Let Her Lose Control - Chapter 13

Their return to China was delayed by two days from the originally planned third or fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Stockholm Airport had been shut down due to several consecutive days of blizzards. By the time flights resumed, it was already the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

 

The plane landed at Yuncheng Airport at dusk.

 

In Sweden, sunset occurred several hours earlier, painting the deep blue night sky with a romantic, old-world charm reminiscent of a scene from a movie: red houses, drifting snow, and smoking chimneys, as if a witch might appear at any moment, waving her wand to light up the neon signs.

 

Cloud City, however, presented a starkly different spectacle. Vast stretches of crimson twilight adorned the sky like a dream, bathing the entire airport in golden light.

 

After clearing security, Jiang Jinsui spotted Su Ningshang in the crowd and waved excitedly, dragging her suitcase behind her. “Elder Sister! Elder Sister! Over here!”

 

Having not seen each other for over half a month, Su Ningshang wore a light brown plaid shawl, her slightly curled long hair exuding a casual elegance that accentuated her beautifully made-up features.

 

“Welcome back,” Su Ningshang said, embracing Jiang Jinsui. Their striking resemblance made it clear to onlookers that they were sisters, a visually pleasing sight.

 

Su Ningyue, having swiped her ID through security, was about to pretend she hadn’t seen them when Jiang Jinsui called out, “Xiao Yue! Elder Sister’s here! Come over here!”

 

Left with no choice, Su Ningyue reluctantly turned her toes back toward Su Ningshang, meeting her gaze with forced composure. “Elder Sister,” she greeted.

 

Su Ningshang asked in the same gentle tone she used with Jiang Jinsui, “Ningning, would you like a hug?”

 

Dressed impeccably and speaking with a voice dripping with sisterly affection, Su Ningshang showed no hint of the countless international video calls she made to Su Ningyue every day.

 

Su Ningyue’s gaze darted to a nearby sign, as if spotting a savior. “Ah, maybe later? I really need to use the restroom right now. You two can wait for me at the parking lot.”

 

“Then I’ll go check on the checked luggage,” Jiang Jinsui said, pulling out several long baggage claim slips. “The airport should have a shipping service, right?”

 

Su Ningshang was about to offer to accompany Jiang Jinsui when Jiang Jinsui suddenly exclaimed, “Oh!” and pulled out a pack of tissues. “Xiao Yue might not have any tissues. Elder Sister, could you take these to her?”

 

Su Ningshang glanced toward the restroom and said considerately, “Of course. Give them here.”

 

Su Ningyue’s trip to the restroom was just an excuse. As she washed her hands, she kept glancing at her watch, planning to leave in ten minutes.

 

Just as she was about to turn off the faucet, she heard footsteps behind her. She moved to make way, but her eyes inadvertently caught the reflection in the mirror, revealing the person who had entered.

 

Su Ningshang held an unopened pack of tissues and smiled at Su Ningyue. “Weren’t you in such a hurry to come to the restroom? So eager to wash your hands?”

 

Su Ningyue’s hand slipped as she tried to turn off the faucet, accidentally turning the water on full blast.

 

She quickly shut it off. “My stomach isn’t acting up anymore. Can’t I just wash my hands?”

 

Su Ningshang offered the tissues. “Xiao Jin asked me to bring you something.”

 

The restroom had free tissues, but the ones Su Ningyue carried were cleaner. She murmured a thank you, but before she could take one, Su Ningshang pushed her into the first stall.

 

The lock clicked shut.

 

The entire sequence happened in mere seconds, leaving Su Ningyue no time to react.

 

By the time she regained her senses, she was almost entirely enveloped in Su Ningshang’s embrace. Su Ningshang’s high heels easily pinned her against the corner, and her hand slid down from Su Ningyue’s arm, slipping beneath the open hem of her coat to wrap around her waist. “You really don’t want to hug me?”

 

Su Ningyue stared blankly. “What?”

