Chapter 87
Qin Qianrou, returning this time, truly felt like she was coming home, she could finally relax and stay for a while. She had long been accustomed to business trips and sudden assignments, always on the go, aware of her return date, yet never truly anticipating it.
Shen Yiqiu hung up Qin Qianrou’s coat and placed her suitcase neatly against the wall, then put her arm around her shoulders, leading her to the living room. “Want something to eat, or a drink?”
It was already quite late, and Qin Qianrou, having had little appetite these past two days, shook her head. “Just something warm to drink.”
Shen Yiqiu kissed her forehead. “Coming right up.”
As she turned to leave, Qin Qianrou grabbed her hand.
“Have you grown taller?”
Shen Yiqiu instinctively compared their heights, she didn’t think there was much difference.
“Your shoulders are higher than mine now when you hug me.”
Shen Yiqiu wasn’t particularly surprised, but she was still pleased.
“Then I’ll be the one protecting Jiejie from now on.”
Qin Qianrou poked her shoulder playfully and sent her to the kitchen. “Silly.”
After a warm drink, Qin Qianrou leaned against Shen Yiqiu’s shoulder, resting for a bit, her travel fatigue easing. It was almost 11 pm. Shen Yiqiu, having finished her exams, didn’t have to follow her usual school schedule, but Qin Qianrou did, she still had to go to the station tomorrow to complete the paperwork for her return.
“It’s late, go take a shower.” Qin Qianrou stood up and urged Shen Yiqiu to go to bed.
Shen Yiqiu’s movements were slightly hesitant, and only after Qin Qianrou entered the bathroom did she realize why, the child’s earlier expression had been unusual, her cheeks suddenly flushing, her hesitant and nervous demeanor.
Qin Qianrou let the warm water wash over her, soothing her tired muscles, her shoulders still aching slightly. She wasn’t feeling very well today, the constant dinners these past few days, both official ones and private gatherings with colleagues from other stations, she had attended a few unavoidable ones, and inevitably, had a few drinks.
She wasn’t a lightweight, but she rarely drank much at social events, firstly, for her own safety, and secondly, to maintain her professional image, after all, alcohol could easily lead to mistakes, saying something inappropriate, making a blunder that could be used against her.
So, Qin Qianrou had always been disciplined in this regard, but completely abstaining from alcohol wasn’t an option either, and after several days of these social obligations, she had actually consumed quite a bit.
Qin Qianrou emerged from the bathroom, her hair still damp, and saw Shen Yiqiu already sitting on the bed, waiting for her. Seeing her emerge, a smile immediately appeared on Shen Yiqiu’s face, and she stood up and walked over.
“Let me do it.” Shen Yiqiu naturally took the towel from Qin Qianrou and continued drying her hair.
After her hair was half-dry, Shen Yiqiu picked up the hairdryer, skillfully running her fingers through Qin Qianrou’s hair.
Even though she had done this many times before, Shen Yiqiu couldn’t help but exclaim, “Jiejie, your hair is so beautiful, and so thick, I’m so envious.”
“You’re so much younger than me, and you’re comparing hair volume?”
Shen Yiqiu didn’t have long hair, always keeping it at a medium length, but hair volume, or rather, the lack thereof, was a common topic of conversation among her classmates, hair loss, after all, was no longer a problem exclusive to middle-aged people.
University students, in the prime of their youth, yet few had hair as thick and healthy as Qin Qianrou’s. Coupled with her beautiful features and tall, slender figure, there was practically no one on campus who could compare to her.
Shen Yiqiu’s heart softened, such an outstanding and exceptional Jiejie, her girlfriend, she was truly the luckiest person in the world.
“If Jiejie were at Meng Da now, you would definitely be the campus belle.”
Qin Qianrou, her eyes closed, enjoying the feeling, could still picture Shen Yiqiu’s earnest expression.
“I’m almost thirty, how can I compare to you young people? Campus belle? I would be a laughingstock.”
Shen Yiqiu quickly protested, “What’s wrong with thirty? Thirty-year-old women are the most charming, so much better than those empty-headed university students with nothing but looks. Besides, Jiejie, you’re not old at all, I won’t let you say that!”
Qin Qianrou’s lips curved into a smile, this child seemed even more concerned about her age than she was.
“Everyone ages, it’s just a natural part of life.” Qin Qianrou’s eyes remained closed, but she reached out and placed her hand on Shen Yiqiu’s wrist. “As long as you don’t think I’m old, that’s all that matters.”
Shen Yiqiu leaned closer, her cheek brushing against Qin Qianrou’s, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair.
“As long as Jiejie doesn’t think I’m too young, that’s all that matters. To me, Jiejie will always be the most beautiful.”
Qin Qianrou knew there was no such thing as eternal beauty, but at this moment, she believed in Shen Yiqiu’s sincerity, her unwavering devotion,
because, in her heart, Shen Yiqiu was also… the best.
After her hair was dry, Qin Qianrou sat on the bed, and when Shen Yiqiu finished tidying up and joined her, they fell silent.
