Chapter 38: Side Story 2

Qiu Shuxue kissed her affectionately and kept kissing her.

Luo Qingmeng’s body was slick with undried lotion, so when Qiu Shuxue’s hand pinched her arm, it felt soft like a handful of water. The more she pinched, the more she liked it. She pressed her lips to Luo Qingmeng’s in a kiss, but it always felt insufficient; impatiently, she wanted to move lower.

Qiu Shuxue rested her forehead against Luo Qingmeng’s and looked down. She liked every part of Luo Qingmeng—fair and rosy, with a fragrant scent. Unable to hold back, Qiu Shuxue kissed her, then asked with difficulty, “When can we? Sister, you’re so fragrant. I want to eat you up.”

Luo Qingmeng was kissed until she could barely breathe. She swallowed and said, “Wait until it dries.”

Qiu Shuxue thought for a moment, then touched Luo Qingmeng’s lips again. She had originally been kneeling outside the bathtub, her nightgown hem dragging on the floor and soaking through. Now, she gathered it up and climbed into the tub.

Qiu Shuxue had never known that Luo Qingmeng secretly applied lotion like this. She only knew that Luo Qingmeng liked buying skincare products, so Qiu Shuxue always ordered lots of them for her from the official website. It turned out she was the one enjoying them in the end.

Qiu Shuxue’s gaze slid from Luo Qingmeng’s face down her neck and kept going lower. Her sideways sitting position made it inconvenient to see, so she kicked off her slippers and moved directly into the tub.

Luo Qingmeng’s lips parted as if to say not to come in because it was too cramped, but she knew it would be pointless. She simply watched as Qiu Shuxue ran wild.

It was just a bathtub, yet Qiu Shuxue was endlessly curious. Her fingers tapped on the edge of the tub, then she leaned in to kiss Luo Qingmeng’s lips, which were bitten so thin. She felt deeply moved. Luo Qingmeng adjusted the flavors seriously every day when cooking for her, no wonder she tasted more delicious with each meal—the picky eater in her had stopped being picky at all.

She asked, “How long have you been doing this secretly?”

“Every day?”

“How could that be…” Luo Qingmeng said. “I’ve always done it like this before. But we didn’t live together then, so I didn’t need to tell you.”

“No wonder I can never get enough. You’re a big part of the reason, Sister.” She took none of the blame herself. Qiu Shuxue stared at her, licking the corner of her lips greedily, and asked impatiently again, “How long do we have to wait?”

“…Twenty minutes or so.” Luo Qingmeng patted her own arm. The lotion on her collarbone had already been absorbed. Noticing Qiu Shuxue’s gaze drifting even lower, she wanted to kick her. Her toes twitched, but she restrained herself and said calmly, “It’s all like this.”

Qiu Shuxue clearly couldn’t wait. Her hand rested on the tub’s edge, then she tugged at her nightgown. Luo Qingmeng asked, “What are you doing now?”

Qiu Shuxue complained that her nightgown had gotten splashed wet and felt uncomfortable. She added, “I want to apply some too. Teach me how to do skincare, Sister.”

Luo Qingmeng felt a bit awkward applying it alone, and just sitting there waiting felt agonizingly slow. She turned sideways to grab the lotion and cream from nearby, about to explain how to apply it, when Qiu Shuxue’s lips brushed the corner of her mouth. Her tongue traced Luo Qingmeng’s lip line as she murmured, “…Like this. I can save some this way, Sister…”

She kissed her softly, rubbing against Luo Qingmeng while sharing the lotion between them. Luo Qingmeng let out a muffled hum and pushed at her shoulders with her fingers.

How could she do this…

After two pushes, her hands hooked around Qiu Shuxue’s neck instead.

Luo Qingmeng thought that knowing how to save was a good thing. Shuxue had never understood thriftiness before—she spent however she wanted, very wastefully. Qiu Shuxue’s fingers tapped down Luo Qingmeng’s neck, stroking one by one, as if to say: Good girl, so well-behaved.

However, that night in bed, Luo Qingmeng was a little angry. She had encouraged Shuxue a bit, and Shuxue had used up all her lotion, playing with it like water until not a drop remained…

Even though Qiu Shuxue had bought it all for her, Luo Qingmeng still felt heartbroken over the waste. Qiu Shuxue held her from the side, but Luo Qingmeng turned her back and refused to speak. Qiu Shuxue reached her hand forward to show her phone. She swiped the screen. “I’ll buy more for you, lots and lots. Don’t you think the sound of water is nice? Like music—splash. I’ve loved playing with water since I was little. I’m still a kid, Sister. Don’t be mad at me.”

