Chapter 40: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love
Lately, Tao Ning had developed a habit of napping, able to fall asleep anytime, anywhere.
And so, a common scene at the Guan residence was Guan Qiuyi diligently working, occasionally taking calls, while beside her, Tao Ning would be asleep, like a hardworking emperor and his favored concubine.
Sometimes, when Guan Qiuyi was tired, she would join Tao Ning for a nap, the scene then resembling a bewitched emperor and his enchanting concubine.
Even during important meetings with senior executives, Tao Ning would remain undisturbed, sleeping soundly on the large sofa by the window, her back to the droning voices, oblivious to the discussions taking place.
The staff, initially shocked by such casual displays of intimacy, had gradually become accustomed to it, a shared understanding emerging: Ms. Guan is completely smitten with her lover.
Tao Ning, however, had never actually met any of the executives, not even the ever-present Assistant Bai, the chief of staff. She was always asleep during their visits.
Strangely, the talkative junior employee had become the conduit for information between the two worlds.
About the “lover,” her name, background, and character remained a mystery, only her beauty, her grace, her tea-making skills, being common knowledge, like a celestial being descended from the heavens.
Tao Ning, in turn, simply referred to them as “Veteran Employees 1, 2, and 3.”
The frequent trips between worlds, however, had aggravated a pre-existing injury, causing headaches that could only be alleviated by sleep, her outward appearance masking her discomfort.
Guan Qiuyi, perhaps sensing something amiss, had arranged for a full medical checkup with the family doctor.
The Guan residence, due to Zhichun’s health conditions, had a well-equipped medical facility, sparing Tao Ning the trouble of traveling.
Tao Ning hadn’t explained her symptoms, nor had she refused the checkup.
The young doctor, however, her gaze filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity, clearly a consumer of romantic literature, seemed to be thinking, So this is the legendary beauty who tamed the ice queen! And after talking to Tao Ning, her expression had shifted to, I understand now.
Tao Ning, amused, wondered how many people knew about her existence, each encounter met with surprise and speculation.
Guan Qiuyi must have been bragging, she thought, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. She’s usually so reserved. When she loses control, it’s noticeable.
The results, however, showed nothing unusual, just fatigue, a recommendation for rest.
Tao Ning wasn’t surprised. Her injury was metaphysical, not physical, undetectable by current technology.
Guan Qiuyi, however, had been unusually quiet, her expression thoughtful, as if she had understood something.
The housekeepers, however, found the diagnosis ridiculous. Tao Ning, who spent most of her days sleeping, only waking up for meals, like an oversized cat, could hardly be considered “overworked.”
As one of the younger housekeepers had put it, “Give Miss Tao a pillow, and she’ll fall asleep anywhere.”
Tao Ning, flicking the paper report with her finger, smiled at Guan Qiuyi. “See? I told you I was fine. Just a little tired. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”
Guan Qiuyi, her gaze searching, asked, “Are you sure?”
Guan Qiuyi was intelligent, perceptive, her sharp mind having propelled her to success. But that same perceptiveness had also made her aware of things she wasn’t supposed to know.
She often felt like she was deciphering a book written in an unknown language, the knowledge gleaned too strange, too unbelievable, to share, the inevitable response being concern for her mental well-being, accusations of stress-induced delusions. She could only trust Tao Ning.
A few days later, as if to prove the doctor’s diagnosis wrong, Tao Ning stopped napping, her energy levels suddenly increasing, her days filled with activity, only occasionally dozing off in random locations.
One afternoon, she was woken by a gentle touch. Guan Qiuyi, sitting beside her, said, “Come on, let’s go out for dinner.”
Tao Ning, still half-asleep, her mind foggy, assumed her “kept woman” days were over, a strange sense of reluctance washing over her. “Is my mother back?” she asked.
Guan Qiuyi replied, “No, Godmother is still overseas. She’ll be back soon.”
