Chapter 57

Tan Qingya hadn’t been to this neighborhood for a long time, but surprisingly, she didn’t feel unfamiliar upon returning. She parked the car with practiced ease, without scratching it this time.

The moment she stepped out and her foot hit the ground, she lowered her head uncomfortably. She was wearing sneakers—she had no idea when Zhou Jianghao had bought them for her—but they fit perfectly and felt quite comfortable.

She hadn’t worn flats outside in who knows how many years; even her home slippers had a slight heel. Now, stepping on the ground felt like stepping into clouds, with a floating, unsteady sensation.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Tan Qingya staring down at her shoes, Zhou Jianghao grew a little uneasy. “Do they not fit?”

“No, they’re very comfortable.” With that, Tan Qingya took her hand and walked with her toward the residential building.

At this hour, many old madams were already sitting by the roadside chatting away. They had no choice but to pass right by them.

Feeling Zhou Jianghao give her a subtle glance, just as she was about to ask, she heard her whisper, “Don’t say anything later.”

Don’t say anything?

Tan Qingya was a bit dazed and hadn’t had time to ask when a familiar voice rang out: “Oh yo! Isn’t this Little Zhou?”

It was that Sister Liu from before.

“Sister Liu.” Zhou Jianghao greeted her calmly, though only Tan Qingya knew her palms were sweating.

Why was Zhou Jianghao so nervous?

It was just a neighborly hello.

But she obediently stayed quiet, simply watching their exchange. Still, with someone like her standing right there, the conversation was bound to shift to her.

“Last time you mentioned wedding wine, I waited forever, but you ended up running off. I was starting to think you two looked down on a country bumpkin like me.”

Feeling Zhou Jianghao grip her hand tightly, she replied without missing a beat: “No, the wedding’s next spring. We’ll send invitations ahead of time.”

This time, even Zhou Jianghao looked at her.

“Spring? Spring’s perfect!” Sister Liu lit up at the answer, then couldn’t help griping, “This winter’s way too cold—freezing people to death!”

Cold?

Tan Qingya neither confirmed nor denied it. Glancing at her long down jacket, she actually found this winter pretty warm.

“You two look so good together—easy on the eyes.” Sister Liu grinned, then sighed. “Haven’t seen you around lately. Thought you’d moved away!”

“We did move.” Tan Qingya couldn’t hold back. “We’re here now to pack up.”

“Ah ya! Little Zhou! You’re moving?”

Sister Liu gasped in shock, her voice booming. The others seated by the road crowded over, chiming in one after another. Tan Qingya handled them surprisingly well, but as the chat heated up, Zhou Jianghao subtly scratched her palm.

Feeling the tickle, Tan Qingya glanced down at Zhou Jianghao. Her face remained impassive as she cut in: “Sorry, it’s getting late. We need to pack.”

The others let them go at that.

Once they’d walked farther away, Zhou Jianghao murmured, “That’s how they are—super enthusiastic. Pick up any chatty vibe, and they’ll hold you forever.”

So that’s why she hadn’t wanted Tan Qingya to speak at first—to avoid getting roped in.

Recalling the group basking in the sun together, Tan Qingya looked at her. “I kinda envy them.”

“Envy them?” Zhou Jianghao froze.

“Don’t you think it’s happy? Growing old and still sitting with your lover and friends, soaking up the sun and chatting.” Tan Qingya shook Zhou Jianghao’s hand. “I hope we can do that when we’re old.”

When we’re old?

Zhou Jianghao’s gaze flickered.

Before she could dwell on it, Tan Qingya tugged her forward. “Little Doctor Zhou, if I remember right, our home’s here.”

Zhou Jianghao flushed, savoring “our home” as she stole another glance at her. She recalled why Tan Qingya had said she’d be her ox and horse.

Claiming she didn’t know how to pursue her and could only pitch in like that—but Zhou Jianghao thought she was being modest. She was clearly great at it.

“Zhou Jianghao.”

Called again, Zhou Jianghao straightened instinctively. The next second, her nose was pinched, Tan Qingya’s face filling her view as their foreheads touched.

“Little Doctor Zhou, what are you thinking about so intently?”

Zhou Jianghao’s face fell awkwardly. She stepped back, cheeks burning with shyness, yet she answered honestly: “You.”

Now it was Tan Qingya’s turn to freeze.

A smile spread through her eyes as she feigned sternness. “Even if it’s me, spare a gap to watch your surroundings.”

With that, she patted the door. “Get in soon, or people will show up.”

The words hit hard. Zhou Jianghao forgot everything else and fumbled for her key to unlock it.

Tan Qingya laughed. “Why do you turn into a mouse seeing a cat around people?”

And she claimed to be bold.

“Just avoiding unnecessary trouble,” Zhou Jianghao said seriously.

“People need to socialize.”

“Don’t close yourself off from the world?” Zhou Jianghao quipped along. Click—the door opened. A gentle push produced a harsh scrape.

The iron door dragging across the ground.

As soon as it swung open, the musty smell hit them. Seeing Tan Qingya about to step in, Zhou Jianghao yanked her back. “Air it out first.”

