My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 106
Chapter 106
Yi Shanshan approached the piano. The sea breeze lifted her long hair and the hem of her dress, causing them to billow around her like waves. Moonlight bathed her cheeks in a soft, silvery glow.
There was no need for bright lights, for Ying Yuan’s gaze would remain fixed on Yi Shanshan without wavering. Nor was there any need for external speakers, as the piano’s notes mingled with the sound of the waves, creating a private concert for one.
Yi Shanshan lowered her eyes, her pale wrists delicate as she began to play. The notes flowed from her fingertips.
Unlike the slow-to-fast compositions Ying Yuan usually heard, Yi Shanshan began with a light, leaping melody, a joyful rhythm that seemed to dance.
Images flooded Ying Yuan’s mind: countless scenes of Yi Shanshan running toward her.
Whether in the past or the present, Yi Shanshan always approached her with boundless joy, radiant and vibrant. Her steps were light and springy, her skirt and hair billowing wildly, her eyes curved into crescent moons.
The tempo quickened. As the notes climbed higher, a sudden, powerful chord crashed down like a collision.
Yi Shanshan crashed into Ying Yuan’s arms.
A brief pause.
The world fell silent, leaving only the faint tremor of piano strings, carried on the sea breeze—seemingly hidden yet utterly exposed.
Ying Yuan took a deep breath, holding it in her chest. Her senses sharpened, and she became acutely aware of her heartbeat.
The music resumed. Her right fingertips, playing a monotonous two-note rhythm, repeated endlessly, like the steady beat of a heart.
The tempo gradually quickened, then suddenly surged forward, losing its crisp clarity. The sustained notes lingered, intertwining with delicate tremors, like the rustling of fabric.
They were embracing.
Warmth, scent, and tranquility—like a serene harbor concealing a heavy, throbbing heartbeat.
That heartbeat grew increasingly intense. Yi Shanshan’s left hand, no longer content to remain hidden in the murky bass range, surged toward the center, chasing the steady melody of her right hand. She wanted to shatter that rhythm, her frantic fingertips longing to intertwine with it. She would overcome every obstacle, striking the highest note.
The music swelled, and the waves crashed more violently.
Foam surged around her feet. She stomped hard on the pedals, sand grinding into the keys, the strings vibrating with a muted rasp.
Yi Shanshan’s slender arms now contained boundless power, blue veins bulging against taut skin, the muscles clearly defined.
The force in her fingertips lifted her body slightly with each strike. She leaned forward, as if drawn into the music, but the wind resisted, whipping her long hair back.
Skin as white as snow, sculpted by lines as bold as mountain ridges.
Ying Yuan had witnessed their chases, their tug-of-wars, their entanglements, their squabbles, misunderstandings, and chaos. Yet, looking back now, she felt not a trace of bitterness.
If everything had been destined to lead to this moment, then every step—deep or shallow—had been worthwhile.
A crisp, clear note rang out, striking at the most lucid moment.
The melody returned to its opening passage, the rhythm light and buoyant, the melody cheerful.
But upon closer listening, the leaping footsteps had become two—syncopated yet harmonious, lagging slightly behind before catching up, finally merging into a unified cadence.
Yi Shanshan gently lifted her hands, signaling the end of the performance.
Seated on the piano bench, she lowered her gaze, her silence stretching into a long pause.
The waves continued to crash, the sea breeze continued to blow.
The moon had climbed higher in the sky. Ying Yuan snapped out of her reverie, realizing she was surrounded by a small circle of people, all eyes quietly fixed on Yi Shanshan.
Ying Yuan took a step forward, and Yi Shanshan looked up.
She turned her head to Ying Yuan, ignoring the many admirers who vied for her attention. She looked only at Ying Yuan, then flashed her a coquettish, intimate smile.
Ying Yuan approached her, and Yi Shanshan reached out her hand.
Ying Yuan grasped her hand. Though those fingers had burned like fire across the keys, now their tips were cool, soft, and delicate.
Ying Yuan gripped her hand tightly as Yi Shanshan helped her stand up. Tilting her head, Yi Shanshan smiled. “It’s still awkward playing the piano on the beach, you know? The pedals feel like they’re sinking when I press them.”
“You were amazing,” Ying Yuan said, her heart pounding so hard it was difficult to speak. She could only manage a simple affirmation: “The performance was perfect.”
“It wasn’t a performance—it was a confession to you,” Yi Shanshan said, her bright eyes shining. She quickly added, “But I don’t expect an answer right now. I just wanted to do what I wanted to do.”
“There is an answer,” Ying Yuan said.
She met Yi Shanshan’s gaze, seeing in her eyes a reflection of herself—flustered yet undeniably resolute.
“There is an answer,” she repeated, her voice husky.
Yi Shanshan’s lips parted slightly. The crashing waves seemed to drum against her eardrums, and her heart soared like an aimless cloud.
She blinked, daring not to rush the moment, waiting.
“Let’s be together,” Ying Yuan said.
She tightened her grip on Yi Shanshan’s hand, gazing at her, willing to give her her entire world from now on.
“Let’s be together.”
The clouds continued to drift, threatening rain.
Yi Shanshan’s breath hissed between her teeth, circling in her chest, intertwined with her pounding heart.
“You…” she began, determined to eliminate any external influence. “Is it just because it was so romantic that you’re feeling this way right now?”
“Touched, but not just for the moment,” Ying Yuan began, clumsy as a child struggling to string words together. “I like you.”
Yi Shanshan: “So much that you’ve forgotten my warnings? Do you even remember my disclaimer?”
Ying Yuan: “No need for a disclaimer. I don’t see it as a flaw.”
Yi Shanshan: “Aren’t you afraid you’ll be stuck with me forever once you cling to me?”
