In the pool that resembled a Roman bath, the two embraced each other tenderly.
Actually, what Tsukiyuki Rio didn’t realize was that, compared to when she wore light makeup, Gao Sijin preferred her bare face even more. With makeup, she always carried a faint, elusive allure, while without it, she was more like a pure, flawless princess, reminiscent of a dew-kissed crabapple blossom—simply as beautiful as a celestial maiden.
Gao Sijin couldn’t help but gently wrap his arm around her slender waist. Just moments ago, a part of his own body had overlapped with another part of Rio’s, and a lingering warmth, not too scorching but deeply comforting, still remained, leaving an endless, delightful aftertaste.
The traditional-style maiden, now completely reliant on Gao Sijin, nestled her entire body against his embrace. Fine droplets of water slid from her snow-tender skin onto Gao Sijin’s body. The water that touched her seemed to carry a faint, pure sweetness. The hazy mist enveloped them, bringing the two into a relatively secluded domain.
Closing his eyes, he recalled the dreamscape, the miserable, solitary life he led in that rented room, alone with only loneliness for company.
Opening his eyes, the present moment was truly, immensely blissful.
Tsukiyuki Rio, this girl from a foreign land—now her body and heart both belonged to him. That such a peerless beauty would condescend to be with him gave Gao Sijin a feeling as if he were still in a dream, even now. In fact, he might really be in a beautiful dream, at risk of having a bucket of cold water thrown over him by harsh reality at any moment, waking up to find he had nothing.
Yet everything that had just happened told Gao Sijin, with absolute truth, that he was not dreaming. He had gained true love. Tsukiyuki Rio’s touch and warmth were all completely real.
Tsukiyuki Rio was still half-kneeling behind him, scrubbing his back—docile and virtuous. Being with a girl like Tsukiyuki Rio, they might never have a single argument their entire lives.
“Rio, I will definitely take responsibility for you. From now on, I will absolutely never be unfaithful.”
“If Gao-kun is unfaithful, I might turn into a yandere girl and lock Gao-kun up in a cage like an animal.”
“Nothing would make me happier.”
Gao Sijin smiled as he stroked Tsukiyuki Rio’s damp, jet-black hair.
The two washed in the bathhouse for nearly over an hour, leaving only after thoroughly cleansing the thick, sticky grime from their bodies. Both were completely unclothed, yet neither minded being seen naked by the other.
Yesterday, even holding hands would make their hearts pound. Now, after the morning’s pleasure, their understanding of each other had deepened a layer. When changing clothes, Tsukiyuki Rio even handed Gao Sijin his underwear. Gao Sijin also walked behind Tsukiyuki Rio to help her fasten the clasp of her black lace bra, incidentally running his hand over her flawless, smooth jade back, making the girl giggle foolishly.
Tsukiyuki Rio wore her usual black kimono. Her snow-white skin paired with black maximally showcased her noble and dignified aura. Gao Sijin changed into ordinary, stand-collar white shirt and slacks. Looking in the mirror, he felt his girlfriend’s perfect aura was somewhat diluted by his own plainness.
“Right, Rio. After drinking yesterday, did Qingxue stay at your palace, or did she go back to her apartment?”
“Qingxue didn’t leave yesterday. She should be in a guest room now.” Tsukiyuki Rio paused, then added, “Also, there’s one thing I need to correct Gao-kun on. Your way of saying ‘your palace’ just now was wrong. This is ‘our palace’. From now on, Gao-kun is also the master of this palace. The maids must address Gao-kun as Master from now on. By this week, I’ll turn this palace into our shared property.”
“I can’t take advantage of you.”
“We’ve already had a physical relationship and formed a covenant of love. If Gao-kun refuses again, it means Gao-kun doesn’t have me in his heart.” Tsukiyuki Rio said, aggrieved.
He clearly didn’t want to eat this “soft rice” (live off her), but Tsukiyuki Rio just poured the “soft rice” straight into Gao Sijin’s mouth, with an attitude that seemed determined to force him to swallow it.
Continuing like this, he might end up spoiled rotten by Tsukiyuki Rio into a useless person.
Although Tsukiyuki Rio appeared to be a compliant Yamato Nadeshiko-type girl, Gao Sijin was crystal clear about the gap in their statuses. One was the heiress of the Tokyo No. 1 Financial Clique, the other just a slightly famous light novel author. This love was destined to be unequal. If Gao Sijin didn’t work hard, he would inevitably fail to gain the approval of Tsukiyuki Rio’s family in the future.
“Rio, even if we’re lovers, I can’t take your money. I must work hard to become a man worthy of you.”
“Gao-kun, please don’t put too much psychological pressure on yourself. Actually, even if Gao-kun doesn’t work hard in the future, I can completely take care of everything for Gao-kun.”
