Chapter 82

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The unbound sleep robe hung loosely open. In the dark bedroom, where no lamp burned, her sharpened senses shifted from sight to sound and touch. Heartbeats mingled with scorching breaths, vibrating against skin to reach her eardrums. Ning Jiuwei held her breath, fingers clenched around the loosened sash, hesitating to take the next step.

Su Jinglan seized her wrist and rolled them over, switching positions. She pinned Ning Jiuwei to the bed and raised both her hands high, locking them above her head.

Gazing at the vague outline before her, Su Jinglan leaned in close. Strands of her loose hair brushed Ning Jiuwei’s temple, blending indistinguishably with her own dark locks. Her voice trembled, taut with overwhelming desire.

Su Jinglan pressed the tip of her nose to the one beneath her and murmured to Ning Jiuwei, “Let me be the irresponsible one.”

Ning Jiuwei tensed uncontrollably. Her heart hammered wildly, painting vivid pictures of what was to come. Inspiration had eluded her for design drawings, yet erotic images now flooded her mind like a spring. She turned her head away from the rush of hot breath, bit her lip, and tugged at her restraints.

Her struggles were feeble. Su Jinglan pressed down just a little harder, pinning her firmly to the pillow. With her bent knee, she parted Ning Jiuwei’s legs and cooed softly, “Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt my Designer Ning.”

Adrenaline spiked at those words, her body quivering with excitement. Ning Jiuwei turned back to face the woman holding her captive. No longer caring if her voice betrayed her inner urges, she wrenched free, gripped the back of Su Jinglan’s head, and flipped them over. In a husky whisper, she said, “President Su, I like pain.”

Hearing “President Su” in this moment set Su Jinglan’s blood aflame, her arousal peaking beyond measure. The bed was vast and yielding, able to withstand their playful tussle. Ning Jiuwei seized control, looming over the woman who ought to have been above her.

Su Jinglan remembered the bite on her neck—pain laced with a delicious tingle, the force perfectly gauged so that even the hurt felt like bliss. She wrapped her arms around Ning Jiuwei’s waist, pulling her close. Guided by sound alone, she tilted her head and sank her teeth into Ning Jiuwei’s slender neck.

The sudden move caught Ning Jiuwei off guard. A second later, pain bloomed at her pulse point.

“Do you like it?” Su Jinglan asked.

Ning Jiuwei dipped her head and clamped down hard on Su Jinglan’s shoulder. The lean flesh offered little cushion, her teeth scraping bone and drawing a sharp hiss from Su Jinglan.

“Too much,” Su Jinglan said. In the pitch-black night, her face lit with a smile as she savored the sweet torment. She ruffled Ning Jiuwei’s hair and shared her sensation. “Jiuwei, could you go a little easier?”

Ning Jiuwei’s heart thundered. A whirlwind of impulses drowned her restraint; she yearned only to mark Su Jinglan everywhere.

One more bite and skin would break, but Ning Jiuwei didn’t lighten her grip—instead, she bore down harder. Su Jinglan tightened her hold on her waist, yielding completely.

In the end, Ning Jiuwei reined herself in.

She released her bite and sank into Su Jinglan’s embrace, willing the frenzy to ebb bit by bit.

Their heartbeats echoed against each other, rising and falling in turn. When Ning Jiuwei stilled, Su Jinglan couldn’t stop there. She tilted Ning Jiuwei’s chin up and traced the familiar scent to her lips for a tender kiss.

“Jiuwei, I want to keep going.” In a brief parting for air amid their tangled kiss, Su Jinglan undid the buttons of Ning Jiuwei’s sleepwear one by one. Ning Jiuwei considered pushing her away, but waves of heat left her boneless and weak.

She had confessed to craving pain, yet Su Jinglan handled her with exquisite care. Hands steady on her knees, she eased them apart, bent low to kiss her most intimate places, and cherished her with the gentlest of touches.

Faint moonlight slipped through a crack in the curtains. Ning Jiuwei’s eyes fluttered open, heavy-lidded. She clutched the sheets, bit her lip hard, and swallowed the sounds that clawed at her throat—sounds she’d never let escape before.

