Novel Turned Yuri – Chapter 96

Addiction

Chaos.

The mood, the thoughts, everything is in chaos.

Lin Qing was conscious of the marks on her neck, feeling extremely uneasy. While everyone around her was in a chaotic frenzy, sitting around the couch playing games, she could only maintain a calm exterior. She felt a heat radiating from the places where Qiao Yu had touched her just now, uncontrollable.

Knowing that Qiao Yu would never reject her, she really shouldn’t have… tempted her.

She inwardly cursed her weakness and lack of self-control. Lin Qing anxiously bit her lower lip, but she knew that her current clarity was probably due to entering a cooldown period – can’t this state have a different name? Like a cooling-off period or something like that. Even if she could turn back time to just now, she probably would still not be able to resist making the same move.

She craved Qiao Yu and hoped that Qiao Yu would crave her in the same way.

… Now it seems that the biggest problem should be: this goal has been achieved too successfully?

“Alright! I won!”

“… I lost again.”

The two people holding the controllers sighed in completely different tones. Cong Ye raised both arms in a triumphant gesture, looking smugly at Qiao Yu.

“You can’t do it, Qiao Yu, you’ve lost three games in a row.”

“Ah… maybe my condition isn’t great today.”

Rarely, faced with Cong Ye’s provocation, Qiao Yu surprisingly didn’t respond with sarcasm but instead accepted the other party’s words honestly.

They were playing a racing game, and from the very beginning, Qiao Yu was obviously distracted, crashing into walls and taking wrong turns. However, there was no sense of urgency on her face, just a slow adjustment of direction to continue playing.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Could it be because you’re distracted by Lin Qing and don’t have the focus to play the game?”

Cong Ye teased and slyly winked at Qiao Yu.

Yes, Qiao Yu was now sitting cross-legged on the carpet in front of the couch, leaning back against Lin Qing’s legs.

And this was not Lin Qing’s idea.

Ever since coming out of the kitchen, Qiao Yu’s demeanor was completely different. It was as if a strange switch had been turned on; her gaze was always glued to Lin Qing, and intentional physical contact became more frequent.

Due to the abrupt interruption of intimate actions, the hunter seemed unsatisfied.

Lin Qing was torn apart inside, feeling a deadly contradiction. There was a hidden joy in a corner of her heart about this situation, but she also knew very well that it was completely at odds with the efforts she had made during this period – even though they were already quite contradictory.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to firmly reject Qiao Yu’s intimacy. When Qiao Yu leaned on her legs as if it were natural, she could only grit her teeth in silence, pretending not to notice the intentional pressure Qiao Yu exerted.

“Um…” The culprit causing her inner turmoil remained oblivious. Tilting her head in thought, she let out a light chuckle and replied to Cong Ye, “Maybe.”

Once again, she blurted out nonsensical words without filter, causing Cong Ye’s expression to change… a mix of shock and joy? What on earth was going on with this person—?

“…!”

Suddenly, feeling a cool touch of fingers discreetly on her left ankle, Lin Qing was startled—almost trembling, thankfully managing to refrain from shouting out.

“She’s too slim, it’s uncomfortable when leaning on her.”

The owner of the hand casually explained to Cong Ye while intensifying their grip on her ankle, nearly able to encircle it with just one hand, as if silently proving Qiao Yu’s words.

Lin Qing wanted to stop her, but was captivated by the intentional touch of the other person, causing all her attention to be consumed. Just the effort of not showing any abnormality was already exhausting her to the fullest.

Sitting at the edge of the couch, with the other three sitting to their right, Qiao Yu deliberately pressed their bodies close, preventing them from seeing what was happening on the left side. The left hand was calmly causing disorder.

First, the back of the hand pressed tightly against her, followed by fingers, circling lightly. The fingertips absentmindedly spun on her bare skin, causing Lin Qing to tremble in waves.

She really shouldn’t have worn cropped pants today.

The itching sensation gradually became increasingly difficult to ignore. Surprised that this person dared to make such gestures in front of everyone, Lin Qing was momentarily at a loss. Not wanting to endure silently and do nothing, she placed her hand on Qiao Yu’s shoulder and subtly tightened her grip.

“… If you find it uncomfortable, you could just not lean over, right?”

“No.”

Mixing suggestive words were straightforwardly rejected by Qiao Yu. She turned slightly to look at Lin Qing, her amber eyes shining with a clear and extinguished light, her smile exceptionally brilliant.

“Because it’s quite warm.”

Excuses seemed to come effortlessly. Lin Qing gritted her teeth inwardly, lamenting her inability to ruthlessly push Qiao Yu away.

Others were unaware of the hidden meaning in these few words exchanged. Mi Yi discreetly glanced at the two of them several times before speaking up.

“… How about the two of you take a break alone? I always feel like there’s an atmosphere between you that we can’t get into.”

“Okay.”

“No way.”

The voices of the two almost sounded simultaneously. The one who eagerly agreed was Qiao Yu, while the one who resolutely refused was Lin Qing. They then locked eyes, engaging in a silent confrontation, neither willing to back down.

“Oh, here we go again.”

