Chapter 9

Luo Qingmeng couldn’t understand her logic at all and naturally refused. She frowned and said, “Can this even be split in half? Are you… crazy?”

Luo Qingmeng felt like she was clinging to her relentlessly. Everything she did lacked any sense of boundaries, and she always inexplicably wanted to get physically close. She seemed particularly desperate for touch, as if she would die without someone’s affection or caresses. After all the ambiguous moments they’d shared, whenever Qiu Shuxue looked at her, Luo Qingmeng panicked, her hands itching to cover her ears.

Qiu Shuxue was lifting her legs onto the bed, clearly intending to sleep with her. As Qiu Shuxue started to climb onto the bed, Luo Qingmeng reached out to push her away, but halfway there, she worried about being controlled by Qiu Shuxue and immediately pulled her hand back.

She snapped coldly, “Don’t you dare move.”

Qiu Shuxue climbed onto the bed anyway, ignoring her. Luo Qingmeng slapped the bed, making a sound, but it didn’t stop her. Luo Qingmeng was frantic. She scooted inward, lifted her leg to push her, and said, “You’re so annoying. Don’t move. I said don’t move. Are you crazy?”

“Hmm?” Qiu Shuxue looked at her. “Why do you think I’m crazy?”

Luo Qingmeng was on the verge of a breakdown from dealing with her. “Maybe you should get checked out. Do you have some kind of touch starvation syndrome that makes you need to touch people all the time?”

In truth, by saying this, Luo Qingmeng was worried she might actually be sick. After all, Li An was filthy. She’d once seen him through rose-colored glasses, but now those glasses were shattered, and she found his whole body repulsive, like he reeked. Qiu Shuxue had been ambiguous with him too, so who knew if they were two peas in a pod—though Qiu Shuxue herself smelled wonderful…

“Don’t touch me!” Luo Qingmeng said righteously, stopping her from getting closer.

Once Qiu Shuxue was on the bed, she didn’t move anymore. Surprisingly, she didn’t deny it either. “Maybe it’s the incubation period. I’ve never been like this before. I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow and get checked.”

Luo Qingmeng was quite surprised by this response, unsure if she understood what she meant. She’d basically implied Qiu Shuxue was cheap. Luo Qingmeng tried her best to keep some distance between them, not allowing her to get close.

Soon, meeting Qiu Shuxue’s suggestive gaze, Luo Qingmeng suspected she did understand.

Qiu Shuxue said, “Then, sis…”

She paused, and Luo Qingmeng’s heart skipped a beat as she waited for what came next.

Qiu Shuxue continued, “Then, sis, do you want to watch?”

“Watch what?” Luo Qingmeng grew even more tense.

“You know exactly what.”

Luo Qingmeng avoided her gaze. “Mind your own business. It’s your thing—look at it yourself. If you’re sick, go get treated.”

“Okay.” Qiu Shuxue gazed at her huddled in the corner and suddenly curved her lips into a smile. She shifted forward, leaning against the headboard. “Am I that scary?”

Luo Qingmeng took a deep breath.

She wanted to say, Aren’t you scary? You just climbed straight onto my bed.

“Get off.”

Qiu Shuxue said she didn’t want to. Her fingers were still moving as she slipped that thing onto her finger. Luo Qingmeng sat on the bed, staring at her, terrified her fingers might touch her.

“Actually, sis, I’m pretty pathetic,” Qiu Shuxue said slowly and deliberately. “No one at home takes care of me. I live alone.”

Luo Qingmeng didn’t understand why she was suddenly saying this, but she wasn’t moved. “What does that have to do with me?” She wasn’t much better off herself. At least Qiu Shuxue had money, while she was all alone in the world with nothing to her name.

Qiu Shuxue said, “It gets lonely. I want someone to care for me.” She tilted her head and smiled at Luo Qingmeng. “I’ve always wondered when that person would show up.”

“I’ve been waiting… always waiting… My parents got divorced, and no one looked after me. They hired a nanny for me, but since my parents didn’t pay much attention, she brought her own kid over. The two of them bullied me constantly, making me eat leftovers…”

“Back then, I thought that if there was just one person living with me, rich or poor, as long as she could cook and care for me, we could enjoy life together. It wouldn’t matter how.”

As she spoke, Luo Qingmeng found herself unable to retort or even scold her. These words struck a chord deep inside her. She felt like Qiu Shuxue wasn’t just playing for sympathy but seeking a shared resonance.

Two lonely people, kindred spirits, warming each other.

Luo Qingmeng pressed her lips together.

