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Soft piano and strings dance in the air as the refined restaurant has a calm yet superior atmosphere. In the main dining room, tables covered in a soft, crème linen are set in a neat array as if dancers swirling around to the music. There are a few couples here and there who appear to be regulars fit with the clothing to match. They chat at a reasonable volume with rich, moderate chuckles. Off to the side in a more secluded area, two women sit at a table across from each other while gazing at their menus. One is wearing a dark navy dress with a square neckline and triangle straps that subtly cover her shoulders. Silver jewelry traces her neck and ears and brown hair flows down her back, finally free from a hairband. She decides confidently what she wants from the menu quicker than her counterpart. Meanwhile across the table, the woman with her black hair in a ponytail wears a modest white blouse, black slacks and a silver watch to match. The menu seems daunting to her despite its small stature.
The elegant woman says, “Having trouble?” She smirks.
The menu smacks down on the table and the other one glares.
“No, not at all, Miss Zheng. I’m deciding what I will have. What are you getting?”
“Well, I told my nutritionist that I’m eating out tonight so I can have some carbs if I reduce my intake for the rest of the week. So, I decided on the scallop rose pasta with a Chardonnay.”
“Do you ever just make things simple?”
“Wasn’t that simple?”
Before Shuhe could answer, the waiter arrived to take their orders. Once he leaves, Jessica brags about her newfound freedom from her responsibility. All the dark-haired woman across the table could do was smile. It’s best that she found another way or else she would’ve hurt Shaopeng’s feelings. He seems to love Zixiang a lot. Plus, getting married like that would be torture. Shuhe thought.
Their food arrives gently on the table with respective wines to match. Shuhe takes a bite of her chicken and her eyes widen. The food is more delicious than she expected. Jessica smirks coldly, taking a sip of her wine. The atmosphere is quiet as they eat but comfortable and pleasant. They move to the bar lounge for more wine after their meal.
“Hm, you know for an assistant, your input isn’t bad. I wouldn’t take your love advice though.”
“You wouldn’t know what love is anyway, Miss Zheng.”
“Romantic partners are overrated. Less time to focus on yourself and getting what you want.”
“Well, like I said before, you can’t control who you love.”
“Is it really such an elusive thing? I mean I can find someone attractive, and I’ll naturally start to love them over time if we have a relationship, no?”
“You have a point. It can depend on the person.”
“Which one is it for you then? With Shaopeng?”
Shuhe sighs.
“Fine let’s change the topic. What do you do in your free time, if you have any, and without Shaopeng?”
“I read books.”
“About?”
“Stuff… business, the news, some webtoons-”
“Ugh. Do you know how to have fun?”
This sets off an argument about what’s fun and Jessica’s endless trips to different countries and all the beautiful sites. She shows off pictures, brushing her arm against Shuhe’s, causing hair to rise. It wasn’t the first time Jessica had touched her, but it feels different being this close together. They talk some more as the night winds on until 11pm. This surprises them both. After walking to Jessica’s car, she turns around suddenly to Shuhe.
“I would like to propose an arrangement.”
“What are the terms?”
“We have a dinner together every month.”
Shuhe scrunches her eyebrows, turning her head slightly.
“I think we both enjoyed our time and I want to know if you have any other advice to give me.” Jessica crosses her arms with a look of superiority on her face.
The dark-haired woman thinks for a moment.
“I have two conditions. One, we switch off on who pays and who chooses the restaurant. Two, no talking about Shaopeng… or Zixiang.”
“Easy. Deal?”
“Deal.” They shake hands politely.
“Give me your phone so I can contact you personally. It’s easier that way”
The slightly shorter woman hands over her phone with some hesitation.
“Why not have someone do it for you, like usual?”
The brown-haired one looks up from the phone, the screen illuminating her face.
“I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.” She returns the device, gets into her car, and drives off. Shuhe stands there dumbfounded then scoffs. She thinks she so dangerous. She just has money. I remember she couldn’t even open the package on triangle rice. She smiles to herself. It was kind of cute.
~~~~~~
A few days later, Shuhe feels her phone vibrate during work. A text comes from “Zheng Yunong AKA Jessica” and reads “Tell me your restaurant choice and I’ll book the date.” She puts her phone face down and continues to work. But it keeps bothering her mind. We have a whole month to figure that out. Why ask now? Well, I guess her schedule must be packed often.
She picks up the phone again after much consideration and chooses a hot pot place. It’s middle range in price with foods on the side menu that could match the picky woman’s elevated palate. She wasn’t trying to impress her or anything, just didn’t want to hear any complaints about the food all night. Another vibration and there’s an exact date and time for the dinner. After checking her calendar, Shuhe confirms. It all feels so sterile for a dinner out with… Well, she didn’t know how to define their relationship yet. A co-conspirator to… acquaintance? A friend seemed like too much of a word. She taps and twirls her pen in thought. Weeks passed by with Shuhe almost forgetting about the dinner until a reminder alerts her. She ties up some loose ends at work and heads over to the hot pot restaurant. It ended up being a great choice after such a grueling workday. Getting there right on time, she walks up to Jessica who has crossed arms and a stern look.
“Exactly, 8pm. A minute later and I would’ve thought you stood me up.”
“I had some things I needed to clear up at work, and I would’ve told you if something came up.”
“I hope so or else it would say a lot about your character.”
“My character values people’s time.”
“So does mine.”
They look at each other a little too long. Why does it feel like we’re fighting when we’re agreeing on something, Shuhe thought.
They sit down to eat and have another nice dinner. Both women loosen up little by little, discussing trivial things that make them happy in a bustling business world. Shuhe’s was being able to rest for five minutes in the morning with a cup of coffee before starting her day. Jessica’s was getting a massage at the end of the day before going to bed. Shuhe felt that was a bit outside of trivial for her, but she accepts that to Jessica it’s normal. As they talk more, they both realize that despite the large gap in wealth between them, there were similar grievances and small joys that helped them get through that month. This dinner goes by quickly too, with small chuckles filling the air. They walk back to Jessica’s car again and turn towards each other for parting words.
“This was nice. I’m looking forward to the next one, I’ll text the details.”
“I had fun too. Oh, and please pick a cheaper place this time.”
“That wasn’t part of our agreement.”
“Would it kill you to be considerate for once?”
“Fine, since I consider you good company, I’ll look into your salary and determine an appropriate restaurant you could afford after a month.”
“Thank you, Miss Zheng.”
“Ugh, you sound like a robot, call me Jessica. We’ve already been through so much, especially after you betraying me and all.”
Shuhe sighs, something she finds herself doing often during their conversations.
“And yet it motivated you to find a different leverage for your assets.”
“True.”
They smile at each other.
“Well then, good night, Song Shuhe.”
“Drive home safe, Zheng Yunong.”
“Jessica!”
“Miss Zheng.” They go their separate ways.
The next night, Jessica tosses and turns in her silk sheets and pajamas thinking about where to dine with Shuhe. All her favorite places weren’t even in this country let alone within the budget she was given. Paying for everything herself crosses her mind a few times.
At this point the most I could do is a high-end café.
Throwing the heavy duvet to the side, her face is illuminated by the tablet as she scrolls through the options from the assistants. It’s not much look at. They could only come up with two places despite her asking for five. The criteria were too restrictive apparently. She scans through the menus and reviews of the two restaurants, weighing out her options. The clock on her nightstand reads 3am. Her eyes become droopy and she has to shake herself awake a few times. Finally, Jessica gives up and picks the first one on the list, tossing her tablet to the side. In the morning, she has assistants set up the reservation for the next month. There’s a text sent to Shuhe who responds quickly and it’s set. Jessica yawns frequently in her office as she signs papers and listens to presentations that seem like a carbon copy of the last. In her boredom, she texts Shuhe again.
