◎Come Over Yourself◎
From the time she could remember, Hua Man had always bathed herself. She had never imagined that after living for so many years and being a grown adult, someone would now help her bathe.
As she watched Yang Zhao squeeze a bunch of bottles and jars into the bathtub, Hua Man tried to struggle. “Bathing takes me a long time. It would be too much trouble for you, and you’re still sick…”
Before she could finish, Yang Zhao turned her head to look at her. “Why haven’t you undressed yet?”
Hua Man fell silent.
After a moment, she steeled herself and pushed Zhao Yang out. “Didn’t you have someone keep Zhao Yang here? You don’t need to waste time with me, right?”
“Compared to Zhao Yang, you’re obviously more important. Do you think I’m afraid of her getting impatient?” Yang Zhao said with a cold laugh.
She sat down on the stool, then looked up impatiently. “Stop talking nonsense. Undress quickly.”
It wasn’t the first time they had seen each other naked, but under Yang Zhao’s direct, unwavering gaze, Hua Man simply couldn’t undress facing her so calmly.
She took a deep breath, turned her body slightly to one side, and chose to play ostrich.
After removing the last piece of cover, she lifted her foot and stepped straight into the bathtub, hiding her body under the foam.
This was her first time soaking in a bathtub, and it was Yang Zhao’s bathtub at that. Every breath was filled with the fragrance that had once clung to Yang Zhao’s body, making her feel like she was one of Grandma Wu’s pickled vegetables.
She had only been sitting there for a short while, and she already felt like she was pickling through.
“Hand.” Yang Zhao extended her hand.
At this point, Hua Man tried her best to stay calm and composed as she handed over her hand steadily.
The thick, slippery body wash was applied to her hand. Yang Zhao’s soft palm kept rubbing hers, and Hua Man couldn’t help but lift her eyes to look at Yang Zhao.
Yang Zhao’s brows were full of seriousness.
She seemed to be focused no matter what she did—whether shooting arrows or washing Hua Man’s hands.
After a few minutes, seeing that Yang Zhao was still rubbing, Hua Man couldn’t help but speak up. “It’s clean now.”
Any more rubbing and she’d scrub off a layer of skin.
“Not that fast.”
Yang Zhao didn’t mind, but she glanced down at Hua Man’s reddened hand, her gaze flickering slightly. In the end, she let go.
She reached out again. “The other one.”
Hua Man didn’t move. “The other one wasn’t touched by Zhao Yang.”
“It needs washing even if it wasn’t.” Yang Zhao was overbearing.
Hua Man gave up struggling. She adjusted her position slightly in the water and handed over the other hand.
But no matter how gentle the movement, the water rippled, and the scenery in front of her couldn’t be hidden.
Yang Zhao’s gaze stopped.
She made no attempt to hide it, staring openly. Hua Man’s face burned hot, and she bent her waist, sinking her body deeper into the water.
“Why hide?” Yang Zhao slowly pinched Hua Man’s hand. “There’s no need to be so distant between us.”
The more Hua Man hid, the more Yang Zhao wanted to push further.
It wasn’t surprising, given her wicked personality.
After washing that hand clean, she brought both hands together, scooping up some water and letting it drip through her fingers.
She stared intently for a moment, then spread her five fingers, peering through the gaps at the area hidden underwater. Yang Zhao curved her lips. “Manman, come over yourself.”
Hua Man’s face burned even hotter.
After a moment of silence, she moved gently in the water and stopped in front of Yang Zhao’s palm.
But Yang Zhao still said, “Come over.”
Hua Man’s breath hitched as she suddenly understood Yang Zhao’s meaning. After a pause, enduring her shame, she arched slightly, sending her softest place into Yang Zhao’s palm.
Her softest place was completely covered by Yang Zhao’s entire palm, and soon, she was thoroughly gripped.
But Yang Zhao’s hand was still too small.
Some pale white overflowed from between Yang Zhao’s slender fingers. As she was gripped, Hua Man almost felt her breathing grow labored.
“Your heart is beating so fast.” Yang Zhao’s voice held a smile.
Hua Man didn’t dare look at her, staring fixedly at the edge of the tub on the other side. Both her body and voice were stiff. “Is it?”
“Of course.” Yang Zhao used her other hand to pinch Hua Man’s chin, forcing her to lower her head. “Look.”
She deliberately clamped the red plum between her thumb and forefinger, pinching it maliciously. “It’s so hard—completely different from the feel of the rest.”
“Yang Zhao.” Hua Man took a deep breath. As soon as she exhaled, she realized it only pressed her tighter against Yang Zhao’s hand. She slowed her breathing gradually, her tone carrying a plea for mercy. “Don’t toy with me anymore.”
“How is this toying with you?” Yang Zhao showed a surprised expression. “I’m appreciating your beauty.”
Hua Man pressed her lips tight. “It was my mistake earlier. I won’t let her touch me again. Please stop.”
At her words, Yang Zhao seemed intrigued. “Go on.”
As she spoke, her hands didn’t stop. Despite the erotic actions, her expression was so serious that there wasn’t a hint of lust.
As she was toyed with like this, Hua Man’s breathing grew uncontrollably rapid. Each rise and fall pressed her even tighter against Yang Zhao.
She racked her brains to compromise and admit fault. “I shouldn’t have sent her away on my own. It was my fault.”
As soon as she spoke, she felt the force on Yang Zhao’s hand increase.
Hua Man’s eyes darkened. She no longer endured it silently and raised her hand to grip Yang Zhao’s wrist tightly, stopping her mischief.
