My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 105
Chapter 105
The two women laughed and joked, making even the most serious matters seem less daunting.
Though Yi Shanshan insisted she wouldn’t intervene directly, she had Ying Yuan ask Qi Hongyue for information about the company she was partnering with.
“I can at least help you get some intel,” Yi Shanshan said, twirling a useless straw between her fingers. Her other hand tapped rapidly on her phone screen. “Just so you don’t jump out of the tiger’s den and into the wolf’s lair.”
“And hey,” she continued, “since you’re going the legitimate commercial route, make sure your contract with Qi Hongyue clearly spells out your position, responsibilities, salary, and benefits.”
After sending the message, Yi Shanshan turned to Ying Yuan, her brow furrowing. “You’d work day and night, pouring your heart and soul into this, right?”
Ying Yuan responded instantly, “For the game, I would. If I’m going to work on a project, I’ll give it my all to make it the best it can be. That’s just taking responsibility for my own life.”
Yi Shanshan’s brow relaxed. “Alright, ambition is a good thing. Consider yourself a founding member, investing your technical expertise. You’ll want equity and profit-sharing.”
Ying Yuan hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Yi Shanshan paused for a moment, then shot Ying Yuan a sharp glare. “Business is business,” she snapped. “When Qi Hongyue gives you the contract, show it to me first.”
“Sure, no problem at all,” Ying Yuan replied immediately, completely unbothered.
Yi Shanshan rested her chin in her palm. “Do you think I’m being overly mercenary?”
“No!” Ying Yuan exclaimed loudly, genuinely shocked. “How could you even think that?”
Yi Shanshan stared at her without a word.
Ying Yuan quickly elaborated, “You’ve been immersed in the business world since childhood—far more than we have. You understand the inner workings and social intricacies better than anyone else. That’s an indispensable skill. I think you’re amazing, and I feel so much more secure knowing you’re watching over our interests.”
Yi Shanshan pursed her lips. “Exactly! I wouldn’t lift a finger for anyone else’s affairs.”
“Exactly,” Ying Yuan agreed wholeheartedly. “You’re a crucial member of our project, one of us.”
“Heh heh,” Yi Shanshan chuckled, pleased. She bumped Ying Yuan’s shoulder playfully, her eyes curving into crescent moons. “I’m your girl~”
Her sudden declaration, her eyes sparkling like starlight, left Ying Yuan’s cheeks burning with a blush.
The game discussion had wrapped up, and they’d finished their meal.
Ying Yuan tucked a bottle of water into her bag, opened her parasol, and strolled slowly out of the old street with Yi Shanshan.
Ancient trees lined the road, one after another. Patches of sunlight danced ahead, shimmering like the sea under a blazing sun.
Yi Shanshan savored the moment, her arm linked through Ying Yuan’s. She didn’t even need to open her eyes to find her way.
With her eyes closed, she basked in the light and felt the gentle breeze, the world swaying softly around her. The unique scent of Ying Yuan, warm and comforting, enveloped her.
“Shanshan…” Ying Yuan called softly.
“Hmm?” Yi Shanshan hummed sweetly.
“What about your phone?” Ying Yuan asked, then quickly added, “I’m not trying to pry into your private life. I just noticed you seemed unhappy, and I wanted to offer help.”
Yi Shanshan chuckled, a light, airy sound.
“Why aren’t you prying? You should be prying! It’s essential to know the background of your suitors.”
Ying Yuan turned to look at her.
Yi Shanshan still had her eyes closed, her long lashes curling upward like those of a lazy kitten. “I’m not sure where to start. Most of what’s happening on my end is like this—seemingly fresh, but actually quite ordinary.”
“That call was from my brother. You probably didn’t know, but we have different mothers. He’s much older than me.
“By the time I started elementary school, he had already returned from studying abroad and taken over the family business. He’s no fool and runs things quite well. So now he actually manages about half of the business.
“In other words, by the time I realized I should be vying for control of the family fortune, it had long been in someone else’s hands.
“And as a girl, I’m just a harmless pet in their eyes.
“They pamper me with money, but when necessary, they parade me out as a mascot for show. Raise me well, then sell me for a good price.
“So, for such purposes, they don’t need to control me too tightly. Give me some freedom most of the time, but pull the reins tight when I stray too far.
