Chapter 103: First Love: Indecisive

The beauty with skin like cold jade did not speak. She merely lifted her eyelids and gave her a light, fleeting glance.

“The Heir Apparent wouldn’t really be angry, would she?” Yan Maomao frowned and asked.

“What does Young Master Yan think?”

The question was thrown back at her verbatim. Yan Yiqing hesitated for a moment before suddenly—a glint of light flashed in her obsidian-like pupils.

Zhao Huairen appeared unconcerned on the surface.

In reality, she had been observing her expression with sidelong glances all along.

Catching the change in Yan Yiqing’s gaze, she guessed that the woman must have come up with some mischievous idea again. Zhao Huairen silently turned her face away, her slender fingers lightly pressing against the corner of her lips to hide the faint upward curve.

“The Heir Apparent is magnanimous. To me, she definitely wouldn’t hold it against me,” Yan Yiqing said, failing to notice the shift in Zhao Huairen’s expression. She blinked, looking like a sly little fox. “And if the Heir Apparent really minds…”

“I’m willing to practice with the Heir Apparent. She can kiss however she wants until she—”

Her soft lips were blocked by cool fingertips. Far from being embarrassed, Yan Yiqing even gave it a light peck. “Mmm…”

“Um~ Hands work too.”

With her lips pressed by Zhao Huairen’s fingers, Yan Yiqing’s words came out muffled. With each syllable, her plump lips flirtatiously and lingeringly brushed against the pad of her finger.

A pink flush spread from her earlobes all the way to her neck. Listening to these blush-inducing words, Zhao Huairen wasn’t sure whether to pull her hand back.

“Hm? The Heir Apparent doesn’t seem angry anymore?” Worried that pushing further might make Zhao Huairen flee, Yan Yiqing grabbed her wrist and lifted the corner of her lips as she asked.

How did Qingqing…

Learn all these things?

Faced with Yan Yiqing’s relentless advance, Zhao Huairen nodded in surrender. Her head felt so hot it was about to smoke, so the usually perceptive Heir Apparent failed to notice this time—in the corner she couldn’t see, Yan Yiqing’s earlobes were even redder than her cheeks.

Seeing that she was finally willing to let her off the hook, Yan Yiqing released her restraint and said airily, “Mmm, as long as the Heir Apparent isn’t angry, that’s fine.”

The woman’s skin carried a faint pink tint.

The glaze of first love dyed the finest white porcelain.

The bright moonlight and warm yellow candlelight intertwined in the night, falling on their shoulders and turning into scorching yet shy affection.

“I’m sleepy.”

After waiting so long, this was all she got. Yan Yiqing stared at her unblinkingly. “You’re sleepy?!”

Kissing and then going to sleep?

No accountability, no official status?

…No, she and Huairen were already married, so in that sense… it seemed like she really couldn’t demand anything?!

Her delicate brows furrowed and relaxed repeatedly before Yan Yiqing blurted out, “You won’t abandon me after starting something, will you?”

“I won’t.”

It was rare to hear such a firm answer from her. Yan Maomao hesitated uncertainly for a moment, then asked suspiciously, “What if after the Heir Apparent wakes up from a good sleep… she’ll keep avoiding me again?”

“I won’t.”

The little cat wrinkled her nose in thought, her dark, glossy eyes fixed intently on her master, as if weighing the credibility of her promise.

“Where could I even hide?” The candle flame flickered gently, casting swaying shadows from her long lashes. Zhao Huairen pursed her lips, her voice carrying a softness that was hard to detect. “Besides, no matter where I hide, Young Master Yan will always find me.”

The words struck straight at Yan Maomao’s heart.

Her bristling tail was smoothed down with just a few words.

“The Heir Apparent knows best,” Yan Yiqing said as she straightened her slightly disheveled hair. Just as she turned to leave, she couldn’t resist asking, “Tch… the Heir Apparent isn’t fooling me again, is she?”

“Do you hate being deceived by others?”