Tao Ning, pulled to her feet, was dressed and led to the car, finally leaving the Guan residence after over a month of confinement.
The car took them to a private restaurant, known for its exclusive, one-table-per-day service, its reservations booked months in advance.
Tao Ning, looking at the elegant, traditional sign, felt a flicker of recognition.
She turned to Guan Qiuyi. “Is this…?”
“Tao—Ning!” A loud voice shattered the quiet atmosphere, and Tao Ning turned to see a flash of red charging towards her.
Then, a hand landed on her shoulder, a hard slap followed by a boisterous greeting. “You! Disappearing for eight years! Do you even remember us?!”
Tao Ning remembered now. This private restaurant, “Flowing Rhymes,” was owned by Lü Xinxi’s family.
The Lü family, descendants of imperial chefs, with generations of culinary expertise, were a prominent force in the restaurant industry, their establishments flourishing, except for Lü Xinxi, the family’s culinary black sheep.
As Jin Yue had put it, “Let her near the kitchen, and she’ll ruin decades of carefully preserved recipes.”
The boisterous greeter, the one who had just slapped her on the shoulder, was Lü Xinxi herself.
Tao Ning, rubbing her shoulder, which was still tingling, nodded. “Of course, I remember you. You still hit hard.”
After all these years, Lü Xinxi hadn’t changed, her hair still a vibrant, unnatural color, currently a bright raspberry red.
Lü Xinxi, flipping her hair dramatically, pointed a finger at Tao Ning. “Barely acceptable. Qiuyi said you were back, and I didn’t believe her. But then she actually… produced you. Eight years! How could you?”
Guan Qiuyi, standing behind Lü Xinxi, looked at Tao Ning.
Tao Ning, unable to answer that question, asked, “Where’s Jin Yue?”
Lü Xinxi replied, “Stuck in traffic. She’ll be here soon. Let’s go inside and wait.”
She reached for Tao Ning’s arm, her usual gesture of affection, a habit from their school days, only to find… nothing.
Tao Ning, turning to Guan Qiuyi, instinctively held out her hand, and Guan Qiuyi, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, took it, their fingers intertwining as they walked inside.
Lü Xinxi: “Eh?”
The twenty-six-year-old Lü Xinxi was different from her eighteen-year-old self. Less impulsive, more perceptive, she had learned to read between the lines, to recognize the unspoken.
And she knew Guan Qiuyi’s sexual orientation. That gesture, the hand-holding, was a clear transgression.
When Guan Qiuyi had come out to them, Lü Xinxi had immediately thought of Tao Ning, their easy camaraderie, their closeness. But Tao Ning had already left, and Guan Qiuyi had remained single, her heart seemingly closed off.
She remembered last year’s company party, someone asking Guan Qiuyi, “You’ve been alone for so long, Ms. Guan. Why not find someone? Time waits for no one. Who are you waiting for?”
Guan Qiuyi, slightly tipsy, a smile on her face, appropriate for the festive occasion, had paused, her smile fading slightly, as if remembering something.
She had nodded, her voice soft. “I’ll wait a little longer.”
Everyone had laughed, assuming she was drunk, her usual composure gone.
Guan Qiuyi, however, had simply smiled, her gaze fixed on the glittering chandeliers, rarely bothering to explain herself.
Now, Lü Xinxi realized that smile had concealed a deep sadness.
Eight years later, she finally understood what she had missed.
Lost in thought, she had stopped walking, and Tao Ning and Guan Qiuyi, now on a small bridge over a stream, turned to look at her, their expressions questioning.
Tao Ning called out, “What are you doing, standing there all alone?”
Guan Qiuyi, also looking back, meeting Lü Xinxi’s bewildered gaze, glanced down at their intertwined hands, then looked at Lü Xinxi with an expression that clearly said, I know this is unexpected, but as my friend, I hope you’ll be happy for me.
Lü Xinxi: “…”
I knew it! she thought. I knew that sly fox wouldn’t let her go so easily!
