After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 129
Chapter 129
There was a height difference between Yu Qingtang and Cheng Zhanxi, so the action of holding the earlobe wasn’t smooth. But the moment she looked up, Cheng Zhanxi cooperatively lowered her head.
Her sensitive ear was now in Yu Qingtang’s control. Cheng Zhanxi wrapped her arms around the woman’s slender waist, her forehead resting on Yu Qingtang’s shoulder, letting out a low hum from her throat, completely at her mercy.
Finally, Yu Qingtang gently bit and nibbled before letting go. She once again pinched Cheng Zhanxi’s chin with two fingers, examining her beautiful face.
Cheng Zhanxi’s face was flushed, her chest heaving dramatically, like the most vibrant peach blossom petals on a spring branch. Her aroused appearance was even more delicate and captivating than she had imagined.
“Do you like it?” Yu Qingtang asked, her slender, fair fingers slowly caressing the woman’s chin. The beauty mark at the corner of her eye echoed her upward-tilting eyeliner, like the hook of a scorpion’s tail, suspending Cheng Zhanxi’s heart in mid-air, with a scorching flame beneath.
“I like it,” Cheng Zhanxi answered immediately, her parted red lips revealing urgency and desire.
Yu Qingtang held her chin and, as she wished, kissed her forcefully.
A sigh of satisfaction escaped Cheng Zhanxi’s heart. She hooked her hands around the woman’s neck and responded with equal force.
Stumbling, they rolled onto the bed. Cheng Zhanxi pulled Yu Qingtang on top of her, grabbed her hand, and disregarded any semblance of a gradual progression. All she wanted now was for Yu Qingtang to become one with her immediately, fiercely.
But Yu Qingtang’s thoughts seemed to differ from hers.
Every cell in Cheng Zhanxi’s body felt the heat of the flame. A captivating red flush appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her neck arched back in a long, graceful curve. Yu Qingtang knelt beside her on one knee, took off the black hair tie from her wrist, and tied up Cheng Zhanxi’s long, disheveled hair. Cheng Zhanxi watched her movements with a fervent gaze, involuntarily bending her legs.
And then… Yu Qingtang sat up, leaving Cheng Zhanxi, who was like dry tinder just needing a spark, aside.
Cheng Zhanxi: “…”
Yu Qingtang touched the dampness at the corner of her eye, put her finger in her mouth, and tasted a salty wetness. She asked in confusion, “Why are you crying?”
Cheng Zhanxi wanted to cry even more. “It’s Xixi this, Xixi that, Xixi wants it but you don’t care.”
“What?” Yu Qingtang was puzzled for a moment before understanding, then chuckled.
She pulled Cheng Zhanxi up to sit with her. “Let’s talk about serious matters first. We’ll deal with other things later.”
Cheng Zhanxi, emboldened by the affection, especially after sensing Yu Qingtang wasn’t angry, pouted and acted a little spoiled, “I don’t want to talk about her.”
“We must,” Yu Qingtang’s attitude was firm.
Cheng Zhanxi very honestly succumbed to Jiejie’s assertiveness, wishing she could just lie flat immediately.
“Then you ask,” Cheng Zhanxi said obediently. After she answered, she could lie flat.
Yu Qingtang said, “Be serious.”
Cheng Zhanxi put on a demure and serious expression.
Yu Qingtang pinched her chin, and Cheng Zhanxi immediately broke into a smile, saying, “Don’t play with me.”
Yu Qingtang clicked her tongue inwardly.
The way she used that word.
Later, she would properly “play with” her!
The two calmed down for a while, reining in their emotions, before Yu Qingtang asked, “Do you hate her?”
Who?
Cheng Zhanxi took a moment to react, then shook her head. “No.”
Hate implied caring. She had never cared about Qi Sui, so how could she hate her?
“Then what do you feel about her?”
“Nothing much.”
“At lunch that day, when Auntie mentioned Qi Sui’s name, why was your reaction so strong?”
“I saw her twice before, in the parking lot and at the gallery, and ignored her. It was because she started targeting you and my mom that I got angry. So I asked Yu Jianxing for her number, wanting to resolve it quickly.”
