Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 10

Qiao Fei arrived at school and completed her registration without any issues. But on the way there, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about Jing Xuan and Lan Qing. The more she thought about them, the heavier her heart felt.

“They look so perfect together. Someone like me doesn’t stand a chance. She’s beautiful, confident, and clearly has a place in his heart. He even helped her put on her shoes…”

She sighed bitterly, scolding herself in her mind. “What’s wrong with me? Why am I obsessing over a man like him? He helped me once and now I’m fantasizing about a future with him? Wake up, Qiao Fei! He has a girlfriend already. Don’t be so foolish. You’re not seriously thinking you owe him your heart for one act of kindness, are you? Ugh! Ridiculous! Totally crazy!”

As she muttered to herself and tapped her forehead in frustration, someone crept up behind her with a mischievous grin.

“Fei’er! What are you doing? If you keep hitting your head like that, it’ll swell up! And then what? Ugly and big-headed?” Liu Xinyu teased, startling Qiao Fei with a playful slap on the shoulder.

Qiao Fei jumped, then relaxed when she saw her best friend. “Xinyu, it’s you! You scared me. How are you going to make it up to me?”

Liu Xinyu grinned slyly. “What kind of compensation do you mean, hmm?”

Qiao Fei rolled her eyes. “Forget it. I’m not playing your silly games!”

“Fei’er, where are you off to now?” Xinyu asked, looping her arm through Qiao Fei’s.

“It’s still early. I was thinking of heading to the library to check if the new textbooks are in.”

“Then I’m coming too! I haven’t seen you all break—I missed you so much!”

Qiao Fei smiled and pinched her friend’s chubby cheek. “You’re such a clown. Alright, let’s go!”

Liu Xinyu had been Qiao Fei’s classmate from high school through college. Both were renowned beauties in the finance department, though each had her own charm. Qiao Fei exuded quiet elegance, while Liu

Xinyu was the epitome of sweet and adorable. She was a bit shorter than Qiao Fei, with big round eyes, a petite nose, and rosy lips. Her doll-like face and soft baby fat gave her the nickname “Yu Doll.” Outgoing, playful, and kind-hearted, Xinyu was well-liked at C University.

Her family ran a successful logistics business and had moved to City C to support her education, expanding their operations along the way. The Liu family adored Qiao Fei like one of their own, inviting her over for dinner weekly. She was more than just a friend; she was family.

As the two girls chatted and laughed on their way to the library, a figure suddenly stepped into their path.

“Fei’er, are you alright?” the man said with desperation. “I’m sorry. Everything that night was my fault. Please… give me another chance. Let’s start over, okay? I was wrong, Fei’er. I know I hurt you, but I love you

—I truly do. I’ll do better. Just please… forgive me.”

Qiao Fei’s face twisted in disgust when she saw who it was.

“Lin Hao,” she said coldly, “we’ve already broken up. You don’t get to ask if I’m okay. Everything about you disgusts me. Don’t show up in front of me again!”

The man was her ex-boyfriend—the same Lin Hao who had nearly assaulted her. Desperate, Lin Hao pleaded, “Fei’er, I know I was wrong. I was a monster that night! But I can change. Just one more chance, that’s all I ask!”

Qiao Fei could barely look at him. How could I have ever loved this man? She shook her head, trying to fight back tears. “It’s too late, Lin Hao,” she said softly, then walked past him without another word.

Seeing Liu Xinyu standing nearby, Lin Hao reached for her like a drowning man clutching a lifeline. “Xinyu, please, talk to her. Help me. She listens to you!”

“Ah! You’re hurting me!” Xinyu yelped as he grabbed her wrist.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to…” he stammered, quickly letting go.

Rubbing her reddened wrist, Xinyu said coolly, “I don’t know what happened between you two, but I’ll try to talk to her. That’s all I can promise.” Then she hurried to catch up with Qiao Fei.

Lin Hao started to follow but froze when Qiao Fei turned around and shot him a cold, unforgiving glare.

As she caught up, Xinyu was filled with worry. Something terrible must’ve happened over the break. If only she had stayed with Fei’er instead of going on that trip…

“Fei’er,” she said gently, “what really happened between you and Lin Hao?”

Qiao Fei remained silent, only shaking her head.

“Please tell me,” Xinyu pleaded. “We’re best friends. I don’t want to keep guessing. Maybe… maybe this is all just a misunderstanding?”

Qiao Fei stopped abruptly and looked her in the eye. “Xinyu… Lin Hao is a beast.”

And with that, she recounted what happened—the assault, her escape, and how someone had saved her. But she deliberately left out Jing Xuan’s name.

After hearing everything, Liu Xinyu’s face darkened with fury. “That scumbag! I can’t believe I ever defended him. Ugh, I’m so mad at myself!”

Qiao Fei gave her a small smile. “It’s okay. At least now I see his true colors. The one who ‘loved’ me the most turned out to be the one who hurt me the worst.”

Xinyu hugged her tightly, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Fei’er… I should’ve stayed. I should’ve never left you alone. If I had known—if only I had made you come with me…”

“There you go crying again,” Qiao Fei said gently, patting her back. “You’re like a baby. I couldn’t just leave everything and go on a trip, you know. Now it’s over, and I’m fine. So, stop crying, Yu Doll.”

“You’re treating me like a kid again!” Xinyu sniffled with a pout.

“Alright, alright! I’ll tell you everything from now on, okay?”

“Hmph. You better!” Xinyu said, and the two girls burst into laughter. The sun seemed to shine a little brighter as they walked off, chatting like nothing had ever gone wrong.
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The next day, between classes, Liu Xinyu bumped into Lin Hao in the hallway.

“Xinyu!” he called out eagerly. “How’s it going? Did you talk to Fei’er? She’s still ignoring me—can you help me out?”

Xinyu looked at him with disdain and stepped aside. “Lin Hao, do you even hear yourself? Fei’er treated you so well, and what did you do? Don’t ever go near her again. She deserves someone so much better than you.”

With a glare, she stormed off.

Lin Hao watched her disappear down the hall, unsurprised by her sudden shift in attitude. But as he stood there alone, a shadow crossed his face and something twisted in his expression.

“Qiao Fei,” he muttered darkly, “don’t blame me. You’re mine. You’ll always be mine. You can’t escape me. I swear it.”