Behind the Mask - Chapter 31 [END]

Chapter 31: Extra

The spring breeze was warm and gentle as they walked into the backyard, Qingliu following by Yao San's side the entire way. Linglong Workshop wasn't large, but it was exquisitely and uniquely arranged, possessing a quaint, scholarly air.

"You live alone?" Qingliu asked. Aside from two or three maids and servants, she had never seen anyone else with Yao San.

"I do."

"What about your family?" Qingliu asked again.

"Those who left, left; those who scattered, scattered." Yao San looked back at her, speaking of her past without a ripple of emotion. "It's been just me for a long time now."

Qingliu was a little surprised. She had originally thought that someone with Yao San's innocent and carefree nature must be a pampered young lady who had never seen the hardships of the world. But it turned out that wasn't the case...

Yao San pushed open the door to a side room and turned back to Qingliu. "You can stay here from now on."

Qingliu's gaze swept around the clean and tidy room before finally landing back on Yao San's face. "I'm staying here?"

"What, you're not satisfied?" Yao San sighed with a strange, sarcastic tone. "Unfortunately, the rooms here aren't spacious enough. My apologies for the inconvenience, Your Ladyship."

Qingliu looked at her in silence, a sense of helpless resignation in her eyes, as if she wanted to say something but held back. Then, she smiled and said softly, "I'll stay in whichever room you want me to."

Yao San paused. She felt that Qingliu's smile was ambiguous, and her words sounded just as suggestive, letting one's imagination run wild—

Qingliu quickly added, "In that case, I'll stay in this room."

Yao San gave an absentminded "mhm."

Night fell, and another long night began.

After washing up, Yao San picked up the zither Qingliu had given her. Stroking the willow branch pattern that someone had carved by hand, she lowered her head and smiled happily. Unconsciously, her mind began to wander. It was Qingliu's first day staying here. She wondered if she should go over and check on her... offer a friendly greeting?

Somehow, though they had always been eager to be shameless with each other the moment they met, now that they had confessed their feelings, the two of them had become pure and reserved.

Yao San hugged the zither, staring blankly at the flickering candlelight, her mind completely filled with that woman. But now, being able to think about her without restraint was a kind of happiness in itself.

It wasn't until the sound of footsteps approached from outside that Yao San snapped back to her senses.

"Are you asleep?"

At the familiar voice, Yao San's heart began to pound. She casually smoothed her hair and got up to open the door.

The door creaked open.

Qingliu stood in the doorway, the cool moonlight happening to spill over her beautiful figure. Without a trace of makeup, her eyes and brows exuded a natural charm.

Once one recognized their own feelings, the fluttering of the heart seemed to grow even stronger. Yao San stared at Qingliu for a moment before asking awkwardly, "What is it?"

Qingliu blinked. "It's cold at night."

Seeing Qingliu's posture, Yao San suddenly understood. Instead of pulling her into the room, she feigned ignorance and said, "Just add a few more blankets, and you'll be fine."

A faint smile played on Qingliu's lips. Without another word, she swayed her hips and entered the room with graceful charm, walking straight toward the bed.

Yao San turned to look, only to see Qingliu lying down on her bed. She was on her side, staring at her, the curves of her body exquisite. Her pair of peach-blossom eyes were so alluring they could hook a person's soul.

A blatant seduction.

"Aren't you going to close the door?" Qingliu urged with a smile, then lowered her voice. "This is how I look. Do you want others to see?"

Yao San immediately shut the door. No one else could see Qingliu like this; only she could.

Qingliu just smiled, her overtly suggestive gaze fixed on Yao San, watching her approach from a distance.

Qingliu's provocative posture had Yao San completely hooked, her heart itching with anticipation. She had just sat down on the edge of the bed when Qingliu grabbed her hand, and the two of them lay down on the bed together.

They were face to face, so close that another inch would bring their lips together.

Being stared at like this made Yao San restless, but she remembered what Qingliu had said to her that day—that she was just looking for novelty and excitement. She restrained herself. How could she be that kind of shallow person who only coveted beauty?

Qingliu watched as Yao San turned over. No matter how she tried to entice her, she remained unmoved.

"Are you still angry about what I said that day?"

Hearing Qingliu bring it up, Yao San admitted with righteous confidence, "Yes." She wasn't petty, but when it came to matters of principle, she had to be particular.

Qingliu was now seeing just how fiery Yao San's temperament was. It was only natural that she would feel upset after hearing her cold sarcasm that day.

"I admit I was wrong, alright?"

Yao San was incredulous. The ever-haughty Qingliu was actually admitting her mistake in a soft voice? She turned her face, staring at Qingliu for a long while. She could barely suppress the smile at the corners of her lips, but she wanted to keep up the act a little longer.

As she turned back, Qingliu took the opportunity to wrap an arm around her waist and hold her, their faces touching.

Yao San finally broke into a smile. She looked at Qingliu with amusement. "Are you trying to coax me?"

Qingliu didn't deny it.

"With that foul temper of yours, you actually know how to coax people?" Yao San said in a low voice, growing more and more smug.

Qingliu let her talk, greedily holding her tighter. That day, when Yao San had gently hugged her, it had made her feel a sense of no longer being alone—a feeling that was unfamiliar yet welcome. But she had seen too many fleeting flings and simply didn't dare to believe in affection, which was why she had said those things to Yao San.

Being held by Qingliu like this, Yao San couldn't help but wrap her arms around her waist as well.

"Not angry anymore?" Qingliu asked.

"No," Yao San said, hugging her and greedily gazing at her face, but her words were still stubborn. "I'm not that easy to coax."

Qingliu smiled without a word. Her lowered gaze swept over the corner of Yao San's mouth before she pressed her lips against hers in a kiss.

Silence fell. Yao San subconsciously closed her eyes.

The kiss was gentle, a delicate, sweet suction.

When Yao San's heart pounded and she opened her eyes, she found Qingliu stroking her face, gazing at her intently. When they had kissed before, Qingliu had never looked at her with such tenderness.

Often, the gentler one was, the harder it was to resist.

"I'm not like you said I was before," Yao San still explained earnestly.

"I know," Qingliu replied just as earnestly, then continued to place kisses on the tip of her nose, the corner of her mouth, her lips—all accompanied by a gaze full of affection.

Yao San couldn't stand being looked at like that for a second longer and began to kiss her back.

They stroked each other's hair and faces, occasionally exchanging a look of tacit understanding before kissing again, repeatedly sharing breaths. A kiss after their hearts were connected could be so sweet it made one's head spin.

Yao San hummed, "Qingliu..."

She said it with her eyes closed, dazed. Qingliu stroked her hair. "Hm?"

"If you dare betray me..."

Qingliu found it amusing and leaned closer to listen, only to hear a fierce murmur:

"I'll bite you to death!"

Qingliu couldn't stop smiling.

Yao San continued to murmur, "My heart and my person are yours alone. You have to be the same with me."

Qingliu listened and placed a gentle kiss on her hair. "Alright."

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