Pillowside Passion - Chapter 2

2:

With an airport so vast and flights so numerous, Du Qingting only held a faint hope of running into her again. She hadn’t truly expected it.

When the woman looked up, revealing the glasses perched on her nose, Du Qingting’s heart skipped a beat. There was some cosmic thread of fate between them. Fleeing home was, without a doubt, a brilliant move. They were destined.

Du Qingting sat across from her, savoring the woman’s stunning beauty. The glasses on her nose were the perfect finishing touch.

You Jin kept flipping through her book, occasionally meeting Du Qingting’s gaze. Eventually, she set the book on her lap and asked, “What are you going to Xianghai for?”

Du Qingting, ever the flirt, replied, “To be with you, obviously.”

The woman let out a soft “oh” before responding lightly, “Then that’s not a coincidence, it’s premeditated.”

Du Qingting made a playful “hiss” sound. “I’m visiting friends.”

She wasn’t lying. Back when she was studying abroad, she had a good friend in Xianghai. They’d kept in touch for the first two years, but when her friend got busy with grad school applications, Du Qingting didn’t want to bother her. Sending a message once she arrives should reconnect them.

Du Qingting set her coffee on the side table. Her phone buzzed immediately, and she knew who it was without looking. She shut it off without a glance.

The woman flipped through a magazine, a card more likely her business card—resting on the black briefcase beside her.

Du Qingting wanted to sneak a peek but knew it’d be rude. Propping her chin on her hand, she studied the woman instead.

The woman held the magazine, her eyes behind the glasses glinting with a smile. After a moment, she put in Bluetooth earbuds, occasionally murmuring a response, clearly on a call.

When the call ended, Du Qingting couldn’t resist asking, “What’s your name?”

You Jin didn’t answer, her fingers turning another page.

A minute later, she said, “You probably don’t want to know.”

Du Qingting tried to steal a glance at the card on the bag, but You Jin casually rested her hand over it, deliberately blocking her view.

Du Qingting caught a glimpse and ventured, “…Your last name is Wang?”

The boarding announcement began. The woman stood, picking up her bag, and the card fell to the floor. Du Qingting, empty-handed, grabbed the woman’s small suitcase to help. You Jin pressed her hand over the nameplate, ensuring Du Qingting still couldn’t see her name.

Both were in first class—You Jin in an inner cabin, Du Qingting in the outer one.

During the four-hour flight, a flight attendant adjusted the bed. With her phone off, Du Qingting was bored and turned on the TV.

Twenty minutes after takeoff, the flight attendant entered softly. “Miss, the lady next door sent you a glass of wine.”

Du Qingting glanced over. The attendant held a highball glass, one-third full. Earlier, the attendant had offered airport-provided drinks, but Du Qingting had declined. This one was likely purchased by the woman.

The wine was placed on the side table. Du Qingting sniffed it—rich, fragrant, clearly high-quality. She asked the attendant to send a dessert in return.

Holding the glass, she wondered if “Miss Wang” was dropping a hint. She sipped the wine and kept watching her movie, initially not planning to visit. Meeting in a bar and moving so fast felt…

It was an old film, East Meets West.

On screen, Joey Wang and Leslie Cheung were cuddling, whispering sweet nothings about sparks flying.

The flight attendant left with a parting remark: “The lady said if you need a refill, you can find her. She’s watching a movie, but don’t go too late—she sleeps early.”

The words carried a subtle suggestion, though on the surface, it was just a reminder. First-class cabins weren’t that private. If something happened…

It was thrilling yet inconvenient.

Du Qingting asked, “What time does she sleep?”

The attendant checked. “Around ten.”

She added, “She also said she has extra clothes you can change into.”

Du Qingting had boarded empty-handed, and the woman had noticed.

Finishing the wine, Du Qingting felt no drowsiness, just restless, bland night. The woman’s scent lingered in her mind. She thought of the lighter left behind at the bar, probably tossed during security.

What did the woman smell like?

Honestly, she was breathtakingly gorgeous.

Du Qingting got up, went to the front cabin, and knocked. No response.

Undeterred, she knocked twice more.

Checking the time, it was past nine.

The punctuality felt oddly familiar.

It reminded her of school days, sneaking out with friends and coming home to a locked gate. She’d climb the wall, only to find You Jin waiting below, a dark, abyss-like presence in the night. Even now, the memory sent shivers down her spine.

As Du Qingting turned to leave, the door opened. The woman, in a bathrobe, held the handle. Du Qingting was surprised. “I thought you wouldn’t open and that you were asleep.”

“How could I? I’ve been waiting for you.”

Du Qingting blinked. “So, is this a lucky coincidence or not?”

“If you come in, it’s lucky. If you don’t, probably not,” You Jin said, her hair still wet, water droplets sliding down her neck.

