Pillowside Passion - Chapter 4

4:

Du Qingting slept until 2 p.m., her excitement from the previous night left her oblivious of the world.

Rolling over, a sharp pain in her backside made her hiss. Lying flat, the sensation triggered a memory, and she couldn’t help but cover her face, laughing silently.

After lounging for half an hour, she got up, showered, and changed into the clothes the stunning woman had sent over. The outfit was professional, a golden blouse paired with tailored trousers. She rolled up the sleeves, exposing half her arms. Unlike You Jin’s restrained allure, Du Qingting’s vibe was unabashedly bold, like a flirtatious butterfly.

She checked her phone after getting ready, having set her mom’s messages to “Do Not Disturb.” Now, a row of red notification dots glared at her.

Du Qingting counted the cards in her bag and stepped out of her room, just as You Jin was leaving hers. Standing at the door, Du Qingting greeted her, but You Jin didn’t seem to hear, heading straight for the elevator. Du Qingting missed it and quickly pressed the down button.

Two minutes later, the elevator arrived. She dashed to the hotel’s entrance, but the driver was already closing the car door.

The tinted windows blocked her view inside, and the car sped off. Du Qingting sighed with regret.

Watching the woman’s departing figure, her mind wandered with less-than-innocent thoughts. The contrast was striking like day versus night, especially with You Jin in a sophisticated dark green dress today, exuding elegance.

Lost in her thoughts, Du Qingting nearly forgot her plans.

Her phone rang. It was her friend Jiang Mingyue.

“Are you out of the hotel yet? I’m off the subway. Head left down the stairs, your fancy villa hotel is too high up for me.”

The hotel, perched on a hill, overlooked the nearby blue sea. Du Qingting took the hotel’s shuttle down, opening the location Jiang Mingyue shared.

Xianghai was in the north, with mild 28-degree weather and a cool breeze. She scanned the crowd, recalling Jiang Mingyue with a ponytail, no bangs, and a darker skin…

Until someone tapped her shoulder. Du Qingting slowly recognized her, staring in disbelief. “Jiang Mingyue?”

“That’s me,” Jiang Mingyue nodded, grinning. “What, you don’t recognize me?”

Back in school, they’d been deskmates. Jiang Mingyue was a straight-A nerd, always in white short-sleeve shirts and tight leggings, with thick glasses. Now, the glasses were gone, replaced by contacts, and her long hair was styled in a center-parted, collarbone-length wave like every K-pop chic.

Du Qingting pointed at her nose. “Where are your glasses?”

Jiang Mingyue blinked. “Contacts. I’ve been wearing glasses for so long, I felt like my eyes were shrinking. You didn’t forget what I look like, did you?”

“No way.” Du Qingting spotted the dimple at her lip. “I know you, it’s just that… you got prettier. It took me a second to be sure.”

Jiang Mingyue laughed at her face blindness, sizing her up. “Your short hair’s cool. Very Japanese.”

Du Qingting had gotten a mullet abroad, but the stylist botched the Japanese aesthetic, leaving it looking like a dog had chewed it. She’d stayed abroad two extra months, and now it reached her collarbone, sometimes worn loose, sometimes tied up.

Women really transform with age. Du Qingting never imagined Jiang Mingyue would turn out this stunning. She’d pictured her as a lifelong bookworm, destined for a lab coat.

Jiang Mingyue was way more talkative now, radiating confidence. “Let me treat you to dinner.”

“Nah, my treat.”

“No way, I swiped your meal card a lot back in school.”

Jiang Mingyue led the way. The hotel was in a tourist hotspot, right by Xianghai’s famously pristine sea, where foam rolled in like layers of thick snowflakes.

Du Qingting stared at her friend’s shadow, feeling a bit dazed.

After winding through streets, Jiang Mingyue took her to a seaside music restaurant, recommending sea urchin dumplings and jellyfish skin, plus two large abalones.

Du Qingting sat carefully, still sore from yesterday’s antics. She asked, “How did grad school applications go?”

