Pillowside Passion - Chapter 11

11:

Du Qingting ignored her mother’s messages, tapped the settings in the top right corner, and switched her phone to “Do Not Disturb.” What was there to see? She couldn’t bear to look. She had no intention of going back home, and now with her mother starting to push marriage on her, her head felt like it was going to explode.

She replied earnestly: [I know what You Jin looks like. I know she’s been beautiful since she was a kid, but I’ve never been into her, not then and not now. No matter what you send, it won’t sway me. Love isn’t something you can buy with money. Can you give me some time? Your daughter loves you.]

She quickly glanced at the woman sitting in the tea lounge, using her beauty to stabilize her emotions. In the past, Du Qingting hadn’t had a clear sense of what she liked, but now a vague outline was forming.

She liked someone wild, with a touch of mystery.

You Jin didn’t match her vibe. Being with her would mean a lifetime of misery.

Chen Huiru replied: [No darling, just take a look. You haven’t seen her in seven years; you might see her differently now. What if she’s your type? I’m not worried about anything else, it’s just that you’ve been blind to love your whole life!]

Seeing that her mother was typing again, Du Qingting sent a red envelope to shut her up, transferring “13,140” yuan to stop her from worrying endlessly about her daughter being scammed.

The topic successfully derailed. Chen Huiru, receiving money from her rebellious daughter for the first time, was both thrilled and alarmed: [Where did you get this money? Why is that scam website paying you? And 120,000 all at once?]

Du Qingting: [Our website was hacked the other day. It’s a legitimate translation platform, and my job is translating foreign texts into Chinese.]

Chen Huiru: [Translation? Translation pays that well?]

Du Qingting: [It’s a hit project. I get a cut of the profits. The author earns, and I earn a bit too. Gotta go, the power’s about to go out. It’s thundering and lightning, and feels unsafe. I’ll come back once the typhoon passes.]

Chen Huiru sent a quick “Okay,” then out of nowhere, fired off one photo, then another, and another.

Du Qingting was exasperated with her mother. She sent a message to her younger sister, asking her to comfort their mom and keep her from overthinking, especially with her menopausal mood swings.

Outside, the sky was a heavy, oppressive black. The typhoon arrived faster than expected, catching her off guard. It was her first time experiencing a typhoon, and the overwhelming wind made her a little panicky. She walked over and sat next to You Jin, leaning back and tilting her head to look at her.

“Trouble at home?” You Jin asked.

“They want me to look at the pictures of a marriage prospect.”

“Did you take a look?” You Jin turned to her and Du Qingting sensed a hint of curiosity in her gaze. Holding her phone, she considered saying she’d looked, just to see her reaction.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she said, “Yeah, I looked.”

“What did you think?”

“Meh. Not a good fit. Didn’t vibe.” Du Qingting kept her eyes on You Jin’s face, trying to convey, I like someone like you. You Jin blinked, then reached out and pinched Du Qingting’s cheek a bit firmly.

Du Qingting let out a small hiss but couldn’t help breaking into a bright smile. She grabbed You Jin’s wrist and said, “Are you mad? I didn’t really look that closely.”

You Jin nodded, her expression unreadable. Du Qingting hadn’t expected her to be so unfazed, truly mysterious.

You Jin said softly, “Don’t fight with your mom. If you go back now, there’s still time. I suggest you head home. Meeting your fiancée might not be as bad as you think.”

“Hey, you don’t get it.” Du Qingting let go of her wrist. She didn’t want to go back because returning meant being trapped. Wanting to change the subject, she asked, “Where are those glasses you had? Why aren’t you wearing them?”

You Jin lowered her voice. “Didn’t you break them?” She looked into Du Qingting’s eyes. “Maybe you should get a pair too…”

“Get glasses?” Du Qingting shook her head. She didn’t need them, her vision was fine. She’d been trying to flirt, but You Jin’s response was so unromantic, as if she thought Du Qingting was blind.

She leaned back, glancing at You Jin’s fingers, feeling irritated again. With a sigh, she said, “If it comes to it, I’ll just go abroad. I spent so many years overseas, and when I came back I barely lasted a day before this mess left me homeless.”

“Abroad?” You Jin’s brows furrowed slightly. She took a sip from her teacup, then smiled at Du Qingting. “You could try it.”

That response only annoyed Du Qingting more. Not even a hint of trying to keep me here? Fine. With her family’s company facing such a big crisis, she felt guilty, but marrying someone she didn’t like would ruin her life.

She needed to think it over.

As they chatted, the typhoon grew fiercer. Something slammed against the door with a loud bang. The sky outside was pitch black, and the hotel staff hurried to secure the entrance.

