Chapter 42: A Sudden Knock and the Shock of Cohabitation

Bai Mengqi was joyfully immersed in the pleasure of trying on clothes.

In the room she shared with Zi Yanran, various garments lay scattered across the bed. She picked up a dress, holding it against herself, and struck playful poses in front of the mirror.

A moment later, she changed into an elegant blouse, pairing it with different accessories. She hummed a cheerful tune under her breath, a picture of pure delight.

However, a sudden knock at the door, like a clap of thunder, abruptly pulled her from her ecstatic state without warning.

She froze instantly, the jacket she had been about to put on suspended mid-air in her hands.

After a moment of shock, her first thought was that it was most likely Wang Lei knocking at such an hour.

Calming herself slightly, she swept her divine sense outwards, instantly confirming that the person outside was indeed Wang Lei.

At this, she panicked, as if caught red-handed in a guilty act. She hastily stripped off the clothes she had just been trying on, fumbling to toss them aside with movements so quick they created a small gust of wind.

She then hurried Zi Yanran to open the door while she paced back and forth in the room, attempting to calm her racing heart.

Zi Yanran watched Bai Mengqi’s frantic scramble, finding it both amusing and exasperating.

She shook her head helplessly, thinking how Bai Mengqi always became so flustered whenever Wang Lei arrived—it was truly quite entertaining.

However, she said nothing more, merely sighing softly before unhurriedly approaching the main door and opening it.

The moment Wang Lei saw Zi Yanran, he greeted her with a cheerful laugh. “Sister-in-law, you’ve moved in so quickly!”

His eyes, however, held a hint of curiosity, as he was quite surprised by the rapid development of their relationship. In his impression, they had only just met a short while ago, so how had they ended up cohabiting so soon? This speed genuinely left him speechless.

Zi Yanran offered a faint smile, a blossom as elegant and charming as a spring flower.

She responded softly, “Yes, Brother Wang. Please come in.”

With that, she stepped aside, gracefully gesturing for Wang Lei to enter the house.

Wang Lei strode in, and the moment he entered, his gaze was drawn to the living room’s decor.

The living room was arranged to be both cozy and tasteful, with soft throw pillows adorning the sofa. Their patterns were perfectly matched, making one yearn to lean back and experience their comfort.

Several pots of fresh flowers graced the coffee table, their vibrant blossoms exuding a faint fragrance that permeated the entire living room, as if infusing the air with a sweet aroma.

Exquisite paintings adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of exceptional comfort, as if one had stepped into a dreamlike, cozy haven.

“Oh my! I never imagined my foolish brother would be living such a happy and blissful life right after graduation,” Wang Lei exclaimed, a mix of envy for his friend and a glimmer of hope for his own future evident in his words.

He spoke while slowly pacing the living room, his gaze constantly sweeping around, seemingly wanting to etch this heartwarming scene deeply into his memory.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Bai Mengqi’s voice echoed from the room.

“Go on, stop teasing me. Some things are fate, and fate isn’t something you can force.”

Bai Mengqi emerged from the room, a touch of embarrassment on her face, seemingly still self-conscious about trying on clothes moments before.

Wang Lei’s expression remained one of wonder.

“Ah! Well, you two certainly developed quickly. Didn’t you say it was a one-night stand? How did you end up cohabiting? It feels a bit unbelievable,” Wang Lei said. He wasn’t foolish; he simply found their relationship too abrupt.

He furrowed his brows, his eyes filled with doubt, as he scanned Zi Yanran and Bai Mengqi’s faces, trying to find answers in their expressions.

This question left both Zi Yanran and Bai Mengqi at a loss for words.

They exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of helplessness in the other’s eyes. Their relationship was indeed complex, not something that could be explained in a few sentences.

Only they truly understood the myriad reasons and past events, yet how could they easily voice them?

But Zi Yanran’s next remark left Wang Lei stunned once more.

“Heh, you call this fast? I’m afraid that one day, this guy and I might suddenly get married, and then you’d be even more caught off guard,” Zi Yanran said with a laugh.

Her tone held a hint of teasing, but her eyes conveyed a seriousness, as if marriage was already a definite plan in her mind.

“Huh? You’ve reached that stage? Talking about marriage?” Wang Lei was dumbfounded.

He had never imagined their relationship would progress to such an extent.

Zi Yanran had never discussed this with Bai Mengqi, so Bai Mengqi was equally unprepared.

‘Marriage? Are you kidding me? How can two women get married? Is that even possible?’ Bai Mengqi exclaimed inwardly.

Innumerable thoughts flashed through her mind. In her previous understanding, two women marrying was a very rare, even unlikely, event. Why would Zi Yanran suddenly say such a thing?

“It’s only a matter of time. When it happens, Brother Wang, you must come to our wedding feast. Being a groomsman would work too,” Zi Yanran chuckled.

Her smile remained radiant, as if marriage posed no difficulty for her; if she wanted it, she could certainly achieve it. Her confidence and nonchalance secretly impressed Wang Lei.

Wang Lei nodded.

“Absolutely, absolutely. Alright, I won’t disturb you two any longer. I’ll head back now.”

Wang Lei didn’t linger, feeling he was already intruding on them enough.

So, after a brief farewell, he turned and departed.

Once Wang Lei had left, Bai Mengqi immediately asked, “Hey, marriage? Can the two of us get married?”

Her eyes held a hint of worry; in her perception, two women marrying was indeed a very rare, even unlikely, occurrence. Her brows furrowed slightly, her face etched with a touch of confusion.

Zi Yanran remained unperturbed. “Why not? As long as we’re thick-skinned enough, who can interfere with us?”

Her tone was light, as if marriage were a trivial matter. This was true; in this world, with enough courage and determination, many seemingly impossible things could become reality.

Bai Mengqi fell into thought after hearing Zi Yanran’s words. She didn’t know what the future held, but at this moment, she greatly enjoyed her free days with Zi Yanran.

“Come on, let’s go take a bath,” Zi Yanran said, pulling the dazed Bai Mengqi back to their room.

Her movements were natural, as if she were accustomed to doing such things daily.

“Huh? A bath? If you want to bathe, go ahead, why are you pulling me?” Bai Mengqi was puzzled.

She was caught off guard by Zi Yanran’s sudden action, her mind still replaying the conversation about marriage. She hadn’t immediately grasped Zi Yanran’s meaning.

Zi Yanran gave her a beautiful, exasperated eye-roll.

“Well, of course we’re bathing together.”

Her tone carried a hint of chiding, as if to say Bai Mengqi was being utterly clueless.

Upon hearing this, Bai Mengqi let out a resounding “Ah!”

“This? I—” She stammered.

Her face instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe apple, and her heart pounded like a tiny rabbit trapped in her chest.