That “Bad” Woman Next Door – Chapter 24

How About… We Try Something Else?

Inside the fitting room, the two gazed affectionately at each other. Yu Xi wrapped an arm around Yuan Yue, pulled her close, lowered her head, and kissed her without hesitation.

Perhaps it was because the space was too small, or maybe it was just the setting, but Yuan Yue could hear her own violent heartbeat. A strong sensation of numbness and tingling¹ and breathlessness washed over her, and she was forced to push Yu Xi away. “Stop it, there are people outside.”

As if to prove her point, a knock came from the partition, followed by the voice of the sales assistant from earlier: “Misses? Are you two doing okay in there? Do you need any help?”

Usually, people only took a minute to try on a bra, but they had been in there for quite a while without coming out. The sales assistant was worried something had gone wrong.

The sudden voice startled both of them. Yuan Yue, feeling both shy and annoyed, punched Yu Xi on the shoulder and whispered complainingly, “I told you to stop messing around. See?”

Being hurried like this, Yuan Yue felt too embarrassed to even go out.

Yu Xi’s gaze swept over her slightly swollen red lips. She smiled silently, then composed herself and spoke calmly to the person outside, “Sorry, we aren’t done trying them on yet.”

Sales Assistant: “Please hurry, then.”

Once the assistant walked away, Yu Xi took a step back, bent down to pick up the clothes that had fallen to the floor, and urged Yuan Yue to undress.

Yuan Yue didn’t want to try anything on anymore.

Seeing her standing motionless, Yu Xi had no choice but to help her take off her clothes and then personally put the new ones on her.

Yuan Yue let Yu Xi handle her like a giant baby². Seeing the look in Yu Xi’s eyes—free of any impure thoughts, just focused intently on helping her dress—she subconsciously murmured, “Why do I feel like you’re just like my mom?”

Yu Xi paused her movements, lowered her eyes to look at her, and asked quite seriously, “Does your mom help you put on your bra?”

“…” Yuan Yue bit her lip tightly to keep herself from making any weird noises. Of course her mom wouldn’t help her put on a bra, and she certainly wouldn’t touch her there.

The bra was finally on. Yu Xi looked her handiwork up and down, quite satisfied. She didn’t forget to ask for Yuan Yue’s opinion at the end: “Does it feel comfortable?”

New bras always felt a bit awkward at first. Yuan Yue shifted her body a little, then suddenly smiled mischievously. “It’s more comfortable not wearing one.”

She was just joking, but Yu Xi glanced at her and said indifferently, “Not wearing one makes them sag easily.”

The smile on Yuan Yue’s face froze before she could even feel smug.

This woman really didn’t know how to make conversation!

Yu Xi extended a finger to hook the edge of the new bra, wearing a half-smile. “Oh, I forgot. You don’t have that concern. They’re too small.”

“……”

She wanted to hit someone.

The fitting was over. Yuan Yue took off the new bra and put her own back on. Maybe it was psychological, but it actually felt much emptier. She couldn’t help but wonder: Had she really been buying a size too big all this time?

When Yu Xi pulled her out of the fitting room, Yuan Yue had a dark expression on her face, looking like someone you shouldn’t mess with.

The sales assistant, bored from waiting, immediately put on a smile and welcomed them when they emerged. But seeing Yuan Yue’s expression, she asked cautiously, “Did it not fit well? Would you like to try another one?”

“We’ll take this one. Please bag it for us,” Yu Xi answered on Yuan Yue’s behalf.

The sales assistant said happily, “If you buy one, it’s 10% off, but if you buy two, it’s 20% off. Would you like to consider buying another one? It’s a better deal.”

Yu Xi was about to say no, but Yuan Yue suddenly spoke up. “Of course we do! Please get her a size 36A as well. That pink one will do.”

The sales assistant hurriedly said okay, but as she turned to get the bra, she paused. She looked at Yu Xi’s chest and hesitated. “This lady looks like she should be a B cup, right?”

Yuan Yue lied through her teeth without blinking. “I say it’s an A, so it’s an A. Don’t let the size fool you; it’s all just padding.”

Yu Xi: “…” She sensed someone’s revenge.

The sales assistant put on an “I understand” expression and turned to get the other set of lingerie.

