Two Faced Lover - Chapter 59

59: Contrast

Last night’s intimacy had burned like two matchsticks entwined in flame, but now, it was more like wood poking at ice.

Meng Xuran’s stiff fingers ached from fumbling with the cold, hard buttons, and her heart clenched faintly as well.

Bo Mingyan was upset.

Someone who had suffered so much from rumors like “will do anything to get what she wants, even seduce…”—how could they not be hurt hearing similar words?

Meng Xuran closed her eyes, wishing she could bite off her own tongue.

January in Nanquan was still deep in winter, the mornings and evenings piercingly cold, a damp chill that seeped into the bones.

Right now, Bo Mingyan was straddling Meng Xuran’s lap, her pajama buttons undone to the third one, glimpses of snow-white skin peeking through the parted fabric.

Without the warmth of the blankets, the lingering heat quickly dissipated in the air. Bo Mingyan clenched her jaw but still shivered uncontrollably. She took one of Meng Xuran’s hands and guided it under her collar.

“Like this?”

Then took the other hand and hooked it into her waistband.

“Or like this?”

“How far do I need to seduce you to reach 100%?”

Her voice was colder than the winter outside.

Meng Xuran’s eyes darkened, her fingers curling and uncurling before she abruptly yanked her arms back. Bo Mingyan lurched forward, instinctively bracing her hands on either side of Meng Xuran.

But the distance was too close, the movement too sudden—Bo Mingyan still tumbled into Meng Xuran’s arms, her lips grazing Meng Xuran’s jaw before she looked up and met her gaze.

Brown irises, the color of earth—gentle yet unwavering.

Meng Xuran bit Bo Mingyan’s lower lip sharply before deftly rebuttoning her pajamas, using her foot to hook the blanket over them both. Lightly, she teased, “I know I’m irresistible and you’re crazy about me, but no need to give me such a bargain. Trading 200 for just 10? Do I look that shameless?”

Bo Mingyan opened her mouth but couldn’t speak.

Words that had long numbed her regained their sting when spoken by someone who mattered. That was why she’d lost control.

She couldn’t describe that moment—anger at Meng Xuran’s assumptions, confusion over whether temptation and seduction were really so different (she had intended to tease her), nervous anticipation of where things might lead.

And, for a fleeting second, the thought that maybe those rumors were right. That she was inherently wanton, even if she’d never acted on it with those people.

But Meng Xuran’s response had conveyed one thing—

My 100% isn’t worthy of your seduction.

When someone lost in shadows is bathed in sunlight, what’s revealed isn’t just brightness—

But also the darkness beneath.

Yet the sun and earth embrace it all.

Bo Mingyan lay beside Meng Xuran, calming her indescribable emotions.

“Besides,” Meng Xuran twirled the sash at her chest, muttering, “I haven’t brushed my teeth or washed my face. Or showered. How can we just start something like that so casually?” She pouted. “At least have some ceremony. Mmm… We should be freshly washed, rose petals on the bed, sexier pajamas, perfume in the air—preferably in my room. My room has—”

She trailed off, remembering her room’s decor, a shy yet mischievous smile playing on her lips before she bit her lower lip to stop herself. She peeked at Bo Mingyan.

Noticing the pause, Bo Mingyan asked, “Has what?”

“Nothing.” Meng Xuran pursed her lips.

Silence fell.

Hearing movement inside, Xiaoman meowed from afar, scampering over to paw at the door, the faint scratching accentuating the room’s awkward quiet.

The kind that makes you want to say something—anything—but leaves you wordless.

After a while, Xiaoman’s disgruntled meows faded away.

Meng Xuran suddenly said, “Who—”

At the same time, Bo Mingyan blurted, “I…”

Their eyes met, and both couldn’t help but smile.

“What about you?” Meng Xuran asked, grinning.

Bo Mingyan pressed her lips together. Recalling Meng Xuran’s promise last night—I’ll love every side of you—she stated bluntly, “I don’t like the word seduce. Next time, can you say tease instead?”

“Sure.” Meng Xuran agreed easily, not pressing for reasons.

Bo Mingyan relaxed completely—only to tense again immediately.

Meng Xuran pinched her waist, gaze fixed on her lips. “You tease well. Do it more often—just don’t look so stern, like an ice block.” She paused, choosing her words before leaning in to whisper by Bo Mingyan’s ear, breath warm, “Be spicier~ I’ll like it even more~”

“…”

Bo Mingyan’s ears tingled from the hot breath, a mix of numbness and electricity. She raised a hand to rub them—only to elbow Meng Xuran’s chest.

“Ow!” Meng Xuran clutched her chest dramatically.

“Did I hurt you?” Bo Mingyan knew the impact hadn’t been light. No jokes now—”Let me see.”

Her tone was so serious, and it did hurt a little, so Meng Xuran matched her solemnity. “Probably not too bad?”

Uncertain.

Bo Mingyan frowned. “Let me check.”

Seeing her worry, Meng Xuran first peeked under her own collar before untying the sash and pulling the neckline down slightly, revealing a swath of pale skin. She poked at the spot. “Really, it’s fine. Doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

The rosy bud half-hidden by silk was just barely visible.

Bo Mingyan exhaled in relief—then abruptly remembered last night’s intimacy.

She’d touched here before.

Soft. Supple.

Almost too much to hold.

“Which word offended you this time, hitting me like that?” Meng Xuran retied her sash.

“Spicy suits you better.” Bo Mingyan lay flat, avoiding further glances, and changed the subject. “What were you going to say earlier?”

“Oh…” Meng Xuran thought for a moment before narrowing her eyes. “Who told you forty-eight minutes would be enough?”

Bo Mingyan froze. She had no experience—no idea how long these things took. “Isn’t it?”

