Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 32

“Mmm…” This sudden kiss left Zhiyu no time to evade. It was the second time she’d been forcibly kissed. She was starting to despise this little kid, who was always so overbearing and never considered her feelings.

Thinking about this, Zhiyu started hitting and trying to push her body away, but Yiyang gripped her tightly, preventing her from moving. With lightning speed, she pulled Zhiyu up, and astonishingly, their lips remained firmly pressed together without the slightest break.

The current situation was that Yiyang was now sitting in the chair, and Zhiyu was forcefully seated on her lap. Her entire body was pinned down, unable to move, and the kiss grew deeper. The quiet office was filled with the sound of their ragged breathing and the exchange of saliva.

As the kiss became more passionate, Zhiyu went from initial confusion to a growing sense of resentment and humiliation. She used all her strength to bite Yiyang’s lip, and at the same time, her tears began to fall.

Yiyang had been completely lost in the kiss, even feeling that the woman in her arms was slowly beginning to follow her rhythm. But she hadn’t expected to be bitten so viciously just as things were getting good. The pain was excruciating, but when she opened her eyes and saw the person in her arms crying, she panicked. She completely forgot about her injured, punished lip.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I was wrong, please don’t cry!” Yiyang hugged her tightly, patting her back and constantly trying to comfort her.

“Why are you like this? Why are you doing this to me…” Zhiyu sobbed, hitting Yiyang’s back with her hands.

Listening to the woman in her arms cry with suppressed emotion, Yiyang felt her heart clench with intense pity. She hugged Zhiyu’s head, resting it on her shoulder. At the same time, she felt even more certain of her feelings. This woman affected all her emotions.

“Why won’t you let me go? What exactly do you want me to do?”

“I’ve thought about giving up, but I can’t. I can’t bear to. I’ve never fallen in love for so long, and now that I’ve finally met you, how can you ask me to give up?”

“We haven’t known each other for long, and our feelings aren’t deep. Let me go, please. I’m begging you! You’ll find the person who is right for you.” Zhiyu pleaded.

“Do you really dislike me that much? Do you really hope I go find someone else?”

“It’s not about liking or disliking. I’ve already explained it to you: we’re fundamentally impossible. Don’t force me!”

“So everything I’ve done has felt like a forcing and a pressure to you? Then your working late tonight was also fake, just to avoid me, wasn’t it?” Yiyang cupped her tear-stained face and asked sadly.

Zhiyu looked at the sorrowful and young face before her and finally couldn’t bear to say any more harsh words. She silently reached out and smoothed the furrow in Yiyang’s brow, just looking at her without speaking.

The silence at this moment represented her acquiescence. Yiyang felt deeply hurt and was also remorseful about her own impulsiveness. Because of her, Zhiyu didn’t even dare to go home now. It seemed she had been too hasty.

The two stared at each other for a long time. Yiyang gently took Zhiyu’s hand, holding it in her own, and said slowly: “I won’t force you anymore. How about we start as friends? Are you willing to accept me as a friend?”

Knowing that sometimes you must step back to gain ground, this move by Yiyang was actually a strategic retreat. She would stay by her side as a friend, protecting her, and letting her slowly get to know and understand everything about her. As for whether Zhiyu would eventually accept her, that could be set aside for now.

Hearing her say this, the stone in Zhiyu’s heart gradually lifted. She looked down at their current posture, stood up awkwardly, and said: “You said it. No going back on your word. Little kid, let’s go home!”

Yiyang smiled and stood up, leaning in to give her a light peck on the lips: “Okay, old woman, let’s go home!”

“You…” This sudden, light kiss made Zhiyu blush again. She had just agreed to be friends, so what was with this intimate behaviour now?

Yiyang saw her confusion and nonchalantly took her hand and held it. “In ancient times, sworn brothers and adopted siblings had ceremonies. Let’s make a kiss-friendship.”

“Where did you hear that? Utter nonsense!” Zhiyu thought she was talking rubbish. She shook off the hand that was gripping hers and walked out in her high heels.

“Woman, what does ‘utter nonsense’ mean? Teach me!” Yiyang trotted happily after her.

“Aren’t you very smart? Do you still need me to teach you?”

“Yes, I do. How about this: I’ll teach you Mandarin, and you teach me Cantonese? We can exchange knowledge.”

“Too lazy to bother with you! (費事睬你 – Cantonese idiom)”

“If you won’t bother with me, then I’ll bother with you. I’m going to stick to you, my good friend.” Though she said this out loud, Yiyang’s true thoughts were: This is the Shen Zhiyu I know! I’ll slowly transition from being a good friend to being your good lover. Just wait until I win you over!

Yiyang watched the woman in front of her transform instantly from a crying mess to a cool, arrogant figure, and she smiled with utter confidence. After turning off the office lights and locking the door, she quickly caught up with Zhiyu, who was waiting for the elevator, and retook her hand.

