Chapter 38: Two halves

The icy touch made Shi Ran’s kiss come to an abrupt stop.

She released Liu Qiu’s lips and grabbed at her own neck, moving quickly as she yanked the white little snake off and hurled it viciously onto the ground.

Bai Qingqing hadn’t fully recovered; her reactions in every aspect were slow.

She only reacted in the instant she was thrown, but by then it was too late to attack Shi Ran’s hand.

Her slender body slammed hard against the ground, and her mind buzzed blankly.

It hurt so much, but at least Qiuqiu wasn’t being kissed anymore.

Bai Qingqing kept staring at Liu Qiu. “Hiss—” The rough hissing sound failed to draw Liu Qiu’s attention.

Rain soaked through the bandages wrapped around her body, diluting the blood in her eyes. Mixed with rainwater, it flowed across the wet pavement in the night and disappeared without a trace.

She lay weakly on the ground, her body trembling faintly. She couldn’t tell whether her body hurt more or her heart. She wanted Qiuqiu to look at her, to hold her.

She wanted Qiuqiu to obediently call her wife.

She wanted to return to that small home with Qiuqiu.

There were so many things she still wanted to do with her. “Qiuqiu… want to go home…” Her faint voice couldn’t attract anyone’s attention.

A flush lingered on Shi Ran’s face, and the look she gave the white snake was full of disgust. This was already the second time; it was always interfering.

But now wasn’t the time to deal with a snake.

Shi Ran’s gaze returned to Liu Qiu, the burning emotion in her eyes laid bare.

“Liu Qiu, do you understand? Just give me your body and your feelings.”

“I don’t need anything else.”

“I don’t want much. Treat me the way you treat Bai Qingqing. We can do it anywhere, anytime. Don’t you want to experience the feeling of pheromones intertwining when you’re about to reach climax?”

“Don’t you want to mark an omega? Don’t you want to have your own child? Liu Qiu, I can give you an experience completely different from Bai Qingqing.”

Why had her feelings for Liu Qiu changed?

Because at that time, the crude desire of the flesh had planted a strange yearning in her heart.

As time passed, that yearning deepened, and Liu Qiu’s gentle gestures made her heart completely fall.

She liked the clear mint scent on Liu Qiu’s body, and she liked the restrained movements when Liu Qiu was in heat, and the gentle way she wiped the back of her neck.

There was nothing to deny. Liu Qiu’s rejection had only made her understand her own feelings faster.

Shi Ran pressed her hands onto Liu Qiu’s shoulders, forcing her to look at her. “Liu Qiu, marry me.”

She was desperate for Liu Qiu to agree right now.

“I did something wrong. I want to spend my whole life making up for it. Liu Qiu, tie me to your side and monitor my every move, okay?”

Liu Qiu was completely stunned. She knew Shi Ran liked her, but she hadn’t expected it to be this deep.

Looking into Shi Ran’s eyes, Liu Qiu slowly tightened her grip on her clothes, closed her eyes briefly, and said in a soft voice, “No.”

“I hate people who bullied me. Shi Ran, I hate you.” She truly had no other option; she could only use such childish words.

Shi Ran stared at Liu Qiu’s lips as they moved. They had originally been pale pink, but after being fiercely sucked just now, they were now flushed red, tender and alluring, impossible to resist.

Her hands shifted. Shi Ran cupped Liu Qiu’s face and leaned in to kiss her again. Once she had tasted it, she couldn’t quit.

The kiss came too fast and too urgently; Liu Qiu hadn’t even closed her mouth before she was caught again.

The rain grew heavier. Liu Qiu felt droplets sliding down her forehead.

Should she be grateful it was night and no one was around?

She grabbed Shi Ran’s hair and began pulling. She didn’t want this anymore. She couldn’t breathe.

She didn’t like this storm-like kiss, and besides, she and Shi Ran weren’t in a relationship intimate enough for this.

[Green Hat Value +3]

Out of the corner of her eye, Liu Qiu saw the little snake slowly inching toward her from the ground and sighed inwardly. She wanted Bai Qingqing to stop moving; another visit to the pet hospital would cost even more money.

In Bai Qingqing’s vision, there was only the image of Liu Qiu kissing Shi Ran. “Qiuqiu, please don’t kiss anyone else.” But no one could hear her.

Her body was too weak. After moving only a short distance, she became completely unable to move.

She could only watch that suffocating scene helplessly. There was nothing she could do.

