After returning home, neither of them spoke. An almost palpable awkwardness filled the air. Su Luowei couldn't stand this kind of tension. She quickly said, "I'm going to take a shower," before escaping into the bathroom.
The rain, which had paused briefly, began again, softly pattering down in the humid night, adding to the restlessness in her heart.
She stared at her forearm, where the sensation of Meng Shuying's touch still lingered. She glanced at that spot, then up at the reflection in the mirror.
Her hair, damp from the rain, clung to her cheeks. The contrast of dark hair against her pale skin gave her a fragile, ethereal beauty she wasn't used to seeing in herself.
Her lips still held the faint warmth of Meng Shuying's fingers, a sensation that sent a subtle shiver through her. She couldn't stop herself from thinking back to the scene in the alley.
Meng Shuying had rested her index finger against Su Luowei's chin, her thumb brushing gently over her lips. Her eyes were like deep autumn pools, and her voice had been a soft hook that tugged at Su Luowei's heart. Once again, she had asked, "Can I kiss you?"
And what had been Su Luowei's response?
She had grabbed Meng Shuying's wrist, her eyes flustered, unable to meet her gaze, yet coldly saying, "No."
Meng Shuying was a guest in her life, someone who would eventually leave. This fleeting moment of tension should be ignored, smothered, and forgotten.
Even after being rejected, Meng Shuying hadn't stepped back. She had stubbornly held her gaze, asking quietly, "Why not?"
At that moment, the rain had stopped, and Su Luowei had pushed her away, walking quickly ahead.
Because if you've never owned something, you won't fear losing it.
That same awkwardness persisted until bedtime.
No matter how much she wanted to avoid it, there was still only one bed in the apartment, and the inevitable reality was that they had to sleep together.
The hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet room. Su Luowei lay facing the outer edge of the bed, pulling the blanket tightly around herself. The person behind her hadn't fallen asleep either, and the bed creaked as she shifted under the covers.
Perhaps it was time to consider buying a second bed, Su Luowei thought idly.
A new bed for the spare room, and maybe a small wardrobe too. That way, Meng Shuying wouldn't have to share a bed with her anymore, and she wouldn't need to change clothes in the bathroom...
Who knew how long Meng Shuying would stay? Now that she had a job, she'd likely move out soon, right?
These thoughts gave Su Luowei a strange sense of melancholy.
Perhaps today, she shouldn't have pushed her away.
Her mind wandered aimlessly, filled with all sorts of thoughts, but none of them brought her closer to sleep.
Outside, the streetlights cast a faint glow through the window, creating light and shadow across the room. But beyond the light, the darkness deepened. Su Luowei had been lying on her side for so long that her arm had gone numb. Just as she was about to roll over, she felt the warmth of Meng Shuying's body drawing close behind her.
Meng Shuying didn't press directly against her but hovered just a breath away, as though she was afraid of waking her, and gently held her through the blanket.
Her soft breathing tickled the back of Su Luowei's neck, leaving a tingling sensation.
For the next half month, they both tacitly avoided bringing up that night again.
At the end of the month, Meng Shuying suddenly mentioned that she had an important photoshoot scheduled for the beginning of the following month and asked if Su Luowei would like to come along and watch.
This photoshoot was for a jewelry brand called "Starlight," showcasing their new autumn collection, with a theme called "Siren."
Apparently, the brand's creative director had sifted through over 200 modeling portfolios from seven agencies before finally selecting Meng Shuying for the campaign.
The shoot was scheduled for Sunday, and since Su Luowei had the day off, she happily accepted the invitation.
On the day of the shoot, they left early in the morning, with Su Luowei driving Meng Shuying to the agency.
Meng Shuying's agency was fairly large, occupying an entire floor in a prime downtown location. After pressing the elevator button, Meng Shuying explained, "There are several agencies in this building. Mine is on the 16th floor, but today we're heading straight to the 13th floor, where the shoot will take place."
