The next morning, Qin Yu was tossing and turning in bed.
"I don't want to go to work."
There were many reasons she didn't want to go: she hated her job, hadn't slept enough, felt overwhelmed by stress, was simply lazy... But none of these were the main reason.
The main reason was—she had kissed her employer, Lady Ningguang, the Tianquan, yesterday.
And it seemed they had done it multiple times.
It felt so good... No! It felt terrible! It was also comfortable... Liar! It wasn't! Ningguang is truly beautiful... That much is true. That dress left a lasting impression.
I wonder if I'll even see her today...
Qin Yu smacked herself with a pillow.
"What are you even hoping for?!"
With deadpan eyes, Qin Yu sprawled across her bed in a starfish position.
She felt utterly exhausted first thing in the morning.
Should I just call in sick today? No, she'd still have to see Ningguang to request leave.
It wasn't so much that Qin Yu didn't want to go to work; she just didn't want to see Ningguang right now.
But skipping work would only make things even stranger.
Ningguang had claimed yesterday's encounter was merely a master-servant intimacy. What kind of master-servant relationship involves... Wait, aren't stories of masters seducing their maids actually quite common? Oh, right!
Qin Yu grabbed her pillow and began pounding her head with it, muttering, "Stop thinking about it!"
Recalling Ningguang's soft, sweet whispers as their breaths mingled last night, Qin Yu's heart raced. She couldn't help but wonder: Ningguang must really like women, right? Otherwise, she wouldn't have kissed me.
Keqing and Hu Tao are like that too... Why are all the women around me like this? I'm not like that, and I never will be! Is this what they mean by "opposites attract"? Qin Yu buried her face in her pillow.
A hazy speculation surfaced in her mind.
Could it be that they... hmm... no, better not dwell on that now. It's too soon to confront such a question when I haven't even revealed my true self yet.
After all, they might just turn on me later.
Qin Yu's thoughts shifted at that moment.
But what if it's the complete opposite? What would I do then?
Qin Yu pondered distractedly, but couldn't reach any solid conclusion.
As for her feelings, she didn't want to be disliked, nor did she want to sever ties with them. She even hoped to be liked. It feels like I'm being too greedy.
A lingering memory of the satisfaction from their kisses surfaced, stirring a subtle longing within her.
Qin Yu couldn't resist pressing her lips to her pillow.
Snapping back to reality, she clutched her head, frustrated that she couldn't shake these thoughts. The more she tried to resist them, the deeper she seemed to sink into this mental quagmire, fueling her agitation.
"Ugh, this is so annoying!" Finally reaching her breaking point, Qin Yu hurled her pillow against the wall in frustration.
-
In the end, she still found herself at Yujing Terrace.
Qin Yu, dressed in another set of the same purple-black attire she'd worn the previous night, glanced up at the sky.
The thought of meeting Ningguang again made her uneasy.
Maybe I should just call in sick? Wait, I could ask Baiwen and the others to pass on a message for me!
Perfect.
Qin Yu began mentally calculating her plan, searching for the figures of her three Seniors.
"Miss Baiwen and the others? They've gone out on business and won't be back for a while," a Yuehai Pavilion Secretary informed her.
Is the heavens conspiring against me...? Qin Yu thought, despairing. After a moment of deliberation, she resigned herself to her fate and reluctantly headed to Ningguang's chambers.
She took a deep breath.
"Lady Ningguang, are you awake yet?" Qin Yu asked, feigning composure.
"Just getting up now..."
A slightly husky voice sounded from within, indicating Ningguang had only just roused herself.
"Come in."
Startled, Qin Yu stammered, "M-me? Um, is something wrong?"
"Hmm? Just the usual request to help with my hair. Why do you ask?"
Why do I ask? Qin Yu thought irritably, but also with a sigh of relief. Does Ningguang not care at all about last night's kiss?
As usual, nothing seemed amiss.
If Ningguang had undergone a sudden personality shift and started spouting strange remarks through the door, Qin Yu would have found it even harder to accept.
She pushed open the door to Ningguang's bedroom.
Though the room's layout and decor differed from her chambers in the Jade Chamber, Ningguang's distinctive aura still permeated the air. This made Qin Yu's expression slightly awkward, her body tensing slightly.
"Good morning, Qin Yu," Ningguang greeted her from where she sat on the bed.
Seeing Ningguang still in her loose-fitting pajamas, Qin Yu hastily averted her eyes. "Good morning," she replied.
A quick glance.
Ningguang caught Qin Yu's furtive glance and smiled faintly. "Is there something about me that's caught your attention?"