Liu Qiu’s tongue had gone numb from the kissing. She suddenly bit Shi Ran’s lip. When Shi Ran recoiled in pain, Liu Qiu immediately turned her head away and said unsteadily, “Don’t… don’t kiss me. If you do that, I’ll hate you even more.”

“We’re not that kind of relationship. Don’t do this again—”

Her words abruptly stopped when she saw a figure not far away.

An umbrella was held overhead.

The umbrella tilted slightly, revealing Liu Xia’s striking face in the night rain.

Liu Qiu didn’t know how long Liu Xia had been standing there, or how much she had seen.

This kiss carried the metallic taste of blood.

Liu Qiu pressed her fingers against Shi Ran’s shoulder and pushed hard. Stop kissing me! Someone is watching!

It was inexplicably embarrassing to be seen like this by Liu Xia.

“Liu Qiu, what are you two doing?” Liu Xia’s voice rang out.

Shi Ran’s breathing paused. She released Liu Qiu and used her thumb to wipe the saliva from Liu Qiu’s lips.

“So it’s big sister.” Shi Ran didn’t even turn to look at Liu Xia, her burning gaze still fixed on Liu Qiu.

Liu Qiu couldn’t take it and avoided her eyes.

Liu Xia walked closer and asked again, “What are you doing?”

Right in front of Liu Xia, Shi Ran leaned over and kissed Liu Qiu on the cheek, then wrapped an arm around her and rested her head against hers as she looked at Liu Xia. “Just kissing.”

Liu Qiu’s face burned. Her toes curled awkwardly against the ground. The rain kept falling; even if it was light, her hair and clothes were soaked. She didn’t dare imagine how disheveled she looked.

Lowering her head slightly, she changed the subject in a small voice. “Liu Xia… why did you come down?”

Liu Xia’s fingers tightened around the umbrella handle as she angled it toward Liu Qiu to shield her from the rain. “Liu Qiu, are you blaming me for interrupting you?” The words slipped out, and her breathing grew heavier. “Sorry. I’m just a little tired.”

“Liu Qiu, let’s go home first.” Liu Xia forced a polite smile and then looked at Shi Ran. “Miss Shi, it’s late. Shall I call you a taxi?”

Shi Ran waved her hand. “No need, thank you, sister. I’ll head back myself.” Too much would be counterproductive. She really should leave now.

She let go of Liu Qiu, wiped the rain from her face, and cast one deep look at Liu Qiu, who still seemed dazed. After saying goodbye, she turned away, and in that instant, her mood sank to the depths.

She had kissed Liu Qiu many times, yet the most daring thing Liu Qiu had done was bite her lip.

If Liu Qiu could not reject her, she might not reject others either. Shi Ran clenched her teeth hard. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about Liu Qiu’s words; on the contrary, she cared desperately.

Her love didn’t make Liu Qiu happy. Liu Qiu hated her.

How could she tie Liu Qiu down? After tonight, Liu Qiu would definitely distance herself even more. After forcibly kissing her, Shi Ran had already anticipated what would follow, but she didn’t want to hear Liu Qiu say those hateful words.

Seeing those lips move only made her want to kiss them. She couldn’t control that overwhelming emotion.

She couldn’t stay calm in front of Liu Qiu.

But she couldn’t end up like Bai Qingqing.

She had to think of a way—think of a way to get pregnant with Liu Qiu’s child.

If she became pregnant, someone like Liu Qiu would definitely marry her.

An idea began forming in Shi Ran’s mind.

A hint of madness flickered in her eyes. She wouldn’t retreat so easily.

Shi Ran got into a car and left.

Only Liu Qiu and Liu Xia remained.

Liu Qiu tugged at her clothes and removed her glasses, which were wet with tears and rain.

The water on the lenses severely obstructed her vision.

The world blurred, and she saw the little white snake lying weakly in a puddle.

Her heart trembled, and she stepped forward.

But Liu Xia suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the building entrance.

“Liu—Liu Xia, wait.”

Liu Xia said nothing, her grip tight as she walked quickly.

Liu Qiu couldn’t break free and was dragged along.

Bai Qingqing was exhausted beyond measure. She was so tired and in so much pain. Watching Liu Qiu’s figure grow smaller and smaller, all her sorrow converged into unbearable agony, making her body convulse.

Bright red blood seeped from her mouth.

The bandages around her body were completely soaked, useless now, hanging heavily from her frame.

