Chapter 54

Yun Chun had anticipated that Yun Yueqin would say something like this. Giggling, she linked arms with Yun Yueqin, just like she used to act spoiled as a child. “What’s the big deal? I don’t mind at all.”

“You—”

Yun Yueqin managed only a single word before she suddenly remembered Xu Lanmeng was still there. She glanced sideways at Xu Lanmeng, who sat quietly watching them from the side, then pursed her lips and pushed Yun Chun into the study. To Xu Lanmeng, she said, “I need to have a talk with Little Yun.”

The light in Xu Lanmeng’s eyes dimmed. Over these past few days, she and Yun Yueqin had barely exchanged any words beyond discussions about what kind of person to introduce to Yun Chun for a match. Yun Yueqin’s sudden initiative now didn’t make her happy—in fact, it filled her with a sense of desolation.

Her gaze fell on the hem of Yun Chun’s clothes visible through the crack in the door, and she felt an even deeper sadness for Yun Chun.

Yun Chun surely had no idea what Yun Yueqin was thinking. If she did, she wouldn’t be smiling.

Xu Lanmeng lowered her eyes slightly. “Mm.”

With her permission granted, Yun Yueqin closed the study door and led Yun Chun to sit on the sofa.

Once seated, Yun Yueqin asked first, “How did Little Snow die?”

Yun Chun replied, “Car accident.”

Yun Yueqin froze upon hearing this, a flicker in her eyes. A few seconds later, she sighed. “Ah…”

That single sigh conveyed her regret and sorrow over Lu Qingxue’s death.

“She was so young…” Pain flickered in Yun Yueqin’s eyes.

She had always thought of Lu Qingxue as her own child. From a young age, the girl had been obedient and sensible, an excellent student with impeccable manners. Yun Yueqin remembered how often Yun Yi had praised her studies abroad in front of her.

Yun Yueqin opened her mouth. “Then… have you gone to see Aunt Lu?”

“I have. Aunt Lu is doing well, though I didn’t see Uncle Lu. They planted a whole yard full of flowers. On the surface… they seem to be getting by.”

Yun Yueqin nodded. “With Little Snow as their only daughter, losing her must have broken their hearts. A parent burying their child—it’s unbearable.”

Yun Chun murmured her agreement.

Yun Yueqin gazed at Yun Chun, marveling at how she’d grown up in the blink of an eye. She imagined how heartbroken Yun Chun must have been back then, with no idea how she’d gotten through it. Heart aching for her, Yun Yueqin reached out and caressed Yun Chun’s face.

“Little Yun, A-Lan has told me all the details about your ghost marriage with Little Snow. Mom hopes you can forgive her and Aunt Lu. A-Lan… she just has too deep an obsession.”

Yun Chun said, “I understand about Aunt Lu, but what does this have to do with Auntie Xu? She’s just doing a job for pay.”

So Yun Chun didn’t know?

Yun Yueqin gripped her own hands, her fingertips fidgeting restlessly for a moment before she sighed. “Some things are complicated, and it’s not convenient for Mom to tell you. I’m just asking you not to hold it against A-Lan too much. In the future… during holidays and festivals, come visit her on my behalf. I know it’s my debt, not yours to repay, but Little Yun, she made it possible for Mom and you to meet again. You have to remember that favor.”

Yun Chun very much wanted to tell Yun Yueqin that their mother-daughter reunion was also just Xu Lanmeng doing a job for money. But listening to Yun Yueqin’s words, she sensed there was some untold story between Yun Yueqin and Xu Lanmeng—whether it was melodramatic or tragic, she had no way of knowing.

She wanted to ask, but Yun Yueqin had already changed the subject. “Little Yun, don’t blame Mom.”

Yun Chun instinctively wanted to deny it, to say she’d never blamed Yun Yueqin, but the words caught in her throat, emerging hoarse instead. “Mom, I’ve only ever blamed you once.”

