Chapter 51
Despite her annoyance, Lin Qianqian decided to pick Lu Yin up from the airport.
It was a matter of principle. Lu Yin had picked her up. Now it was her turn.
If Lu Yin gave her the silent treatment, she would use this as leverage.
An hour before her scheduled departure for the airport, she received a call from Zhong Shiwu. She didn’t know how Zhong Shiwu had gotten her number, but she agreed to Zhong Shiwu’s request.
Zhong Shiwu said she had an acquaintance at the art institution and asked Lin Qianqian to meet with her.
It was another difficult choice, but she couldn’t refuse Zhong Shiwu.
Between offending Lu Yin and offending Zhong Shiwu, it was better to be polite to a stranger.
When she arrived at the institution, she was surprised to see her old classmate, Xu Si.
They had been classmates since elementary school, their friendship a constant throughout their childhood, often visiting each other’s homes.
Xu Si had never slept over at Lin Qianqian’s, but Lin Qianqian had often spent the night at Xu Si’s, earning her a scolding from Lu Yin upon her return.
In elementary and middle school, Lu Yin’s concern had been her safety. In high school, it had shifted to her studies, accusing her of prioritizing fun over academics.
Lu Yin, in that respect, was like any other parent, but Lin Qianqian wasn’t like other teenagers.
Whenever Lu Yin scolded her, she would think—
Oh, she’s scolding me. She must care about me.
She’s worried I’m spending too much time with my friends. Is she afraid I’ll fall in love with someone else and forget about her?
After several rounds of self-deception, she had come to interpret Lu Yin’s scoldings as a sign of affection, her anger a measure of her concern.
Then, after spending three days and nights at Xu Si’s, she had returned home to find Lu Yin exhausted, her messages and calls unanswered. She had panicked.
Back then, she had only dared to drink a little beer, but it always went straight to her head. She had returned home, her face flushed, reeking of alcohol, and Lu Yin had locked her in her room.
Lin Qianqian had begged and pleaded, but to no avail. Finally, she had called Lu Yin and apologized profusely, earning her release.
Seeing Xu Si at the art institution, they hugged excitedly, catching up on lost time.
Xu Si explained that she had been touring the institution with her niece, considering enrolling her in art classes, when she saw Lu Yin’s picture on the wall, recognizing her from their childhood visits to Lin Qianqian’s home.
Zhong Shiwu, overhearing their conversation, had asked a few questions and then summoned Lin Qianqian.
As they were chatting, Zhong Shiwu walked past, smiling. “You two catch up. I’ll leave you to it.”
Xu Si’s gaze returned to the wall of teacher photos. “How are things with your sister now…?”
The scandal surrounding Lin Qianqian’s family had been a major event, forcing her to leave the country just months before the college entrance exams.
She had confidently declared she would attend the same university as Lu Yin, becoming her junior, but she hadn’t even had the chance to take the exams.
“We’re good. I came back this summer and I’m staying at her place,” Lin Qianqian said casually, her expression betraying no hint of their complicated history.
She was increasingly determined to be open about their relationship.
“And your mother…?” Xu Si asked hesitantly, afraid of upsetting her.
“I haven’t spoken to her in a while. The last time…” Lin Qianqian thought back to their last conversation, before her return, when Lin Yun had told her she had sold the house and had no money, leaving Lin Qianqian to fend for herself.
Desperate, she had contacted Lu Yin. If it hadn’t been for that desperate situation, she wouldn’t have had the courage to add Lu Yin back on WeChat.
“It doesn’t matter. We don’t have much to talk about anyway.”
Lin Yun had sent her abroad like a disposable object, a burden to be discarded.
She had been generous at first, providing for her expenses, but then the allowance had dwindled, forcing Lin Qianqian to work part-time jobs, even teaching Chinese to the elderly woman next door, learning the true meaning of “second parents.”