“You made me sleepy.”
Dots appear and disappear as the recipient takes a long time to answer then responds with, “?”
“I was up all night trying to find a place within your budget that still suits me.”
“It seems like you found it.”
“No thanks to you.”
“I’m sorry the company has decided to pay me with this salary despite how useful I am.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” The elegant woman smirks, completely ignoring the presenter until she hears her name. The entire table is looking at her in anticipation.
“I’m done here. We can reconvene tomorrow.” Walking out of the room, she texts Shuhe some more about how to climb up the corporate ladder more and their shared experiences with guys not taking them seriously. The work flies by faster to her delight. As the days go by, Jessica texts Shuhe whenever she feels bored, which is frequent. It turns into an almost daily habit.
Soon, the third dinner arrives. The food is simple but good enough. The banter and conversation flow naturally between the women as they sip on wine. Wrapping up for the night once again, they walk to Jessica’s car. Suddenly, she turns towards Shuhe.
“I’d like to revise our agreement.”
“I’m listening.”
“We meet every other week for dinner, and you call me Jessica.”
“Hmm… I call you Jessica, we meet every week, and we define our relationship as friends.”
Jessica’s eyes widen. She says, “Then we need a separate clause to define a friend.”
“I’m too tired for that can we just figure it out as we go like everyone else this time?”
“Sure, it’ll be interesting to see where your boundaries are. Though I can’t promise I won’t overstep them at first.”
“You care about those?”
“Treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s simple. I only push when I have to.”
Shuhe lets out a hearty laugh, her face slightly flushed. Jessica squints at her.
“Well then we agree that we will meet every week for dinner, you will call me Jessica, and we are friends from now on.”
“Agreed.” They shake on it.
Shuhe turns away and starts leaning to the side as she walks. Jessica watches her closely. The taller woman grabs her arm.
“Let me take you home.”
“Why all of a sudden? Is that what you offer to friends?”
“No, I usually call them a taxi at most, but you said you don’t live far, so I don’t mind it this time.”
Shuhe nods slowly then they both get into the car. This time Jessica has a driver, so she allows her counterpart to direct them where to go.
She’s funnier and bolder when she’s tipsy. Noted. Kind of cute too. Jessica thought.
They arrive at Shuhe’s street, and she gets out of the car. As she walks away, the stern woman notices a phone left on the back seat. She sighs heavily but still swipes it, getting out of the car.
“Song Shuhe!” She grabs the flushed wrist one more time. The momentum from suddenly being pulled causes Shuhe to fall backwards into Jessica’s arms. Once they stabilize themselves, the tipsy woman gazes up at her savior then quickly stands up. There’s a small awkward silence before the taller woman sticks out the phone in her hand. The other slowly picks it up and speed walks away to her apartment with a red face. Jessica smirks and crosses her arms. Correction. She’s very cute when tipsy.
~~~~~~
Now with their agreement adjusted and their relationship defined, the women text and see each other frequently. Within their differences, they find a lot of commonalities which amuse them. They also teach each other things like how to use a copy machine, what owning a business is like, ordering at a street food stall, painting, and even some English and sign language. Inexplicably, smiles grow on their faces and the stress of the day melts away. Without any formal discussion, their dinners occur almost every day and when they find themselves busier than usual, lunches are the solution. After six months of this routine, the women are at another bar lounge attached to the restaurant they were eating at. Shuhe is buzzed, feeling the warmth of the wine relaxing her tense body. Jessica on the other hand, is drunker than she cares to admit, casually lounging on the deep red couch. They talk about their uneventful love lives.
“I’ve had offers but none of them held up to my standards, though my parents wouldn’t mind them. That’s when I recruited Zixiang to be my knight in shining armor.” The taller woman plops her head on the couch.
“Mm, it’s better to have a friend you already know than a guy you met a month ago.”
“Exactly. You see I’m always thinking three steps ahead. In fact, I would like to propose another great idea. We should get married.”
Shuhe’s smile slowly fades.
“One, it’s formally recognized here. Two, we meet so often we might as well live under the same roof. And three… you’re my personal stress ball.” She lightly squeezes the sides of Shuhe’s face then loses her grip as the recipient turns away.
The dark-haired woman flushes more. Her heart pulses faster. Looking for an escape from this feeling, she gets up.
“We should leave.”
“Hm? No, I want to stay.”
“Don’t you have something to do tomorrow?”
Jessica takes several seconds to think. “Ah, lunch with my mother. Ugh.” She slams her fist down on the couch.
“So, let’s go. Don’t keep your driver waiting.”
Shuhe stabilizes Jessica as they walk and helps her get into the car. The drunk woman offers to give a ride home but the other refuses. On the train, Shuhe falls into deep thought. She still doesn’t take it seriously. Girls dream about their special day with the perfect partner, and she just treats it like a business transaction. Does she even know what it’s like to actually care for someone? She seems to only think about herself. Images of being caught while falling, having her phone handed to her, being sent words of encouragement and more flash across her mind. Maybe that’s too far… She walks home in a daze with conflicting thoughts.
The next day, an older woman dressed in clean, neutral-colored clothing with an apron opens a dark door to an equally dark room. Suddenly, she slides open the curtains to let in the bright, blinding light onto the bed. The victim of this action thrashes her body to the other side. The housekeeper smacks her on the back.
“Get up! You’re lucky I let you sleep in today. You have to leave for lunch with Mrs. Zheng in an hour.”
“Hmph, let her eat without me. She’s done it before.”
“You know this lunch is important to her. She wants to help you find a future husband.”
“Ugh she acts like I will die alone if I don’t get married by tomorrow. They drilled work into my head since I was born and now that I’m doing well… whatever. Just another obligation, right?” She lazily gets up and checks her phone while slowly walking to the bathroom.
“Hurry up and put some clothes on.” The housekeeper scampers out the room, closing the door.
“Mm.” Engrossed in her messages, Jessica texts to her companion about how bad her head hurts and blaming her. She waits for a minute and finds herself left on read. Sighing out her impatience, the hungover woman gets ready and makes it downstairs just in time to leave. On the car ride to her destination and while walking to her table, she keeps refreshing her messages, sending quips and question marks to get a reaction. But her efforts result in nothing. It bothers her more and more.
“What’s up with her today?” She mumbles.
“Who?”
Finally glancing up from her phone the brown-haired woman sees her mother eating a roasted chicken salad.
“Nothing.”
“I hope his company is doing well in the stock market…” Her mother comments slyly.
“It’s not that.”
“Well, it should be! You’re not getting any younger and now is the perfect time to get married since you’re doing so well with the assets your father gave you, remember?”
“Yes mother.”
“Now, I’ve talked to Mrs. Chen about her nephew, and I really think you two would get along. You are both very focused and obedient.”
Then Jessica stopped listening as usual, plus this sudden silent treatment from Shuhe is taking all of her attention. She would respond by now even if she’s busy with something. She doesn’t have work today… what else could she be doing? Ah, right, maybe hanging out with that Shaopeng… Still, she should at least answer with an emoji! She aggressively presses her phone, sending several angry faces.
A whole week and a half pass by of Shuhe not responding to the messages and not meeting up for dinner. And a whole week and a half of Jessica going crazy over it. She starts ignoring meetings more than usual, not answering emails, taking 3-hour lunches, scratching out writing mistakes often and more disruptive behavior to the workflow. Despite this, her philosophy is to not cave in, forcing Shuhe to make the first move and apologize. It hasn’t been working. Then, her mother calls her complaining about the reports on Jessica’s low performance lately. She slams down onto the desk and calls for a car to be ready downstairs. Fine! If she won’t grovel on her own, I’ll force her to face me.