Du Qingting was hooked by her words. “Guess it’s lucky then.”

She stepped into the woman’s domain. An untouched meal sat on the table. You Jin took a seat, crossing her long legs, the bathrobe slipping open at the slit.

Sometimes, allure was its own signal.

You Jin handed her the remote. Du Qingting resumed the movie—same scene, Joey Wang leaning on Leslie Cheung, calling him “Senior Brother.”

You Jin sipped her red wine.

When their eyes met, she crooked a finger.

Du Qingting’s heart raced.

Things spiraled out of control. She leaned in, inhaling You Jin’s scent, her eyes fixed on her lips. She reached for You Jin’s glasses, but You Jin stopped her, gripping her fingers and pulling her closer. “You know…”

“Hm?”

“Even in first class, security patrols.”

Du Qingting could feel the rise and fall of her chest.

In the soft, fragrant air, her lips ached to touch You Jin’s skin.

But just as she was about to kiss her, a knock came. The crew announced the plane was descending for landing.

You Jin pressed a finger to Du Qingting’s lips, stopping her. She wiped the wine from her mouth, saying, “That’s it for today.”

The interruption left Du Qingting hanging.

She knew what You Jin meant but played dumb. “I haven’t even done anything. Why’s it over?”

“If someone saw… it wouldn’t be private or thrilling anymore.”

Her soft voice made Du Qingting’s ears burn. “I gave you plenty of time. Letting you in was an open invitation.” Seeing Du Qingting’s regret, she leaned close and whispered, “Next time… seize the moment.”

She pulled her bathrobe closed, covering her chest and thighs, every move teasing Du Qingting: I was seducing you, and you could’ve gone further, but you settled for a kiss.

Du Qingting thought she was wild enough, but this woman was on another level. Her heart itched to try again.

You Jin stood to change for landing.

Du Qingting touched her lips, eyes on the bathroom door, realizing she’d finished the wine alone.

Part of her felt reckless, part regretful.

When You Jin emerged, Du Qingting’s regret doubled. The woman was dressed more formally than at the bar—a tailored black vest suit, tie at the collar, and sleek black trousers hugging her hips, exuding a forbidden allure. Du Qingting couldn’t look away.

Exiting the plane, You Jin walked ahead, Du Qingting trailing, catching faint whiffs of citrus.

Outside the airport, it was still dark, just past midnight. Du Qingting turned on her phone, ignoring dozens of missed calls, and checked her friend’s chat. No reply, probably asleep.

A car pulled up for You Jin. She glanced at Du Qingting. “My friend’s coming soon. I’ll stay at her place,” Du Qingting said.

“How long are you staying?” the woman asked.

“Four days.”

“With friends the whole time?”

Du Qingting nodded.

You Jin got into a black Cayenne, but the car soon circled back and stopped beside her. You Jin looked out. “It’s late. Not safe. I’ll take you to a hotel first.”

Du Qingting grinned. “Sure.”

As she got in, You Jin asked, “Not afraid I’m a scammer?”

“A scammer in first class would be easy to track.”

You Jin smiled. “Buckle up.”

Du Qingting fastened her seatbelt, meeting her eyes. The woman’s voice was gentle. “Is it okay if I take you to my hotel?”

“Absolutely.”

The car headed to the hotel. They didn’t talk much, Du Qingting stealing glances at the silver-rimmed glasses.

At the hotel, You Jin got out, the driver handling her luggage. Du Qingting carried a bag. Someone handed You Jin room keys, and as they started to speak, she pressed a finger to her lips.

“Two keys, adjacent rooms,” You Jin said, entering the elevator.

Du Qingting handled check-in, pulling out her ID. She couldn’t help asking, “That lady just now…”

Then she recalled You Jin’s words in the car: “Knowing the name takes the fun out of it.”

Fun.

It was fun.

Du Qingting took her key and headed upstairs. At her door, she glanced both ways—left or right?

As she settled in, the doorbell rang. Room service said, “Miss, the lady in the left room sent you some clothes.”

Du Qingting thought of the wine. Another hint?

She took the clothes—new, judging by the creases, carrying the same fragrance as the woman’s.

—

Du Qingting had come empty-handed. Her own clothes wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow. She showered, then changed into the outfit. As she did, two small black items fell out—simple, thin, no patterns. Her mind flashed to images of the woman wearing them, her curvaceous figure making them bold and unrestrained.

Dressed in the undergarments and a bathrobe, Du Qingting realized her family must be frantic. She hadn’t told them where she was going, fearing they’d drag her back from the airport. Now that she’d landed, it was time to check in. She stepped onto the balcony to call her mom.

Chen Huiru was still awake, frantic. “Where are you? A young woman out there alone, it’s not safe! I’ll come get you!”

