Jiang Shumo froze in place. The earlier kisses could be dismissed as Yan Qingxu being half-conscious and smooching randomly—no need to dwell on it. But now this—
“Thump… thump… thump-thump… thump…”
The irregular heartbeat thrummed noisily in her ears. She couldn’t distinguish whether it was her own, Yan Qingxu’s, or the two of them tangled together, the forceful collisions leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
Yan Qingxu didn’t delve deeper. Instead, she traced Jiang Shumo’s lips like a small animal exploring, finally nipping gently at the soft flesh.
It didn’t hurt, but it itched terribly.
Before Jiang Shumo could react, Yan Qingxu straightened up. Suppressing the thrill bubbling in her chest, she gazed into Jiang Shumo’s amber eyes, which sparkled like stars. “You didn’t push me away—that means you’ve accepted me!”
As long as she moved fast enough, Jiang Shumo wouldn’t have time to shove her off.
All right, she declared to herself: she’d successfully won over Jiang Shumo!
Seizing the moment of surprise, Yan Qingxu planted two more quick kisses on her mouth, then peppered her cheeks and forehead. “Mine, mine—all mine!”
“…”
The flurry of kisses finally jolted Jiang Shumo back to her senses. She instinctively pushed Yan Qingxu away. The latter flopped back onto the sofa with the momentum, her radiant face the picture of innocence, her lips still bearing vivid red traces—innocent yet seductively beautiful.
“…”
Jiang Shumo couldn’t help marveling at her own willpower. A stunning beauty throwing herself at her like this, and she could still refuse—what in the world couldn’t she accomplish?
Seeing that Jiang Shumo didn’t seem angry, Yan Qingxu whined petulantly. “What was that for? Kiss me and then pretend you don’t know me?”
Jiang Shumo said, “…Don’t try to twist logic like that.”
When Yan Qingxu puffed out her cheeks to act cute again, Jiang Shumo pointed at her mouth. “I haven’t removed my makeup yet. Be careful you don’t end up eating a mouthful of foundation.”
Yan Qingxu: “!!!”
Listen to that—Jiang Shumo was worried about her eating foundation!
Yan Qingxu perked up in an instant. She propped herself up and knelt on the sofa. “Eating my girlfriend’s foundation would be—”
She didn’t finish “what” before she collapsed back in pain, clutching her leg. “Ow… my leg’s numb.”
Her flustered appearance made Jiang Shumo fight back a laugh. “…You’re an utter idiot.”
“If you’re sleepy, head to bed early. Don’t you worry about catching a cold lounging here like this?”
Little Yan Pig had stayed two or three meters away for just five minutes and still caught her cold. This constitution of hers clearly needed better self-care.
“But I wanted to wait for you!”
Yan Qingxu gazed at her pitifully. But then she remembered how Jiang Shumo hadn’t refuted her earlier claim, and she broke into a delighted grin. “See? I waited, and now I’ve got a girlfriend! How great is that?”
“…”
Jiang Shumo tried to rebut it, but the words “I’m not your girlfriend” refused to leave her mouth. They’d already kissed, and she hadn’t resisted in the moment—saying it now would just sound overly coy, wouldn’t it?
Seeing no denial, Yan Qingxu nearly leaped off the sofa in celebration—except her legs were still numb, pinning her in place.
She looked at Jiang Shumo expectantly. “So, will you kiss me?”
Nights had a way of amplifying desires. Even if Jiang Shumo wasn’t objecting now, who knew if she’d renege tomorrow? Wouldn’t taking the initiative with a kiss make it official?
Jiang Shumo had no inkling of Yan Qingxu’s little scheme. Seeing her close her eyes and pout expectantly made her feel a touch embarrassed.
System: “—What are you standing there like an idiot for? Kiss her already!”
Heaven knew how much energy feedback it had raked in during this short time! If it had a physical form, it would’ve shoved the Bad Woman’s head down itself.
That was bound to yield a hefty energy payout!
Jiang Shumo: “!”
How had she forgotten about this Little Retard?
Yan Qingxu waited ages. Just as she was about to open her eyes, her mouth was suddenly pinched shut.
“?”
She blinked her eyes open, staring at Jiang Shumo with a mix of grievance and dissatisfaction. “You… aren’t you ju—”
Halfway through, Jiang Shumo released her, and Yan Qingxu blurted out the rest clearly: “trying to back out!”
Feeling a bit awkward, Jiang Shumo muttered, “…I’ve told you several times already: I haven’t removed my makeup.”
“!”
Yan Qingxu eyed her suspiciously. “Then will you kiss me after you do?”
“We’ll talk about it after.”
“Then I’m coming with you to remove it!”
Yan Qingxu had no intention of letting her escape. Luckily, the numbness in her legs had faded; she sprang up agilely. “No running away!”
Jiang Shumo: “…”
Yan Qingxu chasing after kisses and not letting her flee—it made Jiang Shumo sound like the ungrateful one.
Resigned, Jiang Shumo silently permitted her to tag along.
Once upstairs following Jiang Shumo, Yan Qingxu glanced around. “Hey, where’s Little Beauty?”
How come she never spotted it in the evenings lately?
“Aunt Qiu took it away,” Jiang Shumo answered offhandedly.
Reflecting on how she hadn’t seen much of Little Beauty these past few days, Yan Qingxu sighed. “Aunt Qiu’s taking such good care of it. Feels like it’ll forget all about me soon.”
“It was right beside you earlier. Aunt Qiu took it so it wouldn’t disturb you.”
By then, Jiang Shumo had already entered the master bedroom. It was Yan Qingxu’s first time stepping inside. She hurried after her, grabbing hold of Jiang Shumo’s shirt hem while peering curiously around the room.
So this was what Jiang Shumo’s bedroom looked like?
