Chapter 18: Gouge Out

Why was the Eldest Miss even fierce toward herself?

Xing Yue rarely envied others. Her appearance, her studies, her work ability—all were outstanding. Without relying on anyone, she’d bought a car in the seventy-thousand range, owned her own small house, and had decent savings. She was content.

But ever since she’d met Bu Yao, her heart had ceased to be at peace. There was even a moment during the heated phone argument with her mother when she’d thought: Bu Yao really had a good life…

If Bu Yao wanted to marry at eighteen, she married at eighteen. If she didn’t, no one would force her even at seventy or eighty. The upbringing Madam Bu gave Bu Yao—though somewhat indulgent to the point of distortion—was always encouraging.

“Yao Bao is so amazing! So impressive!” “So pretty, it suits you perfectly!” “Mom knew you could do it!”

It was as if in Madam Bu’s eyes, everything about Bu Yao was flawless—perfect from any angle, the world’s most adorable in every way.

She herself had never been approved of like this since childhood. Scoring second in her grade, she’d been dropped off on the streets to pick up bottles as punishment and self-reflection.

The entire villa was shrouded in dim light. Outside, lightning flashed relentlessly. Occasionally, a streak of lightning would slash through with stark white light, granting only fleeting clarity.

Bu Yao held a candle. The dusky yellow glow illuminated her cheeks. She turned her head and tilted her face up, her ear accidentally grazing Xing Yue’s wet, soft lips—still carrying the cool taste of rain.

“I was very worried about you,” she said. At this angle, she couldn’t fully see the woman behind her, only view Xing Yue out of her peripheral vision. “I thought you’d secretly moved away without telling me.”

She was angry. She’d waited at home for ages, unable to reach her by phone, couldn’t find her at the company. She’d grown so furious she nearly wanted to smash things.

But fearing even more of Xing Yue’s loathing, she’d held back.

Now, seeing Xing Yue like this, she couldn’t vent her anger even if she had any left. Bu Yao turned around, using her hand to wipe the mud smeared on Xing Yue’s face. She wondered if Xing Yue had hurt herself, how long she must’ve lain in that grass…

“Where did you go after work? Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked bluntly.

These words struck a nerve in Xing Yue, forming a conditioned reflex—a nightmare throwback to the fear of being dominated by Bu Yao ten years ago.

She steadied Bu Yao by the shoulders and pulled her to a certain distance, sneering: “I haven’t even asked you yet—why did you show up at my place? I never agreed to live with you.”

Hearing those two words, Bu Yao’s face suddenly flushed hot. Xing Yue’s teasing tone especially made it impossible for her to save face. She defended herself: “When have I ever said I came to live with you?”

“Then what are you here for?” Xing Yue asked, her eyes fixed on the Little Fire Snake.

Lowering her gaze ever so slightly, she could see those now dirty feet. Bu Yao had probably kicked off her shoes early on inside her house, and when Xing Yue hadn’t come back, she’d gone out to look.

Going out without shoes—before, she’d relied on the little assistant to put them on for her. Bu Yao had mentioned that Xing Yue forbade outsiders from entering, so she summoned no one and didn’t put them on herself. She’d rather go barefoot.

One didn’t know whether to call this woman obedient or foolish.

Bu Yao had no retort. Holding the candle, she swiftly headed to the second floor, walking so fast that only Xing Yue was left behind stumbling in the dark.

“Throwing a tantrum again?” Xing Yue complained. Watching the only source of light retreat further and further, she stretched her long legs and rushed up, squeezing into the bathroom just before Bu Yao could close the door. “I haven’t even blamed the Eldest Miss for trespassing into my house, and yet you’re mad at me.”

Bu Yao turned on the shower and issued her eviction notice: “Get out. I want to shower.”

With a scoff, Xing Yue refused: “You get out. I’ll shower first.”

