Pillowside Passion - Chapter 10

10:

Du Qingting’s hands didn’t know where to settle. Each time she lifted them, You Jin caught them, guiding them into the water. She struggled, but You Jin kissed her, quelling all resistance. Du Qingting lunged forward, wrapping her arms around her.

They parted, then came together again.

She heard a soft laugh.

The woman slipped from her arms, water droplets splashing ripples. You Jin rose from the pool. Du Qingting yanked off the blindfold, her vision filled with You Jin’s pale back. She bent to pick up her glasses, placing them on her nose, and turned around.

Du Qingting, having only tasted a hint of sweetness, asked, “Not soaking anymore?”

She stepped to the pool’s edge, arms propped on the stone, looking up at You Jin, lips pursed, feeling vulnerable.

Water slid down You Jin’s face. She crouched, pinching Du Qingting’s chin, leaning in to brush her lips lightly. “There.”

“No,” Du Qingting said.

“Not like that?” You Jin touched her again. “Then how?”

Water dripped from You Jin’s cheeks. She felt… soft, somehow. As they parted slightly, You Jin’s glasses fogged faintly, her figure blurring.

“Come closer, big sister.”

You Jin tilted her head, watching. Du Qingting pulled her back into the water, and they lingered a bit longer.

“Big sister.” Du Qingting, overwhelmed with sweetness, kept calling her, blinking apologetically.

You Jin looked up at her.

Du Qingting felt smug. She’d said she was a wolf—even if she had to play as a dog, it was a wolf in disguise, always ready to bite.

You Jin’s lips curved into a slight smile, her arm emerging from the water to pinch Du Qingting’s chin. “Still not enough?”

Du Qingting nodded.

You Jin leaned in, whispering like a secret, “First kiss?”

Du Qingting didn’t answer, turning her head, loosening You Jin’s hold. Admitting it was her first kiss, wouldn’t that sound too innocent?

Forget the first kiss, she’d never even been in love.

You Jin pinched her chin, making her look. “Sorry for taking your first kiss.”

“It wasn’t my first,” Du Qingting said.

“Hm?” You Jin raised her eyes, her gaze sharp. Realizing her slip, she blinked, lips curling with curiosity. “With who?”

“A friend.”

“You kissed them?”

“She kissed me. On the cheek.”

You Jin let out an “oh,” fishing the wet tie from the pool, holding it dripping between her fingers.

Du Qingting’s throat tightened.

She didn’t speak. “Next time we kiss…” You Jin paused, then said, “Too bad, it seems there won’t be a next time.”

You Jin stood, slipping on her bathrobe. Du Qingting stared at her own, half-soaked and heavy with water.

You Jin said, “Silly, a kiss on the lips is a first kiss.”

She paused, looking at Du Qingting, her tone gentle. “…You kissed well. Not bad. I liked it.”

Du Qingting’s face flushed hot. If this were a pool, she’d dive in headfirst. Damn.

Damn, damn, damn.

You Jin stepped out, returning with a dry bathrobe, draping it over Du Qingting’s shoulders and tying it with a bow. “Go rest early.”

—

That night, she went back to sleep.

Du Qingting flopped heavily onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment. She’d always wanted to be kissed, and now she had been—so satisfying. She should’ve stayed in that pool forever.

But You Jin told her to rest well for tomorrow’s trip back.

Really going back?

Du Qingting propped her head on one hand, staring at the ceiling, fingers brushing her lips…

Abroad, she’d partied hard, often meeting people who wanted to hook up. But the moment they leaned in, their scent was off, and their faces all blurred into one.

One bold person kissed her cheek. It ruined her mood. She wiped it off with a tissue, leaving lipstick smudges, but they kept asking her out… and somehow became her best friend.

Later, she realized her friend was a stunning mixed-race beauty.

A kiss on the lips was the first kiss… first kiss.

No wonder people are obsessed over first loves. It was truly sweet.

Her mind wandered again.

Here, she felt like she was in paradise. Going back would be hell. Could she handle the drop?

