If the body is imprisoned, can the mind still roam free?
Gao Sijin believed it could. In fact, the time he spent writing was the only time he felt truly free.
The clatter of the keyboard gradually filled the once stark white digital page with words.
However, it was unlikely Yu Qingxue could tell that what Gao Sijin was writing wasn’t actually fiction.
After that headache, many memories had flooded his mind. What Gao Sijin was writing were the memories concerning his time with Feng Xiaohe. To avoid suspicion, he had simply made up fictional names for the characters.
If he had written down Feng Xiaohe and Feng Xiaona’s real names verbatim, Gao Sijin didn’t dare guarantee what kind of extreme reaction Tsukiyuki Rio might have upon learning the contents of his inner world.
“Yo, you’re quite diligent today, little writer. You’ve already churned out fifteen thousand words in a flash. At this rate, you can write a bit less tomorrow and escape the punishment squeeze.”
Yu Qingxue set a cup of steaming hot flower tea on Gao Sijin’s desk. Her crimson lips were slightly upturned. Even clad in a classic English-style head maid gown, she couldn’t hide that Race Queen-like sexiness.
“I just unconsciously wrote this much. Maybe I’m inspired today.”
“By the way, Master, in two or three days, that old book of yours about the maids will have its first tankobon volume released. I heard it’s getting a great response on the Dengeki Bunko website. Many people even doubt your identity as a China citizen.”
“In China, great writers are a dime a dozen. It’s just that J-Country readers don’t know about them.”
“Master is always so self-deprecating.”
Her black stockings had been discarded in the corner of the room earlier, her long, shapely legs peeking out as if deliberately exposed for him to see. Her slightly angular face kept Yu Qingxue from looking childish, giving her a mature, elder-sisterly air.
Seducing Gao Sijin seemed to have become a form of entertainment for her.
“How much more do you plan to write?”
“Until my inspiration runs dry.”
“You should rest early. Don’t stay up late all the time; it’s bad for your health. Young Lady Tsukiyuki is finally not home today, so you can rest well tonight. Or do you not want to sleep alone, and would rather have me keep you company?”
“Forget it, I’ll go to bed. You get some rest early, too.”
Gao Sijin picked up the flower tea Yu Qingxue had just brought him and took small sips. The rose petals contained a small amount of rose essential oil, which could effectively improve sleep quality.
Returning to that lavish yet empty room, every arrangement was breathtakingly beautiful. The elegant white stone pillars and the magnificent crystal chandelier far exceeded his imagination. Yet sleeping alone in such a room gave Gao Sijin’s heart an indescribable feeling of weightlessness.
Lying in bed, the other side was so cold.
On ordinary days, Tsukiyuki Rio would have her arms wrapped gently around his body.
Though Gao Sijin saw her as the enemy obstructing his freedom, he also disliked this cold, lonely feeling.
“Just like a hamster afraid of being lonely,” Gao Sijin muttered self-deprecatingly.
Once, when he was all alone, he could still dance with solitude. But now, after being treated this way by Tsukiyuki Rio, he felt perhaps he had developed a slight sense of dependence on her in his heart. Yet even so, his desire to escape the birdcage remained unchanged.
He had family awaiting his return home, waiting for him to fulfill his filial duties. He had memories that had never reached a perfect conclusion, waiting for him to pursue them with a bouquet in hand. He had countless stories he wanted to write, waiting to be poured out freely once he regained his freedom.
Though this body is imprisoned, the mind is still dancing.
Not long after Gao Sijin fell asleep, a black sedan stopped in front of the building. A girl wearing a black kimono, with long, beautiful hime-cut hair, stretched lazily. Her perfect silhouette bathed in the cascading moonlight involuntarily brought to mind the legendary Princess Taketori.
“Has Gao-kun already gone to sleep?”
“Yes, Eldest Miss Tsukiyuki. He just lay down.” Yu Qingxue stood before Tsukiyuki Rio. “Welcome home.”
“You’ve worked hard too, Qingxue. Playing with Gao-kun all day, you seem quite happy yourself.” Tsukiyuki Rio patted Yu Qingxue on the shoulder.
“Happy, my ass. Master is such a big actor; he made me drop a ton of elo again today. If I wasn’t afraid of your retaliation, I’d definitely beat the crap out of him.”
“Qingxue always has such an interesting way with words.”
Tsukiyuki Rio walked towards the glass door with an elegant, unhurried gait, pushing it open with just a gentle nudge.
This door could never be opened without Tsukiyuki Rio’s permission.
Recalling the morning she left home the previous day, when she had pinned Gao Sijin against the door and kissed him until he was dazed, she couldn’t help but cover her sexy lips and giggle quietly. Though her own kissing experience was still inferior to his, she always managed to seize the dominant position.
“Ah, that’s right. I’ve already figured out the reason for Gao-kun’s recent headaches, Qingxue.”
“What exactly was the cause?”
“Someone is feeding excess memories into Gao-kun’s brain.” Tsukiyuki Rio’s expression was calm, but her willow-leaf brows were slightly furrowed.
“Is it a future person? Or is it some Time Smuggler selling future goods to someone other than you?”
“Most likely a future person. But whatever, who cares? I’m going to have to alter Gao-kun’s memories soon anyway. Right now, he still harbors strong resistance towards me. As a lady, forcing him to do something so utterly despicable back then was truly improper of me. I want to start over with Gao-kun, a sweet-and-sour romance, and make him fall in love with me again.”
Despite what she said, upon returning to a certain room in the mansion, Tsukiyuki Rio was very honest with herself. She turned on the TV and, as usual, rewatched the high-definition recording of that day’s “Virginity Loss Anniversary.”
On the screen, her past self as the aggressor swayed her slender, snow-white waist, while the dazed Gao Sijin was panting heavily, begging for mercy nonstop.
Tsukiyuki Rio giggled.
“My Yuyuko cosplay from that day had a pretty high degree of faithfulness, didn’t it?”
“Especially in the aspect of never being full, it was a perfect recreation.”
“Gao-kun, to me, is the most delicious food under heaven. Even his tears are sweet.” Tsukiyuki Rio seemed excited now. She gently pressed a hand to her unsteady chest and asked Yu Qingxue, “Did he write diligently today?”
Yu Qingxue knew that Eldest Miss Tsukiyuki Rio was surely hoping for her to answer ‘no,’ because then she could righteously barge into the room, wake Gao Sijin up, and break him completely.
“Regrettably, the Master was exceptionally diligent after you left today. He wrote a full fifteen thousand words.”
“Ah, is that so? Then I’ll have to endure it tonight.”
Tsukiyuki Rio hung her head somewhat regretfully.
“Must you really alter his memories?”
“Mm. I told you before, the University of Tokyo starts in March. I want to enroll together with Gao-kun.”
“Young Lady.”
“What is it, Qingxue?”
“Once that happens, won’t you have to call me your Senpai?” Yu Qingxue suddenly wore a proud smirk.
“That’s right, Qingxue-senpai. Please take care of me after March.”
“Relax, my adorable junior student.”