Last time, she’d only stood in the doorway, without getting a proper look.
The room was enormous, complete with an adjoining study, walk-in closet, and bathroom—far larger than the master in her own apartment. The decor was luxurious yet cozy, every item meticulously arranged in perfect order, refined and pristine like a showroom model.
For someone like her, who tended to leave things scattered, it felt too austere, devoid of any real signs of daily life.
…Fine, her own habits were the problem.
“Do you have OCD or something? Everything’s arranged so perfectly.”
Clutching Jiang Shumo’s hem, Yan Qingxu trailed after her until the woman ahead halted abruptly. She collided right into Jiang Shumo’s back.
Yan Qingxu naturally wrapped her arms around her, nuzzling against Jiang Shumo’s back. “Wow, you throwing yourself at me? I love it!”
Jiang Shumo nearly cracked a smile. “…I’m heading into the bathroom. You planning to follow?”
“Of course—”
Yan Qingxu reflexively started to say yes, but then visions from fanfics she’d read—and steamy dreams—flashed in her mind, sending heat flooding her cheeks. She released her hold, striving to appear casual, though her excited tone gave her away. “Though I really want to, I think we should take things slow.”
Better to start with hugs and kisses, building up over time… hehe.
“Little Yan Pig, what’s going on in that head of yours?”
Jiang Shumo poked her forehead with mock exasperation. “I’m just here to remove my makeup.”
What kind of naughty scene was playing out in her imagination now?
Yan Qingxu stepped back with the poke, cheeks puffed out. “If you want to shower, I’m not stopping you. Who doesn’t crave a hot bath after getting home?”
Wow, a beauty emerging from the bath—that had to be breathtaking!
Jiang Shumo: “…Out. I’m washing my face.”
“All right, all right.”
Yan Qingxu retreated a couple of steps, her eyes drawn to the plush-looking bed in the master suite. “Can I lie on your bed for a bit?”
She was Jiang Shumo’s girlfriend now. Lying on the bed after a bath should be perfectly acceptable, right?
“Whatever.”
That meant yes!
In high spirits, Yan Qingxu perched on the bed before flopping backward onto it. The mattress was soft yet supportive—delightfully comfortable.
Since it was Jiang Shumo’s master bed, it carried her scent everywhere. Yan Qingxu’s cheeks warmed as she rolled around on it, trying to infuse her own smell into the fabric.
A little here, a little there.
Ah! The pillow!
Oblivious to Yan Qingxu’s antics, Jiang Shumo removed her makeup while clamping down on the Little Retard. “No peeking later. You’re going into lockdown!”
The System snorted coldly. “…Fine, I won’t look. Do you think I even want to? Kissing mouths just swaps viruses—what else is there to it?”
Systems didn’t stoop to such foolish antics!
Jiang Shumo had no patience for this emotionally illiterate Little Retard. With her makeup finally off, she still hadn’t decided on her next move when she stepped out and spotted a figure in a white T-shirt and shorts sprawled across her bed, her black, wavy, seaweed-like hair fanned out over the pillow.
“?”
What kind of pose was that?
Taking a closer look, Jiang Shumo saw Yan Qingxu with her face buried in the pillow. The thought of her inhaling her scent made Jiang Shumo feel oddly self-conscious. “What are you doing?”
“Hm?”
Yan Qingxu lifted her head. Her nose was reddened from the pressure, but her eyes gleamed unusually bright. “Your scent’s on the pillow.”
Jiang Shumo: “…Why are you acting like a total pervert?”
No one goes around sniffing other people’s pillows like that.
“No way, you just smell so good!”
Yan Qingxu nimbly hopped up from the bed. “If I were a pervert, I’d just steal your pillow and use it for myself.”
The thought suddenly sparked an idea, and her eyes lit up. “Yes, I am a pervert, so let’s swap pillows!”
Jiang Shumo paused. “…I don’t kiss perverts.”
Yan Qingxu didn’t miss a beat, changing her tune without a hint of embarrassment. “Actually, I think that’s pretty pervy too. Did I nail it just now? I’m such a talented actress.”
“…”
Jiang Shumo shot her an indescribable look. “You’ve already said everything.”
“Okay, okay, no more talking. Come on, kiss me!”
Yan Qingxu tilted her head back and puckered her lips. A pretty blush colored the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose. Her eager, enthusiastic look was impossible to resist.
Jiang Shumo’s heart thudded faster without her realizing it. She held her breath and leaned down, pressing her lips to those rosy, soft ones.
Fragrant and soft, carrying a pleasant warmth.
Jiang Shumo still hadn’t figured out what to do next. As she straightened up to pull away, she suddenly—without knowing why—opened her mouth and nipped that soft lip.
It really was sweet.
Yan Qingxu: “!”
By the time Jiang Shumo snapped back to reality, she saw a small bite mark on Yan Qingxu’s already rosy lips. The edges around it flushed even deeper, brimming with temptation.
Yan Qingxu put on a show of surprise, her phoenix eyes shimmering with allure and making her look even more breathtakingly beautiful. “…You bit me!”
Jiang Shumo fought to keep her gaze steady, replying calmly, “Yeah, I bit you. You bit me earlier too.”
Even as she tried to compose herself, the faint blush blooming across her milky-white skin gave away her tension and shyness.
She had no idea how irresistible she looked in Yan Qingxu’s eyes right then.
A woman who was always so cool and detached, whose smiles often carried a mocking edge— the moment she revealed even a sliver of allure, it shattered every defense Yan Qingxu had.
If it weren’t the middle of the night, Yan Qingxu would have let out a full-throated scream.
She regretted it. Screw gradual steps, screw just kisses and cuddles!
She wanted the full adult romance. She was straight-up craving Jiang Shumo’s body!
Yep, she was a pervert!
Congratulations? 🤣