After the Breakup, the Crazy Movie Queen Clings to Me Every Day (GL) - Chapter 2

A cozy little house nestled on the hillside, surrounded by serene elegance. The soft, golden glow of classic palace lanterns illuminated the beautiful scenery and the beautiful woman, making the whole scene feel like a hazy dream.

*****

For some reason, Lan Jingli hesitated. Outside the window, the courtyard was bathed in moonlight and snow, while inside, a woman with crimson lips and dark eyes lay sprawled, her gaze occasionally lifting to meet Lan Jingli’s eyes. She looked like a goddess trapped in a cage, yet also like a bewitching ghost luring someone into a trap. The only thing Lan Jingli could be sure of was the woman’s eyes—they were like a thick fog, completely unreadable.

“Li-Li, come closer.”

Lan Jingli had to bite her lip to maintain her composure. Tan You was a genius actress, there was no doubt about that. The way she uttered Lan Jingli’s name made it sound incredibly beautiful.

Lan Jingli slowly walked toward her. The room was infused with a faint, clean fragrance that was subtle yet intoxicating.

“Sister… no, Miss Tan Qi,” Lan Jingli corrected herself, not wanting to be a nuisance or to cause trouble. Tan You probably didn’t remember her, or maybe she didn’t want to acknowledge her. So Lan Jingli knew to be sensible and not bring it up. Her manager always told her she was too proud, but she just saw it as a sense of self-respect she couldn’t casually abandon.

Tan You lay on her side on the bed and let out a soft laugh. “A moment ago, you were calling me ‘Sister,’ and now you’re being so formal?”

Lan Jingli was speechless. All the things she had prepared to say to clear the air were forgotten. She just watched as Tan You slowly rose, her half-damp hair gently fanning out across her waist.

“You’ve been in the rain. You’ll get sick. Go take a bath and change your clothes,” she said, her voice a soft command.

“Okay, sure.”

Perhaps it was the gentleness in the woman’s voice, but Lan Jingli found herself obeying without thinking. She walked down a wooden hallway and saw a neat pile of clothes on a vanity in the bathroom. They were the perfect size, and they carried the same scent as Tan You—like orchids and musk, fresh and clean.

It was only after she had changed into the new clothes and returned that Lan Jingli suddenly realized how willingly she had listened to Tan You. Maybe it was because Tan You was her senior, and listening to her was a principle etched into her very being.

Tan You was propped up on the bed, her dark hair was a stark contrast against her pale skin. A feverish, rosy flush colored her cheeks, making her look like a gorgeous, fading poppy.

“Li-Li,” she said, lifting her dark eyelashes to call out softly. “Come sit here so I can get a good look at you.”

“But… I might have to go back to school. I have exams in a few days.” The words were out before she could stop them, and Lan Jingli immediately wanted to smack herself. After finally reuniting with Tan You, why would the first thing out of her mouth be about leaving?

While Lan Jingli was regretting her words, Tan You’s brow furrowed. Her lips were as vibrant as bl00d, and beneath the thin blanket, her long, slender legs trembled and twisted together uncontrollably. She seemed to be desperately fighting against some unspoken agony.

“That’s not what I meant, really,” Lan Jingli was scrambling to explain when a warm, intimate breath brushed against her ear.

Seeing Lan Jingli’s flustered state, Tan You looked at her with amusement. “Does that mean you don’t like me?”

“Ah, no, absolutely not. I like…” Lan Jingli slammed the brakes on her words, stopping the unspeakable from escaping.

“All right, I’m just teasing you. Li-Li, will you stay for me?”

Suddenly, the distance between them closed. Lan Jingli’s eyes fell on the woman’s body. The straps of her wine-red slip dress were a little long, revealing two delicate collarbones and a glimpse of a soft, rising curve.

“Don’t want to answer?” Tan You’s voice held a hint of disappointment. “I guess that means you don’t want to.”

“No, that’s not it.”

The woman let out a low, seductive laugh. Her breaths came in short, heavy bursts, and in her glistening eyes, a flicker of desire and disgust flashed by.

“Have you ever had a boyfriend at school?”

“What?” Lan Jingli was startled by the sudden change in topic, her face flushing slightly. “No, I’ve never been in a relationship.” Her heart belonged to someone else, so how could she date anyone else?

“Have you been on a date?”

“No.”

“Been hugged?”

Lan Jingli shook her head.

“Held hands?”

“I don’t have many friends, so…” Lan Jingli’s voice trailed off sadly.

Tan You smiled, seemingly satisfied. Her cold, pale fingertips touched Lan Jingli’s forehead, then traced a line downward, gently toying with the curve of her lips.

“Has anyone ever touched you here?”

Lan Jingli was an art and design student who had been scouted for her singing talent. Even though she was a trainee in the entertainment industry, she was still very much untouched.

“No.”

Lan Jingli’s innocent reaction pleased Tan You. Her voice grew husky, her eyes shimmering with a captivating glow. “Then, keep it that way.”

Lan Jingli was confused. She looked up at Tan You, whose amber eyes were filled with a coldness that gave Lan Jingli the strange feeling of being inspected and judged.

“I don’t quite understand what you mean. Aren’t you worried I might be lying?” Lan Jingli guessed that Tan You might be concerned about her dating, like a parent would be.

“Why would you be?”

*****

Aunt Wan’s report had arrived half an hour ago. The manager was not lying. Lan Jingli was clean, as pure as snow. A nineteen-year-old college student in her junior year, she had been a trainee at Yunshu Entertainment, a company under the Tan Group, for two years. She trained hard and was a promising talent.

