Chapter 92

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Hot water filled the bathtub in the bathroom, steam rising in wispy curls around it. Su Jinglan imagined Ning Jiuwei drawing near, slipping into the water clothes and all—the damp fabric clinging to her body, faintly outlining her figure. Her heart pounded fiercely.

Ning Jiuwei stepped up and pinched her shoulders, pressing down hard. Su Jinglan’s entire body went limp. She hadn’t even had a chance to carry out her plan before all her strength ebbed away, leaving her without the slightest ability to resist.

Ning Jiuwei’s hand slid from her shoulders to cradle the back of her neck, then scooped Su Jinglan up into her arms and carried her into the tub brimming with hot water.

“Su Jinglan, do you want to try how it feels in the water?” Su Jinglan’s pants were still on, now soaked and clinging uncomfortably. Thoughtfully, Ning Jiuwei reached for the waistband, undoing the button and tugging down the zipper.

Her unabashed gaze made Su Jinglan’s body burn. With a surge of impulse, Su Jinglan wrapped her arms around Ning Jiuwei’s neck, pulling her close for a fervent kiss.

In her excitement, Su Jinglan lost control of her strength, pouring every ounce of her pent-up emotion into Ning Jiuwei. Her parted lips kissed with fierce passion, drawing in Ning Jiuwei’s breath.

When the water reached the stop line, the tub’s inlet valve shut off automatically. The Smart System activated the circulating water flow for a massaging effect, ripples spreading in endless circles. As their bodies relaxed, releasing their suppressed desires, Su Jinglan’s hand ventured to Ning Jiuwei’s front, kneading along the lines of her deepest yearnings to stir her emotions.

Ning Jiuwei seized her wrist and turned her head away, interrupting. “So eager already? Do you want me that badly, Su Jinglan?”

Her tone carried a teasing lilt, less like a lover’s and more like playful banter. Su Jinglan opened her eyes, her breathing quick and ragged in time with her racing heart. “Don’t you?”

Adults had needs, ones that only grew stronger with age. Su Jinglan knew full well how much she craved Ning Jiuwei—craved her to the point of dreaming of their intimacy, her body responding honestly and leaving telltale signs that forced her to shower and change her underthings the next morning.

Their locked gazes sparked like flint on steel. Ning Jiuwei leaned in and kissed Su Jinglan’s closed eyes, whispering, “I don’t have much need for that sort of thing.”

Su Jinglan: ???

For all her denial, Ning Jiuwei stretched out a long arm and grabbed a bath salt bomb from the tub’s ledge. They’d only used three out of the box of twelve so far. She took out the fourth one in sequence and dropped it into the hot water, watching it fizz and bubble as she smiled at Su Jinglan. “President Su, are you taking off your pants yourself, or should I do it for you?”

Her underclothes, still half-submerged, were thoroughly soaked. Ning Jiuwei’s heart drummed like a war beat. Su Jinglan like this was utterly irresistible—how could she not want her?

“Let Teacher Ning do it.” Su Jinglan reclined in the tub, her closed eyes fluttering with delicate lashes, the upturned corners of her mouth revealing a pleased smile.

The foam-flecked water surface obscured the view, turning the hazy scene all the more tantalizing. Ning Jiuwei held her breath, etching every feature of Su Jinglan’s face deep into her memory, inch by inch.

Her gaze burned hotter than the water in the tub. Unable to help herself, Su Jinglan opened her eyes to meet it. Ning Jiuwei’s eyes roved over her, but the hands braced on the tub’s edge showed no sign of moving.

Su Jinglan took matters into her own hands, slowly peeling off her pants. She drew up her knees lightly and tossed the suit trousers onto the floor.

“Teacher Ning.” Su Jinglan pulled Ning Jiuwei close, the water soaking through to dampen her cumbersome loungewear. “Help me with the clasp in the back.”

The skin under her fingers was silky smooth. Ning Jiuwei supported Su Jinglan’s upper back and fumbled with the clasp.

