Chapter 92

Lou Yixuan abruptly changed the subject, pulling off a face-changing act—one second she was all giggles, the next she was puffing up with mock anger.

“The other classmates who ship us are just keeping it to themselves, fangirling in their little bubble. But Chen Qingli? She has the nerve to dance right in front of the real deal. Isn’t she just asking for it?”

Lin Huayan frowned upon hearing this, her expression turning serious. “Did she threaten you with photos?”

As the homeroom teacher, how could she be oblivious to students pairing her up with Lou Yixuan and spinning romantic fantasies about them?

“Photos? What photos?” Lou Yixuan blinked in confusion.

“She took a picture of me coming to see you.” Lin Huayan pulled out her phone and opened her WeChat favorites. “This one.”

Lou Yixuan eyed it suspiciously, took the phone, and burst into laughter once she saw it.

She studied it closely, even offering a serious critique. “The lighting and candid shot are pretty good. She should switch to photography—art isn’t her thing. I’ll tell her tomorrow.”

Lin Huayan: “…”

With Lou Yixuan acting like this, how could she possibly be mad at Chen Qingli? Let alone coerced by her.

Lin Huayan pressed her thumb firmly into Lou Yixuan’s waist. “Teacher Lou is so responsible with her students.”

The sudden pressure made Lou Yixuan’s body go limp, and she twisted away from Lin Huayan’s fingers, wobbling. “That tickles! Teacher Lin, Teacher Lin, stop pressing—the phone’s gonna fall!”

But Lin Huayan ignored her. “If it falls, replace it.”

“…” With no other choice, Lou Yixuan endured the tickling and launched a counterattack with her mouth, nipping at Lin Huayan’s earlobe.

Lin Huayan had her hair tied up for work, making her ears easy to find—and easy to bite.

Sure enough, the moment Lou Yixuan latched on, Lin Huayan went soft, her hands shifting to steady Lou Yixuan’s waist. “No more fooling around. As long as she hasn’t caused you trouble, I won’t interfere with… mm… your deal with her.”

“Teacher Lin, there’s no deal with her. My only promise is to you.”

Lou Yixuan’s kisses trailed forward from the ear to the corner of Lin Huayan’s lips, her tongue flicking out like a kitten’s. “I want to promise you—we’ll never part in this lifetime. Do you agree? Hm?”

The eyes behind the silver-framed glasses had glazed over, her head tilting back slightly, making it all too easy for Lou Yixuan’s kisses.

Now taking the lead, Lou Yixuan thrilled at the discovery: kissing Lin Huayan with her glasses on was so… exhilarating.

Visual thrill. Psychological thrill. All of it.

The only annoyance? Lin Huayan was still wearing her bra—way too hard to touch through.

A sudden sting on her lower lip made Lin Huayan’s eyes flutter open. She grabbed the kitten’s paw wandering at her chest and moved it away. “Biting again?”

“What do you think?”

The kitten bared her fangs. “Just biting you.”

Lin Huayan stroked her to soothe her. “Didn’t I already promise you this morning?”

Lifetime companionship. Never parting.

“Who’s talking about that?” Lou Yixuan flailed her captured left hand. “I’m mad about this!”

Whose face was flushing? Lou Yixuan didn’t say, but her heart soared with delight.

She whispered into Lin Huayan’s ear, “Teacher Lin, didn’t you say you wanted to look at me… touch me? I’ll go shower now and wait for you in bed. Don’t forget the glasses.”

Those few words before Lou Yixuan left the study threw Lin Huayan’s heart into chaos. She couldn’t focus on work anymore.

But she stayed in the study until nearly ten, and Lou Yixuan didn’t come bother her again during that time.

Back in the bedroom, the little kitten lay facing the door, clutching the blanket as if asleep.

Lin Huayan let out a quiet breath of relief. Not wanting to wake her, she grabbed sleepwear and headed to the guest bath for a shower, keeping the water as quiet as possible.

The bedroom light had been off before she showered. Adjusting to the dark at the doorway, she padded slowly to the other side of the bed.

