Chapter 27
Back in her room, Lin Qianqian couldn’t sleep.
She had talked the talk. Now she had to walk the walk.
She listened to the sounds from the living room and bathroom, trying to decipher Lu Yin’s movements.
She got out of bed and followed Lu Yin around the apartment like a shadow.
When Lu Yin was on the phone, she pretended to scroll through her own phone, her gaze unfocused.
When Lu Yin took out the trash, she followed, muttering, “I’m just going to the convenience store downstairs.”
Returning with a bottle of water, she saw Lu Yin waiting for her and quickly followed her back inside.
When Lu Yin retrieved her pajamas and went to take a shower, Lin Qianqian couldn’t follow.
Lu Yin opened the bathroom door, a playful smile on her face. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“Are you inviting me to shower with you?” Lin Qianqian asked, her posture straightening, a sudden surge of confidence coursing through her.
“Sure, come on in.”
Lu Yin knew exactly how far to push, how to make Lin Qianqian retreat with a single step forward.
It made manipulating Lin Qianqian surprisingly easy, controlling the pace of their interactions.
“I already showered today. Next time, give me some warning,” Lin Qianqian coughed, regaining her composure. “I’ll leave you to it.”
She turned and walked away, then, once out of sight, hurried back to her room and collapsed on the bed.
Lin Qianqian repeated the words in her mind—
Lin Qianqian, you’re doomed.
You’ll never win.
She didn’t know if Lu Yin still had feelings for her, but she was hopelessly captivated, now and forever.
She pushed aside her embarrassment and replied to Ming Yao’s messages from earlier.
Ming Yao declared she was now living a healthy lifestyle: early to bed, early to rise, three meals a day, morning jogs, evening exercises. A model adult.
But the details were unclear. They would have to discuss it in person tomorrow.
Their conversation drifted back to Lin Qianqian’s situation.
Ming Yao, tired of typing, called her.
“What’s the point of ambiguity? It’s useless! There’s no commitment! Even if she’s your sister!” Ming Yao lectured. “Don’t be a coward! Just go for it! Don’t let her take advantage of you!”
“She hasn’t taken advantage of me…” Lin Qianqian said, lying on her bed, thinking.
Lu Yin had always treated her well, too well, perhaps.
Then it hit her.
Lu Yin hadn’t let anyone else take advantage of her, but Lin Qianqian had certainly taken advantage of Lu Yin.
“Instead of agonizing over it, just do it,” Ming Yao continued her pep talk. “She’s your sister. Worst case scenario, you apologize. It’ll be fine.”
Lin Qianqian was speechless. “You should worry about yourself.”
Ming Yao didn’t offer many details, but Lin Qianqian sensed something had changed.
Her friend, after years of neglect, had finally found a mother figure and was transforming into an obedient daughter.
“I have to go. It’s almost ten. I need to sleep,” Ming Yao said, glancing at the time, her voice slightly panicked. “Bye, see you tomorrow.”
So that’s what it was.
They used to party all night, like wild, unsupervised children.
Now, Ming Yao was going to bed at ten o’clock sharp. Her stepmother must be a force to be reckoned with.
Lin Qianqian still thought Lu Yin was the best.
Not too strict, not too controlling. The perfect older sister, the perfect lover.
Lin Qianqian closed her eyes, dreaming of clinging to Lu Yin, their embrace escalating into something more, Lu Yin’s hands and lips finally returning her affection.
She woke up disappointed, realizing it was just a dream.
So close…
So close!
She had almost reached the peak!
Lin Qianqian stared at the ceiling, then got out of bed, grabbing her pillow and knocking on Lu Yin’s door.
The door opened. Lu Yin’s hand was still on the doorknob. Lin Qianqian ducked under her arm and jumped onto the bed.
“What?” Lu Yin asked, turning on the light, her voice sleepy.
Lin Qianqian smoothed her hair. “I want to sleep with you.”
“How?” Lu Yin asked, crossing her arms, looking at her.
Lin Qianqian’s pajamas were buttoned, her hair a mess, her eyes still sleepy.
She was probably sleep-talking, or recounting a strange dream.
Lu Yin was used to it.
Before they had defined their relationship, Lin Qianqian had used countless excuses to crawl into her bed. This was just another one.
Lu Yin saw through her tricks, but indulged her anyway.
“Come here,” Lin Qianqian beckoned.
Lu Yin walked over and lay down on the bed, pulling the duvet over herself, seemingly unfazed by Lin Qianqian’s provocative words.
“Hello? I said I want to sleep with you. Didn’t you hear me?” Lin Qianqian poked Lu Yin’s shoulder. “Hello!”
“Go to sleep,” Lu Yin said coldly.
“Not like that!” Lin Qianqian unbuttoned Lu Yin’s pajama top, her fingers tracing Lu Yin’s collarbone, her touch finding the familiar mole from memory.
Lu Yin grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
Lin Qianqian’s eyes lit up. Her tactic was working.
Her hand still held captive, she leaned closer, nuzzling Lu Yin’s cheek, then nibbling on her chin.
Lu Yin closed her eyes, letting her, her mind struggling to maintain control.
“Changed your mind?” Lu Yin asked.
“I want to sleep with you,” Lin Qianqian repeated, her voice insistent. “Like you slept with me?”
Lu Yin released her hand, giving it a playful slap. “Watch your mouth.”
Lin Qianqian winced, pulling her hand back. “But it’s true, isn’t it?”
She grinned, her hand sliding under Lu Yin’s pajama top. “Wearing a bra to bed is uncomfortable. It’ll dig into your skin. You should take it off, like me.”
“Oops, I got some drool on your chin. Let me wipe it off,” she said, leaning over Lu Yin, her hand brushing against Lu Yin’s chin, the touch sending a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t resist a quick kiss.
