Chapter 62

The room was dim, and the sun blazed high outside the window.

Heavy curtains hung down, blocking the floor-to-ceiling glass windows completely, not letting even a sliver of light through.

A small lamp in the corner had its brightness set to the lowest level, emitting a faint warm glow that illuminated a tiny patch of space.

A yukata lay casually scattered on the birch-colored floor, and the air retained a subtle scent, mingled with the fragrance of shampoo and skin, warm like a dream that had yet to end.

The room was excessively quiet. Apart from that small lamp in the corner, everything else stood still, as if even time had been trapped.

Wei Shuyu usually woke up very early. She had some sleep issues and had tried many remedies without success, so she simply let it be.

But waking up this early in such circumstances was a bit torturous.

They had gone at it until late into the night yesterday, and now Jin Yizhu was still holding her, unwilling to let go.

Lacking sleep, Wei Shuyu had a slight headache. She subconsciously pressed her temple, her thoughts not yet fully gathered.

“Why did you wake up so early?”

Jin Yizhu slept a bit better than her, but not by much. As soon as she moved, Jin Yizhu woke up too.

“Do you usually wake up this early?”

“……What time is it now?” Wei Shuyu spoke, her voice a little hoarse. “I want some water.”

She propped herself up slightly, wanting to grab the water on the bedside table. It was a bit too far, and she didn’t want to get up. Even stretching her arm fully, she couldn’t reach it, which made her a little annoyed.

Jin Yizhu found it amusing and handed her the water. “It’s almost eleven. Why didn’t you let me get it?”

“Let you get it……?”

Wei Shuyu’s mind was a beat slow, only reacting belatedly. It seemed they had upgraded their relationship—upgraded it again and again—yesterday.

“Right, now I can let you get it.”

She held the cup and drank nearly half of it in one go, then handed the cup back to Jin Yizhu. “I don’t want to get up. So tired.”

Jin Yizhu put the cup back and shrank under the covers with her, their foreheads touching. She asked, “Why can you let me get it now? Couldn’t you before?”

“I’ve never tried, but I think it’s best not to,” Wei Shuyu nuzzled into her embrace, wanting a hug. “Our relationship was different before.”

“You really saw me as your sugar mommy?” Jin Yizhu was torn between laughter and tears. “You didn’t even spend my money.”

“I did spend a little, and I’m living in your house,” Wei Shuyu’s gaze drifted away uncomfortably. “Mainly, I didn’t want to overstep.”

Regardless of whether Jin Yizhu cared, she did.

While bearing the label of Canary, she wouldn’t demand Jin Yizhu’s thoughtfulness or tenderness. If Jin Yizhu offered it, that was Jin Yizhu’s good upbringing; if not, it was perfectly reasonable.

She had stayed by Jin Yizhu’s side precisely through this kind of relationship.

If Jin Yizhu hadn’t wanted her to “accompany” her for a few years, she probably would have become an insignificant passerby long ago, vanishing into the night breeze of Victoria Harbour.

“I have a very good temper.”

Jin Yizhu smiled, drawing even closer to her.

“You don’t need to worry about these things.”

“I know. Just think of it as my excessive pride.”

It was hard for Wei Shuyu to explain to her. Some things, if spelled out too clearly, would only hurt feelings.

“Anyway, now that you like me, we’ll just go with the flow from here on out!”

She deliberately raised her tone a bit, adding a touch of coquettishness.

Even the corners of her lips curved up slightly, making her look like she was acting spoiled.

Jin Yizhu found her adorable and wrapped an arm around her waist, laughing by her ear. “No problem. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do it.”

Wei Shuyu gave her a sidelong glance but said nothing.

Such words were best taken with a grain of salt.

If she told Jin Yizhu not to get married, would Jin Yizhu really listen?

Wei Shuyu had already learned not to pin her hopes on others’ words.

That way, when good things happened, it felt like happiness falling from the sky, bringing extra joy to everything. And when bad things happened, it was just so-so, nothing to get too upset over.

“You don’t believe me?” Her reaction didn’t sit well with Jin Yizhu, stirring a trace of panic in her. “Wei Shuyu?”

“Of course I do.” Wei Shuyu chuckled along. “So, where do you want to go today?”

She smoothly changed the subject to some trivial small talk.

Jin Yizhu thought for a few seconds but couldn’t come up with an answer.

Normally, she was the most enthusiastic about going out.

Every time she came to Tokyo to see Wei Shuyu, she had a bunch of planned activities. Wei Shuyu would adjust her schedule accordingly, taking time off to accompany her. If something important came up, Jin Yizhu would go by herself.

But today, she didn’t want to go anywhere.

It was as if this room, this little world nestled with Wei Shuyu, was her entire universe.

“I can’t think of anything,” Jin Yizhu simply hugged her tighter. “I just want to stay with you.”

She buried her face in the crook of Wei Shuyu’s neck, inhaling the faint fragrance on her body—like jasmine, light with a hint of sweetness. No matter how many times she smelled it, it was never enough.

“Wei Shuyu, what perfume do you use?”

“I haven’t used any these past few days.” Wei Shuyu reached out and stroked her hair. “Lately, I’ve been using Juliette Has a Gun more.”

