Qiu Yang had felt that Shen Ningruo’s attitude towards her was a bit strange before, or rather, she felt it was strange from the very beginning. In her understanding, someone with Shen Ningruo’s looks and temperament wouldn’t be the proactive type; they would be more passive.
Because it was impossible for Shen Ningruo to lack admiration and affection from others.
But with her, Shen Ningruo was undoubtedly the one in control. Their first words were initiated by Shen Ningruo, their first interaction was started by Shen Ningruo, and besides that, many other things were also begun by Shen Ningruo.
However, what Qiu Yang found even stranger wasn’t this, but the few comforting words Shen Ningruo occasionally said. That night in Xicheng, she told her she would meet someone better, and she said similar words when they left Auntie Mingfen’s house in Yuncheng.
It was heartwarming, no doubt, but it also left Qiu Yang a bit confused—
When Shen Ningruo found out her ex was a woman, she didn’t seem surprised at all?
It was as if she wasn’t surprised in the least.
Especially the day Tao Sixian came over about Pingzi, Shen Ningruo and Tao Sixian had never met before. It could have been a friend visiting, but Shen Ningruo immediately referred to her as “ex.”
Qiu Yang didn’t have time to think about it carefully then, but recalling it now, she felt something was off everywhere. She looked at Shen Ningruo in front of her, her lips parting and closing, and just said, “Let me process this.”
She hadn’t expected this layer of “connection” between her and Shen Ningruo. She was deceived and hurt by Tao Sixian, while Shen Ningruo was deceived and hurt by Tao Sixian’s current husband. To a certain extent, they were both victims.
“Okay.” Shen Ningruo’s heart began to feel uneasy. She was truly nervous, unsure if she had hit the key points or what Qiu Yang’s reaction would be.
Ultimately, this wasn’t deception, but concealment. If she had revealed her identity as another victim from the start, Shen Ningruo felt she wouldn’t know how things would have unfolded, but the one thing she was certain of was that if Qiu Yang had known from the beginning, they wouldn’t have had those seven enchanting and ambiguous nights in Xicheng.
The most likely outcome might have been just being friends, or perhaps not even friends.
Qiu Yang sorted through the matter in her mind, finding she couldn’t fully digest it immediately. She looked at Shen Ningruo’s sincere eyes, then pursed her lips and asked her question, “Why did you come looking for me?”
“I…” Shen Ningruo opened her mouth, paused for two seconds, then continued, “I didn’t know at the time either, I just really wanted to see you.”
“You looked very happy in that photo. I didn’t know if you could continue to be happy after the breakup, so I wanted to see you up close. I know this reason sounds a bit unrealistic, but that’s genuinely what I was thinking at the time.”
Shen Ningruo’s tone was very sincere, and her eyes were even more so, as if she wanted to lay her entire heart bare before Qiu Yang.
Qiu Yang listened to Shen Ningruo’s somewhat anxious explanation and let out a soft sigh. Her eyelashes lowered. In fact, many things she had been confused about before were answered by Shen Ningruo’s confession tonight. Every thread was clear.
Shen Ningruo took Qiu Yang’s hand and continued, “At the time, I was more curious about you, but once we interacted, my emotions were completely controlled by you. I thought I was just a tool for you to distract yourself, and I enjoyed it, but after a while, I realized I wasn’t satisfied with that role at all.”
“Okay, I understand.” Qiu Yang gave Shen Ningruo a shallow smile, as if comforting her. “Thank you for telling me this now.”
“Is it not too late?”
“No.” Qiu Yang cupped Shen Ningruo’s face with both hands, her thumbs gently stroking Shen Ningruo’s skin, the smile on her lips deepening. “But it’s not early either, so I’m going to be petty and think Ruoruo Jiejie needs one more punishment.”
The address “Ruoruo Jiejie” made Shen Ningruo’s heart skip another beat. She inexplicably felt that the one looking at her now wasn’t the pure Xiao Yang, but a wolf showing its fangs.
It was as if their roles had been reversed.
The warmth of Qiu Yang’s hands was still clearly on Shen Ningruo’s face, feeling a bit hot, and the places Qiu Yang stroked felt a little itchy. Her throat couldn’t help but tighten.
“Okay,” Shen Ningruo agreed. As soon as the words left her mouth, her lips were captured by Qiu Yang.
Qiu Yang usually kissed very gently; it was rare for her to be this forceful. She grabbed Shen Ningruo’s hand, her index finger tracing Shen Ningruo’s palm, and leaned in, pressing Shen Ningruo’s head against the back of the sofa.
This posture was very dominant.
And her tongue was completely unrestrained, directly prying open Shen Ningruo’s lips and teeth, as if wanting to steal Shen Ningruo’s breath, hooking Shen Ningruo’s tongue to tangle and chase with her own.
But how could one kiss be enough?
Qiu Yang wanted more.
She had sorted out everything Shen Ningruo said. She wasn’t angry or resentful; she even felt luckier.
Because the other person was Shen Ningruo.
Because Shen Ningruo was initially willing to be her tool.
Because Shen Ningruo was now completely devoted to her.
Even if it wasn’t accidental, even if it was due to curiosity at first.