Lou Yixuan had hogged most of the blanket. Lin Huayan lifted a corner and slipped in gently.

The moment their bodies touched, the one in front rolled over, nuzzling into her arms like she was murmuring in her sleep. “Teacher Lin… touch me.”

Lin Huayan wasn’t sure how awake Lou Yixuan was, but…

She did want to check if there were any other injuries on her body. Doing it now, while Lou Yixuan was half-asleep, suited her perfectly.

Induction light strips lined both sides of the bed—just a tap to turn them on.

Like moonlight.

Lin Huayan reached over and tapped her side. Cool, moonlit glow spilled across the floor—not harsh, not bright, just enough for a sneaky inspection of the kitten’s body.

But when she turned back, she met a pair of sparkling dark eyes. “Lin Huayan, gotcha.”

“…”

Lou Yixuan propped herself up, pinning Lin Huayan’s hands to the pillow. “What were you planning to do while I was off guard?”

“…Nothing.”

“But I want to do something.”

It looked like there was no escaping tonight. Lin Huayan shyly closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss—but it never came.

Lou Yixuan let go. “Don’t like it? Don’t want it? Just tell me straight.”

That look on Lin Huayan just now had stung her heart—like she was about to force herself on someone unwilling. Dragging back to the room this late just to avoid being pestered for this?

“No.” Lin Huayan found her hand and held it, sitting up too.

“Then what? Did I hurt you? I’ve asked you a few times already. And you? You always say no.”

“…”

“Always like this. We’ve only been together one day, Lin Huayan, and you’re clamming up again?”

“…”

“I’m not some animal in heat. It’s not like we have to…”

“Yixuan, don’t say that. I don’t think of you that way.” Lin Huayan’s heart twisted. She struggled to face her own pettiness but didn’t want this to create a rift between them.

“Then what do you think?” Lou Yixuan stared her down. “We’re lovers meant to grow old together—the closest of all. What’s so hard to say openly?”

“…”

“Lin Huayan, I love you. Love you enough to stay away, to let you go. Love you enough to rather die in pain than trouble you even a little. What do you think I can’t accept? What can’t I do for you?”

“Okay, I’ll say it. I’ll say it.”

She couldn’t bear Lou Yixuan’s pained tone, couldn’t stand seeing her heartbroken and disappointed. Lin Huayan hugged her tight and confessed earnestly, “You… thinking about how experienced you are makes my heart ache a little.”

“…Experienced?” Lin Huayan meant bedroom experience?

Lou Yixuan couldn’t think of anything else.

Was she that experienced?

Fine, compared to Lin Huayan, sure—but hadn’t it all been practiced on Lin Huayan?

Lin Huayan…

They…

It hit Lou Yixuan belatedly.

Lin Huayan: “I know this thought is wrong. It’s my issue. I might need some time…”

If they’d met when Lou Yixuan was 26, not reunited at her 26, she wouldn’t have these vulgar, petty thoughts.

But Lou Yixuan’s 18 belonged to her. Her 30 belonged to Lou Yixuan. They were each other’s first, and through eight years apart, they’d loved and missed each other deeply. How could she let go of the idea that Lou Yixuan might have belonged to someone else in the meantime?

“Lin Huayan.” Lou Yixuan headbutted her lightly, shifting to hold her even tighter.

“Sorry, I forgot to tell you: I’ve never fallen for anyone else, never given myself to another. You have every complete piece of me, just like I have every complete piece of you. As for the ‘experience’ you mentioned… mm, I won’t lie and say it’s all from books online or self-practice. Wait for the right moment—once everything’s stable, I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

“…Okay.”

“Were you suddenly unhappy at dumplings this morning because of this too?”

“…Yeah.”

“Sigh, I’m too dumb. Didn’t even smell the vinegar.” Lou Yixuan blamed herself entirely, without a hint of reproach.

“You don’t blame me for not trusting you?”

Lin Huayan hadn’t pressed for Lou Yixuan’s “secret” because she allowed her secrets and trusted they’d never hurt her.

“I do.”

