Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 29
As soon as she got home, Zhiyu plopped onto the sofa with a troubled expression, trying to process everything that had just happened. It all came so suddenly that she couldn’t digest it immediately.
At that moment, Liu Ma noticed her return and hurried over. “Zhiyu, you’re back! Have you eaten? I couldn’t reach Yiyang at all on her phone, and she didn’t say whether she’d be back for dinner. I was so worried!”
“Let her fend for herself!” Zhiyu unintentionally blurted out. At that moment, she wished the brat would just disappear.
Liu Ma thought she had misheard. “Ah, what did you just say?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve already eaten. I just have a bit of a headache, so I’m going to rest in my room first. She’s probably working late and will be back later,” Zhiyu quickly corrected herself, realizing she had spoken carelessly.
“Yiyang would never leave without saying anything. I just worry she might be drinking again, getting herself into trouble. A girl like her—I fear something might happen. What if the master asks? What would I do?” Liu Ma fretted, pacing like a nervous ant on a hot pan, clearly ready to run out and find her.
Seeing Liu Ma so anxious, Zhiyu sighed. She really owed this family: “Don’t worry too much. She’s grown; nothing will happen. If you’re really concerned, I can go look for her.”
“Really? Zhiyu, thank you so much! But are you okay with your headache? Should I go with you?”
“It’s fine. You just stay home and wait for news.”
With that, Zhiyu reluctantly drove back to the bar. Upon arriving, she didn’t see anyone inside and thought Yiyang might have left. Just as she was about to turn away, a small, trendy-looking person came out and immediately recognized her.
“Hey beautiful, looking for Zhang Yiyang? She’s inside drunk out of her mind, still shouting something about ‘Yu…Yu…’. Did you two have a fight? They were getting cozy and then arguing—seriously! Go check on her before some other girl snatches her!”
“Thanks!” Zhiyu didn’t know what to say, awkwardly walking in, silently vowing never to return to this place.
“That Zhang Yiyang sure has luck with women, hiding such a gorgeous lady. No wonder she ignores everyone in the bar. Why didn’t I meet someone like her?” The small person muttered, envious of Zhiyu’s presence.
Pushing through the crowd of flirtatious gazes, Zhiyu finally reached the girl collapsed on the sofa. Infuriated, she yanked her up and slapped her face lightly: “Zhang Yiyang, wake up! What do you want from me? I’ve really lost to you—let’s go home now!”
Yiyang, sensing someone calling her, forced her eyes open. Drunk and hazy, she cupped Zhiyu’s face, squinting left and right, before grinning with a row of white teeth: “Woman, I knew you’d miss me. I knew you’d come to pick me up! Hehe!”
“Heh, none of that. I’m ordering you to get up and go home. Liu Ma was worried sick! If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t even bother with you. You’re grown up but still making others worry. Can you act a little more mature?”
“You think I’m not mature… I can’t protect you or take care of you, right? I will… I will grow up for you. Believe me! I will give you enough security.” Yiyang patted her chest, swearing solemnly.
Zhiyu rolled her eyes at Yiyang’s answer, which didn’t address the point. She grabbed her arm, draping it over her shoulder, supporting her waist, and they slowly staggered out of the bar together.
Just outside, Yiyang suddenly vomited, some of it soiling Zhiyu’s jacket. Always neat, Zhiyu frowned. Acting all mature while being this messy—immature! Absolutely childish!
Once Yiyang was done, Zhiyu helped her walk to the car. At the vehicle, she tossed her dirty jacket in the front and opened the rear door to help the drunk girl in.
But the brat was surprisingly strong even drunk. She sprawled sideways in the back seat, dragging Zhiyu down with her. Furious, Zhiyu tried to move, but Yiyang wrapped her arms around her, pressing her face against Zhiyu’s slightly exposed chest.
