Pillowside Passion - Chapter 17

17:

Du Qingting was utterly melted by her words.

Her mind was a chaotic blur, as if someone were singing in her ear: “This is love, this is love.”

Du Qingting always thought of herself as clear-headed, but this woman’s repeated, heartfelt confessions—every glance, every smile—felt so genuine.

She couldn’t tell the truth from pretense anymore, and frankly—she didn’t care. Leaning close to You Jin’s ear, she whispered, “Woof.”

Our little puppy.

Woof.

You Jin gently bumped her forehead against Du Qingting’s, her eyes sparkling with amusement, clearly unable to resist. Her hand reached up, playfully pinching Du Qingting’s ear twice.

Du Qingting stared at her intently, and You Jin instantly understood. Pointing at the glass window where clouds still drifted lazily, You Jin teased, “We just left the room, and you’re that impatient? Can you even sleep in broad daylight?”

Du Qingting grinned. “You’re underestimating me.”

If You Jin wanted to head back now, Du Qingting would knock herself out with a mallet if she had to.

You Jin slipped back into the water. Having exposed her swimming skills by cheating earlier, Du Qingting dropped the act. She dove into the pool, showing off her charm with every stroke, switching styles until she was exhausted. Soaked, she draped herself over You Jin’s shoulders.

You Jin chuckled. “Little liar.”

Du Qingting played stubbornly, refusing to admit she could swim. “No one else could teach me. But you? One lesson, and I got it instantly. Guess my girlfriend’s just that good.”

You Jin burst out laughing at her smooth-talking nonsense.

The afternoon heat rose, scorching. They napped through the hottest part of the day, then got up to pack for the beach. Today, their main plan was diving.

They’d booked a diving instructor online—pricey, but the instructor was waiting early. They grabbed their gear and headed to the changing room. As they emerged, You Jin reminded her, “Tell the cameraman to film properly. Get lots of shots of us kissing, hugging, skin-to-skin.”

Du Qingting’s eyebrow shot up.

You Jin smirked, glancing at the cameraman.

The cameraman’s face turned red.

Too spicy. In the summer heat, it was overwhelming.

The instructor had a boat and offered one-on-one guidance, explaining underwater attractions and safety protocols. Onboard, You Jin meticulously checked their certifications. The boat took them to the diving area, where the instructor reviewed emergency hand signals again. “Don’t worry, we’re professionals.”

You Jin inspected both their gear, then followed the instructor into the water, diving backward with ease.

It was Du Qingting’s first time diving. Despite all the safety measures, she panicked as they descended deeper. At first, she couldn’t bear to look down, her heart pounding wildly. She clung to the instructor, who signaled to calm her down.

The diving area was rich with stunning views, and the instructor led them toward the best spots.

You Jin, with another instructor, swam ahead and behind. Noticing Du Qingting’s distress, she signaled to her instructor and swam to her side, gesturing to ask if she was okay.

Du Qingting shook her head, signaling she was fine.

You Jin paused for half a minute, then took her hand, gently guiding her toward the surface. When Du Qingting opened her eyes, she saw You Jin pulling her upward. You Jin glanced back, her eyes checking if she was alright. Breaking through the surface, the sunlight intensified. Du Qingting gasped instinctively, her lungs aching, desperate for something to lean on. You Jin offered her arm for support.

“It’s okay, don’t be scared.”

The two instructors surfaced behind them, confused, asking what happened. You Jin grabbed a float ring for Du Qingting to hold onto. “She’s new and a bit scared. Let’s get her back up.”

Du Qingting didn’t want to ruin the mood. “I’ll be fine after a breather.”

You Jin climbed aboard first, pulling her up. The boat’s engine roared harshly. Du Qingting tilted her head, her body slightly hunched.

The instructor reassured her, “It’s normal. You’ll get used to it after a couple of tries. We’ll be with you the whole time. Take a few minutes to adjust.”

Du Qingting nodded skeptically. “Alright, I’ll try. It’s not that bad after a break.”

You Jin removed her gloves, patted Du Qingting’s shoulder, and pulled her close to lean on her. She insisted there was no need to push it. “It’s your first time, no experience. Don’t force it—you won’t enjoy it, and it’ll just be dull. Snorkeling’s just as beautiful. Chin up, don’t look down. Check out the sky.”

Du Qingting didn’t look at the sea—she looked at You Jin, feeling a surge of security. Hesitantly, she asked, “Should I wait for you up here? I don’t want to hold you back.”