 

Su Ningshang pressed her palm against Su Ningyue’s skin and whispered, “You deliberately hid in here, didn’t you? Just to avoid hugging me?”

 

“…No,” Su Ningyue protested, twisting away from the long-absent intimacy. “This is a public restroom.”

 

“Keep your voice down. No one will suspect anything.”

 

The airport buzzed with travelers chatting about their travel plans or sharing recent anecdotes. Su Ningyue nervously clutched Su Ningshang’s shawl, her soft, padded boots trapped in the corner by her high heels.

 

The air filled with Su Ningshang’s delicate perfume, transforming the kiss into the scent of snow lotus. Su Ningshang held Su Ningyue’s lips, nipping gently as if trying to make up for all the time they’d lost in Sweden.

 

Su Ningyue turned her head restlessly, gasping for breath. Su Ningshang cupped her face and turned her back, pressing her shoulders down as the kiss deepened, growing more intense.

 

After a few minutes, Su Ningyue, breathless, asked, “Is that enough? Sister Jinsui is still waiting for us.”

 

“Xiao Jin went to the baggage check-in. She won’t be back for a while.”

 

Su Ningshang stroked Su Ningyue’s back, sending shivers of ticklishness through her. Her voice lowered to a murmur: “Did you miss me?”

 

Su Ningyue shook her head frantically, letting out a series of muffled whimpers. Only then did Su Ningshang release her lips, allowing her to speak. “It’s uncomfortable.”

 

Su Ningshang chuckled, her hand gliding over smooth skin. “Still cooperating so well even when you’re uncomfortable?”

 

Su Ningyue was mortified and terrified that Su Ningshang might actually do something. She froze, afraid to move, her long eyelashes trembling incessantly, betraying her extreme nervousness and unnatural docility.

 

Seeing this, Su Ningshang withdrew her hand from beneath Su Ningyue’s clothes and instinctively pulled her into a hug, whispering, “Ningning, I’ve missed you so much.”

 

Her gaze, fixed downward, seemed deeply affectionate. Su Ningyue pressed her lips together and turned her head away, avoiding eye contact.

 

When they left the room, Su Ningyue led the way, cautiously peering out several times to ensure no one was waiting outside before furtively pulling Su Ningshang out like a thief.

 

Walking behind Su Ningyue, Su Ningshang couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

Hearing this, Su Ningyue turned back, her expression indignant.

 

Su Ningshang, wearing an innocent expression, remarked, “You’re acting like we’re having an affair.”

 

The smeared lipstick on Su Ningshang’s lips served as glaring evidence.

 

Su Ningyue’s anger surged. She grabbed Su Ningshang’s wrist and dragged her to the mirror. “Fix your makeup, quick!”

 

Su Ningshang tapped Su Ningyue’s nose. “Such disrespect.”

 

Su Ningyue muttered under her breath but urged, “Hurry up!”

 

Su Ningshang glanced at her reflection. “No need to be so meticulous. Strangers won’t notice.”

 

Su Ningyue retorted, “Strangers might not, but your sister will!”

 

The moment the word “sister” slipped out, both women felt a momentary daze.

 

Su Ningyue, unwilling to dwell on it, went to wait for Su Ningshang by the door.

 

Half a minute later, Su Ningshang emerged, her makeup still flawlessly perfect. She reminded Su Ningyue, who had started walking in the wrong direction, “Xiao Jin is over there.”

 

On the way home, Su Ningshang’s assistant drove while the rest sat in the back. At a red light, the assistant remarked, “It looks like it might rain tonight. The concert venue is open-air, President Su. Should we prepare disposable raincoats for the audience?”

 

“Order as many as we can get,” Su Ningshang replied evenly. “The company will cover the cost. Make sure it trends on social media too.”

 

“Understood,” the assistant said. “I’ll have them start preparing immediately.”

 

It was already the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, and the festive atmosphere in Cloud City had mostly dissipated. Shops along the streets were gradually reopening, with only the lingering neon decorations from the holiday stubbornly clinging to their existence.

