Speechless
Then next time.
Lu Zhenqiu suspected that Jin Shuilan was deliberately misunderstanding her. Just as she was about to kick her, her ankle was caught. Jin Shuilan’s palm was very hot, scorching even, but surprisingly dry. The moment it touched Lu Zhenqiu’s cool skin, it immediately stained it with high temperature.
Jin Shuilan didn’t speak, merely rubbing the skin of her ankle with the pad of her thumb, inch by inch. Lu Zhenqiu lost the strength to object, whimpering a couple of times on the bed, “Do you even know how?”
“What do you think,” Jin Shuilan leaned in and said by her ear, “In the pocket.”
Puzzled, Lu Zhenqiu reached into her clothing pocket. A rectangular, flat box, still sealed with a layer of transparent packaging. Lu Zhenqiu felt it and guessed what it was. Jin Shuilan leaned close to her ear again, nibbling on her earlobe as she said, “Qiuqiu, help me open it.”
“I…” Lu Zhenqiu’s face was beet red, and her earlobe stung. She lowered her head. “When did you buy this?”
Jin Shuilan gave it another bite, not too light and not too heavy. Lu Zhenqiu sucked in a breath, the sound very soft, its tail end dissipating into the air and quickly igniting the surrounding temperature. Jin Shuilan said, “I bought it on my way back just now.”
Lu Zhenqiu’s face grew even redder, practically steaming in the darkness. She let out a soft “oh” and heard Jin Shuilan call her name. “Qiuqiu, shall I begin?”
Hmm? Oh? Okay? You can start?
How was she supposed to respond to that!
Lu Zhenqiu blinked, not replying. She simply wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled her down.
This response clearly made Jin Shuilan extremely excited.
It felt like it had been several times. Lu Zhenqiu just felt that Jin Shuilan had an excessive amount of energy. She was sleeping on her side, her body slightly numb. Jin Shuilan turned her head and met Lu Zhenqiu’s eyes for a few seconds.
Lu Zhenqiu knew she was doing it on purpose now. She ignored her, pulling the blanket over herself. When Jin Shuilan moved closer, she was met with a kick. The force was very light, soft and limp; she truly had no strength left. Her voice was slightly hoarse, “Aren’t you going to turn on the light?”
Jin Shuilan turned on the room light. Lu Zhenqiu’s face was flushed red, her eyes sparkling bright. At the corners of her eyes were tear tracks she hadn’t had time to wipe away, some of which had dried, looking exceptionally fresh and pitiful1.
Jin Shuilan lay down beside her. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Zhenqiu buried her head in the blanket, her back to her, asking in a pouting manner. Jin Shuilan propped herself up and called out, “Qiuqiu.”
The person in the blanket ignored her, seemingly in a fit of pique and refusing to communicate. Jin Shuilan coughed lightly. The light cast Lu Zhenqiu’s thin shadow on the wall, making one’s heart ache for her. Jin Shuilan pulled both her and the blanket into her arms, calling, “Qiuqiu, I’m sorry.”
Lu Zhenqiu poked her head out from the blanket and asked, “Didn’t you say just once?”
In the end, she had lost count of how many times it had been.
Jin Shuilan was speechless.
It wasn’t like she wanted to, either.
If she weren’t afraid Lu Zhenqiu couldn’t take it, she would have wanted to continue on and on. Knowing she was in the wrong, Jin Shuilan said apologetically, “Next time, it’ll be however many times you say.”
Lu Zhenqiu turned her head to look at her. Jin Shuilan’s expression looked as if she had made the greatest possible concession. Seeing her face, Lu Zhenqiu couldn’t help but laugh.
How could there be such a person? So proper outside, not even a single thread out of place2, yet like this in bed. The contrast made it impossible to even get angry. Seeing her smile, Jin Shuilan’s mood became incredibly joyful. She said, “Okay?”
Lu Zhenqiu turned her head away. “I don’t know.”
“Hmm?” Jin Shuilan heard her hoarse voice and chuckled. “You don’t know?”
Her tone was teasing. Lu Zhenqiu decisively covered her mouth, afraid she would say something else that was impossible to respond to. Jin Shuilan didn’t pull her hand away, but simply tapped her palm with the tip of her tongue. Lu Zhenqiu immediately snatched her hand back and glared at Jin Shuilan, saying, “I’m going to take a shower.”
“Shall I help you in?”
Lu Zhenqiu looked down. “No need.”
Although her legs were weak, she could still manage a shower. Jin Shuilan said from behind her, “I’ll order some dinner then.”
Lu Zhenqiu agreed.
Jin Shuilan ordered a few of Lu Zhenqiu’s favorite dishes, glancing towards the bathroom from time to time. The sound of running water gradually subsided, and her heart filled with immense satisfaction. The dinner arrived quickly, and Jin Shuilan had also tidied up the room. When Lu Zhenqiu came out, she smelled the fragrant food and saw the clean room. Jin Shuilan said, “The sheets on your side of the bed are wet. Let’s sleep on my bed tonight.”
