Hongyue said after a moment’s thought. “I’ll move forward when the time is right.”

“What does ‘when the time is right’ even mean…?” Yi Shanshan pressed, unable to resist. She hated seeing people keep their feelings bottled up. Since she was so happy, she believed everyone would be happier if they wore their hearts on their sleeves.

The music changed. It was Yi Shanshan’s favorite song.

Ying Yuan wrapped her arms around Yi Shanshan’s waist and whispered in her ear, “Babe, let’s dance.”

Yi Shanshan laughed, lost in her own joy, momentarily forgetting Qi Hongyue’s unhappiness.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” she murmured, burying her face in Ying Yuan’s neck.

The revelry continued.

Beneath the flower trellis, Qi Hongyue stood alone, just as before.

A crescent moon hung in the sky like a hook. She gazed up at it, then lowered her head in thought.

Can two people only be together if they’re deeply in love?

What if she wants both security and happiness?

Is Wen Can truly happier traveling with that girl?

If that girl was his best choice, why give me a chance beforehand?

It’s all just calculation.

Love is an infallible scale: when one side grows heavier, the other rises lightly.

A clever person never bets all their chips at once.

Qi Hongyue pulled out her phone and opened her WeChat Moments.

Wen Can’s trip had been underway for three days, and he had posted two updates. One was a solo photo taken upon arrival, the other a nine-grid collage showcasing food, drinks, scenery, and his travel companion—everything.

Qi Hongyue studied the photos silently for a long time before finally tapping the like button on the nine-grid collage.