They arrived early, and the set was still being prepared. After exchanging pleasantries with the photographer, Meng Shuying took Su Luowei to the dressing room. Along the way, the staff they encountered were all exceptionally polite, bowing their heads respectfully and addressing her as "Sister Ying."
This piqued Su Luowei's curiosity. What had happened here?
Of course, Meng Shuying wasn't about to tell her about the time she had punched a sleazy old man and stomped on a pervert in this very studio. She had even pinned one particularly bold offender against the windowsill with her hand around his throat.
Modern society had its laws and rules, but women who could take care of things the way Meng Shuying did—swift, brutal, and unstoppable—were rare.
Some people were used to behaving like beasts, assuming that agencies would sacrifice their models to please clients for a bit of cash.
Meng Shuying had taught them a harsh lesson.
The agency had long been troubled by such individuals, and when someone like Meng Shuying stood up for the girls, they were naturally grateful—and held her in even higher regard.
As soon as she sat down in the makeup chair, a young makeup artist arrived with her kit, chatting with her as she applied the primer.
"So you finally decided to bring your 'sister' along today?"
Sister? Was she talking about her?
Just as Su Luowei was about to explain that they weren't related, she caught sight of the makeup artist's teasing expression in the mirror.
"If I had a girlfriend this pretty, I'd hide her away too."
She said this with a cheeky smile, even glancing deliberately at Su Luowei as she spoke, making the implication all too clear.
Feeling flustered, Su Luowei quickly pulled out her phone, pretending to reply to messages.
"Look, she's shy."
"Stop teasing her," Meng Shuying said with a soft laugh. "She's sensitive—don't scare her."
More staff started arriving, each one friendly and welcoming. Some offered her water, others brought snacks, and even the young woman from the supermarket recognized her and stood by, trying to convince her, "Sister, are you sure you won't reconsider? You're so pretty—it'd be a shame not to model."
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, Su Luowei fumbled for a response, saved only by the fact that Meng Shuying had finished her makeup and came over to her rescue.
It was the first time Su Luowei had seen her with makeup. Since the shoot's theme was "Siren," her makeup followed a corresponding blue palette.
Shimmering blue eyeshadow adorned her eyelids, while pearls were arranged in tear-like patterns beneath her eyes. Subtle highlights created the illusion of scales across her cheekbones, and her lips were painted a deep crimson. The elongated eyeliner and her natural, striking gaze transformed her into the embodiment of a siren.
With her sharp, ethereal beauty and dark, mesmerizing eyes, she looked every bit the mythical creature.
Since the brand representatives and props had yet to arrive, Meng Shuying had time to give Su Luowei a tour of the various sets. There were seven studios on this floor, with one featuring a transparent pool designed for underwater shots.
That's where Meng Shuying's photoshoot would take place later.
After another half hour, the representatives from Starlight finally arrived, carrying a secure case. There were two of them, both young women who seemed to be in their late twenties.
One of them, holding the case, was dressed in simple, tailored slacks and a satin blouse, exuding an air of professionalism. The staff addressed her as Director Shu. The other, more glamorous, wore a fitted dress, her long, wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. She had a pair of sunglasses perched on her nose, and everyone called her Sister Yangyue.
Upon seeing Meng Shuying, Lin Yangyue removed her sunglasses and gave her a long, appraising look. She had striking features and an alluring gaze, especially when she smiled, her eyes brimming with warmth.
"How is she? Not bad, right?" Lin Yangyue asked.
Director Shu smiled, clearly impressed. "You've always had the best eye for talent, Sister."
She opened the case, revealing a collection of necklaces, bracelets, rings, and a pair of earrings. As she moved, a faint mark peeked out from her slightly unbuttoned collar, which Lin Yangyue noticed, whispering something to her, causing a blush to rise on her cheeks.
Neither Meng Shuying nor Su Luowei paid any attention to the exchange, keeping their eyes politely averted.
Since the theme was "Siren," the jewelry prominently featured sapphires, which glimmered brilliantly under the studio lights.
By then, Meng Shuying had changed into a sleek, black slip dress for the underwater shoot. Her assistant, wearing gloves, carefully helped her put on the jewelry.
