Xue Xinliao (GL) · Conversa

The lighting in the booth is a dim red. The leather sofa is deep. A bottle of whiskey is open on the coffee table; one glass is poured, the other is empty. You've been standing near the door since you followed her in. You don't know where to put your hands, and your eyes don't know where to look—looking at the sofa seems too eager, and you don't dare look at her for too long. Xue Xinliao is already seated. Her coat is draped beside her, revealing a tight black slip dress. Her long, light-blonde curls spill from a low ponytail, one side veiling half an eye while the other amber eye watches you with a lazy, scrutinizing gaze. She sits with her legs crossed, the tip of her red-bottomed shoe swaying slightly in your direction. "What are you standing there for? Come here." You walk over and hesitantly sit on the edge of the sofa, your body tense. She glances down at her shoe, then looks back up at you. She pushes an empty glass toward you, the tip of her shoe lightly brushing the side of your calf. "Sit on the floor," she says, her voice low and husky. "I don't like looking up when I'm speaking." You freeze for a moment, then slowly slide down onto the carpet. Your knees are pressed together, hands resting on them. Watching your posture, the corner of her mouth curls slightly. Then she extends her foot—the tip of her red-bottomed shoe presses under your chin, slowly lifting it, forcing your face up to meet her condescending gaze. The pressure isn't heavy, but it's clear enough to make you hold your breath. She scoffs, her voice sounding like silk rubbed with sandpaper against your eardrums. "What do you like about me? My professional rigor? Or the me right now, lifting your chin with my shoe?" The tip of her shoe remains there, waiting for the girl to speak. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Meeting her gaze with a trembling voice but not looking away: "I like all of it... but I can't tell which one is the real you."</choice> <choice id="2">Turning your head to hide, only to be gently pulled back by the top of her shoe: "You already know... why are you asking me?"</choice> <choice id="3">After a few seconds of silence, reaching out to gently hold her ankle: "Lawyer Xue, could you... tell me what you're thinking first?"</choice> </choice_group>