Daydreaming about Me

Chapter 31

It wasn’t “Are you coming?” nor any other question, but “Come here.”

That delicate and gentle part of Brother Shehui’s nerves seemed to have regained signal and started working again.

For some reason, upon seeing these two words, Lin Yujing felt a sudden twinge.

She could even imagine Shen Juan’s tired and indifferent, lazy demeanor as he said these words.

Lin Yujing suddenly wanted to talk to him.

Or maybe it wasn’t sudden; she might have felt this way since leaving home without realizing it.

The black iron gate was unlocked. Shen Juan usually didn’t lock the door. Lin Yujing pushed it open and entered. The small yard had strings of lights hanging, with autumn’s lush green plants gradually transitioning in color, now looking wilted and somewhat yellow.

The porch light was on. Lin Yujing walked to the door and knocked.

About a minute later, Shen Juan appeared at the door, a black mask hanging from his chin, his eyes downcast.

He was stunned for a moment upon seeing her, then stepped aside to let her in.

“Wait a bit, there’s still some work to do,” Shen Juan said.

Lin Yujing stopped at the door: “Am I disturbing you?”

“Twenty minutes,” Shen Juan glanced back at her, speaking softly, “Wait for me, it won’t take long.”

The room was lit by several floor lamps, casting a warm, dim light. In a semi-open room inside, a bright, cold white light was visible. Lin Yujing placed what she was holding on the sofa and pointed towards that room: “Can I take a look?”

“Sure.” Shen Juan walked over, wearing a black thin sweatshirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The muscles on his forearms were smooth and not overly prominent, giving a hint of boyishness.

Lin Yujing followed him but didn’t enter the room. She leaned against the doorframe, curiously peering inside.

There was a comfortable-looking long bench inside, with a young man in his early twenties sitting on it, turning his head to look at her.

The young man blinked, displaying an arm tattoo, a pattern resembling a Peking opera mask on the lower half of his forearm. He raised his other hand and waved at her: “Hi.”

Lin Yujing blinked too and waved back: “Hi.”

Shen Juan raised his hand, hooking his finger on the mask, took out a new pair of gloves, and put them on, stretching his fingers.

He glanced at her, picked up the coil machine next to him, and sat down, bowing his head to continue.

Shen Juan’s hands were very attractive. They didn’t usually give such a strong visual impression, but now, wearing black disposable gloves, the lines on his lean hand backs and the shape of his long fingers stood out, making them look exceptionally beautiful.

His eyelashes were low, covering his dark pupils completely, with his mask hiding his expression.

Indifferent yet focused.

Lin Yujing suddenly felt a bit thirsty.

She bit the inside of her cheek, and after a few seconds, her salivary glands started to work rapidly.

Lin Yujing swallowed, loosened her grip on the doorframe, stopped looking, and went back to sit on the sofa.

She herself was quite good-looking, and her childhood friends were all very attractive, so Lin Yujing always felt she had a strong resistance to good looks.

At least, she’d never drooled over any handsome guy, regardless of age.

This kind of reaction should only occur when smelling the aroma of fried chicken or barbecue.

Guys are not as good as chicken nuggets.

Lin Yujing shook her head, rummaged through a plastic bag of snacks beside her, pulled out a can of beer, and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

The workshop door was open, and Lin Yujing sat on the sofa, leaning forward to watch while sipping beer.

Shen Juan had a small habit when holding the tattoo machine.

His fingertip would press slightly on his index finger, lifting it slightly every now and then.

Lin Yujing propped her head on her hand, her gaze sweeping down from his shoulder line to his narrow waist and stretched legs.

This guy’s legs are really long.

Shen Juan said twenty minutes, but it took just over ten. When he finished, the tattooed young man straightened up, glanced outside, and asked, “Girlfriend?”

Shen Juan put down the coil machine and rubbed the back of his neck: “No.” His voice was a bit hoarse.

A half forearm tattoo wasn’t small; it had taken him two days and over twenty hours in total, with him not drinking any water since noon.

“Oh,” the young man smiled, “a female friend?”

Shen Juan didn’t respond, slowly removing his gloves and mask.

This young man had come several times before and was familiar with Jiang Han and the others, almost like a half-acquaintance, very perceptive.

He quickly prepared to leave. As they walked out, Lin Yujing sat on the sofa, watching a variety show and drinking beer, gnawing on spicy chicken feet.

Seeing them come out, she looked up, whistling at the young man’s tattoo wrapped in cling film: “Very cool, brother.”

The young man grinned: “Thanks, sis. You’re beautiful too.”

Shen Juan stood at the door, opening it for him, impatiently tapping the doorframe and frowning at him.

“Got it,” the young man clasped his hands together, bowed to Shen Juan, and left, “See you, Master Juan.”

Shen Juan closed the door, turned around, and his gaze fell on the coffee table.

One, two, three, four.

Twenty minutes, four empty beer cans.

Lin Yujing looked no different from usual, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, engrossed in the variety show.

She could really drink.

Shen Juan walked over and looked down at her from above: “You call me ‘brother’ so easily?”

“Hmm?” Lin Yujing looked up, her eyes clear, still biting the edge of a beer can. After a moment, she understood.

“Ah, I don’t know what to call him,” Lin Yujing turned off the show and thought for a moment, “How about ‘handsome guy’? Would that sound a bit frivolous?”

