Chapter 33: The Rose Branch That Said, “Which Sister Do You Want to Call?”

Ye Jiayuan looked at her shining eyes, then let her gaze drop to her lips, where she was biting down gently.

Something in her head went quiet. Ye Jiayuan’s throat moved, and she kissed her again.

Fu Chaoying’s breath was stolen away; the itch winding through her heart only deepened. The only thing she could hear by her ear was the mingling of soft, wet sounds and their breathing. Ye Jiayuan’s fingertips traced lightly over the nape of her neck, teasing those especially sensitive nerves with the faintest touch.

Before long, Ye Jiayuan let go of her lips and tongue and slowly lowered herself, pressing soft kisses along her neck.

Fu Chaoying couldn’t help tilting her head back, only to feel a slight sting at her collarbone, followed by an unbearable itch——

Then Ye Jiayuan’s cool, hoarse voice said, “Wear a shirt tomorrow.”

She meant it as the best way to hide those love marks.

Fu Chaoying’s heart gave a sudden tremor. The words rose to her lips, but she couldn’t get them out; all that escaped her throat was a barely audible, “Mm..."

It was hard to tell whether she was answering that or something else.

Tonight, Ye Jiayuan seemed to have been affected by the alcohol too. The ironclad restraint she usually wore seemed to have cracked. When a certain metal clasp snapped open, both of them shuddered at once.

After a rustling flurry of movement, Ye Jiayuan’s lips and tongue came down again; the wet, warm softness wrapped around Fu Chaoying completely.

At some point, Ye Jiayuan’s other hand had come up too, but the sensation was completely different.

Fu Chaoying remembered that morning in the study, when she had also touched her while they were kissing. But there had been something between them then; it was utterly different from this real, skin-to-skin closeness.

A tingling numbness shot straight to her heart. Fu Chaoying couldn’t stop trembling again and again; her breathing grew faster and faster, and without meaning to, she tightened her arms, clinging more desperately to the neck beneath her hands.

Then she heard Ye Jiayuan laugh softly in sudden helplessness. “Xiaoying, I’m going to suffocate.”

Their mingled breath washed between them, stirring a fine shiver.

Fu Chaoying froze for a second and instinctively loosened her arms, only to be answered with a fierce suck that made her unable to hold back a soft moan: “Jiejie..."

Her voice was sweet and unsteady, carrying a hint of invitation.

“Don’t you like it?” Ye Jiayuan lifted her eyes to hers and asked deliberately.

It was clearly a question, but Ye Jiayuan seemed to know she would never say no.

Fu Chaoying’s eyes were misted over; her body trembled uncontrollably.

Another trace of doubt flickered through Ye Jiayuan’s mind, but Fu Chaoying’s voice pulled her back—“I like it... don’t leave..."

Fu Chaoying said it shyly, her face already hot to an unknown degree.

On a spring night thick with haze, those words were nothing less than a spark. The force between them deepened in two different ways, and some kind of craving rose again in Fu Chaoying’s chest.

Ye Jiayuan’s lips and tongue withdrew, only to tease lightly again. Just as Fu Chaoying thought she was about to move toward that place, she heard a faint mobile ringtone from next door.

Fu Chaoying’s body stiffened slightly, a strange disappointment rising in her heart. The next second, she hooked a leg around Ye Jiayuan’s waist.

Only to hear a helpless low laugh in the air. “Xiaoying.”

Fu Chaoying’s thoughts, sunk deep in the spring mist, were abruptly dragged back. All at once, her kiss seemed to slow and soften, and her breathing grew more restrained too.

Ye Jiayuan was still moving against her, yet it felt as if she were soothing that restless heart of hers.

Without any flourish, simply and purely, she kissed her.

Soon after, Ye Jiayuan kissed her lips again, lightly sucking at the tip of her tongue and circling it inside her mouth.

Then she let her go and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Half sitting on the bed, Ye Jiayuan looked at her with eyes that seemed faintly red, though more than that, they held apology.

Ye Jiayuan carefully fastened the metal clasp for her, then dressed her sleepwear one button at a time.

Fu Chaoying lay still on the bed, staring straight at her as if she wanted to see through her thoughts, but came up empty.

Before Ye Jiayuan could stand up, Fu Chaoying reached out and caught her wrist, asking softly, “Was it moving too fast?”

“Or are you afraid my cousin will find out?”

