Coveted for a Long Time 5

Chapter 5

The shadows were dark and heavy, obscuring the details of the scene.

There were few residents in the complex; it was quiet and deserted, so much so that one could hear the wind sweeping fallen leaves across the ground.

Fu Bei had changed her clothes tonight. Not as formal as yesterday, but still in a mature, polished style. She was meticulous from head to toe, her rigorous propriety revealing an alluring asceticism.

Standing in the shadow of the trees, Qiao Xi couldn’t see the somber expression on her face. She only paused slightly upon hearing her voice, then immediately reined in all her emotions and replied, “Buying groceries. Going to cook.”

Since she had brought this person home for the night, it wasn’t surprising she could find the place. It was just unexpected that she would actually come. It looked like she had been waiting for a long time.

Qiao Xi had no intention of chatting. She grabbed all her things, closed the car door, and walked toward the building. Fu Bei followed, offering to help carry the bags. Qiao Xi didn’t refuse, shoving the majority of the items directly at her.

They were the only two in the elevator. Their reflections were visible in the mirrored doors. Qiao Xi stood in front, not turning back, but she could catch a glimpse of the person behind her in the reflection. Fu Bei was almost touching her, yet maintained a certain distance. She was watching her, every movement revealing possession and a desire to draw closer.

In the eyes of outsiders, Fu Bei was gentle and refined, highly educated, knowledgeable, and extremely outstanding. But in private, Qiao Xi knew her difference. Beneath that calmness lay dominance and paranoia; once she set her sights on something, she would never let go.

The hallway remained empty; it was just the two of them all the way into the apartment.

Exhausted from guarding the shop all day, Qiao Xi didn’t want to talk. She picked and washed the vegetables, working silently.

Fu Bei helped out on the side. Knowing she wasn’t willing to communicate, she didn’t force a conversation.

Qiao Xi had a stubborn temper; the harder you pushed, the less useful it was.

Dinner consisted of two dishes and a soup, a nutritious mix of meat and vegetables. After eating, Fu Bei showed no intention of leaving, and Qiao Xi didn’t chase her away. Ignoring the other woman, she went into the bathroom to shower after finishing her chores. Perhaps because the weather was gradually getting hotter, the water felt a bit scalding tonight. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she bathed. Under the cascade of hot water, the hibiscus flower on her lower back bloomed passionately and uninhibitedly, as if absorbing the droplets that struck its petals.

She had been working out regularly for the past two years, so her figure looked firmer. Her lower abdomen was flat, her waist grip-able with one hand, and her buttocks round and perky. Her whole being was hot and wild.

Hot water poured over her shoulders, flowing down her defined, beautiful back, tracing the sexy line of her spine, washing over the bright red hibiscus, and falling onto the cold floor tiles.

She knew Fu Bei was waiting outside, but she wasn’t in a hurry, washing slowly.

There was a half-length mirror on the side of the bathroom reflecting her naked form, even more beautiful than the delicate hibiscus flower.

The little girl from back then had grown up, becoming full and firm. Her face was bright and beautiful, a stunning creature beyond compare. Her legs were long, her figure tall and slender—flawless everywhere.

When she finished washing and came out, Fu Bei was still sitting on the sofa.

Seeing her come out while drying her hair, Fu Bei said steadily, “Come here.”

Everything in the living room was exactly as it had been. For however long she had been washing inside, Fu Bei had been sitting on the sofa.

Qiao Xi went over slowly. She wasn’t wearing a bathrobe, but a tight little tank top and hot pants that particularly accentuated her figure. Whether she dressed this way intentionally or unintentionally was unknown.

“What?” She sat down right next to her, kicked off her slippers, and leaned lazily against the backrest.

Although they were next to each other, she maintained a certain distance between them, just as Fu Bei had done to her back then. She sat with her legs bent, the smooth, fair arches of her feet particularly eye-catching. Her fingers and toes were clean, without any nail polish or varnish—not flashy in the slightest.

Qiao Xi had always been unorthodox, never standing or sitting properly.

Right now, it seemed she was deliberately putting on a show for Fu Bei, because Fu Bei disliked her acting this way. In the past, every time she saw it, she would frown or react somehow.

But this time was different.

Fu Bei’s gaze didn’t even flicker. She took the towel draped over Qiao Xi’s shoulders and began to dry her hair.

Her movements were gentle but allowed no retreat. Qiao Xi wasn’t used to this and tried to shrink back, only to have her ankle caught. She tensed up almost reflexively, startled.

Fu Bei did nothing else; after pulling her closer, she let go.

“Stop moving.” Just that one sentence. Her tone was steady and calm, yet full of profound meaning.

Given Qiao Xi’s usual temperament, she definitely wouldn’t have listened. But now, she sat quietly without moving. After a while, she even leaned her body sideways into Fu Bei’s embrace. Fu Bei’s hand paused, a moment of stagnation, but quickly returned to normal.

Qiao Xi carried a faint, delicate fragrance that seemed alive, drilling straight into the nose. From Fu Bei’s angle, she could both smell the scent and see the person. Just by lowering her eyes slightly, she could see the fair, slender nape of her neck and her thin back.

She nestled intimately in her arms, and less than half a minute later, lifted her arms to encircle Fu Bei’s back.

This was the only time in several days that Qiao Xi hadn’t been prickly. Before, even during that kind of moment, Qiao Xi hadn’t yielded. A slight touch would make her bristle like a cat with blown fur, ready to claw someone at any moment.

“How have things been in the US these past few years?” Qiao Xi asked, leaning on Fu Bei’s shoulder. She was still lazy, as if her whole body lacked strength and she absolutely had to find a support to lean on.