Ying Yuan: “I won’t shake you off.”
Her response was swift, without a hint of hesitation. Yi Shanshan’s floating heart sank down, immersing itself in warm water.
Warm and soft.
She twisted around, nestling into Ying Yuan’s embrace and gazing up at her. “Girlfriend, but girlfriend, you know? Being your girlfriend means I’ll be even more capricious, even more spoiled, overwhelmingly possessive, and I’ll bully you too.”
Ying Yuan held her tightly, steadying her. “Mm, bully me.”
Yi Shanshan burst into laughter, her eyes shimmering like moonlight reflected in water. “This time, no time limit. I want…”
“Forever,” Ying Yuan cut her off, promising. “As long as you want, we’ll be together forever.”
“Aaaah—!” Yi Shanshan closed her eyes and let out a sudden, sharp scream.
She transformed into an ecstatic little bird, her arms flapping wildly in Ying Yuan’s embrace. Turning to face the crowd, she raised a hand and shouted to the strangers, “I have a girlfriend now—!!!”
The shy locals murmured in response, “Ah…”
Yi Shanshan: “I confessed successfully!!! I have a girlfriend!!!”
She cupped Ying Yuan’s cheeks in her hands, kneading them roughly. “This is my girlfriend!!! Isn’t she adorable?! Isn’t she beautiful?! We’re a couple!!! We’ll be together forever!!!”
Finally, the crowd reacted. Whistles and applause erupted in waves. A girl shouted, “Congratulations! May you have a hundred years of happiness together!”
Ying Yuan’s cheeks flushed crimson, whether from Yi Shanshan’s rough handling or embarrassment at the public declaration.
Suddenly, fireworks burst in the distance, their long whistles piercing the night before exploding in a dazzling display of rainbow light above them.
The sky lit up, the sea burned with reflected brilliance. Music drifted on the breeze, the world buzzed with life, and hearts blossomed.
Yi Shanshan placed her hands on Ying Yuan’s shoulders, her fox-like eyes curving into a gentle smile.
“Now,” she said, “you may kiss your girlfriend.”
You may kiss your girlfriend.
Her chest and body were swollen with emotion.
Ying Yuan leaned in, pressing her lips to Yi Shanshan’s, confessing all the unspoken words. She had to admit, this kiss was unlike any before.
Each intimate touch sparked a searing current, each surge allowed to course freely through her veins.
No longer did she need to suppress her dark, overflowing desires. She now possessed the power Yi Shanshan had personally granted her—the power of love.
“Go back,” Ying Yuan said, her breath ragged.
“Okay,” Yi Shanshan replied, her watery eyes gazing at her, lashes fluttering like butterfly wings. She murmured, “Girlfriend, my period’s over~”
The taxi sped through the coastal city night, its windows open, the salty sea breeze rushing in.
Ying Yuan and Yi Shanshan sat in the back seat, their palms intertwined, though their bodies remained deliberately apart.
An invisible space stretched between them, a necessary buffer.
Their palms were clammy, fingers lightly stroking between the gaps.
Ying Yuan’s gaze drifted to the tips of Yi Shanshan’s hair, which fell across her chest. Her focus kept wavering, her thoughts adrift.
Yi Shanshan gazed out the window, yet saw nothing. Her throat felt dry, but her lips were moist. She pursed her lips slightly and asked, “Are you hungry? Do you want to get something to eat tonight?”
Ying Yuan: “I’m not hungry.”
Ying Yuan: “What about you?”
Yi Shanshan shook her head, her hair swaying in Ying Yuan’s line of sight. “I’m not hungry either.”
Ying Yuan: “We could buy some snacks downstairs to have on hand.”
Yi Shanshan: “Sounds good.”
Ying Yuan: “I’ve already packed about half my luggage today. Our flight’s tomorrow afternoon, so there’s no rush.”
Yi Shanshan: “Mmm~”
Ying Yuan: “You don’t have to worry about anything. You can sleep in if you want.”
Yi Shanshan blinked, her eyes brimming with unspoken words.
The scenery outside the car window was becoming familiar now, their destination drawing near. Perhaps she could let slip a hint or two.
She twisted around, her gaze meeting Ying Yuan’s eyes. To her, this was the most beautiful view.
Leaning forward slightly, she closed the small gap between them and whispered into Ying Yuan’s ear, her voice barely audible: “You’re planning to just let me sleep?”
“Huh?” Ying Yuan didn’t immediately grasp the meaning, only feeling the warm breath and lingering fragrance tickling her senses.
“I mean…” Yi Shanshan bit her lip. “We haven’t… all night… It’s been so long…”
Ying Yuan: “!!!”
She understood.
Yi Shanshan must mean that. Given their current level of mutual understanding, there was no other possible interpretation.
Heat surged to Ying Yuan’s face as she tightened her grip on Yi Shanshan’s fingertips. “But… don’t you need to desensitize yourself?” she asked.
Yi Shanshan looked a little crestfallen. She tilted her head, her lips now brushing against Ying Yuan’s cheek. Yi Shanshan wished those delicate, dense eyelashes could brush against her skin like tiny brushes.
“I think I’m mostly desensitized,” Yi Shanshan said, her voice lacking conviction.
But her tone quickly perked up. “Even if not, we can rest a bit and try again.”
Ying Yuan: “……”
Ying Yuan took a deep breath and used her free hand to push Yi Shanshan away.
Like a little rubber ball, Yi Shanshan bounced away and quickly bounced back, pressing close to Ying Yuan’s ear to whisper secrets.
“Ying Yuan~ Do you know how to do it~?”
“If you don’t, you’d better hurry up and learn~”
“I can send you some study materials~”
“But you’ll have to study them fast when you get home, okay? I’ll only give you… um, enough time for a shower~”