Chapter 17: Let Me Do It Next Time

The flushed lips were like petals; the eyes, shimmering with moisture, seemed to possess hidden hooks. Every expression and movement was utterly seductive.

Meng Yao still remembered the way Zhao Xue looked at the peak of pleasure. Once she caught a glimpse, she could no longer tear her gaze away, and her movements grew increasingly forceful. She wanted to see Zhao Xue look like that more—and more.

She remained hovered over Zhao Xue until the other girl grabbed her hair and pulled her head back, finally halting her almost possessed behavior.

It wasn’t like her. She had never imagined a scene of herself making love to anyone; she had even found the idea repulsive. She certainly never thought she would do it with a woman. But just like that first kiss, the addiction was unavoidable once contact was made.

Meng Yao turned her head to look out the window. The weight of another person rested on her neck and shoulder; her hand was held and toyed with, the point of contact transferring the other’s temperature—soft and warm.

Suddenly, Meng Yao felt fingers, slightly smaller than her own but far more delicate, interlace with hers, forming a ten-finger lock. Meng Yao’s lashes trembled, and her heart gave a sudden, sharp thud.

Zhao Xue truly knew how to perform actions that invited misunderstanding.

Meng Yao looked down, seeing only Zhao Xue’s long eyelashes and the straight bridge of her nose. In that position, leaning against Meng Yao, Zhao Xue slowly closed her eyes. The clean, fresh scent on Meng Yao was hypnotic. For a moment, the atmosphere turned quiet—not awkward in the slightest, but layered with a lingering ambiguity.

The matter regarding Zhao Xue and Meng Yao was successfully suppressed by the Zhao family. At the very least, only those within the upper echelons of high society knew that the Zhao family’s youngest daughter was involved in a same-s*x relationship.

In their circles, playing around with men or women generally didn’t matter, as long as it wasn’t brought into the public eye. However, unlike others, everyone in that world knew that the elders of the Zhao family loathed homosexuality.

Years ago, a scandal had rocked the family: Zhao Jing’s (the father’s) first wife had run away with his stepmother. It was an colossal joke that became the laughingstock of the entire elite class. Ever since, the Zhao elders had nurtured a deep-seated hatred for such relationships.

Zhao Jing had been in a terrible mood lately. His youngest daughter’s sudden scandal inevitably reminded him of his first wife. Though it had only been a business marriage, it was a severe blow to a man’s pride. Fortunately, Zhao Jing remained rational enough not to direct his hatred toward his sons.

Waiting at the old family estate, Zhao Jing’s face grew terrifyingly dark as the hours passed without Zhao Xue showing up.

“Zhao Xue is getting bolder and bolder. She won’t even listen to my words anymore!” Zhao Jing’s voice was heavy. “Must I, her father, go and invite her personally?”

He scanned his other children. The eldest was from “that” woman; the second and third were from his second wife. He frowned. “Lao San (Third), find a time to go get Zhao Xue. Bring her back to me!”

Zhao Ling calmly replied with a “Yes.”

After Zhao Jing left, Zhao Yu leaned in toward his sister. “You just got back from abroad, and the old man already has you running errands for Zhao Xue.” He and Zhao Ling were twins; they shared similar features and even their expressions were alike.

Zhao Ling frowned. She had only learned the news yesterday after returning to the country. She hadn’t expected Zhao Xue to pull such a stunt.

Zhao Yu, seemingly reading her mind, let out a snort. “It seems Zhao Xue is truly a fool. She knows Dad and Grandpa hate homosexuality, yet she plays around like this. Tsk, tsk. Truly an idiot.”

“Going there is a good chance to see if she’s actually mixed up with that student,” he added.

“Xiao Yu, don’t talk about Xiaoxue like that,” came Zhao Sheng’s gentle voice from the side.

Zhao Yu rolled his eyes. “Quit the act. Aren’t you the one who wants Zhao Xue to become useless the most?”

Zhao Sheng shook his head helplessly, seemingly used to Zhao Yu’s attitude. “I only hope Xiaoxue can do what she likes.”

Zhao Ling tapped the table, drawing their attention. “Stop talking about Zhao Xue. Whatever happens to her has nothing to do with us. How is the research on the new medicine going?”

Hearing this, Zhao Yu turned serious. “Everything is normal so far.”

“Father has invested a lot of money into this project. We must ensure there are no accidents. Check the researchers and those in charge thoroughly…”

As the day of the surgery drew closer, Meng Yao couldn’t help but feel nervous. She went to the hospital to visit her grandmother as usual, but upon her return, she encountered someone she didn’t expect.

“Meng Yao, right? Do you have time to talk?”

The woman before her wore a simple black dress. Her aura was cold and mature, and her features were about thirty percent similar to Zhao Xue’s. At a glance, Meng Yao guessed her identity. She nodded and followed the woman to a nearby café.

Taking the coffee from the waiter, Meng Yao offered a polite “Thank you.” She kept her eyes lowered and her hands folded properly beneath the table, allowing the other woman to scrutinize her.

She had heard the contempt in the voice on the other end of the line when Zhao Xue spoke to her family. Everyone around her was reminding her of the gap between her and Zhao Xue. She understood; she had always understood. These people didn’t need to do this—she and Zhao Xue didn’t actually have any surplus emotional connection.

I wonder what Zhao Xue’s sister wants, Meng Yao thought cynically. Probably just warnings not to get any ideas.

Zhao Ling hadn’t gone to see Zhao Xue first; she had found Meng Yao instead. She observed the plain girl before her—though “plain” wasn’t quite right. Her features were deep and well-defined, her face lean, possessing a beauty that felt repressed and lonely. Her frame was thin, and her dark eyes gave off a faint illusion of someone on the brink of death.