“I said I won’t let her touch me again, and I won’t make decisions for you without your permission.”
“No, Manman.”
“You talked to her a lot.” Seeing that she didn’t get it, Yang Zhao sighed faintly. She released the red plum in her hand, leaned forward, and pressed her forehead against Hua Man’s. In a soft voice, she said, “Manman, don’t let her dirty you. I’ll get angry.”
Hua Man: “…I know.”
Yang Zhao was finally satisfied.
After a moment, she suddenly asked, “Manman, what kind of person do you like?”
Hua Man didn’t hesitate. “Law-abiding people.”
Yang Zhao let out a muffled laugh. “That’s too bad…”
She wasn’t surprised by the answer.
After all, from their first meeting, she had known that Hua Man had a sense of justice.
She didn’t continue and soon stood up, returning to her usual self—smiling warmly. “Then wash yourself, Manman. Remember to wash off every trace of her scent.”
At the door, she turned back. “Zhao Yang has done plenty of illegal things. She’s no good person.”
With that, she closed the door.
As Yang Zhao left, Hua Man’s emotions gradually calmed.
She looked down. The red plum that Yang Zhao had tormented was blooming more vibrantly than usual, its color glaringly bright.
She couldn’t help but press her lips tight.
In her invisible battle with Yang Zhao, she was still at a disadvantage, retreating step by step with no power to resist.
She didn’t soak too long. After rinsing herself clean, she wrapped herself in a bathrobe and cautiously opened the door.
The room was empty. Yang Zhao had probably had someone arrange for Zhao Yang in another room.
She didn’t know how things were now.
But with her own situation precarious, she had no time to worry about a stranger—especially one who wasn’t particularly kind.
Yang Zhao went crazy at the sight of that mother-daughter pair. If possible, she just wanted to stay far away from them and protect herself wisely.
It was a long time before Yang Zhao returned.
Hua Man could clearly sense the change in her mood—it was joyful, excited. Though curious, Hua Man held back and didn’t ask.
But she forgot that Yang Zhao had a wicked personality. The less she wanted to know, the more Yang Zhao wanted to tell her.
“Want to know how I dealt with her?” she asked with a smile.
Because of the bathing incident, Hua Man still couldn’t face her calmly and only lowered her gaze. “You must be tired today. You should rest early.”
Yang Zhao continued on her own. “Her hand touched you, so of course I had to make her pay.”
Hua Man was silent for a few seconds, then couldn’t help lifting her eyes. “Did you chop off her hand?”
So bloody, so contemptuous of the law…
“How could I?” Yang Zhao wagged her finger lightly. “Don’t worry. I remember you like law-abiding good citizens.”
Hua Man’s gaze flickered. For an instant, her heart raced so fast she almost thought it would leap out.
But it was only an instant.
She quickly sobered up. She might hold some weight in Yang Zhao’s heart, but not enough to make Yang Zhao change for her.
It was just Yang Zhao teasing her casually.
“She went back completely unharmed.” As she spoke, Yang Zhao hooked her arm around Hua Man’s neck like a puppy seeking praise, her tone upbeat. “How about it? Satisfied?”
But Hua Man didn’t fall into her trap and replied stiffly, “What happens to her has nothing to do with me. No satisfaction or not.”
Only then did laughter color Yang Zhao’s eyes.
She kissed Hua Man’s lips. “Good girl.”
With that, the kiss trailed downward.
Her hand tugged at the tie of Hua Man’s bathrobe, her tongue pressing against the dip of her collarbone. Recalling the spring scene in the bathroom, she murmured softly, “Manman, want to try something different?”
As she spoke, she tugged lightly, letting the bathrobe fall open.
As the bathrobe parted, she pressed forward, bodies pressed tightly together.
Her hand landed on the hillock behind, kneading gently.
“You’re still sick.” Hua Man’s voice was taut. She didn’t dodge, allowing Yang Zhao to do as she pleased on her body—as if merely stating a fact. “Rest early.”
As soon as she spoke, she felt the hand behind her pause.
Then, she was patted.
Two crisp pats echoed in the room.
The position was so embarrassing that the sounds came out ambiguous.
“Fine.” Yang Zhao didn’t force her. “Next time then.”
She was already in her palm. What difference did one day earlier or later make in tasting her?
At that moment, the “completely unharmed” Zhao Yang in Yang Zhao’s words was frantically washing her hands like a madwoman.
The assistant watched helplessly. Seeing her hands already chafed raw, she hurried forward to stop her. “Miss Zhao, what’s wrong? If you keep washing, your hands will be ruined!”
Zhao Yang’s eyes were red. The thought of what her hands had touched made her want to chop them off.
She broke down crying.
“Did Miss Yang bully you again? Did she hit you? I’ll tell Madam!”
The assistant pulled out her phone, but Zhao Yang quickly stopped her.
“No, don’t. I wasn’t hit.” She shook her head through her tears. “Don’t tell Mom.”
But she would rather have been beaten by Yang Zhao!
The thought of her hands being pressed into that box full of disgusting things made her feel like something was still crawling and wriggling on them. She dry-heaved uncontrollably, desperate to chop off her hands.
Resentment surged again. She turned and slapped the assistant across the face. “Where were you just now?! While she bullied me, where were you?!”
Looking at the assistant’s plain face, her resentment grew thicker: Why did everyone around Yang Zhao have to be so pretty? Why were they always by Yang Zhao’s side, while hers?
When she was bullied, where was her own person?!
Why did she have to lose to Yang Zhao in every way? They shared the same blood!