“That won’t do. To make Rio like me even more, I absolutely cannot wallow in this current happiness.”
On this point, Gao Sijin was unexpectedly stubborn. Tsukiyuki Rio tried to persuade him to no avail and didn’t press further.
In any case, Gao Sijin was now firmly grasped in the palm of her hand. Whether body or soul, he would thoroughly become her captive.
If Gao Sijin were willing to observe his girlfriend carefully, he would definitely notice that beneath Tsukiyuki Rio’s seemingly angelic, sweet smile, there hid a tiny bit of obsession and wickedness. All her accommodation was merely an attempt to lure Gao Sijin into a deeper trap. Even if Gao Sijin truly recovered his memories one day, upon recalling this perfect love, he would completely lose any thought of running away.
The two clasped hands, fingers interlocked, just like when they first met.
Inside the reception room, Yu Qingxue was lying bored on the sofa, watching the LPL Playoffs broadcast on TV.
“Good morning, Qingxue.”
“Tch, smelling the stench of a normie so early in the morning, how unlucky. Even the match has become unwatchable.”
Yu Qingxue turned her head away, putting on an attitude as if she didn’t want to pay any attention to Gao Sijin.
However, Yu Qingxue’s aura wasn’t particularly icy. More accurately, it was closer to a tsundere attitude.
“Still mad at me?”
“How dare I, Young Master Gao? This humble servant is even happier than your own mother about your blissful union with Young Lady Tsukiyuki.”
Gao Sijin was already accustomed to Yu Qingxue’s brand of sarcastic remarks.
Several maids nearby glared at Yu Qingxue, but she acted as if she didn’t see them. Immediately after, without any euphemism, she asked bluntly:
“Did you two do it this morning?”
“What did you say?”
“Come on, stop playing the innocent little virgin with me. I asked you, did you two have relations this morning?”
Yu Qingxue crossed her long, beautiful legs, the twenty-centimeter heel striking the floor with a sharp knock.
“Yes, we indeed did it. Gao-kun was truly amazing, so capable.” Tsukiyuki Rio answered in Gao Sijin’s place, her dark crimson eyes narrowing into crescent-moon slits.
“Sijin, having sex with the girl you like feels pretty great, huh?” Yu Qingxue’s tone was brimming with sourness. Her ink-black eyes flickered with an aggressive edge.
“Very blissful.”
“If it’s great, just say it’s great. What’s with the ‘very blissful’? Trying to be artsy? If one day I get to have you, I’ll say it felt great. I definitely wouldn’t say it was blissful.” Ever since Gao Sijin confessed to Tsukiyuki Rio yesterday, Yu Qingxue had been full of a gunpowder-like tension.
That was understandable, when he thought about it.
The first person he met when he came to Tokyo was Yu Qingxue, but in the end, he got together with Tsukiyuki Rio.
“Right, was she a virgin?” Yu Qingxue asked, laughing frivolously.
“What?”
“I asked you, was she a virgin?” Yu Qingxue enunciated each word bitingly, repeating the question.
Recalling what happened in the morning, Gao Sijin couldn’t say for sure.
He’d heard that the first time involved bleeding. When Feng Na had forced herself on him, there had been a lot of blood, but during this morning’s bed activities with Tsukiyuki Rio, the sheets hadn’t been stained red.
That meant Rio had very likely already lost her chastity before this.
Realizing this, Gao Sijin still answered firmly:
“Qingxue, whether Rio was a virgin or not, it doesn’t matter.”
“So your woman wasn’t a virgin?” Yu Qingxue struck a coquettish, provocative pose. “Sijin, I’m actually still a virgin. Don’t you have any thoughts about that?”
“Don’t underestimate me, okay? I like Tsukiyuki Rio as a person, not just a piece of membrane. So what if she was a virgin? So what if she wasn’t? Before we formally established our relationship, I had no right to interfere in Rio’s life. Now that we’re together, I believe Rio will absolutely never betray me in the future.” Gao Sijin declared righteously.
Actually, he had vaguely noticed this point earlier, but he hadn’t brought it up. Since he’d decided to be with her, why care about such a thing?
Besides, his own first time had been taken by Feng Na. A love where both had lost their chastity wasn’t absolutely pure, but if the feelings were true, this small flaw was perfectly acceptable. Gao Sijin didn’t have those traditional, worldly views. Liking a girl should be built on a foundation of mutual respect.
“Rio, I don’t mind at all. I originally thought you didn’t know anything, but when it came down to business, I didn’t expect you to have so many tricks. It was truly an eye-opener.” Gao Sijin said in a joking tone. “But even so, I still love you. Even if your first time in the past didn’t belong to me, I wouldn’t mind at all.”