Luo Qingmeng muttered under her breath, “You’re crazy.”

Qiu Shuxue took a deep breath and said, “Don’t curse me. If you do, then I’ll…” She lifted her head slightly, propping her palm under her chin, and nibbled her ear. “I won’t be able to sleep.”

It was the peak of summer, and with so much lotion applied, being pressed close felt hot and sticky. Qiu Shuxue said, “If you don’t tell me which ones to buy, I’ll just get whatever. You’ll have to try them one by one.”

Luo Qingmeng turned over, lay on the bed, and took her phone to place the order. She wasn’t some delicate beauty, but touching her felt incredibly comfortable—soft everywhere you pinched. Her waist felt slender too, making one want to kiss her more. All the soft, warm, tender, and charming qualities of a woman were embodied in her.

Qiu Shuxue’s hand rested on her back, stroking it gently. It felt just like jade, she thought. Luo Qingmeng needed to be nurtured well, growing more fragrant day by day, her skin like congealed fat, her beauty like white jade.

She liked her too much.

Luo Qingmeng treated her like a flower, never minding any thorns on her body, letting her grow wild, spoiling her. Luo Qingmeng’s temperament was perfect for raising flowers. Qiu Shuxue’s balcony was full of green plants, but the best one at home—the only true flower—was this delicate rose named Qiu Shuxue.

Qiu Shuxue’s way was different. She raised her like jade—to be held in the mouth, played with in the hands, clutched to the chest, warmed by body heat, by her lips and tongue, by all her admiration and longing, until Luo Qingmeng was plump and overflowing with juice.

How could someone so cherished not be beautiful?

Luo Qingmeng finished buying the lotion and also got some supplements for Qiu Shuxue. She entered Qiu Shuxue’s password to pay, then quickly calculated what gifts and samples she could redeem with the points.

Qiu Shuxue wrapped around her, her legs and feet tangling over her body. Luo Qingmeng pretended to sleep. Getting no response, Qiu Shuxue amused herself for a while until sleepiness overtook her, and she hugged her to sleep.

But Luo Qingmeng was so considerate. Once she was sure Qiu Shuxue was asleep, she got up to stroke her head and check if she was uncomfortable anywhere, worried that the doctor she’d seen was incompetent.

Qiu Shuxue pulled her back into her arms and said, “I’m fine now, Sister. I feel good. We have to go to work tomorrow.”

She kissed Luo Qingmeng’s cheek. “If you don’t sleep, I’ll keep waking up too, and my condition tomorrow will be even worse.”

“Alright.” Luo Qingmeng nodded and listened to her.

The next day, Luo Qingmeng woke up very early and went straight to the kitchen to make breakfast. The aroma was especially enticing—the kind of crispy rice porridge simmered in a pot over a stove.

She also made steamed egg custard with just a little meat, drizzled with sesame oil, and stir-fried a plate of greens. Qiu Shuxue got up and stood in the doorway watching her. She leaned lazily against the frame, yawning. Luo Qingmeng wore a white nightgown, and the summer sunlight flooded the living room, spilling all the way into the kitchen.

Qiu Shuxue took out her phone to snap photos of her, but it wasn’t enough. She fetched her camera and found angles to repeatedly photograph Luo Qingmeng.

Luo Qingmeng focused intently on cooking and only noticed when she turned off the heat. Somewhat shyly, she said, “Why take pictures of this…”

“Because I want to.”

Qiu Shuxue set down the camera, went in to hug her waist, and rested her head on her shoulder. She put on oven mitts to carry out the porridge, then leaned down for a deep sniff. “It really smells amazing.”

“Then taste it properly. I don’t know how it turned out in the clay pot. Back home, using a wood-fired stove makes it perfect.”

Qiu Shuxue hummed in agreement. She ladled rice into bowls for both of them and warned Luo Qingmeng that it might be hot. “I bring the lunches you make every day. My friend Xiao Ninghe thinks I hired a five-star chef. Her eyes must be blind.”

Luo Qingmeng asked, “You haven’t told them we’re together?”

Qiu Shuxue said, “I want them to discover it themselves—be surprised and envious.” She raised her eyebrow, scooped up some porridge with a spoon, blew on it. “It’s delicious…”

Though she had eaten many things and rare ingredients, actually tasting flavors made by Luo Qingmeng was a first, bringing an indescribable deliciousness.

