The Passerby Female Supporting Character – Chapter 32

Sweat

A voice, usually clear and cool, now carried a husky whisper, gentle and alluring, impossible to resist.

Song Linlin greedily inhaled the faint fragrance emanating from the person in her arms. Their face-to-face position pressed their bodies close, allowing her to feel the other’s softness and cool temperature. Her fingers nervously clutched the fabric of the other’s back.

            

Hearing Chi Qianning speak so close, Song Linlin couldn’t help but recall their previous dual cultivation experience.

Back then, Song Linlin hadn’t understood anything, naively assuming dual cultivation simply meant meditating together. Later, she and Chi Qianning did indeed cultivate together, though the process differed drastically from her expectations.

That night, they had also lain in the same bed. Song Linlin’s body burned with a near-delirious heat. Having absorbed an excessive amount of Chi Qianning’s essence blood​¹, her dantian couldn’t handle the surge of power. Whether due to necessity or the desire to improve her strength, she’d had no choice but to engage in dual cultivation with Chi Qianning.

            

This time, however, there wasn’t such a pressing need.

Song Linlin slightly loosened her embrace, pulling back to see Chi Qianning’s face. Meeting those crimson eyes, Song Linlin felt a sudden shyness.

Her face flushed, the close proximity making it difficult to avert her gaze. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t ignore Chi Qianning’s intense stare.

            

Those red eyes held both amusement and tenderness, their gaze intertwining with Song Linlin’s.

So close to such a breathtakingly beautiful face, Song Linlin’s heart pounded. She spoke softly, a nervous tremor in her voice, “Um…I don’t recall mentioning dual cultivation during the day.”

Her heart raced, its rhythm like a drumbeat in the quiet room. She couldn’t tell if she felt more anticipation or nervousness.

            

Chi Qianning moved closer, their foreheads almost touching, noses nearly brushing, their breaths mingling. A cool hand reached up, fingers caressing Song Linlin’s ear, gently pinching her heated earlobe. Her eyes traced the lines of Song Linlin’s features as she spoke, her voice light, “Indeed, you didn’t.”

Then, her tone shifted, becoming languid, “Does that mean we can’t?”

Song Linlin held her gaze, the coolness of Chi Qianning’s fingers on her earlobe a welcome contrast to the heat spreading through her body.

            

Her heart skipped a beat, accelerating uncontrollably. She could barely meet Chi Qianning’s eyes. Why would someone who sulked over a compliment about their feet during the day say such suggestive things at night?

It was unbearable, especially with them so close.

Song Linlin stammered, “W-well…it’s not like we can’t…”

            

“Mm.”

Chi Qianning sounded pleased. Her cool fingers trailed down from Song Linlin’s earlobe, following her jawline, finally resting on her chin. She caressed it briefly before retracting her hand.

She continued, “We’ve done it once before. You know how, so I shouldn’t need to teach you, right?”

            

“No…”

Song Linlin leaned in, their foreheads touching. Unable to focus while looking into Chi Qianning’s eyes, she closed her own, recalling their previous experience. This time, it was undoubtedly smoother.

The moment their consciousnesses connected, a rush of sensations overwhelmed her, leaving no room for other thoughts. In that moment, she focused solely on her own feelings.

            

Song Linlin couldn’t help but open her eyes, exhaling softly. She looked at Chi Qianning, whose silver eyelashes fluttered as she frowned slightly.

Sensing Song Linlin’s hesitation, Chi Qianning opened her eyes, her red gaze fixed on her. Her fingers gripped Song Linlin’s sleeve, knuckles white with the force.

“Continue,” she said.

            

Song Linlin took Chi Qianning’s hand, their fingers interlacing. The gripped hand tightened around hers, their palms becoming damp with sweat over time.

Later, Song Linlin felt her strength waning, her mind a jumble. Even Chi Qianning’s grip loosened, no longer as tight as before.

She let out a few breaths, sweat trickling down her jawline and onto the hair beneath. “I’m so tired,” she complained.

            

There hadn’t been any physical exertion, yet the exhaustion emanated from her very soul. In this short time, Song Linlin felt more drained than after an afternoon of fishing.

Not just mentally exhausted, but physically too, her mind a fog of intertwined sensations, leaving no room for other thoughts.

Song Linlin thought: I originally just wanted to sleep peacefully. How did things end up like this?

            

It was all Chi Qianning’s fault. Her scent had bewitched her.