Fu Chaoying asked tentatively.

At that, Ye Jiayuan leaned down and pressed another kiss to her lips, with both apology and reassurance in it. “The first time shouldn’t have been when you were drunk.”

“Good night.”

Fu Chaoying watched her cool, restrained back as she left; her feelings were a mess. Only then did she suddenly understand why people always said, “What you can’t get is what keeps stirring your heart.”

Fu Chaoying got up to shower, but she still couldn’t wash away the itch hidden deep in her body.

Maybe it was the alcohol going to her head, or maybe something else; Ye Jiayuan’s abstinent air seemed to carry a certain natural allure.

It made her long for her; made her want to see her lose control in passion.

*

The next morning, Fu Chaoying was jolted awake by her phone vibrating.

Still half asleep, she picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Chu Yiyun: 【Baby, did you see Xiaoyuan’s partner?】

【What’s her personality like?】

【What does she look like?】

【And what’s her character like?】

A barrage of questions came flying over, as if Chu Yiyun had already assumed Fu Chaoying had met Ye Jiayuan’s mysterious “partner” last night.

Fu Chaoying didn’t know how to reply, so she simply took screenshots and forwarded them to Ye Jiayuan, adding: 【Jiejie, think about how you want to answer this yourself?】

After a while, she got a reply: 【Awake?】

Then another line: 【If you don’t answer, that’s fine.】

【Come out for breakfast.】

Three messages in a row; this was the first time Ye Jiayuan had ever sent her so many texts, aside from the time she’d sent over the property documents.

Fu Chaoying let out a helpless laugh, feeling as if she’d been firmly held in someone’s hand. She put down her phone and went into the bathroom to wash up.

But the moment she looked up into the mirror, she saw that ambiguous red mark on her collarbone.

Fu Chaoying’s cheeks heated slightly. She pressed her lips together and went to her suitcase to find a shirt, buttoning it all the way to the top so the strawberry mark was just covered.

Once everything was ready, Fu Chaoying gently opened the door, and before she even had time to see where Ye Jiayuan was, she heard movement from the bedroom next to hers.

“Morning, Xiaoying.”

A little tipsy really did help with sleep; today, Fu Chaohua looked especially refreshed.

Fu Chaoying greeted her with a smile. “Morning, jie.”

Fu Chaohua paused slightly, as if it had been a very long time since she’d heard her call her so intimately.

Ye Jiayuan came over from the balcony at the sound and gave the two sisters a slight nod. “Morning.”

Fu Chaoying looked at her cool, composed manner and also nodded lightly. “Morning, Jiajiao-jie.”

Ye Jiayuan glanced at her without comment, but got no response in return.

Fu Chaohua keenly sensed that the atmosphere between them seemed a little strange, though she also felt she might be overthinking it.

After all, the two of them always acted polite and distant in front of her, like a pair of social friends whose families had known each other for generations; it was hard to spot any real clue.

Could they have fought last night? But with someone like Jiajiao-jie... how could they possibly argue?

A WeChat call suddenly rang out, cutting off everyone’s thoughts.

Fu Chaoying picked up her phone and saw that the caller ID clearly displayed three words: Aunt Chu. Then she looked at Ye Jiayuan. “It’s Aunt Chu calling.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a slight nod.

Only then did Fu Chaoying answer, and Chu Yiyun’s voice immediately boomed from the other end—

“Xiaoying, have you eaten breakfast yet?”

Fu Chaoying curved her lips into a perfect smile and replied naturally, “Auntie, we’re eating right now.”

As she spoke, she handed the phone over, and Ye Jiayuan and Fu Chaohua each took turns greeting Chu Yiyun.

Seeing that there wasn’t a fourth person at the table, Chu Yiyun said with a smile, “Xiaoying, take me around Xiaoyuan’s new place after breakfast later.”

Even knowing the drunkard had no interest in wine, Fu Chaoying still obediently agreed, though she didn’t see her hang up.

As if afraid of missing some important scene.

Fu Chaoying, Fu Chaohua, and Chu Yiyun chatted casually. Not long after, they saw Ye Jiayuan stand up. “You two carry on; I’m heading to work.”

Fu Chaoying only said goodbye and didn’t pay much mind, but the next second she was suddenly wrapped in a faint white magnolia scent.

At some point, Ye Jiayuan had come to stand beside her, one hand resting lightly on the table, and said calmly toward the screen, “Mom, I’m going to work.”

