Chapter 65: I Can’t Argue with You

They had stayed up too late playing the night before and chatted long into the hours after midnight. The inevitable result was that by the next morning, with the sun already high in the sky, neither of them managed to get out of bed.

Auntie Chen had no idea that Tan Qingya had returned to the country ahead of schedule. When she saw it was nearly nine-thirty and Zhou Jianghao still showed no sign of rising, panic seized her. Fearing something might have gone wrong in the room, she hurried over and knocked urgently on the door. “Miss Zhou? Miss Zhou!”

After a moment, the door swung open. But instead of Zhou Jianghao, it revealed Tan Qingya, her face etched with clear impatience. “Something you need?”

“Second Miss is back?!”

Auntie Chen’s shock quickly turned to delight at the sight of her. She lowered her voice and asked, “Should I whip up another breakfast?”

“No need.” Tan Qingya shook her head. “I’ll be home for the next couple of days, so you don’t have to come by.”

“Got it.” Auntie Chen nodded eagerly, not forgetting to add a gentle reminder. “Just make sure to eat on time—it’s no good for your health otherwise.”

Tan Qingya gave a vague nod, shut the door, and flopped back onto the bed. She drew Zhou Jianghao back into her arms and closed her eyes once more. Without having shaken off the jet lag, her mind felt like a jumbled mess.

Perhaps the chill from the clothes Tan Qingya had hastily thrown on seeped through, because Zhou Jianghao wriggled uncomfortably, trying to slip free from the embrace. Before Tan Qingya could loosen her hold, Zhou Jianghao had twisted herself fully awake.

Their gazes locked. Moments later, Zhou Jianghao bolted upright. “What time is it?!”

The sudden motion set her two little bunnies jiggling wildly.

Amusement danced in Tan Qingya’s eyes as she tugged Zhou Jianghao back down, cupping the still-quivering bunnies. With a soft laugh, she rested her head on Zhou Jianghao’s shoulder and gave them a gentle pinch. “Little Doctor Zhou, it’s the weekend. No work today.”

This girl always seemed so prim and proper, yet her body carried that irresistibly sweet fragrance. Unable to help herself, Tan Qingya leaned in for a sniff, then planted a light suck on her softly rounded shoulder. She sighed. “You smell so good.”

She wanted to devour her whole.

As her lips pulled away, a fresh red mark bloomed on Zhou Jianghao’s snowy-white shoulder.

Tan Qingya’s eyes drifted to the similar marks scattered across her own body. In that instant, she suddenly understood the thrill Zhou Jianghao got from leaving her own traces. There was something undeniably satisfying about seeing those personal brands on your partner.

She couldn’t resist leaning toward Zhou Jianghao’s neck again.

“Not here.” Zhou Jianghao sensed her intention right away. In a fluster, she grabbed a fistful of Tan Qingya’s hair.

“Hiss—”

Zhou Jianghao had yanked too hard. Caught off guard, Tan Qingya sucked in a sharp breath from the sting. By the time Zhou Jianghao released her grip, a few strands of hair drifted down onto the sheets.

“Sor… sorry.” Zhou Jianghao stumbled over the apology. “Are you okay?”

“I’m not.” Tan Qingya kept her face stern.

Zhou Jianghao froze, stunned, her mind scrambling for a response. Before she could come up with one, Tan Qingya had her pinned to the bed. The once-stern expression melted into a grin. “Little Doctor Zhou, you’re going to have to take responsibility for this.”

She pressed a kiss to Zhou Jianghao’s neck. “Don’t like it here?”

Her touch was feather-light and tender, leaving not the slightest mark.

“People might see.” Zhou Jianghao’s voice came out embarrassed.

Tan Qingya arched a brow. So anywhere below the neck was fair game? She thought back to the constellation of spots dotting her own skin from the neck down and burst out laughing. “Now that’s thoughtful of you.”

No wonder everything above the neck was pristine. Zhou Jianghao had planned ahead.

Tan Qingya’s gaze roamed lower, her amusement deepening. “So everywhere else is fine?”

Caught off guard, Zhou Jianghao nodded. “Mm.”

It was almost eleven by the time they finally emerged from the bedroom.

Zhou Jianghao was ravenous, her stomach growling like an empty fortress under siege. Thankfully, both their bellies were protesting, or heaven knew when they might have left that room.

Feeling a twinge of guilt, Tan Qingya had commandeered the kitchen.

Booted from the kitchen by Tan Qingya, Zhou Jianghao sank onto the sofa. Little Beauty trotted over at once, ball in his mouth, begging for a game.

They’d only played a few rounds when Little Beauty’s head drooped. He wagged his tail and nudged the leash toward Zhou Jianghao, who brightened. “Want to go out and play?”

Little Beauty barked twice.

For such a big dog to sit there gazing up with those pleading eyes made it impossible to say no. Zhou Jianghao pulled him into a hug and stroked his head. “After we eat, okay?”

Whether Little Beauty understood or not, he whined twice and dropped the leash aside before padding off.

He looked utterly pitiful.

Over breakfast, Zhou Jianghao made the first move. “We haven’t taken Little Beauty out together in ages. Want to go for a walk after we eat?”

Tan Qingya shot Little Beauty a sidelong glance. “Auntie Chen takes him out every morning.”

She had other plans—ones that involved a date with Zhou Jianghao alone.

Little Beauty’s ears had pricked up the moment Zhou Jianghao said his name. The clever little dog read the room from Tan Qingya’s look and tone, realizing his outdoor hopes were dashed. He let out two indignant barks.

Zhou Jianghao’s resolve softened at the sound. She pressed her case. “I haven’t gone on a walk with you in forever, either.”

