After Being Bent by Reader

Xu Chuanchuan didn't put too much thought into Murong Shi's condition. After returning her chair to her cubicle, she made her way to Linda's office and found the medication Linda mentioned.

Knock, knock, knock—

"Come in."

Xu Chuanchuan walked with care for fear of spilling the cup of granules as she entered the general manager's office. Before she could state her purpose of visiting, Murong Shi got ahead of her and asked, "Why is it you?"

I know, right? Why must it be me? Why is my luck so bad to get singled out on my way back?

The curtains in the room were unfolded, and they blocked all sunlight from entering the room. Unable to get a clear look at Murong Shi's face because of the darkness, Xu Chuanchuan forced a smile and said, "Linda told me you hadn't taken your medication yet, and she asked me to bring you a cup of water."

Murong Shi blandly responded, "I see. Set it down first, thank you."

Xu Chuanchuan did as told and set the cup and medicine on Murong Shi's desk. Noticing that Murong Shi was focused on her computer, Xu Chuanchuan reminded, "It's best to take your medicine on time. Otherwise, how will you get better quickly?"

The sound of keystrokes stopped.

Murong Shi turned her gaze away from the computer and toward Xu Chuanchuan. She then quietly observed the latter without any expression on her face.

Perhaps because Murong Shi was ill, Xu Chuanchuan felt that Murong Shi's gaze felt much less intrusive than before. Murong Shi's eyes also appeared a little bloodshot. Maybe it was because she lacked sleep?

Xu Chuanchuan forgot to turn her gaze away momentarily. After taking a close-up look, she discovered that Murong Shi wasn't wearing makeup today.

Not only did Murong Shi let her hair down today, but she also wasn't wearing makeup. This was different from Murong Shi's usual style. Maybe her illness had deprived her of her motivation to dress up.

However, because of Murong Shi's lack of makeup, Xu Chuanchuan got the opportunity to see Murong Shi's true beauty.

Murong Shi's parents had given her near-perfect facial features. Even an illness was incapable of depriving her of her beauty. Not only did she not look weak, but she looked even more charming than usual. A woman like Murong Shi would appear dazzling no matter where she went, and Xu Chuanchuan couldn't help but blankly stare at her.

"Pass me the cup," Murong Shi said, breaking the silence.

Xu Chuanchuan came to her senses and realized how presumptuous she behaved before. She then lowered her head in a hurry and handed the cup of granules over to Murong Shi. When passing the cup, she accidentally touched Murong Shi's hand. Unlike the last time she had skin contact with the other party, Murong Shi's hand felt slightly hot this time.

Xu Chuanchuan withdrew her hand quickly.

The granules had high sucrose content, and Murong Shi frowned after drinking it.

Going the extra mile, Xu Chuanchuan pushed the bag of medicine to Murong Shi and said, "Here are the medicines."

Murong Shi grabbed a few pills, popped them into her mouth, and swallowed them.

Xu Chuanchuan couldn't help but gape in shock when she saw Murong Shi taking her medicine as if she was eating milk bites. "Y-You're taking them dry? Should I pour you another cup of water?"

Actually, Xu Chuanchuan also wanted to ask, "Were they tasty?" but lacked the courage to do so.

In response to Xu Chuanchuan's inquiry, Murong Shi shook her head and said, "No need, thank you. You can head back to work now."

"Oh, okay." Not used to Murong Shi thanking her, Xu Chuanchuan grabbed the empty cup and turned to leave the room.

"Wait." Murong Shi suddenly called out.

"Do you have any other orders?"

When Xu Chuanchuan turned around, she saw Murong Shi leaned back against her chair and subconsciously twirling a pen in her hand. Murong Shi's current appearance was the epitome of casual.

If Xu Chuanchuan hadn't seen Murong Shi taking medicine with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed that the person before her was sick.

One of them was standing while the other was sitting. There was also a desk and a computer in between them. Xu Chuanchuan felt a little uncomfortable to have Murong Shi staring at her, and she couldn't help but have the illusion that her boss was currently criticizing her.

Xu Chuanchuan began to grow nervous. She knew that she wasn't suited to working in this company for long.

Fortunately, Murong Shi was still considerably benevolent. Sitting upright again, Murong Shi asked, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"

"What did you say?" Xu Chuanchuan had lost focus for a moment and missed Murong Shi's words. When she finished her question, she began worrying that Murong Shi would get angry at her.

However, contrary to Xu Chuanchuan's expectations, Murong Shi calmly repeated, "I'm asking you if you've ever been in a relationship before."

Xu Chuanchuan heard Murong Shi's words loud and clear this time, and she couldn't help but be shocked.

Murong Shi is asking me about my love affairs? She...couldn't have taken the wrong medicine, right?

Murong Shi definitely wasn't the type of person to care about her subordinates' love affairs. She should also dislike talking about nonsense. So, Xu Chuanchuan felt that Murong Shi's question must have a deeper meaning to it.

But what's her real goal?

This was something Xu Chuanchuan couldn't figure out at the moment. She wasn't an expert in speculating the thoughts of others. She also didn't dare scheme in front of Murong Shi. Hence, Xu Chuanchuan honestly said, "I have not..."

Murong Shi did not reveal any expressions on her face. Her alluring eyes only twitched slightly. She then said casually, "Alright. You may take your leave."

"..." Xu Chuanchuan walked away feeling confused.

…

On Friday night, Xu Xiangxiang arrived at Xu Chuanchuan's house. Upon entering the house, the first thing she had to say was, "Sis, your house is so big!"

Xu Chuanchuan's family lived in a tube-shaped apartment[1] located in a county seat. The house had three bedrooms and one living room. With five people living under the same roof, the living condition there was cramped. In the past, Xu Chuanchuan used to share a room with Xu Xiangxiang.

