Flirting Recklessly With the White Moonlight Will Get You Marked - Chapter 28
28:
The bathroom door was locked, the faucet turned on, water gushing out. Yan Qingqiu dipped her fingers under the stream, slowly washing them.
The intense gaze from behind made her scrub harder. She glanced back through the mirror several times. Song Qingre stood there, silent, watching her quietly, a storm of anger simmering beneath her calm exterior.
“Mm…”
Yan Qingqiu lowered her head, but before she could lift it, arms wrapped around her waist. Song Qingre kissed her cheek.
But just her cheek, why only her cheek?
Those lips lingered at the corner of her mouth.
“Why not kiss my lips?” Yan Qingqiu tilted her body. She understood now why the younger “her” was always idle, always wanting to kiss Song Qingre.
But Song Qingre always refused her, silently, never taking the initiative, not even when she was angry would she kiss her first.
“Because you smell like essential oils from others,” Song Qingre said, her fingers inching forward as if they could grip her neck.
Her voice was cold, chilling.
Yan Qingqiu leaned into her shoulder. “Stop talking.”
Song Qingre didn’t respond, so Yan Qingqiu continued, “My glands didn’t touch anyone else.”
She added, “My clothes were pretty sheer today.”
“And you still dared to roll over them?” Song Qingre countered.
Yan Qingqiu pressed hard against her shoulder, wanting to retaliate, her forehead nudging forcefully. So frustrating, Song Qingre completely missed her point.
She was playing dumb on purpose!
A knock came from outside, and Yan Qingqiu’s fully charged phone kept buzzing, everyone was looking for her. The live stream was a huge success, and the company was throwing a celebration banquet.
Yan Fu was also searching for her, worried something might’ve happened. With Alphas everywhere in the company, what if some reckless one provoked her?
Yan Qingqiu checked her phone, her fingers tingling from the vibrations.
The reckless Alpha took her phone and answered, “Hello, Uncle. Yes, Qiuqiu’s with me, in the bathroom… Mm.”
Yan Qingqiu leaned against her weakly. This woman just blurted it out, couldn’t she be more discreet? She dropped her hand, wanting to pinch Song Qingre but stopped, knowing she’d say something even worse.
Fuming silently, Yan Qingqiu thought this woman was infuriating.
“Okay, I’ll bring her over soon,” Song Qingre said, handing the phone back. Yan Qingqiu gripped it tightly as Song Qingre let go of her waist. “Your dad says to come eat.”
“I’m not deaf,” Yan Qingqiu snapped, trying to pull away, but her legs wouldn’t steady. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“Hm?” Song Qingre tilted her head, puzzled for a moment before understanding.
Yan Qingqiu, barely steady, nearly collapsed. She should’ve snapped back, her fists clenching.
She stomped into a stall, fuming.
When she came out, Song Qingre asked, “All done?”
Yan Qingqiu bit her lip, silent.
Everyone was waiting at the live stream room’s entrance, dozens of eyes on her. Yan Fu came over, checking she was okay, relieved.
“If you’re not feeling well, I’ll take you home.”
“I’m fine,” Yan Qingqiu said, brushing her hair behind her ear. She took a few steps, legs trembling, and everyone noticed. “It’s the heels, I’m not used to walking in them.”
Su Xingjie stood beside her, wanting to speak but finding no opening.
Yan Qingqiu didn’t dare get too close to her friend with Song Qingre nearby. She asked, “Your models okay?”
As she spoke, the dark-skinned spicy girl, Miaomiao, glanced at her again, her eyes too direct. Yan Qingqiu caught it, was she interested in her?
Her guess soon became reality. Miaomiao approached, phone in hand, her eyes hopeful. “Miss Yan, can I get your contact info?”
Yan Qingqiu stood between Su Xingjie and Song Qingre. Su Xingjie’s face darkened, while Song Qingre remained expressionless.
At Miaomiao’s boldness, Su Xingjie’s expression turned icy. “I’ll give it to you later. Go back to the team.”
Miaomiao nodded and rejoined the models. The seventeen others looked at her, then Miaomiao shook her head, and all eighteen turned to Yan Qingqiu.
Her legs felt unsteady.
They headed down the corridor to the elevator, too crowded for one trip. The main group went first. In the elevator, Yan Qingqiu caught her breath quietly.
That was terrifying.