Luo Qingmeng felt warmth in her heart. She had known from the start that Qiu Shuxue wouldn’t hide their relationship, but hearing her say it still brought unprecedented satisfaction.

She had been about to say she’d continue cooking for her next time.

Qiu Shuxue added, “Let’s find a holiday and go traveling. Do you want to? Domestic or abroad?”

Luo Qingmeng’s eyes lit up. Facing the light, she seemed bathed in it, constantly soaking in the morning sun. She said expectantly, “Anywhere with you is fine. I haven’t been many places. Since graduating, I’ve stayed in this city—coming here felt like traveling already. Where do you want to go?”

She loved reading and envied the mountains and rivers in authors’ stories. She often dreamed of seeing them with the person she loved—snowy mountains and hot springs, local foods, diverse cultural landscapes.

Qiu Shuxue said, “Then I’ll think about it carefully.”

Luo Qingmeng hummed and pretended to know all about it. “Avoid holidays. I can shift my schedule. You can use your annual leave, right? How much do you get?”

“I can work overtime too and adjust later.”

Once they settled the timing, Luo Qingmeng said, “Being with you makes even exhaustion feel meaningful.”

Luo Qingmeng set down her spoon and reached out to brush Qiu Shuxue’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

That morning, they didn’t see each other off. Each headed to work separately. Qiu Shuxue took the bento to the company and put it in her drawer. Xiao Ninghe came over later, turned her chair toward Qiu Shuxue, and said, “You… that sister of yours…”

Qiu Shuxue was pinching her phone to send a message. Xiao Ninghe glimpsed the contact name “Mum~”. Qiu Shuxue typed: 【Arrived at the company.】

Luo Qingmeng now had a car, so she could reach Star Continent much faster without taking the subway. After seven or eight minutes, she replied: 【Parked the car.】

Qiu Shuxue: 【Mommy, kiss】

A voice message came over: “Snow Baby, mwah~”

Qiu Shuxue set her phone down and glanced at Xiao Ninghe, who stared at her in dumbfounded shock, wanting to speak but holding back, only to want to say something again.

This was what Qiu Shuxue demanded. Every day, she had to interact with Luo Qingmeng like this—she wanted Luo Qingmeng to send those messages, to kiss her, and to call her “Snow Baby.”

It was all sticky-sweet and clingy, but she never tired of it, nor did she find it embarrassing or awkward.

She just wanted Luo Qingmeng to fill her up with that shy, loving affection.

Before Xiao Ninghe could open her mouth, Qiu Shuxue’s phone vibrated again. It was a voice message from Luo Qingmeng: “I was thinking about it in the car just now. Since you want to go out and have fun, how about we go camping this week?”

Qiu Shuxue smiled softly. Everything she said, Luo Qingmeng took to heart. She spun her chair around once and replied: “Sure, thank you, Mommy.”

Luo Qingmeng: “You’re being improper again.”

It wasn’t a scolding tone at all—just that indulgent “Fine, if you like it that way, we’ll do it like that,” the kind that spoiled someone beyond all reason.

Xiao Ninghe couldn’t hold back any longer. “Your Mommy…”

Qiu Shuxue shot her a “contemptuous” look, the kind that said “You’re too clueless for me to bother with.” Xiao Ninghe took a deep breath and suddenly understood exactly what she’d been up to these past few days. She said, “You’re dating Luo Qingmeng? So you two… She’s Li An’s ex-wife.”

Qiu Shuxue looked at her for several seconds. Xiao Ninghe could feel her saying “Finally, you’re not clueless anymore.” Xiao Ninghe thought back to what she’d said yesterday, and with Qiu Shuxue’s temper, she figured she probably wanted to strangle her.

Qiu Shuxue said, “Married woman big sis Mommy stuff… is just way too delicious.” Happiness overflowed in her eyes. She set her phone down, booted up her computer, and logged into her work account. Then she said, “Let’s grab dinner together sometime.”

Xiao Ninghe thought the whole thing was bizarre beyond belief. She just couldn’t picture the two of them together. Qiu Shuxue was a rich heiress, a fair-skinned beauty with wealth and looks, while she…

Xiao Ninghe said, “Dinner at your place next time?”

“As if you’d be that lucky.” Qiu Shuxue laughed. “We’ll eat out. I’ll introduce you to my girlfriend.”

“So she’s the one who cooks for you every day?”

“It’s really Luo Qingmeng?”

Qiu Shuxue hummed an affirmative and said, “She only cooks for me.”