Yan Maomao frowned at her. “…Who likes being lied to?”

The hand resting on the table unconsciously clenched. Zhao Huairen lifted her gaze to meet hers, her eyes clear and gentle.

Her clear, melodious voice was pleasing to the ear.

But upon closer listen, there was a subtle strangeness that was hard to pinpoint.

“I don’t know, but I definitely won’t lie to you.”

Immersed in the soft reassurance, Yan Yiqing noticed nothing amiss. Satisfied, she lifted her chin like a well-fed little raccoon cat, obediently returning to her own little nest in accordance with her master’s wishes.

The dark main chamber soon lit up.

Gazing at her light, Zhao Huairen blew out her own candle.

As long as the lie remained undiscovered, it wasn’t deception—and she happened to be the perfect liar.

Qingqing adored her, and she was fond of Qingqing in return.

They were mutually in love.

Such trivial matters shouldn’t stand in their way.

Her fingertips still seemed to retain her softness. Her jet-black lashes trembled, and the jade-like beauty gently closed her eyes, savoring in her mind the brief taste of lips and teeth.

The faded hair ribbon turned into a small clump of ash.

The evening breeze blew in through the window cracks, thoroughly erasing its existence.

–

The night receded like the ebbing tide, silently withdrawing and leaving behind a thin, clear gray-blue that smeared across the sky.

Dew on the tips of bamboo leaves had yet to fully evaporate.

Under the morning light, it refracted faint cold gleams.

The door to the side chamber creaked open, breaking the silence of Linzhu Courtyard. The sparrows perched on the window sills were startled awake. They flapped their wings and took flight, their tiny gray shadows blending into the interwoven orange-pink dawn.

She had been woken up twice in one night.

Zhichun stretched lazily and yawned as she walked into the courtyard.

“Morning.”

Seeing Yan Yiqing enter from outside holding a small bunch of crape myrtle flowers, Zhichun recoiled two steps as if she had seen a ghost. “Don’t come closer! I’m not taking your flowers anymore!”

The wound on her left shoulder hadn’t fully healed.

Her flower-picking hadn’t been decisive enough, leaving a few petals marred.

“Why?” Yan Yiqing asked as she tidied the bouquet in her hands.

Seeing Yan Yiqing still foolishly preparing the flowers, Zhichun sighed silently. The resentment in her heart turned to pity.

Young Master Yan was actually quite pitiful…

The Heir Apparent was so wonderful—what was wrong with liking her?

“You look so… Sigh, I’ll just tell you the truth,” Zhichun said after hesitating for a long time. Deciding to help this lovesick girl, she gritted her teeth. “The Heir Apparent already knows you’re the one sending the flowers, and she knows your intentions behind sending them to me.”

Yan Yiqing looked up and raised a brow. “What intentions?”

Was she really that naive…

Or simply harboring pure admiration for the Heir Apparent?

Had she misunderstood her? Maybe she just admired the Heir Apparent and had no ulterior motives?

“This isn’t my fault. You used me first, after all.” Zhichun regretted her firm confession from yesterday a bit and defended herself before whispering, “I told the Heir Apparent that you were doing this… to seduce her.”

“Seduce her?”

“You used me first, so you can’t blame—” A purple flower suddenly appeared before her eyes, stunning Zhichun and making her forget what she was about to say.

“This flower is for you.” Yan Yiqing’s voice was light and cheerful.

A gentle breeze lifted her hair strands. Under the sunlight, she looked breathtakingly beautiful holding the flower.

She had badmouthed her, yet she was giving her a flower—and smiling so beautifully…

“I-I’ll return the storybook to you later.” Zhichun pinched the stem and hung her head like a wilted foxtail grass. “I didn’t expect you to be like this. I thought you wanted to seduce the Heir Apparent.”

“Yeah, I do want to seduce her.”

The foxtail grass instantly perked up, her eyes full of confusion.

Yan Yiqing curved her lips. “This flower is a thank-you gift for you. You don’t need to return the storybook.”