 

Jiang Jinsui casually asked, “Elder Sister, who’s holding the concert?”

 

“The LC Girl Group,” Su Ningshang replied. “They debuted just this summer after a talent show. Ningning helped vote for them. Do you like them?”

 

Su Ningshang, seated between Su Ningyue and Jiang Jinsui, turned to speak to Jiang Jinsui, her hand naturally draping across Su Ningyue’s waist.

 

The sudden heat made half of Su Ningyue’s body, starting from her earlobes, stiffen instantly.

 

Jiang Jinsui, sitting beside them, didn’t notice their awkwardness and excitedly asked, “Xiao Yue, do you like them too? Can Elder Sister come along? But it’s so late, I don’t know if we can still get tickets.”

 

For Su Ningshang, concerts were like movies—she watched so many for work that she rarely felt like going in her free time. But since Jiang Jinsui had rarely suggested such an outing, Su Ningshang found it difficult to refuse. Su Ningyue was about to speak up when Su Ningshang suddenly changed her tone, smiling warmly. “Of course you can go. Even if there are no tickets, I can have them add chairs in the front row.”

 

The authority of Huachen’s CEO carried significant weight in this situation.

 

The concert began promptly at seven, and the entire venue buzzed with excitement, filled with cheering light boards and glow sticks.

 

Su Ningshang’s seat was on the side, allowing her to glance at Su Ningyue whenever she looked toward the stage.

 

She watched Su Ningyue with detached amusement all evening.

 

Su Ningyue, meanwhile, endured the night in silent agony.

 

By the time the concert finally ended, Jiang Jinsui was still buzzing with excitement. Su Ningyue had no choice but to accompany her to a hotpot dinner, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles the entire time.

 

At the dining table, Jiang Jinsui recounted her experiences in Sweden, mentioning that her aunt had brought up the idea of Su Ningyue studying there again.

 

For Su Ningyue, this was like a ticking time bomb. Before she could intervene, Su Ningshang asked casually, “Oh? What did Ningning say?”

 

Jiang Jinsui feigned mystery, drawing out the suspense. “Xiao Yue… she…”

 

Su Ningshang raised an eyebrow. Jiang Jinsui grinned and nudged Su Ningyue’s shoulder. “My aunt asked about her final exam scores. She thinks it would be a waste of talent for someone with such grades to just coast through life in Sweden.”

 

Perhaps the time Su Ningyue had spent living in the dorms had left her with lingering anxieties about her grades. Before the final exams, she had focused on self-cultivation and relaxation. To everyone’s surprise, she achieved the highest score in the entire school and ranked among the top students in the province.

 

It wasn’t that Swedish universities were inferior, but rather that Jiang Jinsui’s aunt had initially invited Su Ningyue to Sweden with the intention of helping her de-stress. The aunt herself had studied humanities in Sweden, choosing a relatively relaxed academic path.

 

Before the Jiang Family’s tragedy, both parents had been highly respected professors in their fields. While their wealth couldn’t compare to that of the Su Family, their annual research income still reached seven figures. They left Su Ningyue a substantial inheritance, allowing her to live comfortably without needing to strive too hard.

 

But upon hearing her provincial ranking, Jiang Jinsui immediately dropped the subject.

 

Su Ningyue couldn’t resist covering Jiang Jinsui’s mouth. “If you say another word, I’ll start telling everyone how you got into Yun University in your second year of high school!”

 

When it was her turn to be embarrassed, Jiang Jinsui finally understood how it felt. With a piece of fatty beef dangling from her mouth, she raised both hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, little sister, spare me!”

 

The meal ended amidst playful banter and teasing.

 

As they dropped Jiang Jinsui off at the Su Family residence, she stopped them. “Elder Sister, Xiao Yue, are you staying here? It’s been over half a month since we last saw each other. Mom and Dad must miss Xiao Yue terribly.”