“The sea looks the same above or below,” You Jin said, helping her remove the oxygen tank and rubbing her head. “Feeling better?”

Du Qingting saw guilt in You Jin’s eyes and thought she should be the one feeling guilty.

You Jin had assumed Du Qingting’s claim of not knowing how to dive was like her swimming lie, so she brought her to the diving zone. “Sorry,” she said.

“Huh?” Du Qingting felt embarrassed but secretly relished the concern.

She swam often and played in the water plenty, but she’d toned down her wild side since. Her first time underwater had sparked a sudden, overwhelming fear, like thalassophobia.

Snorkeling was safer, floating on the surface with minimal depth. The boat moved to the snorkeling area, where plenty of people bobbed on the water. You Jin helped her into a life vest, checking with a look if she was ready. Du Qingting nodded, and You Jin guided her into the sea.

Snorkeling offered plenty to see—sea turtles, colorful fish of all shapes, long and flat, their names a mystery but their beauty undeniable.

When Du Qingting wanted to dip a little deeper, You Jin would sink below, catching her. Floating in the buoyant water, their embrace felt different from on land.

A little intoxicating.

Willingly intoxicating, especially with a mermaid like her in the sea.

You Jin’s curly hair swayed with the waves, her graceful body moving with the fish.

The experience was great, though it was a shame the cameraman couldn’t film underwater.

The area was vast, and they explored for two hours until dusk. Back on shore, Du Qingting quickly removed her mask, taking deep, secret breaths.

You Jin gazed at the distant sea, her hair fluttering in the breeze. Du Qingting couldn’t help wondering if this woman was truly having fun.

She seemed to enjoy it more than Du Qingting did.

Back when Du Qingting couldn’t sit still in school, always itching to run wild, You Jin’s discipline made her ache to climb walls or trees at midnight. But today… this woman, God, she loved her.

Leaning in, Du Qingting stole a quick kiss on You Jin’s cheek.

Caught off guard, You Jin turned, her expression questioning the sudden kiss.

Du Qingting hopped off the boat first, taking You Jin’s things and helping her down. She casually asked, “You dive a lot?”

“Work keeps me busy. I rarely get to play. This is a rare chance to relax,” You Jin replied.

In the changing room, Du Qingting glanced over and saw people playing beach volleyball. Turning back, she noticed You Jin pulled a mint candy from her small bag and offered it to her. Du Qingting’s eyes flicked to her fingers, then to the bag, spotting a small icebox just for candies.

Leaning in, she took the candy in her mouth. The tea-flavored mint was cool, not too sharp, with a subtle tea fragrance—her favorite.

You Jin asked, “Better now?”

“Much better,” Du Qingting said. “Gimme another.”

She crunched the first one, staring at You Jin’s bag, confirming that You Jin carried her favorite candies. When You Jin offered another, Du Qingting took it, her body buzzing with the urge to kiss her or maybe nibble her fingers.

“You seem to know everything,” Du Qingting praised. “Everyone I know is either good at studying but bad at fun, or good at fun but bad at studying.”

“Aren’t you the same?” You Jin said.

“Huh?”

“Scored 680 on the college entrance exam and still this wild.”

Du Qingting had nearly forgotten that. Her face flushed with embarrassment. After soaking in seawater, her skin felt rough. She darted into the changing room, muttering to herself, 680, 680, Du Qingting, you really dare to bring that up…

She changed quickly and waited outside for You Jin, who was still showering. Spotting a yogurt shaved ice shop nearby, Du Qingting shouted to You Jin and ran to join the queue.

It was hot, and the line was long. Du Qingting scrolled through her phone, checking her friends’ posts. Her old crew was still out there—renting boats, villas, hiring models and influencers, snapping lavish photos, living it up decadently.

She used to comment, begging to join. Now, it felt shallow. Her throat tightened. If her family hit a financial crisis, those “friends” would probably mock her every chance they got. She turned off her phone screen and glanced toward the changing room. In the distance, You Jin was talking to a woman under a coconut tree, the woman in a t-shirt and shorts, her back to Du Qingting.

Frowning, Du Qingting tapped her phone against her palm, glancing at the two people ahead in line. Why was making yogurt ice so slow?

Finally, she got her order and jogged over. The stranger glanced at her, and Du Qingting called out loudly to You Jin, “Darling?”

Her voice carried, drawing tourists’ eyes. You Jin’s gaze shifted to her. Du Qingting rushed over, handing her the ice and draping an arm around her, fingers brushing her cool skin. You Jin’s shoulder twitched slightly, but Du Qingting held on.