It seemed like they should say something, or perhaps… do something.
Qin Qianrou remembered she had promised to give Shen Yiqiu a gift when she returned, and the gift, clean and fragrant, was ready to be unwrapped.
But when would be the appropriate time? Qin Qianrou was conflicted, a gift shouldn’t be delayed, but tonight… she felt a little hesitant.
Firstly, it was late, and she was tired, secondly, she wasn’t feeling very well, a persistent discomfort in her lower abdomen.
Shen Yiqiu, seeing Qin Qianrou’s slightly furrowed brow, as if deep in thought, didn’t want to disturb her, she hadn’t been thinking about the gift, her only wish had been for Jiejie to come home.
Jiejie being home was enough; as for the gift, it could wait.
However, Qin Qianrou’s silence continued for a full fifteen minutes, which was unusual, and Shen Yiqiu, glancing at the time, thought that if they delayed any longer, Jiejie wouldn’t be able to get up tomorrow.
“Jiejie, we should go to bed.”
An ordinary statement, one she had said to Qin Qianrou countless times in this bed, yet tonight, it felt different.
Qin Qianrou suddenly became nervous. She glanced at Shen Yiqiu, then quickly looked away, as if deliberating something.
Her reaction puzzled Shen Yiqiu, and she asked, worried, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Qin Qianrou instinctively nodded, and before she could speak, she felt a hand on her forehead.
Shen Yiqiu gently checked her temperature, it didn’t seem too high.
“A headache?”
“No.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Shen Yiqiu’s tone softened, her concern evident, and Qin Qianrou’s heart melted a little.
She lay down, pulling Shen Yiqiu down with her. “Just some discomfort in my lower abdomen.”
“Did you eat something bad?”
“Not exactly, probably from the alcohol a few days ago.”
Qin Qianrou turned over, snuggling into Shen Yiqiu’s embrace, being held like this was much more comforting than lying alone in that hotel bed, even the discomfort in her abdomen seemed to have lessened.
“Let me rub it for you.” Shen Yiqiu wrapped one arm around Qin Qianrou, the other gently massaging her abdomen.
Her movements weren’t exactly professional, but her gentle touch and her love were more effective than any medicine.
Already drowsy, and having not slept properly at home in a while, Qin Qianrou quickly drifted off to sleep in Shen Yiqiu’s comforting embrace, the earlier anticipation having vanished the moment Qin Qianrou mentioned her discomfort, all she could think about now was making Jiejie feel better.
Even after sensing that the person in her arms had fallen asleep, Shen Yiqiu didn’t stop immediately, she had experienced similar pain before, she knew the discomfort lingered even in sleep, she blinked, trying to stay awake a little longer, she wanted to continue soothing Jiejie.
In the middle of the night, Shen Yiqiu was woken up by a soft moan, she opened her eyes slightly, the person in her arms stirring, as if trying to move away.
Shen Yiqiu turned on the bedside lamp and rubbed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Qin Qianrou’s forehead was damp with sweat, her face pale.
This startled Shen Yiqiu, and she was instantly wide awake.
“It’s nothing, I just need to use the restroom.” Qin Qianrou’s voice was weak, and she declined Shen Yiqiu’s offer to help her up.
Shen Yiqiu yawned, but she wasn’t sleepy at all, she was worried about Jiejie, thankfully, she didn’t stay in the bathroom for long.
Back in bed, Qin Qianrou’s complexion still looked pale, but slightly better than before. Shen Yiqiu leaned closer, careful not to disturb her.
“It’s nothing, I just… started my period.”
Her period? The timing seemed off, over a week early. And Qin Qianrou didn’t usually have painful periods, why was she in so much pain?
Seeing Shen Yiqiu’s worried frown, Qin Qianrou forced a smile, “Probably from all that alcohol and the cold a few days ago, it’s nothing, I’ll be fine after some sleep.”
“I’ll make you some brown sugar water.”
Half a glass of brown sugar water later, although it didn’t exactly alleviate the pain, it did offer some comfort. Qin Qianrou thought for a moment, opened the drawer of her nightstand, took out a small bottle, and poured out two pills.
Shen Yiqiu recognized them as ibuprofen.
“Jiejie…”
Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached, Qin Qianrou was a strong person, usually able to endure minor aches and pains, for her to resort to painkillers meant she must be in a lot of pain.
“It’s not that serious, I just want to be able to sleep.”
Shen Yiqiu, however, refused to listen and continued massaging her abdomen, her drowsiness completely gone, she just wanted to comfort her Jiejie.
As the night deepened, Shen Yiqiu turned off the bedside lamp, and the room returned to its previous quietness, Qin Qianrou, asleep now, her breathing even, the sweat on her forehead gone, the pain seemingly subsided. Shen Yiqiu’s hand continued its gentle massage.