On the first floor, Song Qingre steadied her waist to keep her from falling.
Yan Qingqiu looked up, seeing a long red banner on the company building: “Fu Ye, no entry without 500 million yuan.”
She stepped back, impressed. Her dad’s secretary worked fast. She snapped a photo, planning to use it to taunt the scumbag later.
Yan Fu said, “I was going to put up a banner with the sales figures, but I thought this would make you happier.”
“This is perfect. No need for the sales, just don’t flaunt wealth,” Yan Qingqiu said, unsure if it was a good idea but loving this one. She took a few more photos.
As she bent to get in the car, a horn sounded behind. She glanced back, spotting a convoy, likely Fu Ye’s people, but too far to see clearly.
After driving a bit, she looked again. The car didn’t follow, but Su Xingjie’s did. Yan Qingqiu quietly looked away. Her phone, charged during the stream, was flooded with notifications.
Her rolling had pushed her to the limit, and online, it was like a festival. Netizens made GIFs of her most provocative moves, her arched neck, light gold heels on the white floor, her exhausted collapse, eyelashes half-closed, breathing softly as she gazed at the ceiling, body rising and falling.
Her golden hair framed her flushed face, stunning.
A true sleeping beauty.
Those who saw the stream raved about their luck; those who missed it wailed, begging for a rerun, willing to buy Yan Corp’s products.
But Yan Corp was sold out. Any refund was instantly snatched up, leaving no stock.
Comments flooded in: [Please, no stream is fine, just give us her gorgeous photos. I’m Sister Qiuqiu’s dog, begging for more!]
[Please restock and stream again! I’m dying to see it. When’s the replay? I had an exam and missed it, I’m losing it!]
[She really did it, she rolled! Sorry, I’m the escaped 19th model. I’m slathering last year’s moisturizer on my face tonight, so thrilling. I want Qiuqiu to rub oil on me!]
[Who knew Yan Qingqiu, post-lovesick phase, is a normal beauty? Shocked! But I’m in love! Debut now, I’ll definitely stan you!]
Yan Qingqiu pinched her nose, unsure if this was good. Her dad’s respectable brand, a national pride, had been turned into this by her.
The comments didn’t sound like respectable people.
Thankfully, this was an ABO world, already a bit wild, so she’d adapted fast, outdoing everyone.
The online buzz was intense, and even she blushed reading it. No wonder Song Qingre was upset. If Yan Qingqiu saw someone else roll, she’d be shocked: “Bold, I couldn’t pull that off.”
She shifted, hiding her phone from Song Qingre to avoid provoking her “master.” Song Qingre was scrolling too.
“Qiuqiu,” someone called.
“Huh?” Yan Qingqiu jumped, breathing heavily. Song Qingre glanced at her, puzzled why Yan Fu’s call made her react like she’d done something wrong.
Yan Fu asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just saw a scary video. What’s up, Dad?”
“The media might want to interview you. Want to be in the public eye?” Yan Fu asked.
Hard to avoid it, she’d gone so wild, dominating trending lists. Everyone knew her now, her old image shattered. She was the “improper” woman.
“What’s up? Haven’t decided?” Worried she’d seem unambitious, she added, “Any plans, Dad? I don’t think I want to enter showbiz.”
Just chilling at home, doing nothing, buying bags—that was enough.
But if showbiz had beauties wanting to meet her, she’d check it out.
Acting, though? She was gorgeous but maybe not cut out for it.
No skills, no risky jobs.
“It’s fine. You’ve worked hard, rest up,” Yan Fu said.
Yan Qingqiu nodded. “Mm, mm, mm.”
“Want to travel abroad? I’ll arrange it,” Yan Fu asked.
Noticing her glance left, Yan Fu was delighted. He’d planned for her and Song Qingre to travel together, to bond. “Xiao Re, are you free? You wanna go with her?”
Yan Qingqiu’s heart raced. What was Dad doing?
Song Qingre looked ahead. “I’m fine either way. Up to Qiuqiu.”
Steadying herself, Yan Qingqiu said, “No rush. I’ll let you know when I want to go.”
“Alright.” Yan Fu was in a great mood.
—
“Junjian” was the city’s grandest club, a hotspot for the elite. You’d run into tycoons there.