Sigh.

—

Morning came, but no sea sunrise—she slept until past 10. Du Qingting changed, ready to knock on You Jin’s door.

At the door, her phone rang. Her sister, Du Nuanzhi.

She opened the door while answering.

Du Nuanzhi: “Sis, reply to Mom. She thinks you’ve gone abroad or got trafficked into some overseas scam.”

Du Qingting couldn’t fathom it.

Why would her mom think that?

Frowning, she asked, “How’d she get that idea?”

“Mom checked your bank transactions. She saw two big deposits recently. She looked up the source online and found a shady website.”

“What? She clicked it?” Du Qingting rubbed her forehead.

Probably her comic royalties. So embarrassing.

“Yeah, she studied the homepage’s featured titles. Said they’re obviously scam sites.”

“Enough.” Du Qingting felt her mom had seen her work. She had to reply, or her family would learn she drew mature comics abroad—she’d end up on the family’s shame list.

She pushed the door back, starting a video call to show Du Nuanzhi. “I’m out having fun. What scam lives in a hotel this nice?”

“You’re in Xianghai?” Du Nuanzhi recognized it, eyes wide. “Such a fancy hotel! You are being scammed!”

Du Qingting’s head ached. Her sister implied their mom might cut her off financially, unaware she was earning her own money.

Too lazy to explain, she pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh, don’t tell Mom or You Jin. If I get dragged back, you’re done. No Gundam for you, and your birthday’s just air.”

“Sis, you’re such a whiny.”

Du Nuanzhi pouted over the call. Du Qingting paused, staring at the screen. Her sister asked what was wrong. Du Qingting squinted, this was what calling “big sister” felt like? But why was hers more intense?

“Fine.” Hanging up, Du Qingting felt inexplicably glum, her mind stuck on “going back.”

By 10:30, You Jin was ready. They didn’t talk much. Du Qingting’s mood was sour, and You Jin drove them to lunch at a restaurant Du Qingting found online.

On the road, everyone stood out. Du Qingting saw bikinis outside; bikini-clad people gawked at the car, shocked it could drive onto the island.

At the restaurant, Du Qingting’s gaze lingered on the bay below—silver-white sand, blinding under sunlight, people swimming and playing. Propping her chin, she wondered, How’s kissing in the sea?

You Jin asked, “The bikinis look good?”

Du Qingting said, “They’re alright.”

Snapping back, her eyes landed on You Jin. “You’d look better in one.”

You Jin had covered all hotel costs. Du Qingting wanted to pay for this meal, but You Jin wouldn’t let her.

“You’re still young. I’ve got it.” You Jin blocked her phone’s camera, stopping her from paying.

Du Qingting said, “I’ve got some savings, don’t worry.” Lowering her voice, she bragged, “I saved up from my comics.”

You Jin said, “No need. Save your money for a wife.”

A wife.

Du Qingting, cheeky, said, “Marry you?”

You Jin didn’t reject it, smiling. “Shall I wait for you?”

This time, she didn’t say “crossing a line.” Du Qingting’s heart raced. This woman… really had no partner?

The heavens were blind.

You Jin didn’t eat much beef, but the restaurant’s steak was a specialty. She neatly cut the meat and pushed it to Du Qingting. “Don’t wander off when you’re back. Maybe your fiancée will surprise you.”

Du Qingting stayed quiet, her head throbbing at the thought of a fiancée. “Let’s not talk about that mess.” Looking at You Jin, she felt unsatisfied—how was this woman so calm, not even a hint of reluctance?

She stole another glance.

You Jin’s face held a constant smile.

You Jin asked, “What time’s your ticket?”

Du Qingting didn’t catch it at first, then realized. “Oh, evening flight.”

“Specific time? I’ll arrange the return and get you to the airport.”

“Uh.” Du Qingting scrambled—she hadn’t bought a ticket. Bluffing, she said, “Midnight… You know, peak season tickets are hard to grab. I’ll check later.”

You Jin nodded, understanding.

