Teahouse Team Building (3)
A mouth isn’t just for talking, right? (Taking turns to spread sweetness)
Driving over the gravel road, there was a slight jolt.
Two fine steeds, Wuyun and Qingshi, both descendants of the horse Tuxue, were pulling the carriage ahead.
Having inherited the excellent bloodline of their predecessors, both horses were tall, robust, and highly enduring, more than sufficient to pull Princess Lala’s luxurious carriage.
Ming Qin glanced at the map in her hand, pulled on the reins, exhaled lightly, and nimbly jumped to the ground, knocking on the door panel, “Senior Sister, it’s your turn.”
“Got it.” A lazy response came from inside the carriage. Song Shuqing then opened the door, patted her junior sister on the shoulder, and suddenly turned around, raising her eyebrows at Zi Yan inside, saying, “Dear Zi Yan, do you want me to teach you how to drive a carriage?”
“Lord Song, please don’t make it hard for me…” Zi Yan sighed, putting down the music score in her hand, and looked at her beloved.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here, and you can enjoy the scenery along the way.” Song Shuqing gestured, trying hard to attract the person in front of her. Seeing her still hesitating, she played her trump card, pouting, “…Ah Yao, come out and keep me company, okay, Ah Yao.”
“Okay, okay, stop shouting…” Unable to resist, Zi Yan surrendered, tightened her robe, and took Song Shuqing’s hand to get off the carriage.
“Tsk, dear Zi Yan is so nice, I’m so touched.” Song Shuqing said with a smile, receiving a grateful look from Ming Qin, who nodded imperceptibly in acknowledgment.
Once on the carriage, Ming Qin closed the door panel and stepped forward to embrace Murong Yan, who had put down her book and opened her arms.
“Are you okay?” While hugging, Murong Yan touched the forehead of the person in her arms, asking worriedly, “Ah Qin, are you tired? Or feeling unwell?”
Murong Yan’s concern was understandable. After all, Song Shuqing and Ming Qin had not voluntarily requested a shift change during the entire journey. Their interactions were basically, 『Qinqin, do you need a rest?』 『No, Senior Sister, I can do it myself.』 Or, 『Senior Sister, should I take over driving?』 『No, Qinqin, we’ll switch tomorrow.』
Shaking her head, Ming Qin showed a relaxed expression to the woman, “I’m fine, really.” She held her cold hand tightly, “I just wanted to be with you.”
Murong Yan, rarely puzzled, looked at the person in front of her, who was gently kissing her fingertips, but said no more.
Until halfway through the journey, as she flipped through the pages of her book, Murong Yan occasionally raised her eyes and saw the scenery outside through the gap in the curtain. She finally understood.
Her heart felt as if struck by lightning.
This was the place where she had once experienced soul-wrenching pain, the forest that had haunted her midnight dreams.
This was where she had once lost her.
『Yanyan, listen, don’t ever look back.』
『Yanyan, you promised to listen to Ah Qin, right?』
『I won’t die.』
It was as if her mind was forcibly replaying the deeply buried scenes, fragmented memories surged forth.
She had thought time had washed it all away, not realizing it was merely lurking at the muddy bottom of the lake, ready to stir and surge with any disturbance, mixing blood and tears with the foul mud, tearing open her heart despicably.
She was nearly suffocating.
“Hey, Yanyan.” Holding the stiff body of the woman beside her tightly, Ming Qin climbed up her trembling fingertips, clasping them tightly, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Gently rubbing her lips against the woman’s temple, she whispered repeatedly into Murong Yan’s ear, “I’m here, I’m right here.”
Feeling the warmth of her fingertips, Murong Yan, grasping at what seemed like her only lifeline, struggled to find clarity in the words spoken by her ear. Her voice was hoarse, “Ah Qin…”
“Yanyan, I’m here.” Holding the chin of the person in her arms, guiding the woman to look at her, Ming Qin’s tone was firm, “I’m here, with you.” Her other hand gently stroked her back, slowly calming her.
(If you're not reading on littlepandatranslations.com, it means this has been stolen)
Murong Yan looked into the eyes of the person in front of her, deeply, as if she could see through the patterns beneath those brown pupils, mesmerized, gaining a moment of respite.