At Shuhe’s job, Jessica barges in the door with her team behind her, a very familiar feeling.
“Song Shuhe!” She stops all conversations in the office as well as the one Shuhe was having with her coworkers. The target walks up to her, visibly annoyed.
“Yes, Miss Zheng?” A polite but restrained smile spreads across her face.
“You owe me dinner.”
“As you can see, I am very busy with-”
“Breaching your verbal agreement?”
The black-haired woman steps closer and says in a hushed tone, “Can we discuss this another time?”
“Then have dinner with me. Tonight. I’m buying and picking the destination.”
“…Fine.”
“Fine, I’ll text you the details. Respond to it.”
“Okay.”
“See that wasn’t so hard now, was it?” The taller woman walks away satisfied by her guaranteed victory. She always gets what she wants. Well, mostly.
The start of their dinner is very quiet and uncomfortable. The women sit across from each other; one picking at her plate and the other staring deeply. This is not how Jessica thought this would go. She didn’t give up and stared down her opponent even while eating and drinking. Once the food is cleared and the glasses are empty, Shuhe suddenly gets up.
“Thank you for the meal, Miss Zheng. Unfortunately, I need to go home early to prepare for work tomorrow.”
“Wait! Don’t you have something to say?!”
The unamused woman thinks for a moment. “Good night, Jessica.”
As she starts to walk away, the rich woman crosses her arms yelling out, “Then I’ll have to come fetch you tomorrow to make sure you don’t go back on your word!”
Shuhe stops in her tracks, sighing. “What do you want from me?”
“An explanation.”
“About what?”
“Don’t act stupid Shuhe. I’m a woman too, I know when you’re mad at me. Hurry up and tell me why so you can stop acting like this.”
The black-haired woman stared at her with an annoyed expression. “The last time we had dinner, you got drunk-”
“Tipsy.”
“Whatever. And you said… well you said that…”
“Spit it out already!”
“That you wanted to marry me.”
There’s a small pause. Then a breathy laugh of disbelief.
“That’s what you’re upset about? What, because I didn’t get down on one knee?!”
“No. It just… bothers me that you see it as something sterile and transactional. I don’t know. I’ve dreamed my whole life about walking down the aisle in my favorite dress and…” She pauses. “It makes me sad and think about my past relationships.” Her voice got softer towards the end of her sentence.
Jessica didn’t need to hear a name to know who Shuhe was thinking about. Fuming, she spoke without thinking, “I’m not going to apologize for saying that because that’s how I felt. These last six months have been the happiest I’ve ever been since I came back here. And I don’t get that often. I have someone to rant to, discuss business with, talk about family matters… text when I’m bored or feeling lone- Anyways, when I say something, I mean it.” She grabs Shuhe’s hand. “So, why not marry me? You know I have plenty of money. Do you like me?”
Shuhe flushes a bright red on her cheeks and snatches her hand back. “What?!”
“That’s not an answer. Well?”
“Wait I… are you serious?”
“I thought I made that clear already.”
“But you- we just- do you like me?!”
“I mean… I’m sure I do. I think about you all the time. I get frustrated when you don’t answer. I really like having dinner with you… That must be what it is. Ok, well, marriage might be too soon, but we could date at least a year or two. Huh, I wonder what my mother will think-”
“Wait! We should take it slow and think about this…”
“So do you like me back or not?”
No answer.
Jessica leans in and whispers in Shuhe’s ear, “Then I’ll pursue you till you do. And I always get what I want.” She smirks, heading out the door.
Stuck in a daze, it takes Shuhe until Jessica is outside to wake up and chase after her. The car door is wide open to the backseat with Jessica patting the cushion.
“I’m going home by myself!” Shuhe nearly sprints away, shaking her head furiously to try and make sense of everything. Has she gone crazy!?
Jessica watches her leave with satisfaction on her face.
~~~~~~
The next couple of weeks for Shuhe are… weird to say the least. When she arrives at work, there’s always coffee and a breakfast sandwich ready at her desk. She’s told Jessica several times that she doesn’t need it but all she does is send a picture of herself in the mirror showing off her work clothes for the day. There’s no denying that she looked very classy and expensive. It was distracting. Lunchtime wasn’t any better with huge orders of different food sent to the office each day. Her coworkers thanked her over and over again despite her embarrassment.
“Wow Miss Song you must have an admirer. Did you finally win yourself a CEO bachelor?”
All Shuhe could do was give a weak smile.
On top of that, fifteen minutes later Jessica would text her asking for feedback on the food to know Shuhe’s preferences. They slowly start meeting up again for dinner with each one becoming increasingly flirtatious. The elegant woman smiles, stares and touches Shuhe more than usual. She sits next to her instead of across. She offers rides home even if they’re both sober. Shuhe feels her heart burst each time.
Do I really like her? My breathlessness must mean something. But dating her would feel like a contract more than a relationship. Everything she does feels so calculated and deliberate. At least she’s serious about this. But is it too serious? She couldn’t even say that she likes me clearly. I guess I haven’t either.
Shuhe rolls over in bed scrolling through all their messages and pictures. A series of good mornings, good nights, how was your days, what to eat for dinner, outfits of the day, frustrations, and joys all fly past the screen.
Come to think of it, I haven’t thought about Shaopeng in a while. I haven’t met him much either. Maybe… I really did move on. I’ve been so happy lately. You have to take a leap of faith with these things, right?
She sets her phone on the bedside table and goes to bed with a newfound determination.
So comes another Saturday night dinner and Shuhe needs some liquid courage. Her skin becomes quite pink, resulting in Jessica telling her to slow down a bit. She does for a moment as they chat about their successes and failures for the week at work. Jessica reaches over, placing her manicured hand on top of Shuhe’s.
“It was difficult but looking at your face and texting you throughout the day helped melt all my stress away.”
“Really?”
“Mhm.” The enamored woman tilts her head to the side with a warm smile. It’s a rare sight.
The tipsy woman feels her heart pounding and drinks some more to combat it. Jessica chuckles.
After dinner, Shuhe allows Jessica to take her home. The restaurant is really far away, which gives her plenty of time to do something bold. She leans over and places her head on Jessica’s shoulder. It feels so comfortable, like she was always meant to be there. Then she lifts her head up and kisses her crush on the cheek.
Jessica looks over and whispers, “You’re finally falling for me, huh?”
Shuhe leans in for a lip kiss, but Jessica stops her.
“Wait, I don’t kiss drunk people.”
“But I’m not. I’m tipsy. I’ll remember this tomorrow.”
“Even if you do, I don’t want you to regret it.”
“I won’t. Didn’t you say if I want something, I should go after it? Well, this is it. I want this.”
Jessica pushes her away again. Shuhe lays her head back, looking at the beautiful woman with pleading eyes.
“Please. I won’t know for sure unless we try. We won't know for sure.”
Jessica looks her up and down. It’s not that she doesn’t want to but more so that the timing wasn’t right. She could tell her crush has been drinking heavily tonight out of nervousness. It didn’t feel right to take advantage of that. She still has some moral code. But if it’s what she wants…
She leans in a little, getting closer to Shuhe’s face. The tipsy woman takes in the wonderful view then gently closes her eyes feeling content and warm inside. Then Jessica softly kisses her exposed cheek, smoothing hair behind the ear. Suddenly, she hears a subtle breathing sound turning into a light snore. Jessica sighs.
