Flirting Recklessly With the White Moonlight Will Get You Marked - Chapter 16
16:
The situation was clear: Song Qingre hadn’t lied, and Yan Qingqiu had indeed “kept” her, reducing Song Qingre to the humiliating role as her mistress.
Song Qingre lowered her eyes, her expression pained, as if struggling in despair.
But why did Qiuqiu look even more tormented than her?
Su Xingjie’s mind raced before snapping back to reality. Yan Qingqiu bore none of the arrogance expected of a sugar mommy—she seemed more like the victim, forced into the role. But since when did “forced sugar mommies” exist?
There must’ve been some willingness involved.
The thought made her dizzier.
Su Xingjie turned and gripped Yan Qingqiu’s shoulders, shaking her in disbelief. Her best friend—who’d pursued Fu Ye for years, had gone and “kept” Song Qingre? Has the world gone mad?
“Qiuqiu, did you… did you turn to Song Qingre because you couldn’t have Fu Ye? To experience love through buying her?” Su Xingjie couldn’t fathom it.
Yan Qingqiu, desperate for an excuse, replied lifelessly, “Y-yeah, you could say that… I just… suddenly wanted to be loved.”
Su Xingjie’s worldview shattered into fragments.
Even with Yan Qingqiu’s confession, she couldn’t reconcile it. The same Yan Qingqiu who’d once wanted to stab Song Qingre was now in a physical relationship with her.
“Xingxing, stop shaking me… I’m dizzy…” Yan Qingqiu weakly protested.
Su Xingjie was so shocked her face twisted. She released Yan Qingqiu, cheeks flushed—a button of her blouse popping open to reveal a crescent of cleavage. She tugged at it briefly before giving up.
Yan Qingqiu glanced between Song Qingre and Su Xingjie.
Song Qingre, ever the dutiful mistress—stepped forward to block Yan Qingqiu’s view. She pulled out a makeup wipe and cleaned Yan Qingqiu’s lips, her thumb lingering on the plush cupid’s bow for two seconds before resting on her shoulder.
Yan Qingqiu wore a spaghetti-strap dress, the thin straps digging into her skin. Su Xingjie’s earlier grip had left red marks, now burning under Song Qingre’s touch.
“Had enough of humiliating me? You must be so pleased, you’ve broken my heart.” Song Qingre exhaled, her warm breath brushing Yan Qingqiu’s nose. Her long lashes fluttered, glistening as if wet. “I’ll never escape your grasp, will I?”
Is she… that hurt?
Yan Qingqiu froze, panic rising. She pushed Song Qingre back. “Don’t touch me. Go inside. Now. That’s an order.”
“Then… master, I’ll go in first.” Song Qingre’s voice softened. “I didn’t perform well today… You won’t punish me, will you?”
Her eyes crinkled with a pain so laced with tenderness it terrified Yan Qingqiu even more.
Yan Qingqiu turned away, refusing to look at her—or at Su Xingjie’s shell-shocked face.
Song Qingre pushed the door open but paused at the threshold.
Su Xingjie stared at Yan Qingqiu, lips parting and closing a thousand words trapped in her throat.
“You actually kept her? But… why?”
It felt as absurd as being selected for a moon landing, only to turn around and find Earth’s population had instantly migrated to Mars.
Yan Qingqiu nodded, forcing bravado. “Yeah, I kept her. Surprised?”
Mainly because I never expected you to find out. This is too dramatic.
She scrambled for an explanation. “I was just… caught up in the moment, you know? If I didn’t keep her, Fu Ye would’ve done it. So I stepped up.”
Su Xingjie’s devastated silence made Yan Qingqiu’s heart ache harder. She patted her friend’s shoulder. “Once she pays me back, it’ll be over. I’m just putting her in her place. Did you see how submissive she was? Obeying my every word—”
“But it feels like she’s the one controlling you. You’ve got no backbone,” Su Xingjie whispered.
Yan Qingqiu: Funny, I feel the same way.
“Nonsense!” Yan Qingqiu soothed her with sweet nothings until Su Xingjie calmed down. She then guided her outside, studying her expression. “Still hungry?”
As they left the terrace, Su Xingjie circled back. “So you really just kept her to humiliate her, toy with her—and crush her pride, right?”
Yan Qingqiu spotted a silhouette upstairs and hurriedly pulled out a chair for Su Xingjie. “Drink some water…”
Su Xingjie sipped her tea, still uneasy. “Qiu-bao… I’m just so shocked.”
Yan Qingqiu nodded. Honestly, me too.
“And I don’t really get it.”
Yeah, same.
Yan Qingqiu sighed.
“Maybe you need time to process. Let’s call it a night.”
Su Xingjie did need to decompress. Propping her chin on her hand, she groaned. “I should’ve realized… when you kissed her, it was already weird.”
Normal people won’t do that.
Worried Su Xingjie might drive unsafely after the shock, Yan Qingqiu quietly ordered a designated driver on her phone. This topic can’t continue. The more I talk, the more I’ll slip up.
“You sure you won’t come to my place? Song Qingre gives me the creeps…” Su Xingjie scooted her chair closer. “Stay with me. I feel like you’re sinking deeper. We need to talk, did you fall into her trap?”
“I…” Yan Qingqiu nearly bit her tongue.
