Chapter 58: Lian’er, i like you the most

“My little Chengzhi, just one more time, say ‘I like big sister,’ and big sister will like you the most…”

“No… I can’t…”

Su Cheng’s thin nightdress was being tugged back and forth by Yin Xuelian, leaving Su Cheng utterly bewildered by her intentions.

This situation had persisted for a full quarter of an hour.

Initially, Su Cheng had just finished putting on her nightdress in the bathroom and, having merely wiggled her backside, was ambushed by Yin Xuelian.

Yin Xuelian, of course, could not resist the temptation of Su Cheng, who was as alluring as a fragrant pastry, especially since they had already confessed their feelings for each other.

Even though Su Cheng had explicitly told Yin Xuelian that her affection was merely platonic, it had all been in vain.

Yin Xuelian had ultimately misunderstood her words; if only Su Cheng had known, she would never have said, ‘I like her.’

Su Cheng was left speechless, her eyes tightly shut as she curled up, hiding in Yin Xuelian’s embrace.

Yin Xuelian lightly kissed Su Cheng’s cheek, her light-brown eyes brimming with both greed and delight.

“Little Chengzhi, I love you the most…”

Su Cheng’s ears burned, her mind reeling from Yin Xuelian’s sudden declaration of love, leaving her feeling quite disoriented.

“Sister Lian… saying something like that at a time like this is just too unfair…”

Su Cheng was on the verge of losing her composure, her long-suppressed emotions now forcibly pried open by Yin Xuelian, creating a tangible crack in her heart.

Turning Su Cheng around in her arms, Yin Xuelian’s clear eyes saw only her beloved’s delicate face.

“I like you… I like you!”

Yin Xuelian kissed the softness that belonged solely to her.

Su Cheng’s face and neck were flushed crimson from a lack of oxygen; even through the thin fabric, she could feel Yin Xuelian’s warmth, a sweetness and tenderness that permeated her very being and made her forget how to think.

She was on the verge of succumbing to this intoxicating embrace.

As their lips parted, Su Cheng’s ragged breaths brushed against Yin Xuelian’s cheek, her eyes filled with a dazed confusion.

Watching the focus gradually fade from Su Cheng’s eyes, Yin Xuelian kissed her again, until her gaze completely dissolved.

“Darling, I love you, I truly love you… whether you are ‘ta’ (TL Note: A gender-neutral pinyin for ‘she/he/it’ often used to refer to someone of unknown or ambiguous gender in Chinese web novels), I still love you…”

Su Cheng’s rationality completely vanished, her sensitive body already lost in Yin Xuelian’s tender affection.

The woman she had loved for two lifetimes was right before her, making it impossible to discern which timeline she was currently in.

Yin Xuelian had carved a spring of overflowing love in her heart, and uncontrollable emotions gushed forth; she still loved Yin Xuelian, a fondness that seemed ingrained in her very bones, impossible to erase.

Completely disoriented, Su Cheng seemed as though she had drunk herself into a stupor, unable to control her own words, her eyes filled solely with Yin Xuelian’s reflection.

“Sister Lian… Lian’er… I like you… I like you the most~”

Su Cheng’s soft, sweet voice, brimming with gentle affection, drifted into Yin Xuelian’s ears, causing her heart to tremble fiercely with sudden delight.

Yin Xuelian narrowed her eyes in ecstasy, certain that the Su Cheng before her was none other than the “big rascal” buried deep within her heart.

Embracing the charming woman whose eyes were still hazy, Yin Xuelian wished she could merge everything about her into her own being.

Having been apart for merely three days, the longing was intense; her profound love was equally tenacious.

“My darling, I love you the most…”

****

Waking from the warm embrace of the duvet, Su Cheng sat on the edge of the bed, her sore legs trembling slightly, and glanced around, but Yin Xuelian was nowhere in sight.

‘What happened to me?’

Su Cheng looked at her pale legs and lightly slapped them, as if exasperated, leaving faint red marks, yet it hurt more than she had anticipated.

‘Hiss, why does it hurt so much?’

At that moment, Su Cheng seemed to grasp the saying that women are made of water, and thus, girls must always be treated with gentleness.

She glanced back at the slightly disheveled bed, then looked down at her nightdress, whose color had inexplicably changed, and blinked a few times in confusion, muttering to herself.

‘What on earth happened? How did my clothes even change?’

Su Cheng only recalled being held and kissed a few times by Yin Xuelian before seemingly blacking out; as for what transpired afterwards, it was as if she had suffered a drunken blackout, remembering absolutely nothing.

Only the soreness in her legs remained vividly clear.

‘Could it be…?’

‘Does she have a special switch on her that, once activated, automatically erases crucial memories?’

