Chapter 75: Wanting to See My Wife

Just as her mischief flared up again, right when she could barely hold herself back any longer, Tan Qingya still toyed with the idea of teasing her a bit more. She feigned ignorance on purpose. “Hm? What’s wrong?”

At her question, Zhou Jianghao’s restless head froze in place. She truly hadn’t expected Tan Qingya to not understand her intent. Lifting her head from that soft expanse, Zhou Jianghao peered at the other woman’s face under the gentle, dim lighting.

Tan Qingya’s expression was a little hard to make out, faintly tinged with what seemed like confusion.

Zhou Jianghao pursed her lips, her face burning hot.

After wrestling with it inwardly for a moment, she couldn’t help leaning in to kiss Tan Qingya’s lips. “Don’t you want to?”

Tan Qingya suspected this girl was deliberately tempting her.

Look at those eyes brimming with desire. When she kissed her, whether on purpose or by accident, the tip of her tongue had pressed against her lips but hadn’t delved inside. Her own lips had parted, yet the girl pulled back just like that.

She couldn’t hold back any longer.

Raising her hand, Tan Qingya pressed Zhou Jianghao’s head back down. Amid the kiss, her voice came out muffled. “I do. I’m dying for you.”

Her words were muffled, but her actions were anything but hesitant.

It had been too long since they’d been this close, and both of them were a touch frantic. They paid no mind to the three times they’d mentioned earlier. The preparations were quickly and thoroughly made. When they finally felt each other, they let out simultaneous sighs of relief.

The urgency from before faded, replaced by gentle, patient movements that let the other find her pleasure.

Considering they still had skiing tomorrow, after just two rounds, Tan Qingya called a halt.

But Zhou Jianghao, who had been right in the thick of it, clearly wasn’t satisfied. She buried herself against Tan Qingya and stayed silent.

As expected of a young girl.

Suppressing a laugh, Tan Qingya lifted Zhou Jianghao’s head, revealing her sulky face. She kissed her soothingly and cooed softly, “Next time, okay?”

“Can’t we go one more time?” Zhou Jianghao’s voice was muffled, her brows knitted in clear disappointment. She looked quite pitiful.

Tan Qingya drew in a sharp, discreet breath and hastily looked away. If she kept staring, she might not be able to resist. After all, two rounds weren’t nearly enough for her either.

But skiing was exhausting, especially for a total newbie like Zhou Jianghao. If her legs gave out tomorrow during lessons, who knew how many nasty falls she’d take.

“Forgot about your team-building tomorrow?”

She tamped down her urges and explained patiently.

“Sister doesn’t have team-building.” Zhou Jianghao’s mind was still sharp, remembering that Tan Qingya had nothing planned for tomorrow. Her knee bent slightly, rubbing gently as she spoke with a hint of grievance. “Can’t I make Sister happy?”

She even reached up to press Tan Qingya’s lips. “Like how Sister just played with me.”

Earlier, Tan Qingya had teased that her little nub was like a faucet switch, leaving her mortified. Now she wanted to try it herself—clearly, Tan Qingya’s was just like one too.

Tan Qingya’s breathing hitched for a few moments.

She quickly clamped down on Zhou Jianghao’s wandering leg, schooled her expression, and said sternly, “Time for bed.”

“…”

Zhou Jianghao couldn’t quite fathom how Tan Qingya managed to hold back. Her own knee still bore the damp traces from rubbing against Tan Qingya. Clearly, Tan Qingya wanted it too, yet she really could restrain herself.

She could switch in an instant from the most seductive temptress to Liu Xiahui himself.

Listening to Tan Qingya’s steady breathing beside her ear, Zhou Jianghao let out a soft breath, trying to calm the fire stirring in her chest.

She’d thought she might lie awake, but in a daze, she eventually drifted off to sleep.

At nine o’clock, Zhou Jianghao arrived right on time at the entrance to the ski resort.

Liu Zhiyi was already waiting there. Spotting Zhou Jianghao getting out of the car, she hurried over. “Little Hao.”

Zhou Jianghao instinctively took a step back and nodded at her. “Doctor Liu.”

At that, a shadow flickered in Liu Zhiyi’s eyes.