But she pulled too hard, dragging her straight into her arms. Tan Qingya was slightly taller, so Zhou Jianghao always felt like a little bird in her embrace. Tan Qingya in hers only happened in bed—this was a first.

Uncomfortable, she tried to step back, only for Tan Qingya to move faster. She turned without hesitation, wrapping her arms around her, resting her chin on her shoulder and bending to lean in, as if unaccustomed. “The smell is kinda strong.”

Zhou Jianghao tensed up, hugging her back, heart in her throat. “Wait in the car.”

“Little Doctor Zhou.” Tan Qingya suddenly turned serious, straightening up to lecture her primly. “You can’t always shut yourself in your own world. What’s wrong with smelling something different? Besides, this is your home—our home. No one dislikes their own place.”

She pinched Zhou Jianghao’s cheek again, tugging it gently, savoring the soft warmth under her fingertips, then squeezed. “Got it?”

“I got it,” Zhou Jianghao protested. “I’m not always closed off.”

“Like what?”

“I get along great with my colleagues.” Pride crept into her tone. “I bring her breakfast every day and chat with the others.”

“Bring her breakfast every day?” Tan Qingya’s face darkened, alarms blaring internally. “Who? Doctor Liu?”

“Yeah.” Zhou Jianghao nodded. “Just found out recently she was the one sneaking me breakfast in college. So we agreed—I’ll bring her a month’s worth.”

Tan Qingya went silent.

Scheming woman.

Spotting another issue, she frowned. “No more eating random stuff from strangers. What if they drug you?”

She’d heard plenty of news stories—people hurt after eating from strangers, even trafficked to remote mountains.

“Didn’t think much of it then.”

Seeing Tan Qingya’s serious expression, Zhou Jianghao didn’t feel scared like she had early on—just tense. She instinctively hooked their fingers, but before she could speak, Tan Qingya glared at her stern-faced.

“No acting cute.”

Acting cute?

Zhou Jianghao nearly choked. “I’m not.”

Tan Qingya stayed stern. This was serious—Zhou Jianghao’s vigilance was too low, too naive, easy prey for harm. Her old simple circle might’ve been fine, but as the Tan Family head’s wife now, she couldn’t go on like that.

“I really didn’t think much back then—vigilance was low. But I swear, I wouldn’t now.” Zhou Jianghao rushed out, dead serious, nearly raising her hand to vow.

She’d been a freshman then—mature for her age, but not one to assume the worst of people.

Sudden footsteps echoed from downstairs. Startled, Zhou Jianghao pulled her inside and swiftly shut the door, blocking out the world.

No time to flip the light—next second, she was pinned against the wall.

Well, not entirely the wall.

Tan Qingya’s hand cushioned her back.

“So, Doctor Liu gave you a whole month’s breakfast?” Tan Qingya leaned down, nipping her lip and sucking punishingly.

The thought of Zhou Jianghao being close to that Doctor Liu behind her back soured her mood even more.

Tan Qingya’s breath was scorching hot. Even after countless kisses, Zhou Jianghao’s heart still raced wildly. She couldn’t help lifting her head to kiss back, voice feather-light and fading. “I didn’t know it was her.”

Tan Qingya didn’t reply, but her kiss turned fiercer.

In the dim, unlit room, they kissed without restraint. Things like this really did become habit-forming and addictive.

For instance, a mere flick of Tan Qingya’s tongue tip along her lip seam, and she parted her lips in perfect sync, eagerly welcoming her in, skillfully tangling with her.

Or when Tan Qingya pulled back from her territory, she’d chase after desperately, roughly prying open her lips to pin that escaping little tongue, hooking, sweeping, and grinding against it.

For example, even just a kiss from her had left Zhou Jianghao soaking wet.

But this wasn’t the sky where the moon belonged.

This was merely her own rented apartment—cold, damp, and musty with mildew.

As her senses cleared, she withdrew the hand that had already slipped beneath the other’s clothes.

She turned her head away. “Not here.”

It would dirty her moon.

Tan Qingya hugged her close and let out a soft sigh.

Only a single door separated them from the outside, where children’s shouts rang out once more. The soundproofing was terrible; noises from every direction filtered in clearly, to say nothing of the sounds coming from their room.

Tan Qingya disliked restraint.

If she were truly to make love with Zhou Jianghao, she would prefer to follow her whims, to cry out freely without a care, rather than stifling herself for fear of drawing unwanted attention.

At such moments, she wasn’t sure she could hold herself back.

After all, Zhou Jianghao had the power to shatter her chains and let her indulge without restraint.

Her gaze drifted downward involuntarily, settling on Little Doctor Zhou’s hand. Unable to resist, she reached out and laced their fingers together.

“Is it because of your profession?” she sighed.

“Hm?”

Tan Qingya sighed again. “It’s very capable.”

With that, she gave the ring finger a gentle pinch, her eyes darkening. Zhou Jianghao’s fingers were long, and she could still vaguely recall the chill of the ring.

Little Doctor Zhou was extraordinarily gifted.

A powerful sense of crisis suddenly surged within her. If she didn’t redouble her efforts soon, one day Zhou Jianghao might seize complete control.