“And that’s why I don’t kiss drunk people.” It’s disappointing but funny at the same time. She strokes her hand lovingly until they arrive at Shuhe’s home. They struggle up to Shuhe’s door with Jessica supporting most of the weight. Getting in the door is its own battle with searching for keys and teetering side to side. They practically fall into the apartment once the door opens. Then they fell onto the bed. The drunk woman holds her crush in her arms, feeling cozy and comfortable. Meanwhile her crush was trying to breathe and get up. Finally, free from the tight grasp, Jessica finds some pajamas to dress Shuhe in. Obviously Shuhe wasn’t going to do it herself, so Jessica strips off the blouse and slacks. She noted the slim physique, taking in how pretty the body curves, and the slight pink hue from the alcohol. The drunk woman complains about being cold. Catching herself staring, Jessica dresses Shuhe and goes to the kitchen to get a glass of water. First, she takes in big sips before making her crush do the same. Shuhe turns over to the side, tucking under the covers and falling fast asleep. Slow strokes to her hair help aid her rest. Jessica makes her way back to the car with the image of Shuhe sprawled across the bed plaguing her mind.
Getting up from bed is the hardest thing for Shuhe to do the next late morning. Her phone shows 11:46am. Usually, the morning is a welcoming sight but today it’s annoying. She slowly tilts her body up and yawns. Frizzy hair is blown away as messages are sent to Jessica.
“Thanks for taking me home.”
“Of course, anytime. Sorry I didn’t kiss you, but I wouldn’t mind taking a rain check.”
“What?!” The dazed woman says out loud. Then memories of the car ride and returning to the apartment flood back into her mind. She throws her phone on her bed, rolling around in embarrassment. Tired and out of breath, she touches her lips, remembering how close their faces were in the car. At the same time, Jessica touches her own, wondering if there will be a more opportune time and place. She wants to meet her as soon as possible but holds herself back a little.
She texts, “Want me to send over food to your place? I don’t mind.”
Bubbles appear for a moment then disappear then reappear.
“I want to eat together but I’m too lazy to get up.”
“Got it. On my way.”
“Wait you don’t have to.” No response. “Hello?”
An hour later, the doorbell to Shuhe’s apartment rings. It’s Jessica.
“I brought you some soup, grilled chicken with rice and vegetables, and a sweet pastry.”
She comfortably walks in, placing all the food on the table. She fills a glass with water and tells her crush to drink some to help with her hangover. After doing so, Shuhe hugs her tightly, taking in her perfume and warmth.
Jessica could feel her own heart start to pound. “I know, I know, I’m an angel. Now, eat before it gets cold.”
They plate up all the food and sit down to eat. Jessica eats very little of it as she gets distracted by the lips across from her. I’ll never be able to focus again, will I? No, that’s stupid. I’m a grown woman. She turns her head away.
Shuhe sees it, noticing the elegant lines of her crush’s neck, collarbone, and lips. Ahh, drinking so much last night didn’t help at all. Now, all I think about is… Ugh I’ll just focus on eating. She takes a big bite of the sweet pastry.
They sit quietly across from each other, trying to hold in the tension and personal desires. Finally, Shuhe finishes eating then puts up the leftover food and dishes. The goodbye is awkward and hesitant, but Jessica makes her way back to the car to go back home, both feeling unsatisfied. They couldn’t meet up for dinner that day and they feel a big hole in their hearts and routines. They text often about the usual topics of conversation throughout the day. That is until Jessica gets frustrated at night. It isn’t enough. So, she calls Shuhe.
“Hello?” Her sweet voice makes Jessica instantly smile.
“Hi.”
“Is it something urgent? You don’t normally call.”
“Not particularly. I wanted to make sure you were recovering well.”
“From my hangover?”
“From missing me.”
Shuhe sighs and smiles.
“Yes, I know how to function without seeing you. Plus, we met earlier in the afternoon.”
“Still, it seemed like you were extra clingy today. Kind of like last night.”
“You don’t have to remind me, I remember.”
“Oh, then you would also remember begging me to kiss you.”
“I- I didn’t beg you! I asked… in a very…”
“Cute way I must add. It was very hard to resist.”
A brief pause.
Shuhe manages the courage to ask, “So… why didn’t you kiss me?”
“Because it didn’t feel right. If a guy I was with kissed me while I was drunk, it would be weird, even if I was interested.”
“You have a point.”
“So like I said, we will take a rain check on that. But it’s good to know that you’ve fallen for me. Well, to be curious enough to want to know if you like me by your standards. We haven’t kissed yet so it’s still a mystery to you apparently.”
“That’s… not what I meant.”
“So you admit it?”
“…How was your day? You didn’t do too much work at home right?”
“Just say it so we can move forward. It’s obvious my efforts are working. I see the way you look at me. You even hugged me today. It was… pleasant. I hope you hug me more often.”
Shuhe is speechless. Putting the feelings into words is too difficult. The fact is that once they’re out of her mouth, she would have no control over them anymore. It’s terrifying.
“I’ve been out of it all day thinking about that and the car ride last night. Even though you fell asleep you looked so beautiful.” Jessica admits.
Their hearts start beating faster.
“Really? Do you like me that much?”
“I believe so. You must have put a spell on me. I keep thinking about your lips and eyes and slim body…”
“I keep thinking about yours too. Your neckline and lips are so pretty to me.”
Shuhe touches her lips. Jessica touches her neck. Both start breathing a little heavier.
“Jessica what if… you kissed me in the car?”
The elegant woman gives it a thought then responds, “I imagine we would kiss the whole car ride to your apartment.”
The answer makes the nervous woman bite her lip.
“I would help carry you up, then once we’re inside, we would want to keep going…”
Their bodies start warming up. Jessica crosses her legs.
“But then I would feel conflicted about your state of mind and I’m confident you would try to reassure me that you’re not drunk. Then… I would pause it there.”
“I would ask you to spend the night. I get pretty clingy when I-”
“I didn’t realize you were such a sweet talker, Shuhe.”
“I- well…”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.”
“Oh.”
“Hm?”
“Um, nothing. Sleep well.” Shuhe says in a small voice.
“Thank you, you too.”
“Good night.”
“Night.”
They hang up. Jessica grabs a file from her desk to fan herself off. Shuhe tosses herself onto bed and sighs heavily. That was close, they both thought.
After that night, to their dismay, work becomes extremely busy for the both of them. Shuhe is running constantly back and forth between desks to aid her coworkers as well as discussing and plowing through endless documents. At the same time, Jessica is on a flight to see her parents, give a formal update and soothe her mother’s worry. The time difference isn’t terrible but not ideal. They would text each other when they could with simple check-in replies and pictures being at least an hour apart. Phone calls are brief, surface-level conversations. The whole month is ridiculed with sleepless nights and body aches. Shuhe tries hanging out with Shaopeng (with Zixiang tagging along) but it makes her irritable. She eats less and drinks more coffee to make sure she gets through the day. Something is missing. Well, someone is missing. But she can’t just run away from everything. Be an adult and push through. It’ll all be over at the end of the month, she thought. And that’s what she did. The end of the month arrives, and all the projects and meetings and several stacks of papers finish up. It’s a success, but Shuhe didn’t feel like celebrating. The only thing she wants to do is go home, take a hot shower and go to bed. Only to go back to work the next day. She sits at her desk, rubbing the back of her neck.
“Ms. Song Shuhe?”
Shuhe turns around to be greeted by a whole team of assistants that she hasn’t seen before except for one that often drives Jessica around.
“We represent Ms. Zheng Yunong. She has sent us to come get you.” The stern assistant hands over a crème-colored card with a message from Jessica saying to follow them for a surprise.
“I- um I don’t have lunch for another-”
“There’s no need to worry about that. You are approved for three days of vacation starting tomorrow and can leave early for today.”
“But there’s a very important meeting-”
“Please Ms. Song, follow us.”