 

Su Ningyue recalled being pulled into that side room at Yuncheng Airport. The Su Family home no longer felt like a safe haven, and she worried about Su Ningshang’s unpredictable behavior. She quickly declined. “School starts on the eighth day of the new year. I need to go back and catch up on my homework. I’ll come by tomorrow instead.”

 

Jiang Jinsui was astonished. “Someone like you didn’t finish your winter break homework?”

 

Su Ningyue pouted. “Yeah, not only did I not finish my homework, but someone like me also needs tutoring.”

 

From the moment her second year of high school began, private tutors swarmed her every weekend, leaving her with no free time at all—though Su Ningyue herself had insisted on this arrangement with Su Ningshang.

 

Jiang Jinsui looked at Su Ningyue with sympathy. “Then don’t stay up too late.”

 

Su Ningyue smiled. “Don’t worry, I value my life.”

 

Su Ningshang and Su Ningyue returned to their residential complex around 1 a.m.

 

Su Ningyue hurried out of the car, her steps quick as if deliberately avoiding Su Ningshang.

 

Before Su Ningyue disappeared from sight, Su Ningshang parked the car, quickly caught up, and grabbed her hand.

 

The moment their hands clasped, both froze. Though they had held hands countless times before, since their relationship had crossed boundaries, this gesture—like the titles “Elder Sister” and “Younger Sister”—had nearly vanished between them.

 

Su Ningyue awkwardly tried to pull her hand away, instinctively glancing around.

 

The streetlights cast a hazy glow through the night, but Su Ningshang seemed oblivious, tightening her grip and leading Su Ningyue into the darkness.

 

Visibly uncomfortable, Su Ningyue struggled to free her hand. “Don’t hold me like this. Let go.”

 

“We used to hold hands like this all the time,” Su Ningshang said, glancing sideways at Su Ningyue, the corners of her mouth softening into a gentle smile. “I won’t let go.”

 

Her mood seemed unusually good. The wide shawl concealed their clasped hands until they reached the apartment door, where Su Ningshang finally released her grip.

 

Su Ningyue had been anxious the entire way, like a lamb being led to slaughter.

 

Yet, after the door closed behind them, Su Ningshang showed no intention of punishing her.

 

Standing at the entrance to her room, Su Ningyue hesitated, words caught in her throat.

 

“What’s wrong?” Su Ningshang asked, noticing Su Ningyue lingering by the door as she warmed milk.

 

Clutching the doorknob, Su Ningyue nervously blurted out the question she’d been holding back all day: “Now that I’m back in the country, can you delete that video?”

 

The microwave beeped, signaling the milk was ready. Su Ningshang poured the warm milk into a cup and beckoned Su Ningyue over.

 

Realizing she couldn’t escape, Su Ningyue reluctantly stood before her. “Give me my phone.”

 

Su Ningshang glanced at the milk, then gestured with her eyes, her smile deepening.

 

Su Ningyue grabbed the cup and gulped down the milk. The temperature was perfect, but she drank too quickly, and milky white liquid dribbled down the corner of her mouth. Su Ningshang’s gaze gradually lowered.

 

“Can I have the video now?” Su Ningyue repeated her question.

 

Su Ningshang reached out and gently wiped the corner of Su Ningyue’s mouth before handing over the phone.

 

Su Ningyue easily unlocked the screen, then suddenly realized everything had been too easy. But she didn’t want to lose this chance. She opened the photo album—

 

The phone contained photos and videos from the past month, but even the recently deleted files didn’t include the video recorded that night.

 

Su Ningyue held the phone up to Su Ningshang’s face. “Where did you hide the video?”

 

Su Ningshang didn’t answer, pressing the phone back into Su Ningyue’s hand. “Didn’t you say it wasn’t safe? Of course I wouldn’t store it in the album.”

 

“Then where is it?” Su Ningyue crouched down to pick up the phone, but she didn’t know which app to check. Her face flushed with panic.