The darkness came quickly. The wind hit suddenly, catching everyone off guard. Lightning struck the distant sea, splitting the dark surface to reveal the surging waves below—a majestic powerful beauty.

The hotel’s windows and doors were tightly sealed. Nearby hotels had lost power, but this one had its own generator keeping the lights on.

The front desk brought them a plate of jackfruit, saying it was the culprit that had hit the door. Freshly peeled, it was especially sweet.

Later, a man and woman approached, asking if they could join them for a game of poker. You Jin was working, so Du Qingting set her phone down and agreed to play.

They played for hours. Du Qingting got into it, and when You Jin came over to check on her, she was winning against the couple. Eventually, the couple said they were going to soak in the hot springs and ended the game.

Du Qingting, holding a stack of cash, patted it against her palm, feeling much better. She handed the red bills to You Jin. “How about that?”

You Jin pocketed them without hesitation.

After dinner, they lingered in the lobby for a bit before returning to their rooms.

The next day, the typhoon had calmed slightly, but the weather forecast warned it would pick up again.

Looking at the dark clouds outside, Du Qingting’s mood remained sour. She got ready and knocked on You Jin’s door. You Jin had her curly hair tied up, wearing a white shirt with one sleeve rolled up and secured with a thin leather garter, exposing half her arm. A pair of silver half-rimmed glasses sat on her nose. Du Qingting froze, staring.

You Jin said, “The typhoon delayed the work. Just had a meeting. What’s up?”

Could she say she was once again struck by her beauty?

You Jin seemed to pick up on it. “Like the style?”

It was the first time Du Qingting had seen a woman use a sleeve garter. She pulled out her phone, wanting to snap a picture for reference—perfect for her future manga, a formal outfit with a sleeve garter exuding tension. She nodded. “Yeah, I like it.”

Du Qingting’s fingers twitched in her pockets, itching to touch. You Jin’s phone rang, and she put in an earpiece to take the call. She seemed busy, likely leaving the island once the storm calmed. For now, they were just stuck together in this typhoon.

You Jin said, “I can’t leave today. Probably stuck at the hotel for another day.”

“Mm,” Du Qingting nodded.

That whole day, she did nothing but sit by You Jin, replaying their first kiss in her mind. You Jin worked on her laptop, while Du Qingting scrolled through her phone checking work emails. Her manga editor asked if she wanted to publish, sending her details and quotes from a few publishers.

In the afternoon, she thought about suggesting a hot spring soak together, maybe a kiss, maybe a hug. But just as she was about to speak, a tree in the hotel’s backyard snapped in the wind, and the hotel closed the hot springs.

She didn’t ask You Jin out again. Instead, she scrolled aimlessly on her phone while chatting with overseas friends who asked if she was coming back.

Having given up her apartment when she returned to China, Du Qingting had grown tired of living abroad and planned to stay in China long-term. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

She stayed holed up in her room all afternoon.

That evening, the hotel’s hot springs reopened. She and You Jin went to the restaurant for dinner, but Du Qingting had little appetite and only nibbled.

You Jin asked, “Caught a cold?”

“Nah, just sleepy,” Du Qingting replied.

“Are you sulking at me?” You Jin asked. “You’ve been down all day.”

Du Qingting choked. It wasn’t sulking. The typhoon was shifting direction tomorrow, and she had to decide where to go. “It’s not that. I’m just annoyed about the whole arranged marriage thing. Annoyed at the prospect.”

You Jin pursed her lips and said, “Alright.”

She gave a faint smile. “I’m staying up late tonight.”

Those words reminded Du Qingting of their first day on the plane when You Jin had teased her with that alluring charm. Du Qingting had been ready to lean in, but the plane started descending, and there wasn’t enough time.

After speaking, You Jin went to her room and, as she was about to close the door, asked, “Did you manage to book a flight?”

Du Qingting nodded. “Got one overseas.”

Back in her room, she flopped onto the bed to check in and select her seat. Peak season—tickets were several times more expensive, and some weren’t even available. Ridiculous.

Her gaze flicked to the door.

—

That night, You Jin was still awake. The giant screen in the living room was playing a movie. She sat on the couch, one hand resting on a throw pillow.

Du Qingting appeared at the door, holding a bottle of wine. “You’re still up?”

“Taking a break tonight,” You Jin said.

Du Qingting sat down, glancing at the screen. She asked for the movie’s title, and You Jin told her it was Hannibal Rising, right at the scene where Lady Murasaki and Hannibal meet on a snowy night, locking eyes through a window—not a romantic tale but one wrapped in desire.

Du Qingting poured the wine into a glass, its golden hue turning reddish under the movie’s light. She’d seen the film before, a taboo story of forbidden love. She glanced at the typhoon outside. The storm had come at just the right time; otherwise, she’d either be fleeing abroad or… back home for a marriage meeting.