“If your mom and I fell into the water at the same time, who would you save?”
“Save my mom, then die with you.”
A strange question seemed to have slipped in, but that wasn’t important. Yu Qingtang continued, “What did you two talk about in the cafe?”
“She asked if I ever liked her, I said no. She asked if we could still be friends, I said, ‘Have some shame,’ then I left.” Cheng Zhanxi summarized concisely. “Report to Commander, answering complete.”
Yu Qingtang nodded, and Cheng Zhanxi lowered the hand she had raised to eyebrow level.
Yu Qingtang reached out and pinched Cheng Zhanxi’s chin.
She seemed particularly fond of this gesture today, having done it no less than three or four times since entering the room.
Cheng Zhanxi tilted her face up, letting her appraise it.
Yu Qingtang carefully examined her features. If not for Qi Sui’s appearance, it would be hard to imagine that Cheng Zhanxi also had a less “clever,” even somewhat naive and easily deceived, youthful period. A bit of sympathy, a trap, and she was foolishly led by the nose, dragged into an abyss, almost ruining her life.
She believed that even without Yu Jianxing, Cheng Zhanxi would sooner or later have figured things out and actively broken free from that relationship. But a step earlier or a step later could perhaps make a world of difference. For a painter, lacking inspiration and being unable to paint is a terrifying thing. Perhaps if it had been a little later, she would have completely lost the ability to pick up a paintbrush, or even find her former self again.
Seven years later, would the Cheng Zhanxi she encountered still be the Cheng Zhanxi of now? Or perhaps, if the gears of fate had turned differently, she might not have met Cheng Zhanxi at all.
Cheng Zhanxi watched Yu Qingtang’s gaze flicker, then she felt her cheeks being pinched by the woman’s hand. Yu Qingtang in front of her let out a soft sigh, “Silly girl.”
Her eyes held both love and pity.
Cheng Zhanxi had long since stopped caring about this matter. Even in the year she learned the truth of the trap, when Yu Jianxing was cursing up a storm, she had merely thought to herself, “So that’s how it was.”
But with Yu Qingtang pitying her, cherishing her like this, somehow, years of accumulated grievances suddenly surged up uncontrollably, making her eyes rim with red, her voice choked as she said, “I didn’t know she was that kind of person either.”
Back then, not long after Cheng Zhanxi had rejected her, she received a distress call from Qi Sui one night. She rushed over and happened to see several men running away, while a nearly naked girl cowered in the corner. Anyone could tell what had happened. Cheng Zhanxi took off her own clothes to cover her and immediately wanted to call the police. Qi Sui wouldn’t let her; she was already reclusive by nature, and if this incident got out, she probably wouldn’t be able to go on living. Cheng Zhanxi helped her keep it a secret and took her home.
Qi Sui’s mental state was terrible. She attempted suicide several times while Cheng Zhanxi was away from home. Only when Cheng Zhanxi was by her side could she act like a normal person, even smile.
She was her salvation. This salvation became heavy shackles that bound Cheng Zhanxi, dragging her step by step into the abyss.
Looking back, Cheng Zhanxi thought that the other party’s acting skills back then were on par with her own now, perhaps even slightly superior. How could she have outplayed her?
Cheng Zhanxi looked on the verge of tears, truly pitiful and endearing. Yu Qingtang managed to keep a straight face and said, “Do you still dare to misuse your sympathy?”
Cheng Zhanxi wiped her tear-filled eyes and said, “I won’t anymore. Don’t I have you now? You’ll look after me.”
Yu Qingtang suppressed a laugh, her expression neutral. “Aren’t you an adult yourself? You need me to look after you?”
Cheng Zhanxi held up her left hand, showing her the diamond ring on her ring finger, like a child showing off candy to an adult, even though the adult had given her the candy.
Yu Qingtang made a gesture as if to reach for it.
Cheng Zhanxi quickly hid her hand, saying, “Don’t even think about taking back what you’ve given me!”
Yu Qingtang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Isn’t it just a diamond ring? Is it necessary to be this nervous?
Yu Qingtang pinched her chin again and said, “Little pitiful one.”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “I’m not a little pitiful one.”
