Coveted for a Long Time 1

Chapter 1

June in Jiang City was cool, with agreeable temperatures.

Land in the West District was valuable, and the properties on Qijing Street were highly sought after. Qiao Xi had bought an apartment right here and had only moved in yesterday.

The room’s window faced east. The rising sun was golden, its light leaking through the gap in the curtains and spilling onto the clean floor. The floor itself was a mess; clothes and skirts were scattered in disarray, along with used items. A small black object hung precariously from the corner of the bed, looking like it might drop at any moment.

The small bedside lamp was switched on, its glow resembling the dazzling golden dawn outside. Having just finished another round of lovemaking, Qiao Xi was exhausted. She lay prone, lazily motionless, unwilling to even lift her eyelids.

The quilt had been pushed down to rest at the small of her slender waist. The solid gray sheets complemented her skin tone, making her smooth, jade-like back appear even fairer and more delicate. She was somewhat thin, yet her figure was curvaceous and undeniably impressive; the legs exposed outside the covers were straight and long, without an ounce of excess fat.

After a while, Qiao Xi finally stirred and wriggled out from under the covers; it was getting a bit too warm inside.

The fiery red tattoo on the left side of her lower back was revealed. It was a cluster of bright, delicate hibiscus flowers. A large swath of intense, fiery color occupied half her waist, blooming with bewitching allure. The stems curved and extended, trailing down almost to the curve of her perky buttocks. A fine sheen of sweat coated her back, leaving her waist slightly damp. The hibiscus flowers looked as though they had been nourished by dew, their beauty so vibrant it seemed to emit a fragrance, making it impossible to look away.

Intense and fiery, just like her.

The person beside her also stirred, sitting up to lean against the headboard. This was Fu Bei, the person she had spent the night with.

Unlike Qiao Xi, Fu Bei was naturally gentle and indifferent, having been that way since childhood. Just moments ago, she had been a picture of restrained endurance, but now she had turned cold and distant again, utterly devoid of romance.

Her features were sculpted and deep: long eyes, a high nose, and thin lips of a moderate shade. Her expression held a sense of alienated indifference, yet possessed a graceful charm—the classic face of someone frigid and ascetic. As for whether she was truly frigid or not, only Qiao Xi had experienced the truth, so she knew best.

Upon seeing the eye-catching fiery red tattoo on Qiao Xi’s lower back, Fu Bei frowned unconsciously before averting her gaze without a change in expression.

But Qiao Xi noticed. Resting her head on her arm, she turned to look at Fu Bei’s long, well-defined hands. The corners of her red lips quirked up as she asked softly, “Does it look good?”

Fu Bei lowered her eyes to look but didn’t answer, merely shifting her hand away subtly.

Qiao Xi raised her eyebrows, smiled, and pressed on, “I’m asking you. Why won’t you answer? Does it look good?”

As she spoke, she actually propped herself up and wrapped her forearm around the other woman’s shoulders, practically pressing herself into her embrace. She was so close she could feel Fu Bei’s steady, even breathing. Deliberately leaning in further, her red lips hovered just shy of the corner of Fu Bei’s mouth before she froze.

They remained in that face-to-face stalemate for a moment. It remained unchanged and rather boring, so she moved to pull back, only to be suddenly grabbed by Fu Bei.

The woman was strong, her grip tight around Qiao Xi’s wrist.

Qiao Xi looked straight at Fu Bei, hiding nothing; she even sat up straighter, displaying herself openly. Seeing what lay below her collarbone, Fu Bei’s expression didn’t change, but her voice dropped a notch, deep and low: “Qiao Xi, put your clothes on.”

Qiao Xi wasn’t the least bit surprised by her words. She raised a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear and replied softly, “Alright.”

Then, she leaned in to intimately graze her cheek against Fu Bei’s chin and even helped straighten the collar of her nightgown. Throwing off the covers, she got out of bed just like that—stark naked—and opened the wardrobe to find clothes with her back turned to Fu Bei.

