Chapter 71: I Have A Friend...
Source: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5896087
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The second hand on the wall went tick-tock as it made a full round. The night framed by the window lattice added a few shades of silence to the room.
The questions she had been thinking about by the bedside still had no answers, yet the wound on her lips threw another layer of ambiguity at Wei Qingyu.
Wei Qingyu lowered her gaze slightly to avoid meeting Ji Xiao’s eyes. She shook her head and said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Even though Wei Qingyu said that, the red scab on her pale white skin stood out in Ji Xiao’s sight.
The fever in her body had not yet subsided. In her dazed state, Ji Xiao once again thought about that moment of losing control at the doorway.
Wei Qingyu’s lips were even softer and easier to bully than she had imagined.
The lingering minty taste rolled on the tip of her tongue, like the sweetest fruit in the world.
She still remembered that in the original story, Wei Qingyu only had the first kiss of her life with the male lead after she became an adult.
That meant the kiss she stole that day was actually her first kiss.
At that moment, she had acted on impulse and followed her heart, but after sobering up, all she felt was regret.
How could she have taken Wei Qingyu’s first kiss so recklessly? She didn’t even ask if she was willing.
How was this any different from that awful original owner?
Ji Xiao’s chaotic mind was filled with guilt.
She reached out a hand from under the blanket and gently tugged at the corner of Wei Qingyu’s clothes. “I’m sorry... I couldn’t control myself at the time. I didn’t mean to…”
Her voice was a little hoarse, carrying a faint nasal tone from her susceptible period.
That not-so-pure golden orange-colored sickness seemed to remind Wei Qingyu of the frail state of the person in front of her.
Looking at Ji Xiao’s face, pale and clouded with illness, the softest part of Wei Qingyu’s heart was poked again and again.
Was there really anything to be sorry for? Was there really any guilt?
If she truly didn’t want Ji Xiao’s kiss, she could have bitten back at that moment.
She had countless ways to refuse Ji Xiao.
Yet, she still drowned in that violent gentleness and chose to surrender.
But how could she say such things to Ji Xiao outright?
She looked into Ji Xiao’s dull, lifeless eyes, nodded, and simply said, “Mm, I don’t blame you.”
The flickering light fell into Ji Xiao’s sight. Her head felt heavy and dizzy, making it hard to believe what Wei Qingyu had just said.
Her dark orange eyes stared at Wei Qingyu without any disguise. Every word written in them was filled with care, making Wei Qingyu’s heart tremble slightly.
Did she really care so much about her feelings?
She really did like her a little, didn’t she? Even if just a little.
The two of them stared at each other like this, as if they were about to be drawn into the deep black hole within each other’s eyes.
The hazy light intertwined, forming a thin veil that had yet to be pierced, filled with an unspoken ambiguity.
Mint leaves floated in the peach and white brandy stream, trickling past the two of them.
Wei Qingyu could hear the secret voice inside her heart whispering her feelings, tapping against her chest again and again.
Could I tell her now that I like her too?
The night wind slipped through the window crack and brushed against Wei Qingyu’s cheek, snapping her back to reality.
What if she only likes you as a friend?
Wei Qingyu realized she was thinking too much, becoming greedier the more she thought. She forced herself to suppress the desire lingering on the tip of her tongue and replaced it with concern instead. "It's late. Get some rest. I'm going back now."
Ji Xiao snapped out of her daze when she heard that and softly replied, "Mm."
She watched Wei Qingyu’s departing figure. Even though her heart was filled with countless feelings of affection, she understood that as an Alpha, she had no reason to keep an Omega here.
"Wei Qingyu."
Suddenly, Ji Xiao’s weak voice broke the silence in the room.
She still couldn't help but call out to Wei Qingyu.
Hearing her name, Wei Qingyu stopped at the doorway immediately.
It was as if she was expecting something.
Moonlight streamed in from the side window, draping her in a layer of pure white gauze.
