Chapter 104: It’s All Your Fault
Ji Junxin’s bite was sudden, taking Mi Hongdou completely by surprise.
Mi Hongdou didn’t even have time to react. The pain in her right shoulder was dull, not sharp, suggesting a gentle bite. But Ji Junxin’s warm breath against her bare skin sent shivers down her spine. Mi Hongdou’s mind went blank, all thoughts erased, only the burning sensation on her shoulder where Ji Junxin’s breath had touched remained.
Being bitten was an accident, not pulling away immediately was Mi Hongdou’s hesitation.
If she moved suddenly, would she hurt Ji Junxin’s teeth? This strange thought prevented her instinctive reaction to escape. She didn’t even realize that if she pulled away, hurting Ji Junxin’s teeth was one thing, she, whose flesh was being bitten, would be the one in pain.
Ji Junxin’s bite was swift, but then she slowed down, her teeth gently pressing into the flesh. The slow, gentle pressure didn’t cause much pain, just a strange tingling sensation.
Her shoulder was on fire, her body was on fire, even her mind was ablaze.
She couldn’t tell if the heat was from her own embarrassment or from Ji Junxin’s warmth. But she didn’t have to figure it out.
Ji Junxin’s teeth pressed gently, and then… Mi Hongdou felt something soft and warm, like the flesh of a shellfish, brush against the bitten spot…
In this position, what that soft, warm thing was, Mi Hongdou knew without a doubt.
Her body tensed, and then, as if fireworks exploded in her mind, the tingling on her shoulder was replaced by the sensation of being licked. Mi Hongdou’s last thought before her mind completely shut down was: Idiot! Don’t you know you’re supposed to retract your tongue when biting someone! You just licked me!
How long did it last? A mind in shutdown… couldn’t tell time. All Mi Hongdou knew was that it wasn’t until Ji Junxin released her and took a step back that she regained her scattered wits. Her stiff body didn’t want to remember how long she had been frozen…
Her mind rebooting slowly, still struggling to form a coherent response, she was hit by Ji Junxin’s “symmetry is beauty” statement.
Mi Hongdou’s body was still burning, her mind still hazy, but even so, she couldn’t agree with Ji Junxin!
Symmetry was beautiful, but Ji Junxin’s bite couldn’t possibly be symmetrical!
Mi Hongdou stiffly turned her neck to the right. Sure enough, there were two rows of teeth marks on her right shoulder. Although roughly in the same location as the scar on her left shoulder, it wasn’t symmetrical at all!
If Ji Junxin’s expression weren’t so innocent, Mi Hongdou would have thought she did it on purpose!
But… that was impossible… Ji Junxin wasn’t a dog, she wouldn’t bite her on purpose…
So the only explanation was… Ji Junxin was a mischievous idiot!
Mi Hongdou felt ridiculous, her body burning from Ji Junxin’s mischievous bite, she couldn’t help but retort!
“Look! Where’s the symmetry?!” Mi Hongdou pointed at her left shoulder, then her right. “One is a scar, the other is two rows of teeth marks! Completely different in both shape and number!”
Ji Junxin, who had only bitten Mi Hongdou on impulse, driven by an unbearable desire, didn’t care about Mi Hongdou’s complaint.
Mi Hongdou’s focus was strange. Instead of being concerned about the shape and number of marks, shouldn’t she be more concerned about the slipping towel? Ji Junxin didn’t even bother responding to Mi Hongdou’s seemingly logical argument, her attention fixed on the exposed skin above the towel.
The taste of Mi Hongdou still lingered in her mouth, and Ji Junxin swallowed. The girl’s shoulder, tender yet firm, had been tempting. Even slowing down, prolonging the bite, hadn’t been enough to satisfy her, so… she hadn’t been able to resist licking it. Compared to teeth, a tongue could gather more information, the texture and taste sending shivers down her spine, her legs almost giving way.
It was like drinking poison to quench thirst. Before the poison could take effect, Ji Junxin pulled away.
Facing Mi Hongdou, who seemed about to question her, Ji Junxin casually offered the excuse she had prepared. She had expected her excuse to be challenged, her actions questioned, but… Mi Hongdou’s complaint was about symmetry…
How… unexpected (and delightful).
Ji Junxin licked her lips. Mi Hongdou’s earlier appearance had been too tempting, and she had acted on impulse, without any logic. But one bite wasn’t enough to quench the fire in her heart. It was like adding fuel to the fire, briefly suppressing the flames, but only to make them burn even fiercer later.
One bite wasn’t enough, she wanted to devour her, to leave her mark on every inch of her skin.
Ji Junxin, her knowledge of “harmonious chapters” still limited, had no technique, only instinct, wanting to devour Mi Hongdou bite by bite.
“Hmm… it does seem asymmetrical.” Ji Junxin, masking her desire, feigned confusion, trying to appear harmless, and looked at Mi Hongdou’s shoulders thoughtfully. “It’s okay, I’ll make them symmetrical for you.”
She leaned forward.
Stepping into the same pit twice wasn’t an accident, it was stupidity!