Yu Qingtang asked, “Then what are you?”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “I am a fierce 0.”
Fierce what? What 0?
Yu Qingtang’s eyes were filled with bewilderment.
Cheng Zhanxi leaned close to her ear and explained the meaning of “fierce 0.”
Cheng Zhanxi encouraged her, “Jiejie is a fierce 1!”
Yu Qingtang: “…”
Jiejie might be a bit lacking.
Having finished their serious discussion, the two went to the bathroom to shower together.
Cheng Zhanxi, thinking she was about to be ‘eaten’ and knowing Yu Qingtang’s stamina, refrained from touching her, lest Yu Qingtang perform an on-the-spot falling asleep act. She showered obediently, her mind passionately playing a little movie, her gaze towards Yu Qingtang quite suggestive, making Yu Qingtang very nervous.
Maybe… they could do it later?
She actually wasn’t that eager to punish Cheng Zhanxi. After hearing the story, she felt even more inclined to dote on the little pitiful one.
But the crux of the matter was, punishment and doting were the same thing.
Yu Qingtang felt a bit like she was being forced into something she wasn’t ready for, especially when Cheng Zhanxi finished showering first and went out. When Yu Qingtang came out, drying her hair, she saw Cheng Zhanxi lying on the bed, her shoulders and neck snowy white, like an ancient imperial concubine awaiting the emperor’s favor.
Yu Qingtang wiped the sweat from her palms on the pillow and said, “I’m turning off the lights?”
Cheng Zhanxi tilted her head slightly, looking at Yu Qingtang sitting beside her, and said, “Will not being able to see affect you?”
Yu Qingtang: “N-no, it shouldn’t, right?”
Cheng Zhanxi buried her face in the quilt and laughed.
Yu Qingtang’s face flushed, and she switched off the light with a click. Now, even if her ears turned red, it wouldn’t be visible.
Yu Qingtang slipped into the quilt and lay down beside Cheng Zhanxi. Her eardrums throbbed, and in the quiet space, she could hear her own accelerated heartbeat.
In the dim light, she felt Cheng Zhanxi’s face turn towards her, looking at her. Yu Qingtang also turned her face, and their eyes met.
The air stilled for two seconds. Yu Qingtang’s fingertips brushed away the long hair from Cheng Zhanxi’s face, tucking it behind her ear. Her palm cupped Cheng Zhanxi’s cheek, and her lips pressed against hers, kissing her lightly or heavily, savoring her sweetness and fragrance.
To avoid any accidents, such as Yu Qingtang’s instinct to be the receptive partner kicking in, Cheng Zhanxi behaved with gentle compliance, not daring to take the lead in the slightest.
Yu Qingtang propped herself up on her elbow, hovering above Cheng Zhanxi, and lowered her head to kiss her again.
A top student’s learning ability is very strong. Yu Qingtang returned everything Cheng Zhanxi had done to her, back onto Cheng Zhanxi herself.
Cheng Zhanxi’s mind quickly lost its ability to think, large swathes of blankness.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Yu Qingtang’s forehead as she kissed her clumsily and carefully.
Cheng Zhanxi’s fingers gripped the pillow above, her fair knuckles bending into a beautiful curve. Her long hair lay scattered beside her, like a crumpled pool of spring water.
Yu Qingtang gradually found her rhythm, her kisses quickening…
Cheng Zhanxi couldn’t speak; the syllables she uttered became fragmented. The world seen through her eyes darkened for a long time before light slowly refocused in her pupils.
Yu Qingtang had climbed up and was hugging her again. Although she was the active party, she still seemed obedient and soft, evoking a particular sense of tenderness.
Cheng Zhanxi rested for a while, her fingers touching the sweat on Yu Qingtang’s face and forehead, and her moist, soft lips. Yu Qingtang unexpectedly opened her mouth and bit her index finger. Cheng Zhanxi let out a muffled groan.
Yu Qingtang nibbled her way delicately up along her knuckles.
Cheng Zhanxi’s scalp tingled, followed by an invisible electric current that surged from her fingertips through her entire body.