Her cold, pale skin carried a hint of spring’s soft pink, her slightly plump cheeks looking like a beautiful, delicate peach.
Source: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5896087
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Ji Xiao gazed at her, her lips trembling slightly. "Good night."
"Good night," Wei Qingyu replied the same way.
Her voice carried a warmth that belonged only to Ji Xiao, a mix of contentment and loss.
The girl's slender back swayed in Ji Xiao’s drowsy vision. It was only when the door finally closed that she placed the ice pack back on her forehead.
A heavy, murky breath slowly escaped from her lips, carrying the uncontrollable release of that peach brandy scent. Every cell in her body was etched with the word—like.
Ji Xiao suddenly wished the gears of time could spin faster.
That kiss just now was no longer enough to satisfy her.
….
Another weekend arrived. The weather forecast predicted heavy rain, yet the sky remained clear.
A gentle breeze, carrying warm sunlight, swept into the room, lifting the girl's jet-black hair. On the tablet, elegant and carefree handwriting filled the screen.
As always, Wei Qingyu used the excuse of going to the library to return to the Wei family home. Feng Yue sat beside her, giving her one-on-one instruction.
The morning lesson was nearing its end when Feng Yue glanced at the project proposal Wei Qingyu had written and nodded approvingly. “Mm, this project is well done. You grasp these concepts really quickly. Mr. Chen will definitely be pleased when he sees it.”
Wei Qingyu gave a slight nod. “Thank you, Teacher.”
Feng Yue smiled faintly. As she returned the tablet to Wei Qingyu, she raised a hand and gestured toward her own lips, signaling, “I noticed something was off the moment I walked in. What happened to your lips? You even covered it with concealer.”
Wei Qingyu instantly understood that Feng Yue had noticed the small wound on her lips. She feigned composure and replied, “It’s nothing, just a little accident.”
“Got scratched by the family cat, huh?” Feng Yue guessed casually.
Hearing this, Wei Qingyu paused slightly. But in her mind, an image of Ji Xiao from that day surfaced uncontrollably.
The scent of peach brandy wrapped tightly around her. That slightly cool qipao clung to her body, making her look just like a greedy, wild black cat.
She gently touched the wound on her lips, which had almost healed and scabbed over, a hint of secret sweetness gleaming in her eyes. "I guess so."
"Buzz... buzz..."
At that moment, Feng Yue’s phone, placed on the table, rang. The word "Wife" bounced joyfully with the vibration of the phone.
Feng Yue made a gesture to Wei Qingyu to signal that she would answer the call and then turned away to pick up the phone.
"Hello, Honey."
"Anything's fine, I’ll do whatever you say."
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm."
The light from above fell evenly on Feng Yue's face, and her light brown eyes shone brightly with love and adoration.
Wei Qingyu sat in the chair, watching, and the figure of Teacher Feng gradually transformed in her vision into Ji Xiao.
It was as if this moment right now was a scene from the future, a moment that would happen once she and Ji Xiao were together.
Or perhaps any moment at all.
But this scene didn’t last long. The next second, Wei Qingyu couldn’t help but feel a wave of shame rise in her heart.
What was she thinking?
She didn’t even know whether Ji Xiao liked her, yet she was already imagining what might come after...
She wasn’t sure if it was that kiss that unlocked another desire in Wei Qingyu’s heart, or if it was Aunt Wu’s words that planted another obsession.
Unconsciously, she found herself unwilling to hide her feelings anymore, wanting to be openly together with Ji Xiao.
Wei Qingyu looked at Feng Yue, who had just hung up the phone, and softly called out, "Teacher."
Feng Yue: "What’s wrong?"
Wei Qingyu awkwardly bit her lip, hesitated for a second, and then mustered the courage to ask, "How did you and your wife determine your feelings for each other?"
Feng Yue was quite surprised that Wei Qingyu, who usually had a cold demeanor, would ask such a question. "Why are you suddenly interested in matters like this?"