Ji Junxin’s words set off alarm bells in Mi Hongdou’s mind. How could one scar and two bite marks be symmetrical? She would have to add another mark! Having been tricked once, Mi Hongdou wouldn’t fall for it again. As soon as Ji Junxin finished speaking, she quickly shuffled backward.
“No… no need for symmetry!” Mi Hongdou said, moving suddenly and feeling a chill. She looked down and realized that her towel had shifted, exposing almost everything. Oh my god.
Her mind reeling, her face burning, Mi Hongdou took two more steps back, grabbed her discarded clothes from the laundry basket, and held them in front of her, then, trying to maintain her composure, said to Ji Junxin, who hadn’t moved but seemed to be radiating a predatory aura, “You go out first… I’ll get dressed, and then we’ll fix the curtain.”
She couldn’t care less about acting like a good friend anymore. Even the best of friends wouldn’t stand face to face like this, one fully clothed, the other naked. It was just too strange… So, her earlier escape had been the right decision!
Winter clothes were layered, and Mi Hongdou, in her haste to cover herself, had practically pulled everything out of the laundry basket. Although the clothes were mismatched, they effectively covered her.
Ji Junxin, however, was unhappy.
It was as if God had opened a window, revealing the most beautiful scenery, then quickly closed it. And she would probably never see it again…
Ji Junxin wanted to yell, You’re cruel! You’re heartless! You’re cruel and heartless!
But some closed windows would never be opened again. Ji Junxin understood this, but she still couldn’t tear her gaze away from Mi Hongdou, even though she could only see a pile of rumpled clothes now.
The atmosphere in the bathroom was turning awkward when a sudden sneeze broke the silence.
Mi Hongdou sniffled, a little embarrassed… It was cold in the winter, and with the bathroom door open, and although the clothes blocked her front, the earlier heat had dissipated, and she felt a chill.
“Don’t worry about the curtain, go back and rinse yourself with hot water.” Ji Junxin said, her gaze fixed on Mi Hongdou, but she was backing away towards the door.
Ji Junxin understood her earlier impulse. In that brief moment of lost control, she had even thought that if she acted on her desires, Mi Hongdou might not even resist. The now calmer Ji Junxin couldn’t understand why she had thought that. But she knew… she couldn’t do it.
She had tested Mi Hongdou earlier, with the hot water bottle and the accidental touch of her foot. Mi Hongdou hadn’t shown any romantic interest. In this situation, taking advantage of Mi Hongdou’s affection, her unconditional kindness, would be wrong. Forget about the consequences of failure, even if she succeeded… how could she face Mi Hongdou as a friend again?
Today was an accident, an opportunity. But Ji Junxin felt she didn’t deserve it.
Ji Junxin retreated, and Mi Hongdou stood still.
Reaching the door, Ji Junxin smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you in the living room. I won’t come back in here.”
She turned and left, her movements decisive, seemingly without any hesitation.
Mi Hongdou, although she had been the one asking Ji Junxin to leave, felt a pang of guilt seeing her go.
But then she mentally slapped herself. She was the one who was seen naked, she was the one who was bitten! Why feel guilty!
Not wanting Ji Junxin to wait too long, Mi Hongdou quickly showered, only half-drying her hair. She came out and thoughtfully offered to find some double-sided tape to fix the curtain before Ji Junxin showered.
It had only been a little over a month since Ji Junxin last tested Mi Hongdou. She knew that Mi Hongdou hadn’t had any romantic feelings for her then, and it was unlikely for such a significant change to occur in such a short time. But… she still couldn’t resist testing her again.
“It’s okay, no need to fix it. I don’t mind you seeing me.” Ji Junxin said, taking a couple of steps towards the bathroom, then suddenly turned around and smiled. “Since I accidentally saw you naked earlier, why don’t you come in, and I’ll let you see me too, to make things even.”
She walked back towards Mi Hongdou and reached out as if to take her hand.
“No… no need…” Mi Hongdou pulled back her hand, took two steps back, and shook her head. “It wasn’t intentional.”
Ji Junxin didn’t insist, just smiled and put her hands behind her back. “Intentional or not, I still saw you. Let you see me too, and we’ll be even.” Seeing Mi Hongdou still shaking her head, Ji Junxin winked playfully. “We’re both girls, I don’t mind, and I’m not too bad to look at.”
Although Ji Junxin’s tone was light and playful, Mi Hongdou’s throat tightened, and her heart raced.
Just listening to her, imagining it, made her nose bleed, how could she actually look!
Mi Hongdou shook her head vigorously.
Ji Junxin, seeing her firm refusal, couldn’t continue her offer. She quickly said, her tone still playful, “Well, I did offer to compensate you. You’re the one who refused, don’t regret it later. And no peeking!” Then, seeing Mi Hongdou switch from shaking her head to nodding, she quickly turned and walked towards the bathroom.
Ji Junxin was finally gone. Mi Hongdou breathed a sigh of relief. Being seen naked by Ji Junxin was embarrassing enough, but seeing Ji Junxin naked… she might faint!… Just imagining it made her blood boil! She touched her nose, thankfully, it wasn’t bleeding.