Xiao Ninghe felt like she was smugly boasting, My Luo Qingmeng doesn’t cook for you lot. Her curiosity deepened. “When did you two get together? How did it even happen?”

“A long time ago. It’s a secret.” Qiu Shuxue doled out just enough to brag without spilling more, beaming with happiness as she let Xiao Ninghe guess, keeping it all mysterious.

“Fine.” Xiao Ninghe had no idea how to respond. On second thought, she replayed yesterday’s scenes in her mind. She no longer questioned if they matched; instead, she envied how lucky Qiu Shuxue was.

“Will she join us for dinner?”

The drama from last time had been huge, painting Luo Qingmeng as a total shrew. Qiu Shuxue knew she’d mind and feel anxious, so she said, “She’s actually really nice. I want to bring her to meet my friends. If she doesn’t want to go or says anything harsh, then there’s no point. We’d only invite close friends anyway.”

Just imagining taking her girlfriend out to eat with people she knew felt so sweet. She thought again that next time, she had to bring her to meet Uncle. She didn’t have much family, but the formalities couldn’t be skipped. She didn’t care if others approved—she just wanted to declare that her girlfriend was Luo Qingmeng.

“Wait until I get back from camping. No time lately.” Qiu Shuxue pulled out a sticky note and jotted down her to-do list. Xiao Ninghe slid her chair over. It was filled with plans for her and Luo Qingmeng—where they’d go, what they’d do… Tsk.

The two of them had locked in the camping trip, shoving everything else to the back burner. Luo Qingmeng scoured camping guides every day, researching what to do and what gear to pack. She finished work relatively early each day and picked up the essentials.

Qiu Shuxue got home after her, at first planning to complain that Luo Qingmeng hadn’t picked her up from work again. But right at the door, she caught sight of a different Luo Qingmeng.

Luo Qingmeng wanted to bake some small cookies to bring along. With so much work piling up, she’d rushed straight into experimenting the moment she got home. She hadn’t even taken off her thin, notched-lapel suit jacket yet when the milky aroma wafted out from the oven. Qiu Shuxue was picky about her food, so she had to nail every one of her tastes. She stared intently at the oven, scrutinizing the timer with precision.

A sharp seriousness edged her eyes.

For the first time, Qiu Shuxue realized how perfectly a woman, a suit, and the scent of milk could blend—comfortably sexy, the kind that made her want to bury herself in her body and never emerge. Most of all, her chest was fatally soft.

She wanted Luo Qingmeng to take off the suit, but she also wanted her to keep it on. She wrapped her arms around her waist and gently pinched it, her nostrils filled with her fragrant softness…

These past few days, Xiao Ninghe had kept asking why she liked married women, why not go for a domineering CEO type—she never expected Qiu Shuxue to be into that.

After all, Qiu Shuxue was a fair-skinned rich beauty herself.

Qiu Shuxue would rave about every bit of Luo Qingmeng’s married woman charm, savoring it endlessly. Now she realized she’d overlooked one thing: a suit-clad elite was another delectable flavor of married woman appeal.

Who said married women couldn’t rock a suit or be total pros?

Clearly, she could do it all.

“What to do.” Luo Qingmeng murmured, her head slightly lowered. She frowned, confusion flickering in her eyes—a side of Luo Qingmeng Qiu Shuxue hadn’t seen before.

Qiu Shuxue sighed softly at how endlessly adaptable she was. Even the suit evoked a full-figured allure that demanded to be unveiled, a forbidden sensuality begging to be torn away. She leaned in and whispered, “What am I supposed to do…”

She began drawing Luo Qingmeng’s attention, clinging to her and sniffing her scent. Luo Qingmeng shooed her off a few times, softly coaxing her not to make trouble. But Qiu Shuxue pressed on—she couldn’t resist Luo Qingmeng in that suit and wanted to do all sorts of things.

Luo Qingmeng was at her wits’ end. With a fierce glare, she shoved her forcefully onto the sofa, planted her knee on her leg, seized her wrist, wrenched it behind her back, grabbed the tie from the sofa, and bound Qiu Shuxue’s wrists tight.

Qiu Shuxue let out a muffled grunt and tilted her head up to gaze at her. Luo Qingmeng patted her cheek sternly, bore down harder with her leg, leaned in low, and commanded in a cold gaze, “Don’t move.”

Qiu Shuxue lifted her head a bit more, her eyes brimming with excitement.

Very wild.

“You really need to be put in your place,” Luo Qingmeng said.

Yes—she only behaved when Mommy punished her.