Chapter 62: Don’t Learn from the Books; Learn from Me Part 2

However, archaic traditional concepts weren’t just a mountain; they were like Mount Buzhou, connecting heaven and earth. She was but a foolish mayfly, yet even if she could only dig out one tiny piece of earth with all her might, that would suffice.

Zhang Mingfang had once patted her head and said, “All women who set their hearts on this might be mayflies, but if one mayfly can shake a tree, a swarm can shake a mountain. An ocean of mayflies might just be able to topple Mount Buzhou.”

So Su Ye had refined that paper, stripping it of any prurient intent, hoping that anyone who read those books would actually learn something.

Now, she squeezed Qi Sheng’s shoulder to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid. No matter where you are, there’s no need to be terrified of the topic of sex. It’s our most basic need and an important way to explore ourselves, isn’t it?”

“I… I…” Qi Sheng stammered, whispering, “I feel like what happens in the stories is really good. I want that too. Is… is that normal?”

“What do you want? Do you want a girl, or do you want… that?”

“I want a girl, a girl…” Qi Sheng was practically shrinking into herself, her voice becoming as faint as a fly’s buzz. “I want a girl to do that to me.”

“Huh?”

“Just… I want a girl to do this, and that, and let me…” Qi Sheng couldn’t go on. She suddenly crouched down, hugging her knees. “Am I really a lesbian!”

Su Ye was caught between laughter and tears. She pulled her up, saying, “If you are, you are. Why are you crouching? Stand up, don’t be shy.”

“Look around you; you’re surrounded by lesbians. It’s normal to feel a longing for it, sweetie.” Su Ye rubbed her head. “One day, when you feel an attraction to a girl that’s different from how you like us, you’ll know for sure. Don’t rush it for now.”

“Different? How is it different?”

That was a question that also puzzled Su Ye.

After she and Yue Chengqi dropped Qi Sheng off at home, Su Ye sat in the bed of the tricycle with a thick wool blanket over her legs. Yue Chengqi pushed the bike slowly, enjoying the rare, quiet moment under the moonlight.

“Will we have a car in the future?” Su Ye spread her arms, embracing the moon.

Yue Chengqi asked, “Do you know what a Mercedes-Benz is?”

“The German brand? I’ve heard of it.”

“You’ll be driving one of those later.” The woman’s words were so concise they startled the girl into sitting bolt upright. Even though she had heard countless times from Yue Chengqi how rich she would be, every mention of it still shocked her.

It was a world she couldn’t imagine—whether it was the career in Ye City or the car they were talking about, it was all beyond her wildest dreams.

The girl’s mouth hung open before two words escaped. “My god.”

“You didn’t approach me just for my money, did you? Investing from zero so the future me would be hopelessly devoted to you and give you all my money, and then…”

Yue Chengqi stopped the bike and rolled her eyes hard.

“We are currently so poor and busy that we don’t even have time to fix a bike wheel. Stop your grand delusions, Boss Su!”

“Hey!” Su Ye crawled over and hugged her neck. “I was just thinking, how did we determine our feelings were different? How did you know you liked both versions of me?”

“…”

Yue Chengqi’s ears felt hot. She countered with a question: “How did you know?”

The girl gave a silly laugh. “Because I want to hold you, kiss you, and sleep with you.”

“…”

“Hey! You can’t just be speechless at a time like this!”

Yue Chengqi simply cupped her chin and gave her a quick, lingering kiss on the lips. “Do you understand now?”

The girl licked her lips and sat back in the tricycle bed, satisfied. She narrowed her eyes, cupping her face happily.

But she didn’t stay still for even thirty seconds before jumping up again, saying excitedly, “But the future me is your auntie! Ah Huan, you actually want to do that to the future me too…”

Yue Chengqi covered her face.

She knew answering that question would lead to trouble!

They finally reached the house. As soon as the door was closed and the fire started, Su Ye immediately jumped onto the woman, wrapping herself around her. “Oh ho, I’ve found you out. Ah Huan is a bad child with wicked thoughts.”

“If Ah Huan has had wicked thoughts for all these years, how is she holding back every single day now?”

Su Ye tapped lightly on the center of Yue Chengqi’s lip, her meaning clear.

She was genuinely curious and really wanted to try. But Yue Chengqi acted like she was frigid, as the books described; she could be hugged and held every day and still hold back. In the books, one hug or kiss was enough to set the world on fire…

She couldn’t help but ask, “Ah Huan, can you really hold back that much?”

“You’re not… incapable, are you?”

“That is one sentence I really can’t ignore,” Yue Chengqi said through gritted teeth, flipping her over onto the bed. “But we have to get up early to get stock tomorrow, Boss Su. Do you really think I have that much restraint?”

“Just a little fun,” Su Ye pleaded, looking at her.

In the years to come, Su Ye would find it absurd. She had seen many couples who couldn’t wait to jump into bed, yet she was the only one who had to beg Yue Huan—and not just once.

Su Ye was obsessed with making money, and Yue Huan was obsessed with helping her make it. If the two of them cast aside their feelings, they would be two perfect money-making machines.