Yu Xi looked at the triumphant Yuan Yue beside her. Not only was she not annoyed, but she actually found it somewhat funny. “I never realized you were so childish.”

Yuan Yue didn’t refute it. Her mood suddenly improved greatly. She stared at Yu Xi’s chest, which was obviously more ample than her own, and winked. “My dear Xi-Xi, this is my first gift to you, so you must wear it~”

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, her expression full of smugness.

Yu Xi laughed despite herself and whispered in her ear, “If you really want them to get bigger, I’ll give you a thorough massage when we get back.”

Yuan Yue’s head buzzed, and her eyes widened as she looked at her in disbelief.

Yu Xi composed her expression and said seriously, “Apparently, you need daily massages to see results. Go home and research it; no rush.”

“…” Yuan Yue’s face flushed red instantly. She prided herself on having thick skin, but compared to Yu Xi, she realized she was still too green.

Massage can make them bigger???

She didn’t know if Yu Xi was joking just to “get back” at her, or if there was actual basis for it, but Yuan Yue actually felt a little expectant after hearing it…

Buying the two bras took quite a bit of time. When they walked out of the store, the mall was livelier than before. Yu Xi helped carry the bags and glanced at the dispirited Yuan Yue. “Do you still want to look around?”

As a woman, having been struck down repeatedly by another woman who was superior to her, Yuan Yue felt quite depressed inside. She gave Yu Xi a resentful glare and didn’t speak.

Seeing her silent, Yu Xi asked again, “If we’re done shopping, shall we go home?”

Yuan Yue finally spoke, her voice still muffled. “Why go home so early?”

“Massage,” Yu Xi said the word without any burden.

Yuan Yue paused in her tracks. She hadn’t expected Yu Xi to still be thinking about that. She froze for a moment, astonished. “You’re serious?”

The corners of Yu Xi’s lips hooked up slightly, making it hard to tell if she was joking or serious. “What else?”

Yuan Yue: “…”

Actually, Yu Xi knew she had upset Yuan Yue, so she was trying to find ways to tease her and cheer her up.

Yuan Yue didn’t know that. The thought of the two of them rushing back in broad daylight for a massage made her feel like her whole body was going to catch fire. She turned her head away unnaturally. “Cough, let’s just keep shopping for a bit…”

The first floor was a large supermarket, so they wandered down there.

Yuan Yue was a bit absent-minded, walking with her head down. She accidentally got separated by the crowded flow of people. When she turned back to look, she didn’t see Yu Xi. Suddenly feeling a bit panicked, she looked around searching, until someone suddenly tugged her arm.

Thinking it was Yu Xi, she hurriedly turned her head, only to be stunned.

“Yueyue-jie³, it really is you!”

Yuan Yue hadn’t expected to run into an old acquaintance while shopping. She looked at the person in front of her in surprise. “Wen… Jing?”

The person pulling her was Sun Wenjing, Sun Wenya’s tangmei⁴. Yuan Yue had only met her once when she went to deliver the red envelope for Sun Wenya’s wedding. They hadn’t had any contact since.

Sun Wenya isn’t in the mall too, is she?

Yuan Yue had a bit of PTSD. She quickly scanned the area but didn’t see Sun Wenya. Seeing that Sun Wenjing was alone, she probed carefully, “Are you by yourself?”

“Yeah! My school is nearby. I don’t have classes this morning, so I came over to pick out a gift.” Sun Wenjing was very excited to see her, unable to hide her smile. “Are you alone too, Yueyue-jie?”

Yuan Yue remembered she needed to find Yu Xi. She shook her head. “No, I came with my dear. Wenjing, wait a moment, I need to find someone.”

She and Yu Xi had just been separated, so she must be nearby. Yuan Yue didn’t call; she left Sun Wenjing there and went to look for her.

Sun Wenjing stood in place, thinking about that sentence, tilting her head and muttering to herself, “‘My dear’? Does Yueyue-jie have a boyfriend already?”

Yuan Yue finally spotted that familiar figure at the entrance of the escalator. Her heart settled back into her chest. She ran over, grabbed Yu Xi’s hand, and said, “Why are you here? I thought you got lost.”

