Chapter 27: Talk About Love 

Upon hearing Xiao Moyan's words, tears fell from Xia Lingying's eyes like beads on a broken string. She covered her mouth with her right hand, forcibly suppressing the cry from her heart, her body trembling, leaning back weakly on the steam chair. She tightly closed her eyes, no longer willing to argue with Xiao Moyan.

What was there left to defend? The truth was right in front of her. In Xiao Moyan's heart, she was ultimately a woman who could forsake everything for fame and fortune. She should have known this outcome long ago... But why did her heart still ache so much? Why were the tears incessant? She had sworn not to shed a tear for this woman again, but her tears were all given to Xiao Moyan in the end. Yes, Xia Lingying had used Xiao Moyan's love and Xiao Moyan's power to help her father return to the country early, but she had no choice... If she could choose, she would rather never have met Xiao Moyan and would never choose to hurt her... Since the day she admitted to herself that she truly loved Xiao Moyan, her heart could no longer accommodate anyone else. Xiao Moyan was her pride, and she always believed that, no matter what setbacks or hardships they faced, Xiao Moyan would love her steadfastly, love her passionately. Even in her most helpless, most vulnerable moments, Xiao Moyan would surely stand by her side and protect her.

She loved Xiao Moyan. Since the day Xiao Moyan shed tears for her, she had understood completely... She no longer wanted to deceive her feelings, but how could she love openly with the lingering family feud between them? How could she watch her father, who had raised her with hardship, grow older and still be running around in exile...

Despite all this, she had never doubted their love. Xiao Moyan's kindness to her was something she had experienced firsthand. But now... Why did that person have to shatter her only pride with her own hands, and what else could be said?

The muffled sound of Xia Lingying's crying echoed in the enclosed and damp bathroom, suppressed and mournful, whipping Xiao Moyan's heart like a long whip. Xiao Moyan regretted her words already, looking at her with sadness. After a moment, Xiao Moyan took a few steps forward, reaching out to wipe away the tears from her face. However, that hand, meant to express apology, remained suspended in mid-air, before eventually sliding down weakly along her leg.

With a long sigh, a soft female voice emanated from Xiao Moyan's lips.

"Don't cry──"

There was no response whatsoever. Xia Lingying continued to sob uncontrollably, her body shaking more violently. Xiao Moyan watched, heart aching, unable to help herself. She took two steps back, opening her mouth to say something, but her once eloquent tongue was rendered ineffective in the face of Xia Lingying's tears. Xiao Moyan shook her head in frustration, sitting on the ground in just her thin nightgown. A chill rose from beneath her, causing her to shiver involuntarily, but she paid it no mind. She didn't want things to continue like this. Why did two people who loved each other have to hurt each other? Wasn't it just a matter of pride? Wasn't it just wanting the other to admit defeat first? What's the point of talking about pride when love hasn't even been obtained?

With her head bowed, Xiao Moyan hugged her knees and whispered slowly, "Xiaxia, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to say those things to you, but I don't know why, every time something related to you comes up... I lose all rationality..."

When had Xiao Moyan ever shown such weakness and humility to others? With a slightly aggrieved tone, Xiao Moyan's words floated into Xia Lingying's ears, causing her shoulders to tremble. She stopped crying but still didn't speak.

"From childhood to now, I've never loved anyone. I've always enjoyed the feeling of being pampered and pursued by others. No one has ever dared... dared to treat me like this... You're the first."

As she said this, Xiao Moyan's pale cheeks flushed slightly pink. She buried her head in between her legs, her beautiful eyebrows furrowing as she muttered childishly, "It's not my fault for being angry! No one has ever dared to yell at me like that. And not only that, you even dared to slap me back! In the past... when arguing with others, I would always say all the nasty things I had in my stomach to mock the other person until they had to bow their head in defeat before I would stop. I never thought there was anything wrong with that, so it was the same with you... but..."

"But what?"

Xia Lingying suddenly lifted her head, her eyes still tinged with red, staring intently at Xiao Moyan. Gone was the hostility from before, replaced by a sharp inquiry. She was truly filled with anger now. Xiao Moyan's basketful of words seemed to be telling her that she had always had a princess-like temper since childhood, so she should stop provoking her, right?

Xia Lingying bit her lower lip, staring unwaveringly at Xiao Moyan. Under her gaze, the usually thick-skinned person actually blushed, looking somewhat flustered as she quickly averted her gaze, hurriedly hiding her head between her bent legs, afraid to look at her.