“Got in. Probably heading abroad with my advisor next year. You’ll have to share some tips.” Jiang Mingyue smiled.

Du Qingting clicked her tongue. “Congrats.”

Jiang Mingyue noticed her occasional confusion, flicking her hair. “I’m an adult now, financially independent. Gotta clean up nice. I even want to date. By the way, you just got back from abroad—why didn’t you go home? Are you out here playing?”

She seemed to catch on. “Because of You Jin? Still scared of her?”

Du Qingting’s silence was deafening.

“Have you seen You Jin since? Would you even recognize her?” Jiang Mingyue asked suddenly.

Du Qingting scoffed. “I’d know her if she turned to ash.”

“Isn’t that too dramatic?” Jiang Mingyue laughed.

“She’s always the same wearing long sleeves, long pants, straight black hair, practically wrapping up her fingers. Like our school principal.”

“She’s still like that after all these years? Holding it together. But yeah, she’s gorgeous. Everyone who saw her in senior year said so. It’s just that she’s strict with you.”

That brought back the month Du Qingting spent her days under You Jin’s thumb, a month that felt like jail.

Feeling glum, she looked out at the sea. Gulls circled above tourists, free and brazen.

Without You Jin, her middle school years were carefree. Her family’s wealth meant even bottom-tier grades got her into a top school.

But senior year, under You Jin’s tutoring, it became a pure misery.

Seven or eight years later, You Jin’s sharp eyes, long straight hair, and buttoned-up outfits still haunted her. Nightmares made her think You Jin was a ghost with stick in hand, glasses on, every bit the stern principal, piercing and overbearing, eyeing everyone like a convict.

“…Oh, speaking of, she came to school when we were picking up our college applications.”

Du Qingting looked up. “What for?”

“Checking your scores, probably. She didn’t have your account. I heard she was furious.”

That reminded her of her final high school days.

“You had it rough back then.”

The last month before the exam, she gritted her teeth, studying like her life depended on it, practically hanging her head from the rafters.

Jiang Mingyue had barely seen You Jin, only once on a weekend when a Porsche parked at the school gate. A woman with a cold, sharp profile stepped out, and barked “Get in,” and Du Qingting, tossing her bag, climbed in grudgingly before the car sped off.

Du Qingting wanted to vent about the arranged marriage but was too tired to start from scratch. Jiang Mingyue seemed to admire You Jin, so she wouldn’t take her side. No point.

Instead, she thought of telling the hotel woman. We’re both “big sisters”, how’s the gap this huge?

Thinking of “Miss Wang” sweetened her mood.

Maybe if she played up her woes, she could steal a kiss.

Jiang Mingyue asked, “How long are you staying? I’m free these days, I can show you around.”

“Four days.” Du Qingting paused. “Got any plans?”

“You didn’t come alone?”

Jiang Mingyue’s gossip radar went off, her eyes circling. “Alright, I’ll send you some ideas. Call me if you need me, I’m on speed dial.”

Du Qingting nodded, “Okay.”

She paid the bill first—368 yuan, not bad. Abroad, she’d been free-spirited but not reckless with money, wild with limits.

People often asked if her parents were strict.

Saying she feared her parents sounded better than fearing You Jin. Like when people claimed she scored 250 on her exam instead of 350, she didn’t bother correcting them.

Dinner wrapped at 5:30 p.m.

“There’s a music fountain show,” Jiang Mingyue said.

“When?”

“6:30.”

Du Qingting wasn’t thrilled as she was fixated on the hotel woman, who’d likely be back by six.

Sipping her juice, she glanced at the dark green color, the same shade as the woman’s dress today.

It had a faint fragrance.

Unlike the overly sweet juices she’d had before, this one was subtly addictive, a fresh scent dancing on her tongue.

The menu called it “Deep Forest,” with no ingredients listed.

“What’s up?” Jiang Mingyue eyed the juice.

“It’s got this deep, fragrant taste. No idea what’s in it.”

“Bergamot, lemongrass?” Jiang Mingyue mused. “That’s the vibe. I’ve had tea with it.”

