Pillowside Passion - Chapter 14

14:

No matter how Du Qingting coaxed or teased, You Jin refused to hand over the key to throw away, instead carefully tucking it away.

At the rest area halfway down the mountain, the chairs were filled with tourists. You Jin sat on a rock, while Du Qingting leaned against a tree, playfully performing a “severed finger” magic trick—pressing one finger down and connecting it with another, her fingers dancing back and forth.

It was You Jin’s first time seeing it. She tried mimicking it, but her fingers weren’t as nimble.

Du Qingting opened her palm, saying seriously, “Give me the key, and I’ll make it disappear for you.”

You Jin pursed her lips, smiling as she looked at her. “Alright, stop messing around. I just want to keep it as a memento.”

Du Qingting wanted to protest but couldn’t argue. She called out “big sister” a few times to sweet-talk her, but You Jin, unmoved, sipped from her water bottle, glancing at her sideways, refusing to hand it over.

You Jin capped the bottle. Du Qingting’s gaze dropped to her waist, her fingers playfully sliding toward her pocket, then diving in. You Jin covered her hand, tilting her head. “What are you doing, little thief?”

“Our love isn’t equal.” Du Qingting kept her hand there, hugging her. She sighed, “We said it’s a fling, but you’re acting like you don’t love me.”

You Jin turned, her tone soft. “You’ll see how much I love you later.” Her gaze was earnest, leaving Du Qingting momentarily flustered, wondering: Is she acting too deep?

But she was already hooked, unable to stop staring into You Jin’s eyes. She didn’t press for the key anymore, her heart suddenly brimming.

You Jin gently adjusted her glasses. “Let’s go back.”

She offered her hand, and Du Qingting grabbed it tightly.

Rested and energized, they held hands down the mountain, passing people who’d given up halfway. Some had climbed swearing eternal love, only to grumble when they couldn’t make it, saying they didn’t believe in such things—love was about effort.

“Tch.”

Back at the hotel, Du Qingting swiped her room card, eagerly tossing her things inside. Before the door was fully open, she pressed against You Jin’s cheek kissing her.

Tirelessly, Du Qingting trapped her in her arms, panting warmly against her chest. You Jin gave her a gentle push. Du Qingting pulled out her phone to show her.

“…Six o’clock. It’s evening. Time to learn.”

The paper bags on the floor spilled open, souvenirs from the shop scattered everywhere.

“Go shower,” You Jin said softly. “You climbed all day, aren’t you tired?”

“I’ll go first.” Du Qingting straightened, took two steps, then turned back to grab You Jin’s arm. “You come later, you have to come over, or else.”

“Or else what?” You Jin countered.

Du Qingting hooked her finger around her neck, tugging at the leather choker. She pulled it off, eyes fixed on You Jin. “I’ll bite you to death.”

You Jin’s fingers grazed her cheek, rubbing gently. “Taking off the choker, getting wild already?”

Du Qingting wasn’t just wild—she was reckless. She pinched You Jin’s cheek. “Be good, big sister, don’t make me lose it.”

You Jin’s breath quickened slightly. Du Qingting deliberately placed her fingers under her nose, feeling her rhythm. Though the younger one was impatient, the mature older sister wasn’t much better.

Du Qingting let go and headed to the bathroom, glancing back to see You Jin’s eyes darken behind her glasses. Her slender fingers rested on the frame, gently pushing the silver glasses back into place.

When Du Qingting looked again, You Jin was gone.

You Jin returned to her room, the shower running, soaking her completely. Her glasses were off, wet lashes blinking. She gathered her hair with one hand.

The typhoon had fully passed, the sound of waves now soft.

Downstairs, the hotel’s central pool was open, lights glowing, reflections dancing across the glass windows.

The door creaked open slightly. Du Qingting, covered in suds, was scrubbing her hair, palms full of foam. Hearing the sound, she rinsed the bubbles off her hands and turned quickly.