“Ah Qin, don’t go… don’t leave me.” Clutching the robe of the person beside her, Murong Yan looked up, her eyes red, “You can’t leave… I won’t let you leave…”
Don’t leave me alone.
Like before.
“I won’t, I’ll never leave you alone again.” Ming Qin spoke with a solemn tone, “I promise.” She leaned in, kissing away the hot tears.
Now, regardless of whose orders or for what mission, she would never leave Yanyan alone again.
Because she had clarified her feelings, realizing how much she cherished her, and understood what love truly was.
It was never a feeling full of sacrifice, but mutual care and warmth, a desire to always be together.
“Yanyan, I won’t leave.” Looking at the tearful woman, the usually tongue-tied shadow guard racked her brains, speaking somewhat incoherently, “As long as Yanyan doesn’t drive me away, I’ll always stay by your side… even if Yanyan doesn’t want me, I’ll secretly guard you! So… so don’t cry.”
Don’t cry.
And don’t be plagued by nightmares anymore.
Don’t linger in that forest that always brings you unpleasant memories.
Every time you wake up in the dark, sweating coldly, groping to confirm my presence, I want to tell you.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m right here.” Hugging the person in her arms tightly, Ming Qin’s voice was low, blurting out, “And… I’m sorry.”
Inside the carriage, except for the sound of hooves outside, it was silent.
Even Hu’er who was lying on the floor was obediently quiet.
Perhaps it was the other’s warm body, perhaps it was that strong and powerful embrace, but after a while, Murong Yan stopped trembling, merely burying her head in Ming Qin’s neck, “Ah Qin… why are you apologizing?” Her voice was muffled, devoid of emotion.
“Uh…” Caught off guard by the sudden question, Ming Qin blinked, stammering, “Because… because back then… I didn’t know anything, stayed behind, and made Yanyan suffer. I’m sorry.”
Seeing no response from the woman in her arms, Ming Qin spoke again, anxiously, “But it won’t happen now… I understand now, so it won’t happen again. …I’m sorry.”
Raising her head, Murong Yan looked at the person she loved, her lower lip trembling lightly, “I don’t like hearing it.”
Her tone was soft yet firm, making it unclear if she was stating a fact or acting spoiled, “I don’t like hearing your apology.”
The clothes on her neck and shoulders were soaked, but Ming Qin didn’t mind. At this moment, she was just a bit flustered, “Then, what should I say?”
“You don’t need to say anything.” Raising her hand, wrapping it around the shadow guard’s neck, Murong Yan whispered, “Your mouth isn’t just for talking, right?”
Stunned for a moment, Ming Qin understood. She lifted the woman beside her onto her lap, “Yes.” Lightly holding her slender waist to steady her, she tilted her head and leaned in, “Everything Yanyan says is right.”
Gentle kisses fell, wiping away the salty traces from before. Ming Qin bowed her head, afraid of hindering the woman’s breathing.
Ever since Ming Qin’s retirement, she, who used to be devoid of any scent, now carried the fragrance of peonies, as if soaked in thousands of petals, her every move declaring her belonging to someone else.
Now, as the two exchanged warmth, the fragrance intensified. Ming Qin’s tongue brushed against Murong Yan’s lip balm, filling her mouth with the woman’s scent.
But it wasn’t enough.
(If you're not reading on littlepandatranslations.com, it means this has been stolen)
Still not enough.
As if their minds were in sync, their hands tightened on each other, prolonging their intimate connection.
After a long while, when their lips finally parted, Murong Yan’s always pale face was tinged with a blush. She lay in the shadow guard’s arms, breathing lightly.
Ming Qin’s broad hand gently massaged the woman’s softened waist, looking at Murong Yan with eyes full of endless affection.
“Yanyan, look.” Suddenly speaking, with unconcealable delight in her tone, Ming Qin extended her free hand to lift the curtain, revealing a vast plain, “We’ve left.” She lowered her head to kiss the woman’s forehead.
“Yanyan and I, we’ve finally left together.”
Slowly turning her head, Murong Yan gazed out the window, only murmuring in a barely audible voice, “We’ve left, huh…”
We’ve left.
We’ve left that forest of darkness.