Du Qingting hadn’t had Chinese milk tea in ages. “Take tea bags abroad. Their drinks suck.”

“You stayed that long? What’s your plan after graduation?”

Du Qingting had a hobby she knew would sound frivolous, drawing comics.

“Just chilling for now.”

They ate late, and the fountain show sprayed colorful jets to old patriotic songs. Du Qingting snapped a few photos for comic inspiration.

By seven, with nothing else planned, Jiang Mingyue headed back. Du Qingting walked her to the subway, saying, “When we hang out, can I bring someone?”

“I knew you weren’t alone.” Jiang Mingyue grinned mischievously. “Who is it? A guy or a girl?”

Du Qingting dodged, as the subway arrived. “Get on. I’ll tell you later. Not sure if they’ll come.”

After Jiang Mingyue left, Du Qingting checked the hotel but You Jin wasn’t back. Too lazy to go to her room, she leaned against the door, scrolling through Jiang Mingyue’s travel suggestions.

The area was coastal, with most spots by the sea. There was a new “Honeymoon Island” in the center.

She was excited for the trip.

At the front desk, she asked them to pass a message if the woman from the 20th floor returned.

The receptionist replied, “Too many guests come and go. We can’t recognize her.”

“Glasses, super pretty,” Du Qingting pressed the counter. “Last name is Wang… or is it?”

Seeing their blank looks, she hissed. Another receptionist offered, “I wasn’t on duty yesterday, but I can call her at 8 p.m.”

“Deal.”

Du Qingting grabbed a pack of women’s cigarettes from the lobby’s tobacco counter. She’d smoked since high school, frequently as an adult, though now she just held one occasionally.

Always behind You Jin’s back, she’d never let her catch her. If You Jin found out, she’d probably burn her backside with the cigarette.

The pack was imported, perfumed, not great for smoking, just for the scent. Not as good as the juice. Bored, she lit one, recalling the bar encounter. She realized she’d missed something, the woman had noticed her first.

Because she was holding a cigarette.

As night fell, the seaside buzzed.

A light show played on the sea bridge, speedboats splashed, and a restaurant singer crooned in English.

Du Qingting’s English had been awful, but a month abroad had her speaking fluently, nothing like her 40-point test scores.

She ordered two iced beers. After drinking water all afternoon, the breeze felt nice. She snapped a few photos.

Adjusting her phone’s camera zoom, she paused and clicked the shutter.

In the hazy yellow light, the beauty rounded the port corner, her dark green dress hugging her curves. Someone was talking to her, but with one glance, her eyes locked onto Du Qingting. Retro wavy hair, glasses on her nose.

The sea breeze carried a slight saltiness.

As You Jin passed, her fingers curled and tapped Du Qingting’s table once—thunk—an impossibly suggestive gesture.

///

Du Qingting lingered outside in the sea breeze while You Jin sat inside under the AC. Was she doing it on purpose? Facing Du Qingting, legs crossed, sipping the juice Du Qingting had praised, You Jin’s eyes, behind her glasses, flicked her way.

A man and two women sat with You Jin, the women chatting animatedly, sometimes laughing, sometimes serious. Du Qingting couldn’t tell if it was work or casual talk.

“Isn’t that Du Qingting?” one woman said.

The person to You Jin’s right, a local from Xianghai tasked with keeping You Jin company.

“She doesn’t recognize you?” Su Qinxi couldn’t wrap her head around it. “Shouldn’t she be terrified and hiding?”

What was with the flirtatious glances?

You Jin pressed a finger to her lips, shushing her.

Du Qingting pulled out a cigarette, holding it. Before she could light it, You Jin stood. “Who knows?”

She warned the others not to call her “President You” later.

Outside, Du Qingting caught her movement and bit the cigarette filter. As expected, this woman liked her smoking. Maybe that was her thing.

Her nighttime kinks must be unspeakable.

Tsk.

She couldn’t resist licking her lips.

The filter was bitter.

Before she could smoke, You Jin said, “Smoking again?”

