After Being Bent by Reader

Although Ange thought of making small talk with Fang Qin while waiting for the food to arrive, she quickly dismissed the thought as she found it too embarrassing to do so. Instead, she lowered her head and fiddled with her phone. When she unlocked her phone, though, she saw that she had an unread message on QQ, so she clicked on it.

Xu Chuanchuan: "The girl you introduced me to draws so quickly! She finished drawing what I asked in just two days! [Image][Image]"

Ange: "Not bad. The chibi versions look quite good. What are the objects next to them, though?"

Xu Chuanchuan: "It's an overturned jar of vinegar. There's even the word 'Vinegar' written on it. Don't you see it?"[1]

At Xu Chuanchuan's mention, Ange also noticed the word on the jar. Then, she absent-mindedly replied: "I see it now. Why did you have her draw this?"

Xu Chuanchuan: "Just for fun."

"..." Ange failed to get the point at all.

Xu Chuanchuan: "Did you just wake up?"

Ange: "I woke up long ago. I'm just about to have lunch."

Xu Chuanchuan: "Oh, in that case, you can go eat first."

Ange looked up and noticed that the person seated across her was also playing with her phone. There was no visual communication or verbal communication. In such an awkward atmosphere, just how were they supposed to enjoy their meal?

Then, a thought coming to her mind, Ange quickly typed out a question: "Let me ask you something. I'm currently dining with someone who is practically a stranger to me. What should I talk about in such a situation?"

Xu Chuanchuan: "Just talk casually."

Ange: "...Forget I ever asked."

Xu Chuanchuan: "Since the other party is a stranger, why are you dining with them? This isn't like you. Don't tell me your family forced you into a blind date with a man???"

One of the disadvantages of conversing with a novel author was that casual conversation could lead to a huge misunderstanding because of the other party's extraordinary imagination.

Ange could thoroughly understand how her friend came to such a conclusion. However, she also couldn't help but be frustrated by this situation. "It's not a blind date. [Sweat] Whatever, just forget I ever asked and go back to your Murong."

…

On the other side, Xu Chuanchuan couldn't help but be confused as she looked at her phone.

Did I say something wrong? Why does Ange sound a little irritable today? Xu Chuanchuan wondered.

Meanwhile, after feeding the fish, Murong Shi saw Xu Chuanchuan's dazed look, so she asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"It's nothing." Xu Chuanchuan shrugged. "What 's that in your hand?"

There was a gray bag that looked a little dirty in Murong Shi's left hand. Holding up the bag for Xu Chuanchuan, Murong Shi said, "It's a delivery for you."

"It arrived so quickly?!" Xu Chuanchuan's eyes lit up, and she extended a hand to grab the bag.

However, Murong Shi moved the package out of the way and asked, "What did you buy?"

While giggling, Xu Chuanchuan said, "It's that black cat costume I told you about. It's very sexy, and I promise you'll look good in it."

"You actually bought it?" Murong Shi asked, feeling slightly surprised.

Xu Chuanchuan snatched the package away while Murong Shi's attention lapsed. Then, she swiftly tore open the package and took out the clothing inside. "My god—"

This could no longer be considered clothing. The top part of the costume was basically just two patches of fabric connected by a few straps. As for the bottom part, it was even simpler: it was basically a thong.

The costume in front of her was completely different from the one she saw online. Xu Chuanchuan couldn't help but be baffled as she realized that she had spent nearly 100 yuan for just three pieces of palm-sized loincloth. "Did I buy the wrong one?"

"Refund it, then," Murong Shi urged.

Refund? Dream on. Xu Chuanchuan inwardly sneered at Murong Shi's attempt.

Although Xu Chuanchuan felt deceived, after thinking it over again, she realized that the less fabric there was, the sexier the costume would be. Then, seemingly gaining x-ray vision, Xu Chuanchuan began fearlessly scrutinizing Murong Shi from top to bottom while joyfully saying, "I can't wait to see how you look like wearing this. It'll be spectacular."

After wiping the drool leaking out of her lover's mouth, Murong Shi calmly asked, "Do you really want to see me wearing it that badly?"

Xu Chuanchuan frankly nodded.

"Don't tell me you're thinking of having me wear it tonight?"

"Tonight is no good. I haven't washed it yet," Xu Chuanchuan said. Then, with unsuppressed excitement in her eyes, she continued, "It'll be more interesting if you wear it on your birthday."

"How will that be interesting?"

"You've never dressed like this for your birthday, right?"

The corners of Murong Shi's mouth twitched when she heard Xu Chuanchuan's question. Then, she stated, "I've always celebrated my birthday with my parents in the past."

"See?" In a solemn tone, Xu Chuanchuan said, "This is going to be the first time you wear such a sexy dress for your birthday. It'll be a significant event!"

Murong Shi pondered for a moment before touching the two-piece costume. Then, wearing a complicated expression, she said, "There's fur on these."

"Cats have fur, so, of course, these things have it as well," Xu Chuanchuan said. Then, she pulled out two more items from the plastic bag and enthusiastically said, "Not only that, but cats also have ears and a tail~"

"..." Murong Shi got goosebumps all over when she saw the furry ears and tail. While resisting her discomfort, she gently scratched Xu Chuanchuan's chin with a finger and revealed an inexplicable smile as she said, "Since you like it so much, I'll fulfill your wish."

"I'll go wash them first." Xu Chuanchuan happily ran out of her room. However, she suddenly felt that something was amiss.

If Murong detests furry things so much, why would she compromise so easily? Moreover, the way she scratched my chin just now was as if she was teasing a cat!