Despite her worries, Shuhe cleans up her desk and packs up her things to follow the assistant. The drive is longer than she expected, leading to the richer parts of the city. Finally stopping in front of a tall, exclusive hotel, Shuhe is guided through the lobby up to a deluxe suite. The door opens, revealing Jessica in a pristine, white bathrobe sitting at a glass table next to a large window.
“Honeyyy!” Jessica pulls Shuhe into a big hug. Her smell and warmth are comforting but so overwhelming all at once. Shuhe missed her of course, but this is definitely a surprise. She steps back while the assistants set down her purse and sweater neatly and leave the room.
“What is all this?”
“Welcome to your very own staycation! I thought we’d start here first though I did want to go somewhere tropical like Bali.” She smiles at the thought.
“I didn’t know you would be back today.”
“Surprise.”
Shuhe brings her in for another hug. “I needed this.”
“Me too.”
They recharge their energy and melt away all of their stress. It works wonders.
Softly stroking black hair, Jessica says, “Go get undressed and put on the robe in the closet. Our massage will start soon.”
“Massage? But I don’t have any extra clothes.”
“You know I always do my research. I bought some for you. I dressed you before, remember? So, I took notes of your sizes.”
Shuhe turns pink. “Wait, you took note of my size?” She covers her chest with an accusatory look.
“Well, did you want to have a vacation with no undergarments? I mean, I admire the confidence, but I would imagine it wouldn’t be very comfortable.”
Shuhe eyes her up and down then turns toward the bedroom. It’s a grand room with floor-to-ceiling windows, dark brown closets, a thick bed with crème linen and a wispy canopy overhead. The attached bathroom has its own large shower and separate bathtub perfect for two people. I haven’t soaked in a hot bath in a while. I wonder if she would want to take one later, Shuhe thought.
She undresses and puts on the robe. By the time she comes out of the room, everything is set with candles and a soft scent of lavender filling the air. The massage therapists are ready to begin as the women lie down on the prepared cushioned tables. Soft relaxing music plays from a small speaker as the staff use a rolling motion on the back and shoulders. Both women could feel the repercussions of the long nights working overtime and stressing about results. They gently fall asleep. When the massage therapists finish their routine, they quietly leave the room. Jessica wakes up first, not long after the massage is finished. She carefully shakes Shuhe awake and leads her to bed so she can sleep more comfortably. Shuhe sinks into the mattress and falls asleep again quickly. Jessica texts an assistant to clean up the living room and to prepare an early dinner. But she also wants healthy snacks ready in case they get hungry sooner. The tasks are done with precision and speed as usual. With all her orders confirmed, she lies down next to Shuhe, moving a strand of hair out of her face. It always amazes her how beautiful the busy woman looks when she’s sleeping peacefully. Jessica flutters her eyes, not wanting to fall asleep yet, but her body takes over. The women take a nice, long nap together, finally getting some restful sleep.
~~~~~~
The brown-haired woman opens her eyes again, seeing her crush across from her still resting. Her phone reads 4:03pm and she is feeling peckish. In spite of herself, she wakes up Shuhe again. The sleepy woman takes a minute to fully awaken, mind still foggy from the nap. As her vision clears, a picture of Jessica propped up next to her appears. Shuhe quickly turns over, covering her face with her hands.
“Hm? Are you shy about how you look waking up?”
The embarrassed woman scrunches up more.
“I’ve already seen you fall asleep. It’s not much different when you wake up.”
“It’s not that…” She couldn’t put it into words, so she points behind herself. Jessica looks down at the top of her breasts showing underneath the robe and rolls her eyes.
“Come on Virgin Mary, I’m starving. They should be here soon with some food but there’s snacks in the mini kitchen.” She slides out of bed, giving her back a big stretch. Afterwards Shuhe does the same and they raid the kitchen for snacks. It is mostly healthy pre-approved snacks like popcorn, veggie chips and dried fruit. They eat while looking out the window, waking up a bit more. Jessica starts checking her phone, going through notifications and responding to texts. Shuhe takes it away from her.
“We’re on a vacation remember? That means no working for either of us.”
“But I have assets to take care of and parents breathing down my neck every second-”
“And that’s why you need rest, we need to rest.” She puts the phone on silent and face down.
“Fine, you’re right.”
“I know.”
“Don’t get too cocky.”
Shuhe smiles, eating another chip. Now fully awake, they talk about the relaxing massage from earlier and the hotel they’re staying at while waiting for their food. When the early dinner arrives, it feels just like their usual routine, except for the robes. They finish their food in time to watch the sunset together. They stand at the window with the beautiful scenery of the city, then Jessica looks over at Shuhe. Without thinking too much, she hugs her from behind, resting her head on the shoulder. Shuhe blushes once more. The sun slowly sets below the horizon, casting an orange hue on the sky that makes the bustling city seem calm. Jessica squeezes a little tighter, tucking her head more… then she kisses the flushed cheek. Shuhe squirms, turning to look at her.
“Perfect time to take that rain check if you want.”
The black-haired woman is silent then says, “I want to but… I need some time to think about us.”
“It’s pretty obvious, right? Friends wouldn’t go this far. If you want to make it clear-”
“I know. It’s just… I need to make sure that I’m ready. This is a lot.”
“We can make it simple.”
“I know. I know. I have to work through something… can you wait for me?”
“Of course, a hug is enough for now.” The taller woman snuggles up even more, watching the sun settle below the horizon.
Shuhe suggests watching a TV show and they cuddle up together on the couch. Once they get sleepy again, Jessica takes a shower first then hands over pajamas in Shuhe’s size. The shy woman takes the clothes sheepishly then heads over to the luxurious bathroom. By the time she’s done, her crush is already in bed reading business articles. Shuhe lays her head on the shoulder to see if there’s anything interesting to her as well. Coming up with nothing, she scrolls on her phone till she yawns. This makes Jessica yawn as well and they decide that it’s time to turn in for the night. With the room dark and their bodies so close to each other, it’s harder to fall asleep than they thought. It happened so naturally after the massage but now that it’s intentional, their minds don’t want to cooperate. Each breath they hear from the other and each little movement is distracting and awkward. If I keep my eyes closed, I’ll eventually fall asleep, Jessica thought. Shuhe tries to do the same but ultimately turns to face Jessica’s back, watching her shoulder rise and fall.
I can’t even sleep next to her because my heart is beating too fast. I’ve felt this before. With Shaopeng. When I first realized I liked him, I couldn’t sleep over at the house for two weeks. And here I am in bed with her. We already slept together earlier, but now it’s different. I should talk to her tomorrow about us and... She should know how hard it could be for me to… do certain things before we establish our relationship any further. She watches the shoulder move in rhythm until she falls asleep.
In the morning, they eat a simple breakfast in the suite then head out to a well-known museum. As soon as they entered, Shuhe’s eyes and mouth widened to the extensive collection of artwork and artifacts. The intricate gold swirls with pearls, stately bronze pieces, and beautifully designed silk fills her with amazement and wonder. Jessica has been here countless times but seeing Shuhe light up at the sight makes it worth it. In fact, she spends more time gazing at the elated woman than the actual displays. They take their time walking through the exhibits, making sure to read the significance and background information provided. Reaching the end, Shuhe gushes about all of the artwork and handcrafted jewelry as they are driven to a shopping and entertainment center. Shuhe suggests going to a movie theatre since she hasn’t been in a while and Jessica is unfamiliar with it.
“Usually, we rent out our own private viewing or use an elaborate home theatre. Isn’t having other people around annoying?”
“Well, sometimes but people are mostly considerate. Actually, it’s really funny when everyone reacts in the same way to something. Come on it’ll be fun.”