Upstairs, they immediately encountered a familiar voice—Luo Xi, in the next private room, the door closed, her voice low, like she was crying, pleading with someone. “Brother, stop drinking. Why do you like her? She rolled over eighteen models without a thought for your feelings. Why keep chasing her? Don’t you hate her?”
“You don’t get it,” Fu Ye’s drunken voice replied. “I’ve found that old feeling. I still like the one who stunned me that whole summer.”
“Just because she cussed you out in an alley while you were smoking? What’s so special about that? Sober up!” Luo Xi snapped angrily.
Yan Qingqiu perked up, this was juicy. Luo Xi’s foggy brain was telling her brother to wake up, like the last-place student lecturing the second-to-last.
She wanted to join the drama, curious what’d happen if the protagonist showed up.
Eager to eavesdrop, she inched toward the door, but before she got close, Song Qingre grabbed her arm. “Let’s go. Eavesdropping’s rude.”
“Ugh, such a shame to miss out,” Yan Qingqiu said, but Song Qingre added, “Aren’t you afraid Fu Ye sees you and clings to you?”
“…Fair point.” Thinking of Fu Ye annoyed her, drunk and troublesome.
She followed Song Qingre upstairs. The club was vast, each floor uniquely decorated. Their private room was one floor up.
Yan Fu had reserved a whole floor. Everyone sat casually, ordering their own food. Yan Qingqiu sat next to Su Xingjie, propping her chin, ready to talk about the models.
Su Xingjie spoke first. “Don’t worry, I won’t let them add your contact.”
Yan Qingqiu wanted to say, Sis, you don’t have to be that strict. But with others nearby, she held back, unable to express her true thoughts.
With friends around, she stayed quiet, leaning to one side.
Su Xingjie, sensing her irritation, changed the topic. “By the way, I’m planning to release those promo shots you took. You could do a magazine spread.”
A waiter brought drinks. Yan Qingqiu poured coconut milk, one for her friend, one for herself, one for her “master.”
She nudged Song Qingre’s leg under the table: For you.
She turned back. “Your company’s magazine?”
“Yeah, a fashion mag. You’d be the cover,” Su Xingjie said.
Yan Qingqiu nodded eagerly. “Sounds good.”
As she spoke, she noticed models across the table snapping photos of her. Caught, they lowered their heads, giggling shyly. One, bolder, kept shooting even after Yan Qingqiu looked over, wildly audacious.
“Is that an Omega?” Yan Qingqiu asked.
“Yeah, a newbie. Probably floored by your rolling. A bunch of naive girls think you’re the ultimate Alpha,” Su Xingjie explained, not mentioning that the models nearly fought over who’d be in which position during the roll, all eager to meet the fierce Alpha Yan Qingqiu.
Hearing this, Yan Qingqiu felt pleased. In the real world, no girls were this bold with her. Here, a whole group liked her, guess she wasn’t wild enough back home.
She said seriously, “They’re young, don’t scold them.” They can like me a bit longer; it’s no burden.
“Alright, back to the cover.”
As Su Xingjie talked, Yan Qingqiu nodded along, clueless. She accidentally got sauce on her clothes, tried wiping it, and made it worse. Standing, she tugged at her outfit. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Su Xingjie stood too. “I’ll go with you.”
“No need.” Yan Qingqiu saw Song Qingre stand as well, feeling like a sandwiched candy, watched by all.
“I’ll be quick.”
She got up, thought for a moment, and placed her bag on Song Qingre’s lap. Worried her friends might overthink, she pulled out her bank card and set it by Su Xingjie, signaling: Watch my stuff. I’m not messing around, calm down.
Yan Qingqiu left the club, following signs to the bathroom. The place was huge and maze-like, but she found it and pushed the door open.
By chance, she ran into Luo Xi.
Both instantly checked behind the other for company, relaxing when they saw it was just them.
Yan Qingqiu didn’t like Luo Xi but didn’t hate her either.
Luo Xi, her top-spending hater, stood with arms crossed, glaring provocatively. “I saw your stream. You say you don’t like my brother, so why rush over here?”
Yan Qingqiu shrugged. “Technically, we just bumped into each other. Your brother probably knew I was here and came to catch me. Tell him I won’t let him off. Oh, and…” She smiled. “Thanks for buying our products. Backend says you spent the most, aside from another rich lady.”
“You…” Luo Xi fumed. She’d bought products hoping Yan Qingqiu’s antics would make Fu Ye give up. Instead, he gave up but was heartbroken, and loved her more.