Her cooking skills were atrocious, and after several food poisoning incidents, she had given up on seeking medical treatment, relying on over-the-counter medication and the kindness of her elderly neighbor, who, despite her sharp tongue, had a soft heart.
“I know about your family situation. I’m glad things are going well with your sister. As your friend, I just want you to be happy,” Xu Si said, lowering her voice. “I always thought your sister was a good person. She was always so kind to me when I visited your home. But after you left, the rumors…they were awful.”
Lin Qianqian looked down, unable to respond.
She knew how awful the rumors were. Lu Yin had been insulted and accused to her face, the whispers behind her back even more cruel.
“Sister, are we leaving?” a teenage girl called out from the hallway.
“Coming! Did you finish talking to the teacher, Auntie?” Xu Si stood up.
“Yes, but the next class starts after the Spring Festival. We can pre-register now.”
Xu Si nodded, turning back to Lin Qianqian. “See? We’re destined to be together. Inseparable abroad, and now, I run into you while enrolling my niece in art classes. If I hadn’t seen your sister’s picture, we wouldn’t have met.”
“I didn’t expect to see you here either. This place is so different from before,” Lin Qianqian said, following her out of the office.
“I’m attending A University now,” Xu Si said.
Lin Qianqian’s eyes widened. “That’s a great school!”
“You would have gotten in too, if you had taken the exams,” Xu Si said, getting into her car and waving goodbye. “Let’s get together soon! I’ll call you!”
“Sounds good!” Lin Qianqian replied, waving back.
As the car drove away, she glanced at her watch, a sudden realization hitting her.
She had dressed up, spent two hours on her makeup, not for a casual reunion with an old classmate.
She froze.
She had forgotten about Lu Yin.
A message from Lu Yin arrived, saying her flight had arrived early and Lin Qianqian didn’t need to come to the airport.
Lin Qianqian felt a wave of relief. If Lu Yin had found out she had forgotten to pick her up, prioritizing a casual reunion instead, she would have been in serious trouble.
She had offered to pick Lu Yin up, but now, she didn’t have to.
[Lin Qian: I’ll be waiting at home.]
She was about to call a taxi when she saw Lu Yin walking towards her. She hesitated for a second, then turned and ran back towards the institution.
Lu Yin caught her arm. “Why are you running?”
“I…I came to drop off the scanned documents…” she stammered. “I…I came because I saw your message about your flight arriving early.”
“Really?” Lu Yin asked, releasing her arm.
“Yes, really…” Lin Qianqian said, her voice lacking conviction.
“Of course,” she said, trying to appear confident, walking towards the office.
A teacher approached them. “Teacher Lu, you’re back early!”
Lu Yin nodded in greeting.
“We just had a prospective student touring the institution, and she said she was a classmate of your sister’s.”
Lin Qianqian’s smile froze.
Seriously? We’ve never even spoken. Don’t drag me into your attempt to befriend Lu Yin.
“Is that so?” Lu Yin asked, glancing at Lin Qianqian, then continuing her conversation with the teacher.
They sat down in the office, Lu Yin’s gaze fixed on Lin Qianqian as she rummaged through the drawers, pretending to search for the non-existent documents.
“Did you find them?” Lu Yin asked, even though she knew the truth. “Do you want me to help you?”
The question reminded Lin Qianqian of Lu Yin’s words years ago, before she had been banished to her room: “Are you drunk? Do you want me to make you some sobering soup?”
“I can’t find them…” Lin Qianqian gave up, her voice a pathetic whine. “You said your flight arrived early and I didn’t need to come, so I didn’t. I listened to you.”
Lu Yin didn’t reply, and Lin Qianqian looked up at her, then quickly looked down again.
“Fine,” Lu Yin stood up. “Let’s go home.”
Lu Yin seemed to believe her, and Lin Qianqian, after surreptitiously assessing Lu Yin’s mood, looped her arm through Lu Yin’s, her voice bright and cheerful. “Sister, I missed you so much!”