Shen Juan tapped his molars with his tongue: “Is calling me ‘brother’ not frivolous?” “No,” Lin Yujing said, “It makes me seem well-behaved and polite.”

Shen Juan laughed in frustration: “Then why don’t you show me some manners?”

Lin Yujing didn’t reply, finishing the last bit of beer in her can, neatly placing it on the coffee table, adding it to the pile of empty cans now totaling five. Then she pulled out another pack from a nearby bag.

“…”

Shen Juan called her name heavily: “Lin Yujing.”

When Shen Juan spoke in this tone, it was quite intimidating, but Lin Yujing wasn’t scared at all. She didn’t even glance at him, opening another beer can with a faint pop.

Lin Yujing looked up at him, holding out the beer: “Want to drink, brother?”

The moment she said those words, Shen Juan felt like he was hit with a pause button.

The girl had a delicate frame, wearing a casual round-neck cotton top, her hair casually tied up, looking like a child who had run away from home, her neck pale and slender.

Shen Juan looked down at her.

Lin Yujing looked up, shaking the beer can in her hand, smiling at him in the warm orange light, deliberately saying: “Don’t want it? Brother.”

Her voice was naturally soft, a stark contrast to her usual sharp demeanor. When she spoke softly, it was particularly irresistible.

Like when she said “please.”

Or now, “brother.”

Shen Juan’s Adam’s apple moved slightly.

He took the beer from her hand, her cold fingers brushing his palm.

Shen Juan put the beer down, went to the kitchen to get a kettle and an empty glass, filled the glass with warm water, and placed it on the coffee table: “Drink this.”

Lin Yujing tilted her head: “Your voice is really hoarse.”

Shen Juan: “…”

“You weren’t this hoarse before. What have you been up to, brother?” Lin Yujing asked.

“…”

Shen Juan was irritated by her repeated calling, gritting his teeth, and warned: “Lin Yujing.”

The girl seemed very sober, her black eyes clear like glass beads, showing no signs of drunkenness. It really gave the impression that she had no effect from five cans of beer.

But Shen Juan didn’t think she would address him like this when sober.

Lin Yujing opened another can of beer, briefly glancing at him, “What’s up?”

Shen Juan casually pulled over a chair, sat down, and lightly tapped the edge of the beer can with his finger: “Put it down.”

Lin Yujing obediently released it.

Shen Juan took the beer, emptied it into the trash can nearby, the smell of beer filling the air.

After emptying it, Shen Juan filled the empty beer cans with warm water and placed them in front of Lin Yujing: “Drink this.”

Lin Yujing remained still, her head propped up, calmly looking at him: “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“…”

Shen Juan leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow: “Not drunk?”

Lin Yujing gave him a look: “I, Lin Yujing, who never gets drunk, came here to drink with you. How could I get drunk alone?”

Shen Juan squinted: “You came to drink with me?”

Lin Yujing nodded.

Shen Juan said quietly: “Do you know you shouldn’t drink alone with men?” Lin Yujing looked at him, calmly asking: “Are you a man?”

Shen Juan: “…”

She then nodded to herself: “Oh, right, you are…”

“…”

Shen Juan couldn’t even get angry anymore. He just watched her, who was talking while rummaging through a nearby bag: “I also bought a lot of snacks for drinking. Do you like potato chips, the crispy kind?” She mumbled as she searched, “Oh, you don’t like them. You like this…”

She pulled out a pack of something and presented it to him. Shen Juan glanced at it.

— A pack of shelled, beer peanuts.

“…”

Maybe the room was filled with the smell of beer, Shen Juan actually laughed.

“Damn,” he lowered his head, smiling and licking his lips, “I’ve used up all my patience on you.”

His voice was low, and Lin Yujing didn’t catch it clearly. She saw him get up, take all the beer from the coffee table, and then bring over the bag of snacks, placing them on the table.

It was quite heavy.

Shen Juan spread out the bag, sat back down, and stretched his long legs forward: “Eat. I’ll keep you company.”

Lin Yujing looked at him, hesitating: “Just eat them like this? Aren’t you going to drink anything?”

Shen Juan put down his arm, leaned forward, and poured her a glass of warm water: “Drink some plain water.”

Lin Yujing: “…” —

Lin Yujing could indeed handle her alcohol well, not bragging, but after six cans of beer and drinking quickly, she was feeling a bit tipsy.

Not drunk, but very aware of her excitement.

Even her natural immunity to handsome men was starting to fail.

Lin Yujing supported her face with her hands, her upper body resting on the coffee table, her eyes fixed on Shen Juan.

She watched him pull out a cigarette pack and take out a cigarette.

Noticing Lin Yujing’s gaze, he paused, put the cigarette pack back, and leaned back.

Lin Yujing looked at him and suddenly said out of the blue: “Has anyone ever told you that you look handsome when you’re getting a tattoo? Brother.”

Shen Juan paused, looked up at her.

Lin Yujing met his gaze directly.

They stared at each other for an unknown number of seconds.

Author’s note:

Juan Ye: Calling me like that almost made me lose control.

Juan Ye, calm down. This is a refreshing campus novel

Minors shouldn’t drink. Let’s all drink plain water with Whale Sister!