The Foolish Wife Turned Scheming After Her Recovery - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: “A’Yao, are we… dating in secret?”

The words from Yu Yao’s confession still lingered in the air, and Lu Zhili was already over the moon.

“A’Yao! Are you serious?” Lu Zhili grabbed Yu Yao’s shoulders and pulled her upright, her amber eyes filled with nothing but joy. “Are you really my girlfriend now?!”

“Am I dreaming?!”

She couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Beaming with joy, she hugged Yu Yao tightly, locking her into her embrace.

“It’s true. Don’t you want me to be?” Yu Yao’s lips curled into a small smile—one even she didn’t notice herself.

She thought she was simply using Lu Zhili, but maybe she was actually using this as an excuse to express the unique feelings she had for her.

She thought she was jealous of that stranger in the photo, but in truth, she was just irrationally jealous.

The adult world was complicated, but luckily, Lu Zhili was a simple girl with the mind of an eight-year-old.

In her world, liking someone meant exactly that—pure and untainted by anything external.

So, she couldn’t possibly guess what Yu Yao was truly thinking. She just foolishly accepted her new role.

“A’Yao, I really like you! I’m so, so happy you’re my girlfriend!” Lu Zhili was so excited that she lifted Yu Yao up, letting her sit on her forearms, one hand protectively around her back.

“Ah—” Yu Yao gave a short yelp in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around Lu Zhili’s neck.

Lu Zhili stopped moving and tilted her head up to look at her. “A’Yao, I’ll protect you. Don’t be afraid.”

Those amber eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water—anyone who looked into them would easily get lost. Yu Yao lowered her gaze slightly to meet those eyes, her wine-red curls falling softly to frame both their faces.

She moved her long legs just a little, and Lu Zhili, as if perfectly in sync, lifted her up slightly by the thighs, making Yu Yao’s legs wrap around her waist.

“This way is easier.”

Lu Zhili didn’t understand. “Easier for what?”

“To kiss you.”

As the words fell, Yu Yao lowered her head and captured Lu Zhili’s soft lips in a kiss. Their lips ground and nibbled against each other until one of them finally parted their teeth.

Lu Zhili instinctively chased Yu Yao’s retreating tongue, slipping into her mouth, catching it and sucking playfully.

She hadn’t expected A’Yao’s lips to be so soft and sweet, and even the occasional shallow moans were irresistible.

But soon, Lu Zhili’s movements slowed. Yu Yao opened her eyes slightly and saw Lu Zhili’s cheeks flushed red—she was out of breath.

Yu Yao quickly tapped her shoulder, signaling her to stop. Lu Zhili obediently withdrew and finally began gulping in air.

Forehead resting against hers, Yu Yao looked at her flushed and pitiful face and chuckled softly. “Li Li, how are you this adorable…”

Her voice carried a pampering tone she didn’t even notice herself.

“I’m okay now.” Lu Zhili gazed into her eyes, her amber pupils glistening. “I want more.”

She leaned in for another kiss, but Yu Yao extended a finger and pressed it against her lips.

“Not so fast. Let me teach you how to breathe while kissing, okay?”

Lu Zhili’s eyes lit up, nodding quickly.

Yu Yao’s fingertip slid up and gently tapped her nose. “When you kiss, breathe through your nose, got it?”

Lu Zhili nodded, and the next second, kissed her again.

Miss Lu was a quick learner—this time there was no breathlessness, but neither of them wanted to stop.

It wasn’t until a phone rang from the sofa that they reluctantly pulled apart.

“Is that my phone?” Yu Yao felt hot and weak all over, not an ounce of energy left.

“Mhm.” Lu Zhili didn’t want to let her go, so she simply sat down on the sofa with Yu Yao still in her arms. Yu Yao adjusted her position and straddled her lap, resting motionless against her chest.

Lu Zhili picked up the phone. It was a message from Chu Jiayan.

Yu Yao glanced up and then collapsed back down. “He sent the dinner location. Told us to go on our own—he’s taking Miss Qin out.”

“Oh.”

Lu Zhili tossed the phone aside and leaned in for another kiss, but Yu Yao sat up and dodged it.

“Li Li, promise me something and I’ll let you kiss me again, okay?” Yu Yao’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes tinged with color—just like back in the fitting room.

Lu Zhili nodded, already dazed by her beauty.

Yu Yao wrapped her arms around her neck and smiled brightly. “We can’t tell anyone about our relationship, okay?”

Lu Zhili frowned slightly, but before she could ask why, Yu Yao leaned in and explained softly, “Of course, you can tell your family. But the people I know… let’s not tell them, okay?”

“Our relationship is just between the two of us. I don’t want others—people who have nothing to do with us—to know.”

Lu Zhili’s simple mind couldn’t process too much. She hadn’t planned on telling outsiders anyway—just her parents and maybe Xiao Qing and Xiao Yue.

But now Yu Yao was asking this.

