Chapter 79: Temptation

Late night.
Qi Yu lay on one side of the bed alone, a literary novel in her hand, eyes fixed—as if absorbed.
A long time—not one page turned.
When the bedroom door opened sudden she jolted—almost dropped the book.
Jiang Ya in smooth silk—a slip dress, straps, hem just past the knee, a stretch of pale slender calf swaying with each step into Qi Yu’s sight.
Only after hanging laundry did she notice Qi Yu staring.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ya stopped, puzzled, even looked down at what she wore—nothing odd.
Qi Yu’s chest tightened—caught being improper—eyes dropped fast, lifted the book to hide her face. “Nothing… you finished work?”
“Mm, done. I usually shower after.”
“Oh…”
Talk ended. The room quiet—only Jiang Ya’s steps and the faint sound of her sitting on the bed. Qi Yu heard every bit too clear.
A second person in peripheral vision—Qi Yu swallowed, slid sideways without a sound, nearly at the edge—one more inch and she’d fall.
Bad luck—Jiang Ya stared at the gap between them, took her hand. “Move over—you’ll fall off.”
Qi Yu didn’t budge. “It’s fine. I’m closer to the lamp—easier to read.”
Clearly Jiang Ya stiffened beside her. “It’s almost midnight. Still reading?”
“Mm… a little longer.” Eyes on the book, fake flip.
Silence again.
Jiang Ya stared at Qi Yu’s face—half a minute—still unchanged, still still. Bit her lip, swallowed frustration.
A kind of defeat. Unwilling glance at the book.
Then she shifted—soft body inch by inch—knee against Qi Yu’s thigh, “accidental” rub—satisfied at Qi Yu’s deep breath.
Close to Qi Yu’s shoulder, chin almost on it—but left a sliver of space for imagination. Eyes on the page. Quiet: “What are you reading? That good?”
Qi Yu stiff as stone—still on the same page. This angle—Jiang Ya’s long lashes, even the fine down on her cheek in the light.
Qi Yu turned her neck stiff, breathed deep—full of her scent.
“A foreign classic. Okay. Almost done.”
“Really? You’re not turning pages.” Jiang Ya looked up sudden, brow arched. Glasses off—less reserve—something blatant in her eyes crawled into Qi Yu’s.
Qi Yu lost, met her eyes—drifted down instinct—lips parted—pressed shut.
Her heartbeat nearly burst her ears.
Embarrassing.
Not their first intimacy—they’d been “fully honest” how many times—seen what should and shouldn’t be seen—what was there to blush about?
Heart rate still climbing.
Faces heated by each other’s breath. Qi Yu breath messy—wanted to turn away—chin caught and turned back.
Jiang Ya close—brow knit, half blame half plea: “How long are you going to dodge me?”
“Tell me the truth—do you really mind?”
Qi Yu stared at her lips moving—mind elsewhere—mumbled: “Mind what?”
Jiang Ya startled, pulled back a little—hurt clearer in her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Every time I get a little close you run… Do you hate me touching you?”
“No.” Honest.
“Then why run?” Eyes on hers, word by word.
“I…” Mute. Book crumpling in her grip. Gave up—set it aside, half sat up, plain to Jiang Ya: “I just… I’m not used to it yet.”
“What would make you used to it?” Jiang Ya pressed. Slip neckline loose—one look and everything.
Qi Yu glanced—fast—looked away, down, sighed inside. “I don’t know…”
Silence fell.
No answer from Jiang Ya—Qi Yu wondered if she’d angered her. Their status wasn’t innocent—closeness made sense—yet she kept dodging—couldn’t cross that line in her head.
Apologetic look up—about to explain—Jiang Ya yanked the covers, straddled her waist in one move under Qi Yu’s stunned eyes.
Looking down, hand on her face, leaning in, voice blurred soft: “Like this? Can you accept it?”
Qi Yu’s eyes went from shock to deep. Dazed up at Jiang Ya—usually cool face—now just enough charm.
Enough to hook her.
She let Jiang Ya kiss her cheek—clumsy, still enough to stir what shouldn’t be named. Eyes half closed—when Jiang Ya pecked the corner of her mouth—muzzy: “What are you doing…”
“We’re… not together yet. This isn’t right?”
Jiang Ya paused—cupped her face, thumb on skin, already lost in it. Light tone, naked words: “After, we will be.”
Easy words—hit Qi Yu’s heart, brushed aside the wall she’d built.
Qi Yu only stiff a beat—smile slowly in her eyes. Took the hand on her face. Four eyes. “Teacher Jiang—what is this? Tempting me?”
