Chapter 36: Why Aren’t You Moving?

Tan Qingya froze for a moment.

Tit for tat? She had never noticed before how well this girl could wield idioms.

But she didn’t stop her. The two of them were partners, after all—it wouldn’t do for her to always be the one taking advantage. That would be too overbearing. The little one needed to get a taste of it too.

It was just that the girl’s courage was still too timid. Her hand groped around Tan Qingya’s back for ages without daring to venture anywhere else.

She wasn’t wearing anything, after all—making it the perfect opportunity.

Unable to hold back, Tan Qingya let out a soft sigh. She simply reached out and grasped Zhou Jianghao’s wrist. Seeing the girl’s dark eyes widen roundly, amusement sparkling uncontrollably within them, Tan Qingya leaned in and pecked her lips. “Now that’s what I call tit for tat.”

With that, she guided the hand to her own chest.

She shifted it upward a little more, pressing down on the back of Zhou Jianghao’s hand to make those cool fingers press even tighter against her skin. Tilting her head, Tan Qingya kissed the spot behind Zhou Jianghao’s ear. “Do you need Big Sis to teach you the rest?”

She assumed Zhou Jianghao would be too embarrassed to speak and was about to take the initiative when the girl’s soft voice suddenly piped up by her ear. “…No need.”

No need?

Slightly surprised, Tan Qingya eyed her for a moment before realization dawned. “True, you watched those tutorial videos just now. You should have more experience than me.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she felt Zhou Jianghao’s hand suddenly tighten.

Tan Qingya sucked in a sharp breath. Before she could make a sound, the spot that had been gripped so firmly was abruptly released. Panic laced Zhou Jianghao’s voice, impossible to hide. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to!”

“…”

This girl.

Tan Qingya sighed inwardly, though her face showed nothing. She pulled the retreating figure back into her arms and soothed her. “It’s fine. I like it that way.”

“You… like it?”

Zhou Jianghao went rigid. She hadn’t meant to use so much force—she could clearly feel the delicate texture slipping from her grasp, and she’d caught that sharp intake of breath from Tan Qingya.

But Tan Qingya actually liked it rough?

Tan Qingya didn’t answer. Instead, she guided the hand back into place. Feeling that unfamiliar touch, Zhou Jianghao tried her best to stay calm. She couldn’t keep disappointing Tan Qingya.

The girl had received so little kindness in her life, while Tan Qingya had given her so much. Now, she desperately wanted to repay it, to make Tan Qingya happy.

Tonight’s Tan Qingya seemed to be in a good mood.

“Baby, why aren’t you moving?” Seeing Zhou Jianghao freeze without action, Tan Qingya leaned in to kiss her ear, holding her in a tender, intimate embrace.

“Right away.” Zhou Jianghao responded on instinct.

Racking her brain for the knowledge she’d absorbed recently, she closed her eyes and kissed down again.

Her hand covered it without hesitation. Remembering Tan Qingya’s words about liking it, she added a bit more pressure.

—

The instant that warmth enveloped her, slick and wet, Tan Qingya’s mind flashed white from the stimulation. After a moment of daze, she came back to herself. She reached up to stroke the back of Zhou Jianghao’s head, feeling the soft fuzz under her palm, and quietly drew in a breath.

Why did she have to act like a greedy little pup…

Though she hated to show weakness, when Zhou Jianghao’s teeth grazed her for the umpteenth time, Tan Qingya couldn’t hold back. She grabbed the girl’s nape and yanked backward, trying to pull her away.

But she hadn’t expected the pup to be feeding so earnestly. Her tug didn’t loosen the hold—instead, it dragged Tan Qingya forward, distorting the peach-like shape.

A few seconds later, Zhou Jianghao finally released her in a panic.

A wet pop echoed starkly in the quiet room.

“…”

Their bodies were still pressed close for the most part, and Tan Qingya could clearly feel Zhou Jianghao stiffen. She laughed out loud. “Didn’t you say tit for tat?”

She left the rest unsaid, not wanting to tease her too much, but the implication hung clear in the air.

She certainly hadn’t buried her face in Zhou Jianghao’s chest like a pup.

In the darkness, Zhou Jianghao’s face burned. She clutched the bedsheet tightly, fighting the urge to crawl into a hole. Pretending to be calm, she asked, “Then do you want to bite back?”

“…”

Tan Qingya nearly choked.

The girl’s responses were always so unpredictable, catching her off guard. She reached out and tugged at Zhou Jianghao’s feverish cheek. “Be good and go to sleep properly.”

The next morning, when Tan Qingya woke, the spot beside her was empty.

She sat up, and a faint stinging pain suddenly bloomed across her chest. She glanced down instinctively. The light had been dim last night, so she hadn’t seen clearly. Now, in the daylight, she saw the area was still red and swollen.

Like a cherry, surrounded by marks—looking rather pitiful.

Recalling last night’s Zhou Jianghao, Tan Qingya sat there in a daze. Was that really her?

Suddenly, the room door swung open, letting in a gust of cold air. Tan Qingya, who hadn’t dressed yet, shivered and yanked the blanket around herself.

Looking up, she saw Zhou Jianghao hurriedly turn her back, facing the wall like she was repenting. Her ears were flushed a deep red.

Tan Qingya raised a brow. So shy—she looked so pure. If not for the ache in her chest, Tan Qingya might have thought she was just an innocent little milk dog.

She schooled her expression, banishing the thought of how pitiful and adorable Zhou Jianghao looked. The girl might seem embarrassed now, but it didn’t hinder her performance in bed at all. Tan Qingya had underestimated her before.