Lu Yin tugged at the duvet, and Lin Qianqian, thinking she was about to leave, clung to her, her arms and legs wrapped around Lu Yin. “No more excuses about getting water!”
Lu Yin tried to roll over, but Lin Qianqian’s grip was firm. “You’re being very talkative tonight.”
“I! Want! To! Sleep! With! You!” Lin Qianqian insisted.
Lu Yin took a deep breath. Reasoning with Lin Qianqian was clearly futile.
She pinned Lin Qianqian’s hands to the bed, easily overpowering her.
Lin Qianqian blinked, still processing what was happening. “Are you…going to sleep with me?”
Lu Yin’s hand slid into her mouth, her fingertip tracing her teeth.
“That tickles…” Lin Qianqian mumbled. “…Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“You’re biting me, aren’t you?” Lu Yin pressed her finger against Lin Qianqian’s lower teeth.
Lin Qianqian didn’t feel any pain, only a sudden surge of saliva.
She licked her lips, her tongue brushing against Lu Yin’s finger.
“So what if I am?” Lin Qianqian bit down, leaving a faint mark on Lu Yin’s knuckle.
Their breaths mingled, the intimacy of the moment undeniable.
Lin Qianqian was so close she could kiss Lu Yin just by tilting her head up.
“I remember you wanted to learn how to paint,” Lu Yin said, changing the subject.
Lin Qianqian searched her memory. It seemed there had been such a conversation.
When she had asked Lu Yin to teach her, Lu Yin had told her to break her habit of drawing a circle for the sun every time she picked up a brush.
“When you dip your brush in the paint, you have to swirl it gently like this,” Lu Yin said, her voice calm, her fingertip tracing Lin Qianqian’s tongue, the sensation intensifying.
Lin Qianqian swallowed, her mouth filling with saliva, wanting to spit Lu Yin’s finger out but unable to.
“When the paintbox misbehaves, it needs to be punished,” Lu Yin said, her hand moving to Lin Qianqian’s cheek, her fingers pressing against her jaw, the grip tightening.
Lin Qianqian winced. “That hurts…”
“Endure it,” Lu Yin said coldly, her grip unrelenting.
“I won’t bite you anymore, okay…?” Lin Qianqian pleaded, her earlier boldness replaced by a wave of panic. “I know I was wrong! Sister…”
She whimpered, afraid to move her jaw. “I’m a good dog. I shouldn’t have bitten you.”
“I’ll never bite you again…” she said, then, fearing Lu Yin didn’t believe her, added a few pathetic barks.
Lu Yin released her grip. “If you bite me again, I’ll put a muzzle on you.”
“What’s that?” Lin Qianqian asked, swallowing hard, wiping Lu Yin’s hand with a tissue.
“It’s for dogs,” Lu Yin explained helpfully.
“Oh…” Lin Qianqian drawled.
The explanation was useless.
But she didn’t have time to Google it. As Lu Yin lay back down, she climbed on top of her, her lips finding Lu Yin’s.
She would be the dominant one this time!
Lu Yin hadn’t expected her persistence.
“Don’t you want to sleep tonight?”
“We don’t have to,” Lin Qianqian said.
Lu Yin’s hand snaked around her waist, pinning her down as she tried to shift her weight.
Lin Qianqian, momentarily startled, then realizing it was Lu Yin’s hand, her face flushed.
“Why are you so nervous?” Lu Yin asked, her hair cascading around her, her lips parted slightly.
Lin Qianqian’s mind was hazy from the alcohol, and the familiar tingling sensation returned to her tongue.
She kissed Lu Yin, Lu Yin’s hand moving to the back of her head, deepening the kiss.
The kiss was messy, their breaths mingling in the quiet bedroom.
Lin Qianqian sensed a shift in Lu Yin’s mood, a sudden intensity, but she didn’t hesitate, her boldness unwavering. She didn’t understand the change, but she felt it.
Lin Qianqian’s eyes widened, her mind momentarily blank.
This woman…
Why was she always so unpredictable?
But the opportunity had presented itself, and she wasn’t going to waste it. She kissed Lu Yin back with equal fervor.
If only kisses could convey all her unspoken emotions, all the feelings she couldn’t articulate.
But a kiss was just a kiss.
Even after all this time, every kiss, from the stolen one to Lu Yin’s birthday peck, to this sudden, intense kiss, had caught her off guard.
“Lu Yin…” Her carefully constructed defenses crumbling, Lin Qianqian whispered her name.
Lu Yin, provoked, bit her lip, silencing her moans, her whispered name.
The taste of blood filled Lin Qianqian’s mouth.
“Lu Yin!” Lin Qianqian hit her shoulder, her voice panicked.
She didn’t understand. Why was Lu Yin biting her, so hard? She had called her name several times, but Lu Yin didn’t react.
She remembered that night, Lu Yin gripping her wrist in her sleep, her cries unanswered, the red marks a painful reminder.
Just like now.
She had angered Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was punishing her.
“Sister…” Lin Qianqian finally said.
Lu Yin’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting Lin Qianqian’s, a mixture of desire and fear swirling within.
She wiped the blood from Lin Qianqian’s lip, then licked the wound.
Lin Qianqian flinched, blinking rapidly.
Just as Lu Yin was wondering if her actions had upset Lin Qianqian again, Lin Qianqian stood up and threw the blanket at her.
“Evil spirit, begone! Leave my sister!”
Lu Yin: “…”
She lay back down. “Go to sleep,” she said.
Lin Qianqian, her dramatics over, lay down beside Lu Yin, studying her face before snuggling into her arms. “Why did you bite me?” she asked.
Lu Yin didn’t open her eyes. “Revenge,” she said calmly.
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