But what did that matter?
Qiu Yang wasn’t someone who liked to dwell on things. She only believed what she saw. She saw sincerity and love in Shen Ningruo’s eyes that Tao Sixian never had, and she saw care and nervousness in Shen Ningruo’s actions that Tao Sixian never showed.
Being able to love each other was enough to make Qiu Yang wonder if she was finally blessed by fate. Because she had received relatively little before, she cherished everything she had now even more.
This kiss was infused with more of Qiu Yang’s emotions and feelings. She only stopped when she was a little breathless. She lay on Shen Ningruo’s shoulder, her eyes suddenly stinging with emotion, but she didn’t want to show it, just calming her breathing.
The sofa was large. Shen Ningruo held Qiu Yang and turned over. After a while, she asked Qiu Yang with a smile, “Haven’t fed Pangpang yet, have we?”
“No.”
“Then shall we go back and feed the cat later?”
“Okay.”
Hearing Qiu Yang’s short answer, Shen Ningruo realized Qiu Yang’s mood was a bit off. She gently turned Qiu Yang’s face to look at her, then looked worried. “What’s wrong? Why are you unhappy?”
Qiu Yang used a little force and buried her head in Shen Ningruo’s shoulder again. Her voice sounded muffled. “I’m not unhappy.”
Shen Ningruo cupped the back of Qiu Yang’s head, rubbing it gently, her voice softening. “Then are you too happy?”
She received a single sound from Qiu Yang: “Mm.”
So much had happened in just about two months, something Qiu Yang had never thought of before. She had even thought she would need a long time to forget Tao Sixian, but because of Shen Ningruo’s appearance, that time was fast-forwarded, the speed maxed out.
Shen Ningruo’s lips curved slightly, then she kissed the top of Qiu Yang’s head and whispered softly, “If it’s because of me, then I…”
“…am deeply honored.”
Hearing this, Qiu Yang turned her head, let out a light snort, and sat up. “Time to go back and cook meat for Pangpang.”
“Okay.” Shen Ningruo’s eyes curved into smiles, her tone involuntarily carrying a hint of doting.
A heavy stone in her heart finally landed, and it didn’t cause a big crater, which relieved Shen Ningruo. She knew the nature of the matter was concealment, which was why she was so anxious at first.
Now that everything was confessed, Shen Ningruo couldn’t help but feel even more heartache for Qiu Yang. How could she not know why Qiu Yang was happy?
It was precisely because she knew that Shen Ningruo felt more heartache, but she also knew Qiu Yang wanted to save face at this moment, so she wouldn’t say it directly, just quietly gave Qiu Yang’s matters more importance.
The two got back into the car. Qiu Yang sat in the passenger seat, leaning her head on her hand and watching Shen Ningruo the whole way. When they stopped at a red light, Shen Ningruo would turn to meet her gaze and even lean over to kiss her cheek.
Qiu Yang wished she could engrave this scene onto a disc. She knew she would smile whenever she watched it again in the future.
But since she had mentioned punishment, Qiu Yang didn’t want to be someone who broke her word. On the way, she had even thought of the first punishment for Shen Ningruo.
In fact, they both knew it was both a punishment and a reward.
And more importantly, a form of intimacy between the two of them.
After feeding the cat, Qiu Yang pulled Shen Ningruo into the bathroom. Under the rushing hot water, they were both naked, and Qiu Yang’s request for Shen Ningruo was—
Don’t make a sound.
Even though she had said “call me Jiejie during the day, I’ll call you Jiejie at night” in the car that afternoon.
Shen Ningruo was very cooperative, biting her lip lightly, restrained and enduring, letting Qiu Yang have her way. But even with her stamina, she couldn’t quite hold on, and finally, holding Qiu Yang, a soft moan couldn’t help but escape her throat.
This, however, only earned her another teasing touch from Qiu Yang’s fingertips.
When the location moved from the bathroom to the bedroom, Qiu Yang wanted Shen Ningruo to experience more, so she pulled out her chair and had Shen Ningruo sit on it, while she herself knelt on the carpet.
Shen Ningruo: …Help.
Qiu Yang seemed to be using all her skills. Towards the end, Shen Ningruo was exhausted, her chest rising and falling heavily. Qiu Yang kissed her lips affectionately: “The tuition fee for Coach Shen teaching me to swim is paid tonight.”
Shen Ningruo looked into Qiu Yang’s eyes, opened her mouth, but ultimately didn’t say a single word.
She was tired, and a little sleepy now, just wanting to sleep.
Everything they did tonight seemed to have drained her strength, making her wonder how long she would need to recover. Thinking this, she fell asleep holding Qiu Yang.
She woke up at eleven in the morning. Qiu Yang wasn’t beside her. The memories from last night flooded back. She rubbed her forehead, then threw off the covers, put on her pajamas, and got up.
She thought Qiu Yang was in the living room and opened the door without thinking about her appearance. Outside were Yue Chu and Yao Yao.
Shen Ningruo didn’t know when they arrived. She just wanted to hide. Just as she was about to turn around, she heard Yao Yao’s laughter.
“Finally awake!”
“Shen, Zero, Ruo!”
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