Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 6

When Jing Xuan saw Lan Qing standing there as if she had descended from the heavens, she was overjoyed. Propping herself up with one hand on the bar, she vaulted over it in one smooth motion and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Lan Qing clung to her just as fiercely, her beautiful face pressed against her chest, struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

Releasing her slightly, Jing Xuan looked her over with a mix of joy and disbelief.

“You girl! Where did you come from?” she said with a grin. “I missed you so much. Where have you been all these years? I searched everywhere and couldn’t find you!”

Before she could respond, she pulled her into another tight hug.

Lan Qing blushed, her heart swelling with warmth at her words. It had been seven long years since Jing Xuan returned to City C and reunited with Gao Zhe and the others. They had all planned a visit back to St.

Ann’s Monastery to see Sister Mary and the nuns who had raised them. But the one person Jing Xuan hadn’t seen—the one she had most hoped to see—was Lan Qing. Her absence had left a deep pang of disappointment in her heart.

Sister Mary had told her that Lan Qing had also found her family, shortly after Jing Xuan left for Singapore. Whether it was fate or coincidence, it turned out that, except for Gao Zhe, Jing Xuan, Lan Qing, and Yan

Jun, the other children raised at the monastery all came from wealthy families.

Lan Qing’s true identity was even more dramatic. She was the illegitimate daughter of Iga Jonin, head of the once-formidable Iga family in Japan. Back then, Iga Jonin’s status wasn’t what it is now. He had abandoned everything in Japan for love—falling for Lan Qing’s mother, a common girl named Lan Qin.

His decision to leave the powerful Iga clan had caused massive upheaval. The Iga family’s Yilong Society fractured, with both rival gangs and its internal factions—Red, Blue, White, and Black Dragon—locked in power struggles.

Iga Jonin was the sole heir of the Iga family, but he chose love over legacy. His father, Iga Zeming, was furious and sent assassins to eliminate Lan Qin.

At the time, Lan Qin had just given birth to a baby girl. Desperate to save her daughter, she fled with Iga Jonin toward the outskirts of City C. But before they could reach safety, they were ambushed. Lan Qin managed to slip into St. Ann’s Monastery with her five-day-old baby, begging the nun at the door to keep the child safe before she ran off to find Iga Jonin.

She found him, just in time to die in his arms. Shot by the assassins, Lan Qin collapsed into Iga’s embrace, brushed away his tears, and whispered, “Jonin… our Qing’er is safe. She’s at St. Ann’s Monastery…” With that, she passed away peacefully, knowing her daughter was protected.

Devastated, Iga Jonin cradled her lifeless body and vowed, “Qin, I swear I’ll find Qing’er and avenge you! I love you…”

But the killers closed in.

“Master, come back with us. The Iga family needs you!” they pleaded.

Unaware of the child’s existence, the Iga family took Jonin back to Japan. Six months later, he married Hasegawa Shu, daughter of the Minister of Military Affairs. In time, he overhauled the Yilong Society, strengthening its ties with the military.

Under his leadership, the gang rose to dominate Japan’s underworld. Ruthless and cunning, Iga Jonin murdered his own father and seized control of the Iga family, even forcing the emperor to abdicate—his name becoming synonymous with terror and power.

Back in City C, the nuns at St. Ann’s named the baby Lan Qing. When Sister Mary had taken the child in, she noticed the name “Qing” embroidered on her clothes. Remembering the woman’s surname was Lan, she chose the name “Lan Qing” in honor of her mother.

Jing Xuan was four years old when she arrived at the monastery. Lan Qing was a year younger, but from the start, she doted on Jing Xuan like a big sister. Though Jing Xuan would often tease or “bully” her out of stubborn pride, Lan Qing would always end up in tears—and Jing Xuan, guilty and flustered, would hug her and coax her with sweet words. That trick worked every time.

As they grew older, the roles slowly reversed. Jing Xuan became the doting one, always protecting and spoiling Lan Qing. But eventually, Lan Qing started to turn the tables—teasing Jing Xuan and making mischief, to the amusement of the nuns, who could only laugh and sigh.

When Jing Xuan turned twelve, everything changed. She suddenly cut her hair short, walked like a boy, and deliberately deepened her voice so the younger children would call her “brother.” Though Lan Qing was shocked, she never questioned it. She trusted Jing Xuan had her reasons. And besides… this “boyish” Jing Xuan was heartbreakingly handsome. It was as if God had made a beautiful mistake.

Later, Gao Zhe and Yan Jun followed suit, causing the nuns even more confusion.

Eventually, Jing Xuan was adopted by Huang Zhixiong and left for Singapore. Lan Qing was heartbroken. Night after night, she cried alone, longing for Jing Xuan to return, to hug her again and whisper comforting words. But Jing Xuan never came back.

Lan Qing was 14 then, just beginning to bloom into womanhood—and with that came the clarity of emotions. She realized that her love for Jing Xuan wasn’t sisterly. It had always been something deeper. From the moment she met Jing Xuan at age three, her heart had been tied to her. She had loved Jing Xuan for years—without fully understanding it until now.

One morning, after a long, sleepless night, Sister Mary came to fetch her. They went to the dean’s office, where Lan Qing was introduced to a man she had never seen before. The moment he saw her, the man’s eyes filled with emotion. He rushed forward and embraced her tightly.

“You look just like her… just like her! There’s no doubt you’re my daughter!” he cried. “Qin, it must be your spirit in heaven that let Qing’er and I reunite!”

Lan Qing didn’t share her enthusiasm. To her, the world only became vibrant when Jing Xuan was in it.

“You are…?” she asked cautiously.

“I’m your father—Iga Jonin! You are my daughter, Iga Haru!”

“My name is Lan Qing.”

“Fine, fine. Then I’ll call you Iga Lan Qing!”

Lan Qing could only sigh helplessly at this overly enthusiastic father. Soon after, she returned with Iga Jonin to Japan. It wasn’t long before she discovered she was the spitting image of her late mother.

Back in the present, as Jing Xuan and Lan Qing embraced tightly at the bar, Gao Zhe and the others stood around them, reluctant to interrupt. But finally, Gao Zhe cleared her throat loudly.

“Ahem! Hey, how long are you two planning to hug? There are people watching, you know!”

Both Jing Xuan and Lan Qing blushed and quickly let go.

“Come on, sit over here,” Jing Xuan said, leading her to a seat beside her.

Gao Zhe gave an exaggerated pout. “Tch. So much for brotherhood. You just throw us aside the moment a girl shows up!”

Jing Xuan smirked. “Don’t talk, Shuangji. You’re the biggest playboy among us, and you’re calling me out?”

Yan Jun chimed in, amused. “Enough. You’re both hopeless.”

Laughter broke out around the table, the atmosphere warming with nostalgia.

Once they’d settled in, Lan Qing began telling Jing Xuan about her years in Japan and her plans to stay in City C for a while.

“Where are you staying?” Jing Xuan asked with concern.

“In a hotel for now. I’m planning to find a place soon.”

Jing Xuan thought for a moment. “Why don’t you stay with me? A hotel’s no place to live long-term. When you find a place, you can move out. Until then, my door’s always open.”

Gao Zhe nodded in agreement. “Yeah! Just like old times. It’ll be great!”

Jing Xuan looked at Lan Qing, waiting for her response. Her eyes lit up as she nodded.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’d like that.”