How long since that title—Jiang Ya like another life. Pleasure and flirt at her eyes. Lazy, bewitching: “You can take it that way.”
One hand on Qi Yu’s chest. Hair swept aside. Body down gentle—eyes closed—found her lips accurate.
The moment lips met—strange. Qi Yu like a beginner, careful—soon the body remembered, passive turned active, one roll and positions flipped.
Qi Yu knew every weak point—one move stripped Jiang Ya’s mask, shame bare. Through thin fabric—heat—Qi Yu hadn’t moved and Jiang Ya already locked her down tight.
Qi Yu’s soft laugh—Jiang Ya ashamed, bit her lower lip in revenge—light as a feather.
Qi Yu took the punishment, no complaint—smile harder to hide. Skilled tease—soon lifted her hand deliberate, let Jiang Ya see crystal strung between fingers.
Wicked: “Your masterpiece.”
Jiang Ya one glance—face red—bit her lip, pulled Qi Yu’s neck down. “Shut up.”
Lips sealed again.
Qi Yu never dragged—tonight some stored restlessness—crashed into Jiang Ya’s soul, waves on waves, till Jiang Ya’s bones felt scattered, begging—still no mercy.
Jiang Ya’s body long untrained—couldn’t take the pace. Near three AM—collapsed, sobbed in exhaustion—tears kissed away—the storm finally ebbed.
Held a long time. Qi Yu tried to rise—Jiang Ya yanked her back.
“What?” Qi Yu stroked the flush still on her face, smiling. “I’ll get tissue… otherwise…”
Mouth covered before the rest.
Jiang Ya let go when she calmed, burrowed in the quilt, scolded: “Can you be serious…”
Qi Yu wronged, innocent: “I am serious. Isn’t it always like this? Uncomfortable to sleep otherwise.”
“Don’t say…” Voice mosquito-small. How could she say shameful things with a straight face?
Pinch Qi Yu’s waist—soft yelp—stroke after, look up. “Be serious.”
“I’m asking… what are we… now?”
Qi Yu blank a moment, held her, teased: “Didn’t you say—after, it’s settled?”
Stress on two words.
“So… are we back together?” Jiang Ya ignored the jab—water eyes on her—needing an answer.
Qi Yu stilled. Turned face to face. Deep look. Serious: “After all this—what do you think? I’m not someone who plays around.”
“Of course—I’m not irresponsible either.”
“Only responsible?” Eyes flicker—humble like a small thorn across Qi Yu’s heart.
Soft sigh—pulled her in—eyes closed—kiss on her hair. Low: “You have to ask? After so long—you still don’t know my heart?”
“…I believe you. I’m just… a little afraid. Like I can’t hold you.” Muffled in her arms.
Qi Yu caught one hand—fingers wove—ten tight.
Warm laugh in her ear: “Like this? Got me?”
Jiang Ya looked up—corner of mouth tugged.
Qi Yu gazed long—forehead to hers, low: “Truth—if I didn’t have you in my heart we wouldn’t be here.”
“Jiang Ya—I know my feelings. Like you—I don’t decide lightly. Especially… about you.”
Lashes down—fingers in Qi Yu’s hair—pulled her closer. “Then… do you regret it?”
“Regret what?”
“Regret being with me before. Regret coming back to this… Do you?”
Qi Yu lifted her eyes into Jiang Ya’s deep gaze. Thought. Sighed: “If I said not at all—that’d be a lie.”
“When we were apart—I regretted. More than once.”
“But regret doesn’t change it. It happened. Even back there—I might choose the same.”
“And that’s past. People look forward. That month away I wondered—forget you, or be proper friends… But…”
Sudden laugh—light smile. “Maybe it’s fate. That day you and Tang picked me up—first look—I knew… I couldn’t.”
“Maybe it’s fate.”
Helpless, fond—Jiang Ya’s heart went soft.
Buried in her neck—her scent—soft: “I don’t believe in fate.”
“I believe in effort.”
“Qi Yu—this time I’m the one who won’t let go… Do you blame me?”
Qi Yu’s lips curved. “Then I can only go along.”
“If I blame you… there is one thing now…”
“What?” Jiang Ya shot up from her arms, stared.
Hand down Jiang Ya’s long hair, spine, lips at her cheek: “You started it—and now you want to stop before we’re done. Shouldn’t you be punished?”
“You’re twisting words…” Scold—before the next line—a fierce kiss cut her off.
Gradually she melted—dropped reserve—yielded, pleased, matched Qi Yu.
Fine… the night was long anyway. Bodies and hearts both starved—for entanglement, why not till dawn?
May the years ahead—person beside person—love long.