Lou Yixuan was magnanimous for a few seconds, then turned petty, her tone mischievous. “So, Teacher Lin, do you accept your punishment tonight?”

Minutes ago, Lou Yixuan had been burying her head in Lin Huayan’s chest. Now it was Lin Huayan hiding her face in Lou Yixuan’s.

Too adorable.

“Teacher Lin, still wanna look at me… touch me? If not, it’s my turn, yeah?”

Catching the teasing lilt, Lin Huayan silently reached for the buttons on Lou Yixuan’s sleepwear—but her fingers wouldn’t cooperate.

It took ages to undo just the bottom two.

Lou Yixuan’s patience wore thin into impatience. She flipped Lin Huayan back onto the pillows. “Undressing is still my job.”

“Teacher Lin worked hard last night. How many times tonight?” She kissed while unbuttoning. “Pick a number from 1 to 3.”

“No pick?” Lin Huayan stayed silent, so Lou Yixuan tempted further. “Then default to the max.”

“…Once.”

“Just once? Then…” The last button undone, her warm fingertips—sparked like embers—traced upward to teasing lips. “This one, or…”

Fingers withdrew, replaced by hotter lips in a kiss. “Or this?”

Lin Huayan’s thoughts tangled into chaos. Lou Yixuan’s kisses intoxicated more than wine.

She kissed back on instinct.

A soft chuckle. “Got it, Teacher Lin.”

…

On Sunday morning, Lin Huayan woke earlier than usual again—this was her second time waking up holding a equally naked Lou Yixuan.

Better than yesterday: no need to change the sheets.

But she still needed new sleepwear.

The night before last, Lou Yixuan had tossed it on the floor. Last night’s? Padded under her.

Lin Huayan checked the time on her phone—still early—but she wasn’t sure if Lou Yixuan had set an alarm.

“Yixuan, wake up. Time to get up—you have class this morning.”

“Mm.” Lou Yixuan burrowed into the blankets like dodging noise, nestling into soft warmth, her nose tip nuzzling unconsciously.

Then her lips pursed, suckling here, smacking there—like a dreaming infant.

If she was one, then she was the only newborn Lin Huayan had ever anticipated… and wanted to nurture for life.

Because of her family, Lin Huayan had rejected the idea of “having kids” since childhood, even resented her womb’s function—but never her gender.

She thanked the heavens for her full femininity.

It let her meet parents, friends, lovers who truly cherished her. Let her feel the pleasures only a woman’s body could know.

Like right now.

Deeply embarrassed, she didn’t wake her—instead, she pressed closer.

Then closed her eyes, silently counting seconds.

After 180, before her body worsened, she tried pulling back to call Lou Yixuan awake. But Lou Yixuan chased, kissing her.

The hand on her back pulled her tighter.

Now Lin Huayan burned all over, melting like water, parched as Lou Yixuan drank her dry, mouth dry from two nights of exertion.

Luckily, Lou Yixuan’s phone alarm saved her.

But after her sneaky “groping,” she felt too ashamed to face her. She played possum through the ringing.

Startled awake, Lou Yixuan’s eyes snapped open to flawless jade… and her mouth full of…

Saliva flooded.

Reluctantly, she pulled away, rolling over to silence the alarm.

As she did, Lin Huayan rustled to face away, burritoed tight in the blanket—not a shoulder showing. Lou Yixuan stared, lost in thought.

That wasn’t a dream?

Lin Huayan calling her… feeding her… real?

Sitting there half-awake, she suddenly felt the chill—still naked.

Chuckling muffledly, she leaned down, kissing Lin Huayan’s cheek. “Morning, Teacher Lin. Gotta rush to work. WeChat me.”

Lou Yixuan’s alarm was her old tight schedule. Now with the distance, she was even more pressed for time.

After arriving at school, Lou Yixuan grabbed some milk and bread from the supermarket to tide her over, taught two classes, and finally found a moment to message Lin Huayan.