They’d worked together for so long and often shared lunch in the cafeteria, yet their relationship hadn’t progressed at all. She could sense that Zhou Jianghao kept an invisible barrier between herself and everyone else. It didn’t hinder daily interactions, but getting any closer felt impossible.

Zhou Jianghao had timed her arrival precisely to avoid pointless small talk with her colleagues, but ironically, she ended up among the early birds. Everyone else suffered from chronic lateness. Adding her in, there were only six people at the ski resort entrance.

Five more were still missing.

Zhou Jianghao: “…”

Compared to the others, Liu Zhiyi was at least familiar, so she stood quietly with her, waiting off to the side.

Both of them stayed silent, making the atmosphere awkwardly tense. Liu Zhiyi fumbled for a topic. “That jacket looks great on you today. New?”

“This one?” Zhou Jianghao glanced down at her coat, a smile creeping onto her face unbidden. “My wife gave it to me.”

Liu Zhiyi fell quiet.

Whenever she mentioned her wife, the usually aloof Zhou Jianghao’s face would light up with a smile.

It was like she became a different person.

Liu Zhiyi managed a wry, bittersweet response. “You and your wife are so loving. I envy you.”

Zhou Jianghao blinked in surprise.

Loving?

Almost disbelieving, she asked, “You think my wife and I… are loving?”

The question came out of nowhere. Liu Zhiyi faltered, studying Zhou Jianghao’s expression to confirm it wasn’t bragging. Only then did she nod hesitantly. “Yeah. Most people at the hospital probably think you and your wife are loving.”

With a hint of hope, she added, “Were we wrong?”

Otherwise, why this reaction?

“No misunderstanding.” Zhou Jianghao quickly suppressed her inner glee, pursed her lips, and put on a serious face. But she couldn’t resist confirming with Liu Zhiyi. “We really are that loving, right? Super obvious?”

Her eyes sparkled. Liu Zhiyi couldn’t bring herself to deny it and just nodded silently.

It was the truth, after all.

Zhou Jianghao and her wife were openly affectionate. Her wife dropped off lunches every few days, and most times, she picked Zhou Jianghao up from work. Every time Liu Zhiyi saw the two of them together, it stirred jealousy in her heart.

She let out a sigh, losing the will to keep chatting.

Fortunately, the other five colleagues arrived soon after. The eleven of them headed to the ticket counter together.

The group tickets weren’t too pricey, but the snow gear and helmets were a bit steep. While Zhou Jianghao watched her colleagues haggle, a familiar voice suddenly sounded in her ear. “Wifey?”

At first, Zhou Jianghao thought she’d imagined it.

Tan Qingya rarely called her “wifey” in public—only deliberately in certain situations or in bed.

And how could Tan Qingya possibly be here?

The next instant came another call. “Zhou Jianghao.”

Zhou Jianghao whipped around. A woman fully geared up, snowboard tucked under her arm, stood right behind her.

The goggles covered most of her face, but they couldn’t hide Tan Qingya’s beauty.

This was a completely unfamiliar version of Tan Qingya.

Dressed in the most ordinary ski suit, her aura was still utterly captivating—stunning and cool. She drew every eye the moment she appeared.

“What are you doing here?” Zhou Jianghao asked, stunned.

Someone piped up knowingly. “Little Zhou, who’s this?”

Tan Qingya glanced over, lips curving behind her goggles. “You must be Little Hao’s colleagues. I’m her wife.”

Then she looked back down at Zhou Jianghao, her tone softening. “I’m part-time here.”

Zhou Jianghao: “…”

Would she buy that?

Even if she didn’t, the others did. The colleagues who didn’t know Tan Qingya’s identity perked up instantly. “So Little Zhou’s wife works here? Awesome, we’re among friends.”

One sidled closer and whispered to Tan Qingya, “Do you know the gear rental lady? Think you can get her to cut us a deal?”

“Of course.” Tan Qingya played the part convincingly. Glancing at Zhou Jianghao’s group of expectant faces, she walked over to the Boss. “A word?”

She headed to a corner. The Boss hesitated for a few seconds before following.

Tan Qingya was direct. She pulled out her phone, scanned the QR code on his chest, and got straight to it. “Their gear’s on me. Charge them sixty percent later.”