She was practiced at undoing her own every day, but this was her first time doing it for someone else—especially in such an embrace. Ning Jiuwei’s heart raced uncontrollably, her hands trembling faintly.

“Ning Jiuwei, did you really like me back in high school?” Su Jinglan held her tight, her beaming smile brimming with the joy of being cherished. She rubbed her cheek against Ning Jiuwei’s profile. “Why pretend you didn’t recognize me?”

The affection had been real, but so had the resentment. Struggling one-handed, Ning Jiuwei brought both hands into play. Her lowered gaze fell on the creamy expanse of Su Jinglan’s back as she replied, “I wasn’t pretending. I really didn’t recognize you. Your style and aura are nothing like they were in high school.”

“But I recognized you at a glance.” To get close to Ning Jiuwei, Su Jinglan had transferred the President of the Design Division to another position, scheming every opportunity to spend time together.

Ning Jiuwei undid the first clasp and paused. Su Jinglan turned her head and nipped at her earlobe, her warm breath sending tingles of itchy pleasure straight to the heart. “Jiuwei, with your memory, there’s no way you couldn’t recognize me. You’d know me even if I were reduced to ashes.”

Her low voice smoldered with desire, but Ning Jiuwei kept her composure as she undid the second clasp. “I stopped liking you later on. I forgot all about you.”

As soon as those words left her lips, jealousy filled the room. Su Jinglan bit down hard and interrogated Ning Jiuwei about her feelings. “Did you fall for someone else back in university?”

Given Ning Jiuwei’s personality, she would never voice her affections outright. She was far more likely to harbor a secret crush on some top-performing student.

The thought sent Su Jinglan’s jealousy into overdrive. “Ning Jiuwei, how could you be so two-timing?”

Ning Jiuwei’s ears were sensitive and ill-equipped for such a fierce bite, yet she inexplicably found it thrilling—pain laced with a strange comfort. Could she really be like the scenario Wen Wanyuan had concocted, savoring even mistreatment from the one she loved?

The remaining buttons came undone easily. Ning Jiuwei wrapped her arms around Su Jinglan and leaned against her shoulder, hiding her expression. “After Doctor Shi’s psychological counseling, I haven’t developed feelings for anyone else.”

Su Jinglan spun a tale from thin air, stating it as indisputable fact to saddle Ning Jiuwei with imagined emotions. “Shi Wanxu carved out a place in your heart. She’s the reason you got into psychology. Bound by ethical guidelines, you buried those feelings deep until fate brought you back together years later. If I hadn’t gotten in the way, you two would be dating by now.”

“How is President Su just like Wanyuan, always spinning these implausible stories?” Ning Jiuwei tamped down her rising arousal, amusement flickering at the corners of her eyes. “I hold Doctor Shi in high regard. Back then, I saw her purely as my doctor—nothing improper about it.”

Her denial eased the knot in Su Jinglan’s chest. While Ning Jiuwei’s nature was gentle and unhurried, Su Jinglan moved with swift purpose. She seized the hem of Ning Jiuwei’s loungewear and yanked it upward, stripping it off in one fluid motion.

Ning Jiuwei usually lounged at home alone and skipped undergarments, but with Su Jinglan there now, she’d added one. Su Jinglan cradled the back of her head, their lips and tongues tangling fiercely as her deft fingers flicked open the clasp with ease.

It made no difference whether she wore it or not—just a couple of seconds.

One by one, Su Jinglan discarded the troublesome garments and lifted Ning Jiuwei into the bathtub, settling her onto her lap. They played like fish in water, exploring novel sensations.

Tense beyond measure, Ning Jiuwei buried her face in the crook of Su Jinglan’s neck. Her heavy breaths washed over the sensitive skin there. Su Jinglan slowed her pace, murmuring reassurances. “Jiuwei, that spot is tougher than you think. It can handle me. I won’t hurt you.”

Their relationship was bound to reach this point eventually, and Ning Jiuwei was prepared. She parted her legs slightly, giving silent permission for Su Jinglan to press on.