“Who do you think you’re looking down on? Of course not! At least an hour as the baseline.” Meng Xuran scratched her nose. She didn’t have experience either, but she’d read enough online jokes to know—

Short duration meant incompetence.

And Meng Xuran refused to be incompetent!

Bo Mingyan’s brow furrowed in conflicted dismay. “Forty-eight minutes and an hour are only twelve minutes apart.”

“Who said it’d only be one hour?” Meng Xuran grumbled discontentedly. “And twelve minutes can do a lot.”

“It can do a lot,” Bo Mingyan glanced at Meng Xuran, noting her immediate smug expression, and added dryly, “like getting up, washing, and changing clothes.”

Meng Xuran’s smile vanished instantly, mastering the art of instant face-changing. She burrowed under the covers. “Too cold. And I still have to go to my room to get clothes.”

“I’ll bring them. Think about what you want to wear.” Bo Mingyan turned on the light and opened the wardrobe. “I’ll make breakfast. You can stay in bed a bit longer.”

Meng Xuran lowered the blanket just enough to reveal her eyes. “You pick for me~”

After selecting the clothes, Bo Mingyan turned to find Meng Xuran staring intently, eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

Bo Mingyan gathered the clothes and headed for the shower to change.

“Hey,” Meng Xuran sat up hastily, “you’ve already touched me everywhere. Why be shy now?”

Bo Mingyan: “…”

Groping in the dark and seeing in broad daylight evoke very different levels of shame.

“If I change here, won’t you get to watch?” Bo Mingyan scrambled for an excuse. “Seems unfair?”

Meng Xuran pressed her lips together. “Then I’ll message you when I change so you can come watch.”

Bo Mingyan: “…”

When Bo Mingyan stayed silent but didn’t leave, Meng Xuran tugged the blanket higher, blinking innocently. “Then turn around to change? I want to see that spider lily.”

Bo Mingyan realized she was utterly defenseless against Meng Xuran. She turned away, slowly unbuttoning her pajamas, removing them, then putting on her bra.

Meng Xuran turned on the AC.

As Bo Mingyan reached back to clasp her bra, warm fingertips brushed her hand. She stiffened slightly.

Meng Xuran fastened it for her, fingers trailing down along the fiery petals, over the stem, tracing the scar hidden beneath the tattoo.

“Manman,” she asked softly, “you never answered me earlier. Were you pretending to be drunk yesterday, or did you really remember everything?”

Bo Mingyan trembled slightly, pulling on a sweatshirt. “I wasn’t drunk.”

“So you tricked me!” Meng Xuran looped her arms around Bo Mingyan’s neck.

“I told you I wasn’t drunk.” Bo Mingyan let herself be pulled onto the bed. “You didn’t believe me.”

Meng Xuran retorted, “Last time you were drunk, you also said you weren’t!”

Bo Mingyan drew out an “Oh~” “Speaking of last time… wasn’t I the one who got tricked then?”

Meng Xuran immediately released her, scooting backward rapidly until she hit the headboard, then yanking the blanket over her entire head.

Bo Mingyan looked away, chuckling low, and took the pants to change in the shower. Then she went to Meng Xuran’s room to fetch clothes. She’d heard what Meng Xuran said earlier—that her room had… what? Bo Mingyan scanned the room, gaze landing on the floor-to-ceiling window.

Probably not that.

She hurriedly averted her eyes, picking out an outfit that matched her own color scheme.

When she returned, Meng Xuran was still blanket-buried.

“Not suffocating?” Bo Mingyan asked.

“Nope!” came the muffled reply.

Bo Mingyan guessed she’d emerge once she left. Without another word, she headed out.

While cooking, she received a message from Meng Xuran—not an invitation to watch her change, but a guilty excuse to avoid going to the office together, not specifying why, just that she had things to do.

Bo Mingyan found it amusing. Coincidentally, she had errands too, so she replied with an easy “Okay.”

At the office, Bo Mingyan sat at her desk, flipping through the latest magazine she’d bought at the subway station, sipping yogurt through a straw as she read intently. Soon, Ava walked in, dropped her bag, and wheeled her chair over. “So? How’d the liquid courage flirting go?”

Bo Mingyan recalled Meng Xuran’s final message before she left—

[If you weren’t drunk, 95. But drinking deducts points, so progress stays the same! Hmph!]

“Flirting’s fine, drinking’s not. They canceled out.” Bo Mingyan wasn’t too bothered. Changing topics, she said, “I plan to start by learning her hobbies.”

Ava ignored the first part, nodding at the second. “Right, your goddess loves winter sports, right? I heard the company’s annual party won’t be a hotel banquet—they’re skiing and hot springs. You can bring a plus-one. Perfect for bonding! And her other interests—research them, make a plan, and seal the deal!”

Bo Mingyan nodded. “Working on it. But there’s a new problem.”

Ava: “Hm?”

Bo Mingyan’s eyes lifted slightly. “Her ideal type is… troubling.”

“Hah?” Ava was curious, “What’s her ideal type like?”

“Same as this.” Bo Mingyan tapped her finger idly on the magazine.

Ava glanced over. Right where Bo Mingyan’s finger had landed was Meng Xuran’s response to the host’s question about her ideal type—

[The beauty of contrast lies in the ascetic’s climax, the libertine’s plea, the debauched innocence, the saint’s fall, the conqueror’s tenderness, the loyalist’s possessiveness. My ideal type is a paradoxical lover embodying all these dualities.]

Author’s Note:

The beauty of contrast lies in the ascetic’s climax, the libertine’s plea, the debauched innocence, the saint’s fall, the conqueror’s tenderness, the loyalist’s possessiveness — sourced from the internet.

Meng Jiaojiao: Get your act together and turn up the charm!