"It's just that I have a friend who's been troubled by this lately. She likes someone but doesn't know whether she should take the initiative or not."
The girl was only seventeen, still young.
Pretending to stay calm, Wei Qingyu lied. As she spoke, her gaze instinctively dropped.
"Oh... is that so?" Feng Yue immediately understood and sat back in her chair. "Well, I can tell you about it."
"Actually, it's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I was the one who confessed to my wife first. You know, I used to work as a project manager at a company, and she was one of my clients. We got to know each other more through frequent interactions, and we went from being ordinary client relations to friends. Then, during one of our dinners together, I confessed to her."
Wei Qingyu listened to Feng Yue's story, a bit surprised. "Aren't you afraid that after confessing, your relationship with her wouldn’t be the same anymore?"
Feng Yue thought for a moment, then shook her head. "At the time, I felt like she must have liked me, so I gathered my courage and confessed. Later, she told me that if I hadn't confessed, she was actually planning to confess to me herself."
"I think that must be a kind of manifestation of the compatibility between an Alpha and an Omega."
Wei Qingyu, upon hearing this, thought of the familiar scent of peach brandy she often smelled, and how she had sensed more than once the feelings from Ji Xiao's heart.
Her heart trembled with a vague excitement at the thought that she might be able to confirm the other person's feelings, but doubts and concerns also rose. "What if the Alpha is only acting because of the pheromones? What if it's just the Alpha's sensitivity during the susceptible period that drew her to my friend...?"
"Qingyu, compatibility and match are different. Compatibility is developed through everyday interaction and adjustment. Pheromones may confuse judgment, but they also hide the answer."
Feng Yue said, patting Wei Qingyu's shoulder. "Since the person your friend likes has already done this, maybe deep down, she also has feelings for your friend. Why not let her try?"
Wei Qingyu was slightly moved by what Feng Yue said. Just as she was about to speak, she lowered her head instead. "But, my friend isn't fully confident. What if their relationship is pushed back because of her actions? What should she do if things end up worse than before?"
"Why not just keep things as they are..." The girl was like a cautious snail, slowly extending her tentacles out into the road of heartache, uncertain and hesitant.
Usually, she was logical and rational, but now she lacked confidence. Her trembling tentacles, just as they had emerged, retracted back in.
Feng Yue pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. "So, how long will your friend wait to be fully certain? If you never knock on the door, you’ll never know if you’ll be met with cold stares or a room full of flowers."
"Qingyu, the future belongs to two people. No one can sit back and expect the other to do all the work. You have to throw your end of the line out. What if the other person throws theirs back to you?"
Wei Qingyu listened to Feng Yue’s words in silence, not offering a rebuttal, but also not agreeing.
She understood the logic, but the more she cherished something, the more afraid she was of losing it.
Standing in her barren, desolate heart, she gazed at the few fragile flowers that had managed to bloom.
Even if things remained as they were forever, she couldn’t afford to lose this sunlight.
Feng Yue looked at Wei Qingyu sitting across from her. The light from the window outlined her delicate profile clearly.
It suddenly occurred to her that the girl in front of her, who had mastered a vast amount of business knowledge in such a short time, was still just a seventeen-year-old child.
Feng Yue thought for a moment, then said, "Actually, I have a way to test this. It can let your friend figure things out without exposing herself, and see if the other person really cares or has feelings for her."
Wei Qingyu's eyes lit up as she listened. "What is it?"
"You can have your friend post something ambiguous on her Moments, like 'The weather forecast says there’s going to be a heavy storm today, but I forgot to bring an umbrella. So annoying.'"
"Sometimes, even without saying anything, actions speak louder."
As she spoke, Feng Yue flashed a particularly meaningful smile at Wei Qingyu.
Author's Note:
Pigeon: Capture Little Coward Ji Plan: 1/100!
Feng Yue: 2/100!
Cold Wei: Confiscated the tools of the crime (and secretly activated the shadow clone skill: 100/100).