Shuhe drags the taller woman inside, deciding on a comedy she’s been wanting to watch. Since it was a weekday in the late afternoon, the theatre was nearly empty. With popcorn in hand, they laugh and laugh at the movie with bits of whispered commentary. Shuhe manages to feed Jessica small bits of plain popcorn. It makes her smile so hard each time as Jessica reminds her of a little baby bird. They leave the place feeling giddy and hungry still, so they go to a nearby sushi restaurant. The seafood is excellent quality as well as the cooked premium beef and sake they got on the side. They stuff their bellies full but as they pass by a shaved ice dessert shop on the way to the car, Shuhe says, “There’s always room for dessert!”
Jessica doesn’t eat sweets often and when she does it’s usually fruit or a dessert homemade by her personal chefs so that the sugar content is controlled. She obliges, however, to keep seeing Shuhe happy. They share a mango shaved ice that was the right amount of sweetness and tanginess. Shuhe ends up eating most of it as Jessica leans back watching her face light up with each bite.
On the drive back, Shuhe poses the question, “What is it?”
“Hm?”
“You’ve been staring at me all day.”
“Not all day. I would say most of the day. You’re fascinating to me.”
“How so? I’m not doing anything interesting.”
“The way you do ordinary things is interesting to me.”
Shuhe lifts her eyebrow in disbelief and shakes her head with a smirk.
Back in the grand hotel suite, they try to entertain themselves with what’s on TV but something is bothering Shuhe. Looking up at Jessica while lying on her shoulder, she remembers what was said in the car and how happy the tall woman looked throughout the day. It’s time to talk. She sits up suddenly, catching the brown-haired woman’s attention.
“I need to talk to you about us.”
“I’m listening.”
“I want us to be official but there’s something you need to know beforehand...” Shuhe processes her thoughts, arranging sentences in her head then starting all over again. Her throat starts feeling tight and her eyes are sensitive. Jessica studies her face.
“Anything you say won’t make me run away, unless you’re a serial killer.” They chuckle. “You can take your time.” Jessica pats her arm gently.
“I want you to know that when it comes to… being intimate. We need to go slow because… I-” Tears fall down her face as her body tenses up. “Years ago, I was waiting to meet up with Shaopeng and this… guy, he took me to an alleyway And…” She bites her lip hard but forces herself to say the words anyway. “He was touching me, ripping my shirt off, trying to unbuckle my jeans. I just kept kicking, scratching, screaming, it felt like no one would ever come.”
Jessica sniffles, trying to stay strong in front of her.
“By the time Shaopeng came, my zipper was open and… I just remember being so grateful that I wore pants that day. But then I was so… angry at Shaopeng. Why did he come so late? I screamed and cried till my throat was sore. All I could do was hit him. I-” She collects herself. “That guy ran off, and I never saw him again. But I never walk down that street anymore.” Shuhe lets out a heavy sigh then Jessica pulls her into a tight hug.
After a moment, Jessica pushes her back to lock eyes with her. “Let’s go to the station, right now. My dad has some buddies in the police force. Or better yet some mafia gangsters can break his ankles. We can hunt down that worthless piece of-”
“No no, you don’t have to do that. It was years ago. I doubt we would find him. He was just some street rat.”
Jessica lifts Shuhe’s head with a sigh. “Fine. If you don’t want that then I’ll help you forget him. You don’t think about him or give him the time of day. He’s worse than trash, just a waste of molecules in space. You hear me Song Shuhe?!”
Shuhe sobs uncontrollably as she hides her face in Jessica’s shoulder. Jessica pats Shuhe’s head to soothe her, keeping her eyes up to stifle her own tears. They hug for a while till Shuhe has no more tears left to cry for her past innocence. She sits up wiping her face.
“Thank you,” she says in a small voice. “I’m sorry for crying so much.”
“It’s ok. I want to be someone you can cry in front of.”
“You are. And I wanted you to know this because you’re really important to me. Zheng Yunong… will you be my girlfriend?”
Jessica gives a big smile and hugs Shuhe again.
“I already am.” She pushes back suddenly. “But I wanted to be the one to ask you first.” Her pouting makes Shuhe laugh.
“Will you be my girlfriend, Song Shuhe?”
“Of course, I will.” They smile at each other.
Shuhe feels a heavy weight lift off her mind and shoulders. This unspoken trauma that still needs more time to heal doesn’t feel like a burden she has to bear alone. Everything feels free and light. Afterwards, they each take their own long, hot shower, thinking about what took place and the newfound happiness. They cuddle on the warm bed, sleeping blissfully in each other’s arms.
As daylight seeps through the windows, Shuhe tries to get up from bed, but Jessica holds onto her tightly complaining about being cold.
“Since we are officially girlfriends now, it is part of your duty to keep me warm. Hm… maybe we should write up a new contract. I’ll tell assistant Lee to draft-”
There’s a moment of silence as Jessica is stunned. Shuhe kissed her on the lips. The quick action short circuits the brown-haired woman.
Finally, Shuhe speaks, “No more contracts. We can just talk it out normally.”
“Ahem. So, it will be a verbal agreement instead.”
“Well, true.”
“Let’s talk about this first.” Jessica pecks her on the lips. “Kissing is allowed now?”
Shuhe smiles uncontrollably. “Yes.”
“Do you prefer tongue or no tongue? Any biting?”
“Zheng Yunong! This is too dirty for the morning.”
“Well, it should be clear. Also, you seem to like my traditional name more than my English one.”
“I’m just used to saying it more than Jessica.”
“Hm… Jessica feels more personal to me though.” She pouts a little.
“Okay then I’ll call you that at least once a week when we’re alone.”
“Deal. That reminds me, who should we tell first, in what order, and what about the public? I don’t mind but we might have to endure my parents berating us about it.”
“Um…we can tell our friends and family. I’ll tell Shaopeng in person later when we get back.”
“Hah, I wonder what the look on Zixiang’s face will be when he learns that I found someone so I’m not some jealous ex-fiancée in his past.” Jessica sulks.
Shuhe cups the side of her face, “I’m sure he’ll be very surprised. Come on, let’s go eat.”
“I’m supposed to be his friend you know, he still owes me for that.”
Shuhe drags her out of bed to the bathroom so they can freshen up. They cuddle on the couch while browsing the breakfast menu then place in an order. By the time they finish up it’s already the afternoon, so they head over to a park to soak up some sun. Jessica holds her hand and it feels a little awkward to Shuhe. She hasn’t held hands with someone in a long time, but Jessica’s confidence is contagious. The world looks so different, brighter, now that they made it official. After hanging out for an hour, Shuhe finds a nearby arcade and library they could visit. They play games at the arcade: racing competitively, watching each other’s backs in a shooting game, and Jessica becomes frustrated at a crane game.
“UGH! I’ll pay one of the managers to open this stupid machine and grab my prize. No, I’ll buy this whole building, so I own all of the games.” She starts to walk off.
“But it’s not as fun as winning it by yourself! It’s part of the experience.” Shuhe counters with.
Jessica stops then slowly turns around and tries the game again. She still doesn’t win anything after ten more tries, and Shuhe pulls her away to play something else. They exhaust all the games then head over to the library nearby. Shuhe chooses a light-hearted fantasy novel while Jessica reads a book in English about finances. Shuhe eventually intervenes and guides her to choose something less studious. It ends up being a memoir about a woman who overcame hardships and created her own successful business. They end up purchasing their books which starts a shopping spree with Jessica leading the charge. They browse through accessories, clothes, shoes, purses, tablets and more. Shuhe implores Jessica to not purchase any of the items she had interest in but before they leave each store, the tall woman orders the staff to send them to her apartment.
