Chapter 41: “Jiejie, Is This Pressure Okay?”
The silver-white security door opened automatically from the inside.
Countless rays of light streamed outwards, elongating Ming Fei’s shadow on the floor.
Ming Fei put her phone back into her pajama pocket, trying to appear more composed. But the moment she actually stepped into the master bedroom on the third floor, she still stiffened, her steps almost clumsy, like an experimental robot in its early stages of development.
After she fully entered the room, the security door automatically closed behind her.
This was the first time Ming Fei had entered Zhu Yiqiao’s bedroom. She maintained her politeness, not glancing around this private space.
As she stepped onto the soft carpet, she saw Zhu Yiqiao sitting by the sofa.
She didn’t hesitate, walking towards Zhu Yiqiao.
At this moment, Ming Fei had clearly entered the second phase of experimental development, her movements more agile, her expression no longer stiff.
Soon, she stopped in front of Zhu Yiqiao: “…Jiejie.”
Zhu Yiqiao, having just finished washing up, was wearing a plain black nightgown, the ends of her long, curly hair still damp.
She wore a pheromone bracelet identical to Ming Fei’s. The black nightgown was fastened by a single tie, her delicate, jade-like collarbone faintly visible.
Faintly, Ming Fei smelled a very light woody scent.
So faint that her pheromone bracelet didn’t react at all.
Ming Fei guessed that she must have been mistaken and suppressed her doubts, quietly observing Zhu Yiqiao’s movements.
“Is Zaozao asleep?” Zhu Yiqiao asked.
Ming Fei nodded: “She fell asleep twenty minutes ago.”
“Mm.”
Zhu Yiqiao closed the thick book in her hand and finally looked up at the person in front of her. Her gaze was still devoid of any particular emotion, like a calm sea, only likely to surge with waves after darkness fell.
Outside the window, the night was as cool as water, pitch black. In early November in the Independent State of Yi Meng, light snow had begun to fall, and the sleet weighed down the plants in the garden.
Ming Fei didn’t sit down, standing straight like a student called upon by the teacher.
After careful consideration, she decided to be more proactive.
After all, finishing early meant she could go back to sleep with Ming Zaozao sooner, and it wouldn’t delay Zhu Yiqiao’s rest either.
Therefore, Ming Fei, who usually waited, observed, and hid behind her safety valve, took the initiative today.
She asked, “Jiejie, what… should I do?”
“You don’t know anything at all?”
Ming Fei, having thought it through, was honest: “Mm. I roughly understand the concept of pheromone guidance, but the teacher didn’t explain the steps to us, and the basic physiology textbook didn’t cover this either.”
“Mm.”
Perhaps because she was in her private domain, Zhu Yiqiao’s voice was tinged with laziness.
She said, “I’ll teach you.”
Ming Fei had a serious learning attitude: “Sorry to trouble you, Jiejie.”
She asked, puzzled, “Then what should I do for the first step?”
“Do you see that cabinet over there?”
“Mm.”
“Go get the white gloves.”
Ming Fei replied, “Okay.”
She moved quickly. After bringing the item Zhu Yiqiao had specified, she watched as Zhu Yiqiao put on the white gloves from the Trial Court. For some reason, a strange sense of danger arose in her heart, as if those gloved hands would strangle her neck in the next moment.
Then, leaning down, revealing canine teeth, biting through her carotid artery, and finally slowly swallowing her whole.
Ming Fei was amused by her own absurd imagination.
She smiled, and Zhu Yiqiao, having put on the gloves, issued the next instruction.
“Sit next to me.”
“Okay.”
After sitting down, because they were closer, the tension and sense of danger in Ming Fei’s heart intensified.
She couldn’t explain why, her emotions all written on her face. When Zhu Yiqiao noticed that she was almost turning into the curled-up kitten emoji, a hint of confusion flickered in her eyes.
“Are you scared?”
Ming Fei shook her head seriously: “No.”
Zhu Yiqiao, remembering what Ming Zaozao had said, asked: “Afraid of pain?”
Ming Fei’s confidence wavered slightly: “No.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yiqiao didn’t press further, explaining, “Tonight is just a checkup. Dr. Tang said your gland’s condition is special, and it needs to be checked every night recently.”
“Jiejie, can I check it myself?”
“Do you know how?”
Of course, she knew how to simply look, but as for a proper checkup, that was another matter.
Ming Fei didn’t speak, pulling her long hair forward and adjusting the detection function of her pheromone bracelet to the highest level before turning her head and removing the suppressor patch, allowing Zhu Yiqiao to examine her gland.
“Is this okay?”
“Mm.”
Because she was facing the French window, Ming Fei could not only feel Zhu Yiqiao’s fingertips touching her, but also see her meticulous expression through the reflection in the window.
When Zhu Yiqiao’s fingertips touched the edge of her gland, Ming Fei could still pretend to be calm. As they gradually moved upwards along the edge, Ming Fei’s eyelashes trembled. When they reached the scar in the center, Ming Fei’s sweet pheromones overflowed.
The room was immediately filled with the scent of sweet pears.
“…Sorry, Jiejie.”
Zhu Yiqiao: “No need to apologize.”
“Mm.”
Ming Fei pursed her lips, feeling like a patient avoiding treatment. She had clearly wanted to write down “actively treat” in her diary every day this afternoon, but now, the checkup had just begun, and she was already softly asking,
“Jiejie, are you done checking?”
Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Does it hurt here?”
Ming Fei sensed for a moment: “No.”
