Chapter 5: A Cold Room and a Warm Dream Part 2

The steam in the bathroom had already dissipated, leaving the air slightly chilled. Ming Li turned on the shower, and the torrent of hot water instantly turned her skin a scorched red.

Ming Li had been through this routine many times. She was twenty-five years old—an age where many were just finishing graduate school and looking for work—but she had already been married for three years.

Gu Qingshuang was five years older, having just turned thirty last month. She had been the “Golden Daughter” her whole life, constantly pursued and admired. Yet her romantic history was pitifully blank, occupied almost entirely by Shen Lideng.

Ming Li had only heard whispers of Gu Qingshuang’s past. Theirs was a marriage of convenience, and both were people who respected boundaries. Consequently, Ming Li had never heard the name “Shen Lideng” from Gu Qingshuang’s own lips.

Furthermore, Ming Li was never invited to Gu Qingshuang’s gatherings with friends or classmates. The events she attended were mostly high-society banquets, where Madam Gu brought her along as a decorative accessory to bolster their family’s presence.

Ming Li had entered this marriage in a daze, but she had performed her duties to perfection with diligent earnestness. In the beginning, their boundaries were strictly defined. Aside from physical contact in public to play the role of an affectionate couple, they never touched—even when sharing a bed.

She couldn’t remember exactly when that changed. It was likely after Gu Qingshuang had returned from a class reunion, stumbling drunk. She had huddled into Ming Li’s arms, calling out “A-Li” over and over. She had kissed her neck, her cheeks, her lips.

At the time, Ming Li had been foolish enough to think Gu Qingshuang was calling for her (A-Li/阿骊). Only later did she realize she was calling for the other A-Li (A-Li/阿梨). The realization that they were two very different people despite the shared sound of their names had been a harsh lesson.

To this day, Ming Li didn’t know what had happened that night. Gu Qingshuang was a locked box who kept everything inside; Ming Li could only pry her mouth open when they were kissing.

But after that night, physical intimacy became a regular occurrence. Their bodies were more honest than their words. Gu Qingshuang, in particular, had surprisingly high needs—perhaps she had simply discovered the pleasure of the act. When she was stressed or unhappy, she used it as a release.

Occasionally, she would even bite Ming Li’s shoulder or neck hard enough to break the skin. Though it hurt, Ming Li would only smile and kiss her eyes. In those moments, Gu Qingshuang would turn into something like water, exceptionally compliant.

Ming Li had grown from a shy novice to an expert at stripping away Gu Qingshuang’s frigid mask. She found the muffled sounds the other woman made when she lost control to be the most beautiful music. Ming Li’s own desires weren’t as intense—perhaps she hadn’t reached that age yet, or perhaps her mind was simply too crowded with other things.

She didn’t always want it when Gu Qingshuang did. After all, Gu Qingshuang didn’t put effort into stimulating Ming Li’s body the way Ming Li did for her. Over time, Ming Li developed her own method. During her shower, she would turn the water temperature high and touch her own earlobes and the side of her neck.

Those were her trigger points, something she had only discovered when Gu Qingshuang had brushed against them by accident once. By stimulating herself in the shower, she could enter the “state” faster and ensure Gu Qingshuang was better served. In their marriage, Ming Li was the subordinate; in the bedroom, she was the service provider.

Ming Li’s shower took only five minutes. When she emerged, she was still radiating steam. The room felt cold; she realized Gu Qingshuang had turned on the air conditioning. Outside, the snow was heavy and the temperature was five below zero. The heating in the Gu Manor was usually roaring, yet in this room, Gu Qingshuang wanted it cold.

Ming Li was used to it. She found a loose, thin nightgown in the closet, threw it on, and walked to the bed. Gu Qingshuang had her eyes closed, her breathing steady as if she were asleep.

Ming Li knelt by the bed and watched her for a moment. The woman on the bed spoke lazily, “Are we doing this or not?”

She still maintained that arrogant, frigid posture.

Ming Li leaned down to nip at her nightgown and kiss her collarbones. Gu Qingshuang opened her eyes. The guardedness in them had faded, replaced by a lingering indifference. Ming Li hated that look. She traced her finger over Gu Qingshuang’s eyelid.

“Be happy,” Ming Li coaxed softly. “Baby.”

It was only in bed that she dared to address Gu Qingshuang with such intimacy. Ming Li’s body knew Gu Qingshuang better than her heart did.

Ming Li’s body temperature was naturally high, forming a sharp contrast with the chill of Gu Qingshuang’s skin. She felt as though she were trying to melt a block of ice. Initially, she had been put off by the cold, but since she had fallen in love, she no longer cared about the discomfort. Instead, she only worried about why the other woman was so cold, wishing she could make herself even hotter to provide more warmth.

People are so foolish sometimes, Ming Li thought. She knew love was the most useless thing in the world. She knew the other person didn’t love her back. Yet, whenever she could do something for them, she felt a pathetic sense of joy. She used to think people who burned themselves to keep others warm were idiots. Now, she was one of them.

And she enjoyed it.

Gu Qingshuang soon “melted” into a pool of water. The corners of her eyes flushed red, and her body temperature finally began to rise. The expensive silk duvet was kicked into a tangled heap, forgotten.

The light was dim, but it made Ming Li’s features look even more vivid. Gu Qingshuang reached out to touch her, feeling the fine sheen of sweat at her temples.

Gu Qingshuang gave a raspy laugh. “Tired?”

Fearing she might cause pain, Ming Li had slowed down, but at the provocative mock, she suddenly surged with renewed intensity, shattering Gu Qingshuang’s laughter into broken gasps.

…

The red curtains stood witness to the warmth within, a midday dream of spring amidst the winter cold.

Ming Li failed to keep her 6:00 PM deadline. By the time she carried Gu Qingshuang out of the bathroom, it was already 6:10 PM. Usually, Gu Qingshuang would rest for a few minutes before cleaning herself up, unless it was very late or she was exhausted.

But today, she was unusually sluggish. Her voice was hoarse, and she nearly stumbled when she tried to stand. Ming Li had simply carried her. After setting her down, Ming Li hurriedly laid out clothes for Gu Qingshuang before frantically searching for her own.

Seeing her panic, Gu Qingshuang asked in a low, raspy voice, “What are you so flustered for?”

“If I’m late, Mother will have something to say,” Ming Li said, pulling on a shirt only to realize it was inside out.

Gu Qingshuang looked down and let out a silent sigh, seemingly reaching a compromise. “I’ll go with you. She won’t say anything then.”

Gu Qingshuang walked over and tugged at Ming Li’s shirt. “It’s inside out.”

Ming Li froze. “You’re going?”

Gu Qingshuang dressed herself with unhurried grace. “Is that a problem?”

Of course it wasn’t. But Gu Qingshuang never attended these kinds of banquets. It was the reason Madam Gu was always pressuring Ming Li. The thought of Gu Qingshuang voluntarily attending… Ming Li couldn’t even imagine her mother-in-law’s reaction.

“No, it’s fine,” Ming Li said with a smile. “Mother will be very happy to see you there.”

Gu Qingshuang’s lip curled into a cold smirk. “I’m not doing it because I want to.” She finished dressing and turned off the air conditioner, her voice still carrying that chilly, post-intimacy rasp. “I’m only going today to accompany you.”