Those muffled cries only grew more enticing the harder she fought them. Su Jinglan burned with fervor. Overwhelmed, Ning Jiuwei pressed a hand to her head—meaning to shove her away, yet drawing her impossibly closer.

Deep into the night, Su Jinglan at last relented and crawled up beside her. Like an eager student seeking feedback, she nuzzled Ning Jiuwei’s temple and whispered, “Did it feel good, Teacher Ning?”

How was she supposed to answer that? Ning Jiuwei had just crested the wave, utterly new to this kind of pillow talk. She had no idea if lovers traded impressions after such intimacy.

“Want to go again?” When no reply came, Su Jinglan grinned, threw back the covers, and started to dip down once more. Ning Jiuwei gripped her shoulder and managed a strained, “No.”

The refusal slipped out, but Ning Jiuwei realized it was a lie. Deep down, she craved more—Su Jinglan delving deeper, unveiling sensations she’d never known. Ever the picture of gentle consideration, Su Jinglan smiled softly at the word, patted her head, and said, “Then I’ll go rinse my mouth.”

True to her word, Su Jinglan snatched up her sleep robe, slipped from the bed in the darkness, and flicked on the light at the bathroom door.

Bright light filtered through the open bathroom door, casting a dim glow over the bedroom. Ning Jiuwei turned toward the sound of running water, unable to see inside but easily picturing Su Jinglan cupping water to rinse her mouth.

There was no need to use fingers for something like that. Ning Jiuwei glanced at the drawer in the bedside table and finally understood what Su Jinglan had once mentioned.

Su Jinglan braced herself against the sink, rinsing her mouth with fresh water. The gurgling sound made her eyes and brows curve with amusement. She gazed at her flushed reflection in the mirror, spat out the water, and examined the bite mark on her shoulder.

Deeper than last time.

Su Jinglan took a mouthful of mouthwash, swished it for thirty seconds, then spat it out. Carrying the fresh scent of jasmine green tea, she returned to Ning Jiuwei’s side.

She held clean undergarments in her hands, gently wiped Ning Jiuwei down, and helped her change before slipping into a fresh pair herself.

Ning Jiuwei was too exhausted to fuss over such details—who was doing what for whom. She simply savored the meticulous care and drifted off to sleep in Su Jinglan’s arms.

She slept exceptionally well that night. Her weary yet satisfied body slipped into dreams amid the reassuring cedar white musk, faintly mingled with the aged, calming aroma of agarwood.

Su Jinglan, brimming with energy, couldn’t sleep. Their new level of intimacy had her endlessly replaying Ning Jiuwei’s reactions in her mind.

The breathing in her arms grew steady as Ning Jiuwei fell asleep. Su Jinglan tightened her embrace ever so slightly, holding her close.

The next morning, Ning Jiuwei woke feeling awkward. She slipped away without a word while Su Jinglan was still deep in slumber.

It hadn’t felt so bad inside Su Jinglan’s home, but the moment she stepped out the door, her waist ached fiercely. Ning Jiuwei rubbed the sore, softened spot and steadied her steps as she entered the elevator.

She prayed she wouldn’t run into Shen Lanyan here. Ning Jiuwei watched the numbers count down and breathed a sigh of relief after passing the 21st floor.

Building A to the community gate looked close enough, but walking it felt endless. On any other day, Ning Jiuwei wouldn’t have minded the stroll, but today every few steps made her feel like a frail elderly person.

Her car was parked at the company—calling her assistant to pick her up wasn’t out of the question, but it would waste time. By the time it arrived, Su Jinglan might have woken up. Ning Jiuwei glanced at her clothes; they were the same outfit from yesterday. She needed to go home and change.

Halfway there, Ning Jiuwei spotted the community shuttle. She raised her hand tentatively, and the security guard pulled up beside her, even offering to help her aboard with overly enthusiastic warmth.

Ning Jiuwei disliked physical contact with others, and after her intimacy with Su Jinglan, she found it even harder to tolerate anyone else’s proximity. She politely declined the guard’s help and gripped the handrail to climb on.

It was no surprise, given it was the most expensive community around—the property management was top-tier. With AI taking over more and more roles, the remaining security positions were treasured, and the guards took their duties seriously, delivering Ning Jiuwei right to the spot where she could catch a ride.