You Jin wore a bathrobe, her long, fair legs stepping forward in the bright atmosphere.

Du Qingting stared, stunned. She came so fast.

“I’m here. Need help?”

Du Qingting’s words caught in her throat. You Jin unhurriedly approached, taking the showerhead from its hook. Sitting on the edge of the bath platform, she aimed the water at Du Qingting, who tilted her head to rinse her hair. When she looked up, her hands rubbed her face.

She scrubbed her hair vigorously, and You Jin helped rinse off the foam.

Du Qingting dried herself with a towel, pulled on a short T-shirt, and stood before You Jin, hands braced on the sink, head tilted up with eager eyes. “I’m done.”

You Jin pinched her cheek. “Got your phone?”

Du Qingting blinked. “For what? Recording?”

You Jin chuckled. “To time things. We might get hungry later, we should eat first.”

Her phone was in her pants pocket. Du Qingting kicked the laundry basket over, fished out her phone, and set it on the sink.

Time: 7:00 p.m.

You Jin kissed her puffed cheek, then fastened a new black-and-red choker around her neck, this one with a red gem in the center—a different style.

You Jin looped her arms around Du Qingting’s neck, looking down at her. “Don’t take it off so casually, and don’t get too wild, got it?”

Du Qingting stayed silent, stubborn, refusing to agree.

“Alright.” You Jin didn’t scold her.

She deepened the kiss, using tenderness to pull Du Qingting in. It wasn’t painful, just itchy, and Du Qingting loved it, really loved it.

You Jin said, “Get your pants.”

Du Qingting grabbed a pair of black-gray cargo pants. Her waist was slim, and You Jin tied them with a bow.

When Du Qingting could lift her head, she mischievously covered her eyes with her hand, peeking soon after. You Jin hadn’t looked up. Du Qingting watched her, then pulled her T-shirt over You Jin’s head, slowly covering her.

You Jin’s hair was still damp, soaking a large patch of the T-shirt.

So cool.

Du Qingting hugged her, dizzy before anything even happened.

From inside the shirt, You Jin said, “I kissed you.”

—

Time: 7:39 p.m.

It was still early, the sky faintly yellowing.

The T-shirt, wet and clinging to her chest, felt oddly revealing. Du Qingting took a deep breath, asking softly, “My turn now? Just forty minutes of kissing?”

You Jin didn’t answer. Du Qingting, impatient, leaned close. “Why do you always make me wait? You know I’m dying here. I’ve been good, waiting for you…”

You Jin’s fingers pinched her chattering lips, her eyes blinking. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“What’d I do?” Du Qingting asked, confused, her breath unsteady.

But You Jin didn’t call her good this time.

She called her bad. Du Qingting didn’t know what she’d done wrong. When asked, You Jin only said, “You made me wait, and you bit me.”

Du Qingting denied it. “My kissing’s gotten really good.”

Her phone vibrated on the sink, buzzing at the worst time, Chen Huiru’s name flashing on the screen.

Du Qingting covered it, her palm tingling from the vibration. She closed her eyes briefly, annoyed at her mom but glad for the interruption—it snapped her out of it.

You Jin’s fingers brushed her face, pinching her cheek. “Answer it. Tell her what you’re doing, and she won’t call again.”

Du Qingting couldn’t exactly speak. You Jin kissed her again, her sisterly affection for kissing was restrained in daylight.

The phone kept ringing. The typhoon had stopped that afternoon, and Chen Huiru was probably waiting for her to come home, now urging her. Du Qingting braced her hands on the sink, her chin resting on You Jin’s shoulder. In the mirror, her face was flushed, ears red. She nuzzled You Jin’s cheek.

“Big sister.”

You Jin hummed softly, comforting her. “She won’t call again. Have fun.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” For once, Du Qingting let herself be soothed. You Jin pulled up her slipping bathrobe, stepped off the platform, and said, “I’ll change. We’ll go to the music restaurant for dinner.”