Chu Yiyun didn’t notice anything unusual. “Go on, go on; take care of yourself.”

Fu Chaoying stiffened for a moment, only to find the warmth beside her already gone; Ye Jiayuan had headed for the entryway.

After breakfast, the two sisters took Chu Yiyun on a virtual tour of Ye Jiayuan’s new home.

The first floor had three bedrooms and a study; as for the second floor... this was also Fu Chaoying’s first time coming up here in Ye Jiayuan’s new home. There was a large suite with a walk-in closet, plus a gym and a lounge.

Chu Yiyun had never really cared much about the new house in the first place, and now that she hadn’t seen the person she’d wanted to see, she was even less interested. “Then have fun in Gangcheng.”

Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua obediently agreed. “Goodbye, Aunt Chu.”

Fu Chaohua said quietly, “Do you think the ‘partner’ Jiajiao-jie mentioned was just a cover, or is there really someone?”

Fu Chaoying chuckled and hooked her arm through hers. “Jie, why don’t you ask Jiajiao-jie? I want to know too.”

The two of them went downstairs; Fu Chaoying accompanied Fu Chaohua to Hong Kong City University to meet her research friend in person.

They had only ever discussed research by email, and had also missed each other at academic conferences several times; this was their first time meeting.

Fu Chaoying wasn’t interested in their research topic, so she found a café by herself to read.

She managed to resist the urge to chat with Ye Jiayuan, but still couldn’t help taking out her phone to check for new messages.

As expected, there was no new message from Ye Jiayuan; only a quiet one from Dong Muyu: 【Arriving in Gangcheng this evening; dinner?】

Fu Chaoying called Fu Chaohua again and got an affirmative answer from her, then replied to Dong Muyu: 【Okay, I’ll come with my cousin.】

The other side sent back an OK sticker.

Fu Chaoying’s lips curled, and she continued reading.

By evening, Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua arrived at the agreed location.

Dong Muyu was as capable and brisk as ever; when she saw the two of them, she was also quite talkative. Hearing that they had gone to Hong Kong City University that morning to meet Fu Chaohua’s research friend, she didn’t react much, only asking a few things: “How was the scenery at HKU?”

“What did you have for lunch? Was it good?”

“Send me the restaurant name.”

Dong Muyu was unusually normal, as if she had no curiosity at all about Fu Chaohua’s research friend.

Fu Chaoying couldn’t help doubting her own judgment and changed the subject. “Oh, Senior Dong, do you have a partner now?”

Fu Chaohua’s gaze followed hers and settled on Dong Muyu’s face.

Dong Muyu froze for a moment, then laughed. “How would I have time to date?”

After speaking, she skillfully shifted the topic. “President Ye looks busier than I am; does she have a partner?”

Fu Chaoying also smiled. “She said she does.”

Mentioning her again, Fu Chaoying glanced at her phone without seeming to; a new message lay quietly inside: 【Where are you? Want to have dinner together?】

Fu Chaoying replied: 【I’m eating with Senior Dong; ask me out next time, jiejie～】

It took a long while before the other side sent back: 【Mm.】

A trace of mischief flashed through Fu Chaoying’s eyes as she put her phone away.

After dinner, the few of them went citywalking together.

Fu Chaoying really liked walking around Gangcheng at night; of course, it would be even better if her girlfriend were by her side.

But today, she absolutely could not take the initiative and invite Ye Jiayuan to come along.

Once they parted with Dong Muyu, Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua got into the car.

Then Fu Chaohua suddenly asked, “What do you think of Muyu?”

It was a dangerous question.

Fu Chaoying thought for a moment before answering, “A pretty good senior.”

“She seems to be...”

Fu Chaoying shook her head. “Senior Dong is very talkative, and we didn’t really say much on the way.”

Mostly Dong Muyu and Fu Chaohua had been talking, discussing what had happened around them and the experiences they’d had after years of not seeing each other.

Fu Chaoying thought that when Dong Muyu had invited her to return to Nanda with her before, it had been to look for a collaboration. And looking for her to collaborate might very well have been for... her cousin.

But Fu Chaohua hadn’t made things clear, so naturally Fu Chaoying couldn’t stick her nose in.

So she tested the waters instead. “Senior Dong and I are just friends, but I feel like you two suit each other pretty well.”

Fu Chaohua lightly pinched her arm. “No way.”

