She's Crazy, I Love Her - Chapter 22

After frequent kisses, their lips felt slightly dry, and they eventually drank wine.

They finished a bottle of red wine between them. The alcohol content wasn’t high; Chi Yue only drank a little over half, but it was enough to make her head feel hazy, the world blurring around her.

Everything around them was utterly silent, as if time had stopped.

Chi Yue tilted her head, gazing out the second-floor living room window. The sky outside had grown very dim. A long morning glory vine hung beside the glass, its lush foliage and tender blossoms swaying gently in the evening breeze, the vine’s grip on the smooth glass precarious. In the distance, the silhouettes of rolling mountains loomed.

Qi You leaned against her, her hand resting on Chi Yue’s chest, her head nestled against her neck.

Perhaps she was asleep, perhaps not.

Her breathing was shallow.

Qi You’s quiet presence made Chi Yue feel relaxed.

As she quietly watched the scene outside, a sense of disbelief slowly crept in.

When she thought about it, they had barely met a few times, and each encounter had seemed less than pleasant.

Yet now, they were intimately entwined, embracing on the sofa at dusk like deeply affectionate lovers.

Chi Yue found it surreal. She couldn’t help but move her fingers, gently touching the ends of Qi You’s hair.

A mistress. So young, and already seeking a mistress instead of a proper relationship. How strange.

Someone like her could have any partner she desired. Who could possibly refuse her?

Why would she want a lover?

How strange.

She’s so young, about my age. Could I be her first lover?

If not for that night’s accident, would she have chosen me?

I wonder if she does this with others too—drifting into a quiet, unguarded nap after intimacy.

How strange.

Chi Yue’s thoughts wandered aimlessly as her fingers unconsciously combed through Qi You’s hair.

Qi You gradually woke up. The light sleep hadn’t fully relieved her fatigue, but it was better than nothing.

“How long did I sleep?”

“Not long,” Chi Yue said, easing her body away slightly and clearing her throat. “About half an hour.”

Qi You sat up, pressing her fingers to her temples.

Chi Yue shifted her stiff shoulder and sat up as well. “The wine’s all gone. You might be drunk. Should you go lie down in bed?”

Qi You didn’t answer, instead switching on the lights.

The sudden brightness banished the last trace of tenderness.

“What time is it?” Qi You asked.

Chi Yue picked up her phone from the carpet and checked. “6:52.”

The day went by so fast, she thought.

“Want to get something to eat?” Qi You asked.

Chi Yue wasn’t hungry, but she nodded. “Sure.”

Qi You called the staff as before and went to the bedroom to change.

She came back in another nightgown.

Chi Yue changed too.

After changing, Chi Yue found herself standing in the walk-in closet, lost in thought.

The walk-in closet attached to the bedroom was spacious and luxuriously appointed, but it felt strangely empty. The wardrobe contained only towels, bathrobes, shawls, blankets, and a few light, airy dresses—Qi You had brought only clothes suitable for wearing in the bedroom.

Qi You walked past the doorway and turned to enter.

Chi Yue glanced at her, pursed her lips, and couldn’t help but complain, “You should have told me we were going out earlier. I didn’t even bring any clothes to change into.”

Qi You’s gaze swept over Chi Yue’s light blue silk slip dress, a similar style to the one she had worn before, smooth and flowing. This one featured delicate crisscrossing straps at the back, a style Qi You often wore herself, but it looked entirely different on Chi Yue.

“What else would you want to change into?” Qi You asked.

Chi Yue didn’t answer, her brow furrowed in displeasure.

After a brief pause, Qi You’s gaze drifted downward slightly. “Then don’t wear anything.”

Chi Yue stared at her in surprise. “Why wouldn’t you wear anything?”

Her question came out urgently, clearly troubled. Qi You couldn’t help but smile faintly as she stepped closer.

Qi You rarely smiled, and when she did, the effect was striking, almost dazzling.

In this situation, however, Chi Yue could only sense ill intent, instinctively retreating a step.

Fortunately, Qi You made no move to harm her. Instead, she reached behind Chi Yue to open a drawer in the wardrobe.

Dinner passed quickly, like a fleeting illusion.

After lingering downstairs for a while, Qi You told her to go upstairs.

The bedding in the bedroom had been replaced by the staff. The new sheets were a moonlit white, and the duvet was fluffy and warm, as if freshly sun-dried.

But Chi Yue had no interest in enjoying any of it.

Qi You pinned her against the bed. The pillows were high and soft, giving her the sensation of sinking into cotton.

When Chi Yue finally emerged from the cotton-like suffocation, she realized she had been crying heavily.

Yet Qi You remained pressed against her neck, sucking and biting at her carotid artery like a greedy, insatiable vampire.

Chi Yue pushed at her wildly, her thin spine scraping against the sheets as she tried to squirm away.

Qi You lifted her head to kiss Chi Yue’s chin, her fingers tangling in her hair, gripping the roots and tugging gently.

“Don’t hide.”

“I… I don’t want to do this anymore…” Chi Yue stammered.

Qi You kissed her lips. “Are you uncomfortable?”

Chi Yue shook her head, her hair disheveled, unable to speak.

“Be good. Listen to me,” Qi You murmured soothingly, her voice low. She pried Chi Yue’s hands from the sheets and wrapped them around her neck, then lifted her to lean against the headboard, lowering her head to kiss her.

Chi Yue had no choice but to return the embrace, her fingers leaving scratch marks on Qi You’s back.

To complement her dresses and hairstyles, Chi Yue kept her nails slightly longer than usual, trimmed into rounded crescents. Normally, they wouldn’t be sharp enough to cause harm.

But she was accustomed to enduring. She couldn’t bring herself to answer Qi You’s questions; her screams and moans only escaped when pushed to her breaking point. Her suppressed emotions could only find release through her fingers.