This time, together with Ah Qin.
Finally, able to breathe.
“Who would’ve thought that casually mentioning it, a messy desensitization therapy would actually work? Is it that the Princess is too strong, or is Qinqin just lucky?” Outside the carriage, ‘absolutely not eavesdropping on purpose,’ Song Shuqing muttered to herself.
“Lord Song, what are you talking about?” Zi Yan asked, tilting her head in confusion.
“Hmm? Nothing.” Song Shuqing replied with a smile to the person beside her, quietly putting away the calming pill she had prepared in her hand.
“It’s truly a blessing that the Princess and Qinqin can stay together after all their hardships.” Looking at the vast plain ahead, Zi Yan sighed.
“Mm… and it’s also amazing that the Princess can understand Qinqin’s garbled attempts at comfort.” Song Shuqing quietly commented to the Zi Yan beside her, “It seems Qinqin and the Princess really have a mental connection.”
Already used to her lover’s sudden strange words, Zi Yan calmly ignored Song Shuqing’s latter sentence, “They really do have an incredible rapport, truly a match made in heaven.”
“Huh? Zi Yan? What about us? Aren’t we a match made in heaven?” Leaning closer, Song Shuqing stared intently at her beloved, “We’re the most perfect pair in the world.”
“Drive properly, stop fooling around.” Pushing the face in front of her away, Zi Yan sighed, “You’re almost thirty-eight, how are you still so rambunctious?” Though her tone was helpless, she held Song Shuqing’s free hand.
“Tsk tsk, I’m just stating a fact.” As if her scheme had succeeded, the shadow guard driving the carriage grinned, but then suddenly put on a worried expression, “But there is something that concerns me today.”
“Uh…” Hearing her lover’s tone, Zi Yan asked with concern, “What is it?”
“Qinqin… her kissing skills seem quite formidable. Dear Zi Yan, do you think I’ll be overshadowed by her?” Turning her head, if one ignored the mischief in her eyes, Song Shuqing’s expression was deadly serious, “Do I need to practice more with Zi Yan to improve? Dear Zi Yan, please guide me!”
“Lord Song… you…” Looking at the shameless person before her, Zi Yan, who had been calm despite the noise from inside the carriage, now blushed, stammering, “You… stop teasing me.”
“Hmm? But I’m not teasing you? I’m very serious.” Trying to hide her true emotions, Song Shuqing put on a solemn face, “I just want to ask for dear Zi Yan’s opinion.”
“You…”
The shy woman lowered her head, and after a moment, spoke softly, “…It’s already good enough, no need to improve. No need for guidance either.” After a pause, Zi Yan added, “But, practice… is still fine.”
Holding the reins, Song Shuqing had to muster all her self-control to suppress the urge to lean in and kiss the adorable woman beside her deeply.
Forget it.
(If you're not reading on littlepandatranslations.com, it means this has been stolen)
After all, dear Zi Yan’s face was already too red.
If she continued teasing, it might look like she had a fever.
She had to be the mature and steady older one.
She needed to pamper her wife more.
The author has something to say:
The principle of systematic desensitization (aka graduated exposure therapy) is basically that if a person is very afraid of something, they can overcome this fear by gradually and systematically being exposed to it, gaining deeper understanding and reorganizing their concept of it.
To use a super simple example, suppose someone is very afraid of spiders. Here, the fear I’m talking about isn’t just the ordinary “Ah, spiders are scary” kind of fear. It’s the kind that makes them faint, vomit, and shake all over at the sight of a spider. With systematic guidance, they might start by looking at pictures of insects that resemble spiders from a distance, then pictures of spiders, then real spiders from a distance, gradually overcoming their original fear. (This is a very simplified explanation; the actual process is much more detailed and must be supervised by professionals for the patient’s safety.)
In this story, having the princess return to a place that once terrified her in one go is absolutely not recommended in modern professional therapy… It’s just that the princess managed to overcome it through her strength and willpower, senior sister’s boldness, and Qinqin’s love.
P.S. Regarding the raffle, I didn’t expect so many people to be watching, so I set the number of winners too low at first. Next time I’ll set more slots!
It’s almost the end~
LP: Re-translated on June 13, 2024