They weren’t truly heavy, but they made it hard to breathe.

Qiuqiu, you don’t want me anymore.

Her consciousness was fading. Gathering her last bit of strength, Bai Qingqing called out, “Qiuqiu.” But Liu Qiu still didn’t turn back. This was the third time she had watched Liu Qiu’s back.

Thin, fragile, yet cold.

She didn’t even have the strength left to coil her body.

She looked up at the deep black sky filled with rain, her tail swaying lightly.

Am I the stupidest demon in the world?

Only realizing after hurting the one I love beyond repair.

The world suddenly grew quiet. Bai Qingqing couldn’t hear anything anymore.

She remembered something.

That day, when Qiuqiu fell into the rain, was she cold?

The rain was so cold, and the hard ground was so cold—cold enough to make one’s soul tremble.

Why hadn’t she waited for Qiuqiu back then? Oh, she had never waited for Qiuqiu.

Her gestures wrapped in false gentleness had always been edged with glass, cutting at the slightest carelessness.

She had used that false affection to wound Liu Qiu all over.

Bai Qingqing’s tail stopped moving. Snakes had no eyelids and couldn’t close their eyes. The cold rain fell into them, replacing tears.

It had taken her four hundred years to cultivate a human form, yet less than a month to understand love between humans.

A love so painful it stole her breath.

She had always placed herself above others, subconsciously refusing to admit that intense emotion, as if acknowledging it meant lowering her head.

Bowing to an ordinary human would be a disgrace in the demon world.

She was too arrogant, too selfish, and… too foolish.

Liu Qiu reached out and grabbed the lamppost by the entrance, standing there silently, refusing to move. She wasn’t as strong as Liu Xia; this was the only way to stop her from being dragged further.

Liu Xia took a deep breath and released her wrist, her gaze fixed on Liu Qiu. “Liu Qiu, I won’t pull you anymore. Don’t stand in the rain like this. You’ll catch a cold.”

Liu Qiu’s lashes were wet as if she had just cried. When she lifted her eyes, the slight downward curve made her look pitiful.

Her lips were still slightly swollen from being ravaged earlier.

Her thin shirt clung to her soaked body, outlining her graceful figure.

Her skin was pale, her wrists and fingers slender and delicate. They trembled faintly, and a red mark had already appeared where Liu Xia had gripped her. Her skin was too thin.

Liu Qiu said nothing and didn’t move. A trace of anger surfaced between Liu Xia’s brows. “Liu Qiu, are you blaming me for interrupting you?” She told herself repeatedly not to get angry, but her words still carried a questioning tone. “I don’t want to lecture you, but it’s so late. You were out for so long without sending a message. I’ll worry.”

Liu Xia closed her eyes briefly and turned away. “Sorry. I was just worried you might get a fever.”

“I don’t want to see you lying in a hospital bed.” Nor did she want to see you being kissed by someone else, but she couldn’t say more.

Liu Qiu no longer liked her and only loved Bai Qingqing. Saying such things would only trouble her.

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together awkwardly and said softly, “I’ll be right back,” before running in the opposite direction. She would explain to Liu Xia later.

Bai Qingqing and the fallen umbrella were still on the ground.

Under the streetlamp, even with blurred vision, Liu Qiu could still see her.

She crouched down and picked up the little snake, but Bai Qingqing’s body hung limply like a noodle, devoid of vitality.

Gently coiling her and holding her in her palm, Liu Qiu grew anxious.

[System, how did Bai Qingqing become like this? Isn’t she a demon?]

[She looks like she’s about to die.]

The system scanned her and confirmed her body was extremely weak.

This was the other female lead; she couldn’t die. The mission progress bar was nearly full. Bai Qingqing had to be safe.

The system said, [Host, actually, Bai Qingqing’s demon core is inside your body.]

[The demon core is a demon’s source of power. Without it, she’s just an ordinary little snake.]

Liu Qiu froze, then panicked. [Then how do I give the demon core back to her?] She hadn’t known Bai Qingqing had given her something so important.

No matter the reason, she had to return it quickly. Bai Qingqing in snake form was far too weak.

The system remained calm. [Host, don’t panic. I can split the demon core in half.]

[Last time you weren’t injured because of the demon core. Your vitality has already recovered, so you don’t need the entire core to sustain your life.]

[It’s quite useful, though. It can protect you. Leave half inside you. Once you complete the mission, you can return the other half to Bai Qingqing.]