Yu Qingtang released her, licking her hand like a small animal.
Cheng Zhanxi closed her eyes, calming the electric palpitations in her heart. If Yu Qingtang continued to tease her like this, her heart would give out sooner or later.
Having rested enough, Cheng Zhanxi opened her eyes, preparing to receive the main course Yu Qingtang had prepared for her.
The appetizer was also delicious, but it was, after all, an appetizer. Her appetite was quite large.
Yu Qingtang’s left hand rose, stroking her cheek intermittently, and said meaningfully, “You don’t actually think you’ve passed just like this, without any punishment, do you?”
Cheng Zhanxi thought blankly: What?
Yu Qingtang also drew back her right hand and whispered close to her ear, “This is the punishment.”
Cheng Zhanxi: “…”
She was about to cry.
Yu Qingtang didn’t actually leave her hanging. She fed her another “appetizer,” relieving Cheng Zhanxi’s urgent need.
Yu Qingtang went to the washroom to wash her face and rinse her mouth, closing the door behind her. With the tap running, she panted, looking at her water-splattered face in the mirror, then at her hands resting on the sink. She reached for a tumbler, lifted it – it was very light, no problem – lifted and lowered it, lifted and lowered it, several times.
Feeling the slight soreness and fatigue in her wrist, Yu Qingtang furrowed her delicate brows.
Yu Qingtang sighed silently, opened the door, and returned to the bedroom.
Cheng Zhanxi was facing her, already asleep. A person who hadn’t even had appetizers, having had two meals in a row, found it very sleep-inducing.
Yu Qingtang climbed into bed, first glanced at the time, bit her lower lip, and then took Cheng Zhanxi’s wrist.
Cheng Zhanxi, half-asleep, satisfied Yu Qingtang once, cooperating with her experiment.
Yu Qingtang turned her head to look at the time displayed on the digital clock on the bedside table again. Her expression was complicated, and she fell into deep thought for a long time.
The air conditioner gently blew cool air.
When Yu Qingtang woke up in the morning, Cheng Zhanxi was not beside her pillow.
She checked the time; it was just six o’clock. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she yawned incessantly as she burrowed back into the covers, intending to sleep a little longer as usual. Just as she closed her eyes, something came to mind, and she sat up abruptly.
The first-floor gym.
Cheng Zhanxi was jogging on the treadmill as a warm-up. Her black tank top outlined her well-defined curves, the V-cut abs on her waist were sexy, and she breathed rhythmically with her running movements. Her long legs under the sports shorts were fair and straight.
The gym door was pushed open, and Yu Qingtang walked in quietly.
Cheng Zhanxi seemed to sense her and turned around. Yu Qingtang immediately put her hands behind her back, like a leader on inspection, and said seriously, “You continue, I’ll just look around.”
One side of the gym was glass, and the morning sunlight streamed in, brightly illuminating the room. The young woman’s figure on the treadmill by the window was slender and captivating.
Yu Qingtang found a seat nearby behind her and quietly indulged in her girlfriend’s beauty for a while, then raised her phone to take a picture of her.
Click—
Cheng Zhanxi smiled and looked back at her.
Click—
Yu Qingtang took another one.
After Cheng Zhanxi finished her warm-up and got off the treadmill, she asked her, “Are you planning to post it on Moments?”
Yu Qingtang shook her head. “To change my chat background.”
Cheng Zhanxi suddenly said, “What should I do?”
Yu Qingtang looked at her.
Cheng Zhanxi blinked. “My girlfriend is too good-looking; my chat background is different every day.”
Yu Qingtang couldn’t help but laugh.
“What else are you going to train?” Yu Qingtang composed herself and asked.
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Just some casual training, focusing on lower body or abs.”
Yu Qingtang raised an eyebrow, noncommittally.
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Do you want to try?”
“Try what?” Yu Qingtang walked around casually, pointed to a dumbbell in the equipment area, and asked with a composed expression, “What is that for?”
Cheng Zhanxi picked it up, lifted it easily with her arm, and said, “For training upper body strength.”
Yu Qingtang naturally reached out to take it.