“You can’t just switch from obsessing over Fu Ye to suddenly liking Song Qingre, right?” Su Xingjie’s tone turned sour.
“Of course not!” Yan Qingqiu said firmly. “Once she repays the money, we’re done. Don’t overthink it. I’ll be fine.”
I swear I’ll draw a clear line with Song Qingre from now on!
Su Xingjie still couldn’t accept it. Grumbling, she concluded, “Women really shouldn’t have too much money.”
Yan Qingqiu quickly corrected her. “Xingxing, don’t say that. Women—especially rich, gorgeous ones like you are endlessly captivating.”
Su Xingjie perked up slightly. “Then transfer the ‘keeping’ relationship to me. I think Song Qingre’s just manipulating you.”
“No… I’m touched, but I’ll bear this pain alone.” If even I can’t handle Song Qingre, how can I let my best friend suffer? She lowered her voice. “It’s complicated.”
Su Xingjie was at a loss.
Something’s off.
Since when is Song Qingre the type to be trampled on?
She wanted to say more but felt a missing piece.
—
By the time Song Qingre returned upstairs, the tea had gone cold. Ye Sichun reached for the teapot, her gaze flickering to Song Qingre’s faintly curved lips—a smile—and the summer-bright glint in her eyes.
Song Qingre seemed unable to suppress her amusement, tracing the patterns on her teacup.
Ye Sichun regretted not joining the spectacle earlier. “That’s funny?”
Song Qingre sipped the cold tea. “Not funny… adorable.”
Ye Sichun glanced downstairs, where the two were settling their bill. “Not going with them? What if your little sister doesn’t go home tonight?”
Song Qingre stood. “She’ll go home tonight.”
Ye Sichun rose to leave but hesitated, watching Song Qingre exit. Below, after some exchanged words, Song Qingre opened the passenger door with a graceful gesture. Yan Qingqiu fidgeted, eyebrows knotted, before finally buckling herself in.
“?”
Damn, impressive.
—
The car ride was silent, tension thick in the confined space.
Yan Qingqiu clutched her phone, catching whiffs of a sweet, citrusy pheromone drifting toward her. She didn’t dare mention it.
Then her phone chimed, another message from an unknown number:
FY: [Why didn’t you wait? The server said you came.]
It practically screamed: You came for me. You still care.
Fuming, Yan Qingqiu typed furiously:
[Did that server also tell you Song Qingre and I made out again? She kissed my lips until it was swollen. Everyone saw. So embarrassing. Thanks for calling her over to kiss me~]
FY: [Song Qingre? I never called her. Stop using her to provoke me.]
Liar. Yan Qingqiu nearly gagged. She blocked the number.
Peeking at Song Qingre, she worried she’d seen the texts—but Song Qingre kept her eyes on the road, the picture of professionalism.
Damn that trash man. This is all his fault!
Her thoughts were interrupted by a ding in her mind. She jolted upright.
“What’s wrong?” Song Qingre asked.
Yan Qingqiu turned away, not answering.
The system chirped: [Congratulations, Host! Plot exploration reached 49%! Just 1% more to hit the halfway mark. You’re on track to make history as the fastest completer! Rewards will double upon submission, keep pushing for first place!]
Yan Qingqiu was stunned. I did nothing! How did the plot progress?
Does meeting Fu Ye trigger something?
Like… the female lead running away in tears, the male lead chasing after her—”Listen to me!” “I won’t!”—ending in a passionate rain kiss?
Yan Qingqiu shuddered.
If she were involved, the plot would twist into: Song Qingre misunderstanding her, storming off, Yan Qingqiu chasing her to a hotel, only for Song Qingre to say, “Prove it. Kiss me. Fight for me.”
“…Tch.”
Disgustingly fitting. And kinda hot.
Yan Qingqiu glanced at Song Qingre, then out the window.
They were almost home.
Song Qingre parked and tapped the steering wheel. Before Yan Qingqiu could refuse, Song Qingre leaned over to unbuckle her seatbelt.
“Anything else to say about today?” Song Qingre asked.
“From now on, don’t call yourself—” Yan Qingqiu spotted the butler waiting at the door, his smile unbearably knowing.
“Fvck.” Yan Qingqiu’s face burned. She shoved Song Qingre away.
Song Qingre murmured, “Oh? You want me to fvck what from now on?”
The words sent a jolt down Yan Qingqiu’s spine. She scrambled out of the car, the atmosphere suffocating.
Get a grip.
She rubbed her cheeks, trying to cool down.
Did I misread the character dynamics? Is Song Qingre the female lead… and me too? Are we in some steamy GL subplot?
Does that make me play the game’s paywalled content?
No fucking way.
Yan Qingqiu bolted into the yard, face aflame.
Song Qingre reclined in her seat, lazily watching her flee.
The lingering scent in the air teased her restless emotions. Once calm, she took out her phone and snapped a photo of Yan Qingqiu’s retreating figure, adjusting the privacy settings.
A minute later, her Moments(WeChat) updated:
[Qiuqiu smells so sweet.]
Ye Sichun instantly liked and commented:
[B1tch, you’re both Alphas. Since when do Alphas “smell sweet”?]
Song Qingre wiped the lipstick stain from her thumb, pausing to sniff it. She glanced at Yan Qingqiu’s wobbly gait, then back at her phone.
Her fingertips carried… omega pheromones?