‘Or perhaps Yin Xuelian gave her a pill similar to a “memory eraser”?’

‘This isn’t good at all. What if Yin Xuelian had her way with me and I remained oblivious? Wouldn’t that be like being taken advantage of for free?’

‘Taken advantage of me for free? Oh, really…’

‘Oh, you, Yin Xuelian! To have your way with me and then vanish, even erasing my memories—you’re practically inhuman!’

“You are truly a wicked frog!” (TL Note: “狗蛙” (gǒu wā) is a playful, slightly derogatory slang term, similar to calling someone a “dog” or “bastard” but with a humorous, almost affectionate twist, implying they are mischievously cunning or ‘wicked’ in a charming way.)

“Who are you calling a dog, huh?”

The room door opened, and Yin Xuelian’s figure appeared in view.

Su Cheng quickly offered an awkward laugh. “Ah, haha… Sister Lian, good morning…”

Yin Xuelian blinked, then smiled faintly. “It’s already noon, darling. Time for lunch.”

“Da… Darling???” Su Cheng was utterly astonished by this intimate endearment, her lovely face etched with confusion. ‘What’s going on?’

She used to call her “little Chengzhi,” and “darling” was a term only heard on special occasions.

Why was she calling her “darling” right away now?

Yin Xuelian smiled without offering an explanation, carried the tray to Su Cheng, placed it on the bedside table, and then settled herself beside Su Cheng.

Meeting Su Cheng’s bewildered eyes, Yin Xuelian responded with a sweet smile.

“You must be starving, right? I cooked mustard greens and lean pork congee; I think you’ll like it.”

“Wow, Sister Lian cooked herself!” Su Cheng immediately cast her questions aside.

Yin Xuelian, after all, was an expert chef; marrying her and having her as a homemaker would undoubtedly bring two hundred percent satisfaction.

Moreover, Yin Xuelian rarely cooked herself; Su Cheng had only tasted her cooking once or twice before, yet it had left a profound impression on her.

“That’s right, you’re the only one who can make big sister cook personally,” Yin Xuelian said, her eyes curving into crescents. With her left hand holding the bowl of congee, she stirred it continuously with a spoon in her right to cool it. “It’s still a bit hot, just finished cooking.”

Smelling the aroma of the food wafting towards her nose, Su Cheng’s stomach uncooperatively rumbled twice.

Blushing slightly with embarrassment, Su Cheng murmured softly to Yin Xuelian, “Um, I haven’t eaten anything all morning, I can’t take it anymore, haha.”

Yin Xuelian maintained her sweet smile, her eyes showing a newfound tenderness and concern. “I know, big sister will take responsibility. The congee will be cool soon.”

“Responsibility? What responsibility?” Su Cheng scratched her head, feeling utterly baffled.

Yin Xuelian smiled without a word, maintaining her air of mystery. She tasted a spoonful of congee, finding the temperature just right—not too hot, easy to eat.

“Alright, come eat the congee. Open wide.”

Su Cheng immediately waved her hands in refusal. “No need to trouble Sister Lian, I can do it myself. Besides, aren’t you eating, Sister Lian?”

Ignoring Su Cheng’s refusal, Yin Xuelian extended the spoonful of congee directly towards Su Cheng’s mouth.

Her serious, determined eyes were fixed on Su Cheng’s resisting face, her tone leaving no room for doubt. “I’ve already eaten, it’s fine. I’ll feed you.”

At that moment, Su Cheng felt as though Yin Xuelian were tending to her like a patient.

Their eyes met for a moment, and eventually, Su Cheng conceded.

With a slight blush of embarrassment, Su Cheng opened her mouth. Yin Xuelian’s movements were as gentle as water; she blew on the spoonful of congee to ensure it wouldn’t burn Su Cheng before finally delivering it to her mouth.

The fragrant congee, enveloped in its warmth, brought a strange sense of peace and happiness as it was swallowed.

The rice grains were soft but not mushy, and the savory minced meat perfectly blended with the diced mustard greens, as if a symphony were unfolding on her tongue.

A joyous smile openly appeared on Su Cheng’s face.

“Is it good?”

“Delicious!” Su Cheng nodded vigorously without hesitation, her eyes already proclaiming how tasty it was.

‘I’ve never had congee this delicious!’

Yin Xuelian smiled knowingly. “That’s good then.”

This was congee she had painstakingly simmered over a low flame.

To conquer Su Cheng, one must first conquer her stomach.

Coupled with the morning’s physical exertion, Su Cheng was already ravenous; when one is hungry, everything tastes good, which was also a way to earn extra points.

Su Cheng no longer cared about being shy; she simply focused on eating, seemingly utterly captivated by Yin Xuelian’s congee.