Cheng Zhanxi dodged in time, smiling. “It’s too heavy, you can’t lift it.”
Yu Qingtang looked at her, disbelief written all over her face. Even if there was a difference in stamina between her and Cheng Zhanxi, it couldn’t be that big, could it? They were both women; if Cheng Zhanxi could do it, she could surely catch up with some effort.
Cheng Zhanxi read her expression, her smile deepening. “I’ll put it on the ground, you try to lift it.”
If she gave it to her directly, Cheng Zhanxi was afraid of pulling her arm muscles.
Yu Qingtang looked at the small, delicate-looking dumbbell on the floor, bent down, gripped the bar in the middle, and pulled hard—
The dumbbell didn’t move an inch.
Yu Qingtang took a deep breath, using all her strength, her fair face flushing red. The dumbbell had just lifted three centimeters off the ground when her slender arm began to tremble violently like a willow branch in the wind. After shaking for less than five seconds, the dumbbell crashed back to the ground with a thud.
Cheng Zhanxi initially wanted to laugh, but seeing her dejected face, she gently comforted her, “It’s okay, you’re not a fitness guru. Most girls can’t lift it.” There was a second part Cheng Zhanxi didn’t say: most girls also wouldn’t only be able to lift it three centimeters; Yu Qingtang’s stamina was ridiculously poor.
Yu Qingtang: “But you can.”
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. “That’s because I work out regularly.”
Yu Qingtang became unhappy.
Cheng Zhanxi was completely bewildered. Why was she suddenly competing with herself like this?
Yu Qingtang quickly realized she was being unreasonable and didn’t dare to say the real reason. She hooked Cheng Zhanxi’s chin and kissed her lips.
Cheng Zhanxi wasn’t angry at all. She lowered her head, resting her forehead against the woman’s, and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Yu Qingtang found it hard to say. Her eyes darted around, and her fingers clutching Cheng Zhanxi’s tank top strap revealed a hint of pleading.
Cheng Zhanxi released her. “Alright, tell me when you’re ready.”
Yu Qingtang said, “I’ll go out first. What do you want for breakfast? Red bean buns?”
A smile touched Cheng Zhanxi’s lips. “Yes.”
Making buns involved kneading dough, proofing, preparing the filling, and other processes, which took time. Just as Yu Qingtang finished kneading the dough, Cheng Zhanxi came out of the gym.
A warmth pressed against her back. Yu Qingtang looked down at Cheng Zhanxi’s hands wrapped around her waist. At the same time, a moist touch lingered behind her ear, reluctant to leave.
Yu Qingtang covered the dough with plastic wrap, and Cheng Zhanxi lifted her onto the kitchen counter.
Yu Qingtang sat there, her hands on Cheng Zhanxi’s shoulders, and asked with a slightly complicated expression, “Aren’t you tired at all?”
Cheng Zhanxi looked up and smiled. “Not tired.”
An almost imperceptible sigh came from above her head.
Cheng Zhanxi looked up again, puzzled, and said uncertainly, “Do you want me to be tired?”
Yu Qingtang couldn’t explain. Blushing, she pushed Cheng Zhanxi’s head down.
The red beans in the pot simmered with a soft, glutinous aroma.
Yu Qingtang gripped Cheng Zhanxi’s taut forearm, panting, “Turn off the stove first.”
Cheng Zhanxi lifted her down, freed a hand to turn off the stove, walked out of the kitchen, and placed the woman on the sofa.
…
Because of this delay, Cheng Zhanxi almost didn’t have time to eat breakfast at home. There wasn’t enough time to make red bean buns, so Yu Qingtang quickly stir-fried a small dish for them to have with congee, and then saw Cheng Zhanxi off.
Cheng Zhanxi was radiant, even the shadow of her car seemed full of vigor and vitality.
Yu Qingtang stood at the door, rubbed her own waist, went back to the sofa, pounded her legs, and then exercised her wrists, which hadn’t been useful and probably wouldn’t be of much use.
Heavy sighs from Yu Qingtang echoed in the living room.
Cheng Zhanxi sat in her office chair at the studio, and a message popped up on her phone.
[Yu Jianxing]: Good news?