So that’s what this is about!
Hurrying to catch up, her red hair bouncing, she said, “Coming! Coming!”
She felt like a streetlight, her head radiating an almost visible glow.
All those years, all that wasted jealousy, she thought, a mixture of amusement and frustration. They weren’t even playing the same game!
As they settled into a private room, Lü Xinxi didn’t waste any time. “Tell me the truth. What’s going on between you two?”
Tao Ning, raising her hand, said, “We’re together. Like… together together.”
Although Lü Xinxi had suspected it, hearing the confirmation still required a few minutes of processing.
If her brain activity could be visualized, it would be a GIF of a shocked cat.
Jin Yue, finally arriving after battling traffic, was greeted at the door by a frantic Lü Xinxi. “Yueyue! Guess what! Ningning and Qiuyi are together! Like… a couple!”
Jin Yue paused, surprised. “Since when?”
Lü Xinxi, her voice rising in excitement, said, “Just now! They walked in holding hands! Do I even need to eat tonight? I’m so full! I feel like I’m glowing!”
Lü Xinxi’s enthusiasm, however, was easily managed. Jin Yue simply patted her head, a calming gesture. “Holding hands, you say? So it’s… official?”
The two “culprits,” under Lü Xinxi’s intense gaze, smiled sheepishly, their expressions clearly saying, Yes, commence the congratulations.
Jin Yue, after a moment of silence, said, “…Finally.”
Lü Xinxi, who had been preparing for a dramatic celebration, suddenly realized something was amiss. She grabbed Jin Yue’s shoulders, her voice filled with suspicion. “Why aren’t you surprised?!”
Jin Yue: …Me? Having witnessed eight years of pining, I’m beyond surprised.
Lü Xinxi, understanding the unspoken message, buried her face in Jin Yue’s shoulder, wailing dramatically. “I can’t believe this! You all kept it a secret! I’m so hurt!”
Jin Yue, expertly soothing her, said, “Darling, with your vocal abilities, the whole world will know in three days, tops.”
Lü Xinxi’s wailing ceased abruptly, and she looked up, her face dry, her eyes darting around, avoiding their gazes.
She returned to her seat, her composure regained, her voice nonchalant. “Fine, you were right.”
Even if Jin Yue had told her, she wouldn’t have been able to keep it a secret. She knew herself too well.
Remembering last year’s party, if she had known the truth, she would have blurted out, “Are you waiting for Tao Ning to come back?”
The consequences would have been disastrous. She didn’t want to think about it.
Now that everyone was present, they caught up, learning that Jin Yue, having inherited her family’s business, was now a busy executive, her love for vibrant hair colors and makeup tutorials sacrificed for the sake of maintaining a professional image.
Lü Xinxi, the rebel of the Lü culinary dynasty, had ventured into the entertainment industry, going from avid consumer of celebrity gossip to an insider.
Speaking of her career, Lü Xinxi’s frustration was evident, her voice rising in indignation as she stood up, one foot on her chair, her wine glass raised in a dramatic toast.
“Why did I even get into this industry? To support my idol! I’m a dedicated fan! All those years of studying, just so I could become an insider, give him resources, get him better roles, help him win awards, and what happens?”
“The year after I graduated, he announces his marriage! His wife’s pregnant! I don’t care if he gets married! I’m angry that he’s so fragile! A few negative comments, and he quits the industry!”
She looked around the table, her voice filled with theatrical despair. “I knew he was talented, but I didn’t realize he was so sensitive. I’m officially a hater now.”
She took a large gulp of wine, then wailed, “But he’s retired! How can I even hate him properly? He’s a stay-at-home dad now!”
Tao Ning, trying to comfort her, started to say, “He’s gone. Let him go. There are other…” then corrected herself. “There are other… talented individuals out there.”
Lü Xinxi, wiping away a non-existent tear, said, “You’re right. So I gave the resources I had secured for him to a nobody, a little extra on a film set. She tripled my investment. I like ambitious people.”