Seeing the anxiety written all over Yuan Yue’s face, Yu Xi smiled faintly, tucked a stray lock of hair behind Yuan Yue’s ear, and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t run away.”

After speaking, her raised hand dropped naturally to tightly hold Yuan Yue’s hand.

Yuan Yue breathed a sigh of relief, interlaced her fingers with hers, and said, “I just ran into an acquaintance and chatted for a second.”

“I saw.”

“You saw?”

“Mm.” Yu Xi looked over her shoulder. “She’s coming over.”

Yuan Yue turned around and saw Sun Wenjing running toward them.

Sun Wenjing naturally noticed Yu Xi standing with Yuan Yue. She was still thinking about the words “my dear” that Yuan Yue had used, imagining a boyfriend, but she hadn’t expected a beautiful woman. Her gaze swept over Yuan Yue and Yu Xi’s intimately clasped hands, and she was confused. “Yueyue-jie, this is?”

Yuan Yue introduced her. “Her name is Yu Xi.” She took a step back to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Yu Xi and lowered her voice deliberately. “This is Sun Wenjing, Sun Wenya’s tangmei.”

So it’s the ex-girlfriend’s tangmei. Yu Xi gave Yuan Yue a deep look before turning to Sun Wenjing, speaking politely and courteously, “Hello.”

“Hello.” Seeing that the two seemed to have a good relationship, Sun Wenjing didn’t bother digging into the question of who exactly Yuan Yue’s “dear” was. She said somewhat shyly, “I thought you were here alone, Yueyue-jie. I wanted to ask you to help me pick out a gift.”

Yuan Yue didn’t have much interaction with Sun Wenjing; if not for Sun Wenya, they wouldn’t know each other. Although she had broken up with Sun Wenya long ago, Yuan Yue still felt some goodwill toward Sun Wenjing. She asked, “What gift are you buying?”

“A birthday gift,” Sun Wenjing said without hiding anything, her face suddenly drooping. “Yueyue-jie, what kind of gifts do men usually like?”

Yuan Yue was curious. “Is it for a boyfriend?”

“No, no! I don’t have a boyfriend yet.” Sun Wenjing’s face heated up slightly as she whispered, “It’s all my jie’s⁵ fault. My jiefu’s⁶ birthday is coming up, and she actually asked me to help her pick a gift. What kind of person does that!”

Yuan Yue had just asked casually; she didn’t expect it to be related to Sun Wenya. Seeing Sun Wenjing looking distressed, she couldn’t help but ask one more question: “Why doesn’t she come pick it herself?”

Sun Wenjing: “Who knows? She said she has to work and doesn’t have time, so she asked me to help.”

Asking someone else to choose a birthday gift for one’s own husband—that sounded quite strange.

Yuan Yue couldn’t help but recall the first time Sun Wenya called her. Speaking of her marriage, Sun Wenya had been almost hysterical, saying she was forced into it by her family. Could it be that this marriage had been problematic from the start?

While Yuan Yue was thinking, Sun Wenjing pulled her aside.

“Yueyue-jie.” Sun Wenjing acted mysterious, speaking at a volume only the two of them could hear. “Didn’t you have a really good relationship with my jie in college? Could you help me persuade her?”

Yuan Yue’s eyelid twitched. “Persuade her to do what?”

“Persuade her to live happily with my jiefu!” Sun Wenjing’s voice got lower and lower. “I’m telling you, I think there’s something wrong with my jie and jiefu’s relationship.”

Yuan Yue hadn’t expected Sun Wenjing to be so open with her. She kept her expression neutral. “Why do you say that?”

Sun Wenjing frowned and dropped a bombshell: “I think my jie might be sick.”

Sick??? Yuan Yue was stunned.

“It’s true,” Sun Wenjing hurriedly explained. “I remember you and my jie used to be very close. Later, I don’t know why you two stopped hanging out. Once, I accidentally mentioned you in front of her, and she actually scolded me and forbade me from mentioning your name again! Also, on the day of the wedding, you suddenly appeared. She ran out to chase you, but it seemed she didn’t catch you. After she came back, she cried her eyes out and said she didn’t want to get married anymore. Don’t you think that’s weird?”

So that had happened. Yuan Yue looked thoughtful.