Mi Yi sighed deeply, giving up any plans to intervene. She sullenly returned to the couch, nibbling on snacks. Cong Ye, left on the sidelines, absentmindedly scratched his head. Just as he was about to say something, Qiao Yu suddenly had a change of heart and handed the controller in her hand to Lu Yao. Cong Ye became excited and immediately pulled Lu Yao into another round of gaming.

The two who were consciously set aside by everyone else, both realized that they needed to resolve this issue.

But not now. After all, everyone else was still sitting nearby, and Lin Qing, even if she wanted to address the problem, definitely did not want to leave here alone with Qiao Yu. She could imagine the potential developments afterwards, just with a single strand of hair – it certainly wouldn’t involve the two of them sitting down peacefully to have a good conversation.

Regardless, with people other than the two of them in the house, they needed to remain calm and avoid falling into that dangerous situation again.

… Of course, this did not mean it was okay to do so only when the two of them were alone. Hmm.

With a resentful addition in her mind, Lin Qing couldn’t shake off a sense of increasing desolation.

So they pretended to lean peacefully to the side, superficially watching the others play games, laughing in sync when comical scenes arose.

But only she knew that Qiao Yu’s hand remained loosely clasped around Lin Qing’s ankle, as if hinting at something, gently massaging.

In this unspoken atmosphere, the party gradually came to an end.

As the sun set, everyone gathered around the table amicably sharing a cake – the three-tiered cake that had candles blown out in the early morning, expressing the parents’ guilt for not being able to spend the entire birthday with their child. The vigorous guilt was fully displayed on the cake, excessively packed with sweetness, leaving several with full and satisfied stomachs.

As the time was nearing, one by one, the group started preparing to go home. Qiao Yu stood by the door, seeing Cong Ye and the others off one by one, then shifting her gaze onto Lin Qing, who was the last to leave.

The other party was hesitantly holding onto her jacket, looking unsure whether to wear it or not.

“What’s wrong, Lin Qing? Are you not leaving?”

“Just wait a minute, Lu Yao! Your question is so tactless!”

Cong Ye almost immediately pulled Lu Yao, who inadvertently asked that question, to the side. Mi Yi glanced at the boys huddled together, muttering something, and with a look that seemed to see through everything, she gazed at Lin Qing still lingering inside by the door.

“Ah – did you leave something inside? It’s better to go back and check, right?”

“…”

The almost tear-inducing kindness, even the reason had been found for her.

Initially hesitant, Lin Qing now had an external push, and she made a firm decision, nodding stiffly and pointing inside the house, “Well, I might need to look for something.”

“Eh? Did Lin Qing lose something? Let us help you look-“

“Just wait a moment, Cong Ye, just wait.”

Mi Yi then grabbed Cong Ye who seemed clueless at this moment by the back collar, feeling that boys could be more stupid, and seeing Lu Yao standing next to them with a blank face, she grabbed him too, holding onto both of them, then turned to Qiao Yu and nodded.

“Then we’ll leave first.”

With that, they walked out with great difficulty, their figures stretching long under the setting sun, evoking a sense of a lonely hero.

Mi Yi, dragging along two tag-alongs, quickly disappeared from their view, leaving the two remaining inside the room in a moment of silence.

“…Let’s close the door for now?”

“Mm.”

Qiao Yu nodded and closed the door.

Suddenly cut off from the outside world, Lin Qing vividly realized that in this moment, there were truly only the two of them inside the house. She knew this was a very dangerous situation, so she cautiously moved back a bit.

“…Don’t do anything strange, okay.”

The first sentence she uttered unexpectedly was this soft warning. Lin Qing unconsciously lowered her voice, feeling shy only when she saw Qiao Yu’s slightly teasing gaze. She turned away, pretending to be busy putting her jacket back on the shelf.

“What do you mean by strange things? I may not quite understand.”

It’s simply speaking nonsense. Lin Qing couldn’t help but grit her teeth upon hearing Qiao Yu continue.

“Is it about what Qingqing did to me in the kitchen before?”

“…”

Lin Qing’s thin face suddenly flushed, seeing her usually gentle lover now showing a hint of sharpness, smiling calmly. The raised eyebrows and eyes looked particularly innocent.

“A clever person like Qingqing should know what it means – let the officials start fires but not allow the commoners to light lamps, right?”

The gentle and innocent appearance was all a facade, and Qiao Yu’s eyes revealed emotions familiar to Lin Qing that were stirring inside. She had to avoid Qiao Yu’s piercing gaze and awkwardly turned her head.

“I… I didn’t stay back to discuss that matter with you.”

Instinctively sensing that continuing the conversation on that topic would only lead to a repeat of the situation, Lin Qing forcefully changed the subject, keeping in mind what she had to do, and stared back at Qiao Yu.

“Although we had so much cake, you should still be able to eat something, right?”

Tying up her hair in a ponytail, rolling up her sleeves, putting on an apron.

Qiao Yu leaned against the kitchen door, watching Lin Qing busily working inside with curiosity in her eyes.

“…So, Lin Qing can cook too?”

“Not really, just able to make noodles.”

