After Being Betrayed by Bai Yueguang, She Said She Wanted to Keep Me as a Mistress (Pure Yuri) - 03 Reality

03 Reality

Before parting, Cheng Yafei solemnly changed her contact note to “girlfriend” in front of Zhou Pinyue.

Zhou Pinyue remained stunned. She was unable to process it.

What did that mean? Girlfriend? How did they start dating? Who said that?

“No, no, I was just saying it casually…”

“This time, I’ll treat you well. You can make any request.”

What did “this time” mean?! Why did it sound like they dated before?

“Uh, there’s no need to label it ‘girlfriend’…”

“Then is ‘wife’ better?”

How was that better?!

“Uh, fine, ‘girlfriend’ then…”

“Okay, girlfriend.” 

Cheng Yafei’s curved, smiling eyes appeared again.

“Uh, you don’t need to call me that out loud. Just use my name, or my online handle if you must.”

“Then, A-Yue?”

“F-Fine…”

Back in school, they used full names, no nicknames. So it felt unfamiliar.

Sure enough, people were like that—when offered something outrageous, they’d settle for less.

The absurdity dulled her urge to refuse outright.

After calming down, Zhou Pinyue felt a mix of complex emotions.

She wanted to see what game this woman was playing.

Who was afraid of whom? Could they actually date for real? She didn’t believe it.

“Then, let’s leave it at that for today,” 

She said, still unable to digest it but accepting the challenge. 

“I, uh, booked a ticket for tomorrow morning. I need to pack…”

Her sleeve was tugged.

“A-Yue, you’re a full-time artist, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

With a six-figure following and commissions from mobile games, she supported herself with art. Though it came with occupational ailments.

“So, it doesn’t matter where you work.”

True, living in a small city near a major one was great—cheap rent, low costs, convenient life. For events, she just bought a ticket.

“Yeah. Wait, what do you mean?”

Cheng Yafei scratched her cheek awkwardly and said, 

“I have a few properties. One’s nearby. I thought you could move in.”

… …

“Sometimes, I really want your rich-kid life.”

Cheng Yafei’s background meant she never needed to work. She was living off rent alone. But Zhou Pinyue remembered her strict mother, whose mention always clouded that sunny face.

That was the price of being an heiress. If Zhou Pinyue could casually say, “I have a spare house for you,” even harsh parenting or brain supplements wouldn’t feel like a loss.

“Uh, I can’t put the house in your name, but you can live there,” 

Cheng Yafei said.

“No, that’s too big a joke.”

“It’s not a joke. I’m serious.” 

A tentative smile hung on her bright face. 

“If we’re girlfriends but can’t see each other, that’s inconvenient. Plus, there are lots of art exhibits, concerts, and events here. It’s easy to attend together…”

“Am I your hired companion?”

“N-No, I didn’t mean that! I won’t ask for anything. You don’t have to go if you don’t want. Do whatever you like. I’ll keep the house for you. I’ll have it cleaned tomorrow. Even if you don’t move, if you need a place, just tell me.”

The grip on her sleeve was so light it was barely there. And the hand quickly withdrew.

She could’ve walked away then. But that cautious, nervous expression held her gaze.

That Cheng Yafei—born with everything anyone could dream of, practically acing life from the start, always “number one,” with a name screaming “success”—stood on a tree-lined sidewalk. She humbly tugged her sleeve, and pleaded softly.

How could she be so serious?

Zhou Pinyue knew Cheng Yafei seemed easygoing but was obsessive underneath. She was a perfectionist who couldn’t tolerate flaws. She was desperate to fix this broken “friendship.”

It sounded almost pathological.

“No, do you even understand what dating means?” 

Zhou Pinyue heard herself say.

“I do. It’s a relationship of love, not friendship. I… want to make things right. If this is what it takes for you to forgive me, I’m okay with it. As long as you’re happy.”

Cheng Yafei’s expression wasn’t sulky or joking.

But Zhou Pinyue still thought she didn’t get what dating meant—probably just knew it theoretically, not experientially. She was unaware how awkward it was to act romantically with someone you didn’t like.

Especially since they were both women.

Wasn’t this heiress a bit homophobic?

“I don’t believe you,” 

Zhou Pinyue said. She then went all in. 

“Not unless you sleep with me.”

The words were crude. She wanted to roll her eyes at herself.

But people said the easiest way to tell if you could date someone of the same s3x was to imagine sleeping with them. Though it didn’t cover romantic feelings… whatever, it wasn’t like she was seriously pursuing this. Just a test.

The original phrase was cruder. Her friend’s cheeky voice echoed in her mind: ‘Can you eat pvssy?’ This was already polite for a homophobe!

