Chapter 39: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love
For the past few days, the staff at the Guan residence had felt like something was off, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it.
Ms. Guan maintained her usual routine, her meals, her attachment to Miss Tao, all perfectly normal.
Then, during a break, while gossiping over snacks, they realized what was different.
Ms. Guan kept disappearing, and it was now Miss Tao who was searching for her, wandering through the house, calling her name. The housekeepers exchanged glances, bewildered. What game are they playing now?
Evening arrived, the sky painted in hues of orange and purple.
Tao Ning woke up in the dimly lit room, disoriented, then slowly sat up.
The thin blanket pooled in her lap, the space beside her empty. The setting sun cast long shadows across the room, filtering through the sheer curtains.
Tao Ning suddenly remembered a quote she had read somewhere: waking up from a long nap alone, with no one beside you, can evoke a sense of abandonment, of being forgotten by the world.
She was used to waking up with Xu Qiuyi beside her, her absence creating a strange emptiness.
Getting out of bed, she put on her slippers and walked out of the room, the lights automatically switching on as she entered the hallway. Wrapped in a light shawl, she wandered through the quiet corridors, the only sound her own footsteps.
The housekeepers rarely lingered in the main residence, preferring their own quarters in the staff wing. At this hour, they would be in the kitchen, preparing dinner.
The house was large, the sounds of activity from the kitchen unable to reach this far.
Tao Ning ran her hand along the cool wall, her fingers tracing the smooth surface.
She imagined Guan Qiuyi walking these same hallways, alone, the silence amplifying her solitude.
Downstairs, the living room was brightly lit, and the housekeeper, as always, materialized from a discreet corner.
“Dinner is ready, Miss Tao,” she said. “Ms. Guan is occupied. She instructed us to serve you first.”
Tao Ning, startled, met the housekeeper’s questioning gaze, then nodded. “Alright.”
Guan Qiuyi had a video conference scheduled. They had had lunch together, and she had gone upstairs afterwards, the meeting apparently still ongoing.
Knowing Guan Qiuyi’s focus and dedication when it came to work, Tao Ning was only slightly surprised to be dining alone.
After dinner, restless, she wandered around the house, and the housekeeper, seeing her boredom, suggested a game.
Tao Ning declined.
She wasn’t a fan of video games, and movies, without Guan Qiuyi beside her to keep her awake, were merely a sleep aid, the plots lost in a haze of drowsiness.
And so, the housekeepers witnessed a solitary figure pacing through the residence, a shawl draped over her shoulders, sometimes slowly climbing the stairs, then descending a few minutes later, seemingly tireless, her movements almost hypnotic.
Tao Ning, despite her short stay, her lively personality had quickly endeared her to the staff, the memory of the mixing bowl incident fading.
Seeing her restless pacing, one of the housekeepers, a young woman, couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Tao, are you… Do you also walk around the house when you can’t sleep, like Ms. Guan?”
Tao Ning, startled, stopped. “Ms. Guan has insomnia?”
The housekeeper thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Rarely. I’ve only seen it once. I had left my phone here, and I came back to get it late at night. All the lights were on, and Ms. Guan was walking around, holding a glass of water. She said she couldn’t sleep.”
Tao Ning remembered something, a habit she had noticed during their student days: Guan Qiuyi paced when she was thinking or reminiscing.
The study room they had rented wasn’t small, and initially, Guan Qiuyi had paced within a limited area. Then, her pacing had expanded, her circular route encompassing the entire room, Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi, their textbooks in hand, following her like anxious parents trying to feed a hyperactive toddler.
Jin Yue had later commented that she hadn’t realized tutoring was not only a mental exercise but also a physical one, a possible explanation for Guan Qiuyi’s slender physique.
With that level of activity, who needed a gym? Any excess calories would be burned by solving complex math problems.
Tao Ning had once visited Guan Qiuyi’s apartment, asking her about a particularly challenging math problem. Guan Qiuyi, unable to solve it while sitting, had stood up and started pacing, her movements still reflecting the spaciousness of the study room, forgetting the limited space of her apartment, bumping her head against the wall, leaving a red mark on her forehead.
Tao Ning had gently applied a warm, hard-boiled egg to the bruise, teasing her, asking if she planned to pace the perimeter of every room, regardless of its size.
Now, living in a large house, the habit persisted.
Tao Ning casually asked, “When did you see this?”
The housekeeper replied readily, “A week before Ms. Guan’s birthday. I remember clearly because I was assigned to Rose Manor after that.”