Hearing her daughter admit to resenting her filled Yun Yueqin with pain, though she knew exactly why. Softly, she asked, “Because Mom couldn’t hold on to see you one last time?”

Yun Chun paused, nodding—then shaking her head the next second. “I blamed you, but I don’t blame you either.”

“I blamed you for not holding out just a little longer. Back then, I’d already started making money. You could have lived a bit more, spent more time with me. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand your hardship. You must have been thinking of me, loving me so much it hurt, afraid I’d suffer and in too much pain yourself to go on. That’s why you chose to end it.” Yun Chun leaned forward, wrapping Yun Yueqin in an embrace. “Mom, you’ve suffered so much.”

Tears welled in Yun Yueqin’s eyes as she smiled. “It wasn’t suffering. With a daughter as good as you, how could it be? Mom just regrets not having more time with you, not watching you grow up properly.”

Yun Chun said, “We have plenty of time from now on. If I’m not away on work trips, I’ll come see you every day. I don’t know if Auntie Xu will mind, but if I give her more money, she probably won’t.”

Yun Yueqin whispered, “…There is no ‘from now on.'”

Yun Chun blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

Realizing she’d let something slip, Yun Yueqin quickly shifted topics. “Little Yun, tell me—do you really like Little Snow?”

“Of course it’s real.”

“When did you start liking her?”

“Maybe since we were kids…”

“How come Mom never noticed? I just remember you playing in the mud back then.”

“I don’t really know myself. It’s a strange feeling. Mom, it’s my first time liking someone.”

“It’s fine to like her, Little Yun. Little Snow was outstanding, so Mom can understand. But—”

Yun Yueqin gripped Yun Chun’s hand. “But if Little Snow were still alive, Mom wouldn’t stand in your way. But she’s gone now—she’s a ghost, and you’re human. The living and the dead… they can’t be together. It’s against the natural order.”

Yun Chun’s eyes drooped at the corners. “Mom, I already told you—I don’t mind.”

“It’s not about whether you mind. It’s that you can’t go against the laws of nature. Being with someone who’s already passed will bring you backlash.”

“But Auntie Xu said there wouldn’t be any harm. She said Sister Qingxue won’t hurt me in any way. See? I’ve been with Sister Qingxue for so long now, and I don’t even have dark circles anymore.”

“That’s because she’s been protecting you.”

Yun Chun didn’t yet grasp what Yun Yueqin meant by “protecting” at that moment. She stood up, her gaze sweeping over the photos scattered on the table—photos of the blind date candidates Yun Yueqin had mentioned.

Yun Chun took one look, then drew a deep breath.

She’d known Yun Yueqin would refuse, so she’d seriously considered whether she could live without Lu Qingxue from here on out.

The answer was no.

She couldn’t be without Lu Qingxue, nor without Yun Yueqin.

With that, Yun Chun knelt down, placing her hand on Yun Yueqin’s knee. “Mom, Sister Qingxue is wonderful. I really like her.”

Yun Yueqin sighed deeply. “Liking is one thing. It doesn’t mean you have to be together.”

She continued, “The moment she died, your bond… came to an end.”

With earnest concern, Yun Yueqin added, “Little Yun, let yourself go—and let Little Snow go. Separating is the best choice for both of you.”

Had things between them already reached the point of needing a word as heavy as “let go”?

“……”

Yun Chun stood once more, her hands clenched at her sides. She looked at Yun Yueqin. “Mom, this time, I can’t listen to you.”

This was the first time in her life, when faced with a problem, that Yun Chun hadn’t simply gone along with Yun Yueqin’s wishes—that she was refusing her instead.

She’d mulled over those words in her heart for days, steeling herself to voice her choice firmly in front of Yun Yueqin.

Afraid Yun Yueqin would say more, afraid her resolve might waver at the sight of her, Yun Chun turned her head away. “Mom, I don’t want to talk about this anymore right now.”

Yun Yueqin’s lips parted, but no words came. In the end, it dissolved into a long sigh. “Alright, we won’t talk about it. Mom will give you a few more days to think it over. Then you can tell me what you’ve decided.”

