Chapter 15: Citrus Fragrance

It had to be that the air conditioner’s cooling was too slow. Gan Xun hadn’t felt refreshed at all since entering the room—instead, her whole body was starting to heat up.

She didn’t look much longer and pulled a tissue from the table to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

In a perfectly normal tone, she spoke toward the coffee table. “Yeah, just like that. Do whatever feels comfortable. We usually wear a necklace for a bit of embellishment too—it looks better that way.”

She didn’t want to show even a hint of anything strange.

And she wouldn’t allow herself to feel strange either.

Zhao Chiyun trusted her and thought this was how modern people did things, so she was demonstrating for her. Gan Xun couldn’t let her mind go dirty; that would be too awful.

Zhao Chiyun nodded as if it all made sense. “Cui Can has one around her neck.”

“Right, just like Cui Can’s.”

Gan Xun still didn’t look at her and pointed toward the bathroom door. “You should go wash up. I’m a bit sleepy and want to nap after you’re done.”

Zhao Chiyun paused for a moment, then suddenly drew closer.

Gan Xun’s heart pounded like it was about to explode. She heard her say, “Why are you acting so weird?”

She had been happily styling her hair and chatting just moments ago, but suddenly she wouldn’t even look at her and sat there with a cold expression, keeping her distance.

She had still noticed something was off. Gan Xun despaired.

“Where? I’m not!”

Gan Xun insisted firmly, “It’s just too hot.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve got heatstroke.”

As Zhao Chiyun spoke, she reached out. Gan Xun hurriedly dodged, clutching the spot on her neck where Zhao Chiyun’s fingertip had brushed.

“Why are you touching me?”

Zhao Chiyun was puzzled by her reaction. “I was just taking your pulse.”

Gan Xun endured it and said, “I don’t have heatstroke. Go wash up already. If you don’t go soon, I will.”

Zhao Chiyun left without hesitation.

Only after the bathroom door closed did Gan Xun slump over like she’d lost all strength, hugging her head and silently screaming for a bit.

Even after faint sounds of water came from the bathroom, Gan Xun still clutched her neck, spacing out as she thought about something.

A good while later, she finally started playing on her phone.

This time, Zhao Chiyun washed quickly because the process was familiar and she was worried Gan Xun would overheat.

When she came out, the living room’s cool air felt refreshing, which improved her mood a bit. Then she remembered something.

Gan Xun was lying flat on the sofa, browsing job-hunting apps. She didn’t even lift her eyes at the sound.

She knew Zhao Chiyun was wearing a nightgown, and it looked pretty good, but she just didn’t really want to look.

“Go rest. You don’t need to worry about the bathroom or clothes—I’ll handle it.”

She thought Zhao Chiyun would just walk past, but no—Zhao Chiyun came right over, wearing her spare slippers. The soles made a very modern slapping sound on the floor.

Gan Xun was sprawled out, taking up the whole sofa. It was fairly spacious, but when Zhao Chiyun sat down, she still squeezed in right next to Gan Xun.

Gan Xun was practically pinned and could only shift her waist deeper into the sofa to make space for her.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, she said, “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Zhao Chiyun sat with her legs pressed neatly together in a very proper lady-like posture, but she leaned forward slightly. “Have you forgotten something?”

Her waterfall-like long hair draped over Gan Xun, and the fresh scent after her bath enveloped Gan Xun like summer itself.

Even though she was looking up, Gan Xun—ever the gentleman—kept her eyes only on Zhao Chiyun’s face. Her mind went blank. “What?”

Zhao Chiyun was displeased. “You still haven’t told me your private words.”

Gan Xun almost forgot and rubbed her face.

After brewing for a moment, she resigned herself and said, “You should know what happened at the scene before we arrived, right?”

Zhao Chiyun’s expression twisted awkwardly. “Of course.”

“Good. Let me interject with something off-topic: did you have sex education back in ancient times? You know, the stuff with… men and women.”