Lu Zhenqiu’s face reddened, and she lowered her head. “Oh.”
Jin Shuilan said, “Come eat dinner.”
Just as her voice fell, her phone rang. Jin Shuilan saw it was a call from the magazine publisher. She said to Lu Zhenqiu, “You eat first, I need to take this call.”
Lu Zhenqiu picked up her chopsticks and heard Jin Shuilan answer the phone.
On the other end of the line was Miki’s Editor-in-Chief. She said, “Teacher Jin, how is your consideration of the livestream event we discussed last time?”
Jin Shuilan replied, “No problem. Is it next week?”
“Yes,” the editor-in-chief said. “We’ll start pre-sales next Monday and plan to livestream on Friday, so I wanted to ask about your availability.”
Jin Shuilan nodded. “That’s fine.”
The film crew would be on break starting next Tuesday. Firstly, for the New Year, and secondly, because the authorities above were suppressing the baihe film and television genre, so there was no need to rush the filming. The director had given them an early holiday.
Hearing that it was fine, the editor-in-chief’s anxious heart settled. She then added, “But there’s one thing I’d like to ask you about in advance.”
Jin Shuilan tilted her head to watch Lu Zhenqiu eat dinner. She took small bites, occasionally sipping her soup, her simple movements exuding elegance. She smiled. “What is it?”
The editor-in-chief said, “Well, the special guest is Tang Yingxia.”
It wasn’t only Tang Yingxia, but she had heard a little about the conflict between Jin Shuilan and Tang Yingxia, so she wanted to ask for Jin Shuilan’s opinion first. She explained, “They were the ones who proactively approached us for this collaboration.”
They.
That must be Tang Yingxia’s magazine publisher.
Although Miki and the other publisher would openly fight and secretly struggle3, they still had to maintain a civil front. Tang Yingxia’s recent book sales were also good. They proposed a win-win situation, with her acting as a special guest for Jin Shuilan’s event. Jin Shuilan smiled. This old employer4 was really interesting. Were they that afraid of rumors spreading about their falling out? Using Tang Yingxia as a pretext to try and get close?
Did Tang Yingxia know she was being used as a pretext like this?
Jin Shuilan had no interest in whether she knew or not. “That’s fine,” she said.
The editor-in-chief was stunned. “Is it really fine?”
She had thought Jin Shuilan would refuse outright but didn’t expect her to agree. Jin Shuilan said, “I can cooperate with your arrangements.”
Seeing how considerate she was, the editor-in-chief was once again won over by her character. It had to be said, there was a reason for Jin Shuilan’s success. She said, “Then we’ll contact you again after our meeting.”
Jin Shuilan smiled faintly. “Alright.”
She hung up the phone and walked back. Lu Zhenqiu asked, “Who was that?”
“The magazine publisher,” Jin Shuilan said. “The new book is starting pre-sales, and they’re planning an event.”
Lu Zhenqiu nodded. “Oh. Are you going back home for the New Year then?”
“I am,” Jin Shuilan explained. “We’ll go back together next Tuesday.”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “We have a holiday?”
“Mhm,” Jin Shuilan smiled. Lu Zhenqiu bit her lip. After dinner, Lu Zhenqiu brushed her teeth and leaned against the bed, playing on her phone. Jin Shuilan took a shower. Seeing her finish, Lu Zhenqiu couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to the film set tonight?”
Hadn’t she been working overtime at the set every day for the past few days?
Jin Shuilan said, “No need. That scene is finished. The remaining scenes don’t have major changes, so I’ll just go to the meeting tomorrow morning.”
Lu Zhenqiu said “oh” and lowered her head to continue looking at her phone.
Jin Shuilan dried her long hair with a towel and walked over to her, sitting down close beside her. “What are you looking at?”
“Your novel,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “It’s really good.”
This novel was a new genre that Lu Zhenqiu had never read before, and she was reading it with overflowing flavor5. She had to praise Jin Shuilan’s talent for writing. No wonder her readers all said she was a child being fed by Old Man Heaven6. Some of the plot transitions were simply too brilliant; she wanted to slap the table and call it marvelous.
And not only was the novel good, but the comment section was even better. Although the praise wasn’t directed at Lu Zhenqiu, every time she saw a compliment, she shared in the glory. Jin Shuilan caught a glimpse of her adorable little expression and chuckled lightly. She got up to blow-dry her hair. The hum of the hairdryer filled the room. Lu Zhenqiu was reading, Jin Shuilan was drying her hair. The atmosphere wasn’t silent, but it was warm and sweet.