“Don’t refund, though it doesn’t matter if you do,” Yan Qingqiu said, backing away, wary that Luo Xi might lash out. In heels, she wasn’t equipped to fight back. Getting beaten in a bathroom would be humiliating.
“How are you getting more shameless, Yan Qingqiu? Aren’t you embarrassed?” Luo Xi spat, furious.
“Don’t you want to roll over eighteen spicy models?” Yan Qingqiu shot back. Luo Xi’s lips twitched. Since Yan Qingqiu did the roll on live stream, it has become every woman’s goal to challenge their “weakness.”
Luo Xi swallowed, silent.
Yan Qingqiu caught the hint, she wanted it badly. Women understood women.
“Clinging to a cold guy, what’s the point? He doesn’t even care about you. Honestly, he’s chasing me now, and I find him annoying. I’d rather stay far away with my eighteen spicy models,” Yan Qingqiu said seriously, trying to fix her worldview.
Luo Xi glared, itching to curse her out.
But Yan Qingqiu’s sharp tongue left her speechless.
She went to wash her hands, scrubbing her clothes. “By the way, a question.”
Luo Xi, drying her hands, was about to leave. Yan Qingqiu blocked her. “Why run? Just answer a couple questions.”
Luo Xi crossed her arms, glaring with disgust. “You’re more annoying than Song Qingre.”
Yan Qingqiu ignored it. Whatever, they were both villainesses; who was judging whom?
“Your brother said he liked me first, what’s that about?”
“Yan Qingqiu!” Luo Xi raised her voice, clearly provoked. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
She pushed past to leave, but Yan Qingqiu blocked the door with her back. “Why so worked up? I just want details, not to get back with him. Do I look like I still love him? I just want to know if he was lying, his words are like farts.”
Luo Xi, enraged, snorted. “Don’t act high and mighty. He did like you, chased you for two days, then saw your true colors and lost interest. Stop being delusional.”
“He chased me for two days and saw my true colors? Was he just smitten by my looks?” Yan Qingqiu asked bluntly.
“You…” Luo Xi shut her eyes, then spilled the truth. “He chased you for half a year. But you were impossible, so he gave up. Then you clung to him.”
“Can you elaborate?” Yan Qingqiu sensed a big reveal, pulling out her notebook and pen to jot it down. “When did he chase me?”
Luo Xi eyed her like she was crazy. “You’re sick. Don’t you know this better than me?”
“No way. I didn’t even notice him chasing me. Help me piece together a timeline.”
Luo Xi looked at her like she was insane, but Yan Qingqiu blocked the door, threatening, “If you hit me, I’ll tell your brother you did, and say I’ll date him if he ignores you. Heh.”
“Damn it, Yan Qingqiu, you’re despicable,” Luo Xi said, looking every bit the classic villainess, pretty but brainless, stomping in anger.
She wanted to strangle Yan Qingqiu, unable to fathom why Fu Ye liked her more now despite her being worse than before.
“Second semester of sophomore year! You blonde bimbo!”
Yan Qingqiu noted it, asking, “When did he chase me?”
“Your textbook got torn, and he got you a new set.”
“Was I bullied? Spill the details…” Yan Qingqiu flipped to a new page, scribbling. Luo Xi gritted her teeth, sneering, “I tore it. I couldn’t stand you. He flirted with you, and you ignored him, stringing him along. He borrowed books for you, and not only did you use them, you kissed the cover, then pretended not to know him, acting aloof. Disgusting bimbo.”
Yan Qingqiu recorded it, critiquing, “Tearing someone’s book is bullying. How’s your character so rotten?”
“You dare call me out? You’ve done worse. Don’t forget, during the summer of senior year, you sent thugs to corner me. If my brother hadn’t passed by, who knows what you’d have done. Look at yourself before judging others,” Luo Xi said, her gaze scornful.
They were equally bad. Yan Qingqiu conceded her point, noting: “During my senior year, I fought Luo Xi, Fu Ye got fed up, then I chased him.”
“You got it wrong,” Luo Xi said, looking at her notes. “After our fight, you were still hot and cold with him, acting innocent like you didn’t know me. He bought your act, thinking you really didn’t recognize me. But we fought plenty at school, you were playing hard to get. Later, for other reasons, he saw through your two-faced act and stopped liking you. Then you chased him, but late affection is worth less than grass.”