Tao Ning: “…”
A week before Guan Qiuyi’s birthday was Tao Ning’s own birthday.
Another housekeeper chimed in, “I’ve seen it too. All the lights in the house were on, and I thought there was a power surge, so I came to check. But it was Ms. Guan. She said she wanted to… sit and enjoy the breeze.”
The housekeepers also mentioned that Guan Qiuyi’s schedule was incredibly regular, almost unnatural for someone her age. But then again, she wasn’t like most young people.
Few had achieved her level of success at such a young age.
When Tao Ning inquired about her lifestyle, her preferences, they all agreed that Ms. Guan was meticulous about her health, her diet, her routine. She didn’t have many attachments, but she lived a well-ordered life.
After their chat, the housekeepers, seeing the housekeeper approaching, dispersed, leaving Tao Ning alone again.
After wandering around for a while, Tao Ning suddenly had an idea. She walked towards Guan Qiuyi’s study.
No one stopped her. In their eyes, Ms. Guan clearly trusted Miss Tao, even sharing the code to her safe, which was Guan Qiuyi’s birthday. The study, usually a restricted area, was also accessible.
Tao Ning opened the door easily, stepping into darkness. The computer on the desk was off, the room silent.
The only light came from a partially open window, the moonlight casting long shadows.
After a moment of hesitation, Tao Ning didn’t switch on the lights, walking further into the room.
The study, though dark, wasn’t cluttered, and she reached the window without incident, a large sofa positioned nearby.
A figure sat on the sofa, their back to her, their silence unbroken by her arrival.
The sofa hadn’t been there before. Guan Qiuyi wasn’t one for comfort or luxury, the study’s décor reflecting her serious nature, the shelves filled with thick, intimidating volumes, their titles a challenge to even the most dedicated scholar.
Since Tao Ning’s arrival, however, the sofa had appeared, a place for her to bask in the sunlight while Guan Qiuyi worked, occasionally enjoying a snack.
Turning to face the figure, Tao Ning saw Guan Qiuyi sitting there, her gaze fixed on the moonlit garden outside.
Guan Qiuyi, without turning around, asked, “Did she eat?”
Tao Ning replied, “Yes, she ate a lot. Then she walked around the house to aid digestion.”
Recognizing the voice, Guan Qiuyi turned around, her eyes widening slightly. “How…?”
Then, she composed herself, a small smile playing on her lips. “Are you… bored? Do you want to go out?”
Tao Ning knew her movements were being monitored, but she didn’t care. She understood Guan Qiuyi’s fear of abandonment, of being left behind without warning.
And since she was the cause of that fear, she would be the one to alleviate it.
Tao Ning, placing her hands on the armrests of the sofa, leaned closer. “I am bored. But going out alone would be even more boring.”
She was too close, their reflections merging in Guan Qiuyi’s eyes, and Guan Qiuyi realized she had been holding her breath.
Tao Ning, her fingers gently brushing against Guan Qiuyi’s cheek, said softly, “Breathe.”
Guan Qiuyi inhaled, her cheeks flushing slightly, perhaps from embarrassment.
Tao Ning chuckled, leaning closer, her hands still on the armrests. “You get flustered so easily when I’m near you. What are you going to do when I… kiss you?”
Guan Qiuyi: “…”
She didn’t reply, but her gaze faltered, her cheeks growing warmer despite the cool night air, her reaction clearly visible to Tao Ning.
A simple sentence, and she was a flustered mess. Years had passed, but she hadn’t changed.
Guan Qiuyi mentally scolded herself. Liking someone wasn’t a crime. Wanting to be close to them wasn’t wrong. Hesitation would only lead to missed opportunities.
Her resolve strengthened, and she met Tao Ning’s gaze, her voice firm.
“How do you know… it won’t work?” she asked, challenging Tao Ning.
Tao Ning, looking slightly bewildered, replied, “I never said it wouldn’t work.”
Guan Qiuyi’s next words were out before she could stop them. “How would you know if you haven’t tried?”
Tao Ning, startled, said, “Should we… try?”
Guan Qiuyi simply looked at her, her eyes shimmering in the moonlight, a silent invitation.
They were close, Tao Ning standing, Guan Qiuyi sitting on the sofa, looking up at her, Tao Ning’s hands on the armrests, their shadows intertwined, as if she were holding Guan Qiuyi captive.
The moment stretched, the air thick with unspoken words, Tao Ning slowly leaning down, her lips almost touching Guan Qiuyi’s slightly parted lips.