Finally deciding they had enough, they head back to the hotel to eat dinner. They dress up in some of the new clothes they bought with Jessica in a long sleeved, dark purple dress and Shuhe wearing a flowy, black cocktail dress. The dinner is a meticulously seared steak paired with roasted potatoes, vegetables and a dry, red wine. Their eyes light up at the first bite and the rest of the food is swiftly consumed. They talk a bit more in the adjacent bar then head up to the suite when feeling buzzed. Still having a good time, they find a trashy reality show to watch as they drink some more. They giggle and hold hands, making their way to the shoulder. Jessica gazes at Shuhe, feeling the liquid courage unlocking the gate of her desires. She kisses then starts making out with her. Shuhe follows along, slowly matching the rhythm and speed. She lies down on the couch with Jessica on top of her. They kiss for a minute with the taller woman making her way down to the neck, lightly caressing the curve of the torso. Shuhe lets out a small moan which causes Jessica to stop.
“Are you okay?”
Shuhe nods.
“If you’re uncomfortable at all, you have to tell me.”
“I will.” Shuhe sits up to kiss her some more then stands up from the couch, leading her to the bedroom. Shuhe faces the other way, lifting her hair up so Jessica can unzip the dress. The brown-haired woman does so very slowly, admiring the back and hips that are being unveiled. The dress falls to the floor and Jessica back hugs Shuhe who turns around, wrapping her arms around Jessica’s neck.
“Let’s take it slow, okay?”
Jessica nods as Shuhe unzips her dress. The black-haired woman becomes fixated on the body in front of her, the softness of the chest, the bright and smooth skin, the slender legs. The taller woman lifts her head with smile then initiates another kiss.
Shuhe pulls away. “Wait, come with me.” She leads over to the bathtub, drawing warm water.
“A bath? Are you sure?”
Shuhe nods. “I’ve been wanting to take one ever since I saw it.”
As they wait for the water to rise, Jessica strokes Shuhe’s hair and arms. When the bath is ready, Jessica starts unhooking her bra causing her lover to turn away. The elegant woman continues, eventually sitting down in the tub.
“Ah, the water is perfect and this soap feels amazing. You should hop in.”
“… Can you look away first?”
“I’m not looking.” She turns her head to look at the frosted glass viewing the night sky.
After checking, Shuhe carefully undresses, covering herself while settling down into the tub. Jessica looks her straight in the eye and they stare for a minute.
“I’ll win this staring contest.”
“It’s not a contest; I’m enjoying the bath.” The shy one turns away.
“Can I hug you?
It takes her a moment, but Shuhe slowly moves towards her lover, then turns the other way so Jessica can cuddle from behind. She does so softly, wrapping arms around the stomach, allowing Shuhe to gently sink into her chest. They both relax in the warm water, watching the stars out the window. Shuhe rests her hands on Jessica’s, not worrying about her exposed breasts anymore. Jessica holds her more closely, kissing the neck again. The black-haired woman tilts her head to provide access, breathing a little heavier. Hands steadily move up, but Shuhe quickly covers herself.
“Shuhe… can I touch you? My eyes are closed. I don’t want to see; I just want to feel you. You can guide my hands. Is that ok?”
The shy woman nods slowly. She places hands on top of Jessica’s, moving them further towards her breasts. Jessica cups them, massaging, fingertips brushing over nipples.
“Mmm…” Shuhe lets out an involuntary moan.
Jessica continues with kisses and nibbles on the ear. Shuhe’s legs squirm as she feels heat rising between them. Everything feels so warm and it echoes in waves. She uses one of the hands enveloping her body to trace over her stomach, hips, then thigh. Suddenly, it’s harder for her to breathe. Trying to push through, she keeps the movement going then sits up quickly.
Breaking out of her own arousing spell, Jessica checks in, “Too much?”
“Maybe, I don’t know. It was hard to breathe.”
“I was getting breathless too.” She smiles. “Let’s wash up for bed.”
“I’m sorry, I wanted to keep going I-”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Slow and steady right? That was my first time doing something like that.” Jessica rests her chin on Shuhe’s shoulder. “We’ll make time to do this again. I do have a bathtub at home.” They giggle then help each other wash up and dry off. There’s an aura of serenity and complete comfort surrounding the two as they gaze at each other, lying on the soft mattress. They nestle into each other, falling asleep easily.
In the morning, they’re lazier than ever, waking up then falling back asleep after changing positions. Jessica’s ringtone wakes them up again though. It’s a call from her mother. She doesn’t answer but sends a generic text message. Sliding hair to the side, she gently wakes up her girlfriend with a kiss and shakes the shoulder. It takes a while, but they get up and order room service for brunch. They sit next to each other as they eat with Shuhe occasionally resting her head on Jessica out of tiredness. They watch the world go by for thirty minutes while they drink coffee to wake up. Today is checkout day and fortunately for them, Jessica’s status allows them to stay till 2pm. They gather all their belongings in the living room for the assistants to pick up after them then head downstairs to the car. All the way home, they hold hands while checking their phones for the mess of work they will have to face tomorrow. They arrive at Shuhe’s apartment first. Jessica insists that Shuhe stays over at the house, but she refuses. She needed to clean up and prepare for work the next day. Jessica pouts a bit to which Shuhe gives her a peck on the lips and promises to talk about moving in together another time.
They settle into their respective homes, reflecting on their mini staycation. It doesn’t take long for them to text each other again. While organizing emails, Shuhe has several packages arrive at her door, each containing items from their shopping spree. All she could do was laugh and find a proper place to put them.
Jessica sends a message. “Did everything arrive safely?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Of course, anything for my girlfriend.”
“Be careful, you might spoil me too much.”
“I’m fine with that. I have enough money to buy you whatever you want.”
“I should find the most expensive thing in the world then.”
“I’ll start saving up.” They both laugh.
Shuhe didn’t realize how hard it would be to fall asleep as she tosses in bed. Jessica is doing the same, eventually distracting herself with some work till she feels exhausted. Eventually, they video call to help each other get some rest.
The next morning, Shuhe falls back into her normal routine for work: washing up, making coffee, eating any leftover fruit she had, packing her bag, and getting dressed. During this, she receives a text from Jessica asking for help with which clothes she should wear to work and what Shuhe is wearing. It causes the busy woman to stop in her tracks. On her phone is a picture of her girlfriend holding up a hanger with business clothes in front of her body in the mirror. The surprising part is that Jessica is only wearing her pastel pink bra and underwear. Shuhe’s face turns red, trying to focus on the task being asked of her. She answers very plainly to which Jessica sends an annoyed face emoji. Having survived that interaction early in the morning, Shuhe makes her way to work.
It’s like any other day, even on a Friday, except that Shuhe’s phone keeps buzzing. And who is it from? None other than Zheng Yunong. She’s more clingy than usual today, texting about random thoughts and complaints about her subordinates. Shuhe answers once or twice out of the all the messages sent to her as she zones in on filling out documents on the computer. Soon, lunchtime arrives and everyone discusses what to eat. Before they could head out, they hear a large group of people enter the office space. Rustling plastic bags carry a delightful aroma with an array of dishes like stir-fried chicken over rice, delicately cooked fish, salads, sandwiches, and airy baked goods with coffees, smoothies, and juices. It’s like someone ordered a whole buffet for the office. The team of people dressed in black suits leave an opening for their boss to step through. Shuhe could guess who it is from the assistants alone. They are the ones who came to get her for the vacation and who arrived with their employer the day they came to set up an owed dinner.
Jessica reveals herself leading the front of the group, grinning devilishly.
