Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 53
Liu Xingyu was, after all, still a child. And children often sulk and lash out at their parents. Back at home, no matter how earnestly Father and Mother Liu tried to reason with her, all they got in return were lukewarm, indifferent responses.
“Sigh…” Father Liu set down his newspaper. “Xingyu is probably still hung up on that pervert! Things can’t go on like this.”
Mother Liu placed a freshly brewed cup of tea in front of him and gently patted his shoulder. “She’s still young. Maybe she just needs more time. Let’s be patient. At least she still has Qiao Fei with her.”
“Who knows what Qiao Fei herself is going through? With her watching over Xingyu, something’s bound to go wrong.”
“What are you saying? I thought you liked that child. Besides, the Jiansheng family has been close with ours for ages.”
“I heard Qiao Fei’s boyfriend is already married—and his wife is pregnant. If that’s true, Qiao Fei might be the other woman!”
“That’s impossible. I’ve met Lin Hao—he seemed like a decent young man, and he and Qiao Fei looked like a good match.”
“They broke up ages ago! According to Xingyu, Qiao Fei’s current boyfriend is the CEO of a major corporation. Filthy rich.”
“And where exactly are you hearing all this gossip? Sounds like some tall tale to me.”
Mother Liu didn’t take it too seriously. She had watched Qiao Fei grow up and always thought of her as an outstanding young woman. Still, ever since the scandal involving Jing Xuan surfaced, Qiao Fei’s name had been making more and more headlines.
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C University.
“Miss Qiao Fei, how long have you been in a relationship with Jing Xuan? Were you aware he was married at the time?”
“Miss Qiao Fei, how did you feel when you found out Jing Xuan already had a wife?”
“What are your plans now? Do you intend to leave him?”
“Miss Qiao Fei, is it true that your relationship with Jing Xuan is because—”
Just as Qiao Fei stepped out of class, a mob of reporters swarmed around her. Camera flashes blinded her, making it impossible to keep her eyes open.
“Ah!” Qiao Fei was on the verge of breaking down.
“What are you all doing? This is a school campus!” Lin Hao suddenly stepped in, shielding the disoriented Qiao Fei from the crowd.
“Excuse me, who are you? Are you Miss Qiao Fei’s classmate? What’s your take on all of this?”
The reporters were like leeches—once they latched on, they wouldn’t let go.
“Stop questioning her already! Qiao Fei isn’t what you think she is—it’s Jing Xuan who’s been pestering her nonstop! Both of us have been trying to get rid of that lunatic! Now that his secret’s out, go ask him, not us!”
“So, you’re saying you are…?”
“That’s right,” Lin Hao declared confidently. “I’m Qiao Fei’s boyfriend!”
Qiao Fei’s eyes widened. Oh my God, what nonsense is he spouting?
Reporters immediately turned their microphones and cameras toward her again.
“Is this true, Miss Qiao Fei? Is what he said correct?”
“No! It’s not true! Don’t believe him—I don’t even know who he is!”
“Fei’er, you still won’t forgive me?” Lin Hao grabbed her shoulders, staring into her eyes with a fake look of affection. Secretly, he was signaling for her to cooperate.
But Qiao Fei wasn’t having it. She shrugged off his hands and turned calmly to face the cameras.
“I only have one thing to say: I love Jing Xuan—no matter who he is.”
Even if “he” is, like me, a woman.
Xuan… loving you is anything but easy.
With that, Qiao Fei boldly walked out of the crowd. The reporters tried to follow, but the campus security had already intervened.
Lin Hao stood frozen, dumbfounded. He had never seen this side of Qiao Fei. She was no longer the fragile girl he once knew—now she was strong, resolute, and dazzling.
Shen Yiling strolled leisurely up to him, leaned in close to his ear with a playful yet mocking tone, her breath warm and fragrant.
“Heh… You brought this humiliation on yourself.”
Then she sauntered away with grace.
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Far away in Singapore, Jing Xuan lay on her back, hands behind her head, reflecting on everything that had happened lately.
Shuangji’s resignation might not be entirely a bad thing. The only concern was how she was handling the emotional blow. This time, Shuangji had really fallen—deeply.
“Xuan, are you inside?”
It was Lan Qing’s voice. Jing Xuan snapped out of her thoughts and sat up. “Yes, I’m here!”
Lan Qing entered, a troubled look on her face. She walked over to Jing Xuan, who gently took her hand.
“What’s wrong, little one?”
“I… I want you to come back to Japan with me for a while.”
“Feeling homesick?”
“No, it’s… it’s…”
“Hm?”
Lan Qing sighed and pulled out an elegant invitation card from behind her back, handing it to Jing Xuan.
Jing Xuan opened it. It was a wedding invitation—lavish and clearly not from an ordinary family.
“Iga Nianqing?”
“Mm-hmm. Sister Nianqing is getting married.”
“That should be a happy occasion. Why does it make my little girl look so glum?”
Lan Qing leaned quietly into Jing Xuan’s arms.
“Xuan, do you know who she’s marrying? It’s Nishikawa Goro—the same man I was once engaged to. I know my sister doesn’t love him. I just… I really hope she can find happiness.”
There may be nothing sadder for a woman than marrying someone she doesn’t love. Nianqing was likely going through with the marriage because of Lan Qing, which explained her sorrow.
“Then… does Nianqing have someone she truly loves?”
“She does. She does.”
“Then maybe we can help bring them together. That way, she’ll be happy, and you won’t have to worry anymore. Hmm?”
Jing Xuan rested her forehead gently against Lan Qing’s and smiled reassuringly.
“They… they’ll never be together.”
“Why not? Don’t tell me the person your sister loves is—”
“She’s never told them. And… that person already has someone else. She’ll never fall for anyone else again.”
Lan Qing looked into Jing Xuan’s eyes, holding her tightly.
“Wait… do you know who your sister is in love with?”
Jing Xuan was nervous. What if Nianqing’s love was her?
“N-no! Of course not!” Oh God, how could I ever tell her that Nianqing is in love with me…
“When do you want to go back?”
“Us?”
“Haha, weren’t you asking me to go with you? If not ‘us,’ then who else?”
“Three days from now. I want to be there before the wedding, to spend some time with her.”
“Alright, I’ll rearrange my work schedule.”
“Xuan… you’re the best!”
Lan Qing gave Jing Xuan a light kiss on the corner of her lips. Jing Xuan stiffened. It had been a long time since they’d been this intimate. She pulled away slightly, but Lan Qing didn’t give her the chance. She leaned in and kissed her deeply.
Jing Xuan didn’t respond, but she didn’t resist either—just stood there, letting Lan Qing kiss her.
Lan Qing knew her limits. After a while, she let go and cuddled back into Jing Xuan’s arms.
“Xuan… the real reason I want you to come with me—is because I want you to meet my father.”