She kissed Lu Yin’s cheek repeatedly. “Let me smell you! Make sure you haven’t been with any other women!”
Lu Yin didn’t respond, driving home in silence.
“You drove here?” Lin Qianqian asked, calculating the time. “Your flight arrived that early?”
Early enough to drive back home and then to the institution.
“Mm,” Lu Yin confirmed.
Her response was brief, her tone indicating fatigue.
“I should get my driver’s license. Then I can drive you around,” Lin Qianqian said, trying to please her, but Lu Yin’s expression remained neutral.
She decided to be quiet and let Lu Yin rest when they got home.
She bought some snacks at the convenience store near their apartment complex.
She had planned to have dinner with Lu Yin after picking her up from the airport, but now, she had to settle for a quick snack.
Lu Yin, usually attentive to her needs, didn’t ask if she was hungry, her silence a familiar form of disapproval.
Lin Qianqian made instant noodles and ate them in the living room, along with a selection of snacks Lu Yin disliked.
Lu Yin went to her room, retrieved her pajamas, and went to the bathroom without even glancing at her.
She didn’t seem tired at all. Lin Qianqian could tell.
About an hour later, Lu Yin emerged from the bathroom, went to the loft, retrieved a box, and then went to her bedroom.
Lin Qianqian, wanting to greet her, but finding no opportunity, remained silent, her frustration simmering.
She finished her noodles, removed her makeup, and went to bed, still waiting for Lu Yin.
This was strange.
She got out of bed, went to Lu Yin’s room, and opened the door without knocking, her gaze fixed on Lu Yin, who was sitting at her desk. “Are you angry because I didn’t pick you up from the airport?” she asked.
It seemed like a plausible explanation.
Lu Yin valued honesty and always kept her promises. Lin Qianqian had vowed to pick her up.
She should have interpreted Lu Yin’s message about the early arrival as a subtle rejection, a polite way of saying she didn’t want to see her, but she had used it as an excuse, blaming her forgetfulness on her reunion with Xu Si.
“Didn’t you go to the institution to drop off the documents?” Lu Yin asked, her gaze fixed on a box on her desk, not meeting Lin Qianqian’s eyes.
“Just tell me if you’re angry,” Lin Qianqian pressed. “Yes or no?”
If yes, she would apologize.
If no, she would still apologize.
But Lu Yin couldn’t ignore her.
Lu Yin turned slightly, studying Lin Qianqian’s defiant expression. She hadn’t changed at all.
Lin Qianqian walked over and kissed Lu Yin’s lips softly. “I’m sorry,” she said.
Her earlier desperation, her tearful pleas for Lu Yin to return, seemed forgotten.
Lu Yin opened the box, revealing the wolf hair brush.
“I can buy you a better one now. And I know more about art now. I won’t make the same mistake,” Lin Qianqian said, stepping closer, then noticing Lu Yin pulling the brush away. “Hey! What are you doing?”
Petty woman!
It was her gift! Now Lu Yin wouldn’t even let her touch it!
“Is that how you apologize?” Lu Yin finally looked at her.
“If you don’t accept my apology, I’ll offer myself as a sacrifice,” Lin Qianqian said dramatically, reaching for the buttons of her shirt.
A chair, kicked over accidentally, lay on the floor, unnoticed.
Lin Qianqian’s dramatic gesture was interrupted by Lu Yin’s sudden kiss.
Their lips met, Lin Qianqian’s hands instinctively moving to Lu Yin’s chest, her mind racing.
How had they gotten here?
Was she really going to have to rely on seduction to appease Lu Yin?
But if it worked, she would use this tactic repeatedly.
Lu Yin’s fingers traced her spine, the touch sending shivers down her spine, and she pressed closer, seeking warmth, seeking comfort in Lu Yin’s embrace.
Her bare feet found a discarded shirt on the floor, the soft fabric a welcome contrast to the cold tile.
She longed for spring, for the warmth, for the endless nights tangled in Lu Yin’s arms.
