Chapter 3: 003

Two years ago.

Song Guiya had been coerced by her manager, Fang Shi, into attending a business cocktail party. No sooner had she arrived than she found herself surrounded by a group of industry tycoons who plied her with drink after drink.

Once Song Guiya was half-drunk, one investor in his late thirties seized the excuse of seeing her home safely. Half-dragging, half-pulling her, he headed upstairs toward a hotel suite.

Fortunately, just before they reached the elevator, they ran into Xi Tongyue, who had been at the same party.

Seeing the plea for help in Song Guiya’s eyes, Xi Tongyue had her people intercept the investor and publicly declared Song Guiya to be her lover.

Everyone in the industry had heard the rumors about Xi Tongyue’s private life, how she was attracted to both men and women. The investor, recalling her mysterious background—one he couldn’t afford to cross—immediately handed Song Guiya over with a jovial laugh, insisting it was all just a misunderstanding.

And so, Xi Tongyue had saved Song Guiya.

What no one expected was that the very next morning, Xi Tongyue presented her with a genuine three-year lover’s contract.

Xi Tongyue promised she could pull Song Guiya out of the nightmare that was Fang Shi and sign her on with Huo Yao, who was already a gold medal manager at the time. Song Guiya would gain access to industry resources that would make other entertainers green with envy. And during the contract period, she could enjoy a life of luxury that most people in the business might not earn even after a decade.

All Song Guiya had to do in return was be available whenever called upon and fulfill her duties as a lover.

It was too tempting an offer to resist—especially for someone like Song Guiya, who had already witnessed the cutthroat reality of the industry. Besides, a woman with a woman? It wasn’t likely to end in any great loss. And her partner was none other than Xi Tongyue, the goddess so many men and women dreamed of but could never have.

That very day, Song Guiya signed her name on the contract.

That said…

More than two years had passed since then, and while Xi Tongyue had delivered on every promise, she had never once met with Song Guiya again.

Tonight marked only their second encounter.

The difference was that Xi Tongyue had no idea the soul inhabiting this body had changed.

Song Guiya sat in the study, her gaze sweeping over the lover’s contract on the desk, the stack of property deeds all made out in Xi Tongyue’s name, and the bank cards holding a pathetic total of just 251 yuan.

Her expression was one of bleak despair.

Now they lived under the same roof. If Xi Tongyue ever decided to call in the terms of their contract, she had no right to refuse.

…

Two hours later, Song Guiya knocked on the door to Xi Tongyue’s room.

Chi Yu, Xi Tongyue’s assistant and one of the few who knew about their relationship, opened it.

In the past, whenever Song Guiya needed Xi Tongyue’s help with something, Xi Tongyue would send Chi Yu to handle it. As a result, Song Guiya actually had more memories of interactions with Chi Yu than with Xi Tongyue herself.

“Is Xi Tongyue in?” Song Guiya was always direct with Chi Yu, though she couldn’t match the original owner’s imperious tone. Her voice came out gentler as a result.

Chi Yu paused for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, she is.”

She stepped aside and called out to Xi Tongyue, who was sitting on the terrace. “Teacher Xi, everything’s sorted. I’m heading out.”

Through the gap as Chi Yu moved, Song Guiya caught sight of a crystal-clear glass on the rattan table beside Xi Tongyue. It held a dark red liquid that shimmered with flecks of gold under the moonlight.

At the same time, Xi Tongyue—who had her back to them—raised a snow-white, slender arm and waved it dismissively. Chi Yu got the message at once, nodded politely to Song Guiya, and left the room.

After Song Guiya entered, Chi Yu reached back to close the door, double-checking that it was securely shut before finally departing.

A wave of discomfort washed over Song Guiya.

She walked out to the terrace and found Xi Tongyue half-reclining in a white rattan lounge chair, eyes closed in a leisurely feigned nap. Unable to help herself, Song Guiya took the opportunity to study her closely.

This was the first time she had stared so openly at that face, disregarding all propriety.

Stripped of her glamorous attire and exquisite makeup, Xi Tongyue’s features were like a lotus emerging pure from clear water—naturally flawless, without need for adornment. Her red lips were subtler now, her brows carrying a touch of refined elegance. Her beautiful swan-like neck arched back slightly, her wasp waist and slender back outlined in soft curves by the pure black silk robe.

She was a vision of ethereal beauty, alluring and enchanting.

Song Guiya instinctively looked away and moved to another rattan chair, sitting down beside Xi Tongyue.

“Do you need something?” Xi Tongyue opened her drowsy eyes. Perhaps because of the wine, her dark brown irises seemed unusually deep.

