Bai Ran felt exactly like a resentful wife who had caught her little bride sneaking out for a tryst.
She hadn’t even cooked a meal for Xu Yinian with her own hands yet; how could some vixen from the outside world beat her to it?
Fuelled by her resentment toward Qin Jiashu, she sent a reply:
[It’s fine. We don’t need to trouble anyone else. We’ll just eat together once Niannian gets back.]
Xu Yinian knew that while Sister Ran was the most gentle and generous person she knew, she always maintained a certain distance from others. In this regard, Yinian could never win an argument with her.
She could only politely decline the Senior Sister’s kindness, explaining that she had already made plans and didn’t want to break her word.
Qin Jiashu keenly sensed “Jiang Ke’s” hostility toward her. Recalling the exaggerated reaction to the “girlfriend” joke during Truth or Dare, she figured it wouldn’t be hard to investigate and meet this person, since they were also at X University…
Qin Jiashu’s apartment was located in a recently completed high-rise near the school, surprisingly close to the place Xu Yinian and Bai Ran were renting.
Even without the Senior Sister’s reminder, Xu Yinian could clearly feel a burning, slimy gaze fixed on the two of them. It had to be that obsessive ex-girlfriend.
This was Xu Yinian’s first time encountering a perverted, paranoid stalker.
The Senior Sister was far too vulnerable and pitiable…
Thankfully, I don’t have anyone like that around me.
The sensation was eerie and terrifying; she felt as though her every move was being monitored, her body stiffening with anxiety.
What was supposed to be a scripted display of intimacy for their “couple” act turned into a shrinking, pitiful movement—a subconscious lean toward Qin Jiashu for protection.
Sensing Xu Yinian’s fear, Qin Jiashu suddenly tilted her head, pressing her neck close and planting a soft kiss on Yinian’s cheek.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you, baby.”
The mature scent of Burning Rose perfume magnified Yinian’s senses. Even a kiss that only touched the skin felt as though it had a sweet, physical weight, leaving her head spinning and her mind blank.
How could someone… have such a scorching temperature on their lips? It was even more intense than the heat of Xu Yinian’s blushing face.
Xu Yinian instinctively began to let her thoughts wander in this dizzying, gentle trap.
Is she this warm everywhere?
The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. Xu Yinian slammed the brakes on her runaway imagination.
Only then did she realize, through the voice that only the two of them could hear…
W-why did she call me ‘baby’ too?!
The Senior Sister was currently the only person who had actually admitted to liking her.
Her instinct to avoid ambiguity made her first reaction one of escape, but she was afraid of raising suspicion. Her fingers, still linked with Qin Jiashu’s, curled inward with embarrassment.
They didn’t stop until they passed through the security gate and entered the first-floor lobby, confirming no one had followed them inside.
Xu Yinian retracted her hand as if she had been burned, intending to move a good distance away.
Every bit of Yinian’s bashfulness was written clearly on her face. Qin Jiashu took it all in, her red lips curving slightly, her narrow fox eyes brimming with flirtatious charm.
She had only used a basic attack, yet Xu Yinian had already been forced to blow her ultimate.
Looking at that pure, innocent face—clearly never having been “developed” or “trained” before—it seemed those other lunatics really hadn’t been willing to take even a single bite of her.
They certainly had a lot of restraint.
In the next moment, Xu Yinian heard that seductive voice offer a leisurely explanation, devoid of any seriousness or burden.
“I saw how scared you were, so I had to tease you a bit to distract you.”
Qin Jiashu arched an eyebrow, her tone litting melodiously at the end. She dragged out her words, her eyes full of mischief. “Why are you so easy to tease?
My. Little. Friend.”
Her vixen-like instincts were etched into every habit and movement; it was as natural as drinking water. Every flirtation felt like the effortless, irresponsible charm of a heartbreaker.
But who could blame her? One could only feel annoyed at themselves for being stupid enough to take it seriously.
“I-I’m not…”
Xu Yinian’s retreat faltered. The more she tried to hide, the more it seemed like she cared.
She pretended to focus quietly on the descending floor numbers of the elevator, the only movement being the white mist of her breath escaping her reddened nose and lips.
Qin Jiashu sat securely on her “fishing platform,” not in the least bit of a hurry. Sooner or later, the girl would deliver herself.
Since it was noon, the elevator was packed with residents and delivery drivers. To avoid a delivery box in front of her, Xu Yinian had to step back a few paces.
She had caught a glimpse of empty space in her peripheral vision, but her heels hit resistance the next second. Her body swayed, and she fell backward into a familiar, burning embrace.
An arm scooped her up. Before Xu Yinian could speak, another round of push-and-pull ambiguity began.
“I’ll say it for you: it was an accident. You weren’t throwing yourself into my arms, right?”
Xu Yinian, who had been putting on a show of avoiding her for the last half hour, was completely stuck. She tried to struggle free.
Qin Jiashu didn’t let go, her next words flowing seamlessly. “You’re almost getting knocked over and you’re still being shy?
“I’ve already found the excuse for you. I ‘accidentally’ took advantage of you just now, so you can take advantage of me this time. One for one—we’re even.”
…Yinian couldn’t refute a single word, yet every sentence was laced with wanton flirtation.
Back when they were just Senior and Junior Sisters, Qin Jiashu would flirt with her like this occasionally. When had Yinian ever taken it seriously then?
But once she recalled that confession from the other day, her heart descended into chaos without her even doing anything.
Clearly, the confession hadn’t restricted that old fox Qin Jiashu at all.
Instead, it meant Xu Yinian could no longer hide behind her own denseness; she had to endure the torment of this ambiguous relationship every second they were together.
To make matters worse, this wicked fox had done everything she wanted to do.
With a flick of her eyes and a line like “I had to” or “You’re so easy to tease,” she made it so Xu Yinian couldn’t escape even if she wanted to.
This wasn’t the first time Xu Yinian had been to someone else’s home, but this place was distinctly different from Ji Yan’s cold, grey-and-black apartment or the elegant, rigid atmosphere of the Shen Family Villa.
Qin Jiashu’s apartment was a duplex. It looked like she had lived here for a long time; traces of life were everywhere.
Warm tones and colors filled the space. Even the dining table was covered with a carefully chosen, floral tablecloth with a bouquet of fresh daisies sitting on top.
The lit incense didn’t have a common floral or fruity scent; instead, it smelled like blankets that had been dried in the winter sun—warm and cozy. There were many things, but it wasn’t cluttered.
Right by the door was a photo wall made of numerous Polaroids.
As Xu Yinian leaned in, she realized that every single one of them featured Qin Jiashu.