In the raging wind and rain, stepping into You Jin’s space felt inexplicably warmer though the liquor probably helped.

The sea was different from the city. Even in a storm, cities never slept, but out here only the lighthouse beacon glowed.

The fishing boats had returned to port, and the sound of waves echoed across the island.

You Jin didn’t drink, holding the remote to rewind and rewatch the scene. Du Qingting watched along, and You Jin asked, “Feeling upset because you have to go back?”

“Yeah.” Du Qingting nodded, scooting closer and saying softly, “It’s my last night here.”

She asked, “Do you want me to leave?”

You Jin was silent.

The woman lowered her eyes, no longer watching the movie, and looked at her.

Du Qingting let out a “tch,” disappointed. “Don’t beat around the bush. If you want me to stay, say it. If you don’t, say that too.”

You Jin said, “I don’t.”

Du Qingting’s lips curved. “Then why didn’t you show it?”

You Jin didn’t answer.

“You didn’t even ask for my number…” Du Qingting tested, glancing at You Jin’s expression. You Jin stayed quiet, her eyes twinkling with a hint of a smile.

“It’s like you’re not curious about me at all.” Du Qingting sighed, a touch of complaint in her voice. “How can you be like that?”

And then, her cheek was kissed.

Du Qingting’s parted lips closed, then opened again. She stared at You Jin.

“Sorry,” You Jin apologized. “My fault. Forgive me?”

Du Qingting froze, her annoyance fading. “It’s not exactly your fault… just…”

“You don’t want to leave me, do you?”

Du Qingting didn’t speak. You Jin interlaced her fingers. “Are you sure you don’t want to marry your fiancée?”

“It’s a marriage prospect, not a fiancée yet.” Hooked, Du Qingting said bluntly, “I like someone like you. I really don’t want to leave you.”

You Jin said, “Come closer.”

Du Qingting leaned in, whispering it again near her ear. You Jin’s fingers brushed her face, pinching lightly. “I pinched you yesterday because I was mad.”

“Huh…” Du Qingting almost laughed. “That was you being mad? That’s more like flirting.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” You Jin asked. “You didn’t fulfill that promise, so how could I let you go abroad?”

“What promise?” Du Qingting racked her brain for what she might’ve said.

You Jin’s curved fingers grazed her neck, sliding from her jaw to her collarbone. “This.”

The room’s lights weren’t dim, and with the howling sea wind and swaying trees outside it felt like they were adrift at sea.

In the deep night, You Jin’s fingertips hooked under her chin pinching gently. They were close, You Jin studying her lips, her fingers lightly tugging at her hair.

She reached up and turned off the movie.

The elegant young cannibal Hannibal, holding a wine glass and licking fresh flesh, and the regal, disheveled Lady Murasaki with bl00d on her hand, vanished from the glowing screen. The room plunged into darkness, their breaths gradually mingling.

Lightning flashed outside. You Jin removed her half-rimmed glasses, revealing her sharp nose. Du Qingting could see her face, though not entirely clearly. Her hand brushed You Jin’s cheek.

Her fingertips played with the hair by You Jin’s ear, trying to see her more clearly.

You Jin let her look, let her touch. Du Qingting leaned back onto the couch, but You Jin pulled her up.

The wind and rain outside blended into a cacophony. You Jin leaned down, kissing Du Qingting’s lips, their tongues intertwining. Du Qingting couldn’t think, couldn’t react, only feeling the lips she’d been dreaming of. She let out a soft gasp.

You Jin’s fingers gripped the back of her neck, her lips wet. “Want to have a seven-day fling with me and then part ways?”

Du Qingting, still savoring the touch, let out an “uh” from her throat. What?

The word “fling” spun in her mind.

Soon, she realized why You Jin hadn’t let her lie back. You Jin reached under the pillow, pulling something out.

At first, Du Qingting thought it was a blindfold. “Why do you always kiss me in the dark?”

But it wasn’t a blindfold, it felt like a murder weapon. A leather strap circled her neck.

You Jin, holding both ends of the strap, straddled her, pinning her to the couch.

Du Qingting touched it—a choker.

Her lips parted, her breathing uneven.

Before she could react, You Jin’s lips descended again capturing hers, silencing any protest. Her other hand slid behind Du Qingting’s neck.

Click. The black leather choker fastened around her neck.

“Be my lover,” You Jin said, leaning down to kiss the choker, as if marking her.

Du Qingting let out a muffled sound, her mind numb, unable to refuse. She gripped the back of You Jin’s head. “So for these seven days, can I do whatever I want, girlfriend? Darling?”