Xia Lingying couldn't help but smile as she looked at Xiao Moyan. She had seen the domineering, stubborn, furious, and unruly Xiao Moyan before, but this awkward little woman in front of her, who looked like she was experiencing her first love, was something she had never seen before.

Xia Lingying wasn't in a hurry. She patiently waited, her gaze fixed on Xiao Moyan. The once clear and sharp eyes were now filled with tears, slightly swollen. Under the orange light, stripped of her usual glamorous attire, Xiao Moyan's bare skin was envy-inducing. Her shoulders, exposed from the recent tussle, were as translucent as finely carved white jade, emitting a tempting rosy hue like rose petals under the misty steam. Xia Lingying's face flushed as she looked at her, feeling a warm sensation rising from her abdomen. She quickly averted her gaze, lowering her head in embarrassment, her heart pounding intensely.

It turns out, it wasn't just Xiao Moyan who had desires, she herself was no exception?

Unaware that her beauty had successfully tempted Xia Lingying, Xiao Moyan, still with a slight frown, was tangled up in how to express what she wanted to say. After a while, she raised her head and finally, somewhat awkwardly, spoke up.

"Then I went to ask Mrs. Xu what was going on..."

Xia Lingying paused for a moment, struggling to catch up with Xiao Moyan's disconnected thoughts. She didn't ask further, knowing that if it involved Mrs. Xu, it couldn't be anything good.

But Xiao Moyan suddenly lifted her head, the blush on her face not yet faded, yet her bewitching eyes began to sparkle again. With a soft voice, she spoke firmly,

"She said—I really fell in love with you."

The long-awaited phrase "I love you" was finally spoken by Xiao Moyan, albeit under Mrs. Xu's name. There was no expected joy. Xia Lingying's heart trembled, her usual calm demeanor replaced by a moment of panic and evasion. Even in those brief seconds, Xiao Moyan's sharp gaze captured every nuance. With a wounded expression, Xia Lingying shook her head in self-deprecation, no longer meeting Xiao Moyan's eyes. Lips pursed, she lowered her head, and once again, both of them fell into the whirlpool of silence.

"Why?"

After a long pause, Xiao Moyan, who had straightened up, spoke slowly. With arms crossed over her chest, she reverted to her initial aloofness, glaring at Xia Lingying with undisguised reluctance. She had already cast aside all dignity, humbled herself beyond measure, and poured out all the words she had kept bottled up inside. Why? Why was Xia Lingying still evasive? Was all of this truly just her own wishful thinking, or... as Hu Feifei had suggested, did she──never truly love her at all?

Xia Lingying didn't answer her, still frowning and lowering her head.

"Don't you love me?"

Xiao Moyan didn't give her any time to evade. She bombarded her with questions, her voice gradually rising, carrying a hint of oppression, her expression growing colder.

After a while, Xia Lingying slowly lifted her head and looked at Xiao Moyan. In the past, whenever Xiao Moyan crossed her arms over her chest, it meant something was bothering her. It was a complete defensive posture. Xia Lingying shifted her gaze upwards and saw a face filled with frustration and exhaustion. Her heart ached, and she spoke softly, her voice ethereal and sorrowful.

"How could I not have feelings for you? But... we, we can't be together..."

"Why not?"

Xiao Moyan took a few steps forward, standing next to Xia Lingying, and looking down at her. Xia Lingying's earlier words had taken Xiao Moyan on a rollercoaster ride between heaven and hell. She really didn't understand Xia Lingying. Why did she always worry so much? Love was love, was saying it going to kill anyone? Always fussing about this and that, it was just annoying!

Xia Lingying didn't look at her but turned to gaze at the green ancient-style tiles in the bathroom, her eyes unfocused.

"Even if we love each other, what then? Can you really cast aside the deep hatred from losing your mother? If we really got together, how would you face my parents? And how should I treat Xiao Nian? Xiao... have you ever thought about..."

Unexpectedly, Xiao Moyan seemed to anticipate her question, raising an eyebrow and saying bitterly.

"In the end, you just can't let go, you just don't love me enough! Why do you have to worry about so much when two people love each other? Someone like you will never get true love! I've tried so hard to persuade you, but in the end, your heart is still filled with family hatred, with Xia Ran! Xia Lingying, I ask you, how much space do I, Xiao Moyan, occupy in your heart?"

After saying this, Xiao Moyan's slender beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, staring at Xia Lingying without blinking, determined to get an answer from her.

Xiao Moyan's sudden and intense pressure left Xia Lingying momentarily unable to digest it. She stumbled over her words, unsure of how to respond.

In the standoff, Xiao Moyan's hopeful heart gradually cooled, once again feeling the taste of disappointment. She sighed, looking at the hesitant Xia Lingying, and shook her head.