“Zhiyu, do you know why I like you? I like your calm smile, pure without impurity. I like your gentle care, your fear when seeing a mouse, and I even like it when you’re… without clothes…”
The last part made Zhiyu blush furiously. Embarrassed, she blocked her mouth: “Pervert! So your ‘love’ is so shallow? You just like my body, right?”
Yiyang closed her eyes, removed Zhiyu’s hand, hugged her tighter, and whispered, “No, listen! I don’t just like your body. I uncontrollably love all of you. Even when we argue, I find you cute. I used to have nightmares, but now all my dreams are about you. Isn’t that love?”
“You just like what you can’t have. Honestly, how many girls have you messed with?”
“Zhiyu, though I may look wild and reckless, I really haven’t been with anyone… not even Lin Wei…”
“Impossible! Didn’t you say people were lining up to pursue you?” Even drunk, Zhiyu didn’t believe her.
“I… I admit I was reckless after Lin Wei left, drinking almost daily, entertaining advances from other women, but I had my boundaries. I never slept with anyone… not even kissed more than three women in 26 years.”
“I’m not interested in your romantic history. Can you just let go of me?”
“I won’t. You need to hear this… The three women I kissed: one was my deceased mother, one was Lin Wei (the woman you saw today, my first love), and the third is you…”
Zhiyu didn’t know how to respond. Unsure if Yiyang was telling the truth, she froze as he cupped her face again.
“Zhiyu, can you accept this side of me? I promise I’ll only ever love you, okay?”
Hearing the intimate nickname from Yiyang, Zhiyu felt goosebumps—never had her parents called her that.
“Zhang Yiyang, I don’t care if you’re rational or not, listen carefully: this is all your wishful thinking. I’m your senior in age, and it’s impossible between us. Please don’t call me so intimately again—I’m afraid people will misunderstand…”
“Senior? How convenient. Should I call you Mom then? Don’t you think that’s cruel to me?”
“I don’t expect you to call me that. I just hope you understand our relationship. You can treat me as a friend, but nothing more, alright?”
Hearing this, Yiyang dejectedly lowered his hands, turning his face away silently. Zhiyu struggled to get up, properly positioning his legs, closing the car door, and sitting in the driver’s seat.
Yiyang quietly cried in the back seat. Her heart ached. Finally confronting her feelings only to be rejected, facing someone she liked and having to treat her as a “mother-daughter” or friend—it was impossible.
Without realizing it, both returned home lost in thought. Liu Ma had been pacing anxiously at the door and rushed out when the car lights appeared.
“Yiyang, what happened? Did your old problem flare up again? How many times have I told you…” Liu Ma scolded, noticing Yiyang collapsed in the back.
“She probably drank too much with clients today. Don’t blame her. Her phone died, that’s why she didn’t answer. Let’s just get her upstairs to rest,” Zhiyu lied for the first time to avoid Liu Ma worrying.
As Liu Ma and Zhiyu helped Yiyang, she suddenly pushed Zhiyu away, eyes red: “I don’t need your kindness!”
“This child! Zhiyu even came to pick you up while having a headache, and you speak to her so rudely, without a single thank you.” Liu Ma didn’t know what had happened earlier; she only saw Yiyang’s usual lack of manners toward Zhiyu.
Liu Ma helped Yiyang upstairs alone. Watching them leave, Zhiyu reflected on the sweet, tender Yiyang from before versus the brat-turned-demon now—it was like two different people. Yet her heart still longed for the gentler version.
That night, Yiyang couldn’t sleep. She didn’t know how to face Zhiyu, why she loved someone she couldn’t love, why that woman hadn’t appeared sooner—and why it had to be her father’s woman.
Thinking of Zhiyu’s cold rejection, Yiyang felt a chill in her heart. Did Zhiyu really hate her? Yet during the kiss, her body’s reaction suggested otherwise. Zhiyu’s acting couldn’t be that good—so it wasn’t fake.
Yiyang spent a night like a woman counting flower petals, trying to figure out if odd numbers meant love and even numbers didn’t, ultimately concluding nothing—only ending with dark circles under her eyes.