Turning her gaze away, she got out of bed and headed to the walk-in closet.

When she emerged, Zhou Jianghao was still facing the wall. Tan Qingya walked over and familiarly hooked an arm around her waist.

“How long are you planning to stand there repenting?”

As she moved, that spot on her chest began to throb faintly again. Tan Qingya nearly lost her composure.

“I… I made breakfast.”

Zhou Jianghao endured her embarrassment, not even daring to glance at Tan Qingya. She’d woken up that morning nestled in the woman’s arms, her face buried right in that chest, leaving a swath of red marks across the pale skin.

Even more mortifying were the swelling at the tip and the surrounding love bites. Remembering last night’s recklessness, Zhou Jianghao clenched her fists. She’d have to have a death wish to do something so outrageous.

Fortunately, Tan Qingya didn’t pursue it and simply asked, “What time did you get up?”

“Six-thirty.”

Zhou Jianghao answered obediently. It was her biological clock.

Tan Qingya fell silent. How did the girl have so much energy? They’d gone at it so late last night, yet she’d risen even earlier than usual—over an hour ahead of Tan Qingya.

She’d been too gentle last night.

Munching on a sandwich, her thoughts wandered aimlessly. Next time, she’d pin Zhou Jianghao to the bed and kiss her fiercely, knead her roughly—wouldn’t let the girl get the upper hand again and leave her on the losing side.

Eyeing the cautious look in Zhou Jianghao’s gaze, she frowned. This wariness was different from the fear she’d shown before.

For the umpteenth time, she caught the girl’s eyes drifting toward her chest. Tan Qingya inhaled sharply and put on a stern face. “Focus on eating your breakfast.”

“Your… your chest—shouldn’t you put some ointment on it?”

After agonizing over it, Zhou Jianghao finally blurted it out.

Tan Qingya’s chewing halted. She went quiet for several seconds before lifting her eyes expressionlessly. “I’m fine.”

She didn’t look fine at all.

Zhou Jianghao ducked her head silently, guilt gnawing at her. She didn’t dare mention it again but couldn’t help worrying about that spot. She sneaked a glance at Tan Qingya’s outfit, held back for a while, then couldn’t resist. “Won’t that tight shirt hurt?”

“…”

The girl was usually so quiet—why was she so chatty today?

On purpose or by accident?

After a moment’s consideration, Tan Qingya lifted her chin. “Let’s not talk about that. Why are your nails clipped so neatly? I remember they weren’t long to begin with. Planning some mischief, or deliberately reminding me?”

She extended her manicured fingers, her tone loaded with meaning. “You’re right. With my nails like this, I can’t really give you much pleasure. I’ll get them removed today.”

“No!” Zhou Jianghao flushed crimson at Tan Qingya’s words. “You don’t have to specially remove them!”

“It’s fine. If you have needs, just say so. We’re partners—no need to be shy.” Having turned the tables, Tan Qingya withdrew her gaze contentedly, her poise betraying none of her earlier embarrassment.

The last sentence was for Zhou Jianghao—and a reminder to herself.

Even if the girl had gotten the upper hand, it wasn’t anything shameful. Partners went back and forth; who took the lead and who yielded was perfectly normal.

“I wasn’t deliberately reminding you.”

After blushing through her rebuttal, Zhou Jianghao didn’t dare bring up the chest issue again. She finished breakfast quietly and dutifully saw Tan Qingya off to work.

Only once Tan Qingya was gone did she fully exhale.

Sinking onto the sofa, she stared blankly at her fingers. Truth be told, she’d prepared last night for things to go all the way—even finger cots were ready.

She always felt Tan Qingya wasn’t satisfied with her. The woman had admitted to having strong desires, yet she’d been the one to call a halt last night.

The perennial top student Zhou Jianghao frowned seriously, utterly perplexed.

She had no friends, no one to consult—and such intimate matters weren’t for sharing anyway, no matter how close.

She could only puzzle it out herself.

But before she figured it out, a message from Tan Qingya popped up: dinner at the Tan Family Old Mansion tonight.

Tan Qingya had mentioned this matter to her once before, so Zhou Jianghao wasn’t too surprised. She even felt a bit relieved that last night’s escapades hadn’t gone too far and left too many traces behind. Otherwise, if anyone picked up on the slightest hint, that would be truly mortifying.

This was her first visit to the Tan Family since getting their marriage certificate. After mulling it over, she couldn’t resist sending Tan Qingya a message to ask what the Old Madam liked. Her savings weren’t much, but she couldn’t very well show up empty-handed.

Tan Qingya called her right away.

“You’re buying a gift for the Old Madam?”

“Mm.” Zhou Jianghao nodded. “Otherwise, it’d feel disrespectful.”

In truth, the two of them had already crossed that line into rudeness.

They had rushed into marriage without even meeting each other’s parents, and with their significant age gap to boot. Looking back, it carried a forbidden thrill, like a clandestine vow for life.

Strangely enough, the Tan Family was practically the place where she had grown up, so she had no reason to feel nervous. Yet this new role as family made her hesitate all the same.

Her background was humble. The Old Madam might accept her, but that didn’t mean everyone else would. It could even impact the Tan Family’s stock prices.

Showing up with nothing in hand would only give their critics more ammunition.

“Rituals?” Tan Qingya’s voice held a lazy nonchalance. “I am the Tan Family’s rituals. Who would dare say a word against you?”

Her words dripped with arrogance, leaving Zhou Jianghao speechless.

Just as she was at a loss for a reply, Tan Qingya shifted gears. “I’ll go shopping with you this afternoon.”