“Feeling down again?”

Du Qingting followed her. “Yeah, can I vent about my arranged match some more?”

You Jin stood tall, leading her to the group.

She nodded. “Sure, I’m all ears.”

They added a chair, and everyone shifted. Du Qingting sat next to the Xianghai colleague, You Jin across from her.

Then, everyone heard Du Qingting’s saga with her arranged match, though she avoided naming “You Jin.”

They listened, stunned, exclaiming, “Why? How could that be?”

Du Qingting said their stars must clash. “She had no friends growing up. No one wanted to play with her. Anyone who did wasn’t normal. I used to like hanging out with her, but she always looked down on me, all high and mighty.”

“Birds of a feather, right?” Xu Yang, beside her, nodded. “Anyone who’d hang with someone like that isn’t good news.”

Du Qingting continued, “Look at me—I’m easygoing, right? Decent temper. But she’d pick on me, treat me like an enemy when I saw her as a friend. Like—”

When she fought with someone, You Jin only scolded her, even dragging her home to spank her palms.

Su Qinxi’s expression was complicated. “…Uh, getting hit sounds kinda normal, right?”

You Jin poured her tea from the pot she’d brewed. “Who won the fight?”

“Me.”

“For real?” You Jin said. “You were that tough as a kid?”

Du Qingting grinned. “I lost sometimes, and she’d chew me out, saying I was useless, no tact. Kids fighting—wins and losses are normal, right?”

“True,” You Jin agreed.

Du Qingting pressed, “Do you think she was right?”

The others stayed quiet, expressions complex. Su Qinxi, You Jin’s friend, frowned hard enough to squash a mosquito. You Jin looked at Du Qingting, lips curling into a doting smile. “If you say she’s wrong, I’m always on your side.”

“Then she was definitely wrong.” Du Qingting declared, “As a kid, I knew someone like that shouldn’t marry or be a wife.”

“Why’s that?”

“If I were her wife, I’d get abused. If she were a mom, her kids would get beaten to death.” Du Qingting figured she was tough enough to take it.

“Oh, really?” You Jin smiled.

Su Qinxi chuckled, “Heh.”

You Jin had a different version of their childhood.

Du Qingting was a weakling, always picking fights and getting beaten, yet she’d bare her teeth and vow revenge. She’d charge at her opponent, only to pick the wrong person due to face blindness, lose again, and still declare, “I meant to hit you! I’ll do it again next time!”

Next time, she’d pick the wrong person again and lose.

Only You Jin’s scolding could rein her in.

Though they lived close, their age gap kept them apart. Du Qingting only got close to You Jin at three or four.

Fresh in school, she’d run up with her backpack, gushing, “Wow, you’re so pretty! What’s your name? Wanna be friends?”

You Jin, in her school uniform, glanced at her puffy white princess dress. “You’re the pretty one.”

Later, every morning at the school bus stop, Du Qingting would bound over. “Wow, so pretty! What’s your name?”

“You Jin.”

Again: “You’re so pretty, so cute! What’s your name?”

“You Jin.”

And again.

“You Jin.”

“Du Qingting, are you blind?”

Du Qingting wailed, eyes brimming with tears. “You Jin, do you hate me?”

That’s how the severely face-blind Du Qingting finally remembered her. But she was heartbroken—all the pretty older sisters at the bus stop vanished, leaving only the stern, uniformed You Jin.

Su Qinxi glanced at You Jin.

Her look: She hates you that much and still doesn’t recognize you?

You Jin closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, glancing at Du Qingting and the cigarette in the glass ashtray, now extinguished. She pinched the stub, crushing it further, then flicked her fingers.

What to say?

It was all in that cigarette.

You Jin sat back, exhaling deeply.

She smiled faintly at Du Qingting’s eyes.

Everyone sensed You Jin’s smile was sharp and dangerous. Du Qingting saw it too, thrilled, thinking. “She feels so bad for me, her eyes are seducing me.”

Unnoticed by the others, she sneakily hooked You Jin’s leg under the table with her sneaker.