Zhao Ling tried to form a smile, but because she rarely smiled, the expression looked slightly uncanny.

“Meng Yao, don’t be nervous. I am Zhao Ling, Zhao Xue’s third sister.”

“I came because I wanted to ask… do you truly like Zhao Xue?”

Meng Yao gave no reaction.

Zhao Ling continued, “If you truly like her, I hope you never let go of her hand, alright?”

“I support you. As a sister, I only want my sister to be happy, regardless of whether she likes a man or a woman.”

Meng Yao finally reacted. She lifted her thin eyelids, her dark eyes looking directly into Zhao Ling’s. She had heard rumors about the Zhao family—how they loathed homosexuality. The attitude of this sister was utterly bizarre.

Meng Yao stood up. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going back.”

Zhao Ling’s smile turned strained. She rarely met someone so “unreasonable.” However, being an adult, she rose as well and inquired, “Are you going to Zhao Xue’s place? I’m heading there too; we can go together.”

“No need.”

When Meng Yao returned home, she saw Zhao Xue drying her hair. After a moment’s thought, she walked over and said, “Your sister found me just now.”

Zhao Xue put down the hair dryer. “My sister? What did she want?”

Meng Yao gave a brief summary: “She said she supports us and wants you to be happy, regardless of who you like.”

Zhao Xue laughed. She stood up, hooked her finger under Meng Yao’s chin, and placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth. “My third sister isn’t that kind-hearted. Go eat first.”

Meng Yao shook her head. “Dry your hair first.”

Zhao Xue glanced at her damp hair, narrowed her eyes, and handed the hair dryer to Meng Yao. She said matter-of-factly, “You do it.”

Meng Yao said nothing and took it. The whirring sound filled the room. Her movements were gentle. She looked down at Zhao Xue’s eyes, which were half-closed against the cool air. The smooth, soft hair slipped through her fingers, leaving a trace of dampness.

She looks like a kitten, Meng Yao thought, somewhat out of place.

As Zhao Xue was enjoying the service, the door suddenly gave a beep—someone had used facial recognition to enter. Meng Yao turned off the dryer, and both looked toward the door.

The person standing there was Zhao Ling.

Zhao Xue wasn’t particularly surprised. Meng Yao had just mentioned seeing her, so she knew she was in the city. There were only three people who could scan their way into this villa: Zhao Xue herself, Meng Yao (whom she had forced to register), and the owner of the house—Zhao Ling. This villa had been bought by Zhao Ling for the original Zhao Xue to use while at school.

Zhao Xue greeted her with a smile. “Third Sister, what brings you here?”

Zhao Ling looked at Zhao Xue, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, and felt a strange sense of displacement. Zhao Xue was becoming more and more beautiful.

Zhao Ling sat on the sofa, her expression cold, but her gaze toward Zhao Xue carried a hint of doting—as if she truly were an affectionate older sister. “It’s about your scandal. Dad is furious. You didn’t go back when he called, so he sent me.”

Zhao Xue smiled playfully. “Let him be angry. I’ll go back after the Gaokao.”

Zhao Ling sighed. Her gaze drifted to Meng Yao, her face clouding with “worry.” “Xiaoxue, tell Big Sister the truth. Are you two really together?”

Zhao Xue raised an eyebrow and beckoned Meng Yao over. Meng Yao approached, and without hesitation, Zhao Xue kissed her right in front of Zhao Ling. When they pulled apart, a faint thread of saliva lingered. Zhao Xue licked Meng Yao’s lip and turned to Zhao Ling. “What do you think, Third Sister?”

Zhao Ling’s expression was complex. What do I think? I think you two are about to roll into bed the next second.

However, seeing Zhao Xue’s reckless, unbothered attitude put Zhao Ling at ease. She gave a faint smile. “As long as Xiaoxue is happy, gender doesn’t matter.” She added, “But I still hope you can go back this weekend. Next time, he might just send people to kidnap you back.”

Zhao Xue pulled Meng Yao down to sit and leaned against her, toying with her fingers as if no one else were in the room. “I know. Third Sister, tell the old man I’ll be back next week. Where are you staying? Want to stay here?”

It was a rude, dismissive way to treat a guest, but it only made Zhao Ling more relaxed. Yes, exactly like this. Self-destruction is for the best.

Zhao Ling shook her head. “I’d love to stay, but I have work to finish. I can’t keep Xiaoxue company.”

Zhao Ling left shortly after. She didn’t press Zhao Xue to return; the longer Zhao Xue delayed, the angrier Zhao Jing would get. These were all “delightful” outcomes.

As the night grew deeper, Meng Yao didn’t ask about the family. But Zhao Xue spoke up of her own accord.

She sat on Meng Yao’s lap, their skin pressing closely together. Her warm breath licked over the tip of Meng Yao’s ear before she caught the small earlobe in her teeth and ground it gently until it was bright red. Ever since they had crossed that line, things had become uncontrollable.

The flesh of Zhao Xue’s thighs was soft, pressed into red marks by Meng Yao’s grip.

“Know why Zhao Ling ‘blesses’ us? Because she can’t wait for me to ruin myself over a woman.”

“They all want… mm… they all want the Zhao family for themselves, you know?”

Zhao Xue propped her hands on Meng Yao’s shoulders, breathing heavily. Suddenly, Meng Yao made a move that caused Zhao Xue to let out a muffled groan, her tone shifting.

“Let me do it next time,” she said, before leaning in and biting down hard on Meng Yao’s shoulder, leaving a deep tooth mark.

“Little puppy… why are you so fast…”