Jin Yue, taking a piece of spare rib, glanced at her. “The one who calls you ‘Producer Lü’ all the time?”
Lü Xinxi nodded. “Yep. The one we saw at the preview last week.”
Jin Yue, carefully blowing on the spare rib, said, “I was watching the movie, not the people.”
Tao Ning, standing up to serve Guan Qiuyi a bowl of soup, raised an eyebrow at Guan Qiuyi, who simply shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes.
Jin Yue said, “Try these spare ribs. They’re delicious.”
Lü Xinxi, holding out her bowl, said, “Food! I need food!”
Jin Yue, sighing, gave her a piece, and Tao Ning and Guan Qiuyi also tried some.
A short while later, Guan Qiuyi excused herself to use the restroom. Lü Xinxi, slightly drunk, also decided to go.
Jin Yue, setting down her chopsticks, turned to Tao Ning. “You disappeared, then suddenly reappeared. Where have you been all these years?”
The dead rarely lingered in the memories of the living. Tao Ning, not belonging to this world, her absence having been conveniently explained by the world’s consciousness, a fabricated death certificate tidying up any loose ends, had simply ceased to exist.
Jin Yue, seeing her in person, had only then remembered to ask, even wondering why she hadn’t thought to look for her before. Plane tickets weren’t that expensive.
Tao Ning, unable to reveal the truth, skillfully deflected the question, turning the conversation to Guan Qiuyi.
Jin Yue, understanding, said, “She’s not telling you everything, is she?”
“You know how she is,” Tao Ning said, smiling, not denying it. Guan Qiuyi wasn’t one to burden others with her problems, especially not Tao Ning.
Jin Yue continued, “Everyone thinks she’s living the dream. Honestly, even I, as her friend, can’t see any cracks. After you left, she focused on her studies, graduated top of her class every year, scholarships galore, research grants approved instantly.”
“Before even graduating, she started working with your mother, her quick thinking and diligence earning her respect, capital. She started her own venture capital firm. Young, successful, ambitious. What more could you ask for?”
Tao Ning, her finger tracing the rim of her plate, listened quietly.
Jin Yue took a sip of wine, then continued, “After the company stabilized, she started taking time off, traveling. Every six months, a new country. She’d throw a dart at a world map, and wherever it landed, that’s where she’d go. Completely random.”
Tao Ning’s earlier suspicion solidified.
Jin Yue continued, “Once, she came back from a trip, jet-lagged, went straight to work, and collapsed from a high fever. I rushed to the hospital, terrified she had contracted malaria. Fortunately, it was just a fever. I asked her, ‘Why? Why go to those godforsaken places?’ And she said, ‘Just… looking. Just in case.’”
Jin Yue sighed. “I knew then. She was delirious. That’s why she told the truth.”
“…”
Tao Ning remained silent, a wave of bittersweet emotion washing over her, her heart aching.
She was both relieved and regretful: relieved that she had returned, regretful that she hadn’t returned sooner, sparing Guan Qiuyi eight years of waiting.
And in Guan Qiuyi’s eyes, that wait might have been in vain.
So many things ended without resolution, without closure, the uncertainty of each encounter a constant reminder of life’s fragility.
Guan Qiuyi, unlike her usual practice, remained sober, not drinking much, her mind still sharp, her business acumen evident.
Lü Xinxi, however, was completely drunk, even after being pulled upright, still raising her hand, her fingers forming a circle, as if holding a wine glass. “I’m not drunk! More! Drink! Why aren’t you drinking? Saving it for the fish?”
Jin Yue, dodging the imaginary wine glass, struggling to keep Lü Xinxi upright, turned to Tao Ning and Guan Qiuyi. “It’s a long drive back to the Guan residence. I’ll take Xinxi home. You two be careful.”
Guan Qiuyi helped settle Lü Xinxi in the back seat, then, straightening up, said, “You too.”