Du Qingting agreed. You Jin left the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Once alone, Du Qingting turned on the faucet, splashing water on her face, muttering curses under her breath. She tugged at her collar, glanced in the mirror, then down at her shirt, yanking the neckline until it covered her head.

She breathed deeply. Light seeped through the fabric, revealing a bite mark on her chest from You Jin.

The air smelled of body wash, but she swore it was You Jin’s scent. Another deep breath, she felt like she was dying.

She really loved her.

She’d turned into a puppy, the kind that grinned stupidly at a single touch.

Calming herself, no longer grinning foolishly, she turned to find You Jin still at the door, watching her. Du Qingting hadn’t noticed her return—or maybe she’d never left. Her face flushed red as she stepped back. “You… why didn’t you leave?”

You Jin smiled, glancing at her wrinkled collar. “Didn’t you say I don’t wait for you? I’m waiting.”

Du Qingting, mortified, grabbed the showerhead and sprayed her. You Jin couldn’t block in time—her glasses and cheeks were drenched, water droplets clinging to the frames.

Du Qingting stood straight, lifting her T-shirt off and pulling open You Jin’s bathrobe. “Wear this.”

“It’s soaked in the chest.”

Du Qingting stubbornly put it on her. “I’ll blow-dry it.”

You Jin wore only her short T-shirt, her long legs on the carpet. One glance, and Du Qingting was done for.

You Jin, dressed, sat on a rattan chair, flipping her hair behind her shoulders, resting her forehead on her hand. “Come blow-dry it for big sister.”

Du Qingting grabbed the hairdryer, standing before her, feeling like a silly puppy again. She aimed the dryer, the air sweeping over You Jin’s chest.

You Jin hissed. “Not too hot, I’ll burn.”

Sure enough, Du Qingting lowered it to the second setting. After two passes, You Jin’s skin reddened.

This woman… Du Qingting wanted to end her.

Outside, it was dark. You Jin wore her black T-shirt and cargo pants. Du Qingting felt like a dog on a leash, fuming, but with You Jin walking beside her in her clothes, she couldn’t look away, occasionally kicking her flip-flops carelessly.

She tripped over a threshold, nearly falling.

They entered the music restaurant together. You Jin sat, flipping through the menu to order.

“Calm down first.” You Jin chose lighter dishes, handing the menu to the waiter before turning to Du Qingting, who was clearly rattled, floating from the stimulation.

The restaurant had a live band playing Teresa Teng’s “Sweet Honey.”

The mood was perfect, with moonlight and sea breeze. “Sweet honey, your smile is so sweet…”

Du Qingting switched seats to sit beside You Jin, who smiled quietly, her expression indulgent yet reserved.

Touching You Jin’s refined features, Du Qingting felt a familiar tug. “The first time I saw you, you seemed so familiar.”

The song’s lyrics aligned: “Where, oh where have I seen you? / Your smile is so familiar, / I can’t recall where. / Oh, in my dreams, / In my dreams I’ve seen you, / Smiling so sweetly, / It’s you, it’s you…”

Lost in the music, Du Qingting’s thoughts drifted.

You Jin, guessing her thoughts, asked, “Really? Who do I remind you of?”

Du Qingting grinned. “My dream lover. My girlfriend. Now my dream lover has a face.”

You Jin shook her head, curling her fingers to flick her forehead lightly. “Dummy.”

Du Qingting watched her smile, wondering if she was really dumb. Sipping her juice, she kissed You Jin’s ear. “Sleep with me tonight… If I mess up, teach me again?”

The juice had lemongrass, which Du Qingting loved last time, its unique, ethereal fragrance mixed with a hint of minty coolness. You Jin didn’t drink, tasting the cool, tingling flavor through Du Qingting’s tongue.

Du Qingting hooked her arms around her neck, kissing her repeatedly in the restaurant, oblivious to others, determined to make her dream lover her pillowside beauty on the first day of their fling.