Yun Chun turned to look at her, wanting to say that no amount of time would change her mind.

But Yun Yueqin had already risen, gathering up the photos from the table. She asked what Yun Chun wanted to eat and went off to prepare dinner.

Yun Chun’s clenched fists loosened, then tightened again, an indescribable ache in her chest.

~~~

It was six in the evening at the end of autumn, and the sky over Radiance City had already darkened.

Lamps were flickering to life across the city.

The Old City District, however, remained in its usual half-dead state.

Some shops had their lights on, but darkness cloaked more of the area.

Lu Qingxue stood by the window, quietly gazing down at the narrow, crowded street below. She’d been there for about half an hour—not admiring the view, but waiting for Yun Chun’s figure to appear on that road.

Two minutes later, a shadow stretched long by the streetlights appeared on the pavement, looking all the more lonely amid the scattered autumn leaves.

Lu Qingxue’s lips curved slightly. She snapped her fingers to turn on the light and appeared at the door in an instant.

When she heard the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs outside, she placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it gently.

This was how she waited for Yun Chun every day.

The door swung open. To Yun Chun, she said, “You’re back?”

But today, after saying it, Lu Qingxue frowned slightly. “You’ve been drinking?”

Yun Chun nodded reflexively. At dinner, Xu Lanmeng had suggested a couple of drinks. In her low mood, Yun Chun had agreed—and they’d ended up polishing off a whole jin of baijiu between them.

Yun Chun was a little tipsy, not fully drunk.

Seeing Lu Qingxue, her slightly dazed eyes blinked. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Lu Qingxue’s waist.

She buried her face in the crook of Lu Qingxue’s neck. “Sister Lu…”

The arms around her waist tightened. Sensing Yun Chun’s low spirits, Lu Qingxue asked softly, “Problems at work?”

“No.”

Yun Chun said, “I just wanted to hug you.”

Lu Qingxue’s eyes crinkled in a smile. “Wasn’t last night enough?”

Yun Chun had held her while sleeping the night before.

If she were sober, Yun Chun might have played stubborn at that. But right now, embracing Lu Qingxue, her heart softened. A hum escaped her throat. “No matter how much I hug you, it’s never enough.”

Lu Qingxue chuckled softly as she helped Yun Chun over to the sofa, then poured her a glass of water.

Yun Chun took a sip before shaking her head. “No more.”

Her gaze fixed intently on Lu Qingxue.

The moment Lu Qingxue set the glass back down on the coffee table, Yun Chun grabbed her arm and flipped them over. She straddled Lu Qingxue’s lap, pinning her beneath her body.

It happened so suddenly that Lu Qingxue froze for a second. “Hm?”

Yun Chun pursed her lips. “I want to kiss you.”

Was alcohol some kind of switch?

Every time Yun Chun drank, she grew far bolder than usual.

Or had something else stimulated her?

Lu Qingxue analyzed the situation even as she noticed Yun Chun leaning in toward her.

Lu Qingxue lounged back against the sofa, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched Yun Chun. She looked utterly relaxed, as if to say, “I’m just sitting here—kiss me if you dare.” It was an open invitation to take liberties, her delicate frame seeming all too easy to ravish.

In short, the corners of Lu Qingxue’s eyes tilted upward, her seductive gaze gleaming openly. Under the light, the gentle ripples in her eyes sparkled like shimmering water.

Even someone with Yun Chun’s willpower couldn’t resist Lu Qingxue like this.

Especially when Yun Chun was tipsy and already harbored desires for her.

She couldn’t hold back against such temptation.

Their eyes met, and Yun Chun clutched the front of Lu Qingxue’s shirt, slowly drawing closer. Her eyelashes trembled as she approached, her breath seeming to catch.