The Boss: !!!

Free money like this?

He whipped out his phone to check. Ten thousand yuan transferred in—several times the gear’s worth!

“Know what to say later?”

“Got it, got it!”

The Boss grinned ear to ear. Even if he were mute, he’d force out the words.

He seemed the slick type, so Tan Qingya turned back to the group with peace of mind.

“How’d it go?” the others asked eagerly.

Zhou Jianghao frowned, stressing again, “My wife isn’t great at haggling, you guys…”

“No problem.” Tan Qingya took Zhou Jianghao’s hand and addressed the rest. “Boss says sixty percent off for you.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped—even Zhou Jianghao stared in disbelief. Tan Qingya had actually pulled it off?

The Boss followed right after, beaming as he confirmed her words. The group lit up with joy and happily picked out their gear.

Tan Qingya had prepared Zhou Jianghao’s equipment herself.

Watching Tan Qingya squat down to fasten her protective gear, Zhou Jianghao whispered, “What are you really doing here?”

“Missed my wife, so I came.” Tan Qingya kept her head lowered, focused on the task, her tone casual.

Yet it was the sweetest line.

Zhou Jianghao hadn’t put on her goggles yet. Her flushed face stood out starkly against the sea of white.

She hastily shifted her gaze away, only to unexpectedly lock eyes with Liu Zhiyi standing not far off. The other woman seemed to have been watching her for quite some time; the moment their gazes met, she flusteredly looked away.

After waiting a long time for a response with none forthcoming, Tan Qingya looked up to find Zhou Jianghao lost in a daze. She raised an eyebrow. “Spacing out?”

“Mm.” Zhou Jianghao swung her feet back and forth. “All set?”

The others were already gliding across the slopes, looking like they were having the time of their lives. It stirred a bit of envy in her.

Of course, it was also a ploy to change the subject.

Tan Qingya let out a light chuckle, generously deciding not to tease the little girl any further. With great patience, she helped her don all the protective gear. Unfortunately, the girl’s face was so small that once the goggles were in place, it looked even tinier, like the size of a palm.

The cold goggles framed her fair expanse of cheek, making those rosy lips look all the more enticing.

Tan Qingya’s eyes darkened in an instant. On instinct, she leaned forward for a kiss, but her nose bumped against the icy goggles, putting a stop to her advance.

Zhou Jianghao snapped back to attention and pulled back a little. “We’re outside, you know.”

“Fine.” Tan Qingya sighed helplessly, readjusting her own goggles before pulling Zhou Jianghao to her feet. “Then let’s head to the beginner area over there.”

Zhou Jianghao found it hard to move.

Since she was a total newbie, Tan Qingya had equipped her with skis. The instant she helped her stand, however, Zhou Jianghao’s body tilted precariously, and she nearly toppled over.

Tan Qingya’s eyelid twitched. Fortunately, her reflexes were sharp, and she steadied her just in time.

Zhou Jianghao clung tightly to Tan Qingya with both hands, her little face taut with tension.

Tan Qingya glanced at the ski poles that had fallen to the ground, then at the arms wrapped vise-like around her own. She broached the subject carefully. “Mind if I pick up the poles?”

“Okay.” Zhou Jianghao nodded quickly, her lips pressed into a thin line. But her arms showed absolutely no sign of letting go.

“…”

She never would have imagined Zhou Jianghao like this—a completely new side of her. Even through the goggles, Tan Qingya could feel the depth of the girl’s dependence on her.

Mm, not a bad feeling at all.

But she couldn’t indulge her forever. It was like raising a fledgling bird—you had to let go sometime if you wanted it to spread its wings and fly.

“It’s okay,” she cooed softly. “Why don’t you try standing on your own? Even if you fall, it won’t matter. You’ve got all the protective gear on—it won’t hurt much.”

“Don’t be scared. When I first learned to ski, I took plenty of spills myself.”

Zhou Jianghao’s heart pounded wildly. She kept her head down, her entire body rigid as she stared at her feet below.

That sensation of weightlessness filled her with dread, but Tan Qingya’s final words made her lift her gaze. “You fell a lot too?”

She simply couldn’t picture it—what the lofty, unattainable Tan Qingya must have looked like tumbling across the ski slopes.