 

Su Ningshang showed no concern as Su Ningyue rummaged through her phone, gently stroking the top of Su Ningyue’s head. “Be a good girl, and maybe I’ll tell you?”

 

The adult hormones surrounding Su Ningyue enveloped her completely, the faint scent of perfume lingering in her nostrils. Su Ningyue forced herself to remain calm. “You said ‘maybe,’ so you might not tell me at all?”

 

Su Ningshang smiled, lowered her head, and tenderly kissed Su Ningyue’s lips. “Ningning’s getting smarter.”

 

Su Ningyue pushed Su Ningshang away and turned to the study, flipping open Su Ningshang’s laptop.

 

But this time, just as the laptop unlocked, Su Ningshang grabbed her hand. “I never taught you that you could freely invade someone else’s privacy.”

 

Su Ningyue became even more convinced that the video was stored on the computer, clutching it tightly. “That video concerns me! Aren’t you violating my privacy too?”

 

The smile gradually faded from Su Ningshang’s face as she rhythmically tapped the desk with her other hand. This was her habitual gesture when Su Ningyue had made a mistake, a sign that she was contemplating how to discipline her.

 

Su Ningyue couldn’t help but swallow nervously. But remembering the video, she forced herself to meet Su Ningshang’s gaze.

 

In an instant, Su Ningshang’s fingers stilled, her tone flat. “You can look at the computer. Just be good tonight, and I’ll let you.”

 

Su Ningyue stared blankly, clinging to a sliver of hope. Once Su Ningshang goes to the office during the day, won’t the computer in the study be mine to search?

 

But the next moment, Su Ningshang shattered that illusion. “I’ll reset the password later. Without my permission, Ningning, you won’t be able to turn it on.”

 

Su Ningyue grew even more certain that Su Ningshang had hidden the video on the computer.

 

Frowning, tiny beads of sweat glistened on the tip of her nose. “But didn’t you say you liked me? Even if it wasn’t that kind of liking, you used to be my elder sister. How could you keep a video that could cause trouble for both of us at any moment?”

 

“Not that kind of liking,” Su Ningshang repeated Su Ningyue’s words, her gaze deepening. “So you’ve always seen it that way?”

 

“Is that the point? I’m talking about the video.”

 

“That is the point.”

 

Su Ningyue fell silent.

 

The closer Su Ningshang became, the more Su Ningyue felt it was all a fragile illusion, a bubble that could burst at any moment, leaving her with nothing.

 

“Then what about you, Ningning? What am I to you?” Su Ningshang murmured, trapping Su Ningyue in her arms with a soft sigh. “If you don’t feel that kind of liking for me, how can you expect me to treat you with that kind of affection?”

 

“Ningning, that’s not fair.”

 

The words carried a subtle threat. But remembering the video, Su Ningyue lowered her voice, trying to reason with Su Ningshang. “You’re the elder sister I’ve always relied on, respected, and admired since childhood.”

 

She lowered her posture as much as possible, but Su Ningshang wasn’t interested in that.

 

Su Ningshang had waited over half a month. Even though she knew Su Ningyue would obediently return to China, there was still a one-in-ten-thousand chance of losing her.

 

“That’s not what I want to hear,” Su Ningshang said, her eyes, long suppressed and now moist, like tangled vines deep in a rainforest, encircling Su Ningyue. “You indulge me, keep secrets for me, hide things from everyone… Do you really have no other feelings for me?”

 

Su Ningyue retreated until her back pressed against the chair, with nowhere left to go. “Aren’t you just trying to make me say something I don’t mean? Those were just words I said to get the video deleted. Do you really believe them?”

 

Su Ningshang pressed a finger to her lips, her voice dropping to a whisper only they could hear. “Ningning, if you stay in Sweden, what does it matter if the video is released? No one here will recognize you. The only one who will suffer the public backlash is me, back in China.”

 

“Tell me, Ningning,” Su Ningshang murmured, her teeth gently grazing Su Ningyue’s earlobe, her voice like a seductive spell. “Tell me what you truly feel.”