“Here?”
Ming Fei answered truthfully, “It’s a little itchy.”
After asking two more similar questions, Zhu Yiqiao finally removed her fingertips from Ming Fei’s gland. She handed Ming Fei a prepared medical wipe, indicating for her to wipe the gland on the back of her neck.
“Thank you, Jiejie.”
Ming Fei quickly turned around and wiped, the tips of her ears noticeably red, even her long, loose hair couldn’t hide it.
Her thoughts began to wander—
Because if she continued to focus on her gland at this moment, having just undergone the examination, she would probably overheat.
She stared at the corner of the garden under the night light, the hazy snow and the red Bingjiao roses complementing each other, like a bonfire suddenly lit in the snow.
A unique and romantic beauty.
Ming Fei decided to pick two bunches of roses tomorrow morning, trim them, and put them in a glass vase on her and Ming Zaozao’s desks.
After carefully wiping her gland clean, Ming Fei turned around, about to politely express her thanks and leave, when she noticed that Zhu Yiqiao had suddenly become motionless.
Although Zhu Yiqiao’s expression and aura hadn’t changed, Ming Fei felt something was wrong.
She asked keenly, “Jiejie, are you feeling unwell?”
Zhu Yiqiao changed the subject: “Tonight’s checkup is over.”
The implication was that she could leave.
But Ming Fei was a little worried. She moved closer to Zhu Yiqiao and asked directly,
“What’s wrong, Jiejie?”
Zhu Yiqiao: “Don’t want to leave?”
Ming Fei shook her head and then nodded.
As their eyes met, Ming Fei didn’t look away, maintaining eye contact with Zhu Yiqiao, letting her scrutinize her.
After a minute-long standoff, Zhu Yiqiao softly revealed the reason for her discomfort.
“My shoulder was injured by a gunshot. Even after treatment in the medical pod, there’s still some aftereffect. Sometimes it hurts when the weather is bad.”
“You go back and rest first, I’ll be fine in a while.”
Ming Fei didn’t leave. She was usually very obedient, but sometimes very persistent. She sat next to Zhu Yiqiao, her eyes filled with concern, her voice lacking the tension from the gland examination.
“I’ve learned massage, Jiejie, do you mind if I take a look?”
Zhu Yiqiao suddenly thought of Ming Zaozao.
When they first lived together in Hui Fu Garden, Ming Zaozao had proudly said that her mommy could do anything and was the most amazing person in the world.
After getting to know Ming Fei during this time, and learning that she was the intelligent and delicate Skwiatowy, Zhu Yiqiao had gained a new understanding of her.
Therefore, she wasn’t surprised to hear that Ming Fei knew how to massage.
She just asked, “Where did you learn it?”
Ming Fei explained, “When I first joined the research institute, I worked with another professor to develop an elderly care robot, which is now widely used. When testing its massage function, I learned a little from the professional masseuse.”
She smiled shyly, “Of course, I’m still far from a professional masseuse, but if Jiejie needs it, I will study harder.”
Zhu Yiqiao: “Okay.”
“Then I’ll go prepare a hot compress for Jiejie.”
“Mm.”
Ming Fei moved quickly. Guided by Zhu Yiqiao, she went into the bathroom, got a towel, and prepared the hot compress in about five minutes.
Before proceeding to the next step, she asked,
“Jiejie, do I need to wear gloves?”
Zhu Yiqiao didn’t say whether she needed to or not: “Begin.”
“Okay.”
Ming Fei was extremely focused, her gaze never wavering. While massaging, it was as if she wasn’t touching Zhu Yiqiao’s shoulder, but the robot core components she usually worked with. She wasn’t distracted by anything else from beginning to end.
There were no inappropriate or presumptuous thoughts, just occasional questions.
“Jiejie, does it hurt here?”
“Jiejie, is this pressure okay?”
“Jiejie, how does it feel now?”
…
When asking such questions, her almond eyes were clear and bright, filled with unconcealed concern. Anyone meeting such a gaze would soften.
Zhu Yiqiao’s expression remained unchanged, only answering her questions slowly and calmly. After the pain in her shoulder gradually subsided, the massage ended.
Ming Fei, having completed her task, smiled.
Before leaving, she repeatedly confirmed with Zhu Yiqiao whether it was effective and reminded her to cover herself with the blanket when sleeping to avoid catching a cold.
Her serious expression was even a little cute.
Zhu Yiqiao said calmly, “Mm, I know.”
“Then I’ll go downstairs. Jiejie, if you feel uncomfortable, just send me a message.”
At this moment, Ming Fei really resembled a canine, her eyes only on Zhu Yiqiao. If she had a fluffy tail, it would probably be wagging.
She seriously assured her, “I’ll keep my communication open.”
“Mm.”
Ming Fei: “Goodnight, Jiejie.”
“Goodnight.”
The large master bedroom fell silent again. The display suddenly lit up, and Zhu Yiqiao checked her messages, finding one from Ming Fei, who had just left.
[I want to pick some roses and put them in the study tomorrow. Jiejie, do you need any?]
[[Kitten offering flowers.jpg]]
Zhu Yiqiao lowered her head and replied. As she left the sofa area, her gaze swept over the cabinet on the right.
—There, the intelligent massage therapy machine that Dr. Tang had brought her was placed. It was much better than Ming Fei’s treatment and much more effective.
But strangely…
She hadn’t mentioned it at all.
And when Ming Fei tentatively offered, she didn’t immediately refuse.
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