That reaction was far too strange. Fu Chaoying chuckled and shook her head, seeing through it but saying nothing.

Come to think of it, she and her cousin had always been like this from childhood to adulthood; they were like friends, and whatever the other didn’t want to say, they might probe gently, but they always stopped where they should.

By the time the car pulled into the parking space, Fu Chaoying immediately spotted the Rolls-Royce that hadn’t been there that morning parked in the next spot.

Ye Jiayuan was home.

Fu Chaoying pressed her lips together and went upstairs with Fu Chaohua in the elevator.

When they opened the door, the lights in the living room were on. Fu Chaoying lowered her eyes to change her shoes at the entryway, when she heard a voice from the balcony——

“You’re back.”

Fu Chaohua had just finished changing her shoes. Seeing Fu Chaoying dawdling, she answered, “We finished dinner and took a walk afterward; we came back a little late.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a faint nod and said politely, “Sorry; work’s been busy, so I didn’t have time to keep you company.”

Fu Chaohua waved it off with a smile. “Jiajiao-jie has already taken very good care of us.”

Fu Chaoying also came over. “Yeah, Jiajiao-jie is so good to us.”

Hearing the last line, Ye Jiayuan looked at Fu Chaoying without a word, only to find her staring back with obedient, innocent eyes.

Then Fu Chaoying said, “Jiajiao-jie, we’re a little tired. You should rest early too. Good night.”

Ye Jiayuan nodded. “Good night.”

Fu Chaoying went back to her room to shower, blow-dry her hair, and do her skincare. When she lay down on the bed, she somehow felt a faint magnolia scent still lingering there.

Fu Chaoying got up and used her palm like a fan, fanning hard a few times, but it didn’t help.

Her hand, however, did ache.

Fu Chaoying sighed softly, then put Ye Jiayuan out of her mind and started using her phone.

She was deeply absorbed in browsing posts on Little Orange Book when a message from Ye Jiayuan suddenly popped up——【If x is odd, if x is even.】

Fu Chaoying pressed her lips together and replied: 【Asleep.】

Then, unconsciously holding her breath, she waited, but didn’t hear the door open. Instead, she received a message from Ye Jiayuan: 【Okay, good night.】

Fu Chaoying took two deep breaths, then closed the chat window.

No one knew how long it took before she finally fell asleep.

*

Early the next morning, they finished breakfast as usual, and Ye Jiayuan went out to work as always.

Fu Chaoying, Fu Chaohua, and Dong Muyu met up.

Fu Chaoying tactfully found an excuse to go look at an exhibition, then joined them again at mealtime.

At lunch this time, Fu Chaohua and Dong Muyu were indeed much more familiar with each other; the faintly awkward, subtle atmosphere from before was gone.

Fu Chaoying watched this and suddenly felt genuinely happy for Fu Chaohua.

Otherwise, she’d always thought... her cousin was asexual.

She had seen too many examples of people who became pure-hearted and desireless after getting a PhD.

Fu Chaoying ate quietly, saying the occasional timely sentence so the two of them wouldn’t think she was being deliberate.

By afternoon, Fu Chaoying had a proper reason: she needed to visit an oil painter currently in Hong Kong.

It was a contact introduced by her aunt; the appointment had already been made before she arrived in Hong Kong, including the time and place.

By the time she reached the café, Fu Chaoying finally received a message from Ye Jiayuan: 【What are you doing?】

Fu Chaoying snapped a photo of her coffee and sent it over. 【Waiting for the artist my aunt introduced.】

The reply came quickly: 【Then shall we have dinner together tonight?】

Fu Chaoying: 【I already made plans with my cousin and the others TT】

The “others” naturally referred to no one else—Fu Chaoying’s new friend, Dong Muyu.

Ye Jiayuan’s fingertip hovered above the screen for a few seconds before she lowered it and typed: 【Okay.】

The person she was waiting for arrived, so Fu Chaoying put her phone away.

The other party’s contract with another company was just about to expire, and Fu Chaoying had arrived at exactly the right time.

The two sides talked very happily. After hearing that Fu Chaoying also painted oils, the other party couldn’t help being surprised: “You’re saying you not only paint in ink wash, but also do oil painting?”

Fu Chaoying showed her a few of the pieces she’d painted recently, and received an even more astonished response: “Oh my god, how do you paint even better than me?”