Rummaging casually through the wardrobe, she grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled them on. As she bent down, the bright red hibiscus flower on her lower back moved with her, swaying alluringly.

Fu Bei simply watched.

The two had grown up together, and this was the only time they had crossed the line. There was no alcohol involved, no impulsive urge; last night, both of them had been completely sober. They had even just revisited the experience a moment ago.

Qiao Xi had made the first move. She had claimed she wanted to bring Fu Bei over to see her new apartment, but the moment they walked through the door, she had embraced her.

“Sister*, you’re finally back,” Qiao Xi had smiled perversely, her hands wandering dishonestly.

Fu Bei, usually so calm and self-possessed, had actually half-refused and half-consented, eventually going along with it.

They had grown up in the same residential compound. Qiao Xi was five years younger—twenty-two this year—and had graduated just a year ago. Now, she ran a tattoo parlor on Qijing Street. She had always been the worry-inducing one, rebellious and unconventional since childhood, and was the least liked by the elders in the compound.

Fu Bei was different. She was steady and gentle by nature, born into a wealthy and prosperous family. Highly educated and capable, she had earned her doctorate at a young age. Upon returning to China to teach, she was immediately hired as a professor by Jiang City University. Whenever anyone in the compound mentioned the name Fu Bei, it was always followed by praise: excellent, outstanding, young and promising.

When Qiao Xi was little, she loved chasing after Fu Bei the most. She followed her everywhere, impossible to shake off. Back then, Qiao Xi had a proud and spoiled temper, but she was different with Fu Bei. She would shamelessly stick to her all day long, never discouraged no matter how many times she hit a wall. Even if Fu Bei wore a cold face every day, Qiao Xi was willing to press herself against that cold stone to warm it up.

In her youthful ignorance, she was often muddled when she first awakened to romance. Lacking a sense of self, she foolishly clung to the other girl, unable to read the room. She was oblivious to the fact that she had been rejected countless times, to the point where even those around them couldn’t stand watching it and whispered plenty of nasty things behind her back.

That was how Qiao Xi remained until Fu Bei went abroad for advanced studies.

But now, she had changed. She was even more unconventional, improper, and looked like someone who would never settle down.

Fu Bei had changed as well.

Buttoning her pants, Qiao Xi threw a shirt on casually in front of Fu Bei and turned her head to ask, “Are you going back to the university tonight?”

She spoke like an innocent bystander, her tone casual and light, as if the events in the bed just moments ago hadn’t happened—as if the person clutching the bedsheets trying to catch their breath earlier hadn’t been her at all.

Fu Bei’s thoughts were a bit chaotic. She rubbed the space between her eyebrows. “No. I’m going back to the compound.”

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten,” Qiao Xi said, slowly buttoning her shirt as she bent down to pick up all the clothes scattered on the floor. “Grandpa Fu is hosting a dinner today. I heard he invited the whole compound. It’s going to be quite lively.”

Every word carried a thorn, yet her face remained incredibly bland.

Fu Bei’s direct appointment at Jiang City University was a joyous occasion worth celebrating, so naturally, the Fu family was hosting guests. If her father, Qiao Jianliang, hadn’t called to tell her about it, Qiao Xi wouldn’t have known. She hadn’t even known Fu Bei was back in the country until the day before yesterday. Everyone had kept it from her, terrified of what she might do.

Thinking back to the past, she found it quite amusing. Was she really that capable? Was all that caution necessary?

She walked barefoot toward the outside, glancing at Fu Bei on the bed.

Fu Bei asked, “Where are you going?”

“I have a customer at the shop,” she said nonchalantly. “They’re arriving soon, so I have to go over.”

She walked to the door, pulled it shut behind her, put on her shoes outside, and left.

She left abruptly, paying no mind to Fu Bei in the room, not even looking back once.