She thought back to her own past.

Luo Qingmeng parted her lips and inched her leg forward a bit. In her heart, she said, What’s that got to do with me?

You survived on cold leftovers just fine, didn’t you?

Qiu Shuxue lowered her head to look at her and asked softly, “What are you doing? You were just huddled under the covers without moving a muscle.”

Luo Qingmeng pretended not to hear and turned onto her side. Just as she was about to close her eyes, Qiu Shuxue lay down. Not only did Qiu Shuxue have touch starvation, but she also seemed hyperactive. She tugged at the blanket covering Luo Qingmeng and reached inside to grope around.

Soon, she found Luo Qingmeng’s phone inside and accidentally yanked out her earbuds. A sound came from them, and Qiu Shuxue listened quietly for a moment.

Luo Qingmeng flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. “Can’t you just be quiet for a minute!”

Qiu Shuxue sounded surprised. “Are you learning English? I can teach you.”

Luo Qingmeng’s pride was immense.

She’d seen Qiu Shuxue understanding pure English videos and wanted to learn it herself so she wouldn’t lose face. She didn’t want to be mocked for it, so she’d hidden under the covers to listen to a tutorial for a bit.

“Really… It’s my major. I know other languages too. I won’t charge you—I’ll teach you for free.”

Luo Qingmeng ignored her and, to cut off the awkwardness completely, shoved the earbuds back into her ears. This way, at least Qiu Shuxue’s voice would be fully blocked out.

But she overlooked Qiu Shuxue’s hand.

This was Luo Qingmeng’s first time sharing a bed with someone. When she’d dated Li An before, he’d suggested many times that they just sleep together without doing anything.

She still hadn’t felt safe. A man’s words were as deceptive as the devil, and her ears were soft to boot. Each time, she’d firmly refused, insisting they wait until marriage for sex. Fortunately, back then, Li An’s true nature hadn’t emerged yet. He’d played the gentleman, reluctantly agreeing while putting her through endless mind games, saying he was a man and asking her to understand and make allowances for him. All this time, Luo Qingmeng had been the one bending over backward. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Qiu Shuxue’s hand snaked toward her body again.

Luo Qingmeng had truly reached her limit. She said, “Stop moving. I’ll move.”

Qiu Shuxue’s hand paused. She looked at Luo Qingmeng seriously, shifting her body slightly. Her eyes were sharp, and her mouth even more so—always ready with praise. Luo Qingmeng knew she couldn’t outmaneuver her. She sat up a little, turned around so her back was against the bed, and kicked straight at Qiu Shuxue with all her might, sending her tumbling off the bed.

Qiu Shuxue rolled right off, but her hand was quick. She grabbed Luo Qingmeng’s ankle firmly. Luo Qingmeng yelped in surprise and tried to pull back, but behind her was the window. She didn’t dare struggle too hard, afraid she’d shatter the glass and fall out.

With nowhere to retreat, Luo Qingmeng gasped in pain. “Ah… you… it hurts.”

Her hands clutched the blanket in agony. She wanted to call her crazy but felt it would just drag things out endlessly. Qiu Shuxue climbed back onto the bed. This time, she knelt at the edge of Luo Qingmeng’s legs, her eyes burning with eagerness as she looked at her.

Luo Qingmeng slept in a yellow nightgown, with white lace frills underneath.

Qiu Shuxue lifted the hem of her skirt and leaned down to kiss her thigh. The moment her teeth pressed against the skin, Luo Qingmeng let out a sharp scream but clamped her lips shut.

“No, no…” Luo Qingmeng refused excitedly, but Qiu Shuxue was thrilled. Her fingers gripped Luo Qingmeng’s wrists tightly, her fingertips digging into the flesh, hurting her badly.

As she kissed inside, Qiu Shuxue murmured, “Sis doesn’t move, and then I’ll sleep obediently afterward. I won’t bother you.”

Luo Qingmeng’s hands clutched the bedsheet.

What kind of homeowner ended up like this, bullied repeatedly by a guest? She felt so stupid for always believing Qiu Shuxue, like one of those foolish women in TV dramas. The killer says, “Don’t move, and I won’t kill you,” and she actually freezes.

Only to get killed in the end.

She looked down at Qiu Shuxue kissing her.

Luo Qingmeng’s eyes were red as her hands gripped the skirt hem tightly. Her flickering gaze said it all: Hurry up, finish kissing and leave. You have to keep your word.

Qiu Shuxue’s eyes met hers. While kissing, she freed a hand to pinch her cheek. “You’re so good, sis.”