Fu Chaoying naturally knew the other woman was being modest and smiled lightly as she praised her back.

That evening, they had dinner as planned. Dong Muyu and Fu Chaohua both asked about her afternoon.

Fu Chaoying answered truthfully, and they both laughed.

It had been a long time since Fu Chaoying had seen Fu Chaohua laugh so freely; for a moment, she felt her own mood lift too.

After a simple dinner, and after they finished their walk, Dong Muyu brought it up as if casually: “It’s still early; how about we go have a drink?”

This was exactly what Fu Chaoying wanted, but then Fu Chaohua immediately agreed.

A hint of interest flashed through Fu Chaoying’s eyes, and she casually said yes too.

Dong Muyu knew this side of town well and soon took them to a bar.

Inside, the noise was deafening; Fu Chaoying subconsciously slowed her steps, but then Dong Muyu said, “It’s fine; I’ll take you upstairs to the VIP private room. It’s very safe.”

Only then did Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua follow her up another elevator on the side.

Once they entered the room upstairs, they could see what was happening below—a crowd of women of all kinds dancing hotly.

Fu Chaoying only then realized this was a lesbian bar.

She withdrew her gaze without a word and ordered a few drinks at random.

After placing the order, she got another message from Ye Jiayuan: 【What time are you coming home?】

Fu Chaoying’s eyes curved as she waited for the drinks to arrive, then sent Ye Jiayuan a photo with the caption: 【I don’t know, jiejie.】

Fu Chaohua and Dong Muyu were chatting, not noticing Fu Chaoying drinking so much she was practically gulping it down; by the time she slumped onto the table, the two of them finally noticed.

Fu Chaohua and Dong Muyu exchanged a look, then looked away without a trace.

Dong Muyu said, “Is she drunk?”

Fu Chaohua looked at the two empty glasses and couldn’t help frowning in confusion. “Only two drinks...?”

In her memory, Xiaoying’s tolerance shouldn’t have been so low that two glasses would do this.

Fu Chaohua was discussing with Dong Muyu what to do when her phone suddenly rang; the screen clearly displayed: Jiajiao-jie.

Dong Muyu drew the soundproof curtain shut, and the private room instantly grew quieter.

Fu Chaohua answered on her cousin’s behalf, only to hear a low voice come through at once: “Xiaoying, which bar are you at?”

Fu Chaohua didn’t have time to think and only called out, “Jiajiao-jie, Xiaoying is drunk; we’re in...”

Before Fu Chaohua could finish, she heard Fu Chaoying murmur, “Senior Dong, Muyu-jie, cheers...”

Her voice wasn’t soft in the quiet private room, and it reached Ye Jiayuan’s ears clearly.

Then, just as Fu Chaohua was about to speak, the cool voice on the other end sounded again: “Address.”

A concise, crisp sentence.

Fu Chaohua handed the phone to Dong Muyu and asked her to give the address.

Dong Muyu was hung up on by the other end and paused slightly. “President Ye is in quite a hurry.”

Fu Chaoying’s eyes were curved with amusement. “Jiajiao-jie is very good to us; she’s just worried about Xiaoying.”

Not long after, Ye Jiayuan arrived in a hurry, walking straight to Fu Chaoying’s side and giving the two of them a slight nod. “You keep having fun; I’ll take her back first.”

Fu Chaoying let Ye Jiayuan support her as they walked out, her lips pressing together almost imperceptibly.

But the moment the private room door closed, she was lifted into Ye Jiayuan’s arms.

Magnolia scent flooded over Fu Chaoying’s entire body; familiar and overbearing, it seemed determined to wrap her up from head to toe.

A trace of amusement flashed through Fu Chaoying’s eyes, but unlike usual, she did not loop her arms around Ye Jiayuan’s neck.

The instant she was carried into the car, Fu Chaoying was just about to tease her with, “Dong...”

She only got out one word before her lips and tongue were blocked; Ye Jiayuan’s tongue pushed straight in to pry open her teeth, sucking hard with unmistakable punishment in it.

Then Ye Jiayuan bit lightly at the tip of her tongue and asked against her lips, “Which sister do you want to call?”

Her voice was low, carrying a faint, ambiguous roughness.

Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat skipped sharply. She suddenly opened her eyes and saw in Ye Jiayuan’s gaze a blatant, never-before-seen aggression, and a hunger for her.

————————

Little sister is going to cry