Luo Xi gasped for breath after her rant.
“That makes sense. I feel the same about your brother, we’re just not meant to be,” Yan Qingqiu mused, stacking buffs in this world: You don’t like me, I love you; I don’t love you, now I love you again.
Luo Xi stared, incredulous. “You’re so weird.”
“When you stop loving him, you’ll get what I mean,” Yan Qingqiu said, showing her notebook to check for errors.
Luo Xi glanced at it, her handwriting was neat, but didn’t care to read. Suddenly, she smirked. “What, should I be like you? Stop liking my childhood friend and torment her instead? You’re the ruthless one.”
Fu Ye might not understand why Yan Qingqiu stopped liking him, but Luo Xi knew her character. This ruthless woman had turned on Song Qingre in just a year, nearly destroying her.
Hearing this, Yan Qingqiu’s pen paused. She dreaded hearing about “her” bullying Song Qingre, it was like a dull knife slicing her, wounding Song Qingre deeply with every cut.
She bit the inside of her cheek.
“You know about me and Song Qingre?”
Luo Xi noticed her unease and pressed on.
“Who doesn’t? Song Qingre was the school flower; gentle, beautiful, chased by many. But she had a blonde bimbo glued to her side, following her to and from school, even running upstairs during breaks. Sophomore and junior buildings were far apart, yet everyone heard ‘Xiao Re, Song Xiao Re.’ The whole school knew you two were betrothed. You said it yourself, you’d marry her when she differentiated into an Omega.”
“But you dumped her without mercy. I can’t stand Song Qingre either, but she was so pathetic. You insulted and humiliated her, yet she still begged, ‘Qiuqiu, don’t do this, come home, I’m sorry.’ I thought her calling you Qiuqiu was like begging. So pathetic, she let you treat her that way, hoping you’d glance at her.”
Luo Xi paused, then panicked. “Hey, don’t go crying to my brother saying I hit you!”
Yan Qingqiu didn’t respond, leaning against the door. Luo Xi, done with her, shoved her aside and stormed out, keeping her distance.
Yan Qingqiu’s gaze fell on the full-length mirror, faint pink under her eyes. She blinked rapidly twice, sighing softly.
Damn it.
Why’d this story have to be so angsty?
Ugh.
My OTP, please fight back.
Her phone buzzed twice.
Looking down, she saw a voice message from Song Qingre asking why she wasn’t back yet. She replied, “Coming soon, just wait. Got into it with Luo Xi in the bathroom.”
She tucked her notebook away, washed her hands, and headed to the private room upstairs, taking a detour to avoid the elevator. She accidentally ended up on the first floor.
Back at the table, she wiped her fingers. The plate was full of peeled shrimp.
Su Xingjie asked, “What took so long? Did you fight Luo Xi?”
“Not gonna lie, it was intense, almost came to blows,” Yan Qingqiu said, dipping a shrimp in sauce. Delicious. She squinted, asking the waiter for the menu to order king crab, something she’d seen online and found bland. She pointed at the menu; the waiter nodded.
Song Qingre offered a shrimp with her fingers. Yan Qingqiu leaned forward to eat it. Song Qingre
asked, “Didn’t outtalk her?”
“No way,” Yan Qingqiu retorted. “Do I look like I would?”
“Your eyes are wet,” Song Qingre said.
“Oh?” Yan Qingqiu wiped the back of her hand. “Probably got too heated, cursing, and cried a bit.”
She blinked, eyes wetter, her lashes failing to hold back the tears. She wiped again. “Pass me a tissue. Some sauce got in my eyes, stings.”
Song Qingre handed her a tissue. “Tilt your head.”
Yan Qingqiu did, and Song Qingre gently wiped her eyes. Soon, they felt better.
Hearing Luo Xi’s words, her heart ached like it was raining inside, and she hadn’t held back, crying in front of her.
So embarrassing.
The king crab arrived. Yan Qingqiu shared it, finding it fresh but unremarkable. Dipped in sauce,
it was better.
She still preferred shrimp.
When everyone was nearly done, Yan Fu had the secretary settle the bill. He gave Song Qingre the car keys to take Yan Qingqiu home. Su Xingjie, who drove herself, had to take the models back.
Yan Fu shook her hand. “Thanks for your help. I’ll send contracts for your models to get some endorsements.”