Song Guiya considered her words for a moment before cutting straight to the point. “Ever since I signed that contract two years ago, you’ve never asked anything of me. I want to know why you’ve helped me so much.”

From Song Guiya’s analysis, the fact that Xi Tongyue had barely met the original owner proved she didn’t truly see her as a lover. Perhaps there was some special reason why she had taken such good care of her.

Song Guiya wanted to get to the bottom of this, to know what her next move should be.

But to Xi Tongyue’s ears, those words took on a different meaning entirely. “Song Guiya, are you saying it’s not worth cutting a bad deal for my sake? Do you want to take the initiative and fulfill the contract?”

To put it bluntly, the contract’s terms boiled down to sleeping together.

Song Guiya’s expression shifted subtly, that familiar sense of absurdity washing over her once more. She said in a low voice, “You’re misunderstanding me. I just want to know what it is you’re really after, Miss Xi.”

Xi Tongyue made no reply. She rose from the rattan chair and stepped right up to her.

Song Guiya had no idea what was happening until she felt the cool silk of the sleep robe brush against her thigh and caught the faint scent of wine mingled with something crisp and cold. Only then did she realize she was pinned between the other woman’s arms.

Her brows knitted together in alarm. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Disregarding the clear displeasure of the woman beneath her, Xi Tongyue planted one knee on the rattan chair between Song Guiya’s legs and leaned in close to her face. The two of them—one above, one below—in a pose dripping with intimacy.

Song Guiya’s face had been sculpted to perfection by Nüwa herself, or so Xi Tongyue had heard. But seeing it this close up, she marveled at how even the gentle curve of her crow-feather lashes was utterly flawless.

Unable to resist, Xi Tongyue reached out with cool, silken fingertips. They grazed Song Guiya’s cheek, traced the sharp line of her jaw, slid down her pale, slender neck, and came to rest on the delicate hollow of her collarbone.

Every touch ignited like wildfire.

Song Guiya’s heart hammered wildly, as if desperate to break free of its confines.

“What do you think I’m after?” Xi Tongyue’s lips curved in amusement as she dipped her head toward that dainty pink ear. “Besides this gorgeous shell of yours, what else do you have that’s worth anyone’s attention?”

Her warm breath ghosted over the sensitive lobe, and Song Guiya straightened instinctively. A prickling wave of sensation poured down her spine like scalding water, sending tremors rippling through her core.

“Xi Tongyue!” Song Guiya locked eyes with the face before her. She couldn’t bring herself to shove her away roughly, so she issued a sharp warning instead.

But the moment the words left her mouth, her voice trembled, robbing them of any real authority.

The unfamiliar, uncontrollable response of her own body left Song Guiya seething with frustration.

Yet Xi Tongyue showed no sign of relenting. Her fingers roamed freely, toying with Song Guiya’s frayed nerves.

Finally pushed to her limit, Song Guiya surged to her feet, slamming Xi Tongyue back against the terrace railing. “Have you had your fun yet?”

In that instant, the night behind her seemed to morph into a savage beast, its abyssal jaws poised to devour Xi Tongyue with the slightest nudge.

But Xi Tongyue betrayed no fear. She could feel the warm, slender palm pressed firmly against the small of her back, holding her steady.

Emboldened, she savored the sight: the woman’s earlobes flushed crimson, her brows furrowed in a valiant but unconvincing show of dominance.

The air hung still for several heartbeats.

Their mingled breaths clouded Song Guiya’s thoughts. For a fleeting moment, the woman before her blurred into a familiar shadow, her usually sharp, clear gaze turning hazy.

Only when she caught the teasing glint in Xi Tongyue’s eyes did clarity return.

With a flick of her wrist, Song Guiya yanked her back to safety, then retreated half a step to widen the gap between them.

“Since you’re drunk, Miss Xi, we’ll discuss the contract another time.”

Song Guiya turned to leave. She had just pulled open the door when Xi Tongyue’s voice stopped her. “Wait.”

She paused and glanced back.

Xi Tongyue cradled her wineglass, her expression playful. “Leaving before the bed’s even warmed? Is Miss Song backing out of our deal?”

Bang.

The door slammed shut.

Swift. Merciless.

As the frantic footsteps faded into the distance, Xi Tongyue’s lips quirked in a faint smile. The drunken haze in her eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a sharp, crystalline clarity—and a flicker of something inscrutable.

She lingered on the terrace for a long while, as if tasting the night air itself, her breaths slow and measured.

Only when the lingering warmth at her waist finally ebbed did she set down the empty glass and make for the bathroom.