But her thoughts wandered. She often thought about her time with Qin Qianrou, but now, more than ever, she wished her special ability could alleviate Jiejie’s pain. She didn’t need premonitions, she didn’t need time-freezing abilities, she just wanted Qin Qianrou to be well.
She suddenly recalled the incident at the Xinting Hotel, how she had touched the door with her bleeding hand, and the door had unlocked, perhaps her blood had special properties?
Shen Yiqiu’s heart raced, even without any scientific basis, even if it wasn’t guaranteed to work, it was just a little blood, what if it could ease Jiejie’s pain?
Carefully, she got out of bed, found a needle, sterilized it with an alcohol swab, then pricked her ring finger.
A drop of blood emerged, the bright red startling in the darkness, but this time, Shen Yiqiu wasn’t repelled by it, but how should she give it to Jiejie? Smear it on her? Jiejie would be scared if she woke up and saw that, should she wake her up and ask her to touch it? She would probably be scolded, maybe even banished from the room.
No, she would use her own method.
Shen Yiqiu, holding her bleeding finger, walked back to Qin Qianrou’s side and squatted down, she was sleeping more soundly now, probably thanks to the painkillers.
Shen Yiqiu gazed at her lovingly, then slowly leaned forward and kissed her.
Her kiss was gentle, unhurried, repeatedly moistening Jiejie’s lips.
Qin Qianrou, initially unresponsive, then instinctively responding, slightly parted her lips.
Shen Yiqiu, although reluctant, knew she should stop, she pulled away slightly and placed her injured finger between Qin Qianrou’s lips.
Qin Qianrou felt like she was in a strange dream, Shen Yiqiu’s kiss, then a metallic taste in her mouth, they had kissed many times, but they had always been gentle, even their most passionate kisses wouldn’t draw blood.
Could it be her own blood? Qin Qianrou’s dream became even more hazy, but she didn’t fully wake up, and the metallic taste gradually faded, disappearing into her dream.
Shen Yiqiu withdrew her finger, the bleeding had mostly stopped, and she put it in her mouth, a perfectly normal action, yet seeing Qin Qianrou before her, remembering where her finger had just been, she felt a strange tightening in her lower abdomen.
Sigh, sometimes, too much knowledge wasn’t a good thing, knowing was one thing, applying it was another!
After cleaning up, Shen Yiqiu returned to Qin Qianrou’s side. The warmth under the covers had dissipated slightly, and Qin Qianrou, as if seeking a new source of heat, instinctively snuggled closer as Shen Yiqiu lay down beside her.
Shen Yiqiu held her close, her hand still gently massaging her abdomen.
Qin Qianrou, after a peaceful night’s sleep, woke up feeling much better, the pain almost completely gone. She had experienced severe menstrual cramps a few times before, mostly before Chinese New Year, when the workload and the social obligations at the station intensified, but this time, her recovery had been unusually quick.
The person beside her, her head resting on Qin Qianrou’s shoulder, had also drifted off, her sleeping position slightly askew, but her arms remained around Qin Qianrou, her hand still gently massaging her abdomen. Shen Yiqiu had maintained this position since they fell asleep last night, and Qin Qianrou’s heart was filled with a mix of tenderness and gratitude.
She glanced at the time, not in a hurry to get up, and simply watched Shen Yiqiu sleeping peacefully.
It had been a while since she had properly looked at her, her longing suppressed, but her heart wouldn’t always obey, during many lonely nights, gazing at the glittering cityscape of Hai City, she had yearned for this innocent, youthful face in Meng City.
Actually, her face had matured, hints of her future beauty already emerging, and Qin Qianrou often imagined the extraordinary person her Qiu would become.
She hadn’t discussed future plans with Shen Yiqiu, she didn’t want to pressure her, Shen Yiqiu’s future was her own to choose, she just wanted her to grow and develop freely, she was Shen Yiqiu’s girlfriend, and she would be there for her, every step of the way.
Shen Yiqiu was a peaceful sleeper, she didn’t talk in her sleep or toss and turn, but Qin Qianrou suddenly missed those bright eyes that could capture her soul, a mischievous thought occurred to her, and she gently pinched Shen Yiqiu’s nose, then let go.
As expected, the sleeping figure’s nose twitched slightly, and Qin Qianrou chuckled softly.
After a while, seeing Shen Yiqiu still asleep, Qin Qianrou gently pinched her earlobe, marveling at its soft, smooth texture. She couldn’t seem to stop now, her playfulness taking over.
Shen Yiqiu stirred and woke up, still groggy, then she heard a soft chuckle.
“Sleepyhead, sleeping in so late.”
“Morning, Jiejie.”
Shen Yiqiu opened her eyes and, following her usual habit, kissed Qin Qianrou’s lips.
“You woke up later than me today.”
Shen Yiqiu, seeing Qin Qianrou’s playful mood, her rosy cheeks, knew she had fully recovered.
“So, I have to punish you.”
“Punish me how?”
Qin Qianrou, still holding her earlobe, leaned closer and whispered, “You’ll have to wait a little longer for your gift.”
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