Jin Shuilan spent a good half hour blowing her hair until it was eighty percent dry. Her long, ink-black hair cascaded down her back, so thick it didn’t seem like something an author could possess. When she put down the hairdryer, Lu Zhenqiu was still looking at her phone. Jin Shuilan said, “Don’t look at it for too long. Take a break before reading more.”
Lu Zhenqiu obediently put down her phone and looked at Jin Shuilan. Jin Shuilan was wearing cream-colored pajamas, a form-fitting style that made her curves distinct, cleverly wrought and well-arranged7. Lu Zhenqiu asked, “Why are your pajamas so thin?”
Jin Shuilan sat down beside her and lowered her head. “Easier to take off.”
Shameless.
Lu Zhenqiu shot her a reproachful look. Jin Shuilan asked, “Are you livestreaming tomorrow?”
“Mhm,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “I want to stream for a while in the afternoon.”
Jin Shuilan nodded. “You don’t have to use my laptop. Should I go borrow some equipment for you?”
“No need,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “I’ll just use the computer. Let’s not go to the trouble.”
Besides, it was only for a few days.
Jin Shuilan didn’t insist. “Alright, you can use the computer then.”
Lu Zhenqiu had recovered quite a bit, but when she walked, the friction still caused a slight stinging pain. She figured it was because they didn’t know how to be gentle at the beginning. She walked to the window and looked out for a short while before a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind. Jin Shuilan pressed against her back and said, “It’s not high enough here. If you like looking at the scenery, we can move upstairs.”
“It’s fine,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “It’s nice here.”
She turned her head and looked at Jin Shuilan’s face, so close to her own, and bit her lip with a smile. Seeing her smile, Jin Shuilan’s lips curved up as well. The two of them looked at each other for a long while before returning to the bed. After sitting down, Jin Shuilan pulled Lu Zhenqiu and said, “Want to rest?”
There was nothing else to do if they didn’t rest. Lu Zhenqiu nodded. Jin Shuilan turned off the main light, leaving only a single bedside lamp on. She asked Lu Zhenqiu, “Turn off the light?”
Lu Zhenqiu poked her head out. “Up to you.”
Jin Shuilan didn’t turn off the light. She just lifted the blanket and lay down beside Lu Zhenqiu. As soon as she leaned over, Lu Zhenqiu’s face turned slightly red. Jin Shuilan turned her head to look at her eyes, which were clear and focused. She leaned over and kissed the corner of Lu Zhenqiu’s lips, saying, “If you’re tired, just sleep. I won’t bother you tonight.”
She knew they had overexerted themselves before dinner and felt sorry for Lu Zhenqiu’s body, wanting her to rest well.
Lu Zhenqiu glanced at her, her heart warming at her words. She instinctively moved closer and was gathered into Jin Shuilan’s embrace. Jin Shuilan turned over, and when she moved her leg, she accidentally bumped Lu Zhenqiu. Lu Zhenqiu let out a hiss and frowned.
Jin Shuilan looked down. “What’s wrong?”
Lu Zhenqiu’s voice was a little low. “You bumped it. It hurts a little.”
Jin Shuilan immediately asked, full of concern, “Where?”
Then she realized and fell silent for two seconds.
Lu Zhenqiu’s face instantly exploded in red. She didn’t say anything. In the quiet room, their breathing was very light. Jin Shuilan turned onto her side, propping herself up on an elbow to look at Lu Zhenqiu, her gaze full of apology. After all, it was their first time; neither was very experienced.
She asked somewhat awkwardly, “Does it hurt a lot?”
“No,” Lu Zhenqiu’s voice was very low. “Just a tiny bit.”
Jin Shuilan asked again, “What about… what about before?” She coughed lightly. “Did it hurt before too?”
What ‘before’.
Lu Zhenqiu muttered, “How would I know? I’ve never done it before.”
Jin Shuilan nodded, then looked at Lu Zhenqiu, blinked, and looked at Lu Zhenqiu again. Lu Zhenqiu felt baffled by her stare. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Jin Shuilan’s hand gripping the bedsheet tightened. Her voice rose. “Let’s sleep.”
With that, she lay down and pulled Lu Zhenqiu down as well. A few minutes later, Jin Shuilan called out, “Qiuqiu.”
Lu Zhenqiu turned her head. Jin Shuilan met her gaze and said, “Can we go again?”
“You…” Lu Zhenqiu wanted to refuse, but Jin Shuilan’s gaze was too scorching, with a light hidden within. Lu Zhenqiu was drawn in and changed her words. “Just once.”
Jin Shuilan said, “Twice.”
Lu Zhenqiu huffed. “Didn’t you say that next time, it would be however many times I say?”
Jin Shuilan nodded obediently, her tone sincere. “That’s right. That’s for next time.”
Next time wasn’t this time.
Lu Zhenqiu realized and said, displeased, “Jin Shuilan!”
The author has something to say:
Thirty red envelopes, memeda.
Jin Shuilan: ……
Lu Zhenqiu: ……
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