The lights in the pool had been turned on, casting a soft glow on the water. Meng Shuying sat on the edge of the pool, flashing a quick smile at Su Luowei before sliding gracefully into the water.
The pool, though indoors, had been built quite deep for better visual effects, measuring two meters at its lowest point.
Su Luowei stood by the monitor, watching as the camera captured shot after shot of Meng Shuying posing underwater. She remained poised throughout, her eyes wide open, only surfacing occasionally to catch her breath and apply eye drops before diving back down.
The photographer snapped away, each frame immediately displayed on the monitor. In the shots, Meng Shuying's lips parted slightly, her expression cold and ethereal. Her eyes were dark and bottomless, as if drawing the viewer deeper into the abyss.
At some point, Lin Yangyue came over to stand next to Su Luowei, resting her chin in her hand as she studied the photos. After a long pause, she sighed softly, "It's beautiful, but there's no soul in it. Let's call it a day."
Renowned for her sharp eye in the art world, Lin Yangyue's critiques carried weight. When she said a photo lacked soul, no one else dared to argue.
Except for Meng Shuying.
Despite the harsh critique, her expression remained calm as she said, "We have a plan B. Would you be interested in hearing it, Ms. Lin?"
Lin Yangyue raised an eyebrow, her long, alluring eyes flicking toward Meng Shuying.
"In ancient myths, sirens were powerful and beautiful, born in the depths of the ocean. They had no human emotions, no warmth, and no soul."
With that, Meng Shuying silently slid back into the water, her hair fanning out around her like a halo as she sank, resembling the very siren she spoke of.
"But one day, a siren fell in love. To pursue the one she loved, she decided to abandon her life as a siren..."
The studio fell silent, all eyes on her, captivated by her performance.
She slowly emerged from the water again. "She endured unimaginable pain, transforming her tail into legs, walking step by step onto the shore... just to see her lover once more."
The photographer, quick to grasp the moment, raised his camera, ready to capture the magic.
She had reached the pool's edge. Just a few more steps would bring her fully onto dry land. But instead of continuing, she sat on the edge, her legs trailing in the water, her wet hair swept to one side, exposing the elegant line of her neck and the glittering jewels adorning it.
Sirens, after all, were not just symbols of danger and indifference. They also represented undying, unwavering love.
Legend had it that the siren Parthenope had fallen deeply in love with Odysseus. When her love was unrequited, she threw herself into the sea in despair.
"She saw her beloved and decided to remain on land forever, by her lover's side."
As she spoke these final words, her eyes sought out Su Luowei, filled with a love that was unashamed, unrestrained.
The water sparkled in the pool behind her, and the sapphires on her body shimmered as brightly as the love in her gaze.
Both Director Shu and Lin Yangyue were thoroughly impressed by the shoot, and before leaving, they even exchanged contact information with Meng Shuying.
By the time Meng Shuying had finished removing her makeup, dusk had fallen outside. Su Luowei drove in silence, occasionally sneaking glances at Meng Shuying at red lights, quickly averting her eyes afterward.
Meng Shuying cracked the window open slightly, letting the cool breeze blow through her hair as she tucked the loose strands behind her ear.
They hit another long red light—this one set for 120 seconds.
Su Luowei lowered her eyes to the steering wheel, her mind swirling with the questions she'd been holding back. Finally, she asked, "Sirens come ashore for love... but what about you?"
Meng Shuying considered the question for a moment before responding, "I'm the same."
"Will you ever return to the sea?" Su Luowei asked quietly, her eyes meeting hers.
Would there come a day when you disappear just as suddenly as you appeared?
"I won't. I'll stay on land forever."
Meng Shuying took her hand, pressing it firmly against her chest, her voice resolute. "Forever. Always."
She had come to this world for Su Luowei, and she would never leave her behind.
The red light counted down to thirty seconds.
Su Luowei withdrew her hand, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"If you're telling the truth," she said.
"Then you can kiss me now."