Then, a nervous voice broke the spell. “So… should I… kiss you now?”
Guan Qiuyi, her eyes fluttering open, met Tao Ning’s gaze, seeing a similar nervousness reflected there, and her voice softened. “Yes,” she whispered.
Tao Ning, realizing her own awkwardness, said, “I’m… new to this. I’ll… learn.”
Then, she kissed her.
The sensation was new to both of them, their hearts pounding, like trapped birds desperate for freedom.
Softness, warmth, a gentle pressure, the sound of their mingled breaths, initially overshadowed by their racing hearts, then merging into a single, rhythmic pulse.
When they parted, Guan Qiuyi, her arms still around Tao Ning’s shoulders, her gaze lingering on her lips, seemed reluctant to let her go.
Tao Ning, her hand gently stroking Guan Qiuyi’s back, brushed her lips against hers, her voice slightly hoarse. “Let’s… take a break. Your heart is racing.”
“So is yours,” Guan Qiuyi murmured, her eyes shimmering, her body leaning against Tao Ning, her strength gone.
Tao Ning, her hand pressed against her chest, smiled. “Yes, it is.”
They settled into the sofa, their heads resting against each other, laughing softly.
Guan Qiuyi felt a strange weakness whenever she was near Tao Ning, a sudden urge to lean on her, to be held. She had been infected by Tao Ning’s laziness, her desire to simply exist, to be present, to share a quiet moment, the silence comfortable and reassuring.
As her heartbeat slowed, she noticed a slight tingling in her lips, but it didn’t diminish the warmth spreading through her chest.
“Let’s go out sometime,” she said. “It’s been a while. We should celebrate.”
Tao Ning, who had been playing with Guan Qiuyi’s fingers, looked up. “Is that… a reward?”
“…” Guan Qiuyi, after a moment of hesitation, said, “…No.” What goes on in that head of yours?
The unspoken words were clear in her eyes.
Tao Ning, seeing the I want to know what you’re thinking expression on Guan Qiuyi’s face, buried her face in her neck, laughing softly, her hair tickling Guan Qiuyi’s skin, who gently pushed her away.
Tao Ning, however, refused to budge, and they ended up in a tangled embrace.
For two weeks, Tao Ning remained at the Guan residence, never venturing beyond its gates. She had overheard someone refer to her as Ms. Guan’s “kept woman,” a caged bird.
The person, realizing Tao Ning had heard, had looked horrified, their eyes wide with panic. Tao Ning, however, had simply smiled and walked past, her glass of orange juice in hand, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
Her reaction had reassured the gossiper, who had breathed a sigh of relief.
Tao Ning, however, had simply been amused, pondering the implications. So that’s how they see us, she thought. A gilded cage.
But she didn’t mind. Being a “kept woman” wasn’t so bad. Good food, a comfortable home, and the person she loved by her side.
If Guan Qiuyi had known what Tao Ning was thinking, she would have been both amused and exasperated, convinced that anyone who tried to “keep” Tao Ning would be the most frustrated captor in the world.
She had, however, overlooked one crucial detail: Tao Ning chose to stay, willingly accepting her confinement. Otherwise, as Guan Qiuyi had warned her staff, “Give her an inch, and she’ll take a mile.”
If Tao Ning wanted to leave, eight hundred Liao Shishis couldn’t stop her.
After a quiet moment, Tao Ning suddenly sat up straight. “Wait,” she said.
Guan Qiuyi, looking at her, asked, “What?”
Tao Ning said, “Relationships are supposed to start with flowers. I haven’t given you any flowers. It doesn’t feel… official.”
“…” Guan Qiuyi, after a long pause, remained silent.
Sometimes, she couldn’t quite comprehend Tao Ning’s unique brand of romance. Then she realized that some people, even when they were “bent,” were only bent at a ninety-degree angle, their inherent straightforwardness always present.
She reached out, gently pulling Tao Ning back down, her hand resting on her arm. “It’s late. Don’t bother the gardener. You don’t have to give me flowers. I already said yes.”
Tao Ning, still slightly dissatisfied, muttered, “It doesn’t feel… ceremonial enough.”
Hearing those words from Tao Ning made Guan Qiuyi want to laugh, and she did, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
She leaned against Tao Ning, her cheek resting on her shoulder, her smile widening. “You… like me?” she asked softly.
Tao Ning, seeing her happiness, her own heart filled with a warm glow, nodded. “Yes. I like you. Very much.”