"Here we go again, Xia Lingying, you're always like this! Is it really that difficult just to know your feelings?"

After speaking, Xiao Moyan coldly turned around to leave, about to reach for the bathroom door. Xia Lingying bit her lip tightly, Xiao Moyan's words echoing in her mind. Yes, why should love care about so much?

Just as Xiao Moyan was about to leave, she suddenly felt a tightness around her waist as she was forcefully embraced. Her body stiffened, feeling the smooth skin of Xia Lingying's face gently rubbing against her neck. Xia Lingying held her tightly, her embrace causing pain to Xiao Moyan's waist. After a while, Xia Lingying's soft voice, like a cat's, drifted into her ears.

"Xiao... don't go..."

Xiao Moyan took a deep breath, turned around, and hugged Xia Lingying tightly.

Her hands locked her tightly in her embrace, while her chin gently rested on the soft strands of Xia Lingying's hair, lightly caressing them. Xiao Moyan lovingly kissed Xia Lingying's sparkling little ear.

Xia Lingying's tears flowed even more fiercely, inexplicably overwhelmed by Xiao Moyan's sudden tenderness. She choked up, unable to speak a coherent sentence, but hugged Xiao Moyan back with all her strength, as if drawing courage from her. Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms tightly around Xiao Moyan's slender waist, letting her tears wet her neck.

"Why are you crying again..."

Xiao Moyan softly inquired, unaware that tears were streaming down her own face as well. Her hand instinctively lifted Xia Lingying's delicate chin, gently wiping away the remaining wetness on her cheeks with her fingertips. A faint electric current spread throughout her body as Xiao Moyan's touch spread, causing Xia Lingying's rosy cheeks to blush slightly. The ambiguous and intimate atmosphere intensified as the fragrant scents of their bodies mingled in the bathroom. Lost in the sight of Xiao Moyan attentively wiping away her tears, Xia Lingying momentarily drifted off...

Can we really be together like this?

Without giving Xia Lingying much time to think, Xiao Moyan's domineering kiss followed immediately. Her chin was pinched up, and their lips met with a soft, slightly cool touch. Despite the thin layer of clothing between them, the temperatures of their young bodies began to rise, heating up the space between them. This kiss released all the pent-up desire in Xiao Moyan's heart. Her teeth ravaged Xia Lingying's lips, while Xia Lingying's tongue timidly retreated, only to be further teased intensely. Their lips and tongues tingled with a slight numbness and pain from their intense entanglement, as their breaths became erratic and mixed with desire.

As the mist in her eyes surged, Xia Lingying felt overwhelmed by the unfamiliar desire enveloping her. All her rationality was drained by Xiao Moyan's kiss, and the strength in her legs gradually diminished, unable to support her weakened body. Looking up with pleading eyes, she murmured to Xiao Moyan:

"Xiao, we can't... I..."

Xiao Moyan ignored her, continuing her deep kiss and increasing the pressure on Xia Lingying's hands even more. With a swift turn, Xiao Moyan pressed Xia Lingying against the cold tiles of the bathroom, almost the entire weight of her body bearing down on Xia Lingying. The two were pressed together without the slightest gap. The cold hardness behind and the scorching heat in front stimulated Xia Lingying's sensory nerves. Her hands instinctively grasped and pulled at random to support herself, skin rubbing against skin through their clothing, waves of heat swirling around, their slightly disheveled and hurried breaths instantly enveloping each other, carrying a gradually thickening and ambiguous fragrance... Where her haphazardly grasping palms touched was a burning sensation, causing Xia Lingying to momentarily freeze. Inadvertently, she lifted her gaze, catching the shimmering glints in Xiao Moyan's eyes, a small cluster of dark fire gradually rising, faintly flickering. The normally deep black depths of her eyes seemed even darker and more luminous than ever before.

"Xiao, I..."

Whispers resembling cries escaped from Xia Lingying's lips as Xiao Moyan gasped heavily, her gaze entirely drawn to the softness beneath her. The delicate snow-white peaks, tightly encased in pink-purple lace lingerie, displayed impressive curves and deep crevices. Xiao Moyan lowered her head, completely absorbed in her observation, paying no attention to Xia Lingying's already flushed cheeks.

Author's Note:

Who dares to say that Yezi is a stepmother* Isn't this intimate enough?

*slang for writers who like to write dramatic/tragic stories, torturing, abusing the protagonists, etc. making readers cry 

Young ones really don't know how painful it is for a single man to write this. Don't be a bully, shower some flowers!

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