Jin Yue, also slightly tipsy, her usual reserve gone, smiled. “Don’t worry about us.” She got into the front passenger seat.
The driver started the car and drove away.
Guan Qiuyi, watching them leave, turned to Tao Ning. “Let’s go home.”
Seeing Tao Ning lost in thought, she waved a hand in front of her face. “What are you thinking about?”
Tao Ning, startled, took her hand, their fingers intertwining. “Just… thinking.”
Guan Qiuyi, her curiosity piqued, asked, “About what?”
About you, Tao Ning thought. About how you must have watched them leave countless times, then returned to this empty house, alone.
After a moment of hesitation, she said, “I was thinking… I want to kiss you. Is that… okay?”
Guan Qiuyi started to say, “Wh…”
Before she could finish, Tao Ning’s lips were on hers, a quick, light kiss, a fleeting touch.
Guan Qiuyi, used to Tao Ning’s impulsive nature, still felt her cheeks flush. She quickly pulled Tao Ning towards the car, her CEO composure returning.
Back at the residence, Tao Ning, showered and dressed in her pajamas, lay on the bed, contemplating life, her posture resembling a beached whale.
Hearing a noise from the bathroom, she turned around, her eyes widening slightly.
Guan Qiuyi emerged, dressed in a thin silk nightgown, its length barely reaching her knees, held up by two thin straps.
“It’s… warm tonight, isn’t it?” Guan Qiuyi said, sitting down on the edge of the bed, the scent of her shower gel lingering in the air, her appearance almost ethereal, like a beautiful ghost.
A beautiful ghost with a Guanyin mole between her eyebrows, her cool gaze filled with a warmth that sent shivers down Tao Ning’s spine.
The contrast was overwhelming.
Tao Ning, her gaze fixed on Guan Qiuyi, her eyes slightly unfocused, stammered, “I… guess?”
The temperature in the house was always perfectly regulated.
Guan Qiuyi’s lips curved into a slight smile. “I think… the straps on my nightgown are loose. Can you… check?”
She turned around, revealing the elegant curve of her back.
Tao Ning slowly sat up, her fingers carefully adjusting the straps, her touch lingering as she tied them, then, unable to resist, she pressed a light kiss to Guan Qiuyi’s shoulder.
The skin beneath her lips quivered slightly, and Tao Ning, following the curve of her shoulder, trailed kisses along her neck, her touch like a whisper, then reached her chin.
She gently tilted Guan Qiuyi’s head back and kissed her.
The bed creaked softly, their dark hair spread across the pale gray sheets. Guan Qiuyi’s eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, met Tao Ning’s. She parted her lips, about to speak, then said, “I’m… on my period.”
“…”
Tao Ning immediately wrapped her in a thin summer blanket, a protective cocoon.
She looked at the bundled figure, a hint of playful reproach in her eyes. Why tease me if you’re not available?
Guan Qiuyi, her eyes wide and innocent, as if she had simply been trying on a new nightgown, unaware of her own seductive power, looked back at her.
It was revenge, pure and simple. Tao Ning was finally paying the price for her years of obliviousness.
Tao Ning, closing her eyes, as if to block out the temptation, pulled Guan Qiuyi closer, holding her tight. “Go to sleep,” she muttered.
Guan Qiuyi, nestled in her arms, a mischievous glint in her eyes, snuggled closer, finding a comfortable position, and closed her eyes.
Later, as she drifted off to sleep, she was woken by a gentle nudge, Tao Ning’s hand tilting her chin up for a deeper kiss.
The kiss deepened, leaving Guan Qiuyi breathless, her body melting against Tao Ning’s.
Finally, Tao Ning pulled away.
Guan Qiuyi, her mind still foggy: “???”
Tao Ning, leaning closer, her lips brushing against Guan Qiuyi’s slightly swollen lips, murmured, “Who said you can’t kiss someone on their period? You were teasing me…”
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