Having been Ji Junxin’s fan for so long, Mi Hongdou had always placed her on a pedestal. Even now, sharing a room, knowing her own feelings, she only thought about how to take care of Ji Junxin. Seeing a naked Ji Junxin… she hadn’t even dared to imagine it. Ji Junxin’s offer was like Pandora’s box, and Mi Hongdou resisted. Not just because she was afraid of losing control, but also because… Ji Junxin didn’t know her feelings, it was just a playful offer between friends, accepting it would be taking advantage, it would be disrespecting Ji Junxin’s attempt to ease her embarrassment.
Mi Hongdou felt quite righteous about her decision, but she didn’t realize that her righteousness had brought Ji Junxin to tears. Ji Junxin was now quietly crying in the bathroom, the sound of running water masking her sobs.
And she had every reason to cry! Although she knew Mi Hongdou didn’t have romantic feelings for her, she had still clung to a sliver of hope, summoning all her courage to make that embarrassing offer! And Mi Hongdou hadn’t taken the bait at all! It was a huge blow to her pride! Ji Junxin felt embarrassed, ashamed, and miserable.
Loving someone so much that you wanted to devour them whole, and then… being rejected, even after such a blatant invitation, it was… tragic…
I even said, “We’re both girls, I don’t mind,” Ji Junxin thought, filled with regret and sadness. Who doesn’t mind?! If it weren’t you, I would have strangled her! She hid in the shower, biting her fist and sobbing quietly.
The shower had just been turned on, the steam hadn’t yet fogged up the glass. If Mi Hongdou walked past and glanced inside, she might have seen Ji Junxin’s heartbroken expression.
But… she wouldn’t walk past. Ji Junxin knew this, and it made her even sadder.
In the kitchen, Mi Hongdou, while still processing the strange sensation of being bitten by Ji Junxin, was efficiently preparing the filling. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, they had been finishing early recently. After showering, there was plenty of time to cook.
But she didn’t want to deal with oily fumes after showering. So, tonight’s dinner was… dumplings. She had asked Bai Tang to buy fresh shepherd’s purse, and she would make shepherd’s purse and pork dumplings.
The pork, ground from a whole piece at the market, didn’t contain any Chinese yam, which Ji Junxin disliked. After grinding, Mi Hongdou felt it was still a bit coarse, so she minced it further before putting it in a large bowl.
After preparing the pork, she cleaned and chopped the shepherd’s purse, blanched it, drained it, and then put it in another bowl.
Ji Junxin was still showering. Knowing that salt would draw out the moisture from the shepherd’s purse, Mi Hongdou decided to wait until Ji Junxin was finished before mixing the filling, to preserve the texture.
After a while, Ji Junxin came out, but her face was covered with a white sheet mask. Mi Hongdou, hearing the sound and turning around, almost jumped out of her skin.
“It’s so cold, isn’t the mask freezing?” Mi Hongdou frowned. Ji Junxin had good skin, wouldn’t a face mask in this weather be too cold?
“It’s alright…” Ji Junxin peeked at the ingredients Mi Hongdou was preparing. “Are we having dumplings tonight?”
“Shepherd’s purse and pork, want some?” Mi Hongdou started rolling up her sleeves. “I’ll just mix the filling and then we can start wrapping. I’ll cook you a bowl first, it’ll be quick.”
Ji Junxin stopped her. “I’m… a little sleepy. Can I have some after I take a nap?”
Ji Junxin’s voice was a little hoarse, well, it had been a little hoarse earlier too. For Ji Junxin to give up on food and want to nap, she must be really tired… Mi Hongdou naturally agreed, glad that she hadn’t mixed the filling yet.
After covering the bowls with plastic wrap, Mi Hongdou returned to the bedroom and was surprised to find the blackout curtains drawn, the room dark, and Ji Junxin already in bed, seemingly asleep.
Asleep so quickly? Did she even take off the mask?… Mi Hongdou wanted to check, took a few steps, then changed her mind, turned on her phone’s flashlight, and checked the trash can. Seeing a discarded mask inside, she was relieved.
But if she hadn’t changed her mind and gone to check on Ji Junxin, she would have seen a crying, pitiful figure.
Because she had cried in the bathroom and her eyes were red, Ji Junxin, afraid of being seen, had used the face mask as an excuse to go to bed, hoping her eyes would return to normal. But as soon as she was nestled in the soft, warm bed, the grievances returned, and she started crying again.
She heard Mi Hongdou enter and immediately stopped crying, even holding her breath. She had already made up too many excuses today, and although the unsuspecting Mi Hongdou seemed to believe them all, she didn’t want to make up another one to explain her sadness.
What was there to explain… It’s your fault! It’s all your fault!
Mi Hongdou entered, walked around, then got into her own bed. So Ji Junxin couldn’t cry anymore… Unable to even cry, her stomach rumbling, she thought of the delicious shepherd’s purse and pork dumplings… Ji Junxin tearfully drifted off to sleep, filled with resentment.
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