"No."
"So, you're saying I hold no value that warrants your attention?" Ningguang teased.
"That's not what I meant," Qin Yu said, flustered.
Ningguang nodded. "I understand. I was just teasing you. Don't take it to heart. Now, come help me brush my hair."
Brush it yourself.
Once Ningguang settled before the vanity, Qin Yu picked up the comb.
As she brushed Ningguang's long, white hair, Qin Yu covertly observed her expression. Seeing her composure and normalcy, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Ningguang remained completely oblivious to the rollercoaster of emotions Qin Yu was experiencing.
Ningguang gazed at her reflection in the mirror alongside Qin Yu, savoring the lingering memories of last night's whispered words and the soft warmth of their lips.
So it wasn't a dream after all, Ningguang mused.
If the events were real, then the emotions must be too.
Ningguang's gaze shifted slightly to Qin Yu in the mirror, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and delight. Even as an adult, I feel like a little girl...Perhaps the saying "love makes you young" isn't just an empty platitude.
Of course, she wasn't actually much older than Qin Yu.
They remained silent, yet Ningguang didn't find the quiet moments dull.
Evaluation: D
Don't pop up, this is just normal hair-combing, Qin Yu muttered inwardly.
"All done, Lady Ningguang. You look beautiful as always. Are you planning to wear your usual attire today?" Qin Yu asked with a relaxed smile, placing her hands on Ningguang's shoulders.
"Mm, dressing appropriately for the occasion is important," Ningguang replied softly, gently taking Qin Yu's hand and tilting her head to look up at her.
"Could it be that you want to see me in that outfit again?"
The moment Ningguang took her hand, Qin Yu trembled slightly.
Evaluation: C-
A touch that had once been commonplace now carried a subtle charge. This must be Ningguang's fault, she thought.
As for whether she wanted to see Ningguang in that outfit again... well, yes, she did. After all, it was undeniably stunning.
But Qin Yu refused to admit it.
I really don't want to say it, but... no, I'll temporarily break character, Qin Yu thought, deciding to cautiously probe Ningguang's reaction.
"You don't want to see?" Ningguang pressed.
Why is she pushing so hard?
"If you want to see, I can agree."
Really? Qin Yu hesitated for a moment before whispering, "I do."
Evaluation: C+
Ningguang smiled.
"An excellent answer. Make any request of me; our relationship has evolved since we first met; there's no need for such formality."
Qin Yu blushed and stammered, "Ah, um..."
Evaluation: B
After returning home last night, Ningguang had spent hours pondering Qin Yu.
Though she never expected to genuinely fall for someone, now that she understood her feelings, she knew she had to reciprocate.
Ningguang refused to let this romance fail—that would be a regret she couldn't bear. She resolved to make Qin Yu hers, to keep her by her side forever.
Both lover and confidante; limitless potential and unwavering loyalty; a character as flawless as it is genuine: truly adorable, gentle, caring, always considering others, delighted to be needed... The more Ningguang considered, the more captivated she became.
Letting go was simply out of the question.
However, while she might harbor such thoughts, Ningguang's understanding of romance remained rudimentary at best.
Compared to her vast experience in the business world and her work, her romantic experience was a blank slate—a pitiful sight.
She possessed theoretical knowledge but lacked practical experience; after all, she had never harbored romantic feelings for anyone before.
This presented a formidable challenge for her.
Ningguang never shied away from challenges, but even with zero romantic experience, she understood there were many things to consider.
The most crucial: avoid rushing things.
She had occasionally heard stories of people confessing their feelings too soon, only to face complete rejection and irreparable damage to their relationship.
Don't be rash, don't rush things, caution is paramount... That was Ningguang's understanding of romance.
Yet she couldn't remain idle.
So, she resolved to start small.
Subtle probes, suggestive hints, lingering touches... She aimed to create an ambiguous atmosphere. Even if she couldn't gauge whether her feelings would be reciprocated, she could at least close the distance between them and deepen their mutual affection.
"The deeper the affection, the greater the caution required?" she murmured to herself. "How profound."
"Affection?" Qin Yu instantly seized on the keyword.
Ningguang chuckled, brushing it off. "It's nothing. I was just thinking about romantic relationships. I overheard something interesting recently. Qin Yu, what are your thoughts on this?"
Huh?
"Me? I don't really pay attention to that sort of thing..." Qin Yu replied.
Romance is such a dull topic.
"I'm just curious about your perspective," Ningguang said, recalling Qin Yu's past words.
I remember her saying she wasn't interested in romance.
