Chapter 51: Belonging

Outside the window, the night was a vast blur of darkness, and inside the room, the dim light made everything indistinct. The surrounding air hung unnaturally still, while the beauty before her eyes was almost too exquisite to bear.

Lu Huan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. Perhaps the drunken haze hadn’t fully lifted; her breath still carried a warm heat through her nostrils, and her gaze grew feverish in response.

Her skin gleamed like flawless jade, untouched by any blemish. With just a slight opening of her eyes, she could take in the full splendor of the scene.

Her lashes trembled lightly, her chest rising and falling. Bai Jin drew gradually closer, her palm caressing Lu Huan’s cheek, their foreheads pressing together. Her breath lingered with her words. “This time, you can’t run away anymore.”

“Is that so? Are you going to force me?” Lu Huan’s lips curved into a sly hook. “If I want to escape, even a locked door won’t stop me.”

And that was exactly the truth.

But forcing her had never been Bai Jin’s intention from the start.

“Don’t run…” This time, Bai Jin’s tone softened even further, laced with a hint of pleading and longing. She continued, “About what happened last time, I promise you.”

At those words, Lu Huan slowly opened her eyes a fraction more. After a moment of silence, she broke into a smile. This was all within her expectations—just happening a bit faster than anticipated.

“Promise me what?”

Bai Jin’s fingertip traced slow circles over her face, her voice gentle. “I’ll sever my ties as an adopted daughter. Then we can be together, naturally and properly.”

Status. Relationship.

Yes… that was precisely what Lu Huan had hinted at to Bai Jin the night before. She knew Bai Jin’s sharp mind would pick up on it quickly.

And tonight, Lu Huan had received that very assurance from her.

But— the more Bai Jin wanted something, the less Lu Huan could give it to her.

At least not until her goal was within reach, when she could afford a small concession.

Lu Huan’s arms remained loosely wrapped around herself, her back against the headboard, letting Bai Jin draw near. “Really? How do I know this isn’t just some impulsive sweet talk to lure me in for a one-night stand?”

“I don’t lie to people.” Bai Jin nuzzled against her softly, speaking in a measured tone. “I’ve never lied to you.”

Lu Huan had never truly believed a word from her mouth before, but this time, an inexplicable feeling stirred in her heart. There was sincerity in what Bai Jin said.

Lu Huan let out a soft chuckle. “You want it that badly?”

Bai Jin leaned in closer once more, her intent laced with seduction.

“Yes.”

As her words faded, her soft strands of hair draped forward, veiling the flower between them. Her delicate skin was beyond reproach.

“I’ve agreed. You can’t run anymore.”

“Alright then. I won’t.”

A slender hand slipped in, loosening a layer of covering. Their bare skin met in warm honesty, entwining as passion spread.

This time, Lu Huan didn’t halt her movements. Dark eyes shimmered with affection, rippling with the world’s gentlest hue, her lips curved in indulgent helplessness.

“Jinjin…”

That intimate call set everything in motion. Her lack of resistance revealed Lu Huan’s tacit approval, and with each layer of silk-like fabric slowly peeled away, there was no turning back.

—

Outside, autumn rain pattered down, the wind mingling with water to lash at the flowers on the windowpane. They had long since wilted into ruin, helpless against the soaking and ravaging downpour.

Bai Jin’s arm draped limply over Lu Huan, a wet heat emanating from the warm, soft bedding. Her body trembled uncontrollably, arching upward.

The bedside lamp cast a dim, warm glow. Her neck tilted back slightly, a thin mist veiling her eyes that sparkled crystalline under the light. The corners reddened, and the sounds escaping her lips were utterly undone.

In her haze, even the ceiling above blurred into obscurity.

“Your voice sounds so good, Jinjin.”

Lu Huan leaned down to kiss away the tears at the corner of her eye, her movements slow and bewitching, like a reward bestowed upon her.

Fingertips delved into the gap between them, intertwining ambiguously in a tight clasp. The little boat had long been tossed by relentless waves, one after another. Bai Jin’s voice quivered as she pleaded endlessly at Lu Huan’s ear.

“Sister, give me more.”

“Just a little more.”

“Take me completely…”

The bedside lamp flicked off, and in the pitch darkness, wild sprouts grew unchecked.

She claimed her utterly, leaving no space untouched.

“……”

After the autumn rain passed, the wind gradually stilled. Outside, a foggy haze blanketed everything, the world glistening with crystalline water hues. Dewy droplets traced slow paths down the window’s patterns.

Her strength utterly spent, her memories a chaotic blur. Her vast mind held only the mingled scents and the heavy pants echoing in her ears. The room reverberated with the disheveled aftermath, that final whisper brushing past her ear in disbelief:

“I’m finally yours, Sister…”

—

Dawn chased away the night, burying the night’s extravagance. No one was the wiser.

The next day dawned clear, birds perched on branches, preening their feathers.

A ray of morning sunlight slipped through the curtain’s gap, piercing into the room.

Lu Huan slowly opened her eyes, unsure of the hour.

The remnants of last night’s drinking left her head throbbing dully.

She had slept past her usual wake-up time. Recalling briefly, it must have been the exhaustion after last night’s events that silenced her internal clock.