Tan Qingya went quiet, a flicker of yielding in her expression.

Zhou Jianghao met her eyes. “Don’t you want to walk with me?”

“…”

Two pairs of dark, soulful eyes stared up at her beseechingly. For all her ironclad willpower, Tan Qingya couldn’t muster a refusal. With an inward sigh, she pushed her plans back. “I do.”

Winter’s sun held no bite, only a cozy warmth against the skin. To keep an overexcited Little Beauty from bolting, Tan Qingya gripped her leash tight. She reached for Zhou Jianghao’s hand—and felt it clasp hers first, the girl taking the initiative for once.

“So obedient today?” Tan Qingya chuckled.

“Not obedient.” Zhou Jianghao corrected her earnestly. “I want to hold your hand.”

Sharing your life with a partner. Sharing your thoughts. Sharing your feelings.

Those were Zhou Qiaoqiao’s words from before.

Zhou Qiaoqiao had casually asked who the woman sitting with her that day had been. A few sentences in, she’d been called out: they didn’t seem like newlyweds.

The words had hit home. Pretending calm, Zhou Jianghao had probed further and learned that Zhou Qiaoqiao believed partners ought to crave sharing every part of their lives. Yet she and Tan Qingya hardly did.

Being someone’s partner for the first time came with plenty of flaws. But flaws could be fixed once you knew about them.

“And you? Do you like me holding your hand?” Tan Qingya had gone quiet for so long that Zhou Jianghao’s nerves spiked.

“Zhou Jianghao.” Tan Qingya’s tone grew serious as she used her full name—a rarity.

Zhou Jianghao halted, body going rigid. “Yes?”

Does she hate it?

“Where’d you pick up talk that sweet?” Tan Qingya asked with genuine curiosity. “Teach me. I want to sweet-talk you too—feel what it’s like to have my heart burst into bloom.”

Zhou Jianghao’s face ignited in a blush. But she didn’t just flush and wilt like before. Face burning, she shot back. “What nonsense is that?”

“Nonsense? Where?” Tan Qingya stood her ground. “You made my heart bloom. Fair’s fair—I want you to feel it too.”

“I didn’t sweet-talk you…” Zhou Jianghao mumbled, shooting her a glare. “I was just saying what I meant.”

Tan Qingya swallowed a laugh. “I love hearing you lay it out straight. Your honesty is like honey straight from the jar—makes my heart all warm inside.”

She squeezed Zhou Jianghao’s hand tighter, at last answering the question. “I like you holding my hand. I like kissing you. Touching you. And most of all, I like tumbling into bed with you and…”

Zhou Jianghao clapped a hand over her mouth before she could finish.

“This is public.”

Her face aflame, Zhou Jianghao enunciated each word.

Tan Qingya stepped back, scanned the area, and reclaimed Zhou Jianghao’s hand with brazen confidence. “What’s to worry? Middle of the day—no one’s around.”

She picked up smoothly where she’d left off. “…making love. And I love that serious look on your face when you say you like me.”

Zhou Jianghao listened closely despite her blush. The final words blindsided her. She paused, then objected. “I didn’t say I like you.”

“You want to hold my hand but don’t like me?” Tan Qingya arched a brow. “Zhou Jianghao, you act all proper, but trying to back out now? If you didn’t like me, would you even want to?”

Zhou Jianghao was struck speechless.

The logic tracked, but something about it felt… off.

“I can’t argue with you.” It took her ages to squeeze out the admission.

She’d never imagined Tan Qingya had such a silver tongue. It felt like teasing, like trickery—yet every word rang true on reflection. Impossible to counter.

Tan Qingya gave her a knowing glance. “When words fail you against me, there’s always another path.”

Zhou Jianghao perked up, eyes on her.

Tan Qingya guided her hand to her own lips, her gaze darkening with intent. “Like plugging my mouth another way?”

“…”

Any more teasing, and she’d push too far. Tan Qingya let out a delighted laugh. “Okay, okay—no more.”

No sooner had the words left her than a shadow loomed.

Lips met in a sweet rush, the soft press melting away in an instant as light flooded back.

Tan Qingya licked her lips, savoring the ghost of the touch, and looked down at the girl who’d grown suddenly bold.

“I should’ve shut you up sooner.”

Zhou Jianghao spoke with utter conviction.

Thus, Tan Qingya fell unusually silent, refraining from teasing her for the moment.

Hmm—she needed to give Zhou Jianghao a little sweetness this time, so that next time, she would take the initiative to kiss her.

On the way back, they encountered a couple pushing a stroller out to bask in the sun. Zhou Jianghao suddenly remembered Li Tongan’s situation and couldn’t help sharing with Tan Qingya what had happened at the Tan Family that day.

“I don’t like the way he talked about you, and I don’t want that child to have to live under someone else’s roof at such a young age.” Zhou Jianghao put on a stern expression. “So at the time, I didn’t give him any respect. I might have offended him.”

It wasn’t just a might—it was definite.

But now, thinking back on it, she felt a twinge of fear. She didn’t know what Tan Qingya intended, nor whether Li Ye had any business dealings with her. By making an enemy for her, Zhou Jianghao might end up bringing trouble to her door.

“Don’t be afraid.” Sensing Zhou Jianghao’s unease, Tan Qingya soothed her. “It’s a good thing I wasn’t there at the time. Otherwise, I would have slapped him across the face. You were still too gentle.”

With that, Tan Qingya lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions flickering in her eyes.

She was no pushover who would meekly tolerate being bullied. For anyone to conspire with her own people to trip her up and even try to sabotage her marriage—she would never let Li Ye get away with it.