Chapter 23: A Professional Manager Part 5

Gu Qingshuang’s movements became slow, as if she were intentionally teasing Ming Li. Ming Li remained unmoved, watching her with great patience.

The hot water hadn’t been running for a while, and much of the steam in the bathroom had dissipated. The fogged-up mirror could dimly reflect Gu Qingshuang’s figure. The heat on Ming Li’s body faded, making her shiver from the cold.

Gu Qingshuang noticed and reminded her to turn the water back on. Ming Li shook her head. “If you don’t take them off, I’m not turning it on.”

“You’ll be the one suffering if you catch a cold,” Gu Qingshuang said.

“Worried about me?” Ming Li asked with a smirk. “Then take them off.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Qingshuang had already discarded the last piece of fabric. She stepped forward and turned the handle. The hot water showered down on both of them, instantly soaking Gu Qingshuang and making her long hair cling to her back.

She didn’t look pathetic at all.

Amid the sound of the water, Gu Qingshuang asked, “Are you happy now, teasing me like this?”

Ming Li wrapped her arms around her waist, pressing their bodies tightly together. She cradled the back of Gu Qingshuang’s head and whispered in her ear, “Baby, this isn’t teasing.”

A low gasp escaped Gu Qingshuang’s throat. Ming Li bit a small patch of skin on the side of her neck, then gently licked it.

“This is foreplay,” Ming Li whispered.

Ming Li didn’t hold back that night. Twice in the bathroom, and once more after they returned to the room. Three times, each one leaving Gu Qingshuang completely exhausted. By the time they were finished, she was slumped on the bed, biting the corner of the quilt. Her wet hair had soaked the sheets and the duvet. Of course, the marks on the bedding weren’t just from the water on her hair.

Gu Qingshuang looked at Ming Li with misty eyes, her voice full of satisfaction. “Ming Li, how much do you hate me?”

“It’s not hate.” Ming Li collapsed beside her, exhausted to the point that her fingers were cramping. She pulled Gu Qingshuang into her arms and held her tight. “It’s…”

Ming Li had wanted to say “love,” but she felt the word was inappropriate for the two of them, so she stopped abruptly. Gu Qingshuang thought she had fallen asleep when she stopped talking, but when she glanced over, she saw Ming Li staring at the ceiling.

“It’s what?” Gu Qingshuang asked lazily.

Ming Li smiled. “What do you think it is?”

“How would I know what you’re thinking?” Gu Qingshuang said.

“Then don’t worry about it,” Ming Li said. “Don’t ask. As long as it felt good.”

Gu Qingshuang struggled to keep her eyes open, but she was too tired. She just curled her lips and smiled. “It’s been a while, but I can actually hear you say something like that.”

“Like what?” Ming Li asked.

“‘As long as it felt good.’”

“Is it not true?” Ming Li said. “You’re always asking so many questions.”

“Are you complaining that I ask too much?” Gu Qingshuang was already very sleepy, her words slurring. But her mood was clearly much better than it had been in the study; she was even smiling. After such deep physical communication, they subconsciously felt closer. Her conversation with Ming Li was unfiltered.

“No,” Ming Li said. “It’s just that your questions make things very difficult for me.”

Gu Qingshuang: “Hmm?”

Ming Li wasn’t about to explain exactly how difficult they made things; some words were best kept to herself. But Gu Qingshuang seemed to have a sudden burst of curiosity. She reached out and poked Ming Li’s waist. “Be specific.”

Ming Li: “…”

“Aren’t you sleepy?” Ming Li changed the subject.

Gu Qingshuang curled her body like a cat seeking a safe harbor. From a psychological standpoint, it was an insecure sleeping posture. Ming Li didn’t even move before she saw Gu Qingshuang curl into her shoulder, her head resting firmly on her body as if it were a pillow. Ming Li didn’t move, just held her tighter.

Gu Qingshuang replied incoherently, “Sleepy.”

“Then sleep,” Ming Li said. “Stop with all the ‘whys.’”

You wouldn’t want to know anyway.

Gu Qingshuang smiled. “You have a really bad temper tonight.”

“I do?” Ming Li refused to admit it. “It’s just a hallucination because you’re tired.”

“I’m tired, not stupid.” After saying that, Gu Qingshuang seemed to find it hilarious. She closed her eyes and laughed against Ming Li’s shoulder, her body shaking with mirth.

Ming Li stared at her helplessly. “Aren’t you exhausted?”

She flipped over and pinned Gu Qingshuang to the bed, gripping her hands. Gu Qingshuang’s wet hair was spread across the bed. Her eyes were half-closed, her lashes long. She was fair-skinned, practically glowing under the bedroom lights. Even though she was thirty and often stayed up late, the Heavens had given her a body she could be reckless with. There were barely any dark circles under her eyes. Ming Li, who got terrible dark circles after staying up late, felt a surge of envy.

Ming Li stared at her, lost in thought for a few seconds.

Gu Qingshuang just smiled. “Staring blankly?”

Ming Li: “You’re just beautiful.”

“I know,” Gu Qingshuang said. “But are you telling the truth or a lie?”

Ming Li felt that Gu Qingshuang’s current state wasn’t that of someone who had just had sex, but someone who was drunk. But Gu Qingshuang was relaxed, and Ming Li felt comfortable, so she didn’t have many reservations. “The truth, of course.”

Gu Qingshuang hummed like a kitten, though whether she was satisfied or not was unclear. Ming Li’s sleepiness had completely vanished after the exertion. Her body was tired, but her hair was still damp; she couldn’t sleep. Gu Qingshuang’s hair was also wet, as were the sheets. Ming Li couldn’t just let her sleep like this, or she’d wake up with a headache tomorrow. But seeing Gu Qingshuang sleeping so soundly, she knew the woman hadn’t slept well the previous night and couldn’t bear to wake her.

When Gu Qingshuang shifted in her arms, Ming Li carefully lifted her head and got up to go to the bathroom. She brought out the hairdryer and let Gu Qingshuang lean against her. Afraid the noise would wake her, she set it to the lowest setting.

Gu Qingshuang’s hair was long enough to reach past her shoulder blades. Ming Li dried it slowly and steadily. Gu Qingshuang found the position uncomfortable and shifted every now and then, but she never woke up.

Once it was mostly dry, Ming Li turned off the dryer and applied hair oil before finishing. The damp hair became dry and smooth, smelling faintly of citrus. Though Ming Li’s arms were aching, she felt content watching the sleeping Gu Qingshuang.

Gu Qingshuang is still cutest when she’s asleep.

Ming Li felt she must be ill. She had been standing there confronting Gu Qingshuang earlier tonight, thinking she would never be nice to her again, yet here she was, unable to stop herself. It was the kind of kindness that didn’t ask for anything in return; just seeing her sleep peacefully was enough to make Ming Li happy.