“No need to thank me. Qiuqiu and I are friends,” Su Xingjie smiled, getting in her car. To Yan
Qingqiu, she said, “Call me if you need anything.”
Yan Qingqiu nodded. “Drive safe.”
After their car left, Yan Qingqiu got in. As the car started, she heard arguing in the distance.
No need to guess, it was Luo Xi’s voice. Her luck was awful today, first clashing with Yan Qingqiu, now in a car accident.
Yan Qingqiu paused, scrolling her phone. Song Qingre asked curiously, “Not into gossip anymore? Didn’t you lose to her in that fight?”
“Too lazy to care.”
As she spoke, a honk sounded. Song Qingre didn’t drive off but turned toward the noise, asking,
“Need help?”
Yan Qingqiu saw the other driver, a familiar face, but she couldn’t place it. Song Qingre exchanged a few words with them.
The other waved at her, eyeing her hair. “Princess, I saw your stream, so spicy.”
Yan Qingqiu recognized her: Toni!
Toni did her hair, and she was thrilled with it.
Smiling, she asked, “Your car okay? Need help?”
“It’s fine. Waiting for traffic police to assign fault. You guys go,” Ye Sichun waved.
Yan Qingqiu eyed her sports car and the sleek silver-blue Aston Martin ahead, marveling that even rich people needed cops for accidents.
Song Qingre didn’t linger, steering toward home.
In the real world, Yan Qingqiu had earned a driver’s license for college credits but couldn’t afford a car. She hadn’t touched a steering wheel since the test, let alone a million-dollar luxury car.
Her old dream was to save a million, live off interest, and be a slacker forever, free from hardship.
The neon-lit city wasn’t much different from the steel jungle she’d lived in for twenty-four years.
Same night, same wind, same cycling seasons. This world was warm, romantic, and indulgent.
In reality, she was a broke worker with nothing.
The beauty made her wonder if this was a dying dream, choose to stay asleep, and she’d be truly gone.
“What are you thinking?” Song Qingre asked.
Yan Qingqiu looked at the scenery. “If you had a dream where everything was perfect, would you…” wake up?
The system interrupted: [Host, please don’t overly hint at the boundary between reality and the game. If noticed, unexpected things may happen.]
It pricked her nerve lightly as a warning.
Yan Qingqiu frowned, touching above her ear.
“Why’d you stop?” Song Qingre asked.
“I thought of a dream where I had everything. I didn’t want to wake up.”
Song Qingre let out an “Oh.”
After a long silence, nearing home, she said,
“Don’t you have everything in reality? What’s in the dream that keeps you hooked?”
Yan Qingqiu didn’t answer, her heart stung.
She didn’t know why this dream felt so perfect.
The car pulled into the courtyard. Maids waited to attend her. Yan Qingqiu tossed her bag to them.
“Miss, we’ve prepared your bath,” one said.
“Later. It’s not raining,” Yan Qingqiu said, stretching lazily. Noticing everyone staring, the awkwardness she’d suppressed surged back, mortifying.
She held a bag, pulling out a takeout box from the club. “I ate out today and packed some goodies.
Want some?”
The maids kept staring. Thinking they were skeptical, she said, “It’s untouched, fresh from the table.”
“We’ll eat, Miss,” the head maid, Du Huan, nodded, taking the box. Others opened it, revealing seafood, exclaiming, “Thank you, Miss!
Thanks for thinking of us!”
Yan Qingqiu handed leftover desserts to the butler.
“You guys eat. No need to wait for me tonight, I want to rest early.”
Under their gazes, she went upstairs, unlocked her door, and shook her head. These naive Betas were probably shocked by her model-rolling stunt.
She sighed. “Can’t help it, ugh.”
She grabbed pajamas, and while the maids ate downstairs, she opened her door, crouched, and slipped out, closing it behind her. Moving slowly, she saw Song Qingre opening her door, looking down.
“What are you… doing?” Song Qingre asked, baffled.
“You’ll see. Hurry, don’t let anyone spot me,” Yan Qingqiu urged, crouching by her legs, tapping the door lightly.
Song Qingre hummed, opened the door, and Yan Qingqiu darted in. Song Qingre closed it, and Yan Qingqiu headed to the bed, setting her clothes down. “On the bed, mind if it’s dirty?”