Lu Yin’s tongue traced her jawline, her collarbone, her skin tingling with pleasure.
Lin Qianqian lay back against the bed, her gaze fixed on the familiar chandelier, the gentle breeze from the slightly open window a welcome caress.
Lu Yin’s teeth grazed her skin, and Lin Qianqian reached for her hand, wanting to hold it, but her fingers only found Lu Yin’s shoulder.
She let go, her hand falling to the bed, brushing against the serrated edge of a small plastic bag, the rough texture a strange counterpoint to the smoothness of Lu Yin’s skin.
They were both lost in the moment, their bodies moving together, their breaths mingling. Lin Qianqian turned over, her head resting on the pillow, the memories of the previous night flooding back.
The fantasy had become reality, the pleasure intense, but the romantic touch she had imagined hadn’t followed the warmth of Lu Yin’s lips.
Lu Yin stood beside the bed, the wolf hair brush in her hand.
Lin Qianqian looked at her, her eyes half-closed. “Sister…” she whispered, her voice husky, the unanswered desire a lingering ache.
“The wolf hair brush,” Lu Yin said, showing it to her. “Your gift.”
“Mm…yes,” Lin Qianqian mumbled, unsure what Lu Yin was planning.
“Do you remember what I told you it was for?”
Lu Yin’s gaze was intense, her eyes tracing the lines of Lin Qianqian’s body.
“For writing…for…” Lin Qianqian couldn’t remember if it was for cursive, calligraphy, or something else entirely. Her mind was clouded with desire, a desperate need for release. “For writing…”
“Good. Then let me show you how to use it,” Lu Yin said, sitting on the edge of the bed, her hand on Lin Qianqian’s lower back. “We just need some ink.”
As Lu Yin’s fingertip touched her, Lin Qianqian bit her lip, her face burning with embarrassment.
Lu Yin’s touch wasn’t gentle, her mind replaying the message from Zhong Shiwu that afternoon.
Lin Qianqian hadn’t gone to the airport. She had gone to the art institution, meeting with an old friend.
Lu Yin had believed she was Lin Qianqian’s priority, but it seemed she had been wrong.
Even knowing Zhong Shiwu’s message was a deliberate provocation, she had still gone to the institution, her heart heavy with a mixture of anger and insecurity.
She had seen Lin Qianqian say goodbye to her friend, their smiles a painful reminder of Lin Qianqian’s other life, a life that didn’t include Lu Yin.
Every outing, every interaction with someone else, was time stolen from their shared existence.
And Lu Yin, her desires insatiable, wanted it all, every moment, every touch, every thought.
She dipped the brush in the clear, watery fluid, her hand moving to Lin Qianqian’s back, the brush tip tracing the lines of her spine.
“What should I write?” she asked, her gaze fixed on Lin Qianqian’s pale skin, imagining the words appearing, a milky white against the smooth, unblemished surface.
The brush moved, and Lin Qianqian gasped, her body tensing.
“Mm…” she wanted to say she didn’t know, but Lu Yin’s tone, playful yet demanding, made her offer a suggestion, her voice husky with desire. “My name…?”
Perhaps that would please Lu Yin.
She didn’t understand Lu Yin, couldn’t tell if she was angry or lost in her own world, her actions driven by something deeper, something darker.
“Sister…” she whispered, hoping the familiar endearment would bring her back.
“Okay,” Lu Yin chuckled, her hand moving, the brush tracing the letters on Lin Qianqian’s back.
The sensation was cold, and sticky.
Lin Qianqian’s fingers gripped the sheets, her body tensing against the ticklish feeling, each stroke a visceral reminder of Lu Yin’s presence, her control.
She shivered, trying to decipher the words, the letters forming a familiar shape.
It wasn’t her name, Lin Qian. It was Lu Yin’s.
Lu Yin. Written on her body, a possessive mark, a silent declaration.
Lin Qianqian belongs to Lu Yin, and Lu Yin alone.
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