As Lin Qing spoke and brought out the ingredients, she heard Qiao Yu muttering about the timing of the preparation. She suppressed a smile and didn’t look at her.

“It’s rare to celebrate a birthday at home. It’s our family tradition to eat noodles on birthdays, so I thought… I’ll make a bowl for you too.”

“…”

Without getting a response, Lin Qing heard footsteps approaching from behind. Her body tensed, and she quickly turned around to stop Qiao Yu, “Don’t come closer! You’ll disturb me.”

Her plan to hug her failed, leaving Qiao Yu a bit disappointed as she hung her head. However, she obediently stayed in place, looking restless.

“I remember you don’t like onions, right?”

“Yes. But if it’s made by Qingqing, I can eat anything.”

“Smooth talker.”

Lin Qing couldn’t help but chuckle, wondering where she had learned it from. She could clearly feel Qiao Yu’s usually restless aura gradually becoming milder, returning to the usual Qiao Yu.

…To say that she didn’t feel a tinge of regret would be deceiving. That aggressive side of Qiao Yu was not common to see, but in the current situation, this version of Qiao Yu seemed more suitable – or perhaps safer. She didn’t have the ability to resist Qiao Yu’s confidence.

“Like newlyweds.”

“You’ve already said that twice today. Whenever you see me in the kitchen, you feel like… that way.”

Unable to say that word as openly as Qiao Yu, Lin Qing blushed unexpectedly, cutting the tomatoes with frustration.

“Alright, alright, go outside and wait. Don’t disturb me here.”

With that, Lin Qing swiftly ushered Qiao Yu out of the kitchen in no time, and firmly closed the door behind her.

Having been given the cold shoulder, Qiao Yu helplessly rubbed the back of her neck, realizing that perhaps her credit limit wasn’t sufficient – but can’t entirely blame her, right? It was Lin Qing who started it… Well, it’s not the time to dwell on such thoughts now.

Lin Qing is cooking for her.

Just the thought of it filled her heart with inexplicable contentment, making her steps light as she walked towards the dining table.

The wait was unbearable, and she could only strain her ears to listen for any movement in the kitchen. When she heard the sound of the door opening, she quickly composed herself in a proper sitting position.

“…Don’t look at me with such expectant eyes. I really just made a simple bowl of noodles.”

The gaze made Lin Qing slightly flustered, but the noodles were already cooked. She had to reluctantly place the bowl in front of Qiao Yu, awkwardly turning her head away.

“Enjoy. It should be passable—”

“Delicious.”

“You’re eating way too fast.”

She didn’t even need to say it. Qiao Yu had chopsticks at the ready, and as soon as she got the bowl, she picked up a strand of noodles and brought it to her mouth. She sucked in a breath at the heat but persevered, eating mouthful after mouthful with relish.

“The noodles aren’t going anywhere…”

Her anxiousness was eased by Qiao Yu’s convincing display of enjoying the meal. Lin Qing chuckled and poured her a glass of water, advising her to eat slowly. Qiao Yu mumbled in response, but in reality, she swiftly finished the meal like a gust of wind, setting down her chopsticks, and suddenly sat there staring blankly.

“What’s wrong?”

Lin Qing was a bit worried that Qiao Yu might be overstuffed since she had also eaten a fair amount of cake earlier. However, Qiao Yu slowly blinked and surprised Lin Qing with her response.

“No, it’s because it’s so delicious that I’m feeling a bit sleepy.”

“This is some bizarre cause and effect…” Lin Qing couldn’t help but laugh, adding, “I didn’t sprinkle any sleeping pills in the noodles.”

“I know.” Qiao Yu chuckled too, her eyes sparkling. “I just… feel like I haven’t had noodles like this in a long time.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment then.”

As Lin Qing was about to clear away the bowl and chopsticks, Qiao Yu grabbed her hand.

“Leave it for now, I’ll wash them myself later.”

After speaking, Qiao Yu looked at Lin Qing with a pleading gaze, knowing that every time she made such an expression, she would say something that Lin Qing couldn’t resist. Lin Qing became a bit wary, and soon enough, Qiao Yu spoke up.

“In Japan, there is a phrase, ‘Please make miso soup for me every morning.'”

“I used to find this phrase strange before, but now it seems quite fitting.”

“…”

Although her smile was gentle and devoid of any wicked intentions, Lin Qing still chose to avoid her gaze.

“…Don’t say anything—”

“Don’t say any strange things?” Qiao Yu cut in before she could finish, feigning displeasure as she furrowed her brows unexpectedly. “You seemed quite amused listening to it.”

Wanting to draw closer yet also desiring distance, humans were truly complex creatures.

Like being addicted to something, Qiao Yu knew that Lin Qing was currently in such a dilemma and she urgently wanted to break free from this addiction. Rationality and desire struggled constantly, refusing to yield to each other.

But her adorable lover seemed to always forget that what caused her addiction was a living being capable of thinking and acting independently. So each time Qiao Yu actively approached her, Lin Qing would show a bewildered, slightly troubled, yet incredibly alluring expression like now.

It was truly irresistible.

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