That day, they strolled along the coast, surrounded by bikini-clad people. In long clothes and pants, they looked like old-fashioned relics amid the sexiness.

Du Qingting’s phone kept buzzing with unknown numbers. She figured her mom was using someone else’s phone.

They sat on chairs. Two women nearby, applying sunscreen, chatted. “So lucky, I saw a whale! They’re not daily. Wanna dive later?”

“Let’s swim first. Diving’s too crowded.”

“Yeah.”

“The seabed’s gorgeous. You don’t dive, you’re missing out.”

Du Qingting eavesdropped, her leg draped over the lounge chair, then touching the hot sand, pulling back. She sat, then lay down, shifting to look at You Jin, who rested with closed eyes.

Her mind replayed those words:

You kissed well. Not bad.

After yesterday’s kiss, You Jin hadn’t mentioned it or glanced at her lips. You Jin’s lips, naturally red, looked soft and tender in the sunlight.

Hearing movement, You Jin turned. “What’s up?”

Du Qingting’s face and neck were sunburned red in patches, her arm on her knee. “Let’s… walk a bit more, then chat.”

As they walked, Du Qingting vented about her miserable life, describing her return as pure suffering. You Jin listened quietly, offering gentle comfort.

At the beach, they were stopped— a typhoon was coming at 3 p.m. If not taking a ferry back, they’d better stay in.

“Typhoon?”

Du Qingting frowned, then smirked. “Bad one?”

Beachgoers were ushered back. Du Qingting fiddled with her phone, claiming to check weather and flights, but actually looked up when the typhoon would pass, screenshotting it for her mom.

Du Qingting: [Marry or live?]

She sent it, immediately disabling her mom’s “do not disturb” setting.

The sky darkened, clouds rolling in. Within minutes, her phone buzzed.

You Jin heard it. “What’s wrong?”

Du Qingting stuffed her phone in her pocket. At the hotel, she stepped away. “Family stuff. I’ll call back and find you later.”

You Jin nodded, sitting in the first-floor tea lounge, glancing over a few times. Du Qingting stood in a corner of the lobby, opening her chat.

Messages flooded in.

Chen Huiru shared: [X News: Heiress Slaughters Fish at Supermarket for Years, Cries to Camera: “Maybe 18 More Years to Clear My First Debt.”]

Chen Huiru: [Click for Bankruptcy Insights, Anonymous Netizen: After My Parents Went Bankrupt, I Realized the World’s Class Divide. Abandoned by All, I Ended Up with a Man 51 Years Older. Worse Than a Dog, Living Death. I Should’ve Married My Childhood Sweetheart. What Was I So Proud Of?]

Chen Huiru: [Billions in Debt, Living Under a Bridge, Lifelong Toil to Repay a Fraction. The Party’s Fate: Beaten to Death.]

Chen Huiru: [RPG: Your Parents Go Bankrupt. Your Best Friend Holds a Maid Contract, Calling You “Sweetie.” Your Poor Ex Holds a Black Gold Card. Your Rival Drives a Luxury Car with a Check… 1. Friend, 2. Ex, 3. Rival…]

Chen Huiru: [Shared: Bankrupt and Became the Secret Lover of Many Rich Women]

Du Qingting’s mouth twitched. The first few made sense, but her eyes widened at the end. What the hell?

Chen Huiru: [Withdrawn] x3

Du Qingting: [???? I’m not blind.]

Chen Huiru: [Menopause lately, can’t sleep, just reading random stuff.]

Who reads that for research?

Frustrated, Du Qingting pinched her nose, sending a voice message: “Stop reading that nonsense. Do those look like real heiress stories? Read something decent.”

Chen Huiru: “Real heiresses don’t write memoirs.”

“…”

“They’re all miserable, dead.”

Du Qingting flipped her phone face-down, out of sight, out of mind. She messaged Du Nuanzhi to rein in their mom.

Chen Huiru: [I’m bored anyway. Read these, and I’ll send you some stunning photos of You Jin.]

[You’ll be so charmed, you’ll want to marry her right away. Please, just look.]