“Relax, stop nagging. People might think you’re selling your kid. Our family isn’t that desperate for money, so why the arranged marriage?”

Chen Huiru went quiet for a few seconds, then softly said, “Have you considered that we are desperate?”

“What?” Du Qingting doubted her ears.

“The past two years, the business hasn’t been doing well. Your dad’s health is failing too.” Chen Huiru sighed. “During the pandemic, our industries tanked. We tried finding investors, but the risk was too high. No one would touch it.”

Her voice broke, and she started sobbing. “Baby, we might go bankrupt!”

“But I don’t like You Jin,” Du Qingting said, gripping the balcony railing, slapping it weakly. “Isn’t there another way? Someone else we could ask?”

“Right now, only You Jin has the means. You know how risky it is to bankroll a company’s future. Her condition was clear: marriage.”

Du Qingting was stunned. She hadn’t known any of this. But she could imagine You Jin’s tone—arrogant, legs crossed, dripping with disdain as she spat out the word “marriage.”

Years ago, when You Jin tutored her, she’d sat in the living room, glancing coldly at Du Qingting. “Oh, Du Qingting. So you’re the idiot who scored 250?”

Du Qingting rubbed her forehead. “First, You Jin and I have never gotten along. Second, she’s controlling, bad-tempered, and used to hit me all the time as a kid. Marriage with her would be a disaster. We’d fight constantly.”

Chen Huiru said, “But we asked others… and no one else is willing to marry you. Only You Jin…”

Only You Jin…

Du Qingting felt a pang. Really?

She was a total catch!

She hung up.

Searching online, she found reports of her family’s company stock plummeting.

Frustrated, she glanced at the neighboring balcony. The door was shut, lights off—likely asleep.

Irritated, Du Qingting grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the minibar and, on a whim, went to ring the left room’s doorbell.

The door opened quickly.

The woman stood with hands in her pockets, tie half-untied, one button undone at her chest. Du Qingting instinctively looked inside, checking for others. How had this put-together woman turned so…

“Here’s your wine back,” Du Qingting said, holding up the bottle.

The woman smiled, not questioning her excuse, and stepped aside to let her in.

Du Qingting sat at the bar counter in the living room, setting the whiskey down. You Jin grabbed glasses from the cabinet. Watching her back, Du Qingting started venting. “The friend thing was a lie.”

You Jin picked up two small champagne flutes. Du Qingting continued, “I’m running from a marriage. It’s driving me nuts. My family’s forcing me to marry… some old fossil.”

She tilted her head to watch the woman with the glasses, hoping to forget You Jin for a moment. Puzzled, she said, “Aren’t we drinking? Why’d you grab a tank?”

“A tank?” You Jin, facing away, lips twitching, tapped a fishbowl with a clear clink. “You seem so down, I thought you’d want to drink more.”

She put the bowl back and grabbed two iceberg glasses, dropping ice balls into them. Du Qingting opened the whiskey, pouring it full and handing one to You Jin.

They sat at the counter, sipping. Du Qingting drank first. You Jin, seated sideways, rubbed her glass, her fingertips wet from the ice. “How’s she an old fossil? People aren’t that feudal anymore. Could it be a misunderstanding?”

“Misunderstanding?” Du Qingting shook her head with a bitter smile. “I’m not badmouthing her, but she’s… a clean freak, sharp-eyed, always acting like people owe her money. Total sharp tongue. She’s called me an idiot and a moron plenty of times, has a million demands, and when I flunked my college entrance exam, she threatened to break my legs. Oh, and she’s antisocial.”

“How much did you score?”

Du Qingting took a swig. “Uh… 600.”

“680?” You Jin held her glass, puzzled. “Are you drunk already?”

Du Qingting shook her head. “Not at all.”

“If you scored 600, why would she threaten to break your legs?” You Jin looked into her eyes, genuinely confused.

“Exactly! So, tell me, isn’t she awful? Should I marry her?”

The whiskey burned, and the woman’s scent was intoxicating, almost suffocating. Her fingers grazed Du Qingting’s cheek, cool from the glass, causing a slight sting that sparked an odd thrill.

The woman leaned closer, locking eyes.

Du Qingting, buzzed and reckless, stared at the approaching woman and blurted out, “Screw You Jin!”

You Jin: “.”

Du Qingting felt she’d stunned her into silence. The woman’s caressing stopped. She hoped the beauty would take her side—otherwise, this runaway bride adventure would be too dull.

After a moment, the woman picked up her signal, leaning in again. Her fingers returned to Du Qingting’s jaw, her eyes full of pity. “So, little lost soul, how can I comfort you?”

P.S.: The protagonist has face blindness but isn’t completely unable to recognize people.