The room was unlit, illuminated only by streetlights streaming through the window, casting light on Yan Qingqiu’s smooth shoulders.
“Didn’t get enough rolling on the floor at the studio?” Song Qingre rubbed her wrist, her tone low and icy.
“I’m not rolling like before. Just say it,” Yan Qingqiu said, her shoulders tingling from the breeze. She rubbed them with her palm.
Song Qingre didn’t respond. Yan Qingqiu sat on the bed’s edge, hands propped, her heels making her legs awkward to position.
“Come on…” Yan Qingqiu said boldly. “Don’t hold back. You—”
“Do whatever you want.”
Song Qingre’s throat moved slightly. Yan Qingqiu glanced at her, eyes sparkling like a deep-sea mermaid’s, as if a blink could produce pearls. She turned her head away, avoiding Song Qingre’s gaze.
Being forward had already drained her courage. She bit her lip hard, unable to push further.
“Will you keep doing this?” Miss Song asked beside her.
Time moved forward in silence. Yan Qingqiu was nervous, the pearl bracelet on her wrist shifting as she moved. The string snapped under her motion, and white pearls scattered, rolling across the floor.
“Mm.” Yan Qingqiu’s voice trembled slightly, her body quivering as she looked at her.
She thought about standing, but Song Qingre scooped her up entirely.
Yan Qingqiu’s eyes widened slightly. Once is new, twice is familiar, was Song Qingre already this practiced at holding her?
She studied Song Qingre’s profile. Her slanted bangs cast half her face in shadow, giving her a brooding look. Beneath her gentle, calm surface, there was a danger that could tear Yan Qingqiu apart.
Song Qingre carried her step by step into the bathroom, asking, “Should I put you in, or do you want to do it yourself?”
Yan Qingqiu wanted to say she’d do it, but fear held her back.
She opted for selective silence, saying nothing.
Song Qingre set her down. Yan Qingqiu started undressing to bathe but felt too shy.
Forget it. She ended up sitting in the bathtub fully clothed. As she moved to step in, she glanced back. Song Qingre’s fingers, resting at her side, twitched slightly, she was indeed watching her.
Yan Qingqiu hurried into the tub, her back sinking into the water, splashing as her hair got soaked, water trailing down her cheeks.
Song Qingre turned on the faucet, helping her undo the clasp on her heels and placing them on the white tiled floor. Yan Qingqiu’s fingers gripped the tub’s edge.
Song Qingre took her hand, gently washing it, her slow movements exerting an invisible pressure on Yan Qingqiu.
Song Qingre sat quietly by the tub, her long pants damp from the water.
Yan Qingqiu could feel the slight tremble in Song Qingre’s fingertips as they pinched her cheek. Song Qingre had incredible restraint, holding back from scolding her harshly even now, truly terrifying…
“Lower your head,” Song Qingre said heavily, her tone commanding.
Yan Qingqiu’s neck stiffened, unable to move. She didn’t comply, was this about washing her hair?
She stared at her, unmoving for a long moment. Song Qingre leaned down, meeting her eyes and studying her face. “Qiuqiu, are you afraid of me?”
Yan Qingqiu didn’t dare answer, but the ripples spreading across the water betrayed her. She was a little afraid, a fear that had been there since she transmigrated and never stopped.
Song Qingre slowly lifted her head, her tone softening as she recalled, “Suddenly, I’m thinking of the past. Qiuqiu was so cute back then. Lots of people chased you, some even asked me to pass you love letters. But I tore up quite a few. My fingers would tremble, thinking if you found out, I’d be done for. You’d be shocked that your gentle sister would do something like that.”
Yan Qingqiu’s clothes covered her head, blinding her.
In the darkness, she lost her sense of direction. She was indeed a bit scared of Song Qingre, thinking she’d soon pull free, but she didn’t.
Song Qingre’s fingers rested on her chest, feeling her heartbeat, unsure if it was the same as before, unwilling to let her see her like this.
Her heart felt like it would explode.
“Lies build up from the first one—once, twice…” Song Qingre recalled softly.
Yan Qingqiu emerged from the clothes, her eyes red, gasping for breath after being smothered. She looked at Song Qingre helplessly, like a drenched kitten, pitiful and in need of care.
Outside, the moon was veiled by clouds, its hazy white shrouded in inky night. Song Qingre’s anger didn’t manifest in shouts; she remained gentle, carefully washing her.