“That call just now was them tightening the reins.” Yi Shanshan opened her eyes, tilted her head to look at Ying Yuan, and smiled. “Remember how I turned down so many jobs for our trip? Now that I’ve tested the waters, I’ve realized none of those opportunities were ones I earned myself. They were all orchestrated by them, things they wanted me to do.”
Yi Shanshan gazed at Ying Yuan, who, like the summer sea, embraced everything with boundless warmth and acceptance.
“I’m… feeling a bit rebellious right now,” Yi Shanshan said. “I tried it their way and realized there’s something better waiting for me. So I don’t want what they’re offering anymore.”
The wind rustled the leaves, lifting and dropping strands of Yi Shanshan’s hair.
Ying Yuan’s heart surged once more. She remembered how, just a while ago, at that gala where people were being priced and sold, Yi Shanshan had looked at her with a face full of resentment and sarcasm and said, “If I live a different life, will I always be happy? Will something better ever come along and give me a choice?”
Has that moment finally come?
The “something better” Yi Shanshan believed in.
The “something better” Yi Shanshan hadn’t even grasped yet, but whose mere anticipation filled her with conviction.
“Really…?” Ying Yuan murmured.
“Really!” Yi Shanshan gripped Ying Yuan’s arm tighter, clasping both hands around it as they strode down the dappled path, sunbeams flickering around them. “They lectured me a bit, then tried to bribe me with promises. I refused.”
“Was it a good opportunity?” Ying Yuan asked.
“It seemed like it, but who knows what traps might be hidden behind it?” Yi Shanshan said. “Now I feel only what I earn myself is truly solid.”
Yi Shanshan smiled brightly at Ying Yuan. “Don’t feel sorry for me,” she said. “Even if I can’t inherit the family fortune, I can still forge my own future.”
Confident, radiant, brave, and capable of both deep love and fierce hatred.
Ying Yuan’s emotions surged in wave after wave. She felt, once again, profoundly captivated by Yi Shanshan.
In that future… it feels like I’m there too.
Even if I’m not, I have her now—the best Yi Shanshan in the world, right here, right now.
“Mm. You absolutely can,” Ying Yuan said.
“Of course!” Yi Shanshan replied.
She went on to share some joyful news: “Remember that friend I met after leaving your house last time? We learned so much about lesbian culture together! Hahahaha… She’s started a new studio specializing in trendy background music for short videos, and it’s doing really well. I should visit her studio soon…”
“You’re going to be busy,” Ying Yuan observed.
“Time to start fighting!” Yi Shanshan declared.
The journey would inevitably end. Dreamlike happiness only felt safe once grounded in reality.
Qi Hongyue had a mountain of work awaiting Ying Yuan, while Yi Shanshan was diligently building her own network centered around herself. After discussing their plans, they decided to return home tomorrow.
Tonight was their final celebration.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Yi Shanshan emerged in her most cherished ensemble: a vibrant, flowing gown, cascading curls, and ornate silver earrings that transformed her into a spirited gypsy maiden.
Ying Yuan, too, had been meticulously styled. She wore a coordinating blouse, a rarely worn dark pleated miniskirt, and a black studded, bondage-style belt. Lacking pierced ears, she wore a necklace from the same jewelry set. With her hair let down and a touch of makeup, she looked radiant.
Yi Shanshan had meticulously applied Ying Yuan’s makeup, showering her with countless kisses during the process, making it a lingering affair.
The pair arrived at their destination.
The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of the sea, and the rhythmic crashing of waves provided an eternal pulse.
The local beach music festival featured no big-name headliners; instead, it showcased performances by passionate amateurs. The stage was makeshift—little more than a raised platform—but the sound system and lighting equipment were surprisingly good, creating an immersive atmosphere.
But perhaps the sheer vastness of the cosmos made the dancing, singing crowds seem undeniably joyful, regardless of the setting.
Yi Shanshan grasped Ying Yuan’s hand, leading her from one performance to another. They jumped to the frenetic beats of rock music, dabbed tears during poignant folk ballads, and when sweet love songs filled the air, Yi Shanshan would turn to Ying Yuan, her eyes lingering on her face, as if every lyric spoke directly to their hearts.
Yi Shanshan clung to Ying Yuan, her hands perpetually wrapped around Ying Yuan’s waist.
Throughout their journey, many men and women lingered, their eyes drawn to Yi Shanshan, itching to strike up a conversation. Yet, after a moment, they would always give up.