“Good afternoon, everyone. This is a gift from me, Zheng Yunong. I have formed a very special contract with your team lead, Song Shuhe, so this is a cause for celebration. But nothing is free in this world of course. If you do eat any of this food, you are therefore agreeing to respect, listen to, and follow all orders given by Song Shuhe now and indefinitely. Any breach of this agreement means you forfeit your employment at this company.”
Whispers rise between Shuhe’s colleagues, making her turn slightly pink.
“Now that this is clear to you, enjoy your meal!”
The assistants lay out the food beautifully and people start digging in. Shuhe stares at Jessica, who isn’t afraid of eye contact. The embarrassed woman drags her girlfriend to a meeting room, closing the door and blinds.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought I would make a good impression with your coworkers and warn them not to mess with you. They will be seeing me often anyway. I didn’t know what you wanted to eat today so I brought several options.”
“Fine but a special contract?”
“Well, they don’t need to know the intricacies of our personal life but knowing that we are connected in some way is important information, especially with someone like me.”
“You really know how to make an entrance.”
“That’s the point of first impressions.”
“Just don’t come by every day, you’ll spoil them and people will start asking me about this special contract even more than they already will be.”
“I agree. I only want to spend money on you anyway.” Jessica grabs Shuhe’s waist, making her glance at the blinds.
“Hey, be careful. You shouldn’t be so touchy while we’re at work. You should focus on work more today and not text me.”
“Okay okay, I get it. I’ll calm down a bit. But I missed you.” Jessica pouts.
Shuhe falls for the trap, giving a quick peck on the lips. Jessica lights up giving multiple quick kisses.
Shuhe holds her back saying, “Alright, let’s go eat, I’m starving.”
“Me too. But let’s stay here. I want us to eat in peace.”
Shuhe nods and Jessica texts her subordinates to bring in some of the food and drinks into the meeting room. They have a nice long lunch with Shuhe sending off an unenthusiastic Jessica back to work. The day is quieter in terms of her phone buzzing but now Shuhe’s coworkers are buzzing with gossip and questions. She just hopes it’ll die down after a while. The next time Jessica wants to have lunch together, they meet up halfway and enjoy a nice meal. When they’re too busy, Jessica would send a care package of Shuhe’s order and some snacks for later, naturally becoming routine for the two women.
~~~~~~
After officially establishing their relationship, Jessica is excited to rub it into Zixiang’s face. So much so, that she arranges to have lunch at her place on the weekend, inviting Zixiang, Shaopeng, and Shuhe over. Shuhe arrives early, preparing her speech to Shaopeng while Jessica thinks of all the ways to gloat to Zixiang. When the boys ring the doorbell, Shuhe opens it, smiling at the sight of Shaopeng.
She lets them in, signing to Shaopeng, “How are you? Is everything going well?”
“Pretty much the same. Work has been good. Zixiang has been thinking about getting a cat,” he signed.
“You’re already trying to start a family with him?” She teases Zixiang.
“I just thought it would be nice to have one around. They’re low maintenance too.”
“They still need care and attention,” Shaopeng corrects him.
“Or he still needs care and attention,” Shuhe signs to her friend. They both laugh.
“Hey, I can understand that!”
“Good then maybe you’ll understand the amount of work it is for Shaopeng to take care of you!”
Shaopeng holds them back with a smile, shaking his head.
Shuhe composes herself. “Anyway, I’m glad everything is going well.”
“Is everything ok with you too?” He signs.
“Actually, things have been… really great. That’s kind of why Jessica invited us over.”
Shaopeng gives a questioning look.
“I’ll explain more later. I know you and Jessica aren’t on the best terms.”
“She did command me to break up with Zixiang because I can’t live in his world…” He raises his palms up in a frustrated shrug.
“She didn’t mean it like that. Her assets were on the line, and she was worried about me as a friend.” Zixiang tries to explain which his boyfriend replies with a sigh.
“Wait did she ever apologize to you?”
Shaopeng shakes his head no.
Shuhe turns towards the living room in annoyance, shouting, “Zheng Yunong!” with the boys following behind.
Jessica stands up from the couch with a confused expression.
“Why didn’t you apologize to Shaopeng?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you- You said something really hurtful to him at the promotional event so you should apologize. Even if you don’t like him, he’s your friend’s boyfriend and my best friend.”
“I know, I didn’t forget. Plus, what I said was true… mostly. They are living in two different worlds; they just figured out how to coexist… like us.” She wraps her arm around Shuhe who gives a scowl.
“Like us?” questioned Zixiang. “So, you two are like besties now?”
“More than that we are-”
“We aren’t anything till you apologize to Shaopeng.”
Jessica pouts, walking up to Shaopeng who seems annoyed as well.
“I. am. Sorry. For. Unsuccessfully. Breaking. You. Guys. Up.”
“And. I. am. Not. Sorry. For. Staying. With. Zixiang.” He signed back pointedly.
Jessica turns to Shuhe, “What did he say?”
“Um… apology accepted and he’s happy with Zixiang.” Zixiang nods his head in agreement to the interpretation. Shaopeng rolls his eyes at the words he could pick up from Shuhe.
“Well now that that is out of the way, the real reason I’ve invited you to this lunch is to divulge some news to the two of you.” The elegant woman looks over to her girlfriend, holding her hand. “Me and Shuhe are officially lovers as of a few days ago.” A proud smile spreads across her face.
Zixiang bursts into laughter while Shaopeng looks shocked and confused.
“Is this a joke?” He signed.
Shuhe pipes up, “No it’s… real. We are together. Like you and Zixiang.”
“You- How- When-” He starts and stops, unable to choose which question to ask first, then he turns to Zixiang who is recovering from his outburst. “You didn’t know!?”
“No! I swear! Despite being friends, Jessica doesn’t tell me everything.”
Shaopeng puffs out his cheeks, trying to process the news. Shuhe waves his attention, explaining how it all started with a dinner she owed her and how they bonded from similar situations.
Zixiang took his friend to the side.
“I thought you said you don’t fall in love.”
“Well, Shuhe taught me what it means, and she fits all the criteria for me. It took me some time to win her over too.”
“I get the feeling.”
They look over to their respective partners laughing together, one placing a hand on the other’s shoulder.
“I still don’t like them together.” Jessica mutters.
“You’ll get used to it eventually. They have past history, but I think they’ve moved on now.” He shows a slight smile.
“Sure, just keep your boyfriend on a tight reign and I’ll do the same with Shuhe.”
“Deal.” They shake hands, joining back together with their counterparts.
Jessica wraps around Shuhe’s arm. “With everything out the way, let’s eat.”
Everyone in agreement, they sit down at the large, glass dining table with fancy dishware to match. During the meal, Shaopeng wipes leftover sauce off the side of Zixiang’s mouth lovingly to which Jessica notices. She feeds Shuhe a piece of meat and places more food on her plate, causing Shuhe to give a look. Back and forth the dining room is filled with sweet gestures till the couples are full. They talk a bit more together about their daily lives, with Jessica bragging the most despite only being a girlfriend for a few days. Still, it’s worth it for her to see the shock on Zixiang’s face at her caring and loving attitude. Shaopeng and Shuhe roll their eyes at the boast, sharing a few comments back and forth without the other two noticing. Overall, it’s a successful lunch and the boys go back home to their routine plans while Shuhe and Jessica hang out more.
They watch shows on the couch eating dessert, talking about work and plans for dinner throughout the upcoming week. Looking over at Shuhe, Jessica smirks noting how cozy and happy she feels even during the mundane moments.
“I love you, Shuhe.”
Shuhe looks up with a smile. “I love you, too Jessica.”
They kiss each other lightly.
No matter how stressful the world can be, this right here, is their safe haven.