Compared to their family home, the house Xu Chuanchuan currently rented was a self-built house erected by a local. Because of the cheap rent, Xu Chuanchuan rented the entire first floor to herself, so she had a very spacious living room and bedroom all to herself.

After seeing Xu Chuanchuan's home, Xu Xiangxiang couldn't help but lament over her future.

Seeing the look of envy on Xu Xiangxiang's face, Xu Chuanchuan consoled, "You'll get to live in such a big house in the future as well."

The negative emotions in her eyes dissipated, Xu Xiangxiang said weakly, "Yeah, right. I still have three years before I graduate. Even after I graduate, I can't guarantee I'll have the money to buy a house."

Xu Chuanchuan had relied on her writing to earn a fortune, and she planned to use it to buy a spacious home for herself in the future. However, she dared not reveal it to Xu Xiangxiang for fear that her little sister would ask where she got the money.

I'll deal with it when the time comes.

With a second person in the house, Xu Chuanchuan dared not write in the open.

Xu Xiangxiang used Xu Chuanchuan's desktop PC to play games, the keyboard and mouse generating clicking sounds nonstop. While playing her game, Xu Xiangxiang complained, "Sis, your PC is too old. It's so laggy that I can't even grind mobs."

"Are you gaming as well?"

Xu Xiangxiang suddenly sidled up to Xu Chuanchuan, giving her a scare. Xu Chuanchuan then guiltily turned off her phone's screen.

Finding her elder sister's reaction strange, Xu Xiangxiang asked, "Did you get into a relationship? Were you chatting with your boyfriend just now?"

Fortunately, Xu Xiangxiang didn't see anything.

After composing herself, Xu Chuanchuan said, "Stop blindly guessing. Your elder sister is the same as you. I'm still single until now."

Xu Xiangxiang clicked her tongue and said, "Who's the same as you? You're six years older than me. You're old already."

Sending Xu Xiangxiang a glare, Xu Chuanchuan said, "Any more nonsense, and you're sleeping on the floor tonight."

"No~ I want to sleep on this big bed~" Xu Xiangxiang said as she threw herself onto the bed and spread out her limbs, occupying almost the entire bed.

Xu Chuanchuan sent a heavy smack on Xu Xiangxiang's bum and said, "Where am I supposed to sleep if you sleep like that?"

Xu Xiangxiang turned around with a grin. While rubbing her aching butt, she asked, "Sis, why won't you start a relationship?"

This question put Xu Chuanchuan in a bind.

Why wouldn't she?

When Xu Chuanchuan was still attending university, she had joined her school's student union. Back then, she had liked a senior in the union who was friendly and good at singing. The senior in question also happened to be interested in her, and he confessed to her on QQ.

If anyone else were to receive a confession from the person they liked, they would lose sleep out of joy. In reality, Xu Chuanchuan had also suffered from insomnia that night. However, it wasn't because of happiness, but anxiety instead.

She couldn't bring herself to imagine how she should get along with her senior after she agreed to his confession. While she could accept shopping, eating, and doing daily activities together, she inexplicably grew afraid when she thought about how they might have to hold hands, hug, and kiss.

In the end, she rejected her senior and withdrew from the student union. They then lost connection with each other afterward.

Failing to think up a convincing answer, Xu Chuanchuan vaguely said, "The timing isn't right. I don't want to talk about this."

Xu Xiangxiang snorted and said, "Timing? Don't tell me you're still waiting for Prince Charming to find you? I'll tell you now that there aren't many good men left. If you don't take the initiative to find one, eventually you'll—Hey, I haven't finished!"

Xu Chuanchuan fled into the bathroom.

Xu Chuanchuan normally bathed quickly, but she was a little absent-minded this time and spent a lot longer in the shower.

Within one week, two people had asked her about her love affairs. First, it was Murong Shi. Next, it was Xu Xiangxiang. Suddenly, Xu Chuanchuan came to realize how much of an urgent matter it was for a 25-year-old to be still inexperienced in love.

Xu Chuanchuan didn't escape to the bathroom because she found Xu Xiangxiang's nagging to be annoying. She simply found herself at a loss all of a sudden.

She had always liked men. There was no need to doubt this point, as she had once had a crush on a boy. Her favorite idol was also male. Yet, she never once fantasized about falling in love with any of them for some strange reason.

By the time Xu Chuanchuan got out of the bath, Xu Xiangxiang had already fallen asleep.

Xu Chuanchuan walked over and moved her little sister's spread limbs aside. She then sat on the bedside, grabbed her phone, and sent a message to Ange.

Xu Chuanchuan: "I just found out today that I'm subconsciously rejecting the notion of falling in love with a man. Do you think I have a love phobia?"

Ange: "Phobia? Have you ever had any unpleasant love experiences?"

Xu Chuanchuan: "I've never even been in a relationship before."

Ange: "If you've never experienced love before, where will your phobia come from?"

Xu Chuanchuan: "What kind of situation am I in, then? Could it be a psychological disorder?"

Although Ange wasn't a psychologist, she had much more experience dealing with love than Xu Chuanchuan.

Four years ago, when Xu Chuanchuan had a dilemma with her writing, Ange was the one who guided her onto the path of no return known as yuri novels. Hence, this time, she hoped that Ange could similarly dispel the dark clouds hindering her eyes.

Ange: "Have you ever thought of the possibility that you might be recessively homosexual?"

TL Notes:

[1]tube-shaped apartment:

The so-called tube-shaped apartment building is a building with a corridor running through the main structure with rooms on both sides of it.

Image link: https://bit.ly/39fenuP