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Yes.
[Yu Jianxing]: Congratulations, congratulations, dream come true.
Cheng Zhanxi, whose dream had half come true, was temporarily content and replied: 【Thank you.】
[Yu Jianxing]: How does it feel?
[Cheng Zhanxi]: How can I tell you this?
[Yu Jianxing]: I can share mine with you. We can exchange; you won’t lose out.
[Cheng Zhanxi]: I’d lose out terribly. You don’t have a fairy Jiejie.
And certainly not a fairy Jiejie with such amazing oral skills.
[Yu Jianxing]: [Chat history between Yu Jianxing and Yu Qingtang]
[Yu Jianxing]: And I was even helping you out all last night. Is this how you treat me?
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Grateful, sister, but principles cannot be compromised!
[Yu Jianxing]: Okay, I’ll just ask one thing: Is Teacher Yu a fierce 1?
[Cheng Zhanxi]: Absolutely, no doubt.
[Yu Jianxing]: [Drooling.jpg]
The two exchanged an ‘old driver’ emoji and went back to their respective work.
Yu Qingtang went to the Cheng family home and chatted with Song Qingrou while strolling in the garden. Song Qingrou said two consecutive sentences without getting a response from Yu Qingtang. When she turned to look, Yu Qingtang’s expression was blank, lost in thought about who knew what.
“Xiao Tang.”
“Xiao Tang?”
Yu Qingtang snapped back to reality, her gaze meeting Song Qingrou’s worried face. “Auntie.”
“What’s wrong with you? You’re so absent-minded today.”
“Nothing.”
Song Qingrou looked at her suspiciously.
Summer clothes were thin. Song Qingrou wore only a sleeveless top. From her shoulders to her forearms, her lines were firm, without a trace of excess fat. Her skin condition was well-maintained; one couldn’t tell she was over fifty.
A flash of inspiration struck Yu Qingtang, and she asked, seemingly casually, “Auntie, do you usually exercise?”
Song Qingrou tilted her chin up and said, not without a hint of pride, “Of course. Back when your uncle was still a weakling, I could take on three of him.” She smiled, then added, “Later, it wasn’t possible. He became obsessed with fitness and even trained the two children from a young age. Now, he and I can only use our mouths, not our hands.”
Hearing the phrase “only use our mouths, not our hands,” Yu Qingtang was almost overcome with sorrow. Her thoughts inevitably strayed a bit before she corrected them and asked, “What do you usually practice, Auntie?”
Song Qingrou said, “Yoga, horse riding, archery, or shooting. Then there are the regular programs. I have a private trainer who comes three times a week.”
Yu Qingtang tried to make her tone sound natural, with a hint of curiosity. “Can I join you, Auntie?”
A flicker of contemplation passed through Song Qingrou’s eyes before she smiled warmly. “Of course. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll have Lao Li pick you up.”
Yu Qingtang smiled shyly and said, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Song Qingrou took her hand and patted the back of it. “Why be so polite with Auntie? Come, Auntie will take you to eat something delicious.”
Right now, Yu Qingtang didn’t want to eat anything delicious. She just wanted to build up her wrist and arm strength as soon as possible, at least enough to last one time. She didn’t want to run out of strength midway and leave Cheng Zhanxi with a “memorable” lifelong impression.
That evening, when Cheng Zhanxi arrived at the Cheng residence for dinner, Song Qingrou, who was sitting on the sofa, scrutinized her with an indescribable gaze the moment she entered.
Cheng Zhanxi: “?”
Cheng Zhanxi glanced at Yu Qingtang. Yu Qingtang followed her gaze to Song Qingrou. Song Qingrou’s smile towards her (Yu Qingtang) was as warm as spring, but when she turned to Cheng Zhanxi, her expression was once again indescribable.
Before leaving, Song Qingrou pulled Cheng Zhanxi into the first-floor study, closed the door, and stared at her solemnly.
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. “Mom, don’t look at me like that, as if I’ve done something heinous.”
“Don’t tell me you think you’ve done something good?” Song Qingrou said, grief-stricken. “Be more restrained, look what you’ve done to Xiao Tang?!”
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