In the room, Fu Bei frowned. Her gaze fell upon the three used, long pink wrappers in the trash can. She fell into deep thought, her thin lips pressed into a tight line. The contents of the black trash bag served as a constant reminder of just how unbridled and reckless last night had been.

From last night until now, it had been truly absurd, like a tangled mess that couldn’t be unraveled. But it had happened—profound and unforgettable. That sensation was still pulsing in her bones, flowing restlessly and wantonly through her veins.

**

Qijing Street was still bustling; people came and went even in the early morning. Qiao Xi returned to the shop, went into the break room to wash up, and tidied herself in front of the mirror. Today, she dressed with a rare sense of clean efficiency.

There were no customers in the shop; she wasn’t even open today.

Her lips were a bit rosy, but her eyes revealed a hint of fatigue. After tossing and turning so much last night, she was bound to be tired.

Watching the time, she drove her Jeep back to the compound as noon approached. The red body of the car was eye-catching, and combined with the rugged model, it immediately attracted a lot of scrutiny.

No one needed to guess; everyone knew who had arrived.

Qiao Xi was already accustomed to everyone’s reaction. She closed the car door and walked straight in. Her outfit today was actually giving them face; it wasn’t as flamboyant as usual. Simple, elegant, and clean, she looked like a student fresh out of school. However, it was ultimately inappropriate for the occasion, as the guests present were all in suits and formal wear.

This overly shabby appearance attracted quite a bit of inquisitive and dissatisfied looks. Qiao Xi was very self-aware; she knew she was disliked, so she actively moved toward a corner to avoid being an eyesore to anyone, sitting alone to wait for the banquet to start.

However, this wait brought Qiao Jianliang, along with her stepmother, Zhou Meihe, and her stepbrother, Zhou Lin. Qiao Jianliang was decent enough to her; seeing her, he hurried over. Although he didn’t quite approve of her outfit, he didn’t say anything in the end. Her stepmother, however, wore her emotions on her face, frowning slightly, though she held back from speaking out due to the crowd.

To put it bluntly, they all felt she was an embarrassment.

Qiao Xi found it quite amusing. After all, Qiao Jianliang had only called her yesterday afternoon to tell her to prepare for the gathering today. In her heart, she knew exactly what the situation was, but she had to come and go through the motions.

She was superfluous everywhere she went. She didn’t know what unforgivable crime she had committed to make so many people resent her. Occasionally, she would seriously reflect on it, but she couldn’t figure out exactly where she had gone wrong.

But sometimes it was just like that; no matter what she did, it was wrong. Even breathing free air was a mistake. Feeling helpless, she called out indifferently, “Dad.”

She didn’t address her stepmother or her stepbrother. Zhou Meihe’s face looked terrible as she forcibly suppressed her anger.

Qiao Jianliang didn’t pay much attention to the tension. pulling her aside, he instructed, “Come home tonight. Be obedient, and leave only after dinner.”

Qiao Xi gave a fake smile and agreed, ignoring the other two from start to finish. Not that the mother and son would have given her a direct look anyway. Qiao Jianliang took the pair to meet old acquaintances and partners, skillfully navigating the social scene with the style of a shrewd businessman.

Someone greeted her, politely calling out, “Qiao Xi.”

She turned back to respond, smiling faintly. “Auntie.”

But she didn’t chat further. Turning back, she saw Fu Bei, who had just come out.

Everyone was surrounding her, chatting animatedly. Fu Bei had changed into a sharp, small blazer, her black hair restyled. Her figure was tall and her legs long. She looked ascetic and cold, completely devoid of any trace of the morning’s indulgence. So proper.

Qiao Xi remembered that when they first moved into the compound years ago, the first person she met was Fu Bei.

Qiao Jianliang had pulled her forward, introducing her enthusiastically: “Little Xi, say hello to Elder Sister.”

Back then, Fu Bei stood among a group of adults, looking at her indifferently, with a detached air she didn’t bother to hide. From beginning to end, she never once gave Qiao Xi a direct look.