“My first time belonged to Gao-kun.” Tsukiyuki Rio’s dark crimson eyes seemed on the verge of tears. “The purest first time was given to Gao-kun. From now on, countless times will belong only to Gao-kun alone…”
“Forget it, I’ll stop being a master instigator,” Yu Qingxue shrugged. “Sijin, some girls don’t necessarily bleed the first time. And that membrane, some women are born without it, or it can tear due to strenuous exercise. So, you get it, right?”
“Sorry, Rio. Just now, I actually thought you…”
“It’s okay, Gao-kun. Actually, when you said that even if my chastity didn’t belong to you, you’d still love me—just that point alone is enough to make me very happy. That’s the Gao-kun I like.”
Tsukiyuki Rio shuffled over in her geta to Gao Sijin, sat on his lap, and acted spoiled like a kitty.
Yu Qingxue’s “offensive” not only failed to damage their relationship but instead made their feelings grow even warmer.
“It’s over. I’ve become the clown.”
“Who told Senior Yu to test my boyfriend? Now you see how strong our feelings are, right?”
“It’s a pity this man doesn’t belong to me.”
A faint bitterness shimmered at the corner of Yu Qingxue’s eyes. Her lips parted slightly, then closed again.
Tsukiyuki Rio’s first experience wasn’t this morning, and Gao Sijin’s first experience wasn’t yesterday afternoon either.
The two’s first experience was in January of this year. The location was the parliament hall on the first floor of this palace. Gao Sijin had been tied to the throne at the time. Tsukiyuki Rio lowered her slender willow waist, sitting astride him. No matter how the man cried for help, no one came to his rescue. Tsukiyuki Rio’s greedy lips had sealed the man’s mouth, greedily ravaging every inch of skin on his entire body.
At the time, Yu Qingxue had stood to the side, watching coldly, recording everything with a video camera and even editing it into a movie. It was clearly her first time, yet it had been done a total of five times. “Tally” marks were even written on Gao Sijin’s inner thighs.
In the blink of an eye, it was already late April.
Time truly flies. That youth who once longed for freedom was now blinded by love too.
“Qingxue, why are you suddenly laughing?”
“Nothing, just thought of something happy,” Yu Qingxue stood up, walked over to Gao Sijin and Tsukiyuki Rio, and grabbed both their hands. “I’m truly sorry about just now.”
“Senior Yu, I don’t mind at all.” Tsukiyuki Rio smiled gently.
“I don’t mind either. Qingxue, let’s reconcile. Although I can’t become your lover, we can be friends. After all, we share so many similarities—the same favorite games, the same favorite anime series, and you’re also my fan…”
“Yeah, let’s make up. Not being able to become your lover is certainly regrettable, but I’ve come to terms with it now. Life can’t always be smooth sailing. Besides, losing to Junior Rio is a loss I can accept wholeheartedly.” Yu Qingxue gently wrapped her slender arms around both their necks. “In short, you two better be good to each other. If you ever break up one day, let me know. I’ll swoop in and take Sijin home.”
“I won’t give you that chance, Senior Yu.”
“Right, Rio and I will love each other forever.” Gao Sijin and Tsukiyuki Rio’s hands clasped even tighter.
“Do you two want to move to my apartment later?”
“Senior Yu, if we do that, where would Gao-kun and I have private space to spend our world of two?”
“You don’t mind having so many maids in your palace, so moving to my apartment wouldn’t be affected at all, right? Just treat me as your maid and order me around then. I could even wear a maid outfit and call you Young Miss. I’m mainly just too lonely by myself. Having you two around would be a good company.” Yu Qingxue paused. “Besides, a triangle is a universally recognized most stable structure. The three of us could team up and play Naraka: Bladepoint sometime, guaranteed total annihilation. Please? If you two want some private space, I’ll make myself scarce, absolutely won’t disturb you.”
Gao Sijin felt indebted to Yu Qingxue, but at the same time, he didn’t want to go against Tsukiyuki Rio’s wishes. Gao Sijin thought Tsukiyuki Rio probably wouldn’t want to live with Yu Qingxue. Just as Gao Sijin was in a dilemma, Tsukiyuki Rio suddenly clapped her hands together happily, saying:
“Sure! Gao-kun discussed this matter with me earlier too. In that case, let’s the three of us live together. Also, Senior Yu’s apartment is very close to Gao-kun’s school. It’s just about a kilometer walk to the Hongo Campus. Senior Yu and I can also commute together to and from Komaba, deepening our bond over time. Thinking carefully, it’s quite nice.”
“Then shall we set off after breakfast?”
“Okay.”
Tsukiyuki Rio smiled and nodded, then immediately gave orders for the maids to start packing luggage.
In the blink of an eye, a huge pile of luggage was packed. Morgana indicated she would have it delivered to Yu Qingxue’s apartment later for Tsukiyuki Rio.