Guan Qiuyi: “Is that why… you came back?”
Tao Ning, meeting her clear, unguarded gaze, nodded again. “Yes. Because I like you. I came back.”
Guan Qiuyi, leaning closer, pressed a light kiss to her lips, her eyes crinkling with happiness. “That makes me… happy,” she murmured.
Then she added, “I don’t need anything else. Just… you liking me.”
Tao Ning, holding her close, preventing her from falling off the hammock, remembered 520’s words before she left the Homeworld: [Going into debt for a relationship? You’re a true prodigy! The Romance Department is lucky to have you!]
The usually useless system had, for once, been right. The Romance Department hadn’t been a waste of time. She had found her own destiny.
Even if it was only for this lifetime, a fleeting moment in the vast expanse of time, she wouldn’t regret it.
The housekeepers, unaware of what had transpired the previous night, simply noticed that Ms. Guan seemed unusually cheerful today.
Guan Qiuyi rarely expressed negative emotions, her demeanor usually calm and composed, her true feelings revealed only to her family. But this open display of happiness was unprecedented.
Even the housekeeper, who had worked for her for years, had never seen her like this.
The first familiar face Tao Ning saw wasn’t Tao Yan, Jin Yue, or Lü Xinxi, but Guan Zhichun.
Waking up alone, she had gone downstairs, finding a young woman in the living room, her hair half-up, half-down, dressed in a familiar school uniform.
It was the Mingrui uniform.
The girl, hearing her approach, turned around, her eyes widening in surprise.
Guan Qiuyi, after graduating from university, had changed her last name, and Zhichun’s as well. Zhichun, though young at the time, hadn’t been oblivious to her father’s actions.
Having grown up, she no longer wasted her sympathy on those who didn’t deserve it. Seeing no other options, and Xu Zhihong having exhausted all avenues of manipulation, he had finally left, defeated.
Eight years had passed, and Guan Zhichun had transformed from a small, frail child into a tall, elegant young woman.
Tao Ning almost didn’t recognize her. The change was remarkable.
Zhichun, however, after staring at Tao Ning for a few seconds, her eyes lighting up with recognition, exclaimed, “Ningning Jiejie? Is that really you? When did you get back?”
Tao Ning, continuing down the stairs, replied, “A while ago. I came to visit your sister.”
She stopped, looking Zhichun up and down, impressed. “You’ve grown so much! I almost didn’t recognize you!”
Years of separation usually created a sense of distance, but Tao Ning’s warm demeanor dispelled any awkwardness, and it felt like that summer eight years ago, when Zhichun had stood at the gate, waving goodbye as they left for the exams.
Zhichun, smiling, twirled around. “I’m in high school now! Jiejie says I’m still not as tall as she was in high school, though.”
Tao Ning said, “You’re perfect. And you’re at Mingrui? I recognize the uniform.”
For a premature baby, born frail and sickly, to grow into a healthy young woman was a remarkable achievement. Her height was average, but Guan Qiuyi was exceptionally tall.
Zhichun, attending her sister’s alma mater, a hint of pride in her voice, said, “Yes! And I’ve won several scholarships!”
She had always admired her sister, the legendary top scorer, whose name still echoed through the halls of Mingrui, even after eight years. She had even returned to the school last year to present awards, a distinguished alumna.
They chatted for a while, then Zhichun excused herself to use the restroom, leaving Tao Ning alone in the living room. A few minutes later, Guan Qiuyi returned.
Seeing Tao Ning sitting there alone, she approached from behind, wrapping her arms around her shoulders, pressing a light kiss to her cheek. “What are you doing here all alone?”
Tao Ning, nuzzling her face against Guan Qiuyi’s, replied, “Zhichun went to the restroom. I’m waiting for her.”
Guan Qiuyi, surprised, asked, “You… saw Zhichun?”
Tao Ning: “Yes, she…”
Suddenly, they both froze, their eyes widening as they looked up.
Zhichun stood there, frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock.
Guan Qiuyi: “…”
Tao Ning: “…”
Guan Zhichun: “…”
Silence filled the air.
Zhichun, after a few seconds of stunned silence, suddenly let out a shriek, covering her eyes with her hands and running away. “I’m sorry, Jiejie! I didn’t see anything!”
Guan Qiuyi: “Zhichun, wait…”
She was gone.
Tao Ning: “…”
She’s fast, she thought, amused. That little bean sprout has grown up.
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