When her lips finally met Lu Qingxue’s cool, thin ones, Yun Chun’s eyelashes quivered even more fiercely. Beneath her held breath lay a racing heartbeat she could no longer control.

Eyes closed, she kissed freely—twice.

Just two.

Smack, smack.

When she pulled away from Lu Qingxue’s lips, Lu Qingxue raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. “All done kissing?”

Yun Chun: “…Mm.”

Lu Qingxue laughed.

Whether it was the alcohol or those two pecks amplifying her shyness, Yun Chun’s cheeks flushed a lovely peach-pink.

Her hazy eyes brimmed with emotion—a charm Lu Qingxue found impossible to resist.

She tucked a stray lock of hair behind Yun Chun’s ear, her fingertip brushing the edge of Yun Chun’s earlobe by accident. Feeling Yun Chun tremble all over, Lu Qingxue curved her lips.

“My turn.”

Lu Qingxue took the lead, sitting up to capture Yun Chun’s lips. Unlike Yun Chun’s quick pecks, like a little chick pecking at rice, Lu Qingxue’s kiss was different.

She first took Yun Chun’s lower lip between hers, sucking gently twice before her tongue pried open Yun Chun’s teeth.

The instant their soft tongues touched, Lu Qingxue felt the body on her lap go limp.

Lu Qingxue’s hands gripped Yun Chun’s waist, supporting her.

Meanwhile, Yun Chun’s hands roamed restlessly over Lu Qingxue’s front.

Noticing this, Lu Qingxue deepened the kiss.

After a dozen seconds or so, Lu Qingxue ended it first. As Yun Chun panted with her lips parted, Lu Qingxue darted in like a dragonfly skimming water, pecking her at the corner of her mouth and the corner of her eye.

Her hand trailed down Yun Chun’s back as she chuckled lightly. “Silly girl, why didn’t you breathe? Forgot how?”

Yun Chun was nervous, flustered, shy. But she wouldn’t admit to being silly.

“This is the first time kissing like this for real.”

Lu Qingxue’s laughter rang in her ear. Yun Chun bashfully lowered her lashes before saying, “Continue.”

She wanted to reclaim the initiative!

Without waiting for Lu Qingxue’s response, she kissed her again. Annoyed at herself for forgetting to breathe, Yun Chun caught sight of Lu Qingxue’s still-smiling eyes. Her teeth parted instinctively, nipping at Lu Qingxue’s lower lip.

She didn’t bite hard. Seeing no change in Lu Qingxue’s expression—in fact, Lu Qingxue watched her with keen interest—Yun Chun released it. The next second, she nipped at Lu Qingxue’s upper lip.

A light smack landed on her rear where it pressed against Lu Qingxue’s waist. Lu Qingxue’s voice held a helpless tone. “Little Dog?”

Yun Chun huffed softly. “This is payback for blindfolding and teasing me before.”

She was still holding onto something that old?

“If it’s payback, Little Darling, wasn’t your bite a bit too gentle?”

“Want me to bite you till you cry?”

Yun Chun wondered what Lu Qingxue would look like in tears—especially if she made her cry from kissing…

Before she could dwell on it, Lu Qingxue shattered the fantasy. “I won’t cry. I can’t feel pain, after all.”

Yun Chun frowned, thinking of another issue. “Then when I kiss you, do you feel it?”

Lu Qingxue smiled tenderly. “Depends on how much heart you put into it.”

Yun Chun didn’t realize how devious that remark was. She furrowed her brow, a touch embarrassed. “I put my heart into it, but… my technique sucks.”

She twisted her waist, rubbing against Lu Qingxue. “Teach me.”

Lu Qingxue gave her a thoughtful look before instructing, “Turn that bite into a suck.”

Yun Chun’s face flushed scarlet.

So direct.

This was Lu Qingxue unlike her usual self.

Utterly captivating.

Yun Chun felt her soul being hooked away.

Following Lu Qingxue’s words, her eyes locked onto Lu Qingxue’s lips—the ones she’d just bitten, now glistening with a sheen.

She swallowed.

Hesitating whether to lean in and suck.