There was simply no space to intrude. The way the two girls gazed at each other—their eyes locked—was clearly not the look of friends or close companions.
They were lovers, deeply in love.
Only such fervent affection could explain their reluctance to part even for a moment, only such intense devotion could make one’s gaze toward the beloved feel like looking at the entire world.
The moon gradually rose from the horizon, its silvery radiance spreading across the vast expanse of the sea.
After exploring the liveliest areas, Yi Shanshan, exhausted from dancing, led Ying Yuan along the wave-kissed shore.
At the fringes of the music festival, scattered vendors lined the path, their colorful strings of lights flickering intermittently.
“Ying Yuan,” Yi Shanshan asked, “this trip is coming to an end. Are you happy?”
“Yes,” Ying Yuan replied quickly. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen the ocean, and I feel so lucky to share this with you.”
Yi Shanshan smiled. “This isn’t my first time seeing the ocean. I’ve seen countless seas, both at home and abroad—developed and undeveloped. Once, I even stayed on a private island owned by a celebrity for a while.”
Ying Yuan nodded. Given Yi Shanshan’s privileged background, this was entirely plausible.
Yi Shanshan tightened her grip on Ying Yuan’s hand, her fingertips gently tracing patterns on her skin. “But compared to all of that, this time is still the best.”
Ying Yuan froze. Yi Shanshan lowered her gaze to the waves crashing at their feet, her expression softening.
“The happiest, the most carefree, the most full of hope, the most radiant.
“The most impulsive, yet the most secure.
“I just… I really like you. I like you so, so much.
“The thought of dating you, of being bound to you in a unique, irreplaceable relationship… it excites me beyond words.
“I’m so grateful you’re into girls. Your sexual orientation made this possible…”
At this point, Yi Shanshan’s grip on Ying Yuan’s fingers tightened.
“Otherwise… I can’t even imagine what I might have done to possess you.”
Ying Yuan’s heart pounded. The pressure Yi Shanshan exerted on her hand felt like a threat, but even more like a profound, overwhelming, and almost unbearable love.
“You probably can’t understand. You’re such a gentle and upright person.” Yi Shanshan looked up, her smile radiant. “That’s why I need to tell you this in advance: even before we were together, I was already like this. If we were to become a couple, I’d likely cling to you for the rest of my life.”
“When I said I’d give you time, so you wouldn’t feel pressured, those were just short-term strategies. This, now, is my truest, most enduring desire. It’s dark, it’s bordering on madness, but these thoughts linger in my mind, impossible to shake off.”
“I’m not a normal person. I’ve always had mental health issues. Before meeting you, I rarely slept soundly. I’d get up in the middle of the night to sharpen my knives. I had an intense urge to destroy and a shockingly low sense of morality.”
“You don’t know the person I used to be, because being with you makes me truly happy. If we could live here forever, just like these past few days, perhaps that old self would fade away.”
“But we have to go back eventually. And you might not love me as much as I love you. Maybe after meeting new people, you’ll find someone more suitable than me…”
Yi Shanshan’s thoughts drifted hazily, only to be jolted back by an even stronger grip, pinching Ying Yuan until it hurt.
“But I won’t let go,” she murmured. “I won’t let go.”
The sea breeze blew her hair against Ying Yuan’s arm, soft as a caress. Yi Shanshan smiled again. “Then why am I telling you this now? You can take it as one of my few remaining scraps of conscience—a warning about potential side effects before taking the medicine, a disclaimer of liability.”
“Because I’m confessing to you, Ying Yuan. A formal confession.”
Straight ahead, a white piano stood at the water’s edge, its legs sinking into the sand.
Yi Shanshan continued leading Ying Yuan forward, her pace quickening with anticipation. Her smile widened into its most radiant form, as if the dark thoughts Ying Yuan had just heard were merely a fleeting gust of wind, gone as quickly as it had come.
They reached the piano. Yi Shanshan loosened her grip on Ying Yuan’s hand. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she curtsied gracefully like a princess. Then, with the poise and clarity of a formal performance, she declared: “This is a piece I wrote for you, Ying Yuan.”
“Before this, I had never finished a single complete composition.”
“You gave me endless inspiration, so this piece will bear your name.”
“Please enjoy my declaration of love, Ying Yuan.”