Cheng Yafei clearly didn’t grasp “dating.” Hearing this, she froze, eyes wide. She was staring at Zhou Pinyue. Her lips parted, then closed. One hand was clutching her bag strap. She was silent for a long time.

“See?” 

Zhou Pinyue sighed knowingly. She thought it was settled. 

“Now you see how ridiculous this is. I was just talking. It’s not serious. Relax, we don’t need each other to survive. Alright, it’s late, I really need to go…”

But after two steps, her wrist was firmly grabbed.

“Hm?”

“Do it now?”

What? “Huh?”

“My place okay?”

“Wai…”

“Is it okay? Or do you prefer a hotel?”

Her brain was about to crash.

What was happening?

“I can do it with you,” 

Cheng Yafei said. She was gripping tighter. 

“I’ll accept any request, really, anything. Trust me, okay?”

Why did she say it with such conviction, like she was fired up?

“…Do you know what you’re saying?” 

Zhou Pinyue felt a spark of anger. 

“How can you be so casual? This isn’t just a kiss. It’s going to bed with someone. Don’t you have any sense of caution?”

“I know. I have experience.”

“Huh? You have…”

“Surprising?”

Not really. At 26, having a s3x life was normal.

But as the one suggesting s3x, what right did she have to judge the other’s lack of caution?

Counting their breaths, Zhou Pinyue took a deep breath.

“Not surprising,”

She said, throat dry, tongue burning. 

“But… I don’t want to do it with you. It’s impossible.” 

She pulled back from the edge.

“Then I’ll pay you, please.”

“No… that’s not right. I’m not selling myself.”

“Uh, I didn’t mean it like that! I meant…”

What was the original plan? Not s3x, right? How did it come to this?

Forget it.

Zhou Pinyue suddenly gave up.

Getting paid to sleep with someone she once crushed on wasn’t a bad deal.

“Fine, let’s go to your place.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll pay, right? I need money.” 

True—who didn’t?

Cheng Yafei seemed surprised but mostly delighted. Her steps were lightening. She was practically glowing.

But in Zhou Pinyue’s heart, it was a different scene.

She truly didn’t care anymore.

She’d told herself countless times she’d let go. That she’d burned all memories in a mental shed.

In high school, the class had a trend of writing handwritten letters. She wrote several to Cheng Yafei but never sent them. They were too resentful.

‘You have so many friends. I feel like the least important one.’

‘I don’t want to hang out with them. They don’t know me like you do.’

‘Why didn’t you eat lunch with me today?’

‘You haven’t been online lately. Too much study pressure? Tell me if something’s bothering you.’

‘I don’t care *that* much about you or need to do everything together—eat, shop, watch movies, study, draw, read. I used to do it all alone. Why can’t I now?’

‘I wanted to study with you, but you seem busy.’

Back then, her thoughts never lingered around it. It was until she accidentally talked about it with a colleague on a certain day. The colleague, after a long silence, said: 

‘Sorry, sensei, can I ship this?’

‘?’

It was funny, but it seemed true.

Closer than anyone else, that figure lingered in her mind. Friend or lover, it didn’t matter now. No need to define it—just someone more important than others. It was like a habit formed in early years.

The last time she saw those letters was during a post-college cleanup. She stared at the brittle paper. She was unable to recall when she added certain lines.

‘I probably love you. And it doesn’t matter whatever kind of love it is. As I imagine you in my life until the end.’

It was silly, easily debunked. She’d just been friendless, inexperienced. Like someone who’d never seen nice things, she mistook average treatment for treasure. This woman wasn’t special. She was just a manipulative central AC, smiling at everyone. She was probably saying the same things to other “friends”. Maybe she kissed anyone casually. Playing or chatting, she repaid attention with charm. She made everyone think they were special, fooling them all…

“You sure?” 

Cheng Yafei’s voice broke into reality.

Why use the same line as in the dream?

The house’s door was behind her. Zhou Pinyue gripped the handle theatrically.

“Ask again, and I’m leaving.”

“Okay, but I think this needs asking,” 

Cheng Yafei said. She looked away shyly. 

“Can I kiss you?”

“Huh? No.”

“Neck marks…”

“No way!”

“Okay, done asking. Oh, wait, one more. Shower together?”

With a suddenly lowered voice, her throat was kissed. Sharp canines grazed her skin. It was leaving a slight itch.

Zhou Pinyue stared at the dark ceiling. She realized it felt like a certain dream.

Was it a dream within a dream? Given the absurdity, it had to be.

And this woman was so skilled.

Her heart felt a little sour.

“I’ll shower alone.”

“Okay.” 

The kiss on her neck stopped cleanly. Cheng Yafei tidied her rumpled T-shirt, smiling. 

“Come, bathroom’s this way.”