It was terrifying.

How could someone love her money more than she did!

No, she had to be the person who loved her money most in the world; Ah Huan had to love her most.

Su Ye returned from a warm soak in hot water, her presence bringing a touch of spring to the cold winter. She dropped lightly behind Yue Chengqi and was immediately wrapped in a thick quilt by the woman, looking like a little mountain perched there.

The quilt was cozy and the area around her neck was soft. Su Ye sat contentedly, her gaze sweeping the room before landing on Yue Chengqi, whose back was turned to her.

The amber light of the lamp filtered through her thin pajamas, casting the shadow of her lean waist onto the fabric. In the quiet room, the only sound was the snip-snip of nail clippers.

Su Ye bit her lip as she watched. This…

Was she really waiting to do the things described in the books with the person she loved?

Heat rushed to her face, making it flush hot. She sat there, feeling inexplicably anxious.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely; even the act of clipping nails felt like it was in slow motion.

After watching for a while longer, Su Ye couldn’t take it. She lunged out of the bed, ignoring the woman’s concerned cry—”It’s cold out there, what are you doing!”

Su Ye scurried back, holding another pair of nail clippers in one hand and a book in the other.

Yue Chengqi saw the title on the cover and was momentarily speechless.

Falling for My Uncle’s Wife

Why does her “friend” Zhang Mingfang always collect this kind of taboo trash!

Su Ye looked down, her voice strained. “Um, I’m learning. Just learning.”

“You…”

Yue Chengqi opened her mouth but decided to close it, lowering her head to file her nails.

She couldn’t buy finger cots right now, so she had to carefully smooth her nails, or else Su Ye would suffer.

Soon, the sound of another person filing nails echoed beside her. The girl sat next to her, bare legs peeking out, the book resting on her lap as she slowly worked on her own fingers.

Shadows fell over the book, obscuring most of the words. If she looked down now, she probably wouldn’t be able to make out a single character.

The book was like their current behavior—nothing more than self-deception.

“Ah Huan,” the girl suddenly reached out her hand. “Is this short enough? Does it need to be shorter?”

The question sounded as if she were asking, “Can your body handle these somewhat rough, slender fingers?”

Yue Chengqi pursed her lips, looking down at the hand, then up at the girl who looked innocent but had a slight curve to her lips and a hint of mischief in her eyes.

Su Ye was doing it on purpose.

Su Ye knew exactly what kind of reaction that question would provoke, and she delighted in seeing it.

She saw the slight tremor in Yue Chengqi’s shoulders and the shared quiver in their bellies, even if it was invisible.

Yue Chengqi decided to retaliate.

She took Su Ye’s hand and lowered her head, picking up a small file. She said slowly, “Not enough. Let me teach you how to clip your nails.”

She lightly traced the back of the girl’s hand, one hand gripping her wrist to use her arm as a support, bringing the fingers right in front of her.

The fingertips still bore the marks of labor—hangnails near the lunula and overgrown calluses. Yue Chengqi took the opportunity to trim those hangnails and calluses.

Time had never been kind to this girl, leaving such weathered hands on someone so young.

Originally, she had intended to use those lingering, ambiguous touches to make Su Ye uncomfortable, to let her taste the same awkwardness and longing she felt. But now, she couldn’t maintain the act.

Yue Chengqi set down the clippers and file. After a moment’s pause, she gently cupped those hands, lowered her head, and kissed the knuckles.

It was like an electric current racing up the veins of her fingertips, piercing her heart. Su Ye shuddered, nearly falling into Yue Chengqi’s arms.

She used all her remaining strength to hold herself up, asking tremulously, “Ah Huan, what are you doing?”

“My heart aches for you,” Yue Chengqi whispered, gently rubbing the knuckles. “Even if someone else is waiting in the future, I won’t let you go easily.”

Su Ye burst into a giggle and pulled her hand back, using the book to hide her face. “Oh, a month ago Ah Huan was saying, ‘Why me? How can it be me? Are you scared?’ And now you won’t let me go?”

Having her “dark history” exposed, Yue Chengqi coughed twice. She feigned composure, snatched the book from the girl’s hand, set it aside, and took her other hand. “Let me check this one.”

With just a gentle pull, the girl leaned in and fell into her arms. Their breathing instantly fell into the same frantic rhythm.

As their gazes met, a hint of panic flickered between them. Soon, Su Ye leaned in first, sucking on Yue Chengqi’s lip and giving it a soft nip. “I won’t let Ah Huan go either. Don’t even think about leaving.”

The calm sucking gradually accelerated. The girl attacked fiercely and neither would give way. But the moment they lay back, the intensity softened into a gentle drizzle, their soft cheeks brushing together.

They couldn’t help but hold each other tighter.

Suddenly, Su Ye pulled away, her face flushed and flustered. “What’s the next step? Wait, let me check the book.” She tried to roll out of the quilt, but was immediately caught in a warm, soft embrace.

Yue Chengqi held her from behind, taking her hand and placing it gently over her own heart. She said softly, “Don’t learn from the books; learn from me.”

“Those books are unreliable, but I am.”