Finally, it was over. Song Linlin felt a wave of relief, lying there too tired to move.

Her back was drenched, sweat soaking through her undergarments, the fabric clinging uncomfortably to her skin.

            

Chi Qianning’s attire was even thinner. Thanks to her perpetually cool temperature, they hadn’t felt too hot together. Song Linlin touched the fabric of Chi Qianning’s back, finding it damp as well.

“So wet…You’re soaked.”

Chi Qianning’s forehead and neck were also beaded with perspiration. Song Linlin nuzzled her face against Chi Qianning’s, murmuring weakly, “Why are you sweating so much?”

            

In truth, she was in no better condition, drenched from head to toe, the sticky sweat clinging to her skin.

This prompted Song Linlin to remove her outer layer, leaving only a thin undergarment, damp with sweat, the white fabric revealing the flesh beneath.

Then, she embraced the equally sweaty Chi Qianning, reaching for her waist and undoing her clothes, saying, “Aren’t you hot? You’re drenched. Take one off.”

            

Having worn the garment herself, Song Linlin knew its layers and how to remove them.

Chi Qianning tried to stop her, but Song Linlin caught her wrist.

After that, Song Linlin rested her head against Chi Qianning’s, her voice heavy with fatigue. “I’m so sleepy. Can we skip the cultivation? Let’s just sleep.”

            

Chi Qianning pushed her slightly, ignoring her plea, though her voice lacked any authority. “No, no slacking.”

The person beside her clearly hadn’t listened. Her eyes fluttered closed, and soon she was fast asleep.

---

Early the next morning, Song Linlin opened her eyes groggily. She hadn’t forgotten about her morning class, always waking up naturally around the time she needed to get up.

            

She realized she was holding a soft, cool body in her arms. Still half-asleep, Song Linlin instinctively ran her hand across Chi Qianning’s back.

Chi Qianning woke instantly, her voice coming from above Song Linlin’s head, still slightly hoarse. “Song Linlin, what are you groping?”

“Hm?”

            

Song Linlin looked up blearily, meeting Chi Qianning’s eyes. Realizing what she’d done, she quickly withdrew her hand and pulled back.

“Sorry, just woke up. My brain’s not quite working yet.”

As her consciousness returned, she replayed the events of the night before. After delivering the fish to the Affairs Hall and exchanging them for contribution points, she’d been utterly exhausted and should have gone straight to sleep. Instead, she’d been captivated by Chi Qianning’s closeness and scent.

            

Recalling the entire sequence of events, she found it all rather unbelievable. Last time, it had been a necessity.

This time, however, there hadn’t been any real reason, though she didn’t dislike it.

Song Linlin stared at Chi Qianning, analyzing the previous night. Although she’d been drawn to Chi Qianning’s beauty in the dress, initiating the embrace, the subsequent events, like Chi Qianning encouraging her to inhale her scent, felt strangely deliberate. It was like Chi Qianning was seducing her!

            

Now, Song Linlin wasn’t in a rush to get dressed. Propping herself up, she lay there, observing Chi Qianning: her usually immaculate silver hair slightly disheveled from sleep, her red eyes beneath silver lashes, her still pale lips.

Finally, after a long while, Song Linlin came to a conclusion. “You’re so beautiful,” she blurted.

Chi Qianning rolled her eyes. This person had stared at her for ages, and all for such a meaningless statement.

            

“Song Linlin, you have morning class,” Chi Qianning reminded her.

“I know.”

Song Linlin remained in her position, her gaze fixed on Chi Qianning’s beautiful face. “Were you acting strangely last night?” she casually inquired.

            

It was a casual question, expecting another eye-roll in response.

However, Chi Qianning merely fell silent. After a few seconds, she looked at Song Linlin, pursed her lips, and said something completely unrelated, “Summer is almost here.”

“What?”

            

Song Linlin was confused. Summer approaching meant it was currently spring. But what did that have to do with her question? Was this a way of dodging the question by saying something random?

Unable to understand, Song Linlin knew she wouldn’t get a proper answer. She got up to dress, reminding herself about the morning class.

After getting ready, Song Linlin glanced back. “I’m off to class then. I’ll be back soon.”

            

---

The author has something to say:

Made a lot of changes, might be a bit disjointed. Just bear with it TT

Summer is almost here, so it’s currently spring. Snakes’ mating season is between spring and summer (I looked it up, I don’t know for sure).

            

---

---