“It doesn’t smell that seductive,” Jin Yizhu lightly kissed her collarbone. “Sweet but not cloying.”

“Then which one do you like?”

The atmosphere shifted, and Wei Shuyu’s voice softened.

“I used to wear Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, but it felt a bit lacking in punch.”

“I like them all. Any perfume on you smells great to me.”

Jin Yizhu’s kisses changed flavor, trailing down from her collarbone along her waistline, her fingertips brushing faintly over her skin.

“Want to go look at some perfumes later? There should be a few shops on Karuizawa Ginza.”

As a vacation spot, Karuizawa was never short on luxury stores.

Besides Karuizawa Ginza, Karuizawa Outlet had plenty of shops too. Jin Yizhu planned to head out after getting up and browse around, trying out several perfumes to pick a new scent for Wei Shuyu herself.

“Sure……”

Wei Shuyu looked down. Under the soft covers, Jin Yizhu kissed her, their breaths intertwining ambiguously, fingers laced together.

“We can talk about that later.”

Right now, they seemed to have other things to do.

The gentle kisses soon took on a different taste. Jin Yizhu grazed her lips with her teeth, nibbling with some force—more intense than last night.

Wei Shuyu gasped, trying to push her shoulder, but Jin Yizhu noticed and pinned her wrist.

Jin Yizhu fixed her wrist above her head and smiled down at her. “Wei Shuyu, so energetic first thing in the morning.”

“You’re the energetic one,” Wei Shuyu said softly. “I’m sleep-deprived. What energy do I have?”

Her tone was soft and languid, her movements equally so.

Her fingertips lightly traced up Jin Yizhu’s hand, following her knuckles. Jin Yizhu wasn’t intent on restraining her and released her hand along with the motion, letting her arms wrap around her neck.

Jin Yizhu’s fingers threaded into her hair, pulling her closer.

Wei Shuyu took the lead in this kiss, much gentler than Jin Yizhu’s. Their tongues tangled, tracing each other’s lip lines. They were so close that even their eyelashes seemed to touch.

Jin Yizhu held her, and beneath the soft fabric, their bodies pressed together with no space between.

The touch of warm, soft skin alone was enough to drive one mad.

“……Shall we continue?”

Wei Shuyu pulled back from the kiss for a breath, kissing the corner of Jin Yizhu’s lips with some hesitation.

“Can we continue?” Jin Yizhu asked her. “Last night……”

“Better not wreck me,” Wei Shuyu whispered. “It was a bit too intense.”

“Then I get what you mean.” Jin Yizhu chuckled. “You want me on the bottom?”

Wei Shuyu nodded frankly. “Mm.”

Jin Yizhu took her hand and lay back on the pillow with her motion, laughing. “If you want to, just do it. No need to ask if it’s okay.”

“Really?” Wei Shuyu licked the corner of her lips and leaned down. “Then I won’t ask next time.”

Soon, Jin Yizhu’s laughter and teasing turned into intermittent gasps.

Wei Shuyu was serious. Without seeking her opinion further, she pressed Jin Yizhu’s knees, positioning her in an embarrassing pose.

“……Wei Shuyu.”

Jin Yizhu reached out to touch her face, but Wei Shuyu pinned her wrist, her fingers dominantly intertwining, lacing tightly with hers.

But Wei Shuyu said, “No.”

Nothing but what I give you. No acting on your own.

Only I can give you paradise or hell, binding you at my fingertips.

In rhythms that grew faster one after another, Jin Yizhu had to tilt her neck back, even her toes curling as she fell into the paradise Wei Shuyu granted her.

Unable to hold back, she gripped Wei Shuyu’s shoulder, her fingertips digging into the pale skin, leaving a red mark.

Wei Shuyu finally held her tight, stroking her back, kissing the corner of her lips, swallowing her tremors and pleasure whole while gazing at her face flushed with desire for her.

“Jin Yizhu,” she pecked at Jin Yizhu’s lips again and again, the kisses light and tender. “I like you so much. I really, really like you.”

“I……like you the most too.”

A sheen of sweat beaded on Jin Yizhu’s forehead, revealing a vulnerability she rarely showed.

A faint, almost imperceptible blush tinted her fair skin. She kept her eyes tightly shut, as if surrendering everything to Wei Shuyu, entangled with her forever.

“Wei Shuyu, can you promise never to leave me?”

“Yes.”

Wei Shuyu finally answered, giving her promise for the first time—and stating her condition for the first time.

“Jin Yizhu, as long as you don’t get married, I’ll stay by your side forever.”

Jin Yizhu floated on cloud nine, her mind not entirely clear, but she understood the subtext.

If you get married, I’ll leave.

She let out a soft “mm,” her thoughts a jumble. She had too many things yet to sort out, too many matters waiting for her.

Indulging in this love game with Wei Shuyu was, in a way, an escape.

Escaping family pressure, company struggles, and everything she wasn’t sure she could handle.

Jin Yizhu’s mind was in chaos, her soul seemingly split in two—one half pulling her to stay in this ideal paradise, the other tearing her back to reality.

She couldn’t make promises, nor did she want to give Wei Shuyu false lies.

The phone screen on the bedside table lit up quietly. Silent mode was broken, and it erupted in a storm of ringing.

It was a call from Hong Kong.