The moment there was the slightest upset, Bu Yao’s true nature instantly resurfaced. Eldest Miss Bu’s domineering mindset had always been something special. One might even mistake her for the actual owner of this house.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Eldest Miss—” Xing Yue yanked open her shirt collar with one hand, preparing to undress for the shower. The movement was almost rough; the buttons all sprung off, her neck left red from the strain.

“Your dear mother intends to make me famous,” she tossed her soaking wet shirt onto the floor, reaching behind her back to unhook her bra. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely work hard to become a great singer. When I’m famous, I’ll buy a bigger house so we won’t have to fight over the bathroom. I’ll also dump you and find a woman with an even hotter figure. Hmm—someone better-tempered than you, prettier than you.”

Bu Yao, who had been barely holding her temper in until now, felt her eyes brim with anxious, furious tears. Her chest heaved violently.

Those hypothetical words made Bu Yao feel as if she’d already been betrayed. A surge of fury erupted: “Xing Yue, how cheap can you get!”

Her hand rose to strike Xing Yue’s face, but before it could land, Xing Yue firmly seized her wrist.

“Let go… ah!”

A startled cry—Bu Yao was forcefully pulled over by Xing Yue. The candle in her hand dropped to the floor, its lone flame extinguished by water. The entire bathroom sank into darkness.

She crashed into Xing Yue’s embrace. Raising her hand, she could feel the soft, rounded peaks. As though frightened out of her wits, she panicked, her hands scrambling upward to cling to Xing Yue’s back shoulders.

With her sight revealing nothing, her hearing grew acutely sensitive.

Xing Yue’s lips pressed against Bu Yao’s ear, her voice hazy with alcohol: “Cheaper than you. While I wasn’t back yet, did you lie in bed waiting for a long time?”

The woman’s heart pounded like thunder. Her hands flailed, her voice taking on a sobbing note: “Xing Yue, you… bastard…”

She had indeed been waiting for someone on Xing Yue’s bed, but she hadn’t meant it that way. It was like being at home—it was just more comfortable to lie on the bed to rest. But the way Xing Yue put it made it sound as if she’d been in heat seeking a mate all day.

Bu Yao’s nose stung and swelled from anger. Yet her tail stealthily revealed itself, wrapping itself around Xing Yue with shameless abandon. The bottom tip of the snake tail curled tightly, trying in this manner to press herself flush against Xing Yue.

Her mind went completely blank. A surge of shame instantly doubled. She swung her fist at her own uncooperative tail.

“Why is the Eldest Miss even fierce toward herself?” Xing Yue intercepted, tightening her hold on Bu Yao’s waist. In the darkness, she dotted kisses on those lips, groped to find Bu Yao’s eyes, and panted heavily: “Why are you crying?”

Bu Yao’s forehead pressed against Xing Yue’s chin. Sniffling and fierce, she choked out: “You, you have no chance… to switch to a woman with… a hotter figure anymore. I’m going… to gouge your eyes out!”

Still thinking about finding someone prettier than her? On what grounds did Xing Yue deserve that? She’d clearly promised—once she learned to do all those things—she’d remarry her.

If Xing Yue dared break her word, she’d absolutely never let Xing Yue off easy.

Using the light from the lightning outside, Xing Yue used the showerhead to rinse both herself and the Eldest Miss. Hearing those threatening words, delivered in such an unsteady tone—with hiccuping sobs no less—she couldn’t help the corner of her mouth lifting. Bullying Bu Yao felt utterly satisfying.

“Let’s negotiate,” Xing Yue carried her out of the bathroom and threw her onto the bed. “Don’t gouge my eyes out. Will you take my hands instead?”

She pressed a single knee onto the red tail, her knee grinding against the warm snake scales. “How much? How much do you want? Hmm?”

Xing Yue didn’t spell it out, but Bu Yao understood exactly what those words meant. She was melting from the heat, embarrassed and furious: “Get off me…”

Such coy, shy words—where was the attack power?

Xing Yue leaned down, feeling her way with her hands. Her face pressed against that cold, alluring snake tail. With eyes closed, she pressed a reverent kiss upon it. “Thank you for worrying about me, Eldest Miss.”