She recalled scenes from movies and shows she’d seen and started to vaguely understand what this situation might be called.

“A’Yao, are we… dating in secret?”

Yu Yao’s expression froze for a moment where Lu Zhili couldn’t see, but then she smiled again and leaned closer, using a soft, pleading voice for the first time, “Can we? Please?”

Lu Zhili had never heard her speak like this before, and was quickly convinced. She nodded obediently.

Yu Yao knew this wasn’t a good thing to ask, so she leaned in again and whispered in her ear, “Li Li, you’re so sweet. In a few days, will you come home with me?”

“For the May Day holiday, I want to bring my sister to visit Yanjing. Come with me, okay?”

As expected, Lu Zhili quickly forgot the strange feeling she’d just had and happily agreed.

She liked Yu Yao, so she naturally wanted to be part of Yu Yao’s life and family.

Just like that, their relationship was clumsily confirmed. Yu Yao even reminded Lu Zhili not to tell anyone that she had asked her to keep it a secret.

The newly minted couple spent the entire afternoon snuggled up in their hotel room, kissing and cuddling, until it was time for dinner and they changed clothes and headed out.

…

The restaurant they were going to was known for the most authentic Suzhou-style cuisine in the area and was notoriously hard to book. Luckily, Chu Jiayan had money to throw around and managed to reserve a small private room.

By the time the two of them arrived, Chu Jiayan and Qin Yue had already been waiting.

Lu Zhili entered the room holding Yu Yao’s hand, unable to hide her bright smile. The unique aura between the two of them was immediately noticed by Qin Yue.

She raised her wine glass and teased with a toast, “Congratulations, Sister Zhili.”

Lu Zhili shyly smiled and raised her juice to clink glasses with her.

Chu Jiayan, sitting at the far end, looked confused for a moment. Then realization hit him, and he looked between Lu Zhili and Yu Yao with a devastated expression. “You two… are together?!”

Lu Zhili didn’t know whether Chu Jiayan was someone they should keep the secret from, so she turned to Yu Yao for guidance.

Yu Yao had always seen Chu Jiayan’s pursuit as a burden. She had already told him several times that she wasn’t into men, so she felt there was nothing to hide now.

“Mhm. And I should thank you for organizing this business trip,” she replied, ruthlessly shutting down any lingering hopes.

Qin Yue chuckled softly, but when she noticed the subtle relief in Lu Zhili’s expression, she sensed something was off.

She adjusted her glasses and scrutinized Yu Yao with a thoughtful gaze.

She didn’t say anything—for now—but she quietly filed it away in her memory.

The meal was bittersweet for the group. Chu Jiayan drank himself into a stupor and had to be helped back to the hotel by Qin Yue.

Since the hotel wasn’t far, Yu Yao and Lu Zhili decided to walk back, while Qin Yue, wisely giving the couple their space, took Chu Jiayan away.

Outside the restaurant, Lu Zhili continued holding Yu Yao’s hand as they walked along the sidewalk. She stayed on the outer edge, shielding Yu Yao from the dust kicked up by passing cars and bikes.

They passed by a small park. It wasn’t fully dark yet, and there were lots of elderly people out for a walk and parents pushing children around.

“Li Li, let’s sit for a bit.” Yu Yao couldn’t help thinking about that photo of Louis’s friend—it had also been taken in a park.

Her relationship with Lu Zhili had changed, so she shouldn’t be thinking about some woman Lu Zhili had never even met. But she couldn’t stop herself.

“Okay, we’ve been walking for a while now. Let’s take a break,” Lu Zhili suggested before she could even say it.

“Alright.”

They found a bench and sat down, still holding hands.

A few elderly couples passed by, walking slowly. Lu Zhili watched them for a long time before saying, a little wistfully, “A’Yao, do you think we’ll be like them someday, walking together when we’re old?”

Yu Yao froze. She didn’t know how to answer.

She had never thought about a future with Lu Zhili—not whether they’d be like that, nor whether they’d grow old together.

This relationship had been born from an emotional impulse after being provoked.

While she was satisfied with it so far, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was weighing her down—maybe responsibility, maybe guilt.

“Maybe,” she replied, her voice distant, tinged with unspeakable sorrow.

Lu Zhili turned her head to look at her. “A’Yao, don’t you want to grow old with me?”

Yu Yao pushed the thoughts away and gave a small laugh. “Of course not. I want to stay young and pretty forever. I don’t want to get old.”

Lu Zhili smiled at that. “Then I’ll stay young with you. We’ll never grow old.”

“Then we’ll be monsters.”

“That’s fine! I’ll be a monster with you forever. If anyone tries to exorcise us, I’ll stand in front of you and protect you.”

“Li Li.”

“Hmm?”

Yu Yao gently cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the lips.

“I’m really glad I became your girlfriend.”

Even if her original intent was just to use the label to tie Lu Zhili to her side.

BZZZ—

Yu Yao’s phone buzzed.

The caller ID on the screen:

Yu Zhujun.