Zhiyu glanced at her questioningly. Yiyang just looked straight ahead and said slowly: “Good friends hold hands, it’s very normal. Don’t be nervous. I won’t do anything excessive without your permission in the future.”

Zhiyu felt as if she had just escaped one fire pit only to fall into another mud pit. That innocent, smiling face seemed full of schemes.

“Woman, is my face that beautiful? You’ll have plenty of opportunities to admire it later. You can touch and pinch all you want. Free for life!” Yiyang laughed at Zhiyu, who was staring at her, and pulled her hand into the elevator.

Zhiyu felt speechless. Also, having her hand held like this felt a bit awkward, especially since the little kid insisted on interlacing their fingers. Surely this wasn’t how friends held hands? Forgive this Hong Kong friend, who only studied and didn’t have many friends, for her ignorance.

When they reached the car, Yiyang reluctantly let go of her hand to open the door for Zhiyu. After Zhiyu got in, Yiyang thoughtfully fastened her seatbelt. The series of actions was smooth and seamless.

“Thank you!” Zhiyu said politely.

“Friends don’t say thank you! By the way, have you had dinner yet?”

“No!” Zhiyu had completely forgotten about dinner until Yiyang mentioned it. It was all the little kid’s fault.

“I’ll take you out to eat.”

“No need. I’ll just grab something simple when I get home. I don’t have an appetite.”

“No way. Going hungry will give you a stomach ache, and a stomach ache will make me feel bad.” Yiyang said this naturally while driving.

Hearing the last part, Zhiyu felt something was off again. Feel bad? In this world, only her parents would feel bad for her. Could this little kid, whom she had only known for a few months, actually feel this way for her?

Yiyang, unaware of what Zhiyu was thinking, happily drove her beloved to a restaurant she frequented, treated her to a delicious meal, and ate dinner with her again. Although she was full, she felt incredibly happy.

During the meal, Yiyang was extremely attentive, cutting her steak and pouring her drinks. Zhiyu was momentarily unaccustomed to it. When had this little kid ever been so nice to her?

Seeing Zhiyu staring at her, Yiyang teased: “Woman, do I have something on my face, or something? Why do you keep looking at me? Or are you quickly becoming attracted to me, maybe even falling in love with me?”

“May I ask, Miss Zhang Yiyang, where does your confidence come from?”

“Then tell me, why have you been staring at me unreservedly since we left the office? If you don’t like me, what does it mean?”

“I was thinking that when you’re not causing trouble, you’re quite cute and considerate. Being your girlfriend must be quite a happy thing!”

“Exactly! Exactly! Want to give it a try?” Yiyang was instantly energized by the compliment.

“Stop right there. We are just…”

“Ordinary friends! I get it!”

“Good that you know. Let’s not talk about that. Tell me about your ex-girlfriend. I think the two of you were quite well-matched—one immature, one assertive. And I can tell she still loves you. Why not give her a chance?” Zhiyu wanted to know about this little kid’s past and inner thoughts.

“Hmph, you keep calling me immature. Fine, you’re mature, okay? The fact that you care about my love life means you’re interested in me, right?”

“You can twist anything into anything. Never mind if you don’t want to talk!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll talk!”

And so, Yiyang generally recounted everything that had happened between her and Lin Wei. This was the first time she had been so honest with anyone about her past; even Liu Ma only knew bits and pieces.

“In that case, Lin Wei must have had a reason. Why not give her a chance to explain clearly, give her and yourself a chance?”

“It’s not as simple as you think. The greater the love, the greater the hate. And now, I have neither of those feelings for her anymore. I don’t want any further connection with her, besides, I…” Yiyang meaningfully glanced at Zhiyu. The meaning was clear: her heart was now occupied by someone else.

Though she didn’t say it, Zhiyu understood. She gave a stiff smile but didn’t respond, quickly finishing the rest of her spaghetti without saying another word. She felt that any further conversation would only ignite the bomb inside the little kid, so it was best to stop while they were ahead.

“Wait a moment, woman, you have ketchup on your mouth.” As she gave the warning, Yiyang reached out with her index finger and wiped it off, then put the finger in her own mouth and licked it clean, as if the taste was quite good.

“Are you serious? That’s really unhygienic!” Zhiyu grabbed the napkin on the table and wiped her mouth, blushing.

“It’s not the first time I’ve had your saliva. We’re friends, aren’t we? I don’t mind!”

“Well, I do mind!” Zhiyu said angrily and walked out.

Assertive! There’s an undeniable assertiveness concealed within her gentleness! The more I look at this woman, the more appealing she is. I, Zhang Yiyang, am going to pursue you until you’re mine. Shen Zhiyu, just wait until you fall for me!