“Yueyue-jie?” Sun Wenjing nudged her.

“Huh?” Yuan Yue snapped back to reality. “Is that it?”

Sun Wenjing’s brows were furrowed deeply, looking very distressed. “If only it were just that.” It was like she had opened the floodgates; she grabbed Yuan Yue and poured out everything. “Actually, before my jie got married, her relationship with my jiefu was pretty good. But ever since they got married, everything seems to have changed. My jie has become quiet, cries at the drop of a hat, always loses her temper at my jiefu, and has mentioned divorce several times.”

Yuan Yue didn’t know what to say, so she just listened quietly.

But her silence seemed to encourage Sun Wenjing. “Yueyue-jie, I suspect my jie has depression.”

Yuan Yue drew in a sharp breath. Depression wasn’t something to joke about. She couldn’t keep her voice down anymore. “Has she seen a doctor?”

“No, it’s just my guess.” Sun Wenjing sighed, trying to get closer to Yuan Yue. “Yueyue-jie, my jie doesn’t seem to have any friends. You used to be closest to her. Could you help me talk to her?”

It seemed Sun Wenjing didn’t know that she and Sun Wenya had long since fallen out.

Yuan Yue subtly pulled her hand away and smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, Wenjing. You might not know, but my relationship with your jie isn’t what it used to be. I’m afraid I can’t help with what you’re asking.”

“Why?” Sun Wenjing was completely in the dark. “Weren’t you best friends? Yueyue-jie, my jie is really pitiful. Please just help her.”

Yuan Yue was helpless. “Wenjing, you really shouldn’t tell me these things. This is your family’s private business; it’s not right for an outsider like me to interfere.”

“But…”

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing her return to a calm expression indicating she absolutely didn’t want to get involved, Sun Wenjing pouted and had to give up, looking dejected. “If even you won’t help, I guess they have to rely on themselves.”

Yuan Yue didn’t respond to that. Her eyes shifted as she changed the subject. “Didn’t you say you still have to pick out a gift?”

Sun Wenjing couldn’t very well ask Yuan Yue to help her choose anymore. She waved at them disappointedly. “Then I’m leaving. Bye, Yueyue-jie.”

“Bye.”

After saying goodbye to Sun Wenjing, Yuan Yue went over and took Yu Xi’s arm. “Let’s go too.”

“Mm.” Yu Xi glanced at her, not even asking what they had whispered about just now.

In the supermarket on the first floor, Yuan Yue held onto Yu Xi’s arm while Yu Xi pushed the shopping cart. The two of them walked slowly, stopping occasionally, and accidentally filled the cart.

There were many people in line to pay. Yu Xi told Yuan Yue to wait outside. After paying, they went to get the car, returning fully loaded.

Once in the car, Yuan Yue asked Yu Xi, “You bought so many groceries, do you know how to cook?”

Yu Xi paused, looked at her, and said, “No. I thought you knew how.”

Now it was awkward.

Yuan Yue looked at all the ingredients, and suddenly a lightbulb went off. “It’s fine. There are a few packs of hotpot soup base in the fridge. We can eat hotpot.”

Yu Xi smiled. “Okay.”

Yuan Yue had been watching her diet lately, so her tastes followed Yu Xi’s, eating relatively bland food. Although there was no chili, she still ate with gusto. Putting down her chopsticks, she rubbed her belly and said, “I can’t. If I eat anymore, I’ll get fat.”

“You only ate a few bites. are you full?” Yu Xi frowned.

“Not being full is how you lose weight.” Mentioning weight loss, Yuan Yue suddenly remembered what Yu Xi had said to her before. “You said you’d help me lose weight, right?”

Yu Xi ate a mouthful of vegetables and nodded. “Mm.”

Yuan Yue put on a serious face for a second. “I’ve decided. Starting today, I want to lose weight, so you have to help me.”

Yu Xi continued eating elegantly, occasionally looking up at her. She said, seemingly casually, “Doing more exercise will help you lose weight.”

Seeing her perfunctory attitude, Yuan Yue held down her hand to stop her from eating. “What kind of exercise? Tell me quickly. Swimming, running, or jumping rope?”

Forced to stop, Yu Xi wiped her mouth and answered with a question, “How long can you stick to those exercises?”

