I opened the door with the brightest smile I could fake. "Good morning, Sisi."
Yun Si narrowed her eyes the moment she saw me. "Why did you take so long to open the door?"
"I was in the washroom," I lied smoothly.
She nodded slowly. My smile widened when she bought my lie. I was just about to invite her in when her gaze dropped to my lips. "Your lips.... why are they so red? And swollen?"
Because I kissed a lunatic, that's why.
On the outside, I merely blinked and said, "I ate spicy food."
"Mmm." She nodded slowly, clearly not convinced, and walked past me into the apartment. I bit my lips, watching her look all around my apartment with laser-focused eyes. I forced myself to breathe normally while my soul did push-ups in panic.
If she wandered even one step toward the washroom door, I would have to throw myself in front of her like a human shield. At the same time, I prayed even harder that the shameless creature hiding inside wouldn't decide to make a sound just to torture me.
Suddenly, Yun Si stopped and turned. My soul left my body. "W-What?"
"Are you alone in the house?"
Every alarm in my head started blaring. Was she onto me?! Did she figure it out? Was I caught?
I let out a small laugh. "What kind of question is that? Of course I'm alone."
"Really?"
"Really, really."
"Then explain," she said slowly, pointing towards something, "why there are two bowls on your dining table?"
I followed her gaze and mentally stabbed myself. Then I coughed lightly and flashed an awkward smile."Oh, that.... I… I got bored eating alone, so I put out a second bowl to pretend someone was eating with me. Emotional comfort. You know, loneliness therapy."
Yun Si stared at me like she was mentally diagnosing me with insanity. "Is that so?"
"Yes! Completely!" I nodded like a bobblehead. "It's quite a famous self-help therapy on the internet. You should give it a try."
"No, thank you," she shook her head, still looking around.
I clenched my fist nervously. "A-are you looking for something, Sisi?"
She narrowed her eyes and approached me. My heart pounded faster and faster, and I mentally told myself to stay calm. "Xiyu, why do I feel like you're lying to me and hiding something?"
"Hahaha—what would I hide? It's not like I brought a man home and shoved him into a corner somewhere… haha…"
Yun Si gave me a thin, terrifying smile. "You better not, or else...."
"Or else?"
"You don't want to know," she chuckled, but it sounded so evil.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I took a step back subconsciously. Yun Si might look like a soft, tall girl, but when she wanted to be, she could be quite terrifying.
I discreetly glanced toward the tightly shut washroom door, resisting the urge to wipe the sweat off my forehead. If she found out Su Ye was here, she wouldn't just break his legs—she would bury him alive, and I'd be buried next to him.
"So," I said quickly, steering the conversation away before she sniffed something out, "why did you come so early? Something urgent?"
Her expression softened. "Yes. The director called this morning."
My heartbeat paused. The director? Was it about the audition? I looked at her nervously, awaiting the result. She smiled widely and hugged me. "Congratulations, Xiyu. You got the role of the second female lead. It's official."
I froze. "I did?!"
"Yes!" she beamed. "We need to go to the set today. They're shooting the promotional photos."
I threw my arms around her, grinning. "Sisi, thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much! This is so great! I am finally going to shoot my first drama!"
She broke the hug and looked at me with a smile. "So happy?"
I nodded, as tears filled my eyes. This wasn't just a role. This was my new beginning, my first successful step up my dream ladder in this life.
She touched my head. "Go get ready. We have to leave soon."
I nodded eagerly and grabbed my clothes from the closet, feeling like the happiest person alive. But the moment I walked towards the closed washroom, I paused.
Crap!
How was I supposed to change when that shameless lunatic was still inside?
I couldn't change in front of Yun Si, but changing inside meant exposing myself to a flirting beast. What was I going to do now? Before I could think of a solution, I heard her speak.
"Xiyu? Why did you stop?"
"N-nothing," I replied and rushed inside the washroom.
Su Ye was leaning against the walls with his arms folded, like he had been waiting for a show to begin. When he saw the clothes in my arms, his lips formed a wicked smirk. "Here to take a mandarin duck bath with me, wife?"
"In your dreams," I snapped, hanging my clothes.
Just then, his fingers circled my wrist, and he pulled me closer. I fell on top of his chest. I almost screamed, but remembering there was a witness outside, I quickly clamped my mouth shut like a hostage.
"Are you crazy? Why did you pull me?" I whisper-hissed.
He leaned closer, his voice low and teasing. "Since our wedding night, you've been doing very naughty things to me in my dreams, wife…"
I stared at him. "Shut up, you pervert!"
He only pouted and pinched my waist. "Calling your husband a pervert this early in the morning… such a cruel wife."
My eyes widened, and a strange current passed straight through my body. T-this.... this shameless man! My cheeks burned, partly from anger and partly from embarrassment. "Stop touching me, you pervert!"
"And move, I need to change," I added, glaring at him.
Instead of moving, he smiled and said softly, "Congratulations on getting the role."
That caught me off guard. The sincerity in his tone was unexpected. "Thank you," I muttered, feeling weirdly strange and warm in my heart.
His gaze went back to the clothes on the rack. "So," he asked innocently, "are you planning to change here?"
"Do I look like I have another choice?"
"Need my help?" he offered, looking far too happy.
That was it.
Before I could overthink it, I stomped on his foot.
"Ugh—!" A loud groan escaped his mouth, as he bent forward slightly, clutching his ankle. Seeing him in pain, I snorted coldly, "You deserve it."
However, my happiness didn't last long, as just then, Yun Si's voice came from outside the door. "Xiyu? What was that sound? Are you okay?"