“I didn’t come here tonight to sell myself or to sleep with anyone. It was just… Sister, I’m not that kind of person who’s just… available to anyone…”

“Shh, I know. Li-Li is very clean,” Tan You bit her lip, a look of pained restraint on her face.

Lan Jingli wanted to say something else, but she was stopped. The woman leaned in close, her pale face flushed, her dark hair a shadowy crown. Her delicate waist was like a slender vine bent by the rain.

“Li-Li, help your sister, okay?”

Up close, Lan Jingli could feel the burning heat and trembling of Tan You’s skin. She was gentle, pure, and fragile, making Lan Jingli instinctively soften her breath.

“Miss Tan Qi, are you sick? I’ll call a doctor.”

“Don’t. It can’t be cured.” Tan You’s entire body felt like it was on fire, then plunged into ice. A rippling thirst spread through her bones. “Li-Li, I feel terrible.”

A look of urgency filled Lan Jingli’s beautiful eyes. “What can I do?”

The deeply-ingrained, agonizing desire almost completely swept away all of Tan You’s restraint and reason. Just confirming Lan Jingli’s purity and innocence had already used up all her patience and control.

“Listen to me.”

The woman’s voice was hoarse. Lan Jingli was pulled down onto the bed by her collar. Lying in the embrace of this beautiful, soft woman, Lan Jingli was so stiff she didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet.

“Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.”

“Call me ‘Sister’.”

“Sister.”

“Do you know how to?” Tan You’s smile was seductive, her beauty enchanting, yet there was a detached, calm look in her cold eyes, a mix of disgust and impatience.

Lan Jingli was no longer the timid, naive child from the small mountain village. She had been in the entertainment industry long enough to have heard about these things, but she had never experienced them herself. At this moment, her mind was in turmoil. All sorts of emotions washed over her, and she even felt as though she was desecrating the person she loved in a dream.

She was so nervous she didn’t know where to put her hands, and she accidentally touched Tan You’s wrist, earning a cold, disgusted remark from the woman.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Sister?” Lan Jingli was startled by the woman’s sudden coldness and froze, at a loss.

“Be a good girl. Just listen to me.”

“Okay.”

The coldness in Tan You’s eyes slowly softened, like a moon halo, and a faint, bewitching charm emanated from her serene face.

“This time, you’re only allowed to use your mouth.”

Lan Jingli tasted a shocking softness and sweetness and felt Tan You’s resistance and surrender. She considerately asked, “Are you uncomfortable?”

“Keep going.”

The woman’s answer was cold. Her deep eyes were like an abyss, filled with an insatiable need for control.

After a long time, Tan You’s dark hair was completely fanned out. At a certain moment, the look of disgust reached its peak, and she said flatly, “You should leave. I don’t keep outsiders here.”

Seeing Tan You turn over coldly and pull the covers over herself, Lan Jingli felt a pang of loss, but she obeyed obediently. Before leaving, she asked with concern, “Sister, are you still in pain? Do you feel a little better?”

Even though Tan You had been extremely restrained during their encounter, Lan Jingli could still see the tears and pain in her reddened eyes. It was like a person drowning who was forced to breathe poisonous oxygen, finding pleasure in their suffocation.

Tan You’s body trembled slightly, but she didn’t answer. She only repeated her demand for Lan Jingli to leave, her voice calm.

“Get out. Don’t bother me.”

“Sister, I… I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”

The woman’s warmth and coldness changed so quickly that Lan Jingli was bewildered. She had no idea what she had done wrong, or what was happening.

“It’s fine,” Tan You said, wrapped in a silk robe, her half-closed eyes cold and unfeeling. “Aunt Wan will give you money.”

“What?” Lan Jingli was thunderstruck. She couldn’t believe what Tan You was saying.

Aunt Wan had already entered, respectfully leading Lan Jingli away to the dining room. On the table were a delicious supper, drinks, and dozens of pieces of finely made clothing.

“Miss Lan, she picked out a few high-collared sweaters for you, with matching scarves. You can change into them now, or you can sleep in the guest room and change later.”

Lan Jingli suddenly remembered the marks on her neck, where Tan You had kissed and sucked, and her face flushed.

Aunt Wan’s expression remained professional and unchanged. “The supper has been prepared according to your preferences. Steamed egg with tomatoes and no scallions, a sandwich with the crusts cut off, and milk with three spoons of sugar. You can eat first, get your strength back, and then rest.”

Catching Lan Jingli’s surprised look, she explained calmly, “If she wants to know something, she will know it.”

“Excuse me, where is Sister… Miss Tan Qi? Can I see her?”

Lan Jingli wanted to clarify what Tan You had meant by “giving her money.”

Aunt Wan gave a standard answer. “If she wants you to.”

Lan Jingli’s heart sank. She knew this was a polite way of refusing. Thinking about Tan You’s hot-and-cold attitude, she was even more confused.

“Here,” Aunt Wan handed Lan Jingli a card-like item with the number “17” on it, like a key card. “It’s your ID. You can use this to enter and exit the mountain villa from now on. Please keep it safe.”

“17? Why 17?” Lan Jingli was almost overwhelmed by the series of events. Her body felt hot with emotion, and her palms were slightly sweaty.

Aunt Wan didn’t say anything more. She just continued to dutifully carry out Tan You’s instructions.

“And here’s a checkbook. She said to fill in whatever amount you want.”

“Why are you giving me… a check?” Lan Jingli asked in disbelief, looking at the thin checkbook.

“She said it’s for your hard work. Please, you must accept it.”