Lu Huan lifted the covers to find a expanse of pale skin inside. The ambiguous red marks and scratches on their bodies stood out starkly, matching seamlessly with her lingering memories of the night.

Agreement, permission, an entanglement like drunken abandon.

She never blacked out from drink. Though half-intoxicated yesterday, her mind had remained clear.

These actions were undeniably her own, merely spurred a touch more impulsively by the alcohol. So Lu Huan quickly pieced together the entire sequence.

By her original plan, it shouldn’t have happened so soon.

But no matter. Lu Huan was never the one at a loss.

She was the one who profited.

Lu Huan’s gaze shifted slowly to the person sleeping sideways beside her—shallow breaths, long lashes quivering, a straight nose, her neck covered in last night’s kiss marks.

Such a coldly exquisite face became even more captivating when her eyes brimmed with tears.

Lu Huan reached out to brush aside her stray hairs.

She wondered what expression Bai Jin would wear when things progressed to the very end.

By then, Lu Huan wouldn’t need to pretend anymore.

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Lu Huan noticed a bite mark on Bai Jin’s shoulder and neck.

Her fingertip brushed over it, feeling the raised edges.

Lu Huan remembered—this was the one she’d left in the office, revenge for Bai Jin’s indiscriminate nibbling that day.

But the mark Bai Jin had left on her the day before that had faded completely long ago.

So much time had passed; they all should have vanished.

Why hadn’t this one on Bai Jin healed…

The phone’s ring cut through her thoughts. It was Zuo You calling. Lu Huan answered, careful not to wake the person beside her.

Zuo You’s voice came through. “President Lu, haven’t you come to the office today?”

Lu Huan usually arrived right on time.

She glanced at Bai Jin sleeping beside her, her own voice still husky. “Mm, I’ve got something today. Push back my schedule for me.”

“Got it. I’ll handle it—”

Zuo You outlined the rescheduling, and Lu Huan had no objections, murmuring agreement.

After wrapping up, she hung up.

Despite Lu Huan’s efforts to keep her voice low, the sounds still roused Bai Jin.

Seeing her eyes flutter open slightly, Lu Huan pulled her close, soothing gently.

“It’s fine. Go back to sleep.”

After all, last night—

They had indeed gone overboard.

“Mm…” Bai Jin nuzzled into her. “You’re not going to the office?”

“Not today,” Lu Huan replied.

“Good.”

Bai Jin murmured her assent and closed her eyes again, content.

Lu Huan stroked the smooth skin of Bai Jin’s back. If her gaze drifted downward, she could see the lines between their two forms.

She couldn’t help recalling the entirety of last night—the moans ringing in her ears, the soft, wet touches, the ceaseless shudders.

All of it.

The only word was “extravagant.”

“……”

Once Bai Jin was mostly settled, Lu Huan slipped quietly from the bed. She grabbed a loose T-shirt to cover herself temporarily, then took her clothes to the bathroom to dress properly.

Fully awake now, the lingering sensations hit her hard.

As she dressed, she realized her arms felt weak when lifted.

Indeed, yesterday had been too much, she thought to herself.

Her waist ached faintly too. Lu Huan worked out regularly and had good stamina, but combined with Bai Jin’s provocations and temptations.

They’d gone multiple rounds without respite last night, so it was no surprise she felt the effects now.

If she was like this, then Bai Jin…

Lu Huan pressed her lips together, pushing the thought aside. She fed the cat, prepared breakfast.

But judging by the time, it was more like lunch.

“……”

About half an hour later, Bai Jin emerged from the room in the pajamas shed the night before. Lu Huan was hanging laundry on the balcony.

Spotting her, Lu Huan said, “Awake?”

Bai Jin nodded. “Mm.”

“Go wash up first, then.” Lu Huan hung up a shirt.

Bai Jin obeyed, heading off to freshen up.

Seeing her, Lu Huan couldn’t help remembering last night—how she’d called out “Sister” again and again in her ear.

Last night’s Bai Jin was a side Lu Huan had never seen.

Usually so aloof and taciturn, like a seductive siren.

Yet in that night, she voiced her desires endlessly, clinging as if to meld their bones together. Her stunning face brimmed with passion and allure.

And that line: “I’m finally yours.”

Lu Huan couldn’t quite fathom it.

She only felt that Bai Jin might not be as straightforward as she seemed.

Finishing her task, Lu Huan started boiling noodles in the kitchen, stirring them with chopsticks in her right hand.

Bai Jin finished washing up and came to the kitchen, standing by her side.

Noticing the slight tremble in her right arm, she looked up. “Your hand.”

“…It’s nothing.” Lu Huan paused, changing the subject. “Go play with Momo for a bit first. The noodles will be ready soon.”

At her words, Bai Jin didn’t leave. She stayed put, watching Lu Huan’s hand movements for a long while before suddenly meeting her eyes and saying,

“Do you like me?”

The abrupt shift caught Lu Huan off guard, and she laughed. “Bai Jin, what are you thinking?”

Her teasing tone implied it was obvious—of course she did; why even ask?

But that wasn’t the answer Bai Jin wanted.

“Lu Huan.” Bai Jin kept her gaze fixed, her voice soft. “Say you love me.”

“Heh…” Lu Huan let out a soft chuckle, gently stirring the contents of the pot. In a voice as light and airy as a drifting cloud, she said,

“I love you.”