Ning Jiuwei called a cab online and headed home.

Last night’s events felt like a hazy dream. Leaning back in the car seat, Ning Jiuwei stared blankly out the window at the passing traffic and pedestrians. The scenery drained of color in her eyes, fading gradually to black as it pulled her back to that night of surging passion and pounding blood.

The afterglow lingered like an echo that wouldn’t fade for days, but Su Jinglan’s touch was even more persistent, impossible to shake off. Noticing her body’s response, Ning Jiuwei closed her eyes and suppressed the untimely surge of desire.

Back home, her first act wasn’t changing clothes but taking a shower in the bathroom.

Her phone buzzed on the foot of the bed, but under the shower spray, Ning Jiuwei heard nothing.

Su Jinglan awoke to an empty embrace, her heart tightening. She rolled out of bed and searched for her.

No sign of Ning Jiuwei in the bathroom or living room. After a quick sweep, Su Jinglan called her.

The phone rang until it went to voicemail. Su Jinglan got the message and didn’t call again.

Dazzling sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, flooding the living room. Su Jinglan sat on the sofa with her head lowered. The warmth seeped into her skin, but she found herself yearning for the scorching heat of the night—far more intense than the sun.

She let out a soft sigh and glanced out the window.

Her phone vibrated with an incoming message.

“I was just in the shower and didn’t hear the call.”

A single sentence was enough to lift Su Jinglan’s spirits, her lips curving into an unstoppable smile.

“You can shower at my place next time—no need to go home. I have new seasonal clothes that fit perfectly. Designer Ning and I are the same size; you can wear them.”

She sent the message, but Ning Jiuwei offered no reply.

Timing it to Ning Jiuwei’s usual arrival, Su Jinglan headed out. She beat her to the company and waited in the parking lot, finally spotting Ning Jiuwei’s car pull in.

The moment Ning Jiuwei stepped out, Su Jinglan got out of her own car and approached.

“Baby, you’re at the company so early today.” The moment Su Jinglan opened her mouth to speak, Design Director Zhang Xiaoyue’s voice drifted over from the parking spot ahead. She called out to Ning Jiuwei with unabashed affection. “I drank too much last night and nearly couldn’t get out of bed this morning.”

Zhang Xiaoyue slung her bag over her shoulder as she walked up to Ning Jiuwei’s side. Her long hair hung loose and disheveled, probably from a restless night of sleep.

Ning Jiuwei spotted Su Jinglan but only glanced her way before guiltily averting her eyes.

“Designer Ning.” Su Jinglan’s sharp gaze caught the fleeting look. She closed her car door and greeted the two women walking side by side with calm composure. “Director Zhang.”

“Morning, President Su.” Zhang Xiaoyue paused to wait for her, chatting about the aftermath of the drinking party. “Director Li was completely out of it. She ended up crashing at a hotel last night.”

The driver didn’t know Director Li’s address, so he’d taken her straight to the hotel.

“She called me first thing this morning and asked for a half-day off,” Zhang Xiaoyue added. Li Yao had made the call out of concern that President Su might need her and wouldn’t be able to find her, so she’d asked Zhang Xiaoyue to pass along the message.

Su Jinglan nodded and turned to Ning Jiuwei. “How about you, Designer Ning? Did you sleep well last night?”

Her deep eyes held a probing glint, but Ning Jiuwei avoided meeting Su Jinglan’s gaze entirely. She mumbled a vague, “Mm.”

Without so much as glancing at Su Jinglan, Ning Jiuwei stared straight ahead and kept walking. Su Jinglan matched her pace. “Designer Ning…”

The moment the words left her lips, Ning Jiuwei quickened her steps. Right in front of Zhang Xiaoyue, she pulled far ahead of Su Jinglan and stepped into the elevator alone—a rather rude move.

Zhang Xiaoyue blinked in surprise, then jumped in to smooth things over with a smile. “Designer Ning must have gotten some inspiration. She’s probably rushing off to sketch her design drawings.”

The gentle smile faded from Su Jinglan’s eyes. In a low voice, she asked, “Is that so?”

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