“…” Yuan Yue wasn’t confident. Feeling guilty, she slowly let go of her hand.

Yu Xi saw through her intention to escape. She held Yuan Yue’s hand back, looking into her eyes. “There is an exercise that consumes a lot of energy, isn’t too tiring to do, and makes you feel good physically and mentally.”

“What exercise?” Yuan Yue looked at her expectantly.

Yu Xi’s eyes were deep as she said, word by word, “Making love.”

Yuan Yue’s expression froze, and her face turned beet red instantly. She tried to pull her hand back as if she’d been burned.

Yu Xi frowned. “Yuan Yue.”

Hearing her full name called in such a solemn tone, Yuan Yue’s heart drummed nervously. She stammered, face flushed, “Wh-what is it?”

Yu Xi saw blood with one needle⁷. “You’ve been acting strange lately.”

Yuan Yue defended herself weakly. “No, I haven’t…”

Seeing her gaze darting away, Yu Xi sighed and said, “Yes, you have. You’ve been rejecting my intimacy lately.”

Yuan Yue was stunned again and hurriedly refuted, “I haven’t! Last time was because the Great Aunt⁸ came and it wasn’t convenient, you know that…”

Last time was indeed an accident. Yu Xi fell silent for a moment, then said, “Come here.”

Yuan Yue stood up and walked toward her, confused. Yu Xi reached out and suddenly pulled her. Yuan Yue spun 360 degrees and landed solidly on Yu Xi’s lap.

Yu Xi gave her a second to buffer before lifting her chin and leaning in to kiss her.

Yuan Yue blinked, too late to close her eyes. Her hands instinctively gripped Yu Xi’s shoulders tightly. She tried to respond, but her whole body was stiff.

Yu Xi kissed her a few times but felt something was off, so she had to let her go.

Their foreheads touched. Yu Xi tried to calm her breathing and murmured, “Sorry, I shouldn’t force you.”

“No…” Yuan Yue curled her fingers and bit her lip. “It’s my problem. I don’t know what’s wrong with me either…”

Yu Xi lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Yuan Yue felt a bit panicked. She cupped Yu Xi’s face with both hands.

Their eyes met. No emotion could be read in the depths of Yu Xi’s dark eyes. Her voice was low. “Are you… tired of me already?”

“No!” Yuan Yue’s expression changed. She shook her head vigorously and said anxiously, “I’m happy every day I’m with you. How could I be tired of you?”

Yu Xi’s fingers brushed over her lips, her neck, her collarbone, continuing downward to linger on her waist. Her tone held regret. “But your reaction gives me the opposite answer.”

“…” Yuan Yue realized this herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t feel anything when Yu Xi touched her; it was just that her body would unconsciously stiffen. She didn’t know what the situation was either. Watching Yu Xi’s expression, she said cautiously, “Maybe it’s because the method is wrong?”

“?” Yu Xi looked puzzled.

Yuan Yue licked her lips and deliberately rubbed against her mischievously with her body. Her words were as bold as her actions. “How about… we try something else?”

Yu Xi grew more confused the more she listened. “Try what else?”

Yuan Yue leaned into her ear and whispered very softly, “I heard we can use props.”

Yu Xi chewed over those last words repeatedly. Belatedly understanding what she meant, her furrowed brows finally relaxed. She signaled for Yuan Yue to stand up, then had Yuan Yue sit in her own seat. Looking at her, she gave an ambiguous smile and said, “Those things you mentioned… I’ve never used them.”

Yuan Yue’s face turned red. She cleared her throat and said, “I haven’t used them either, okay? I’m just curious…”

Yu Xi looked at her quietly.

“Pretend I didn’t say anything.” Yuan Yue lowered her head in shame.

Yu Xi suddenly smiled again.

A few minutes later.

The two of them were holding their phones, heads huddled together, starting to search on Taobao⁹ for the things they needed.

“Is this one good?”

“…”

“What about this one?”

“…Don’t ask me. I told you I haven’t used them.”

Yu Xi simply added everything she liked to the shopping cart.

“…”

These bizarre items made one’s heart race and face flush. Yuan Yue silently grabbed a cucumber to gnaw on to distract herself.

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