"Friendship, love, familial bonds—they can all shatter in a moment, over a single incident..."—those were Qin Yu's exact words from back then.
But so much time had passed; her views might have changed.
"My thoughts... hmm, yes, the more precious something is, the more carefully it must be handled. If treated roughly or carelessly, cracks may form."
As Qin Yu spoke, she couldn't resist gently caressing Ningguang's cheek.
"I don't want Lady Ningguang to dislike me."
Ningguang sensed a deeper meaning in Qin Yu's words but didn't press further. Qin Yu seemed to harbor no romantic feelings toward her, but her affection was undeniable.
Knowing this is enough.
Qin Yu's voice and expression were endearingly vulnerable. Ningguang stood up and lightly pressed her lips to Qin Yu's forehead.
Evaluation: A-
"W-wah?!" Qin Yu startled, her cheeks flushed as she stammered, "Lady Ningguang? What is this..."
"Just a friendly gesture."
Qin Yu wanted to protest, but the words caught in her throat.
If it had been a kiss, she could have dismissed it as "pure nonsense!" But a forehead kiss blurred the line. Girls hugging, kissing each other's cheeks and foreheads... that wasn't strange, right? She felt utterly confused.
No, that wasn't the real issue.
Ningguang was clearly thinking about what had happened last night. That was Qin Yu's real frustration.
Why could Ningguang act so nonchalantly, while she herself was left agonizing over it?
If I left a mark on Ningguang's neck, let's see if she can maintain her composure then! Qin Yu felt the urge to gently bite Ningguang's neck, but she forced herself to stop.
No, Ningguang still has work to do. Someone might see it.
Wait a minute... In other words, if no one saw it... Qin Yu's rationality was once again kicked aside by her emotions. She smirked inwardly and leaned close to Ningguang's ear.
"Lady Ningguang."
"Hmm?"
Once Ningguang's attention was caught, Qin Yu opened her mouth.
A firm, damp warmth pressed against Ningguang's ear.
It wasn't painful, but it made Ningguang involuntarily close her eyes. "Mmm..."
Evaluation: A+
"Qin Yu..." Ningguang was about to speak when she felt warm breath and heard a voice beside her ear.
"Just friendly contact."
Perfect! I've turned the tables!
Qin Yu felt triumphant, but the next moment, Ningguang embraced her and whispered in her ear, "So, if that's the case, then doing this to you is also fine?"
Nonsense. Absolutely not! Of course not! Qin Yu blurted out in a panic, "No!"
"Heh, Qin Yu, you've just revealed your weakness. Remember that for next time."
Fortunately, Ningguang didn't actually do anything further, releasing Qin Yu after teasing her.
Qin Yu hastily retreated a few steps, her face still flushed, the rosy hue striking and captivating.
Tsk, despicable.
Evaluation: S
Hmph.
Qin Yu fumed inwardly, letting out a sigh of relief.
"It's almost time. I need to change. Qin Yu, you may withdraw now."
"Yes, Lady Ningguang."
Qin Yu retreated swiftly outside the door.
As the door closed behind her, Ningguang exhaled softly, her own cheeks feeling warm. The teasing she usually engaged in had taken on a different significance since last night's kiss and the mutual acknowledgment of their feelings.
She hadn't yet adjusted to this change.
What made it even more troublesome was that whenever she saw Qin Yu's adorable, blushing, and flustered expression, she felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her. This desire was almost impossible to suppress.
If others were present, it wouldn't be so difficult.
But being alone together was a different matter entirely.
"Perhaps I'm the one who truly needs to be careful," Ningguang murmured to herself, peeling off her nightgown as she changed.
In other matters, Ningguang had complete confidence in her self-control. But when it came to Qin Yu? It seemed her resolve was lacking. Could this be another side effect of being in love?
Ningguang donned a deep azure gown and opened the door.
"Ah, Lady Ningguang, you really changed! I'm so glad!" Qin Yu exclaimed sincerely.
As expected, she looks stunning.
This kind of elegant attire truly suits someone with Ningguang's mature grace.
"It's about time we leave, Lady Ningguang. Let's grab some breakfast before we start working," Qin Yu said with a gentle smile.
Ningguang gazed intently at Qin Yu.
"Um... why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?" Qin Yu asked anxiously.
Stop looking at me! Let's just go!
"Nothing."
As if anyone would believe that.
But Ningguang wouldn't elaborate, leaving Qin Yu with no choice but to force herself to ignore it.
Ningguang sighed inwardly.
It's indeed difficult to suppress the urge to kiss her, but I must restrain myself. Rushing things will only drive Qin Yu further away.