【Lou Yixuan: I’ll wrap up my lesson with Chen Qingli a bit early, then come pick you up. In the afternoon, will you come with me to the apartment to grab some things?】

【Lin Huayan: No need to go to so much trouble.】

【Lin Huayan: I’ll take a cab to Haifan at noon and wait for you at a restaurant in the mall across the street for lunch. We can head to your apartment together after.】

【Lou Yixuan: Sounds good, Teacher Lin. I’ll follow your lead.】

Sounds good, Teacher Lin.

Over on the other end, Lin Huayan realized she could no longer look at those five words straight on.

She sat in her study, phone facedown on the desk, but whether her eyes were open or closed, all she could hear were Lou Yixuan’s seductive whispers urging her to look at her, touch her.

And the phantom vision of Lou Yixuan propping a pillow under her waist, face buried between her legs but eyes lifted as she kissed her.

—Teacher Lin, you’ve been naughty today. No glasses.

—Since you’re willing to take your punishment, say you owe me one. I won’t hold a grudge tonight and will let you off the hook first.

—Teacher Lin, say you owe me one. Pay it back within the week, and it only counts if you’re wearing your glasses.

In that helpless state, she could only go along with whatever Lou Yixuan “arranged.” She owed what she owed, and said what she shouldn’t have said.

Lin Huayan took off her glasses and eyed them, wondering darkly if smashing them to bits could get her out of this mess.

It probably couldn’t.

Lou Yixuan would just buy her even more pairs to wear.

During her private tutoring session with Chen Qingli at noon, Lou Yixuan mentioned she’d seen that candid photo Chen had snapped and asked if she had any interest in learning photography.

“Photography is one of the art exam majors. Even if you don’t treat it as schoolwork, cultivating it as a hobby means picking up a skill that’s super useful in everyday life.”

Chen Qingli hadn’t expected Lou Yixuan to spot her “talent” from a single casual shot.

No one knew she loved photography. No one knew she’d devoured countless online tutorials. No one knew she dreamed of becoming a travel photographer, capturing mountains and rivers, wild beasts, humanity.

She’d quietly become one of Lou Yixuan’s “devotees,” and a key reason was those “vibrant paint splatters” she’d spotted in Lou Yixuan’s Moments.

Even before adding her as a friend, she’d sneak peeks at Lou Yixuan’s Moments every few days, terrified of missing those public posts that vanished after three days.

Dreaming of the day she could escape her suffocating “home” and wander freely, just like Lou Yixuan.

“Chen Qingli? I’m talking serious business here. What are you spacing out for?”

“You’re thinking I’ve given up on your art skills and don’t want to lose a student, so you’re scheming to recruit another photography art candidate for your school, right?”

“Don’t measure my gentleman’s heart with your petty villain’s yardstick. I don’t need the commission from one extra enrollment.”

“Teacher Lou.”

“Spit it out. Don’t hold me up from clocking out.”

“How old were you when you achieved financial independence? Was it thanks to your paintings?”

“Around 20, I guess. I specialized in painting, and I’ve loved it since I was little. What else would it be?”

“You’re amazing.”

“Did I hear that right? Chen Qingli, are you actually complimenting me?”

“Good words don’t get repeated. Come on, let’s go—don’t keep you from clocking out, don’t keep you from your date!”

…

Lou Yixuan left school at 12:40, drove to the mall, and met up with Lin Huayan, who was already waiting on the fifth floor with food ordered.

On the way, she passed a flower shop and—perfect timing—spotted a bucket of white roses right out front.

She stopped, had the clerk wrap up a bouquet—nine white roses.

Weren’t she and Lin Huayan basically on a date right now?

Lou Yixuan entered the restaurant with the flowers in her arms. From afar, Lin Huayan spotted the bouquet-like bundle in her hands.

A twinge of nervousness hit her.

As Lou Yixuan drew closer, her palms grew slick with sweat, her face and ears burned hot, and her heart felt like it was on fire, scorching her until she could barely breathe.

She’d never received flowers that symbolized love.

In public, the only bouquet she’d ever gotten was the one Qin Fengru had forced on her.

But the first thing Lou Yixuan said when she reached the table wasn’t “Here, for you,” but “Wow, smells amazing.”