Even if she really wanted to seduce the Heir Apparent, shouldn’t she be angry at being exposed? Why give her a thank-you gift instead? Her little brain spun wildly. Seeing the odd smile on the woman’s face, Zhichun suddenly realized, “You still want me to help you deliver flowers?”

“No, I’ll deliver them myself.”

Under Zhichun’s astonished gaze, Yan Yiqing walked straight toward the study.

“Knock knock.” She raised her hand and knocked on the door. Sensing the gaze behind her, she said calmly, “Heir Apparent, open up. It’s me.”

A clear breeze passed through the hall, scattering a few bamboo leaves. The study door showed no sign of opening.

Zhichun let out a scoff.

How amusing. She said she’d deliver them herself.

Her fingers tightened around the flower stems. Yan Yiqing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she puffed out her cheeks in frustration: Damn sly woman. She said she wouldn’t go back on her word, but she lied again and let the little maid see the joke…

“Forget it. This early in the morning, the Heir Apparent won’t open the door for just anyone,” Zhichun called out to her back.

“But she opened it for me last night.”

“…” Zhichun rolled her eyes, recalling her interrupted sweet dream, and grumbled bitterly, “So you were the one knocking last night. The Heir Apparent must have given in because she couldn’t stand it anymore.”

If Huairen hadn’t wanted to open the door, there was no way she could have gotten in, no matter what.

Though she knew “couldn’t stand it” wasn’t the real reason, hearing it still made Yan Yiqing lower her head in embarrassment.

The door suddenly swung open, bringing a gust of wind.

It brushed her stray hairs and gently ruffled the crape myrtle petals.

Having changed into a fresh robe of pale cyan gauze that made her look ethereal and refined, her clear, gentle voice resembled the distant mist—or the cool glint at the lake bottom.

The grievance in her eyes vanished in an instant.

Yan Yiqing shook her head lightly and extended the bouquet.

The pale purple full of affection was not accepted. Seeing this, Zhichun’s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled. See? The Heir Apparent just thought she—

“Your shoulder wound hasn’t fully healed. Why did you go picking flowers?”

!?

That wasn’t what she expected.

Zhichun vaguely overheard her lady’s words and gaped, her eyes nearly popping out.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Feeling the prickling stare on her back, the little cat smugly flicked her tail and pouted. “Besides, I wanted to give you flowers.”

The trace of displeasure born from worry softened into helpless tenderness at those words.

“I’ll prepare flowers for you.” Zhao Huairen took the crape myrtle bouquet. Her long, fair fingers stroked the petal edges as she lowered her head to sniff lightly. “It’s fragrant. I like it very much.”

“Isn’t it weird if I pick the flowers you prepared and give them back to you?”

“Not weird at all.” Zhao Huairen’s lips curved slightly.

Having been petted from head to toe by the one she liked, the cat felt so content she wanted to roll on the spot and expose her belly for more rubs.

But for now—

There was something more important to do.

“Aiya, won’t the Heir Apparent invite me in?” Yan Yiqing cleared her throat, her voice pitched just right for Zhichun to hear.

A faint smile rippled in her pale brown phoenix eyes.

The moment she saw Zhichun, she had guessed what happened between them.

The woman stared straight at her, her beautiful eyes brimming with greed.

With nowhere to rest her gaze and her heart racing uncontrollably, Lu Yuqing stammered as she tried to find the right words. “Senior Sister… what do you need from me—”

The woman reached out and pulled her into her embrace.

She leaned down and kissed her deeply.

Lu Yuqing’s amber almond-shaped eyes widened instantly. Her mind went blank as she stared at the woman so close by, forced to accept her affection.

–

It was a debauched and gorgeous dream.

Even her body had fallen under some kind of illusion.

Her long lashes trembled lightly as Lu Yuqing wearily opened her eyes, only to discover—a woman was really lying beside her.

Why wouldn’t she speak?

Was she really her senior sister?