She had even scratched bloody marks into Qi You’s back.

Deep ones.

Chi Yue was startled by the sight herself. Her initial indignation quickly turned to guilt. She glanced at the scratches before burying her face in the pillow. “Does it hurt?” she asked.

Qi You responded with a lazy hum.

Chi Yue, feeling uneasy, retorted, “It’s not my fault! You kept—”

At this, Qi You’s expression shifted slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes.

Chi Yue clamped her mouth shut.

Qi You studied her for a few seconds before saying, “One kiss will earn your forgiveness.”

Chi Yue’s ears flushed crimson. After a moment’s hesitation, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Qi You’s lips.

Qi You didn’t react. Instead, she turned her back to Chi Yue, leaving her staring at the back of her head.

Chi Yue paused, then whispered from behind, “Do you want me to kiss the wound?”

Qi You hummed in drawn-out affirmation.

Slightly bewildered, Chi Yue straightened up and gazed at Qi You’s bare back.

Qi You’s back was beautiful—smooth, taut skin stretched over lean, resilient muscles. Not bony, but with a clean, sharp curve where her spine lay hidden beneath the slender muscles.

The scratches Chi Yue had left were just below her shoulder blade, no longer bleeding but still raw and swollen, starkly visible against the smooth skin.

Chi Yue gazed at Qi You’s profile as she lay on the pillow, her face pressed against it. After a moment of hesitation, she leaned down, her lips barely touching the wound.

Even though it was mostly the warmth of her breath brushing against the injury, Qi You’s back twitched slightly, and she let out a soft moan.

Chi Yue’s heart leaped in her chest, and her mouth suddenly felt dry.

As if by instinct, she looked up at Qi You, who remained lying on her side, eyes closed.

Chi Yue pursed her lips slightly and lowered her head again, gently kissing the wounds. She tentatively extended her tongue—

After a long while, Chi Yue collapsed back onto the pillow.

Qi You turned to look at her, her eyes dark and stormy.

Chi Yue’s face flushed crimson. Feeling Qi You’s fierce gaze, she protested in a small voice, “Why are you angry? You told me I could kiss you…”

Qi You reached out and gripped Chi Yue’s neck.

Her slender, pale neck looked so fragile, as if it could snap with the slightest pressure.

Chi Yue bit her lip, a flicker of panic in her eyes.

The next moment, Qi You leaned in and kissed her.

Chi Yue soon began to cry, like a snow-white pear blossom battered by wind and rain.

Qi You held her close for a long time, finally releasing her only to carry her to the bathroom for a shower.

Chi Yue remained in a daze, half-awake, half-asleep.

Later, she woke up completely. The room was still dark, but the balcony door stood open, the night wind whipping the heavy curtains into a rustling frenzy.

After a moment of confusion, Chi Yue reached out across the bed. It was empty.

Chi Yue sat up and noticed she had been changed into a nightgown.

Unsurprisingly, Qi You was on the balcony, smoking.

Qi You smoked with practiced ease, her long, slender eyelashes lowered in a moment of quiet enjoyment. Thin wisps of smoke curled from her lips, drifting past Chi Yue’s eyes. Her damp bangs, still wet from her shower, clung to her forehead, lending her an alluring, simmering intensity.

She’s so beautiful, Chi Yue thought.

“Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Qi You asked, glancing over.

Chi Yue looked down and realized she was still barefoot. The balcony was paved with stark black tiles, her bare feet standing out against the contrasting surface.

Chi Yue moved her lips, unwilling to go back for shoes. “It’s not cold,” she said.

Indeed, the natural temperature outside was warmer than the air-conditioned room.

Chi Yue walked over and stood beside Qi You.

Neither spoke.

Qi You gazed at the night sky, her slender arm resting on the railing. The hand holding the snow-white cigarette between her index and middle fingers extended beyond the railing, her wrist drooping slightly.

Moonlight bathed the courtyard like liquid silver, while lanterns under the eaves cast a warm glow on the lush arhat pines. The chirping of crickets in the mountains amplified the night’s tranquility, creating an illusion of timeless peace.

Yet suddenly, a profound despair surged through Chi Yue’s heart.

It was impossible to ignore.

Too fast.

She had fallen too quickly.

She couldn’t understand how she could be so weak.

Was it because they had been doing the most intimate things?

But with Qi You, she only wanted to do those things.

She only wanted to do these things.

Those kisses, touches—whether tender or frantic—all came with a clear price tag.

She was merely a plaything, to be manipulated at will.

I mustn’t let her bewitch me.

I mustn’t.

Chi Yue repeated this to herself, over and over.

Qi You suddenly spoke, asking, “Do you smoke?”

Chi Yue hummed, turning her head, her eyes reddened by the night wind.

Qi You repeated the question, “Do you smoke?”

Chi Yue shook her head, her delicate face appearing soft and fair in the moonlight.

Qi You turned to look at her, a sudden smile flickering across her lips. She took a deep drag from her cigarette and, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, blew a perfect smoke ring directly into Chi Yue’s face.

Caught off guard, Chi Yue choked on the smoke, coughing uncontrollably. The acrid vapor quickly dampened her eyelashes as she stared at Qi You, not missing the fleeting hint of mischief in her eyes.

When she looked again, Qi You had already turned away.

Chi Yue leaned back against the railing, resting her elbows on the cool metal.

She tilted her head back, her chin, neck, and even the delicate curve of her throat stretching open.

Her damp black hair hung in the air, swaying gently in the night breeze.

The thin nightgown clung to her body, outlining her full br3asts and the delicate peaks beneath.

She gazed up at the deep, vast expanse of the sky.

Suddenly, she turned her head to look at Chi Yue.

“I was burned to death here once.”