The woman talking to You Jin didn’t linger, offering a quick greeting before leaving. Du Qingting watched her go, asking, “Who was that? Someone from the pool? Why’s she talking to you again?”

You Jin said, “Xu Yang. You’ve met her.”

“When?” The name didn’t ring a bell.

“We chatted before coming to the island. There were a few people.”

“Oh, her.” Du Qingting vaguely recalled. “Why’d she run off when she saw me? She didn’t seem shy that day.” Something felt off, and she stared suspiciously.

You Jin scooped a bite of ice with her spoon.

Du Qingting, holding an extra cup, insisted on using her own spoon to scoop from You Jin’s. She laughed, “Should’ve said earlier, I’d have given her this unopened one.”

Xu Yang hadn’t gone far and overheard. She took a deep breath. Why wouldn’t she run? Originally, President Su was supposed to join her on the island to put in a good word and secure a project. But Su canceled at the last minute, warning her to avoid Du Qingting. If she laughed or slipped up, You Jin’s temper wasn’t exactly forgiving. Untrained in such situations, Xu Yang’s best move was to dodge and not disturb.

After an afternoon of fun, as evening approached, they chose a romantic beachside restaurant for dinner.

The cameraman followed diligently, filming the whole time.

Back at the hotel, You Jin swiped her room card and glanced at the cameraman. “Still filming?”

Her smile made the cameraman’s hands shake.

Du Qingting stayed at the door, telling him, “That’s enough for today.” She wanted to keep filming, but the world behind the door was different from the one outside.

The cameraman said, “If you need us tomorrow, just let us know. We offer editing, but if you don’t need it, we’ll send the raw footage to your email. We’re professionals.”

Du Qingting paid the deposit. The cameraman took a few steps, then turned back. “Can we use your footage for a TikTok promo? We’ll give you a discount.”

“I’ll let you know tomorrow. Busy now,” Du Qingting said, not committing since You Jin’s approval was needed.

Behind the door, You Jin was showering. Du Qingting stood there a moment, then returned to her own room to wash up.

She figured You Jin would come to her room on her own.

How else would she seduce her?

Sure enough, after her shower, You Jin was already there, leaning against the bar counter, pouring wine. Du Qingting reached for it, but You Jin held the glass back, fingers pinching it. “We’ll drink later. Where do you want to kiss tonight?”

Du Qingting studied her, thinking.

First her face, then her chest. Boldly, she said, “Can I kiss wherever I haven’t kissed yet?”

You Jin held her glass. “Sure, anywhere’s fine. You won at swimming, so you get your reward.”

Du Qingting was practically trembling—her dream came true, she could fly. Her way of expressing it? Biting You Jin.

She brushed her lips against You Jin’s, pulling back slightly. You Jin’s fingers poked her gently, nudging her toward the couch’s edge.

Du Qingting sat slowly, fingers pressing into her thighs.

She looked at You Jin, eyes hopeful, wanting her to sit on her lap. “My kissing skills are top-notch now. No need for lessons today.”

“Sure?” You Jin asked.

Du Qingting nodded.

“You kiss me, or I kiss you?”

Du Qingting nodded again, then realized she needed to answer. “I’ll kiss you.”

You Jin said, “Alright.” She sat on the couch opposite, raising her hand, the wine glass resting lightly against her slender neck.

Du Qingting’s eyes widened, watching the liquid sway in the glass. You Jin said it was hers.

She paused.

“The robe will get dirty.”

“Send it to the laundry tomorrow,” Du Qingting said, gripping her hands, knowing this woman would seduce her but not this much.

You Jin spoke slowly. “…I mean, the robe will dirty your body.”

In the dim light, her fingers slipped, and the glass tilted, golden champagne spilling down her neck, covering her throat and collarbone. She let out a soft hiss, tugging the robe’s tie loose, haphazardly wiping at the spill.

“Don’t wipe—it’ll get dirty,” Du Qingting said.

“Hm?” You Jin looked up. The last bit of wine accidentally spilled onto her abdomen, droplets rolling down.

You Jin said, “It’s gone lower…”

Looking at her, “Will you kiss?”

“Kiss it.” Du Qingting took a deep breath.

She understood You Jin’s meaning, and…

“I want to kiss.”

You Jin picked up another champagne bottle, sipping lightly, her robe falling open. “Well… aren’t you going to drink your wine?”