Zhao Chiyun shot her a glare but still answered properly. “No.”

Gan Xun nodded in understanding. “It’s fine. We don’t have much of it in modern times either.”

“There are no men here today. Don’t stray off-topic.”

“Let’s check how solid your foundational knowledge is. It’s pretty much the same—women together with women also need intimacy, honesty, and satisfying physical needs.”

Gan Xun saw Zhao Chiyun clearly react, turning her body aside in shy embarrassment.

Feeling embarrassed, huh? That made her easy to fool.

She summed it up in one sentence. “Those things on the floor are tools they need for intimate activities. Of course you didn’t have them in ancient times. Not important—just know about it.”

She thought that was enough—adults got it.

But Zhao Chiyun pressed further. “I saw they were just two small lumps. I really don’t know where they’re used.”

“…” So much for her quick wit.

Gan Xun gave a dry laugh. “You don’t need to learn everything even if you’re studious. It’s really not important.”

Zhao Chiyun was unhappy with her evasion. Her face hardened, and before she could snap, Gan Xun blurted out, “Fingers.”

Zhao Chiyun froze for a second. “Why?”

She even extended her hand.

Gan Xun: “…”

Who was afraid of whom? If she couldn’t dodge, she’d meet it head-on.

Gan Xun gently cradled her hand, posed so elegantly like a county princess. “For example, your nails—they’re pretty, but upkeep must be a hassle. Yours aren’t even that long, but they could still scratch…”

Zhao Chiyun suddenly got it. Her face flushed bright red as she yanked her hand back, looking furious as if Gan Xun had defiled her.

“You…”

Gan Xun defended loudly, “You asked me! I said not to say it, but you insisted, and even asked for details. It doesn’t even matter if you know or not!”

“So vulgar.”

Zhao Chiyun cursed, wiping her hand off.

Gan Xun took the hit out of nowhere and couldn’t help complaining. “You ancient people are something else. No common ground to talk about. You call this vulgar, that indecent, but I didn’t see you having fewer kids. I visited a sex culture museum before—your ancient folks had plenty of tricks.”

Zhao Chiyun couldn’t save face and stood up to leave.

She got up and moved so suddenly that she didn’t stand steady and stumbled back onto the sofa.

Gan Xun sat up to steady her but not only failed—she got knocked back down hard.

The two stared at each other on the sofa.

This time, Gan Xun didn’t have time for stray thoughts. Zhao Chiyun’s arm pressed on her stomach, making her uncomfortable and short of breath.

She said with difficulty, “Is it worth getting so mad you can’t even walk?”

Zhao Chiyun was annoyed. “It’s all your fault.”

“I wasn’t even finished. So, County Princess, you know quite a bit yourself. I get it now—are you…”

The hand Zhao Chiyun wasn’t using to press her stomach clamped tightly over Gan Xun’s mouth.

—Haven’t read fewer idle books.

That was what Gan Xun wanted to say.

Zhao Chiyun said coldly, “If you dare spout nonsense, I’ll cut out your tongue.”

Very fierce.

But her palm carried a citrus fragrance.

Zhao Chiyun in her nightgown revealed more than when she’d unbuttoned her shirt earlier, but Gan Xun didn’t let her mind wander. She wasn’t the type to get embarrassed just because a girl was dressed scantily.

Yet the cotton nightgown was thin, and they could feel each other’s body heat.

With her in her arms like this, muffling her mouth, Gan Xun sadly realized and confirmed that she liked hugs.

Even if it wasn’t quite a hug, it had the warmth she craved.

Maybe it was because she’d been single too long.

Gan Xun nodded, her eyes pure and innocent.

Please let me go.

Zhao Chiyun released her and got off. To push herself up, her elbow dug into Gan Xun’s stomach, nearly sending her off.

Zhao Chiyun reached the bedroom door, then belatedly turned back. “How did you know all that?”