The sensations were worlds apart from tender lovemaking. Each movement drew unrestrained cries from her, echoing off the bathroom tiles. Ning Jiuwei’s indulgence fueled Su Jinglan’s abandon, carrying them both into uncharted realms of ecstasy.

“Su Jinglan.” Ning Jiuwei clutched at her back, battling the pleasure that shredded her reason. “Enough,” she gasped.

Su Jinglan paused, reading her true desires, then nuzzled her ear with a teasing whisper. “Not nearly enough. You need more of me.”

They lingered in the tub for over an hour. Under the harsh bathroom lights, Ning Jiuwei’s flushed skin had nowhere to hide. She draped the back of her hand over her eyes and collapsed onto the bed, too spent even to roll over.

She never would have guessed Su Jinglan had such boundless energy, such relentless drive. At twenty-nine, she was indeed in her prime.

The realization that she was the same age brought a soft sigh from Ning Jiuwei’s lips. No wonder she hadn’t refused—her own stamina must match it.

Su Jinglan returned from the living room and caught the sigh. Smiling, she perched on the edge of the bed. “Did I disappoint Teacher Ning? Here, have some water. I’ll redouble my efforts in a bit.”

Panic-stricken, Ning Jiuwei shrank under the covers without touching the glass. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep.”

Su Jinglan set the glass aside, propped Ning Jiuwei up gently, and coaxed the water to her lips. “Your voice is hoarse. Drink a little before you rest.”

She could have skipped that earlier remark. Ning Jiuwei shot Su Jinglan a glance, her face shifting back to that of Designer Ning—warmly smiling yet keeping the world at bay. Feigning ignorance of the innuendo, she took two slow sips.

The water was perfectly tempered, gliding over her raw throat with soothing coolness. Ning Jiuwei swallowed two more mouthfuls. “That’s enough. No more.”

Su Jinglan’s smile turned enigmatic. “Really enough?”

The look sparked a flurry of illicit thoughts. Ning Jiuwei flicked her gaze toward the bathroom, the words spoken there echoing in her mind. Mortified, she rolled over, presenting her back.

“Go sleep in the guest room.”

“Teacher Ning, are you kicking me out?” Su Jinglan teased.

Gulping sounds came from behind her. Ning Jiuwei glanced back to see Su Jinglan draining the rest of the water from her own glass, her eyes locked on Ning Jiuwei with a lingering smile.

Sharing the same cup, no less.

Ning Jiuwei squeezed her eyes shut and settled back onto the pillow, falling silent.

Su Jinglan set the empty cup on the bedside table, switched off the light, and slid into bed beside Ning Jiuwei. Her arms moved on instinct, wrapping around Ning Jiuwei and cradling the back of her head in an embrace that left no space between them.

“Want to go again?” Su Jinglan adored the sensation of possessing Ning Jiuwei—especially tonight, when that possession had run so deep. She couldn’t bear to let go.

Ning Jiuwei ached all over, her heartbeat still echoing in that intimate spot, leaving her mind blissfully hazy even now. “President Su, have mercy. I need to head home tomorrow.”

The word “home” made Su Jinglan’s eyes snap open. She’d nearly forgotten that Ning Jiuwei was going back to her parents’ place—originally planned for tonight, now pushed to tomorrow.

“How many days?” Su Jinglan had only just gotten a taste of this bliss; she couldn’t stand to be apart from Ning Jiuwei.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on Ning Jiuwei’s body, sleepiness sweeping over her like a tide. Her voice grew soft as she murmured, “Two days. I’ll head straight to work on Monday.”

Su Jinglan did the math: two days and two nights without her.

“Last time, we didn’t get to eat with your uncle and auntie. How about I drive you back tomorrow? We could have dinner together.” Su Jinglan recalled the invitation at the company’s elevator area. “Didn’t you say you’d treat me to a meal this weekend?”

“I’ve already treated President Su tonight.” Ning Jiuwei’s lips curved into a smile. “I’ll go back alone tomorrow.”

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