Fu Bei held her in her arms and replied, “Just like that.”

Qiao Xi raised her head slightly to look at her. After a moment, she lowered her eyes again, wanting to say something but stopping herself. She hugged Fu Bei, just like before, enjoying having her hair dried by this person, quietly experiencing this rare, blatant kindness.

Going abroad changed everything; even people could change. She never received this kind of treatment in the past. She was zoning out, her eyes a bit dazed, thoughts unknown.

Fu Bei seemed dissatisfied with this. She pulled Qiao Xi onto her lap, lifted her chin, and leaned in.

The movement was a bit forceful, the intent obvious and profound.

But Qiao Xi didn’t let her have her way. Just at the moment of contact, she deftly dodged, letting the thin lips land on the corner of her mouth. It had been the same the night before last. No matter how aroused or surged with love, Qiao Xi simply wouldn’t allow a kiss on the lips, as if her red lips had become forbidden territory, refusing any touch.

One of Fu Bei’s hands gripped Qiao Xi’s slender waist, while her other palm cupped the back of her head—extremely gentle, yet extremely dominant.

Qiao Xi had always had this unpredictable temperament since childhood, but she had a bottom line. Fu Bei knew what she meant; it was nothing more than dissatisfaction with her going abroad, and now she wanted to claim everything back one by one. The child had always held grudges; there was no harm in letting her claim it.

She wanted to kiss her.

Qiao Xi broke free first. Before Fu Bei could react, she shrank away in a flash. Her body was soft, like a fish swimming in water; startled, she suddenly flicked her tail and swam away swiftly.

“What are you dodging for?”

“I didn’t dodge,” she said, as if nothing had just happened. Deliberately ignoring the scrutiny from across the way, she changed the subject. “Dry my hair for me. The hairdryer is in the bathroom, hanging on the wall.”

Fu Bei didn’t move. Her amber eyes scrutinized her, filled with inquiry and bottomless emotion. After a long while, she finally got up to get the hairdryer and came back to help dry her hair.

This time, Qiao Xi didn’t resist at all, leaning against the sofa back, lazy and relaxed.

After drying her hair, Fu Bei went to take a shower.

The bedroom door wasn’t closed, and Qiao Xi hadn’t said she couldn’t enter, so she went straight in.

Only a small lamp was on in the room. The light was dim and yellow, insufficient to illuminate every corner. Qiao Xi lay prone on the soft, large bed, her whole body almost sinking into it. Her tight tank top had ridden up to her waist, revealing part of the tattoo—secretive yet flamboyant.

“When did you get it?” Fu Bei asked, unable to help but take a longer look at the hibiscus flower.

Qiao Xi propped herself up and looked back, saying, “When I was an apprentice, I asked my Master to tattoo it.”

“Which Master?”

“You don’t know him.”

Fu Bei frowned slightly, but ultimately restrained herself. She didn’t ask further, nor did she show her possessiveness on her face.

In the depth of the night, early in the morning hours, all the concealed, deep emotions were truly released, wrapping tightly around Qiao Xi like a seamless seal, as if to claim Qiao Xi for herself. Qiao Xi would only hold Fu Bei’s shoulders, knowing what this person cared about, yet she wouldn’t explain a single word. Instead, she hooked the other person and said, “You know, I like hibiscus flowers the most…”

Her hair was very long, permed into mature, large waves. The ends reached her waist, covering most of the tattoo. As the ends swept across her porcelain-white skin, the bright red flower flickered in and out of view.

Fu Bei held Qiao Xi, her long, slender fingers clamping her chin, forcing her to look at herself. She stroked the hibiscus petals with her cool fingertips, the intent of invasion and sullen anger in her eyes so thick it wouldn’t dissolve, though she wouldn’t put it into action. Qiao Xi knew her too well, which was why she dared to be so presumptuous.

From childhood to adulthood, this person had always been like this—forever peaceful and steady, as if nothing could ripple her calm.

“How is it?” Qiao Xi grabbed her forearm, eyelids drooping lazily, murmuring against her ear. Her tone was soft and slow, as if speaking moving words of love.

Her response was Fu Bei’s sudden kiss. Fu Bei didn’t kiss her rosy lips, but the sensitive area behind her ear—domineering, tyrannical. She shrank back involuntarily, hearing Fu Bei say in a low voice, suppressed, restrained, and slightly angry: “Qiao Xi…”

She didn’t listen, turning a deaf ear. By morning, what was left for Fu Bei was still a mess on the floor. The person beside her was gone; she had left early. Fu Bei knew when she left, but didn’t stop her.

Just like back then.

The first time Qiao Xi got angry at Fu Bei, she wasn’t coaxed, so she simply stopped coming to the Fu house. The old lady even specially asked Nanny Chen to send food next door to see what was wrong. Nanny Chen came back and said, “She’s watching TV at home. Maybe she’s been too engrossed recently and doesn’t go out.”

Children easily get addicted to computers and TV; this is normal. The old lady didn’t know the truth and thought it was really the case.

Fu Bei didn’t make a sound, suddenly turning off the TV.

Perhaps because of the food delivery, Mother Qiao felt embarrassed accepting favors for free, so that evening, she actually brought over cookies she baked herself.

Qiao Xi came too, looking reluctant and puffy with anger. The child had always worn dresses before, but this time she wore a small white T-shirt paired with overalls, her hair tied in a round bun. Upon seeing Fu Bei, she immediately turned her small face away, clearly still fuming.

Fu Bei looked down at her. Sensing it, she hid behind Mother Qiao, refusing to let Fu Bei look.