The more Xu Chuanchuan thought about it, the more horrified she became. So, she ran back to the room and asked, "Don't tell me you're thinking of making me wear it?"

In response, Murong Shi gently rubbed Xu Chuanchuan's head and put on a gentle smile, saying, "If I say I will wear it, then I will wear it."

Xu Chuanchuan felt relieved after hearing these words.

...

There were only a few days left until Murong Shi's birthday, so Xu Chuanchuan asked her if she wanted to invite some friends over to celebrate.

After pondering for a moment, Murong Shi said, "My family usually celebrates my lunar birthday instead, so we can invite Little Yan, Xiangxiang, and Fang Qin for that occasion. As for the solar one, we can spend it by ourselves."

This was a good idea. If it was only the two of them, then it would be more convenient for Murong Shi to wear that cat costume.

"Look at that lecherous smile of yours. Are you planning something naughty again?" Murong Shi said, gently pulling on Xu Chuanchuan's cheeks.

Xu Chuanchuan naturally wouldn't tell Murong Shi the wonderful fantasies she was having. Afterward, she retracted her smile and changed the topic, saying, "They should be dry now. I'll go collect them."

Murong Shi also stood up and followed after Xu Chuanchuan.

Noticing Murong Shi's actions, Xu Chuanchuan turned around and asked, "Why are you following me?"

"Can you reach them?" Murong Shi nonchalantly asked.

Then, Xu Chuanchuan looked at her short and small hands. "..."

...

Xu Chuanchuan faced a lot of pressure writing without any backlog to rely on. She had to rush her writing every night, so Murong Shi became responsible for household chores.

However, Murong Shi disliked doing chores, so she bought a cleaning robot and let it slowly move about in the room. While the robot was vacuuming the floor, she would use this time to take a shower.

Because of her bad back, Xu Chuanchuan stood up to move around after writing for an hour. When she saw the round robot stuck in the gap between the wardrobe and the dressing table, she walked over to "rescue" it from its predicament.

Afterward, the cleaning robot continued to work diligently. Xu Chuanchuan planned to rest for ten minutes, so she laid down on the bed and did some stretches. While doing so, she caught a glimpse of a flashing light coming from her charging phone, so she walked over and unlocked it.

Ange: "I'm annoyed."

Xu Chuanchuan: "What's annoying you?"

Ange: "I don't want to write, I don't want to move, I don't want to do anything."

Xu Chuanchuan: "Ditto!"

Ange: "Are you done writing? Chat with me for a while if you're done."

Xu Chuanchuan: "Not yet; I'm just halfway done."

Ange: "Nevermind, then. Continue with your work."

Recalling the previous conversation they had, Xu Chuanchuan felt that Ange had been behaving strangely recently. "Ange, did something happen to you recently?"

Ange: "Nothing. I'm just feeling annoyed."

Xu Chuanchuan: "Is it writer's block? Is the cake business not going well? Is your period here? Or...are you thinking about love?"

After waiting for several minutes...

Ange: "I'm fine now. Just go back to your writing."

Just like that???

…

Fang Qin only remembered about her little cuties two days after returning from her business trip. So, she invited Murong Shi and Xu Chuanchuan out for lunch and exchanged their goods at the restaurant.

Holding up the fish tank, Xu Chuanchuan said, "I just changed the water yesterday. We also fed them every day. Don't you feel that they've grown bigger?"

There was no way thumb-sized fish could grow larger in just a few days. However, Fang Qin tactfully smiled and said, "Mhm, they did. Thank you."

"You're welcome, you're welcome."

"Here, I bought these for you," Fang Qin said as she handed the souvenir she bought.

"What's this? Walnut cakes?"

"Mhm. I bought some for you since you seem to like them," Fang Qin said, smiling.

Xu Chuanchuan did not doubt Fang Qin's words. Her stomach also grumbled when she saw the walnut cakes, so she eagerly opened a box to share them with everyone.

Fang Qin politely refused.

Murong Shi didn't take any, either. Instead, she looked at the person seated across her and asked, "Did you go to Shanghai again?"

Fang Qin's smile stiffened. Then, looking at Murong Shi as if she were looking at a ghost, she asked, "How did you know?!"

While chewing on a walnut cake, Xu Chuanchuan said, "Everyone knows about it. You shared your address on your WeChat Moments."

"..." Fang Qin had forgotten about that detail.

Locking her eyes on Fang Qin's face, Murong SHi asked, "Your complexion looks ruddy today."

Rolling her eyes, Fang Qin said, "I put on makeup, alright?"

"You seem to be in a good mood as well. Did you have a happy encounter recently?" Murong Shi casually asked.

Fang Qin, however, grew wary. After letting her eyes wander a bit, she said, "Does getting a pay raise count?"

Smiling, Murong Shi said, "Since you got a raise, this meal is on you."

"No problem."

Partway through the meal, Murong Shi went to the restroom by herself. Seeing this, Fang Qin switched seats and sat beside Xu Chuanchuan. Then, she said, "Chuanchuan, I want to ask you something."

Xu Chuanchuan's cheeks were currently stuffed with food. Looking at Fang Qin with a confused look, she asked, "What's the matter?"

After looking around, Fang Qin leaned into Xu Chuanchuan's ear and whispered, "It's about Tang Xin..."

TL Notes:

[1]vinegar: In Chinese, the character 醋(cù, vinegar) is part of the term 吃醋(chī cù, jealousy). So, vinegar is often used to represent a person's jealousy.